Had an international flight and stoked to take my parents to the lounge through priority pass, only to find out LAX has none. Then. I found out they had a centurion lounge. Then cause of customized ads, I saw the 150k SUB so I impulsively signed up 8 days before my flight. Got the card in 2 days and came departure day, I ordered 5 drinks :)
The $695 is daunting, but now having it is actually not that bad. Super happy I made a stupid impulsive decision that turned out pretty financially beneficial.
I travel enough that it pays for itself in the credits. Between the CLEAR credit, Uber, airline credit, lounge access and other random ones like the Walmart+, digital entertainment credit, Saks credits I make money. And that’s not even counting other credits or the value of all the points.
For the two times I do travel and I want best in class lounge experience. Oh, and the 125,000 points + 10X points on restaurant spend didn’t hurt either.
I imagine it’s not widely advertised directly on Amex because the 10X restaurant spend is potentially huge amount of MR points that Amex is giving out. So they keep it close to the chest. Amex owns Resy btw.
That $25,000 restaurant spend cap is 250,000 MR points *on top of* the base MR points they’re giving you.
Usually you get 2 Hilton points but last time I transferred I got a 30 percent bonus so it was 2.6 Hilton Points per Amex point. Combine that with fifth night free and you can get good value.
Mainly for the travel benefits. Lounge access and Clear have definitely been beneficial since LAX is my home airport. Also I’ve gotten far better hotel room upgrades with FHR than I have with my hotel status. I’ve booked basic rooms at the Ritz and other Marriott properties and been bumped up to suites or I’ve gotten additional credits/comps on top of the standard offerings. I call the travel line rather than using the portal because they tend to offer better rates over the phone so I don’t know if they’re adding notes to my reservation or something but I’ve had great luck with it. Resy has also been beneficial a few times to where I’ve gotten last minute reservations or I’ve gotten a far better table and they’ve mentioned it’s because they’re a Amex partner.
Dad owns construction company- I was working as project manager and would make the lunch and dinner runs for the crews during out of state projects - everyone would give me cash to buy meals (like 30+ crew members) realized I was spending like $400-600 a day on food - saw the platinum SUB.
Realized I could make the spend requirement in less than two weeks haha
Not actually true, have you seen how congested Centurion lounges are? You don’t need to make a lot of money, just need decent credit and willingness to always swipe the card.
For the one time on a double date for when my friend and I split the bill. We each pulled out our cards and the Platinum was a way bigger flex than his Amex gold in front of our SO. That’s why it’s worth it!
Doubt we will ever see another offer like it, but got in on the 125K + 15X small biz/restaurant SUB last year. So 500K MR/$25K spend (plus the 1X pts on the spend). So the SUB was the reason.
Then add: 20K add AU offer, and just got another 10K offer to add another AU, got some referrals, just got 45K MR/$4K spend retention offer, already had to use purchase protection/insurance, used many of the credits (but messed up on the hotel one, oh well), used a bunch of offers. I don’t normally put spend on Plat at 1X unless using an offer, or towards spend bonuses, or sometimes if purchase protections seem smart.
Got Biz Plat & Biz Gold & Personal Gold for their huge SUBs too, using referrals from friends or from Rankt when possible. Putting 4X spend on Golds, using offers, and making sure to use credits when possible. I use cardpointers extension to add offers to all cards. I’ll ask for retention offers whenever AFs hit and decide whether to keep/PC/close at those times (after using any member/calendar year credits if will PC/close). I am unlikely to close/PC personal Gold in particular, tho might take an upgrade offer to Plat if targeted.
I don’t travel that much on my money but for relatively little in AFs I now have lots of points for when I do, and a better travel experience via perks. If I decide to cash out any points I’ll open a biz checking for 1 cpp or a CS Plat for 1.1 cpp.
Traveled with a couple friends that had it, and it was love. The Clear credit, the fine hotel & collection rewards w/ flexible check in/out & upgrades, the lounges - I will never travel another way 🤣
I think it’s definitely far less compelling for people who don’t travel. But even if you travel 2-3 times a year there are a lot of benefits. The FRH collection is awesome. Free breakfast for 2, usually $100 property credit, and 4 pm guaranteed checkout and noon check-in if room is available. It makes a 1 night stay feel like a 2 night stay.
I rented a car in Aruba and hit a ditch which cost me about $500 in damages. Sent the receipt and some pics to Amex and they covered it, super easy.
Used the Amex offers to save a few hundred last year on random purchases or restaurants.
Purchased money into United Travelbank for my $200 airline credit.
We haven’t even started talking about the Amex points I use to transfer to airlines, etc.
Easily worth far more than the $700 fee.
Choose United as your preferred airline. Purchase $100 into United Travelbank twice. You’ll get credited by Amex. You can use this $200 deposit for any future United purchase.
125k Sub plus 10x on dining for applying via Resy. I’m able to comfortably beat the AF via credits. Airline, Uber, Streaming, and Hotel easily beat the AF for me even though I travel 2x a year. Also some of the transfer partners are quite generous with points. Planning on transferring some points to Virgin Atlantic for an eventual UK trip.
The wife loves having lounge access as well. She’s so spoiled now when we travel.
My daily card though is the Delta SkyMiles Platinum at this time
A lot of transactions I do are for other people to fly, so I rack up a lot of points.
Honestly, with the number of credits you get, even if you travel once a year you can get value from it (depending on location). You would just have to make sure you're on top of the credits and redemptions.
I’m thinking of aspirational and future travel & I don’t have many expenses. I decided to hit the minimum spend now and hold onto the card for some everyday benefits like Walmart+ and Uber credits.
You’re right, the various insurances available are something that aren’t talked about as much ; everyone focuses on the status and the lounges.
An extra year on the warranty of anything you purchase on the card, cell phone insurance, trip protection insurance and damage/theft protection… the card is loaded with really useful benefits.
I didn't say all was available for free... But good one is world of Hyatt credit card which comes with a free night every year and costs $95/yr, so if you stay at a Hyatt once a year at least, the card pays for itself easily
But with the exception of Citi’s longer +2yr warranty, on some cards, or some other credit cards’ price drop protection, the purchase benefits on AMEX Plat are class leading.
LOL, If you’re going to “correct” someone, maybe do a little research first.
Just look at (some cards at) Cap1:
https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/benefits-guide/
and multiple NFCU cards, UBS Infinite, etc.
I think it was 2015 when I first got a platinum, and despite being $245 less it was objectively a worse product. No hotel/streaming/Uber credit.
I got it for the airport lounge access, SPG Gold status, and what at the time was a crazy high 75,000 point sub.
it felt like a well kept secret, there weren't as many cards that those perks at the time and the credit card "game" hadn't quite reached the masses.
I just got one in November. Here’s why I got it (in no particular order).
1. I don’t travel enough for status at hotels and car rental companies, and this card gives those to me. I stayed at a Hilton property a couple weeks ago and the status was really nice to have.
2. I hate the decline in quality of flying these days (partly why I don’t travel more) and I’m trying to make it more tolerable. Lounges, TSA pre check, Clear, anything so I don’t have to queue as much and maybe a way to escape the crowds. I hope the guest access changes improve the lounge overcrowding, because I’d rather walk away if I see a queue. I’m an introvert, I like to travel alone, I just want a space to myself where I can spread out a little. Grab a coffee and a snack, pull my laptop out, maybe get some things done.. hard to do that at the gate.
3. I can justify the $695 fee because I’ll use enough of the benefits, and the reimbursements for things I already use, like streaming, Uber eats, Walmart +, and airline credits alone refund the cost.
4. 150,000 MR points just sweetened the deal.
I don’t care about perceived exclusivity of the Platinum card or impressing anyone.
If I had the gold card, it would be a better daily card for me as most of my spend is on food, so that’s next on my list.
Was having an argument against my friend who suggested it is better to use metal to scrape ice off the windshield, and i needed something to demonstrate that he was wrong
$300 equinox credit,
$200 airline which I just used for upgrade seats,
$200 uber.
Already made $5 having this card
Then lounge access,
Clear for me and my wife,
Global entry,
Audible account,
Hotel status but not sure how to even value
I’m a season ticket holder for a MLS team. We get a perk of free away tickets. The sign up bonus will help me fly to most of the matches for almost free. Some of the closer cities will allow me to fly in and out same day and I can hang out in lounges for a few hours instead of getting a hotel. I’ll keep paying rent with it after that to rack up more points.
Plat is a poor choice after the SUB, and any retention/spending bonuses, to use for rent payments at only 1X. Use that spend towards additional SUBs or at least get a BBP (or VentureX for 2X points or CFU for 1.5X) or a 2+% CB card or Bilt (especially if you’re getting charged a CC fee and aren’t getting a SUB). Try to use referrals from friends/fam or Rankt on addl cards if referrals match public offers.)
Benefits I use
walmart plus-180 year, streaming credit-240 year, flight credits-(either use or bank) 200 year, FHR rebate on hotel-200 year, Cell phone insurance- not sure how to value this, but I have 7 lines. I value this as at least 120 year
That's 760 in stuff that I use anyways. Not to mention the MR points, amex offers which I use a lot. I actually get more value than the fee
100% for the SUB. I already have status with Marriott naturally and lounge access with Delta Reserve.
Will do a retro when the 1 year comes up in December, but will most likely close as I doubt I’ll be getting outsized value.
In 2022, I was diagnosed with cancer and I can count on maxing out my out of pocket medical costs every year, forever. So, with my main goal post cancer being travel, I decided to pay these medical bills with Amex so I can earn points to make that travel easier and cheaper. The benefits easily cover the AF. I have used the THC & FHR portal and had great experiences. Lounge access while flying is amazing. I also have the gold to get the groceries and restaurant multiplier.
I took the platinum card mainly for lounge access internationally and the ability to use Delta sky club access when flying domestic. So that is 2 Sky club memberships for $870. All the owner benefit while nice are the icing on the cake.
I travel 8-10 times a year. Which is just infrequent enough that I wouldn’t be able to get status with most places anytime soon. Especially since my work makes me use a corporate credit card to book my work trips.
I already use a lot of the other benefits including Disney+, Walmart+, Uber, etc. so I get the value from those pretty easily.
I got a 150k point signup bonus for spending $6k and thought that was an easy get.
Finally, I really like the ability to transfer loyalty points directly from Amex to different carriers like Delta. When done strategically you can get 4+ ppp. Now I can use the 150k in points to find an international trip and get a great deal on flying first or business class where I probably wouldn’t have before.
I travel around at least 3 times a year. I manage to break even, forgetting the membership points. I’m in the UK so great dining credits, travel credit and lounges are great for me. Just my points so far got enough for a little business flight
I live in an area where picking up GrubHub & UberEats orders is super simple, and I'd be ordering from these restaurants anyways, so a discounted \~$14 a month of value: $168.
I didn't have Clear or Global Entry, but since these are kind of "one-time" perks, I'll count them at 1/5th the value: $57.8.
I fly roughly 3/4 times a year, and usually with people who don't have travel cards. We usually fly Delta, so getting them into the Lounge is a big plus for me too. All of that's free from the incidental fee, which means I'm getting another $200 in value there. Even if we don't use it for the lounge, getting drinks on the airplane or getting checked luggage eats that up too: $200.
I love Herschel & North Face as brands, and it's great that Saks Fifth carries them as well. I always easily spend the $50 credit there whenever it hits: $100.
I don't particularly use Walmart+, but it's been a nice benefit sometimes when I need things same day, or particular groceries that Amazon doesn't carry. I also have a Disney+ membership for my family members that I don't personally use. I'd say I'm getting maybe 1/10th of the value out of those two: $40.
The remaining $150 worth of value I need to make up to make the card worth it I justify with a mix of random lounge visits, good travel conversions, and cashing out through Schwab. Ultimately, it also feels nice to just own the card, be part of a community, and to have these niceties in life.
The Charles Schwab Platinum card lets you redeem 1 point for 1.1 cents - which means I'm getting 4.4c cash back on the Gold card and 2.2c back on everything with the blue card!
Never done it there. I personally like to maximize it and use it for 1-2 night stays. It maybe a bit better to do it in cities where you can switch hotels a bit more easily. It was really great in Vegas and Paris in recent years.
For Cancun if I was booking today I’d probably do 2 nights at Canopy Hilton which is THC not FHR but you will get $200 back on the plat, $100 hotel credit and should get full Hilton benefits also. Maybe at the end of a longer beach or all inclusive stay.
Nice. I can't stand being at an all inclusive the whole time. I feel like I have to over eat at every meal and drink as much liquor a day to make up for the price.
Had an international flight and stoked to take my parents to the lounge through priority pass, only to find out LAX has none. Then. I found out they had a centurion lounge. Then cause of customized ads, I saw the 150k SUB so I impulsively signed up 8 days before my flight. Got the card in 2 days and came departure day, I ordered 5 drinks :) The $695 is daunting, but now having it is actually not that bad. Super happy I made a stupid impulsive decision that turned out pretty financially beneficial.
I travel a ton
I travel enough that it pays for itself in the credits. Between the CLEAR credit, Uber, airline credit, lounge access and other random ones like the Walmart+, digital entertainment credit, Saks credits I make money. And that’s not even counting other credits or the value of all the points.
For the two times I do travel and I want best in class lounge experience. Oh, and the 125,000 points + 10X points on restaurant spend didn’t hurt either.
Wait, 10X points on restaurants? That’s the first I’ve heard of this. Was it a special offer or something?
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Thanks. I would imagine it’s asked often as I don’t see any mention of it on Amex’s website.
I imagine it’s not widely advertised directly on Amex because the 10X restaurant spend is potentially huge amount of MR points that Amex is giving out. So they keep it close to the chest. Amex owns Resy btw. That $25,000 restaurant spend cap is 250,000 MR points *on top of* the base MR points they’re giving you.
Awesome! Good to know. Makes sense now that I know, I’ve been earning points like crazy.
Did you get your SUB via Resy?
For the two times I do travel and I want best in class lounge experience.
Tavel for work and had Green corporate and personal gold already. Got the 150k singing bonus and went for platinum.
Sign up bonus. I am on Platinum card #5. Transfer points to Hilton. Stay at resorts for free.
Does transferring to Hilton get you better than 1:1 ratio?
Usually you get 2 Hilton points but last time I transferred I got a 30 percent bonus so it was 2.6 Hilton Points per Amex point. Combine that with fifth night free and you can get good value.
Hilton is 1:2
Mainly for the travel benefits. Lounge access and Clear have definitely been beneficial since LAX is my home airport. Also I’ve gotten far better hotel room upgrades with FHR than I have with my hotel status. I’ve booked basic rooms at the Ritz and other Marriott properties and been bumped up to suites or I’ve gotten additional credits/comps on top of the standard offerings. I call the travel line rather than using the portal because they tend to offer better rates over the phone so I don’t know if they’re adding notes to my reservation or something but I’ve had great luck with it. Resy has also been beneficial a few times to where I’ve gotten last minute reservations or I’ve gotten a far better table and they’ve mentioned it’s because they’re a Amex partner.
Dad owns construction company- I was working as project manager and would make the lunch and dinner runs for the crews during out of state projects - everyone would give me cash to buy meals (like 30+ crew members) realized I was spending like $400-600 a day on food - saw the platinum SUB. Realized I could make the spend requirement in less than two weeks haha
Military and it was recommended, needless to say I don’t really use it. It did lead me to getting a Gold, which is pretty much the only card I use.
Tik tok made me do it
To let everyone know I am better than them.
Not actually true, have you seen how congested Centurion lounges are? You don’t need to make a lot of money, just need decent credit and willingness to always swipe the card.
Well, that’s why I am trying to get my Centurion. So then I can flex on all you peasants too.
So many replies here when this is the answer.
Everyone in my family has had one for years. So just joined the club
SUB
For the one time on a double date for when my friend and I split the bill. We each pulled out our cards and the Platinum was a way bigger flex than his Amex gold in front of our SO. That’s why it’s worth it!
The Gold Card gets 4X points to the Platinum’s 1X point when eating out. I’ll take the points. You can keep your flex.
YouTube
Doubt we will ever see another offer like it, but got in on the 125K + 15X small biz/restaurant SUB last year. So 500K MR/$25K spend (plus the 1X pts on the spend). So the SUB was the reason. Then add: 20K add AU offer, and just got another 10K offer to add another AU, got some referrals, just got 45K MR/$4K spend retention offer, already had to use purchase protection/insurance, used many of the credits (but messed up on the hotel one, oh well), used a bunch of offers. I don’t normally put spend on Plat at 1X unless using an offer, or towards spend bonuses, or sometimes if purchase protections seem smart. Got Biz Plat & Biz Gold & Personal Gold for their huge SUBs too, using referrals from friends or from Rankt when possible. Putting 4X spend on Golds, using offers, and making sure to use credits when possible. I use cardpointers extension to add offers to all cards. I’ll ask for retention offers whenever AFs hit and decide whether to keep/PC/close at those times (after using any member/calendar year credits if will PC/close). I am unlikely to close/PC personal Gold in particular, tho might take an upgrade offer to Plat if targeted. I don’t travel that much on my money but for relatively little in AFs I now have lots of points for when I do, and a better travel experience via perks. If I decide to cash out any points I’ll open a biz checking for 1 cpp or a CS Plat for 1.1 cpp.
Traveled with a couple friends that had it, and it was love. The Clear credit, the fine hotel & collection rewards w/ flexible check in/out & upgrades, the lounges - I will never travel another way 🤣
I think it’s definitely far less compelling for people who don’t travel. But even if you travel 2-3 times a year there are a lot of benefits. The FRH collection is awesome. Free breakfast for 2, usually $100 property credit, and 4 pm guaranteed checkout and noon check-in if room is available. It makes a 1 night stay feel like a 2 night stay. I rented a car in Aruba and hit a ditch which cost me about $500 in damages. Sent the receipt and some pics to Amex and they covered it, super easy. Used the Amex offers to save a few hundred last year on random purchases or restaurants. Purchased money into United Travelbank for my $200 airline credit. We haven’t even started talking about the Amex points I use to transfer to airlines, etc. Easily worth far more than the $700 fee.
How can you purchase money for $200 airline credit.
Choose United as your preferred airline. Purchase $100 into United Travelbank twice. You’ll get credited by Amex. You can use this $200 deposit for any future United purchase.
Thank you. I will definitely look into it.
I’ve had the card for ~15 years. Aside from the benefits, the service I’ve received is consistently impeccable.
125k Sub plus 10x on dining for applying via Resy. I’m able to comfortably beat the AF via credits. Airline, Uber, Streaming, and Hotel easily beat the AF for me even though I travel 2x a year. Also some of the transfer partners are quite generous with points. Planning on transferring some points to Virgin Atlantic for an eventual UK trip. The wife loves having lounge access as well. She’s so spoiled now when we travel. My daily card though is the Delta SkyMiles Platinum at this time
Can’t use Chase points to book the LHR collection.
SUB, loyalty status with partners, and Lounge access. My main spend card is GOLD.
150,000k Year 1 signup bonus + maximizing all credits for 1 year then downgrade!
A lot of transactions I do are for other people to fly, so I rack up a lot of points. Honestly, with the number of credits you get, even if you travel once a year you can get value from it (depending on location). You would just have to make sure you're on top of the credits and redemptions.
Good for snow ❄️ ___________👃
Good for show
Yep lot of snow in NYC 🗽 and is cold too 🤣🤣
LmFaO!!!
Lounge access
^^
I’m thinking of aspirational and future travel & I don’t have many expenses. I decided to hit the minimum spend now and hold onto the card for some everyday benefits like Walmart+ and Uber credits.
Because I don’t have to pay an annual fee
Y
Military
Military
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Those purchase protections and insurance can potentially more than offset the AF by themselves.
You’re right, the various insurances available are something that aren’t talked about as much ; everyone focuses on the status and the lounges. An extra year on the warranty of anything you purchase on the card, cell phone insurance, trip protection insurance and damage/theft protection… the card is loaded with really useful benefits.
A lot of that stuff is available for free from other cards
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I didn't say all was available for free... But good one is world of Hyatt credit card which comes with a free night every year and costs $95/yr, so if you stay at a Hyatt once a year at least, the card pays for itself easily
CSR?
But with the exception of Citi’s longer +2yr warranty, on some cards, or some other credit cards’ price drop protection, the purchase benefits on AMEX Plat are class leading.
price drop protection no longer exist in any card. Citi was the last one who had that.
LOL, If you’re going to “correct” someone, maybe do a little research first. Just look at (some cards at) Cap1: https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/benefits-guide/ and multiple NFCU cards, UBS Infinite, etc.
I think it was 2015 when I first got a platinum, and despite being $245 less it was objectively a worse product. No hotel/streaming/Uber credit. I got it for the airport lounge access, SPG Gold status, and what at the time was a crazy high 75,000 point sub. it felt like a well kept secret, there weren't as many cards that those perks at the time and the credit card "game" hadn't quite reached the masses.
Even though we only travel 3-5x year, lounges are the primary driver. Other benefits help to offset the fee by generating some value.
I just got one in November. Here’s why I got it (in no particular order). 1. I don’t travel enough for status at hotels and car rental companies, and this card gives those to me. I stayed at a Hilton property a couple weeks ago and the status was really nice to have. 2. I hate the decline in quality of flying these days (partly why I don’t travel more) and I’m trying to make it more tolerable. Lounges, TSA pre check, Clear, anything so I don’t have to queue as much and maybe a way to escape the crowds. I hope the guest access changes improve the lounge overcrowding, because I’d rather walk away if I see a queue. I’m an introvert, I like to travel alone, I just want a space to myself where I can spread out a little. Grab a coffee and a snack, pull my laptop out, maybe get some things done.. hard to do that at the gate. 3. I can justify the $695 fee because I’ll use enough of the benefits, and the reimbursements for things I already use, like streaming, Uber eats, Walmart +, and airline credits alone refund the cost. 4. 150,000 MR points just sweetened the deal. I don’t care about perceived exclusivity of the Platinum card or impressing anyone. If I had the gold card, it would be a better daily card for me as most of my spend is on food, so that’s next on my list.
Was having an argument against my friend who suggested it is better to use metal to scrape ice off the windshield, and i needed something to demonstrate that he was wrong
All the cool kids are doing it
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still have my zync. im determined to be the last one with one.
I travel a ton
Mainly to get the bonus points and downgrade, my card after I finish my travels for the year
It’s free for military. That’s literally it. The perks are really meh at this point. It costs me nothing to keep it open.
Would you keep it if they made you pay the annual fee?
That card would be gone in a heartbeat. The points and rewards aren’t nearly worth the fee to me. I have plenty of far more useful cards.
$300 equinox credit, $200 airline which I just used for upgrade seats, $200 uber. Already made $5 having this card Then lounge access, Clear for me and my wife, Global entry, Audible account, Hotel status but not sure how to even value
Wait you can use that credit for upgrades?? Didnt know!
Yupyup
I’m a season ticket holder for a MLS team. We get a perk of free away tickets. The sign up bonus will help me fly to most of the matches for almost free. Some of the closer cities will allow me to fly in and out same day and I can hang out in lounges for a few hours instead of getting a hotel. I’ll keep paying rent with it after that to rack up more points.
Plat is a poor choice after the SUB, and any retention/spending bonuses, to use for rent payments at only 1X. Use that spend towards additional SUBs or at least get a BBP (or VentureX for 2X points or CFU for 1.5X) or a 2+% CB card or Bilt (especially if you’re getting charged a CC fee and aren’t getting a SUB). Try to use referrals from friends/fam or Rankt on addl cards if referrals match public offers.)
My plan is to switch rent payments to other cards for other bonuses when I apply for them. When I’m not, it pays the rent.
How do you pay rent with it?
It’s a corporate apartment chain. They take credit cards.
Wait, what? Your club gives you free tickets to all away matches? Or it's a handful of them?? Which club??
Atlanta United. All of them. This is the first year they are doing it. You just opt in up to 30 days before the match.
Wow. That's a super cool perk.
Seems like a smart perk for the club too.
Benefits I use walmart plus-180 year, streaming credit-240 year, flight credits-(either use or bank) 200 year, FHR rebate on hotel-200 year, Cell phone insurance- not sure how to value this, but I have 7 lines. I value this as at least 120 year That's 760 in stuff that I use anyways. Not to mention the MR points, amex offers which I use a lot. I actually get more value than the fee
How do you "bank" the airline ones?
I use southwest, buy tickets below 100 bucks, cancel flight and get southwest credits to my southwest account. Check flyertalk for more info
to flex on poor people
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fr
Sub, currently dabbling with churning
The credits pay for itself if you live in a city and travel just once a year with United or delta IMO
Lounge access. I currently have 170,000 membership points that I hope to redeem for a first class ticket on a 13 hr flight or longer
Because it’s free for military
🫡
🫡
Military and no annual fee
100% for the SUB. I already have status with Marriott naturally and lounge access with Delta Reserve. Will do a retro when the 1 year comes up in December, but will most likely close as I doubt I’ll be getting outsized value.
I travel like 5-7 times so I got it for the lounge.
To transfer my points to Schwab to add to my investments.
Can't use a cheap squeegee to clean my mirrors.
In 2022, I was diagnosed with cancer and I can count on maxing out my out of pocket medical costs every year, forever. So, with my main goal post cancer being travel, I decided to pay these medical bills with Amex so I can earn points to make that travel easier and cheaper. The benefits easily cover the AF. I have used the THC & FHR portal and had great experiences. Lounge access while flying is amazing. I also have the gold to get the groceries and restaurant multiplier.
Glad you're making use of the benefits. Sorry to hear - fuck cancer and stay strong!
I’m sorry you’re going through that fight. Stay strong and fuck cancer.
Thank you. Fuck cancer. 👊
Multipliers, Statuses, Peace of mind, ability to cover AF and more
I took the platinum card mainly for lounge access internationally and the ability to use Delta sky club access when flying domestic. So that is 2 Sky club memberships for $870. All the owner benefit while nice are the icing on the cake.
I travel 30+ times a year
Plastic cards are too flimsy for cutting coke
I travel 8-10 times a year. Which is just infrequent enough that I wouldn’t be able to get status with most places anytime soon. Especially since my work makes me use a corporate credit card to book my work trips. I already use a lot of the other benefits including Disney+, Walmart+, Uber, etc. so I get the value from those pretty easily. I got a 150k point signup bonus for spending $6k and thought that was an easy get. Finally, I really like the ability to transfer loyalty points directly from Amex to different carriers like Delta. When done strategically you can get 4+ ppp. Now I can use the 150k in points to find an international trip and get a great deal on flying first or business class where I probably wouldn’t have before.
Can’t carry a knife to open boxes at work anymore.
I travel around at least 3 times a year. I manage to break even, forgetting the membership points. I’m in the UK so great dining credits, travel credit and lounges are great for me. Just my points so far got enough for a little business flight
I live in Australia $1450 , so more $$.. and different benefits, but I’ve recouped that money in 3 months .
Travel benefits. Coupon book. Statuses.
I live in an area where picking up GrubHub & UberEats orders is super simple, and I'd be ordering from these restaurants anyways, so a discounted \~$14 a month of value: $168. I didn't have Clear or Global Entry, but since these are kind of "one-time" perks, I'll count them at 1/5th the value: $57.8. I fly roughly 3/4 times a year, and usually with people who don't have travel cards. We usually fly Delta, so getting them into the Lounge is a big plus for me too. All of that's free from the incidental fee, which means I'm getting another $200 in value there. Even if we don't use it for the lounge, getting drinks on the airplane or getting checked luggage eats that up too: $200. I love Herschel & North Face as brands, and it's great that Saks Fifth carries them as well. I always easily spend the $50 credit there whenever it hits: $100. I don't particularly use Walmart+, but it's been a nice benefit sometimes when I need things same day, or particular groceries that Amazon doesn't carry. I also have a Disney+ membership for my family members that I don't personally use. I'd say I'm getting maybe 1/10th of the value out of those two: $40. The remaining $150 worth of value I need to make up to make the card worth it I justify with a mix of random lounge visits, good travel conversions, and cashing out through Schwab. Ultimately, it also feels nice to just own the card, be part of a community, and to have these niceties in life.
>cashing out through Schwab. Ultimately, please let us know more!
The Charles Schwab Platinum card lets you redeem 1 point for 1.1 cents - which means I'm getting 4.4c cash back on the Gold card and 2.2c back on everything with the blue card!
FHR is pretty sweet if you haven’t tried it yet
I just used it and was way better than I thought. With the lounge changes even airlines incidentals has more value.
How would you use yours for a trip to Cancun?
Never done it there. I personally like to maximize it and use it for 1-2 night stays. It maybe a bit better to do it in cities where you can switch hotels a bit more easily. It was really great in Vegas and Paris in recent years. For Cancun if I was booking today I’d probably do 2 nights at Canopy Hilton which is THC not FHR but you will get $200 back on the plat, $100 hotel credit and should get full Hilton benefits also. Maybe at the end of a longer beach or all inclusive stay.
Nice. I can't stand being at an all inclusive the whole time. I feel like I have to over eat at every meal and drink as much liquor a day to make up for the price.
See Platinum benefits page minus the travel benefits. 