Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Credit, Debit and Prepaid Card Programs > Credit Card Programs
Reload this Page >

Card with best airport lounge/hotel upgrade features?

Card with best airport lounge/hotel upgrade features?

Old Apr 3, 2004, 6:12 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 333
Card with best airport lounge/hotel upgrade features?

edited

Last edited by goingnow; Mar 9, 2010 at 10:00 am
goingnow is offline  
Old Apr 9, 2004, 1:26 pm
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: SPG,HH,DL,CO,AMEX
Posts: 262
Originally Posted by goingnow
I am looking to consolidate my current cards (Starwood/Hilton) into one card with more features. I know they can be expensive and don't know where to begin.
Hands down! The AMEX Platinum CHARGE card (note: only charge accounts, not optima platinums i.e. AMEX SPG and AMEX Delta). Card offers hotel upgrades at hundreds of hotels via AMEX's fine hotels and resorts program and airline club access (Continental and Delta)
lanemckenna is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2004, 6:29 pm
  #3  
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Programs: AA Plat, BA, DL, Frontier, NWA, SWA, UA, HHonors Gold, Priority Club Plat, Choice Priv, BW, Diners
Posts: 1,554
Originally Posted by goingnow
I am looking to consolidate my current cards (Starwood/Hilton) into one card with more features. I know they can be expensive and don't know where to begin.
Well, it matters a lot WHICH features you care about and which ones you don't.

For example, the regular charge AMEX that someone else recommended supports only a tiny amount of the airline programs that the Starwood AMEX supports. If you want to earn airline miles, either Starwood AMEX or Diners Club are the way to go (unless the tiny number of airlines the regular AMEX can transfer to fit all your needs).

Airport lounges where? Internationally, Diners Club gets you into lots of airport lounges (you don't need anything but the card, so it works whatever class or airline you're flying), but extremely few in the US.

There are also programs independent of charge/credit cards that can get you into lounges for an annual membership fee. One of these that I looked at (I forget the name) had lounges at a lot of airports in the US, but typically only in one or two of the terminals at airports where I'm usually in a completely different terminal.

I'm not sure what you mean by hotel upgrade from a card. I'm only familiar with hotel upgrades by being elite in a frequest guest program, and I wasn't aware of any charge/credit cards that automatically make you that (especially not permanently), you typically have to requalify (via points and/or nights and/or stays and/or maybe promos) each year.
Stefan Daystrom is offline  
Old Apr 13, 2004, 9:46 am
  #4  
Original Member
 
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 6,932
Consolidate?

Keep the Starwood card. Starpoints are the most valuable bonus you can earn with your charged dollars.

The best card for elite-program membership is the AmEx Centurion card but at $2500/year you better really want it.

QL
QuietLion is offline  
Old Apr 14, 2004, 11:59 am
  #5  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Pasadena, TX USA
Programs: Co Plat - Marriott Plat
Posts: 589
Originally Posted by lanemckenna
and airline club access (Continental and Delta)
NorthWest World Clubs are also included.....
CraigS is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2008, 2:34 pm
  #6  
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 5,651
Any current info?
best is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2008, 2:15 am
  #7  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: LAX-HNL-TYO
Programs: ANA PLATINUM,HYATT GLOBALIST, AA PLATINUM FOR LIFE, UNITED SILVER, HILTON DIAMOND, MARRIOTT TITANIUM
Posts: 606
B of A Amex Accolades

Get a B of A Amex Accolades card. I have one and it gives you a free membership to Priority Club, the airport lounge card.
THECLIPPERS is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2008, 11:35 am
  #8  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: NYC
Programs: United 1K, HHonors Gold, MR Gold
Posts: 1,628
In deciding whether the Platinum Amex is worth it for lounge access, you also need to check whether it will work for you on the routes you usually fly. For example, if you regularly fly from airport x on Co but that Co uses NWA's lounge, your Amex won't get you into NWA's lounge (it would only get you into a Co lounge with a Co airline ticket).
Kate_Canuck is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2008, 6:04 pm
  #9  
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 573
Originally Posted by Kate_Canuck
In deciding whether the Platinum Amex is worth it for lounge access, you also need to check whether it will work for you on the routes you usually fly. For example, if you regularly fly from airport x on Co but that Co uses NWA's lounge, your Amex won't get you into NWA's lounge (it would only get you into a Co lounge with a Co airline ticket).
I assume that the OP is US-based? In some other countries, AmEx Plat comes with PriorityPass in addition to co/NW/* lounge access -- making it extremely handy and worth the price
voop is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2008, 8:56 am
  #10  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: NYC
Programs: United 1K, HHonors Gold, MR Gold
Posts: 1,628
Originally Posted by voop
I assume that the OP is US-based? In some other countries, AmEx Plat comes with PriorityPass in addition to co/NW/* lounge access -- making it extremely handy and worth the price
Yes, you're right. I'm talking about the standard US Plat Amex, as opposed to other versions of the Plat card.
Kate_Canuck is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2008, 1:10 pm
  #11  
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 573
Originally Posted by Kate_Canuck
Yes, you're right. I'm talking about the standard US Plat Amex, as opposed to other versions of the Plat card.
<snide-remark>

Ahh, you're talking about the non-standard devaluated version of Plat that's issued in the US, not the standard versions issued elsewhere
voop is offline  
Old Oct 29, 2008, 5:40 am
  #12  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: NYC
Programs: United 1K, HHonors Gold, MR Gold
Posts: 1,628
Originally Posted by voop
<snide-remark>

Ahh, you're talking about the non-standard devaluated version of Plat that's issued in the US, not the standard versions issued elsewhere
Well, no, actually I was talking about the "standard US Plat Amex", not the "standard, US Plat Amex". Comma position is key to the meaning of the phrase: "standard" modifies "US" (in order to distinguish, e.g. the Hilton version of the US Plat Amex from the regular US Plat Amex). If I had been referring to a "standard, US Plat Amex", I would have been adopting a US-centric view of the world (where the US is standard and everything else is a variation) - and that is an attitude a Canuck would be unlikely to adopt.
Kate_Canuck is offline  
Old Oct 29, 2008, 12:23 pm
  #13  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Gulf Coast
Programs: Amex Gold, Bonvoy Gold, HH Diamond,
Posts: 241
Originally Posted by QuietLion
Keep the Starwood card. Starpoints are the most valuable bonus you can earn with your charged dollars.

The best card for elite-program membership is the AmEx Centurion card but at $2500/year you better really want it.

QL
I agree. The Starwood card is a cheap card to have and is the best card for collecting miles. I always wind up using it for hotel stays though. I think the fee is now $45 from $30? I have an Amex Plat. charge card, so they never charge me a fee for my Starwood card.

The Amex Plat. was a good deal until they took away the 2 for 1 domestic airfare (on the US issued card). I hear FHR is good but I haven't used it since my extra $ has been going toward other things lately rather than staying at $500/night hotels. The lounge access is nice, but you have to use the lounge for the airline in which you are flying that day. Also, unless you're flying Continental, you won't get the free wireless internet in the lounge. You still get the free snacks/booze though.

The HHonors card has no fee, so why cancel it? I suppose if you don't use it you could. I have both this card as well as the 2 mentioned above. I alternate between the Starwood and HHonors for daily spending.
JRA2000TL is offline  
Old Oct 30, 2008, 12:57 am
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,859
Originally Posted by Kate_Canuck
Well, no, actually I was talking about the "standard US Plat Amex", not the "standard, US Plat Amex". Comma position is key to the meaning of the phrase: "standard" modifies "US" (in order to distinguish, e.g. the Hilton version of the US Plat Amex from the regular US Plat Amex). If I had been referring to a "standard, US Plat Amex", I would have been adopting a US-centric view of the world (where the US is standard and everything else is a variation) - and that is an attitude a Canuck would be unlikely to adopt.
The company is American Express....
deniah is online now  
Old Nov 3, 2008, 12:56 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: DFW, Texas
Programs: AMEX Platinum, AAdvantage, SPG Gold, Hilton HHonors Gold, BOFA Accolades
Posts: 47
As others have mentioned the devalued Platinum card is probably your best bet for lounge access (depending on which airline you fly). As for as the hotel rewards, instead of worrying about FHR through AMEX, you can utilize Virtuoso for hotel upgrades. Both programs include a lot of the same hotels including the upgrades and lunch/spa credit.

The card I would recommend, (Depending on Airline and $spend) is the Merrill+ card. You can get discounts on AA or Delta, you still get concierge and a lot of hotel/car discounts plus if you spend $50K in a year you get comp membership to Delta "OR" AA lounges.

Just a thought.....please let me know what you decide.
JRock80 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.