It's been a while since I've added a new card and I have some expenses coming up so I figured now could be a good time to add since I should be able to hit the sign up bonuses. I currently have two low level/entry cards that I'm looking to use less (not great rewards/benefits) and then mainly I use my Amex Gold card for dining/groceries/some travel and Chase Amazon Prime for amazon/odds and ends. I've been considering either upgrading to the plat, going for the CSP/CSP, or going for the new Venture X. Roughly my spending other than rent is around 500/month in groceries/restaurants, 125/month in transportation (subway, trains, uber/lyft, gas, etc), 100 for entertainment, and then while I've been doing random classes/regular gym workouts I'm considering just doing Equinox since my company has a partnership. I do larger travel like flights ~1 or 2 times a year. Some of my thoughts: * The amex platinum is interesting to me for some of the benefits like the Equinox credits, beefed up Uber credits, and some of the larger travel benefits like centurion lounges but I know the other lounges are nice too. Just not 100% sure I get the max benefit otherwise and the grocery/dining points on the gold are really nice for me * The CSP/CSR is interesting to me mainly for the more "normal" travel rewards for stuff like subways, gas, etc. The other benefits are very nice too and I would most likely use them. Redemptions are nice too and I like the upgrade/downgrade potential * The Venture X seems really nice for larger travel and the 2x on all other purchases is really nice too. Plus after the yearly rewards the card doesn't really cost much if anything Overall it’d be nice to be able to earn points on everyday stuff (food, normal travel, other stuff) and then either be able to knock some money off my bill or use the points to do larger scale travel What does everyone think? If you need more info I can definitely add more, thanks!
Have both plat and CSR, considering cancelling plat due to higher annual fee and diminished benefits. If grocery is your biggest category, consider blue cash preferred as well.
Amex platinum is only good for first year due to the large sign on bonus. Else the annual fee can’t be justified
If OP uses the equinox and Uber credits + airline credit and hotel credit, it’s worth it.
Venture x for me. Lower fees, similar and easier to use benefits than plat
CSR, I remember the annual fee is 500 now? But it comes with Doordash pass which is 120 annually and 300 travel credit. Technically you pay less than a hundred
Actually it is 550
The chase sapphire cards are the easiest to use and to redeem points with. If you have a freedom, freedom flex card, the increased redemption rate is huge. Venture X is amazing for the authorized users. Free AUs and they all get priority pass with restaurant benefit (note that the priority pass you get from Platinum only gives you lounges access). Plus president circle status for both the cardholder and AUs at Hertz, which you can status match to executive elite at national. Their credit is pretty easy to use as well. Platinum has centurion lounge and a bunch of hard to use credits but it seems like you can use the equinox credits which is nice. You can get great redemption value but you need to do a lot of research (travel partners, etc). So really depends on what you value. I have the platinum, the gold, venture X, and all the chase card except reserve. My wife has reserve so I just transfer my points to her.
I can't see why you would pay for a card like Sapphire when there are free cards like the Amazon one. I guess you have to be fine spending your points on Amazon, but we easily spend more than we get in points, so it works out better. I compared the cards and feel like I must be missing something.
Delta lounge access pretty much pays for the amex platinum fee.. chase lounge access at Madison Square Garden is priceless .. Haven't fully explored the venture x benefits yet but I doubt I'll keep it
Amex platinum is good if you use their premium travel programs like hotel and resort program etc. Can save you quite a lot. But it’s not a card you use by itself, usually you want to combo it with an Amex gold for earning points normally.
X1 3%
I have all 3. Get the chase. American Express Platinum is a coupon book. Annoying to remember which credits you used each month. Lounge food is great though. Venture X is meh. The lounge sucks. And other cards give >2% unlimited cash back on everything.
I was honestly kinda leaning towards the chase. The easier way to use travel credit and pay yourself back are definitely very nice on top of everything else. Yeah can definitely see that with the plat, high value and high return IF you can use it all. Venture X was interesting to me for the 2x everything and transfer to travel but definitely true I could get other cards to do that with no fee (like other chase cards)