American Express Membership Rewards - Instead of Platinum Amex...uhm...

Hello!

First-time poster, long-time lurker here. This has always been a really interesting forum and I finally have something to post.

Caveat: This is a bit of a long post because I tend to ramble, but your time and input is very greatly appreciated.

So, as many of you know, deciding which credit card to get is a rather daunting task. I currently have a Gold Delta SkyMiles, although I am awaiting the imminent arrival of the plain Platinum Amex. Yes, I finally succumbed to the tons of invitations.

However, after reading some of the fine print recently, such as the restrictions on lounge use, I wonder if it's worth it. I would say that the 3 biggest incentives that draw me to an airline-linked card are as follows:

1) Faster accumulation of miles on the airline partner
2) Lounge Access
3) Delayed luggage insurance

That being said, here are my problems:

1) I feel so uneasy about the whole bancruptcy, pilot striking talk with Delta. Anybody think that Delta will remain Amex's partner?

2) I don't always fly Delta, Continental, or Northwest and apparently the lounge acess is restricted to people with a ticket on those airlines. Instead, I was thinking of simply signing up for PriorityPass. I would then scale back the Platinum Amex to Gold. Good idea?

3) This has come in REALLY handy a couple of times. Unfortunately, my Diners Club Carte Blanche and any other card I have looked at as alternatives to Amex doesn't offer the delay protection...only for lost luggage. Does anybody know of a separate insurance membership that is as cheap as Amex's that includes delayed luggage insurance?

As a bottom line, I am trying to determine the feasibility to go with a credit card that offers points redeemable on more airlines than just Delta and friends, while still having more independent lounge access and delayed luggage protection. I think this is possible, but the delayed luggage bit is what I'm trying to get input on from you experienced flyers.

Currently:

Platinum Amex:
$350/annum
Pro: delayed luggage protection
Con: restrictive lounge access, tied to Delta and friends

Diners Club Carte Blanche
$375/annum (or something like that)
Pro: lounge access (could be better, but it's something), Many more airlines to choose from
Con: No delayed luggage protection

Envisioned:
VERY low annual fee card (similar to Gold Amex [~$65/annum])
separate $99 PriorityPass
separate delayed luggage insurance (~$9.95/ticket?)

OR

A more expensive card (like Platimum Amex) that gets me the things I really want as stated in this post.

I don't ask for much - just more flexibility. And not even cheaper...just for the same price.

Thanks very much in advance!

Nico

PS: Oddly enough, DC Carte Blanche seems to offer delayed luggage insurance everywhere except for US-issued cards...what gives? Anybody know?

I have it and in my opinion it is not work it!

Its funny, I have the $30 starwood Card and ***starpoints are more valuable than
Membership reward points****

The service with the starwood customer service center ( and My Hilton card and regular Optima has always been exellent. I have a very high opinion of American Express. The service with the $395 a year card is BELOW the service of the free and $30 cards!!

I feel that its not only the Plat travel desk. The 800 number customer service is actually worse at Plat than *wood and Hilton!!!

Seems that if I read your post right, you see the delayed luggage benefit as one of the key factors. However, are you planning to get the U.S. issued card? (Seems like it, since you quote the membership fee as USD 350). If so, I don't think baggage delay is included as a benefit. I think it is in a few european cards, however.

The Plat card does allow for LOST baggage, however. See: https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/loyalty.do?page=platinum.benefits&show=0

"Baggage Insurance Plan4 — protection for your baggage
You'll receive coverage against loss of and damage to carry-on baggage when you purchase Common Carrier Conveyance—plane, train, helicopter, ship, or, bus—tickets with your Card. Coverage is for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage in excess of the Common Carrier's coverage."

writetorich - Thanks for the info on the Starwood cards. My main thing there is that I do travel to family a lot, both domestically as well as internationally. So I'm not as keen on hotel benefits as air travel, although it's nice to have the flexibility to use points for either.

kuroneko - The coverage you mention is automatic and included as a complimentary benefit. However, for an additional $5.75 you get this (quoted from their website):

-----
The Baggage Delay and Loss Insurance is a special delayed baggage feature which entitles the Cardmember to replace articles if luggage is delayed more than six hours. Cardmembers may purchase Baggage Delay and Loss Insurance annually, for $90 per year, or per trip, for $5.75 each trip. American Express Baggage Insurance is in excess of airline coverage. (Cardmembers in California, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands have a slightly different fee structure.) You can enroll in this program by calling 1-800-645-9700 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company, Administrative Office, Green Bay, WI. Coverage is subject to the terms and conditions of Policy AX0506. For Optima® Account holders only, the Plan is underwritten by Virginia Surety Company, Inc. 123 North Wacher Drive, Chicago, IL 60606.
-----

And it's come in very handy before...'nuff said ;-)

So Amex is great the way it is, but I'm leary about the restrictive lounge access (say if I don't travel on the airline in quesiton the day of travel). European Amex seems to offer complimentary PriorityPass membership now...why not in the US?

Maybe I should ask the question: As a US resident, can I sign up for a Euo Amex card? :-)

Cheers!

Nico

Envisioned:
VERY low annual fee card (similar to Gold Amex [~$65/annum])
separate $99 PriorityPass
separate delayed luggage insurance (~$9.95/ticket?)

$99 will get u inside the front-door. For seating down enjoying all the perks - you'll have to pay $25/person per visit. The one that will get u for free, with unlimited visits - costs $399.

I would instead go with the Citigroup Chairman Card that gives u free, unlimited access 4 u'rself + 2 guests for all Priority Pass lounges. You get HHonors Gold complimentary, and it has a great reward plan too! Costs $400/year.

$99 will get u inside the front-door. For seating down enjoying all the perks - you'll have to pay $25/person per visit. The one that will get u for free, with unlimited visits - costs $399.

I would instead go with the Citigroup Chairman Card that gives u free, unlimited access 4 u'rself + 2 guests for all Priority Pass lounges. You get HHonors Gold complimentary, and it has a great reward plan too! Costs $400/year.

Thanks irotem! I did hear about that card. But unfortunately, I don't think that it includes DELAYED luggage protection, only protection for lost luggage. Also, yes, I'm familiar with the PP pricing structure. I don't fly THAT often, and $24 is a small price to pay for the convenience. Without a membership I wouldn't be able to get in at all.

Cheers!

Nico

writetorich - Thanks for the info on the Starwood cards. My main thing there is that I do travel to family a lot, both domestically as well as internationally. So I'm not as keen on hotel benefits as air travel, although it's nice to have the flexibility to use points for either.



Icecold,
Starwood will give you effectively 1.25 miles per dollar charged on your choice of far more airlines than Membership rewards.

If you transfer in blocks of 20,000 starpoints then you will get 25,000 airmiles on your choice of lots and lot of airlines.

It always amazes me how citi get $75 or $90 for its Aadvantage card.
especially from low volume chargers.
think about it. It takes some one five years at 25,000 per year to get two free tixs. That's upwards of $450 in annual fees. Contrast this with a $30 annual fee for starwood and 1.25 AA miles instead of 1 AA mie per dollsr spent.


lastly my manners!

Welcome to FT.
I hope you enjoy this unique community.
We an ecentric bunch. ( ecentric is a code word for crazy with disposable income)

$99 will get u inside the front-door. For seating down enjoying all the perks - you'll have to pay $25/person per visit. The one that will get u for free, with unlimited visits - costs $399.

I would instead go with the Citigroup Chairman Card that gives u free, unlimited access 4 u'rself + 2 guests for all Priority Pass lounges. You get HHonors Gold complimentary, and it has a great reward plan too! Costs $400/year.


This is incorrect. The PP benefit with the Chairman card only allows unlimited access by the primary cardholder. Any additional guests are $24/visit.

This is incorrect. The PP benefit with the Chairman card only allows unlimited access by the primary cardholder. Any additional guests are $24/visit.

According to recent posts, this has changed and so you are now allowed to bring two guests with u.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=429495&page=2&pp=15

Look at the above thread, post from Feb 1.

Nothing mentioned would justify using Carte Blanche rather than the standard Diners Club Mastercard. However, if you fly in the US you will not be satisfied with the airport lounge program which includes only two airports: MIA and EWR. Also, moving to Diners you would lose double points on so-called everyday spending. Diners seldom offers any sort of category spending incentive. Instead they offer transfer bonuses, typically no more than once per year per partner. I do not recall if they ever offer Delta bonuses.

Moving from the Skymiles credit card to an American Express Membership Rewards card you don't appear to lose much in terms of Delta earnings, but you do gain flexibility to transfer to other programs and you keep your points out of the Delta program during bankruptcy.

Moving to Starwood Preferred Guest you would lose double points for "everyday spending", but this is offset by the 25% bonus on block transfers of 20,000 points. (The breakeven point is 1/4 of spending in double points categories.) There is no requirement to stay at Starwood hotels to participate in the program, you are simply using SPG as a conduit to convert American Express transactions into airline miles. The $30 annual fee is so modest that you could use this card for purchases while using another card or membership for lounge access.

dennis