AMEX which is best?

[Glennsallnighter]

I'm thinking of getting an amex card and have a choice of a basic card, a green card or a gold card. What experiences does anyone here have of any of them and which would you recommend?

Your opinions would be gratefully appreciated!!

[VAisForEagleLovers]

I have the gold and have considered upgrading to platinum, however, it pains me to say it, the green card works as well as the gold. I got the gold for better seat choices, but to be honest, the phone number on the back is the difference, and so many people just Google the customer service number and get it that way. So what I'm saying is, there's no difference when it comes to seating.

For other things, it depends on what you want to use it for. Amex has a great way on their website of comparing the various cards. In addition, there are other Amex cards that you can get through a different entity. One the great benefits of Amex is their rewards program. Friends of mine have their Amex through Costco, it's their membership card, so they pay no membership fees, only the Amex yearly membership (or visa-versa, I can't remember). Then they get 'award checks' that give them so many dollars off Costco visits.

I prefer just the regular award points, but other friends do their Amex through airlines and get enough points to get free tickets to places. I don't ever fly one airline, so that doesn't work for me.

[Lisa]

Amex green is the standard (and original) card. I have always been able to use my Am Ex green card for every card member service I could have needed from the available Am Ex card services.

There are even more perks and services and travel options and rewards points features that go with the other Amex card levels.

I'm not working for the company, paid, or at all an expert.
I only write from my past experiences, which are good ones!

I'm sure there's a lot more experience and insight out there regarding Am Ex services for card members that I have not heard a thing about to this very day--I am always surprised by how much change the years have brought--and the travel industry changes all the time.

If you're interested in Amex travel services, perks, card member benefits, frequent-flier rewards points, other rewards points, or whatever Am Ex--I'd recommend a phone call to Amex customer service to find out what the current options are. My reason: I think there'll be so many changes with the cyber-generations that my past experiences would become unrecognizable to a modern traveler.

[Lisa]

The card fee is a little expensive for even a standard green Amex card.

Amex offers some financial services for card holders, and Amex offers some travel agency services for card holders. The Amex card is not always just another credit card; travel services are a big part of Amex membership and card-holding features.

[Lisa]

Amex has closed its international travel offices and it now does all of its business in services online, by phone or with it's own Amex team going to you at your location. There's an Amex international collect-call phone number on the back of your card that you call when you need 24 hours a day assistance, and when you are a card member.

You can now buy Amex gift cheques online. You can pay for the Amex gift cheques with even a green Amex card. (However, you'd have to call customer service before trying to use this feature, to activate your card option).

If you want to buy conventional Amex traveler's cheques--you would originally not have been able to use any credit card at all instead of cash to purchase them. I'm not going to guess about any changes in future services here.

That leaves the "lost or stolen" Amex traveler's cheques situation--where you'd need your Amex traveler's cheque receipts and valid ID of some kind required to replace your Amex "lost or stolen" traveler's cheques as a financial service.

Then why exactly AmEx??

For travel services, traveler's cheques, and small (and often difficult to obtain) financial services for travelers! Am Ex can make the unanticipated travel happening into a resolved travel situation.

[Freypower]

I have a gold Amex card & haven't used travellers cheques for years.When I need money overseas I use my own normal card at any ATM. Yes, you get charged a fee, but it's instant.