mia

You can earn 3X on travel for a slightly lower annual fee with INK Preferred. This doesn't give you to the $0.015 redemption rate or Priority Pass, but the latter is offered by many cards.

msp3

yugi

I'm going to replace 2 EDPs with one PRG, that's whats going to happen.

ezak

Agreed. If all the rumors around the PRG are true, then airline spendings go to the Platinum (which many people keep) and dining goes to PRG, with only travel (hotels, rental cars, etc.) left on the CSR, it becomes much harder to justify the $150 AF. Did a simple math here: assuming UR points are valued at 1.5 cent, and the CSR earns 2 more points than other cards, you'll need to spend $5,000 on travel for the AF to break even. That translates to "not worth it" for many people.

I remember my first CSR renewal last year, as I calculated how many points I would have lost if I cancel the card, and the conclusion is to keep it. But for this year, it's the opposite answer. For me, now the value of the CSR is mainly an outlet of UR points, by transferring to various airlines. Still deciding, but it's likely that I'll cancel the CSR and let my UR points just sit there. When the time comes to use them, I can always get a CSP and simply pay the $95 AF for transfer availability. The real challenge of cancelling the CSR is actually breaking the habit of using it for almost everything.

It's crazy how two years ago, everyone's calling the CSR a no brainer. Now, everyone's discussing whether to keep it. For people who only carry one card in their pocket, it's still the best. But for most people on FlyerTalk, who wouldn't mind using different cards on different purchases, 4x dining from PRG definitely changes everything.

Diplomatico

There are definitely some links back to two years ago with this move.

Two years and a couple of months ago, Citi made some pretty big devaluations to what was - at the time - the "no brainer" card, the Prestige. Citi eliminated the Admiral's Club access that came with the card, removed the included rounds of golf, and devalued the fourth night free benefit. About three weeks after that, Chase introduced the CSR and Citi's nerf became a punchline.

Fast forward to today, and the current "no brainer" card - the CSR - has been losing/devaluing benefits during which time Chase implements a four year moratorium on Sapphire bonuses. Three weeks later, AMEX introduces these new Gold Card buffs and CSR all of a sudden looks a bit road weary.

krazykanuck

Agreed. Sometimes we need a reminder that his game is dynamic, there will be some wins and losses, but I think overall we the consumer ultimately benefit from the increased competition and we are free to do what benefits us individually since we all have different end goals.

I think the refreshed PRG and the new Platinum benefits over the past couple years are showing that Amex is pulling some new and different tools out of their toolbox to differentiate and add value. All the changes won't all add value to everybody, but its good to see, and I will probably plan to get the revised PRG. 4x MR on those categories is killer, plus the dining benefit.

DeltaFlyer IntrepidClass

Wait... are they removing the Marriott/SPG gold status benefit from both the personal and business Platinum cards?

mia

No, but in the New Marriott scheme the benefits of Gold are somewhat degraded compared to old SPG Gold, and certainly less than the old Marriott Gold. Discussion here:

Amex Platinum & Membership Rewards SPG/Marriott benefits beginning August 2018?

Bear in mind that American Express awards the Dining and Supermarket bonuses only on domestic spend. If you spend an important amount on dining in other countries, Sapphire Reserve would be useful.

DeltaFlyer IntrepidClass

Got it. Yep, I was aware of the devaluation. I thought I missed a more recent memo about Amex getting rid of the benefit altogether.

RedSun

Your scientific analysis is off this time.

First, you value Chase UR too low. It is at least 2 cpt or more. Second, CSR is the only card that gives you 1.5 on Chase travel portal. I used it sometimes when cash price is the best compared with point redemptions.

Chase UR is an entire portfolio. Some people have multiple cards, particularly Freedom CCs which earn 5x UR each quarter (category). If I get just one card, it is 30,000 URs/year. If I get a total of 4 CCs, I get 120,000 URs per year. Then you get Freedom Unlimited, Ink CCs etc. Do the math to see if it pays to keep the CSR.

As long as I can get positive returns, I keep all those cards. I pay some $k on AFs and I'm happy to do so.

AmEx PRG was the lowest return CC in my book. It was on chopping block. Now I'll wait and see.

PENGUINCARL

How do you get to 2cpp for UR? Hyatt IMO is the only worthwhile unique transfer partner, but I value them much closer to 1.5cpp since that's a much more likely and versatile redemption value.

ezak

I think 1.5 (or 1.6) is the most common valuation for UR points everywhere, especially since many people use them primarily on travel portal. If you value UR at 2+ cpt, then using them at 1.5 would be wrong because you're losing value then.

RedSun

1.5 cpt is the floor value of Chase UR. UR to Hyatt is worth well north of 2 cpt. Then you get options of other travel partners and the travel portal.

There is nothing wrong to use it at travel portal if cash value is higher than the redemption value. That is the value of the UR options....

roundtree

The travel portal redemption certainly provides the floor at 1.5 cpt, but UR to Hyatt is YMMV. While the potential value can be much higher than 2 cpt, that's not a guarantee. I find that most Hyatt redemptions actually offer around 1.8 cpt, but unicorn redemptions certainly exist (like Andaz Maui).

RedSun

I agree with you that, all rewards etc, point value etc are YMMV. We can keep debating. We all live our own ways. And hope we all enjoy what we are doing.