SPECULATION: new USA card priced between Centurion & Platinum?
Mar 14, 20, 8:11 pm
#121
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Platinum, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 278
I’d love a card that would replace my Platinum AMEX, SkyMiles AMEX Platinum, AMEX Bonvoy Brilliant and CSR. I’d easily pay $1,500 for it.
Give me SkyClub access, Marriott and Hilton status, and 5x earnings on travel and dining. I’m good.
Give me SkyClub access, Marriott and Hilton status, and 5x earnings on travel and dining. I’m good.
Mar 14, 20, 8:41 pm
#122
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 18,063
Unless you never travel outside of the US, you'll need a Visa or a Mastercard in your wallet. So both Chase and Citi still get money from me.
Mar 14, 20, 8:57 pm
#123
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 131
Doctor of Credit is reporting that a card between the Platinum and Centurion card is indeed in the works. It supposedly will be invite only like the Centurion card.
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/rumor...num-centurion/
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/rumor...num-centurion/
Mar 14, 20, 9:17 pm
#124
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 131
Just throwing a plausible mid-luxury tier card out there:
AMEX RESERVE ($2500/yr)
$1000 travel credit (a credit similar to the CSR as opposed to the current Plat airline credit)
$300 Uber credit ($25 per month)
$200 annual dining credit
$300 annual Saks credit (or insert other department store here)
Complimentary CLEAR access
$550 airport lounge credit (so no SkyClub-specific access built in, but the ability to purchase a club membership for DL, AA, UA)
Annual Travel Insurance
DL Gold, Marriott Platinum status
5x MR points on travel, 3x points on everyday spend (would probably require bumping up the Centurion to 3x spend too, which I'm surprised hasn't happened)
Plus the usual Precheck/Global Entry waiver, etc
AMEX RESERVE ($2500/yr)
$1000 travel credit (a credit similar to the CSR as opposed to the current Plat airline credit)
$300 Uber credit ($25 per month)
$200 annual dining credit
$300 annual Saks credit (or insert other department store here)
Complimentary CLEAR access
$550 airport lounge credit (so no SkyClub-specific access built in, but the ability to purchase a club membership for DL, AA, UA)
Annual Travel Insurance
DL Gold, Marriott Platinum status
5x MR points on travel, 3x points on everyday spend (would probably require bumping up the Centurion to 3x spend too, which I'm surprised hasn't happened)
Plus the usual Precheck/Global Entry waiver, etc
Mar 14, 20, 10:57 pm
#125
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 18,063
As for Centurion Lounge, I think what would really help is to eliminates free companions. I don't know if I would agree per se to restricting access to Centurion and Black/Titanium cardholders, but I'm not against it.
Mar 15, 20, 7:19 am
#127
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 292
To me it does not seem that Amex is really interested in making a "one card to rule them all" type of thing. The Green, for example, was refreshed and none of the rumors (4x gas, Amazon Prime) panned out. Instead, we got a card that has some overlap with the Gold, but not so much that some people don't still have both. Amex wants people paying as many AFs as possible, I would think. I don't see them making a card with a higher AF that defeats the purpose of all the other products. My guess is it will be another situation where it adds some benefit, but you'd still want to keep your Plat or your Gold, etc.
I also don't see Amex doing a more general travel credit or being less picky about the yearly credits. They dole them out monthly instead because they can still advertise the yearly total credit amount, but only a fraction will actually remember to use it every month. They like the way they do it because it creates tons of breakage. I'm not defending them, but I get why they do it, even if we hate it.
I also don't see Amex doing a more general travel credit or being less picky about the yearly credits. They dole them out monthly instead because they can still advertise the yearly total credit amount, but only a fraction will actually remember to use it every month. They like the way they do it because it creates tons of breakage. I'm not defending them, but I get why they do it, even if we hate it.
Mar 16, 20, 10:11 am
#128
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 969
To me it does not seem that Amex is really interested in making a "one card to rule them all" type of thing. The Green, for example, was refreshed and none of the rumors (4x gas, Amazon Prime) panned out. Instead, we got a card that has some overlap with the Gold, but not so much that some people don't still have both. Amex wants people paying as many AFs as possible, I would think. I don't see them making a card with a higher AF that defeats the purpose of all the other products. My guess is it will be another situation where it adds some benefit, but you'd still want to keep your Plat or your Gold, etc.
I also don't see Amex doing a more general travel credit or being less picky about the yearly credits. They dole them out monthly instead because they can still advertise the yearly total credit amount, but only a fraction will actually remember to use it every month. They like the way they do it because it creates tons of breakage. I'm not defending them, but I get why they do it, even if we hate it.
I also don't see Amex doing a more general travel credit or being less picky about the yearly credits. They dole them out monthly instead because they can still advertise the yearly total credit amount, but only a fraction will actually remember to use it every month. They like the way they do it because it creates tons of breakage. I'm not defending them, but I get why they do it, even if we hate it.
Mar 16, 20, 12:17 pm
#129
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
Safe Travels
Jul 16, 20, 9:28 am
#130
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Verdi, NV, SFO & Olympic (aka Squaw )Valley.
Programs: Ikon Pass Full + AS Gold + Marriott Titanium + Hilton Gold. Recovering UA Plat. LT lounge AA+DL+UA
Posts: 3,719
So much about how the world works has changed in the past quarter. I have not boarded a plane since the last post, and can't imagine doing buying a ticket until we have either a cure for the virus or a vaccine.
So far the $40 in monthly credits for streaming + mobile "make me whole" relative to my Amex $550 fee. (i.e. 40*12=$480 & the $15*12=180 Ubereats credit is probably worth $70 for me so I'll keep the card for a year or two). My other premium cards ( Chase Ritz @$450/year includes $300 of flexible travel credit + a free premium Marriott room + 15 elite nights + amazing customer service + great bonuses, e.g. 8% back on gas) earn their keep and my Chase Presidential Plus ($99/year for most of the benefits of United Gold status should I ever return to the skies + great mobile phone insurance) also work out. I also have business Chase Southwest Visa and business Amex Bonvoy.
In the Covid, and eventual post-Covid, world there continues to be a market for a new card between Centurion and Platinum. The simplest way for Amex to make the Platinum card more valuable would be to make the travel fee wavier be more flexible. Would be nice if a higher annual fee could include more benefits for those of us who can use both business + personal cards.
So far the $40 in monthly credits for streaming + mobile "make me whole" relative to my Amex $550 fee. (i.e. 40*12=$480 & the $15*12=180 Ubereats credit is probably worth $70 for me so I'll keep the card for a year or two). My other premium cards ( Chase Ritz @$450/year includes $300 of flexible travel credit + a free premium Marriott room + 15 elite nights + amazing customer service + great bonuses, e.g. 8% back on gas) earn their keep and my Chase Presidential Plus ($99/year for most of the benefits of United Gold status should I ever return to the skies + great mobile phone insurance) also work out. I also have business Chase Southwest Visa and business Amex Bonvoy.
In the Covid, and eventual post-Covid, world there continues to be a market for a new card between Centurion and Platinum. The simplest way for Amex to make the Platinum card more valuable would be to make the travel fee wavier be more flexible. Would be nice if a higher annual fee could include more benefits for those of us who can use both business + personal cards.
Jul 17, 20, 3:01 pm
#131
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: DL Silver, Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle, Global Entry (Former AA Plt/Gold)
Posts: 4,356
To me it does not seem that Amex is really interested in making a "one card to rule them all" type of thing. The Green, for example, was refreshed and none of the rumors (4x gas, Amazon Prime) panned out. Instead, we got a card that has some overlap with the Gold, but not so much that some people don't still have both. Amex wants people paying as many AFs as possible, I would think. I don't see them making a card with a higher AF that defeats the purpose of all the other products. My guess is it will be another situation where it adds some benefit, but you'd still want to keep your Plat or your Gold, etc.
I also don't see Amex doing a more general travel credit or being less picky about the yearly credits. They dole them out monthly instead because they can still advertise the yearly total credit amount, but only a fraction will actually remember to use it every month. They like the way they do it because it creates tons of breakage. I'm not defending them, but I get why they do it, even if we hate it.
I also don't see Amex doing a more general travel credit or being less picky about the yearly credits. They dole them out monthly instead because they can still advertise the yearly total credit amount, but only a fraction will actually remember to use it every month. They like the way they do it because it creates tons of breakage. I'm not defending them, but I get why they do it, even if we hate it.
I will say that the "covid credits" have been incredibly useful and I'd love to see one or both of them become permanent. I'd prefer either to the Uber credit.
Jul 17, 20, 3:39 pm
#132
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 18,063
While we have users who would be willing to pay the same $1000 in AF that they already do for a combined card instead of carrying Gold + Plat cards, I think the way Amex is doing it helps them advertise higher cardholders. I don't know why that number really matters, especially if investors are onto the 'game', but when you're up against Visa and MC who have the debit card market locked up, maybe every little sleight of hand helps?
I will say that the "covid credits" have been incredibly useful and I'd love to see one or both of them become permanent. I'd prefer either to the Uber credit.
I will say that the "covid credits" have been incredibly useful and I'd love to see one or both of them become permanent. I'd prefer either to the Uber credit.
Jul 20, 20, 7:32 am
#133
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: OZ Diamond *A Gold / Delta Gold
Posts: 758
To me it does not seem that Amex is really interested in making a "one card to rule them all" type of thing. The Green, for example, was refreshed and none of the rumors (4x gas, Amazon Prime) panned out. Instead, we got a card that has some overlap with the Gold, but not so much that some people don't still have both. Amex wants people paying as many AFs as possible, I would think. I don't see them making a card with a higher AF that defeats the purpose of all the other products. My guess is it will be another situation where it adds some benefit, but you'd still want to keep your Plat or your Gold, etc.
I also don't see Amex doing a more general travel credit or being less picky about the yearly credits. They dole them out monthly instead because they can still advertise the yearly total credit amount, but only a fraction will actually remember to use it every month. They like the way they do it because it creates tons of breakage. I'm not defending them, but I get why they do it, even if we hate it.
I also don't see Amex doing a more general travel credit or being less picky about the yearly credits. They dole them out monthly instead because they can still advertise the yearly total credit amount, but only a fraction will actually remember to use it every month. They like the way they do it because it creates tons of breakage. I'm not defending them, but I get why they do it, even if we hate it.
For example, you had a Platinum and you add a Gold, instead of having to use the Gold for its benefit, allow the Platinum card to have the same benefits as the Gold. That way, you only carry one card for all purposes? That would be some progress for me. That way, you can "construct" your ideal card. No reduction in fees, but a bit more "practical" as you don't have to think "Should I use my Gold instead since this is a restaurant?" etc...
Jul 21, 20, 10:42 am
#134
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHL, LHR
Posts: 210
Even if they "stack up" annual fees, it would be great if there was a way to stack up benefits within a single card.
For example, you had a Platinum and you add a Gold, instead of having to use the Gold for its benefit, allow the Platinum card to have the same benefits as the Gold. That way, you only carry one card for all purposes? That would be some progress for me. That way, you can "construct" your ideal card. No reduction in fees, but a bit more "practical" as you don't have to think "Should I use my Gold instead since this is a restaurant?" etc...
For example, you had a Platinum and you add a Gold, instead of having to use the Gold for its benefit, allow the Platinum card to have the same benefits as the Gold. That way, you only carry one card for all purposes? That would be some progress for me. That way, you can "construct" your ideal card. No reduction in fees, but a bit more "practical" as you don't have to think "Should I use my Gold instead since this is a restaurant?" etc...
Jul 21, 20, 4:41 pm
#135
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: OZ Diamond *A Gold / Delta Gold
Posts: 758
This isn't a bad idea but Is it really *that* hard though? Restaurants/cafes/grocery stores - use the gold card. For most other major or important purchases and travel - use the Plat. I'm a minimalist when it comes to wallet size - just a slender leather pouch for my cards with attached money clip - but i'm easily able to accommodate several Amex cards + ID + bank cards w/out any bulky issues.
