I have planned travel coming up which would add up to 5K+ in airfare alone. Any recommendations on credit card I can open to take advantage of the points / rewards FYI: I already took advantage of Chase Preferred and Reserve cards. I was considering Citi Thankyou Premier Card or the American Express Plantinum Card. Any thoughts?
I have never found much use for airport lounges. If you book good flights you just don't spend much time in the airport. If it's a 1 or 2hr layover a restaurant serves as well and if it's over 6hr or so I'd book a hotel room. It's not that often that you have that 3 to 5hr layover where a lounge makes sense and if you do it's likely because you cheaped out--spending an extra thirty to fifty bucks on your ticket usually is enough to get a flight with a less stupid layover, if not direct. I'd much rather get where I'm going than sit in any lounge no matter how nice. Priority boarding is worthwhile on full flights though, so you get first dibs on the overhead storage. Airline status so you can get upgrades is also nice. Other than that I prefer a card that gives a lot of points/cash back over one that has lounge access.
I agree that I can live without a lounge most of the time. However, depending on whether you’re flying Cleveland to Vegas vs say New York to Bangkok, getting a lounge in Hong Kong vs Houston is day and night. i.e. ability to take a quick shower and change after a 15 hour flight is a nice perk before getting on another flight.
No credit card offers airline status
Amex platinum hands down best value
If you're going to spend 5k, here's another idea - look at other credit cards with good sign up bonuses, e.g. Hilton aspire or SPG luxury But from the original choice, I think the Citi prestige is running a 60k point sign up bonus, which should easily get $750+ in value If Amex is still doing the "once in a lifetime" restriction on sign up bonus, you should only do Amex plat if you can get 100k point offer
If you fly a lot outside of this, could make sense to get the airline in question’s card. Many of them give an airline credit, sign on bonus, and free baggage. Chase reserve is a pretty hard card to beat for day to day use, so you just need to be rotating sign on bonuses along with it.
Platinum 5x on air travel
Amex platinum. The centurion and Delta lounges are worth it with priority pass losing significance since everyone has one now. The Uber saks and airline credits make up for a loathe portion of the annual fee. If you want a referral dm me I will be happy to share it.
Airline credit doesn't work for flight tickets itself right? Nonetheless, still the best card up there with CSR out there for travel.
You buy Delta gift cards worth 50 each or some otherr airline with DP of it being counted towards credit. The 5x points on airfare is great too