524 posts
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Post by callum on Jan 30, 2017 0:57:51 GMT
Hi all - thinking about getting an American Express Basic card not because I need a new credit card but simply for the pre-sale benefits it offers to the National Theatre, Ticketmaster and the BFI. If anyone has done this for the same reasons do they have any advice? Is it a good idea? Is there anything I need to watch out for? Looking forward to responses - cheers!
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848 posts
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Post by duncan on Jan 30, 2017 3:04:51 GMT
I dropped my Amex when they introduced an annual fee just for having the card. I had a Platinum credit card and they wanted £25 a year just for having one so it was cheerio from me.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2017 6:59:38 GMT
There are multiple types of amex card with various benefits, some have an annual fee and some don't. Also some are credit cards and some are charge cards - the difference is that with a charge card you have to pay off the total balance every month. The Basic card is a charge card: Two credit card options with no annual fee are British Airways American Express Credit Card and the Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card If you go to www.americanexpress.com/uk/content/all-cards/cm/ you can select the ones with no fee. Note that many have similar names - eg the one Duncan mentions is presumably the Platinum Cashback Card as opposed to "Cashback Everyday". You can see from other threads on amex (and the Angels in America one) that the NT presale is a great deal! The ticketmaster presale is not something I've used, and it does seem to be for a fairly restricted set of events. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2017 8:42:26 GMT
I have the Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card. I buy my NT tickets in the Amex presale, I pay off the Amex card immediately, and it consequently costs me nothing. I'd rather not use it like a normal credit card, as the APR is much higher than I'd like (and much higher than my Visa), but using it as an intermediate step in the booking process is fine. I also like that it gets me free tours of the NT, I genuinely think I might do that several times a year as different plays move in and out of the repertory.
One thing to bear in mind, the seats that are made available to you on Amex booking day aren't necessarily going to be great and you may prefer to hold out for £15 seats in the public booking or the £20 Friday rush tickets once you've seen what's available. And I don't think you're able to use NT credit vouchers if you're booking as an Amex booker, so if you tend to collect those you could end up with quite a stash! But if you're fairly comfortably off, then knowing that seats are held back exclusively for Amex bookers even after a show appears to have sold out can be quite reassuring, even if they're £45/£60 and not as near to the front as one might like. (You do still have to beat all the other Amex bookers to the punch though; even the Amex allocations for Angels In America are all gone now.)
I literally only have my Amex for the NT, and I've only had it a few months, but it's already proven itself to be a very worthwhile decision for me personally.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2017 8:48:18 GMT
I got one just for the Angels in America booking period, which for peace of mind was worth it. I've also got the cashback one with no fee, as I didn't intend to use it as a credit card- likewise I just paid off what I bought straight away.
I think it depends how much you go to the NT. For me, living far away honestly I probably won't use it again as there's very little that has the same 'must be sure I have tickets' factor. I'd look at the other offers on Amex pre sale and see if they're any use to you.
By contrast, I find the MasterCard 'perks' are one I've taken advantage of more (I happened to get a MasterCard as a credit card for a 0% offer but I've used a fair few ticket and attraction offers on their perks system)
ETA: I did already earn a chunk of cashback so I'm tempted to use it and pay it off so I get cashback. |
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4,156 posts
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Post by kathryn on Jan 30, 2017 8:52:43 GMT
Amex has a referral programme and a rewards scheme. If anyone does want an Amex I'd be very obliged if you'd let me refer you - we'd both get a kickback. I can refer to the BA Amex (which earns you Avios - I'm collecting for my trip to NZ next year). You get an Avios bonus if you spend £1k on it in the first 3 months. Amex-branded cards earn 'membership rewards' when can be transferred to all sorts of schemes (including Avios) and are very useful. I currently have the Gold charge card - fee free in the first year, you get free travel insurance and 2 free airport lounge passes with it, and 20k membership rewards points if you spend £2k in the first 3 months of having it. I tend to apply for that one when I have a couple of big purchases coming up! Amex also has an offers programme that does things like give you statement credits for spending certain amounts in certain shops/restaurants, and 10% off at the NT bookshop. Take a look here: network.americanexpress.com/connect/uk/en/default.htmlI ❤️my Amex!! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2017 8:53:52 GMT
One thing to bear in mind, the seats that are made available to you on Amex booking day aren't necessarily going to be great and you may prefer to hold out for £15 seats in the public booking or the £20 Friday rush tickets once you've seen what's available. And I don't think you're able to use NT credit vouchers if you're booking as an Amex booker, so if you tend to collect those you could end up with quite a stash! My experience is that originally you ONLY had access to the Amex reserved seats in the Amex booking period, but they now seem to have anything left after members' booking, plus the Amex seats, plus sometimes more that have been made available. I've been surprised to get £15 seats at the front in the last two Amex booking periods (not for Angels!) You're right about credit vouchers - you can't them for the Amex presale. The box to enter a voucher code doesn't appear. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2017 9:24:51 GMT
I literally only have my Amex for the NT I figuratively only have my Amex for the CU |
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524 posts
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Post by callum on Jan 30, 2017 13:49:39 GMT
Thanks all - think I'll definitely go for one with no fee - the least strings possible. Very happy with my visa debit and will pay off Amex straight away if I buy tickets using it. After the stress of Angels booking, I'd hate to go through the same process when tickets are released for Follies and Network. Will also definitely make use of it at the London Film Festival when those tickets are released in September. Plus, concert tickets often tend to get released very close to when they're first announced - having an Amex card to hand will definitely be useful!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2017 23:30:19 GMT
After 2 and a half yrs of dating I've just found out the bf has an Amex Card! Shwing!
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