The Platinum Card may have been weakened recently but it is still the single best deal out there for the first year:

1. The 60,000 (yes you were too late to the FT party in picking up 10,000 too few) welcome points essentially make this a free card for the first year.

2. Even if you can only get $600 value from the bonus, add in the travel credit, and yes everyone I know except one report here has had no problem using 2*$200 and only paying one annual fee, and you are in the red by $101 or $301.

3. The Priority Pass is worth >399 USD which is the retail price of membership without guests. If you have airline status across the networks then this will be of limited use, but this perk has opened my mind to flying other airlines and saving cold hard cash. Also you CAN use United lounges via Priority Pass, only US issued cards are excluded, and you still have DL lounge access.

4. The insurance coverage is unparalleled as far as I know, my bags arrived late to TPE, the agent told me I would have zero problem reclaiming $1,000 expenses as long as the delay was more than three hours. I can confirm this was true, although I did not max out.

5. You should have registered for Marco Polo, this was a huge perk and one of the driving forces behind me getting the card. If you are not enrolled, make sure you call this weekend (I know a longstanding cardholder who signed up successfully yesterday with an excellent agent).

6. Your earn rate is better than RBC, and you have many more choices. Amex MRs can b converted to oneworld (BA/CX), skyteam (DL) or star (AC) amongst others, giving you maximum chances of being able to use your points for J redemptions. Redemptions are much easier to manage than Avion.

7. The various hotel statuses are of variable worth especially depending on if you already have status. For me, I find I get decent return, I have been especially well treated at Accor with the Platinum status, SPG decent, no experience with Club Carlson, I have heard outstanding report on Fairmont Plat after five nights, but again I do not have personal experience, although thinking of trying it out.

8. 10% off all Westjet fares can give a fair fare saving for domestic sloggers.

Platinum may not be for you, but for many people, the first year is simply unbeatable value, and for certain warriors even future years are a good enough deal to keep.