NYTimes: "Amex, Challenged by Chase, Is Losing the Snob War"
May 16, 2017, 11:29 am
#286
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
^Agreed with the above. I keep asking myself, if its worth racking up tens of thousands of points to transfer to an airline, if none of the transfer options are particularly appealing.
Given my location, I fly AA for most US flights. My OneWorld mileage is accrued in Finnair Plus, which isn't a transfer partner. Internationally the airline choice varies, but I don't spend enough on my credit cards to rack up the 50-60k needed for a Trans-Atlantic or Trans-Pacific flight. I don't fly DL, and I'm not interested in hotel rewards programmes aside from Accor.
So I always wonder if I should just use it for the rewards- the 1% redemption awards I can easily utilise, like rental cars and such. Because the mileage rewards just don't add up for me, unless I'm missing something.
Given my location, I fly AA for most US flights. My OneWorld mileage is accrued in Finnair Plus, which isn't a transfer partner. Internationally the airline choice varies, but I don't spend enough on my credit cards to rack up the 50-60k needed for a Trans-Atlantic or Trans-Pacific flight. I don't fly DL, and I'm not interested in hotel rewards programmes aside from Accor.
So I always wonder if I should just use it for the rewards- the 1% redemption awards I can easily utilise, like rental cars and such. Because the mileage rewards just don't add up for me, unless I'm missing something.
Citi also gives you the bump at 1.66 for AA until end of June and then 1.33 I believe after that.
Would be nice to see AMEX at least match that which they did with the rebate for Business Plat but Personal Plat for some reason didn't get that one
May 16, 2017, 11:31 am
#287
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 756
Most of AMEX's 20 options are worthless though. Plenti, SPG at a 3 to 1 ratio, Hilton, Choice Privileges, Virgin America at 2 to 1, Hawaiian Airlines, El Al Israel (are you kidding me?), Millemiglia (airline going bankrupt), Aeromexico.
Truly awful options right there.
Truly awful options right there.
Yes, I know Aeroplan is ending in 2020, but let's worry about that three years from now. In the meantime, there's no reason not to redeem for first/business class awards on *A partners through Aeroplan, at least the ones that don't have YQ surcharges.
May 16, 2017, 12:09 pm
#288
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: PBI
Programs: AS MVP 75K, DL PM
Posts: 248
As a millenial who owns both the CSR and Amex Plat I find the benefits of both cards to not be overlapping and tremendous in their own rights.
To be able to access any Delta Skyclub and go to Las Vegas for practically free (FHR) benefits that alone makes the plat worth its weight in platinum.
To be able to access any Delta Skyclub and go to Las Vegas for practically free (FHR) benefits that alone makes the plat worth its weight in platinum.
May 16, 2017, 12:34 pm
#289
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,881
May 16, 2017, 1:25 pm
#290
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,064
However, I'd venture a guess to say that having both cards isn't that common among people our age. $1000 in annual fees is a lot of money to be paying simply to hold a card. If you're not using the benefits of the card, you'd be coming out ahead getting a low annual fee affinity card or no annual fee cashback card and using the savings on travel (or anything else that $1000 can buy).
May 16, 2017, 1:48 pm
#291
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Programs: Milege+, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,685
However, I'd venture a guess to say that having both cards isn't that common among people our age. $1000 in annual fees is a lot of money to be paying simply to hold a card. If you're not using the benefits of the card, you'd be coming out ahead getting a low annual fee affinity card or no annual fee cashback card and using the savings on travel (or anything else that $1000 can buy).
May 16, 2017, 2:14 pm
#292
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,881
Except that Chase (usually) charges a premium when redeeming at 1.5 CPP.
Last edited by Troopers; May 16, 2017 at 2:20 pm
May 16, 2017, 3:18 pm
#293
Suspended
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 117
Does it matter that most are inconvenient or poor value? All you need is a couple good ones to cash out those MR. My goto choices are Aeroplan and ANA.
Yes, I know Aeroplan is ending in 2020, but let's worry about that three years from now. In the meantime, there's no reason not to redeem for first/business class awards on *A partners through Aeroplan, at least the ones that don't have YQ surcharges.
Yes, I know Aeroplan is ending in 2020, but let's worry about that three years from now. In the meantime, there's no reason not to redeem for first/business class awards on *A partners through Aeroplan, at least the ones that don't have YQ surcharges.
Well yes it does. I already have a TON of Krisflyer miles which I can redeem for all the Star Alliance partners so while Aeroplan is nice, it really doesn't do me a lot of good right now.
Outside of Krisflyer and Aeroplan, I don't have much of a desire to transfer. What I would like to see is more domestic airlines like Southwest.
May 16, 2017, 3:32 pm
#294
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 756
Well yes it does. I already have a TON of Krisflyer miles which I can redeem for all the Star Alliance partners so while Aeroplan is nice, it really doesn't do me a lot of good right now.
Outside of Krisflyer and Aeroplan, I don't have much of a desire to transfer. What I would like to see is more domestic airlines like Southwest.
Outside of Krisflyer and Aeroplan, I don't have much of a desire to transfer. What I would like to see is more domestic airlines like Southwest.
Strictly speaking, most people here don't really accumulate Krisflyer miles except when redeeming for SQ itself, because Krisflyer is more expensive for *A awards. This makes Aeroplan the better choice for *A awards (alternatively United MileagePlus if you have Chase UR).
May 16, 2017, 7:11 pm
#297
Suspended
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 117
Fair enough, there is always exceptions like yourself.
Strictly speaking, most people here don't really accumulate Krisflyer miles except when redeeming for SQ itself, because Krisflyer is more expensive for *A awards. This makes Aeroplan the better choice for *A awards (alternatively United MileagePlus if you have Chase UR).
Strictly speaking, most people here don't really accumulate Krisflyer miles except when redeeming for SQ itself, because Krisflyer is more expensive for *A awards. This makes Aeroplan the better choice for *A awards (alternatively United MileagePlus if you have Chase UR).
May 16, 2017, 7:16 pm
#298
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Where is Chase charging a premium? I've never found the Chase travel portal to be charging a premium vs. google.com/flights or direct from the airline website and the 1.5 CPP is valid as long as your CSR is open (or 1.25 CPP if you only have a CSP).
May 16, 2017, 7:57 pm
#299
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,794
Here's one thread from yesterday: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chase...dia-sites.html