American Express Credit Card

The problem was AE in Europe is the low acceptability. Someone my argue with me but it is safe to say that other than high end restaurants and hotels, the card is not accepted.

Doesn't the name of the card tell the whole story? If it were acceptable in Europe, wouldn't it be called European Express?

Decades ago, American Express travel checks were the thing to have. Even their credit cards had high early acceptance. Today, travel checks are gone. Additionally, AE fees to the merchants are higher than Visa and Master Card (always have been). Many, many businesses have dropped the AE card because of the higher fees.

I travel with both an American Express and a Visa. Just as in the US, I like the option to use the AE card when I can, but know I have a Visa for when I find someplace when it's not accepted.

I have also found it true that some businesses in Europe do not accept the AE card, but I haven't found it much different than what I find in the US and for the same reason (high fees charged to the merchant). I own a business and we accept American Express, but I have to admit I cringe a bit when a customer uses it, but I accept that we have some who wish to, so we provide the option. Given the option, I use the American Express when I can.

The Delta Skymiles AmEx card is my main credit card because I get DOUBLE miles everytime I buy gas for my car, groceries from any major chain and anything at a major chain drugstore. Also, all of the discount stores like Tuesday Morning, TJ Maxx and Ross take AmEx, as do all the major stores like The Gap, Macy's etc. Our Sprint bill is automatically paid every month on AmEx. The only places that really don't accept AmEx are smaller independent stores, medical offices and colleges (I charge my daughter's tuition and fees on a United or American Airlines Visa to get those miles). I don't use the "generic" cards because: 1)they are NOT combined with miles you earn from actually flying and 2)they seem to cost more miles than from each airline directly. Delta's American Express is a great card for earning lots of miles quickly through their double miles for gas,drugs and grocery program, plus every so often they offer double and triple miles for certain periods of time, but you really do also need a back-up MasterCard or Visa. Another nice perk with the AmEx card is the yearly $99 companion ticket benefit. AmEx is the only card that we keep every year and pay the annual fee. We think it's an indepensible card. It's true that it's not widely used in Europe, but we almost always use cash from an ATM there, so it's not an issue.

Today at the post office I used my AmEx and again, it's another place where I earn double miles. And for the first time, I used it today when I took my dog to the vet. It seems to me that more and more merchants are now accepting American Express.

Well if the Post Office and the local vet both accept AMEX then of course the rest of Europe will GLADLY accept it, right???

Tim, I don't think Karen was asking about the acceptance of American Express in Europe. She was concerned about the number of retailers here accepting this card. The idea is to earn miles in America so you can FLY to Europe. My point is that I am able to use my AmEx almost daily for probably 95% of my credit card spending puchases. My family charges EVERYTHING possible (paying off entire bill each month) and we have found AmEx to be by far the best card to quickly earn many miles. In my experience, the number of establishments accepting AmEx has greatly increased over the past few years. In my town of Bend, almost everyone takes it.

I have had my Skymiles Amex card for many years now and have used miles for several overseas tickets, including my ticket for this July. No problems and got my choice of itinerary, etc. I use it everywhere here in the US with no problems. I brought a Mastercard last Sep to Europe and used it a few times in stores that would not accept Amex. No problems charging hotels, etc. on it in Europe (and they were not high-end)!

Thanks for the replies. After reading about the issue in the Sunday Minneapolis Tribune and discussing it with my husband we've made a decision. We'll get both cards for a year--the fees will be waived for one year. If the Amex card is too much of a problem, we will drop it. However, we will probably use it for the next few years until my husband retires. (He earns a lot of miles in his job, and it is handy to be able to add our credit card miles to his work miles.)

I am not one who "puts everything on the credit card to earn miles." It's a personal decision. I spend less money if I have to fork over hard-earned cash. Acceptance in Europe is an issue for me. I would rather have just one main credit card in my wallet--with perhaps another as a backup. I wish that Delta Skymiles were affiliated with Visa.

"I spend less money if I have to fork over hard earned cash" implies that using credit cards and paying them off in full every month uses something other(?) than hard earned cash. I regard the wise, well thought out, methodical use of credit cards to earn free travel to be a very frugal economic plan. Getting to take the family to Europe every year on free miles is a huge financial asset that contributes substantially to the well being and quality of life of our family. Also, I am aware that using an AmEx card in Europe often results in higher fees, which negates the value of the miles I may earn in the process. I'm sure far too many people should limit credit card use. Discipline and a thorough understanding of the costs/benefits is crucial in any financial matter.