American Express is consistently one of the highest rated credit card issuers. This could be because the customers are demographically different than average Visa and MasterCard customers. American Express customers are generally individuals and businesses with higher credit ratings, and they are more likely to make better financial decisions. Additionally, many American Express cards are charge cards. Charge cards don’t have associated interest rates, so every bill is due in full. As a result, American Express customers generally don’t buy what they can’t afford to pay back within 30 days.

In the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 credit card satisfaction survey, American Express received five out of five in all ratings categories: overall satisfaction, credit card terms, rewards, and benefits. This is the fifth consecutive year that AmEx has taken the highest honors. American Express also won the highest accolades from personal finance bloggers, taking home the Best Credit Card in the First Annual Plutus Awards last year, with the Blue from American Express card.

Here’s an overview of the major credit and charge cars from American Express and reviews for each.

The Platinum Card® from American Express is the flagship charge card, offering the best benefits American Express can offer. With this card, AmEx will reimburse the cardholder up to $200 in airline fees each year, including any fee from any airline. Members will be able to enter private lounge areas at airports to pass the time in comfort. When cardholders use AmEx’s travel services, they will benefit from free companion tickets. AmEx has a concierge available to tend to all customers’ needs. Businesses can receive similar features with the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN.

These benefits come at a significant cost. With an annual fee of $450, the Platinum Card is not for the faint of heart. The potential benefits could outweigh this annual fee, but this is a personal decision. This card would simply not be the best match for many consumers due to that annual fee.

Sitting in between the Platinum Cards and the regular Gold Card is the Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express. New cardholders will receive 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $1,000 in the first three months of card membership. On purchases, you cardholders earn points quickly, with three points per dollar on airfare, two points per dollar on gas and groceries, one one point per dollar on all other purchases. These points can be used to fly anytime, anywhere, on any airline. Members receive exclusive access to buy tickets for popular events.

This card carries a $175 annual fee, much less than the Platinum Card, but the benefits are not as extensive. The annual fee is waived for the first year.

The American Express® Gold Card offers some of the same features as the Platinum card, but at a lower level. Today, this card offers a 10,000 Membership Rewards bonus when you spend $1,000 in your first three months of card membership. Benefits include 24-hour roadside assistance, and exclusive, early access to purchase tickets for events. With the business version, The NEW Business Gold Rewards Card® from American Express OPEN, you can earn points faster, get rewarded for what your business already spends.

Both versions of the charge card waive the annual fee for the first year. Thereafter the American Express Gold Card comes with an annual fee of $125, while the business version comes with an annual fee of $175.

For travelers that fly on Delta Airlines frequently, the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express is one of the best ways to earn relevant and valuable rewards. The introductory offer is up to 30,000 miles, which converts to $300 in Delta airfare. You can continue to earn miles at the rate of two miles per dollar spent on Delta flights and one mile per dollar for all other expenses. The Gold Delta SkyMiles card offers free checked bags on Delta flights for up to nine people in your reservation.

While the annual fee for this credit card is $95, American Express waives the fee for the first year.

For consumers with excellent credit, the Blue Cash Preferred from American Express offers one of the best cash back programs the issuer has to offer. After a $150 sign-up bonus after spending $1,000 within the first three months of card membership, earn 6% on supermarket purchases, 3% on gasoline and department store purchases, and 1% on everything else. This is the best cash back offer American Express has, and it is better than offers from many other issuers, as well.

The Blue Cash Preferred from American Express comes with a $75 annual fee, but you can eliminate this fee or even make more money by referring qualified customers to the card.

Consumers with good credit can consider the Blue Cash Everyday(SM) from American Express, offering consumers one of the best cash back programs the issuer has available. Earn 3% on supermarket purchases, 2% on gasoline and department store purchases, and 1% cash back on everything else as well as $100 cash back bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months. There are no spending thresholds to overcome before earning this cash back. Unlike the Gold and Platinum cards, Blue Cash Everyday is a credit card, so purchases are subject to interest fees if the bills are not paid in full.

There is no annual fee for being a member of Blue Cash Everyday.

The Blue Sky from American Express and the Blue Sky Preferred from American Express are credit cards, not charge cards, focused on travel rewards. With the Blue Sky card, spenders earn one point for every dollar spent on the card, but those points are about 33% more valuable than typical rewards programs. You need only 7,500 points to qualify for a $100 statement credit. The Blue Sky Preferred card has the additional feature of earning two points for ever dollar spent on hotels, dining and car rental purchases, as well as an annual $100 airline allowance to cover airline fees, like checked baggage.

The Blue Sky has no annual fee, and The Blue Sky Preferred Card comes with a $75 annual fee.

Without fail, the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express is the readers’ favorite at Consumerism Commentary. This credit card currently features an introductory bonus of 25,000 Starpoints, receive 10,000 Starpoints after your first purchase and an additional 15,000 Starpoints when you spend $5,000 in six months. Starpoints can be used for free nights and hotels and free flights with many airlines (over 350). The business version of this card, the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express OPEN, offers the same features for small businesses and their owners.

The Starwood cards comes with a $65 annual fee, waived for the first year.

The TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express is another favorite among Consumerism Commentary readers. There is no bonus offer with this credit card, but the cash back arrangement is solid. Approved applicants can immediately begin receiving cash back at the rates of 3% on gasoline purchases up to $3,000 (1% thereafter), 2% on restaurants and travel, and 1% on all other purchases, including purchases at Costco.

For Costco members in good standing, this credit card has no annual fee.

All the above American Express cards, both credit cards and charge cards, have the same security features, extended warranty benefits, and purchase protection.

This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.

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For people in certain businesses, perception is more important than reality. A real estate agent who sells high-value properties generally tries to impress his or her clients by looking the part of a high-value property real estate agent. Fancy cars, fancy meals, and fancy clothing are all part of this facade. While the American Centurion “Black” card built up a bit of high-end reputation among celebrities thanks to some clever marketing, the business equivalent is the Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN. Don’t rush to jump in, though. Owning this card costs money. Although it’s likely deductible as a business expense, the $450 annual fee only makes sense for a select number of businesses.

Unlike most small business cards, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN is a charge card, and a feature of charge cards from American Express is the lack of a pre-set spending limit. When it comes time to make a purchase, American Express will determine immediately whether or not to approve the charge. For small purchases, transactions are all but guaranteed to be processed. For larger purchases, American Express takes the business’s credentials into account.

Charge cards don’t have interest rates because monthly bills are due in full by the due date. If your business has a charge card in mind, make sure it has the cash to back up every purchase. If a business gets into trouble with this card, the individual, not just the business, can be responsible for the balance and can suffer the consequences, whether debt collection, negative remarks on the credit report, or worse.

Business owners of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN will receive a variety of cash back perks as well as a personal concierge. For that sizable fee of $450, business cardholders receive these benefits:

• A $200 airline fee annual reimbursement.
• Savings of 3% to 10% on business expenses with merchants like FedEx, Hyatt Hotels and more
• Airport Club access for you and two companions
• Anytime personal concierge service
• Guaranteed late checkout at hotels and continental breakfasts

Only business owners with excellent credit will be approved for the Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN. In some cases, that $450 fee pays for itself in the value of collected rewards and perks. To determining whether this card is right for your business, visit The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN.

Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.

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As I live not too far from Newark, New Jersey, many of my flights around the country are serviced by Continental Airlines, an airline with a significant hub at Newark Liberty International Airport. Like all airlines, Continental has been cutting services and adding fees to keep fares low, but I’ve never had a bad experience with the airline. I came very close to cashing in 30,000 miles in exchange for first-class upgrades in a recent trip, but the seats never became available. It took a few days for the unused miles to be credited back to my account, but even customer service was helpful.

Since I travel every year, I’ve decided to begin using the Chase Continental Airlines OnePass® Plus Card to improves my benefits. While cash back credit cards have done well for me for many years, I never earn more than $500 a year. With a credit card providing a mile for every dollar spent, a number of bonus opportunities, and a free checked bag on every flight, I could probably receive more in benefits that with my two cash back rewards cards. This is despite a $95 annual fee that kicks in after the first year.

The Continental Airlines OnePass® Plus Card offers benefits similar to my (no-fee) Visa Signature card, such as concierge services, extended warranties, and price protection. There are some promotions right now, too:

• Earn up to 40,000 bonus miles & first year free ($95 value)*
• Now with priority boarding privileges on Continental and United flights
• Check your first bag for free on Continental and United flights, up to a $50 value
• Visit the United Club with two complimentary passes every year, a $100 value
• Earn 2 miles for $1 spent on tickets purchased from Continental and United and 1 mile per $1 everywhere else
• Your miles don’t expire and there is no limit to the number of miles you can earn

After completing my application, I was accepted in under 60 seconds. Oddly, the acceptance page was blank in my web browser and I couldn’t determine the next steps. Reloading resulted in an error and completing the application a second time would probably raise a red flag. Thankfully, everything worked out well and I received the card about a week later. As miles aren’t a real currency, they are always in danger of being devalued. This type of systemic risk isn’t for everyone, particularly if the rewards drawn don’t compensate for the annual fee.

With the potential to earn 40,000 bonus miles the first year and 10,000 bonus miles every year thereafter, the Continental Airlines OnePass® Plus Card is a great credit card for frequent fliers of United and Continental. The annual fee is a reason not to own this card but the savings and benefits for fliers is far to great too ignore, even if it costs $95 a year beginning in the second year. If you’re interested in filling out an application, visit the Continental Airlines OnePass® Plus Card application.

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