Comments on: American Express Cobalt Review

By: Barry Choi

Barry Choi — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 15:01:19 +0000

In reply to Meghan. Meghan, No lounge access for the Cobalt.

By: Meghan

Meghan — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 14:59:04 +0000

In reply to Alex Thompson. Do you get lounge access with the cobalt?

By: Barry Choi

Barry Choi — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 21:06:41 +0000

In reply to Chris.

Hey Chris,

For a base earn, 1.5% is typically the best.

That said, the simply preferred from American Express card earns you 2% cash back as the base earn rate. However, it’s a personal card so charging the amounts you do will get you flagged.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 20:25:17 +0000

In reply to Barry Choi. Thanks for your prompt reply Barry. I'll check out the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite business card. Not so concerned about airline as I also have an aeroplan business visa. So from my research, 1.5% is about the ceiling these days?

By: Barry Choi

Barry Choi — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 19:53:28 +0000

In reply to Chris.

Hey Chris,

So with a $400-$500k spend, I suspect Amex would flag you if you used the Cobalt. They would probably only allow you to use a business card. The Amex Platinum Business Card gives you 1.25 points per $1 spent. That’s a 1.25% return, but if you transferred your points to Aeroplan, you could get more value.

One alternative is the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite business card which gives you 1.5 points per $1 spent (1.5%) return. That’s respectable, but Scene+ has no airline transfer partners.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 18:54:35 +0000

Hi Barry, just read your piece. Am considering this card but here are my concerns… I will reach the 30K limit on restaurant and travel fairly quickly (streaming no) maximizing out and ending up at 1% on the rest of it. I put through in upwards of 400-500K on my card a year so ultimately I am looking for brass tacks best rate of return. At one time had the Cap One Aspire at 2% and that was great until they devalued to 1.5% and then cancelled my card. I now have the HSBC world elite and didn’t have many complaints until they devalued from 1.5% to 1% in February. 1% is just not enough. I’m not necessarily worried about perks etc. Just cashback in either travel (in a flex redemption like HSBC or Aspire have) or statement credit. So after the thresholds are met on this card –It’s one percent. Is there another card out there (preferably not Amex due to lower merchant acceptance) that gives a better overall base rate of earn on all purchases without categories and caps?

Thank you in advance

Chris

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 13:57:21 +0000

I’ve had this card for over a year now and have been accumulating quite a few MR-S points through their 5x accelerator on food/dining/grocery etc as well their monthly promotions with key vendors. One key way to maximize points on accelerators like this one on any credit card that has it is to get gift cards for items that aren’t covered under the accelerator at the food/dining/grocery stores. ie I get 5x points on gas, Amazon etc.. because I purchase pre-paid cards at the grocery store where I get 5x the points.

By: The Best no Foreign Transaction fee Credit Cards in Canada - Money We Have

The Best no Foreign Transaction fee Credit Cards in Canada - Money We Have — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 15:42:27 +0000

[…] points per $1 spent on grocery, dining, and entertainment purchases which puts in on part with the Amex Cobalt card, but you get no forex fees with this card. 3 points per $1 spent on gas, public transportation, […]

By: Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard Review - Money We Have

Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard Review - Money We Have — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 13:13:09 +0000

[…] said, you could technically earn up to 5% in points back on your Amazon purchases if you used your American Express Cobalt card. You’d have to purchase Amazon gift cards at grocery stores where you earn 5 Membership Rewards […]

By: Barry Choi

Barry Choi — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 01:39:18 +0000

In reply to Ethan.

Ethan,

You don’t get free lounge passes with that card. You get Mastercard Airport Experiences provided by LoungeKey which allows you to access their lounges for $32 USD per visit. Basically Mastercard Airport Experiences provided by LoungeKey means you get a free standard Priority Pass Membership.

The Scotiabank card gives you the standard membership AND 6 free lounge visits per year.