This is a huge devaluation, and if this stays as is, we are absolutely canceling. No point - and nowhere near worth it.
Our family has CSR, Amex Plat and VentureX, and this is now by far the worst value of them. We definitely have our uses for each card, and can justify it. Amex is a PITA to keep up with, but we do well with it. CSR ends up as a bit of a cost, but well worth it for the enhanced insurance compared to C1 and Amex, plus we find UR the most useful points of the bunch. But with these C1 changes, just not worth it.
Plat deval with no guests in Amex lounges, and raising fee on AU was a PITA, but not a death knell. We are SFO-based, and rarely used Centurion there initially because of the crowds (pre-expansion) and then because of the no guests (we have two kids, and without guests, lounge access there wasn't worth it, and we don't have the luxury of putting 75K on a single card). But we have a Club, and use with the PP benefit. If they kept the guest access for PP, it might have been worth it, since my wife's only PP membership is via VentureX, but without guests, it is by far the worst of the bunch now. We'll likely just add a CSR AU (with the recent change to CSR Maple Leaf Lounge Access to include a guest, and being ex-SFO and traveling to Canada 2-4 times/year, this makes much more sense now - as the PP via there still includes 2 guests). Of course, who knows with the rumored changes there, but at least that is my immediate thought for what to do.
I also think the age of CC lounge access is going back to the travel elite. Over the past, what, decade or so, we've had expansion in non-airline, third-party lounges, PP and the bunch, but with all the card access, they got crowded. Seems like those will still stay, but the expansion of the card issuer lounges (Amex first, then C1 and Chase), those became the hotter properties, but with the crowds there, they are now limiting that. So those lounges are going to be for the more high-spenders now.
Originally Posted by
SP03
It makes sense for couples with AU cards. $399+$125 is still cheaper than Amex or Chase.
C1 could just increase the AF for everyone. You can either think it's a surcharge for being a married couple or a discont for a single traveler
It depends how you look at it.
$399+$125 is $524, with the $300 credit is net $224. CSR is $550+$75 for a couple, or $625, with the $300 credit is $325. Not (IME) a ton more than C1, but to me, UR are more valuable than C1 points - I realize that this is completely debatable based on ones preferences and preferred partners. Personally, I find being able to redeem Chase UR in the portal for 1.5cents means I can be flexible when I need it - for example, getting the enhanced value (vs. 1 cent) to bring down a high fare has been helpful - I still transfer more, but it is a better option to have, especially compared to 1cent for C1 points. I also highly value the insurance from Chase, which is much better, IMO, than Amex or C1. For me, between Amex offers and the credits for memberships, I'm able to 'profit' off the card. So it still makes more sense.
Don't get me wrong - we love the C1 lounges - more than Centurion (haven't tried the Chase-branded lounges yet), for the more unique and veggie-friendly food offerings, the to-go items (its saved us from buying stuff onboard on mealtime flights a couple of times for sure) and for the fresh baked and warmed cookies. But at this cost, not worth it.