I have a Chase Freedom unlimited (rarely use it) and Chase Sapphire Reserve. CSR has always been my go to for pretty much everything. I have almost 500k Ultimate Rewards point now. And recently I just received an offer from AMEX for the Plat with 120k point which is quite tempting. I do travel a lot (min 1-2 international flight per year and min 2-3 domestic flight per year). It seems like for travel heavy folks like me, AMEX travel perks seem really nice. Wanna heard folks with the similar combo. #personalfinance
Your travel is honestly not a lot. Chase Reserve should be more than enough honestly. The only benefit you get on Amex is access to centurion lounges which isn’t worth it for another 600$ per year Amex fee.
Amex has credits for Uber eats, audible, equinox, etc. it’s pretty easy to rack up 300+ in annual savings just by turning on those offers. Upgraded hotel and car rental company statuses are also nice.
Amex credits made it feel like a coupon book for me, useless stuff I was just buying to get a deal. CSR benefits are a lot more straightforward to cash in.
I’m sorry but 3-5 trips per year is not a lot. >100k miles per year is a good amount >200k miles per year is a lot Best way to maximize the value of your travel- -Fly the same airline, or at least use airlines within the same group; once you have status on some of the airlines, you get to use the lounges for free -Stay at hotels within the same group -Rent cars from the same company Stack your points on the same cc, like you’ve been doing on the CSR.
But in order to use their lounge you have to fly out with them that day
Yep! Why would you want to arrive so early at the airport that you have time to use the lounge?
Take Amex Platinum for the joining bonus - downgrade or cancel after a year. The $695 is not worth it for every year.
Amex fine hotels is worth every penny for me. It's 4pm checkout. $100 property credit. Potential upgrade. I can easily get my amex benefits from a few hotel visits. Plus everything else
I have both cards. I've had the chase longer with about as many points as you that I need to spend. I got the amex recently primarily for sky club access because it's more convenient at most airports when flying Delta than priority pass. I have some of the other perks enabled but don't really use them I guess. ultimately with tech salaries the cost of the cards doesn't matter, it's all about convenience. amex also gets you free status at some hotels which excited me at first but after having it I've come to realize my free upgrades don't really happen and if anything I might get a free water or small chocolate
Fully agree. Main benefit for me from Amex is the delta lounges for flights, flight credits while flying delta (checked bag, lounge access for family), clear+tsa credit, Disney+ subscription. I order 1x every month from Uber eats due to the Amex credits. Chase for day to day spending.
Do Amex platinum offers Delta lounge access for family? I was denied the Delta lounge access and need to pay $50 per guest for two guests
Not for family, just for the card holder
I have the platinum and it has been a struggle to get my money’s worth. I used the hotel credit, but the airline applies only to one us carrier which I wasn’t able to utilize fully. Equinox credit is useless since equinox is too overpriced for me. I use Netflix password sharing so entertainment credit is useless. Global entry and tsa are only useful for citizens. I use Uber every month but can’t say that the trips were really required in my opinion(Uber eats is a waste of money). Lounge access is a joke, they wouldn’t allow me into Hawaiian because they only allow Amex holders 2 hours before flight. Transferred my bonus points to Singapore for better value but that’s yet another scam
Not just US citizens: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/eligibility
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Plat perks are kind of hard to get, like airline credit or hotel credit. You should spend down your chase points first before accumulating more points elsewhere. The Plat card isn't going anywhere