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Amex as Secondary CC with Axis Atlas being Primary CC

kaykayporty

TF Select
I have the following cards:

1. Axis Atlas (got it in first week of Jan 2025)
2. Amex Platinum Travel (renewal in July, 50K away from 4L - will use for insurance and tax payments)
3. Amex MRCC (no fee this year, crossed 2.9L)

---

My use case:

  1. Yearly expenses 7.5-8 lakhs on CC (combined)
  2. 1L in travel expenses (hotels + flights) in a year
  3. Axis Atlas would be my primary card
  4. I want another card for Insurance and tax payments.
    1. This would be an AMEX card because they have no exclusions.
    2. This would also serve categories where I'm not sure of the MCC.
    3. I have good number of Amex points I want to use later this year and keep my amex account active (because of great support and chargeback)
Yes, I want to keep an active relationship with Amex because of how mature their systems are. I'm spoilt.

Assuming I'll spend 6-6.5L on Axis Atlas (minimum) in total, what Amex card should I keep for ~1.5-2L?
 
If the spends are infrequent, massive at times and around 4L yearly, then Plat Travel makes sense.

If they're small, fixed, monthly, then MRCC makes more sense.
They're more like,

  1. If I can't use Atlas due to an exclusion, then I'd want Amex.
  2. If it's retailer I'd not trust or likely to follow up with a chargeback, then I'd want Amex.
  3. Spends would be infrequent and not fixed.
  4. Mainly to keep my Amex account active.
  5. Let's assume they're 2L
    1. The fees for Plat Travel would be too high, no?
    2. Should I wait for the renewal time to check this and take a decision then?
 
Doesn't it make more sense to stick to one single rewards ecosystem rather than splitting your points? Think about this; 30k Axis miles in a year aren't going to mean anything unless you're able to top it off using some other source, and 50k Amex points in a year aren't going to amount to anything unless you're able to top it off using some other source. In both cases, this other source could be your secondary card.
 
Doesn't it make more sense to stick to one single rewards ecosystem rather than splitting your points? Think about this; 30k Axis miles in a year aren't going to mean anything unless you're able to top it off using some other source, and 50k Amex points in a year aren't going to amount to anything unless you're able to top it off using some other source. In both cases, this other source could be your secondary card.
You're absolutely right.

Just to clarify - I want to keep an AMEX for keeping an active relationship with them. No matter what the card is.

With my total expenses, I'm assuming that 1.5L would not be possible with Atlas due to exclusions (this is an assumption).
 
I have the following cards:

1. Axis Atlas (got it in first week of Jan 2025)
2. Amex Platinum Travel (renewal in July, 50K away from 4L - will use for insurance and tax payments)
3. Amex MRCC (no fee this year, crossed 2.9L)

---

My use case:

  1. Yearly expenses 7.5-8 lakhs on CC (combined)
  2. 1L in travel expenses (hotels + flights) in a year
  3. Axis Atlas would be my primary card
  4. I want another card for Insurance and tax payments.
    1. This would be an AMEX card because they have no exclusions.
    2. This would also serve categories where I'm not sure of the MCC.
    3. I have good number of Amex points I want to use later this year and keep my amex account active (because of great support and chargeback)
Yes, I want to keep an active relationship with Amex because of how mature their systems are. I'm spoilt.

Assuming I'll spend 6-6.5L on Axis Atlas (minimum) in total, what Amex card should I keep for ~1.5-2L?
Plat travel will only be really useful if you can spend exactly 4L . otherwise No to Plat Travel.
As your spends are near 2L, keep MRCC .. Very simple.. no need to complicate it.
 
Last edited:
I have the following cards:

1. Axis Atlas (got it in first week of Jan 2025)
2. Amex Platinum Travel (renewal in July, 50K away from 4L - will use for insurance and tax payments)
3. Amex MRCC (no fee this year, crossed 2.9L)

---

My use case:

  1. Yearly expenses 7.5-8 lakhs on CC (combined)
  2. 1L in travel expenses (hotels + flights) in a year
  3. Axis Atlas would be my primary card
  4. I want another card for Insurance and tax payments.
    1. This would be an AMEX card because they have no exclusions.
    2. This would also serve categories where I'm not sure of the MCC.
    3. I have good number of Amex points I want to use later this year and keep my amex account active (because of great support and chargeback)
Yes, I want to keep an active relationship with Amex because of how mature their systems are. I'm spoilt.

Assuming I'll spend 6-6.5L on Axis Atlas (minimum) in total, what Amex card should I keep for ~1.5-2L?
For 1.5L, it screaming MRCC because of fee waiver
 
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