The Founders Card
#1
Original Poster


Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 7,376
The Founders Card
The card below isn't technically a credit card, but it behaves somewhat like a premium card and I have no other place to discuss it, so here goes. 
I received this email from JP Morgan Wealth Management
Radonc1, welcome to your complimentary FoundersCard membership
I have (or had) no idea what in the world a "Founders Card" was, so I looked up a review of it on line.
FoundersCard Review Is It Worth It? [2021]
My take away: It is not a credit card, but a discount card. Chase is willing to give me the first year ($595 + but reading between the lines, it may cost less).
Many of the benefits are duplicated by my Amex Plat card and my other credit cards (Hilton) or by my lifetime status in programs. Furthermore, with Covid basically eliminating my international travel for the foreseeable future, why have a card whose benefits are limited? But that is why we have FT
I could just take the deal. The problem is that renewal is $395/year and I have no idea what type of hoops I would have to jump through to cancel the program (maybe none).
I am looking to see if anyone has experience with this non-credit card card and opinions. The reviewer did a good job of hashing out the pluses and minuses, but other travelers opinions would be most useful, especially those who have had or have the card itself.
As an aside, the "great" deal with Cesar's is no longer true, from what I have read about it.
I hate deals where I have to cancel proactively to stop the process.

I received this email from JP Morgan Wealth Management
Radonc1, welcome to your complimentary FoundersCard membership
I have (or had) no idea what in the world a "Founders Card" was, so I looked up a review of it on line.
FoundersCard Review Is It Worth It? [2021]
My take away: It is not a credit card, but a discount card. Chase is willing to give me the first year ($595 + but reading between the lines, it may cost less).
Many of the benefits are duplicated by my Amex Plat card and my other credit cards (Hilton) or by my lifetime status in programs. Furthermore, with Covid basically eliminating my international travel for the foreseeable future, why have a card whose benefits are limited? But that is why we have FT
I could just take the deal. The problem is that renewal is $395/year and I have no idea what type of hoops I would have to jump through to cancel the program (maybe none).
I am looking to see if anyone has experience with this non-credit card card and opinions. The reviewer did a good job of hashing out the pluses and minuses, but other travelers opinions would be most useful, especially those who have had or have the card itself.
As an aside, the "great" deal with Cesar's is no longer true, from what I have read about it.

I hate deals where I have to cancel proactively to stop the process.
#2
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Eco Travel, Signatures




Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA, IHG & Marriott Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 51,863
Previous discussions on Flyertalk are scattered, and dated. Sorry, this is an image, you cannot click through to read, but they are easy to find:
#3
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Eco Travel, Signatures




Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA, IHG & Marriott Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 51,863
Award Wallet and TripIt have run similar offers. The most recent Award Wallet was in May, 2021:
#4




Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Programs: AA LT EXP, Marriott LT Titanium Elite, DL PLat
Posts: 3,404
My wife and I had the card all 2021. We used some of the benefits and probably got good value for the low introductory pricing.
I was waiting to cancel as the full price to us isnt worth it as our travel has slowed.
instead I got a $995 charge on my card out of the Blue.
I emailed to get a refund but received a barrage of retention offers.
Ive made it clear that the benefits dont fit my lifestyle. Hopefully Ill see the refund else Ill have to dispute it.
I was waiting to cancel as the full price to us isnt worth it as our travel has slowed.
instead I got a $995 charge on my card out of the Blue.
I emailed to get a refund but received a barrage of retention offers.
Ive made it clear that the benefits dont fit my lifestyle. Hopefully Ill see the refund else Ill have to dispute it.
#5




Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 169
Ive used this for only going to Vegas. This alone saves me a lot more than the membership fee.
If you travel a lot then you will save a small fortune. If like me you goto Vegas once a year then again you will still get a lot more in return. For me its a no brainer.
If you travel a lot then you will save a small fortune. If like me you goto Vegas once a year then again you will still get a lot more in return. For me its a no brainer.
Last edited by mia; Jul 23, 2023 at 2:57 pm
#6



Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: PDX, OGG or between the two
Programs: AS Gold
Posts: 3,209
Pretty much same here.... the Caesars Diamond Status perk is pretty huge in that it gets the ridiculous resort fees comped. Add in $100 annual dining credit, parking at Caesars properties, priority casino cage lines and priority check-in and I get more than my annual membership just with this single perk. The UPS shipping thing is how I justify paying for it with my business but I'm never sure if/how much of a discount I'm actually getting.
#8




Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Newport Beach / San Francisco
Programs: UA GS 1MM, Amex Centurion, JPMR, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 302
if there are specific benefits you are curious about/interested in, Im happy to log onto the portal and share some details.
#9



Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: CMH
Programs: AA EP, DL Plat, JAL JMB Elite+
Posts: 273
At this point the full list is pretty lengthy and would be somewhat difficult to screenshot/paste as a list. Ill say that Ive gotten great value out of FoundersCard over the years.
if there are specific benefits you are curious about/interested in, Im happy to log onto the portal and share some details.
if there are specific benefits you are curious about/interested in, Im happy to log onto the portal and share some details.
#10



Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: CMH
Programs: AA EP, DL Plat, JAL JMB Elite+
Posts: 273
Pretty much same here.... the Caesars Diamond Status perk is pretty huge in that it gets the ridiculous resort fees comped. Add in $100 annual dining credit, parking at Caesars properties, priority casino cage lines and priority check-in and I get more than my annual membership just with this single perk. The UPS shipping thing is how I justify paying for it with my business but I'm never sure if/how much of a discount I'm actually getting.
#11



Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: PDX, OGG or between the two
Programs: AS Gold
Posts: 3,209
Great info.... thanks!! I actually just sold the business I referenced and really don't have much use for The Founders Card other than Caesars so I'll definitely look into that.
#12




Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Newport Beach / San Francisco
Programs: UA GS 1MM, Amex Centurion, JPMR, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 302
#13



Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: CMH
Programs: AA EP, DL Plat, JAL JMB Elite+
Posts: 273
#14




Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: AS Million Miler, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Nexus / Global Entry
Posts: 905
One more data point. Accepted a free 12 month trial of the lower tier Founders Card.
Cancelled already. Useless if you have an Amex Platinum. No benefits of note that I don't already have either via the Amex or existing airline status.
Endless litany of "upgrade" offers in order to get any real benefit from the card. Hard pass for me.
Cancelled already. Useless if you have an Amex Platinum. No benefits of note that I don't already have either via the Amex or existing airline status.
Endless litany of "upgrade" offers in order to get any real benefit from the card. Hard pass for me.
#15


Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Siesta Key, Florida
Programs: UA GS4Life, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Diamond RA, Hyatt Humorist, Bonv Plat, et alia
Posts: 2,741
No benefits if free, just constant upsells for a mediocre program
So I accepted a "free 12 month" membership to this card via CLEAR.
Wow, I got accepted and look forward to the benefits.
So I create my password and ... first thing they do before I see diddly squat is they try to "upgrade" me for $295. So much for "free" ... Of course a big huge button to upgrade, a tiny little "sorry, I am not ready yet" ... this presages the entire experience.
Benefits are blah, but even to access any of them, you need to upgrade and pay $295.
For hotels, this means a wimpy Gold tier in IHG, Hilton, Omni, etc., You get this and more with a basic credit card! E.g. Chase IHG card gives you Platinum. But for $295 you can unlock Gold LOL. Or for Marriott, a complimentary Platinum "status challenge" anyone can get.
For car rentals it means Avis or Hertz President status, which we all get comped.
Some "discounts" on hotels, cruises, "experiences" that fail to impress. I can't check most of them because they are locked ... only a handful of hotels are unlocked. So I spot checked the few that weren't locked, and the special rate is same or worse as my AAA, corporate, senior or FF member rate. Amex FHR gives a better deal with the added benefits. Completely unimpressed.
I've seen their incessant marketing and just wasted 30 minutes of my life being completely underwhelmed.

So basically this is all a con to get you to buy this dog's breakfast of benefits for $295 every 6 months .. $590 a year. LOL.
Useless unless you don't have status anywhere and don't have travel credit cards.
Very lukewarm.
I fail to see thw
Wow, I got accepted and look forward to the benefits.
So I create my password and ... first thing they do before I see diddly squat is they try to "upgrade" me for $295. So much for "free" ... Of course a big huge button to upgrade, a tiny little "sorry, I am not ready yet" ... this presages the entire experience.
Benefits are blah, but even to access any of them, you need to upgrade and pay $295.
For hotels, this means a wimpy Gold tier in IHG, Hilton, Omni, etc., You get this and more with a basic credit card! E.g. Chase IHG card gives you Platinum. But for $295 you can unlock Gold LOL. Or for Marriott, a complimentary Platinum "status challenge" anyone can get.
For car rentals it means Avis or Hertz President status, which we all get comped.
Some "discounts" on hotels, cruises, "experiences" that fail to impress. I can't check most of them because they are locked ... only a handful of hotels are unlocked. So I spot checked the few that weren't locked, and the special rate is same or worse as my AAA, corporate, senior or FF member rate. Amex FHR gives a better deal with the added benefits. Completely unimpressed.
I've seen their incessant marketing and just wasted 30 minutes of my life being completely underwhelmed.

So basically this is all a con to get you to buy this dog's breakfast of benefits for $295 every 6 months .. $590 a year. LOL.
Useless unless you don't have status anywhere and don't have travel credit cards.
Very lukewarm.
I fail to see thw

