I have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and travel non-rev quite a bit. Lots of hotels, lots of eating out. Getting new card to have with my SO, and wanting to maximized card beneifts. We travel a lot, and have quite a few big purchases coming up. Looking at Amex Platinum. Thoughts?

 

Marriot and/or Hilton branded Amex too.

 

Amazon.

Gives you rental car insurance.

Purchase protection.

5-6% cash back on Amazon purchases and no anal fee.

Also 5% back on chase travel website.
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the super branded cards that give you access to all those business class lounges are a scam. They have high fees and they never let you into the lounges.

The amex plat is a waste of money. I had it at one point and never was able to take advantage of the perks because you have to have a confirmed seat assignment. The "points" that amex gives you are also worthless anyway.

If you're like me and charge everything you almost end up getting everything free off Amazon after a while. I buy everything via Amazon and i haven't been "charged" anything by Amazon in months. It's much more practical for us.

Those travel branded credit cards are only good for Bobby big dick that pays cash for a business class ticket every fews months

 

Amazon card rental coverage is secondary. In my opinion is worthless. Primary coverage is king.

Amex platinum card has fantastic return protection and extended warranty coverage. The extended warranty policy put 800 bucks back in my pocket when something failed just after the included warranty coverage.

I recently redeemed a $1500 delta ticket through virgin Atlantic for 30000 Amex points. Last year I did the same with a ticket on VA but it was for 14000 Amex points. Granted the juicy VA redemptions have been limited.

The five percent on the Amazon card is great. But if I'm buying something expensive that might break or I might want to return after 30 days.... I'm not using it.

I've really enjoyed the FHR hotel benefits on the platinum card but it is a challenge to find a cheap enough hotel to make it work. Guaranteed 4pm check out, breakfast for two, and $100 to use at the hotel is awesome. Fhr credits back $200 for the room. So if you can find a room for under 300 it's a darn good deal for a fun night in a fancy hotel.

Between the streaming credits and the Uber credits along with a few lounge visits I'm happy enough with the value.

As to your question - try it for a year the sign on bonus covers the annual fee. Even if you end up using the Amex points to get home Depot gift cards. Or if you don't like the card down grade to say a Green card and sit on the points until you can redeem them for air travel.

Lounge access can be fickle at times but I've succeeded more times than I've been turned away. They can be crowded but I would rather be in a crowded lounge than the terminal anyday.

 

uhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

I think the Amazon card is secondary coverage. The United explorer card has primary coverage and you get lounge access a few times a year. I am not sure about the anal fee, I have never looked into that.

 

I've been thinking about this a lot. I've got the Amex Gold and have racked up quite a lot of points but I feel I'd get more benefit from other cards. I was thinking of going with some combo of Hilton and Marriott cards as that's where most of our stays are. Then I could get free breakfast most of the time and work towards some free hotel stays. Flying non-rev, I don't see any benefit with the Amex Platinam and other cards that offer Priority Pass are useless as the lounges are not in the UA terminals.

Personally I feel that if I've got time to go to the lounge, then I'm arriving at the airport too early and if I need access, I can just buy it at the airport.

I might start with the Hilton Surpass card as it covers most of my major spending categories.

 

Have lifetime Diamond/Titanium with Hilton/Marriott. I say about of the 1/3rd recognize our status with our hotel contracts. Most even laugh a little when I ask about lounge access or breakfast.

 

Not all priority pass memberships are created equal. Chase Sappire Reserve, Chase Ritz Carlton and (I think) Capital One Venture X include dining ($28 pp & 1 guest). Many of our hubs (in our terminals/concourses) have the restaurants on the list. I use it to get to-go food on turns or eat in restaurant if it's a longer one. $56 goes a long way and adds up. If you want to go the Marriott Route, Chase's Marriott offering will allow you to upgrade to the Ritz Carlton card after a year which includes the priority pass restaurant offerings as well, plus an additional card member is free. That's huge if you travel with your family as 4 people can dine for free. Unfortunately you can't apply for the Ritz Carlton card directly any longer, only upgrade from a lesser product after 1 year.

Here is a recent list of the restaurants in the program:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/priori...restaurant-us/

 

Say no more fam. I’m
sold. Time to close this thread down.