This may be a dumb question, but maybe there's someone out there who's made a similar decision. I currently have the AMEX BCP, and my only complaint is the foreign transaction fee. I was looking into the green card for the travel benefits and the lack of a foreign transaction fee (obviously), but since I currently have a cashback card, would it be unwise to get a card that utilizes the AMEX point system? Since the points/cashback categories on both cards are very similar. Let me know your thoughts!
Is the AMEX green card worth it?
byu/WashingtonDrippinton inCreditCards
Posted by WashingtonDrippinton
4 Comments
The Green card makes sense if you’re actually traveling internationally enough to justify the annual fee, but if you’re just worried about foreign transaction fees there are other options without fees that might work better. I switched from cashback to points system last year and it took some getting used to – points can be worth more if you transfer to partners but cashback is just simpler for most people
Honestly, just get a NFTF Visa card
Better chance of acceptance
For foreign travel, depending on the country Amex acceptance may or may not be good, but you will pretty much need a Visa/MasterCard anyway at least some of the time – so for twice a year travel, I’d suggest a simple no AF no FTF one. Green would be overkill for that and still not cover everywhere a V/MC card will more cheaply.
It does get you Clear+ and earns points well – 3x on airfare, hotels, transit and dining, almost as good as Gold’s 4x dining/supermarkets, and actually better for hotels and transit – but unless you spend heavily on those last two it’s not a strong alternative.
The Green gives you 3x Travel/Transit/Dining for a $150 AF. The Wells Fargo Autograph gives you 3x Travel/Transit/Dining/Gas for $0.
If you were going to pay for CLEAR anyway, sure.