Resorts aren't my thing. I even managed to stay in Barbados for a week right on the beach without being in a resort by having access to an academic research facility. Going out to get food there was just fine - both restaurants and grocery stores.

Why can't you get a drink? I always do... Even in SFO, which is probably the most overpriced airport in the country, I can get a burger and a beer and be under the limit. If I want more drinks I can always go to the other PP restaurant in the a same terminal.

In PDX I can go for a whiskey tasting, and then go to a restaurant and have a full meal, with enough left over to get some carrot cake and banana bread to go (it's always nice to have some snacks in the hotel room). Amex gets nothing at all in that airport unless you happen to be flying DL. I was there twice last year, and also transited through it once (all on AS). I sure am glad that the CSR takes care of me even if I'm not flying one of their partners! The layover was short too, very early in the morning. It sure was nice to pick up a hot restaurant breakfast to go for the plane. The meat lovers omelette with a side of bacon sure beats the snack they gave me in E+ (or anything for sale on the plane). Good luck getting a meal to go from a lounge.

Sure you can say that, you do not drink alcohol, you do not like any of the food offered at Centurion lounge. Or it is too far away. Sure you can say whatever you like. But just do not say that you can take a shower at home, so there is no value of the shower facility at the airport lounge. That does not sound right.

Sure you can get a drink at PP restaurant. But how much that would cost you at airport?? Easily $8 a pop. How much you can spend? You have to pay tax and tip....

I can get what many drinks if I like. No tax and tip is optional, but advised. Just no comparison.

So you do not stay at resort, do not go to any hotel lounge. So hotel lounger is not worth anything to YOU. So interesting.

This does not mean the hotel lounges are not worth anything. Worth a lot to most of the guests. Take a look at Grand Hyatt Kauai. The Grand Club is just wonderful. It is one of the best.

Tip, yes (optional, of course, but I always do). Tax, no. The limit is $28, including tax. If you spend more you just pay the difference. Once my tab was $30 so I paid $2 plus a tip. You save $28 off your pre-tip tab.

I leave $5 per person when I use PP and I'm under the limit. That's the same as I'd normally tip on a full service meal of that price.

People tip in the Centurion lounge too, at least in SFO. What's your point here? Tipping is expected and (hopefully) appreciated pretty much everywhere in the US.

There is no point keep arguing the PP and PP restaurants. They are not even available at most of the major airports. With my Ritz card, I have the same access as you do. So the CSR does not anything more with PP access. As I said, all the benefits from CSR are expendable and replaceable. The $100 AF increase is a bad move on Chase's part to most of the people.

A lot of people have the Ink Preferred. It handsomely replaced CSR a long time ago.

Hasn't the Ritz card been closed to new apps for a while now? It's great that you like it but it's not an option for many people.

It is not just Ritz card. There are other cards that can offer pretty much the same CSR offers.

The Ritz card is closed to new apps. In my case the annual fee wouldn't be justified at all since I rarely use marriotts. It's like the DL Reserve am ex, I think it's a great card for me but for someone that never flies Delta it would be a wasted $550.

Interesting Which cards offer the same as CSR? My interests are,
- Priority Pass with Restaurant
- Primary CDW rent-a-car coverage
- Good point earning rate especially towards to Hyatt (or cash back)
- Good Travel and purchase insurance
- No forex fee

Other benefits like rideshare discount, food delivery discount, TSA global entry etc are not necessary for me -- they are replaceable.

I'm interested in Chase Freedom, Amex (Bonvoy cancelled) , Discover etc but could not find best matching the criteria above...
I switched from Amex SPG + Diners to CSR & Chase WOH a couple of years ago...

Get AmEx Plat for all the travel perks.
Ritz Carlton pays itself. Gives you full PP pass as good as CSR and all the travel benefits CSR offers. A lot more benefits if people stay at Marriott/RC properties. You do not need to work anything to break-even. No Lyft & Doordash craps.
Chase CIP. Almost the same as CSR. But with much cheaper AF and easier to mange.
Citi DC with 2 TY points. Handsomely beats out FU.
If you want cash, BofA Cash Rewards and BofA biz cash rewards give you 3% x 1.75 (if top tiers) 5.25% on some broad category spending. The new Biz Choice Cash card offers that for up to $50,000 travel expenses. 5.25% cold cash on travel or the broad category you so choose.

There are lot more. Go figure.

CSR? Sure you can just carry one card and enjoy whatever you do. But please do not say CSR is the greatest CC. It is not. It is so outdated now.

Sure, not everything is for everyone. I�m an urban guy and I like to get delivery once in a while. There are some great restaurants in my neighborhood that deliver and sometimes it�s nice to just eat it at home. I also use ride share a fair amount for work travel to/from the airport and often there�s a good reason to use it for point to point travel in the city. I just have the Amex Plat and CSR so it�s Uber once a month, Lyft the rest of the time, and DoorDash for delivery. I value UR more than MR because I fly economy and use my points mostly for Hyatt so the Gold isn�t that attractive to me but the Plat is great for lounges and perks.

As for the $200 credit there are still workarounds. It�s a bit of a pain but not too difficult to use really.

The two cards are for me complementary. But if CSR doesn�t renew some of the Lyft and DoorDash perks I�ll have to reevaluate whether it�s worth the $250. At $50 the Plat is a no brainer for me but I might switch to WOH if the CSR loses a lot of these in future years since I can grab status with it.

You need to do more homework. Given the other cards you have, what incremental value CSR brings? Dollarize the incremental value of the benefit by what you are willing to pay, eg, $10 for food at the selected PP restaurants.

In my case, I plan to hold ink preferred, amex platinum, and altitude reserve so CSR offers little value on top of them.

I never say CSR is the greatest CC but rather I think becoming less meaningful after AF increment.

Thought on other cards suggested ;
Amex Plat --- Their car rental CDW coverage is secondary.
JP Morgan Ritz Carlton --- Looks good for the criteria but not sure using 300 USD travel credit. No Bonvoy points nor elite status necessary for me as lifetime PLT with bunch of Bonvoy points--- overall more expensive than CSR.
Chase CIP -- No lounge access
Citi DC -- 3% foreign transaction, No Car insurance, No lounge
BofA Cash Rewards --I have travel rewards but no lounge, no car insurance
US Bank Altitude Reserve -- Interesting 400 USD card Not sure if PP includes restaurant and not sure car insurance is the primary or secondary but 12 months Gogo wifi is attractive with 325 USD statement credits... May worth try once my 1-year Gogo wifi subscription expires.

Regardless of AF increase (with meaningless change of benefits), I may be better to keep CSR anyway.

Thanks.

CSR has paved the way to devalue Altitude Reserve. Matter of time.

Never try to break even, if that's an issue then stick with simple cash back cards or just become a churners and risk getting the hammer. CSR is still best for me, provided with complimentary cards. It provides most value.I expect Ritz and AR to be.devalued next. Been in this game long enough.

Not true for me.

Ink Preferred is a business card that compliments CSR well. It's big part of my quafecta. It certainly does not replace it, if it does then CSR is obviously not designed for you (frequent unloyal traveler who eats out).

PP restaurants are actually useful. PP domestic lounges are worthless I rather hang at the gate. Only worth the time overseas.