So, which bank did you use to get an AmEx and has this been a positive experience?
Cheers
I am being curious if banks outside the UBS/CreditSuisse rank, especially pure retail banks like the BCGE for example, offer AmEx cards (Gold/Platinum). Don't get me wrong - I can go visit each bank's website and all - seeking personal experiences more than anything.
No bank, www.amex.com (many years ago, in the States). I have the Blue and have been very happy with it.
What's different from any other visa/mastercard?
My visa is cleared monthly for example, would i somehow be better with amex clearing that monthly?
Just wondering?
AmEx is the card of choice for most traveling people, as it often comes bundled (at least in gold/platinum flavors) with travel insurance, lost luggage insurance, delayed flight(s), assistance and the like. As it is not as widely accepted as Visa/Master, supporting banks also use incentives (bonus points, miles, gift cards) to grow the popularity. This is nice, as for example in Credit Suisse each CHF you spend with a Visa is ~1 reward point, whereas it is double that, or 2 points should you use your AmEx for the same purpose. Rewards vary but they tend to be more generous on AmEx to compensate for the higher costs and fees.
Hope this is the info you needed?
My ex employer usually gave us VISAs, but our Swedish colleagues received amex. I have no idea why as it was so painful outside the US. The number of places that accepted amex in Europe was so limited, Swedes basically had to pay cash and get reimbursed (i was on business trips with one of them a few times). I didn't know about those point system, but have a feeling it will be tough to earn them.
I have the SWISS Miles and More Amex. It's good for collecting Star Alliance miles (which don't expire), avoiding the economy class check-in queue (you can use the SWISS first/business check-in if you are flying with SWISS) and the various insurance bits and bobs.
I'm happy with it, but then I don't pay the annual fee (which is about 700 CHF). This is offset a bit by a 200 CHF (I think from memory) voucher that you receive each year, but you can only use it on a flight costing 1,000 or more.
I have the normal one, simply because when I moved here it was the only card I could get transferred here.
Mainly use it for paypal these days.
Tom
I have the Centurion Card. It's a lovely colour and very heavy, and it makes Swiss shop assisants treat me better than Oprah Winfrey.
Also, it gets stuck in many card readers and ATMs, but hey, Amex doesn't charge for replacement cards, so ...
... And if anyone believes you I will be happy to sell them a bridge on which they can collect tolls
That's true. They once couriered one out to me in UK when I'd left mine back in Basel.
Postfinance charged me something like 40 CHF when theirs fell to bits.
So do (most) VISA and Master gold/platinum cards. Unless all the travel is to US, I would not consider an Amex, after I saw the trouble an US colleague had in Europe to find a place where Amex was accepted.
I dropped Amex years ago, for two reasons:
1) They messed up with their billing (their fault) and wouldn't credit back the interest that they charged. Completely intransigent and holier than thou, even though I was a platinum card holder and had been for years.
2) Saw a friend of mine with a few difficulties trying to resolve his issues with Amex and they point blank refused to be cooperative, just tried to take him to court.
In the meantime, I'm happy with the regular MC and Visa set up. Amex is an "also ran" in Europe in my opinion.
I'd imagine so for 4200CHF per year
Oh don't be so negative - it's "free", so enjoy!
I don't like AmEx because in Europe it is not so widely accepted and when mine was stolen they issued an immediate replacement free of charge in a foreign country - very impressive, apart from the fact that they then cancelled the replacement card and let the guy who stole the original run up several thousand pounds on it, whilst I couldn't get home.
It took me over 6 months to get it resolved, worst csutomer service I ever had anywhere.
At the same time the Nat West bank in the UK were brilliant.
Stick with MC or Visa in Europe.
Thank you all for the feedback, guys. It is not that I favour AmEx above all other, or seek it as the ultimate solution. My limited experience and knowledge of the offers available in Switzerland (read CreditSuisse Bonviva Gold and UBS Family Gold) tells me that travel/luggage insurance is tied with AmEx.
Neither my Gold Master nor the Gold Visa has travel cancelation/delay or luggage lost insurance. Surely, I can get it for extra pay *separate* from the cards but this kinda defeats the purpose of the card bundle...
If you know of some gold/platinum cards with luggage insurance - please share
No personal experience with those, but according to bank websites
Raiffeisen Gold (if you pay 60% of travel with card):
http://www.raiffeisen.ch/raiffeisen/...istungen_d.pdf
UBS Platinum:
As the holder of a UBS Platinum Credit Card, you can travel with full peace of mind – because UBS Travel Insurance Plus, worth 72 francs, is included free of charge. This insurance package protects you and your family from unforeseen financial risks arising from travel cancellation, medical treatment or loss of luggage.The insurance cover is valid all year round, irrespective of whether you pay using your UBS Credit Card
Zürich Kantonalbank Gold:
Reiseannullierungskosten- und Reiseunterbruchsversicherung
Gepäckversicherung bei Diebstahl, Verlust oder Beschädigung
Gepäckverspätungsversicherung
Mietwagen-Selbstbehalt-Versicherung
Einkaufsversicherung
Reiseunfallversicherung bei Tod oder Invalidität
I have cards from Cornercard.
http://www.cornercard.ch/export/ch.c...surance_en.pdf
I also have Zurich Relax. But that's because I want coverage for times where I travel without booking using the card.
I do have a corporate Amex but hate it.
We have that too, 700chf is steep but a business expense. The voucher is 300chf, but it never made sense to use it as it is 1000chf and a full fare, generally the Y tariff or whatever is still cheaper. Amex acceptance is good in Switzerland now, we use it for all business expenses, flight, food, fuel etc so the 1:1 miles easily pay for 1 or 2 award flights a year back to blighty which pretty much negates the card fee. I particularly like the hire car insurance which provides comprehensive cover on rentals so you can waive those pesky extra costs from the rental company.
I am starting to think that if you use that card only, and are ubs and migros customer, the ubs platinum card is a good deal.
In fact if you have just a normal ubs individual package, you pay 180 chf a year, and get 1 keyclub point each chf. Assuming one spends 24.000 a year on a credit card (so makes all expenses on the credit card), that returns you 240 points you can convert to a migros gift card, and use it there for a value of 240 chf.
If you get a platinum one, with the ubs individual package you pay 30 chf more per month but earn triple points. So assuming you do the credit card expense, you get 720 points back, but you spend on the card about 360 a year. Assuming you still convert the points into a migros gift card, you now get 360 chf back instead of 240.
And 4 free access vouchers to airport lounges. And a travel insurance...
Of course this is different for lower credit card expenses per year.