Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is almost done! The last two weeks Greg, Nick, and Stephen competed to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines. But who completed the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
As reported by US Credit Card Guide, the Mercedes-Benz American Express cards (including the Mercedes-Benz branded flavor of the Platinum Card) will be discontinued in January 2019 and replaced with different cards. Applications are still available at the time of writing (find a link on our Best Offers page) — it might be worth picking up some easy Membership Rewards points while you still can and before these cards get converted to some other products (though that might not make sense for everyone — more below).
Pick up points while you can?
The 10K offer on the Mercedes-Benz credit card might appeal to those looking for a quick and easy score in terms of points, though it might be hard to tie up an available credit card slot with that (since Amex limits the number of credit cards you can have open at one time).
On the other hand, one can theoretically open as many charge cards as one wants (within the limits of whatever Amex is willing to approve for you). The Mercedes-Benz Platinum card may be of particular interest to those who haven’t had this flavor (See: Which is the best Amex Platinum card? for more information on the different flavors).
The Mercedes-Benz Platinum card comes with the same welcome offer as any other flavor of Platinum currently: 60K Membership Rewards points after spending $5,000 in the first three months. We’ve seen an offer as high as 75K in the past, though not since the refresh of the Platinum cards last year. With this card being discontinued, I wouldn’t expect an increased bonus.
Since each flavor of the Platinum card is considered a separate product, it would make sense to get this 60K welcome offer while you can if you have never had this flavor of the Platinum card. Note the high annual fee — $550 per year — though it comes with $200 in airline incidental credits (See: Amex Airline Fee Reimbursements. What still works?) and $200 in annual Uber credits that I believe still work for UberEATS (though note that this is split into monthly $15 credits and a $35 credit in December — not a bulk Uber credit). Still, with the suite of benefits of a Platinum card (Hilton Gold status, SPG Gold status, National Executive status, higher purchase protection limits, Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, the Platinum concierge, Priority Pass Select, Centurion Lounge access etc), it can present good value for some.
All that said, I think it’s worth considering your options if you’ve never had the plain “vanilla” American Express version of the Platinum card. The Amex site does not indicate what type of card your Mercedes-Benz Platinum will become when this card is discontinued in January 2019; with the $550 annual fee you will have already paid, I think it’s reasonable to expect that Amex may transition you to the plain Amex flavor of the Platinum card. Since Amex usually blocks those who have or have had a particular product from earning a future welcome offer, I wouldn’t want to be transitioned to the regular personal Platinum card without ever having received the welcome offer on it. While the public welcome offer on that card is the same as the Mercedes-Benz version at the time of writing this post, people sometimes receive targeted offers for 100K on the plain Platinum card. It’s worth considering your plan of attack on maximizing points if you’ve never had the “vanilla” Platinum.
On the other hand, if you’ve gotten a welcome offer on that card before, you might want to make a move on 60K points while you can. While applications are currently still working for this card, I imagine they will end at some point before January 2019.
H/T: US Credit Card Guide
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[…] Mercedes-Benz is ending and therefore the Mercedes-Benz Platinum card is being discontinued (See: Mercedes-Benz Platinum discontinued; get 60K while you can). Doctor of Credit now reports that application links are disappearing for the card and rumors are […]
If you have both Amex Plat and Mercedes-Benz will you get Uber credits for both cards or just one card? If both can they be put into the same Uber account each month?
I haven’t had either the AMEX Platinum or the Mercedes Benz Platinum. I don’t want to miss out on the bonus on the regular AMEX Platinum card down the road. Would there be any downside to getting the Mercedes Benz Platinum card now and then dumping it in December before it becomes the new card?
“If we in our sole discretion determine that you have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with the welcome bonus offer in any way or that you intend to do so (for example, if you applied for one or more cards to obtain a welcome bonus offer (s) that we did not intend for you; if you cancel or downgrade your account within 12 months after acquiring it; or if you cancel or return purchases you made to meet the Threshold Amount), we may not credit Membership Rewards® points to your account. We may also cancel this Card account and other Card accounts you may have with us.”
Got lucky on this one – applied last December to triple dip, so hopefully I’ll be able to get that in (and close) before they change it to a regular plat.
Will there be time to get the $200 credit in calendar year 2019 before the discontinuance?
Unfortunately, I know as much about the exact end date as you do — all it says is January 2019. It would be nice if you could. I would open it with the hope that you can rather than expectation. That said, if they PC it to the regular Platinum as I would suspect, you could still get the credit in year 2.
Can you have personal and this? Says this in offer terms…
“Under offer terms for MB plat ” This offer is not valid for existing Platinum Card Members from American Express “
[…] one of these $100 certificates every year with the Amex Platinum Mercedes-Benz card. But, as I just found out from Nick at Frequent Miler, it’s going away in January 2019. If you’ve never had it, get it while you […]
At the bottom of that image it says Welcome Bonus offer not available to applicants
….who have or had have this product before…
If I have currently have the personal amex plat can I apply for the Merc Plat and get the bonus?
Yes. You can get the signup bonus on each flavor of the Platinum card one time (“vanilla” Amex Plat, Mercedes-Benz, Scwab, Morgan-Stanley). Each is considered a separate product.
Can you own both the regular Platinum Amex and Mercedes-Benz’s benz platinum Amex at the same time?
Yes. You can have as many different flavors of the Platinum card as you want (provided Amex will approve them).
Thanks for the info Nick. So tempting to go for this even though my AF on the regular Plat isn’t due until May. I was hoping to see if I get a nice retention bonus or dump it since the AF goes up to $550. I’m hoping they announce when the apps will be cut off as I’m going to hold off and see what May brings.
I would love to apply but without MS, I cannot spend 5k in three months. I think I will have to let it go for now.
tax season, knock knock.
Taxes is a great idea. Prepay cable/internet/mobile payments.
Is Amex ok with Plastiq rent payments for MS categorization purposes?
Residential rent payments are OK. See our Complete Guide to plastiq payments for a graphic.
https://frequentmiler.com/complete-guide-to-plastiq-credit-card-payments/
Thanks got both. That makes 5 amex for me.
charge card does not count toward 5 amex, but the credit card does