Skip to content

Recent Posts

  • 4 Reasons I’m Excited Alaska Airlines is Joining OneWorld
  • Next Card Up: The Citi Premier
  • I’m Taking My Parents to Europe
  • My 2020 Travel Plans
  • Finally Booked my Hotel for Paris

Most Used Categories

  • Credit Cards (17)
  • General (15)
  • American Express (9)
  • Trip Planning (9)
  • Chase (8)
  • What's in my Wallet (5)
  • American Airlines (5)
  • Alaska Airlines (5)
  • Citi (5)
  • Qatar Airways (4)
Skip to content
TravelBlerd

TravelBlerd

Subscribe
  • Home
  • 2017
  • September
  • 8
  • I Finally Caved and Applied for The AMEX Platinum

I Finally Caved and Applied for The AMEX Platinum

Travel BlerdSeptember 8, 2017September 8, 2017

For years I’ve resisted applying for the American Express Platinum. The American Express Everyday Preferred took care of my membership rewards needs and I have the Citi Prestige and the Chase Sapphire Reserve already and didn’t feel the need to get another premium card. That changed recently and here’s why.

Lounge Access

This past July Citi took away the Admirals club benefit from the Citi Prestige. With no Admirals club, I was stuck with using Priority Pass for lounge access. Priority Pass is great when traveling internationally but the domestic options leave a lot to be desired.

The Centurion Lounges are great and American Express seems committed to opening up new lounges where their card members travel to or from the most. American Express has had some pop up events at O’Hare advertising the Centurion Lounge network and I’m hoping one is opening up there soon.

5X Earning on Airfare

Over the past year I’ve spent more money on airfare then I have before. Usually I would use points or miles to pay for the majority of my flights but that changed with the decrease in price of business class and airfares in general. Using miles and points didn’t make sense in most circumstances and I’d rather redeem for aspirational flights and experiences. The Sapphire Reserve and Citi Prestige at most gave me 3x points on airfare while the AMEX Platinum gives me 5x.

$200 Uber Credit

The AMEX Platinum recently added this benefit. It’s not $200 all at once but $15 to use every month and a $20 bonus in December. When I’m in the US, I prefer Lyft but the credit can be used for UberEats which I do use.

$200 Airline Credit

Unlike the Prestige and the Sapphire this credit does not apply to actually airfare. This will still come in handy as I do purchase 500 mile upgrades on American. I’ll probably also use the credit towards Admirals Club admission.

Cash back is worth at least 1.25 cents per MR Point

The version of the card I applied for was from Schwab. The Schwab version of the card allows customers to transfer membership rewards to their Schwab account at a rate of 1 MR point to 1.25 cents. An added benefit for Schwab customers is if you have $250,000 in assets (a guy can dream, right) or $1,000,000 assets you get a $100 or $200 statement credit respectively.

Consolidation of my Cards and Saving Annual Fees

The AMEX Platinum gives me Hilton Gold and Starwood Gold status. I was planning on applying for the Starwood AMEX cards to get the 5 nights and 2 stays toward Gold status but that’s unnecessary now. An added benefit is I save the $95 annual fee.

I can also downgrade my American Express Surpass card to the no fee version and save the $75 annual fee.

These are some of the reasons why I finally applied for the card. The Platinum card also offers I a lot more benefits that I’m interested in exploring.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Post navigation

Previous: An Adventure in Booking Qatar Airways
Next: Whats in my Wallet? (November 2017)

Related Posts

Next Card Up: The Citi Premier

February 2, 2020February 2, 2020 Travel Blerd

5 Reasons I Applied for The World of Hyatt Credit Card

July 31, 2019July 31, 2019 Travel Blerd

Did Anyone Else get a Gift Card from AMEX?

June 18, 2019June 22, 2019 Travel Blerd

Recent Posts

  • 4 Reasons I’m Excited Alaska Airlines is Joining OneWorld
  • Next Card Up: The Citi Premier
  • I’m Taking My Parents to Europe
  • My 2020 Travel Plans
  • Finally Booked my Hotel for Paris

Archives

travel_blerd

Today was the day…. #tesla #teslamodel3 #tesla Today was the day….

 #tesla #teslamodel3 #teslamotors
Lunch of Champions… #umamiburger #santamonica Lunch of Champions…

#umamiburger #santamonica
California…. California….
Instagram post 17892856946269580 Instagram post 17892856946269580
#ShotforSam @samueladamsbeer #ShotforSam @samueladamsbeer
It’s #starbucksredcup day which for me is the un It’s #starbucksredcup day which for me is the unofficial start of the holiday season. It really doesn’t feel that way when it’s going to 75 degrees in Chicago
.
.
.
#Starbucks #starbucksholiday #starbucksholidaycups #bringbackgingerbreadlatte
Even though it’s snowing, she’s always watchin Even though it’s snowing, she’s always watching .
.
.
#Chicago #lightfootmemes #lorilightfootmemes #snowday
Just started Spring cleaning and I already found t Just started Spring cleaning and I already found this gem
.
.
.
#blockbustervideo #80sbaby #80sbaby90skid #SpringCleaning
Good news is my #vinebox has arrived, bad news is Good news is my #vinebox has arrived, bad news is this won’t last until the weekend. Thanks @nicolebicolecole .
.
.
#wine #quarantinewine #quarantineandchill
This is the reason why I could actually buy essent This is the reason why I could actually buy essentials like milk, eggs and wings at #Aldi . More stores should implement this policy not just on toilet paper and water
.
.
.
#groceryshopping #aldilove #cornavirus #essentials
No milk, eggs or butter but at least I can get #Lu No milk, eggs or butter but at least I can get #Lunchables .
.
.
#peoplearecrazy #nomilk #hoarders
Heading home after a relaxing stay in Paris . . . Heading home after a relaxing stay in Paris
.
.
.
#TravelBlerd #Travel #Paris #Vacation #HeadingHome #lacompagnie #lacompagnieboutiqueairline #
Finally made it to the Eiffel Tower. Checked one t Finally made it to the Eiffel Tower. Checked one thing off my Paris Bucket list
.
.
.
#Travel #TravelBlerd #Paris #eiffeltower #travelbucketlist
Sunset in Paris . . . #Travel #Paris #TravelBlerd Sunset in Paris
.
.
.
#Travel #Paris #TravelBlerd #Sunset
Did I go to McDonald’s...Yes Did I ask for a Roy Did I go to McDonald’s...Yes
Did I ask for a Royals with cheese...Yes
Did I get a classic French eye roll from the Cashier...absolutely .
.
.
#Paris #royalewithcheese #Travel #TravelBlerd #pulpfictionmemes #cityoflights
Imagine if Chicago shutdown Michigan Ave like they Imagine if Chicago shutdown Michigan Ave like they shutdown the Les Champs Elysèe in Paris
.
.
.
#Paris #Travel #TravelBlerd #champselysees #emptystreets #touristythings #afternooninparis
Even though it’s a terrible day, I Checked one t Even though it’s a terrible day, I Checked one thing off my Paris todo list
.
.
.
#arcdetriomphe #paris #TravelBlerd #Travel #cityoflights #exploringparis🇫🇷 #raininginparis 
#niggasinparis🇫🇷
Home for the next 8 hours . . . #TravelBlerd #Trav Home for the next 8 hours
.
.
.
#TravelBlerd #Travel #LaCompagnie #BusinessClass #france🇫🇷 #NoMasCoach #FreeWifi
Some people pop bottles 🍾on their birthday, I r Some people pop bottles 🍾on their birthday, I refinanced my mortgage
.
.
.
#adultingishard #birthday #birthdaycelebration #beingresponsiblesucks
#HuelLife ...when this is what your weekly groceri #HuelLife ...when this is what your weekly groceries look like

#huel #healthyliving #aldi #aldihaul
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Copyright All Rights Reserved | Theme: BlockWP by Candid Themes.
 

Loading Comments...