Presidential Plus Card Changes
Jan 5, 2012, 3:45 pm
#1156
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
The $395 annual card fee can be considered a business expense (for those who can consider it such) while the $375 club membership fee can not be. If you would otherwise spend $375, the extra $20 gets you the signup b
nus miles plus miles for every dollar you put on the card. That's not bad for $20.
On the negative side of things, the removal of RDM bonus miles and FEQM limitations are changes that need some seri
us reconsideration IMHO.
nus miles plus miles for every dollar you put on the card. That's not bad for $20.On the negative side of things, the removal of RDM bonus miles and FEQM limitations are changes that need some seri
us reconsideration IMHO.AMEX Platinum is a MUCH better deal now, because their international lounge access (and domestic USAir) doesn't require a *A boarding pass.
Jan 5, 2012, 4:05 pm
#1157
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
For example, boarding early is my primary reason for having the card. Under CO, I could be among the first to board after FC. Under UA, I'm barely better than a Kettle. A Kettle!
RNE, moaning, "Oh the humanity."
RNE, moaning, "Oh the humanity."
Jan 5, 2012, 5:52 pm
#1158
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: CO Gold; SPG Gold***; AvisFirst;
Posts: 3,970
Ok, so aside from reading all of the comments on specific details, I'm honestly trying to figure out why I _should_ keep the PP card. It's the only MC-branded card in my wallet, and I like the 0% foreign transaction alternative for the overseas places that don't accept AmEx. But that's not $395 worth of utility... So, defenders, a nice little bullet-list of what I'm missing would be helpful.
Do Plat/1K members derive ANY benefit from the PP card at this point, given:
* No 25% mileage extra
* You can buy a UC membership straight-up for $375 -- $20 less than the card's annual fee
* You can't "level up" to 1K with FEQM, or you're already there and it doesn't matter.
* They don't get you any closer to MM levels.
Discounted UC membership + a CapitalOne VentureOne card would seem to be cheaper and offer completely-equivalent benefits, no?? And that's assuming that I'd actually buy the UC membership, given the other lounge access alternatives and the amount I fly Int'l... Am I missing something?
From a purely-business standpoint, I'm pretty confused as to what UACO (or Chase) thinks the benefit is to differentiate themselves, at this point. Unless they're just solely targeting non-elite flyers, which sort of doesn't make sense, given the spend patterns their target consumer would have and how they've advertised this card to-date? They're competing at a price point and demographic with AmEx Plat, and it's my experience that AmEx has been doing its hardest to ADD benefits. (Even to the point of finding ways to screw UACO for leaving them!) I don't get it. *shrug*
Do Plat/1K members derive ANY benefit from the PP card at this point, given:
* No 25% mileage extra
* You can buy a UC membership straight-up for $375 -- $20 less than the card's annual fee
* You can't "level up" to 1K with FEQM, or you're already there and it doesn't matter.
* They don't get you any closer to MM levels.
Discounted UC membership + a CapitalOne VentureOne card would seem to be cheaper and offer completely-equivalent benefits, no?? And that's assuming that I'd actually buy the UC membership, given the other lounge access alternatives and the amount I fly Int'l... Am I missing something?
From a purely-business standpoint, I'm pretty confused as to what UACO (or Chase) thinks the benefit is to differentiate themselves, at this point. Unless they're just solely targeting non-elite flyers, which sort of doesn't make sense, given the spend patterns their target consumer would have and how they've advertised this card to-date? They're competing at a price point and demographic with AmEx Plat, and it's my experience that AmEx has been doing its hardest to ADD benefits. (Even to the point of finding ways to screw UACO for leaving them!) I don't get it. *shrug*
Absent changes I'm going to cancel and replace it with one of:
Sapphire (at $95 - also no foreign exchange fee)
USAA MC (1% but with 1% cash back)
And I'll keep my Amex Plat (as well as SPG) and move the spend for everyplace that takes Amex onto one of those (foreign to Plat; domestic to SPG).
Jan 5, 2012, 6:06 pm
#1159
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
I think the lower end CO or UA card may be worth it though... just because of fee rebate they are offering. It gets most of the same benefits, including the upgrades on reward tix.
You might also look at Citibank's PremierPass cards.
You might also look at Citibank's PremierPass cards.
Jan 5, 2012, 8:15 pm
#1160
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: *G, M+ Platinum
Posts: 619
Do Plat/1K members derive ANY benefit from the PP card at this point, given:
* No 25% mileage extra
* You can buy a UC membership straight-up for $375 -- $20 less than the card's annual fee
* You can't "level up" to 1K with FEQM, or you're already there and it doesn't matter.
* They don't get you any closer to MM levels.
Discounted UC membership + a CapitalOne VentureOne card would seem to be cheaper and offer completely-equivalent benefits, no??
* No 25% mileage extra
* You can buy a UC membership straight-up for $375 -- $20 less than the card's annual fee
* You can't "level up" to 1K with FEQM, or you're already there and it doesn't matter.
* They don't get you any closer to MM levels.
Discounted UC membership + a CapitalOne VentureOne card would seem to be cheaper and offer completely-equivalent benefits, no??
Jan 5, 2012, 8:25 pm
#1161
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,814
http://www.capitalone.com/creditcard..._01_T_CCPDFVSW
PRESENTING YOUR VISA SIGNATURE PERKS AND BENEFITS
2
• Travel – Receive complimentary discounts and upgrades at top hotels, resorts, and cruise lines.
• Entertainment – Experience the most out of life with insider connections from your Visa Signature card. Enjoy access to
advance ticket sales and preferred seating at concerts and hit Broadway shows, plus movie ticket offers.
• Fine Wine & Food – Indulge your passion for everything gourmet with special dining and wine experiences. Attend dining
events and enjoy complimentary wine tastings and discounts at over 60 Sonoma County wineries.
• Sports – Get up close and personal at once-in-a-lifetime sporting events. Plus treat yourself to premier golf outings and
football game-day experiences.
• Visa Signature Concierge
– Save time and make your life easier with the complimentary Visa Signature Concierge service. Just call anytime, 24 hours a day. The Visa Signature Concierge service can help you find tickets to the top sports and
entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations, and even help you find the perfect gift. To use your Visa Signature Concierge service, call (800) 953-7392. For calls outside the United States, call us collect at 630-350-4551.
• Shopping – Enjoy discounts and special offers at premium retailers, from jewelry to apparel and electronics.
• Emergency Card Replacement and Emergency Cash Disbursement – This efficient, 24 x 7 x 365 worldwide service
allows you to quickly and easily get a replacement Visa Signature card sent to you and/or receive emergency cash at a convenient location.
• Year-End Summary Statement – At your option, receive a detailed summary of Visa Signature spending during the year for convenient budget analysis and financial planning.
• Warranty Manager Service – Get double the time period of the original manufacturer’s written U.S. repair warranty up to one (1) full year on warranties of three (3) years or less when you purchase an eligible item entirely with your eligible Visa Signature card. You can also enjoy convenient features like warranty registration and the option to purchase Extended
Service Agreements with Visa Performance Guarantee.
• Purchase Security – Replaces, repairs, or reimburses you for eligible items of personal property up to $500 per claim for
ninety (90) days from the date of purchase due to covered reasons.
• Lost/Stolen Card Reporting – This worldwide service saves you valuable time if you need to report a lost or stolen Visa
Signature card and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
• Travel Accident Insurance – Receive coverage for common carrier accidental death or dismemberment, at no extra cost,
when you charge your entire travel fare to your eligible Visa Signature card.
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement – Feel confident knowing your checked or carry-on luggage is covered up to $3,000 if lost
or stolen when you charge your entire common carrier ticket to your eligible Visa Signature card.
• Roadside Dispatch®
– Get convenient towing and locksmith referral services in the United States and Canada, available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Travel and Emergency Assistance Services – Get help coordinating medical, legal, and travel services while you’re away
from home.
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver – Receive coverage, at no additional cost, for damage due to collision or theft.
2
• Travel – Receive complimentary discounts and upgrades at top hotels, resorts, and cruise lines.
• Entertainment – Experience the most out of life with insider connections from your Visa Signature card. Enjoy access to
advance ticket sales and preferred seating at concerts and hit Broadway shows, plus movie ticket offers.
• Fine Wine & Food – Indulge your passion for everything gourmet with special dining and wine experiences. Attend dining
events and enjoy complimentary wine tastings and discounts at over 60 Sonoma County wineries.
• Sports – Get up close and personal at once-in-a-lifetime sporting events. Plus treat yourself to premier golf outings and
football game-day experiences.
• Visa Signature Concierge
– Save time and make your life easier with the complimentary Visa Signature Concierge service. Just call anytime, 24 hours a day. The Visa Signature Concierge service can help you find tickets to the top sports and
entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations, and even help you find the perfect gift. To use your Visa Signature Concierge service, call (800) 953-7392. For calls outside the United States, call us collect at 630-350-4551.
• Shopping – Enjoy discounts and special offers at premium retailers, from jewelry to apparel and electronics.
• Emergency Card Replacement and Emergency Cash Disbursement – This efficient, 24 x 7 x 365 worldwide service
allows you to quickly and easily get a replacement Visa Signature card sent to you and/or receive emergency cash at a convenient location.
• Year-End Summary Statement – At your option, receive a detailed summary of Visa Signature spending during the year for convenient budget analysis and financial planning.
• Warranty Manager Service – Get double the time period of the original manufacturer’s written U.S. repair warranty up to one (1) full year on warranties of three (3) years or less when you purchase an eligible item entirely with your eligible Visa Signature card. You can also enjoy convenient features like warranty registration and the option to purchase Extended
Service Agreements with Visa Performance Guarantee.
• Purchase Security – Replaces, repairs, or reimburses you for eligible items of personal property up to $500 per claim for
ninety (90) days from the date of purchase due to covered reasons.
• Lost/Stolen Card Reporting – This worldwide service saves you valuable time if you need to report a lost or stolen Visa
Signature card and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
• Travel Accident Insurance – Receive coverage for common carrier accidental death or dismemberment, at no extra cost,
when you charge your entire travel fare to your eligible Visa Signature card.
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement – Feel confident knowing your checked or carry-on luggage is covered up to $3,000 if lost
or stolen when you charge your entire common carrier ticket to your eligible Visa Signature card.
• Roadside Dispatch®
– Get convenient towing and locksmith referral services in the United States and Canada, available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Travel and Emergency Assistance Services – Get help coordinating medical, legal, and travel services while you’re away
from home.
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver – Receive coverage, at no additional cost, for damage due to collision or theft.
Jan 5, 2012, 8:26 pm
#1162
Join Date: May 2003
Location: At This Point, Only G*d Knows!
Posts: 3,467
I got the survey as well and there was no place for free response or else I would have let them have it RE: FEQMs and the removal of the RDM bonus.
On the plus side for filling out the survey they paid me $5.00
Dan
On the plus side for filling out the survey they paid me $5.00
Dan
Jan 5, 2012, 11:48 pm
#1163
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Hoboken, NJ; Pembroke Pines, FL
Programs: CO Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,939
Ok, so aside from reading all of the comments on specific details, I'm honestly trying to figure out why I _should_ keep the PP card. It's the only MC-branded card in my wallet, and I like the 0% foreign transaction alternative for the overseas places that don't accept AmEx. But that's not $395 worth of utility... So, defenders, a nice little bullet-list of what I'm missing would be helpful.
Given that, Xyzzy gives a key point if your card fee can be a business expense. That alone makes the card a good financial choice *if you want United Club membership*.
In its new incarnation, the card benefits are clearly biased towards infrequent travelers. For the various flavors of Premiers, the card is a worse and worse deal the higher your level.
Hmm. wait a minute is your $375 comparison price the 1K rate? If so then even 1Ks are paying $20 for the rest of the benefits. Is that right?
So if that's true, 1Ks are paying $20 for 1 mile per dollar spent on the card. Everyone else is getting United Club membership for less than the price of buying membership directly.
If you don't need United Club membership, I can't imagine that you would get the card.
Jan 6, 2012, 5:55 am
#1164
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
I think the *primary* benefit is United Club membership. If you don't want or need United Club membership, you shouldn't be considering this card. So whatever a straight up United Club membership would cost you, subtract that off of the card fee.
Given that, Xyzzy gives a key point if your card fee can be a business expense. That alone makes the card a good financial choice *if you want United Club membership*.
In its new incarnation, the card benefits are clearly biased towards infrequent travelers. For the various flavors of Premiers, the card is a worse and worse deal the higher your level.
Hmm. wait a minute is your $375 comparison price the 1K rate? If so then even 1Ks are paying $20 for the rest of the benefits. Is that right?
So if that's true, 1Ks are paying $20 for 1 mile per dollar spent on the card. Everyone else is getting United Club membership for less than the price of buying membership directly.
If you don't need United Club membership, I can't imagine that you would get the card.
Given that, Xyzzy gives a key point if your card fee can be a business expense. That alone makes the card a good financial choice *if you want United Club membership*.
In its new incarnation, the card benefits are clearly biased towards infrequent travelers. For the various flavors of Premiers, the card is a worse and worse deal the higher your level.
Hmm. wait a minute is your $375 comparison price the 1K rate? If so then even 1Ks are paying $20 for the rest of the benefits. Is that right?
So if that's true, 1Ks are paying $20 for 1 mile per dollar spent on the card. Everyone else is getting United Club membership for less than the price of buying membership directly.
If you don't need United Club membership, I can't imagine that you would get the card.
The Citibank Premier Elite card also has a 0% rate on international transactions, FYI.
Jan 6, 2012, 6:25 am
#1165
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,426
As a lifetime club member (from the CO side) I get this card for $100/year. As a 1k perhaps it will now only cost me $40 ... at th
se prices I'm not terribly unhappy about what I'm paying... I'm still upset about the uselessness of the FEQM and the RDM bonus going away, though.
se prices I'm not terribly unhappy about what I'm paying... I'm still upset about the uselessness of the FEQM and the RDM bonus going away, though.
Jan 6, 2012, 6:45 am
#1166
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: CO Gold; SPG Gold***; AvisFirst;
Posts: 3,970
.
Jan 6, 2012, 6:54 am
#1167
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic, UA Platinum, others
Posts: 1,270
Since Amtrak Select Plus get access to the UC and I have *G via 1K, the lounge benefit is of no value for me any more. I'm going to hang on to my United Platinum Class Visa which still can churn out 10k EQM a year (at a much lower 1K price) so I can accumulate a few miles if I like, but I've pretty much swung my spend over the Amex Platinum this year. The only benefit I think I might miss is the Avis benefit, but I'm Hertz PC so this is moot. With this combo, I have no int'l card fees, access to the lounges of the 3 majors (United/American/Delta) and the wicked stepsister (USAirways), plus Priority Pass for obscure int'l destinations where I'm not on Star. I can pick up MP points if I feel like it via the United Visa, MR points if I don't. Especially as I'm not sure I'm going to stick with United beyond 2012, this feels like a great hedge position to play from... naturally, if Chase gets their act together on the successor to the "Onepass" cards, I'm open to something new, but they've got to do a lot better.
Jan 6, 2012, 5:22 pm
#1168
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AMEX Platinum, Global Entry, Priority Pass, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,594
Source: http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan...nt-for-others/
Jan 6, 2012, 6:59 pm
#1169
Join Date: May 2003
Location: At This Point, Only G*d Knows!
Posts: 3,467
The agreement between UA and Amtrak is ending, so without *G, you wouldn't have UA lounge access.
Source: http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan...nt-for-others/
Source: http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan...nt-for-others/
Dan
Jan 6, 2012, 8:25 pm
#1170
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,426
I did not read the blog article but it must have outdated info as AMTRAK posted here on FT (LINK) that Select + Members will continue to enjoy UC access after February.
Effective December 31, 2011, the option to transfer miles and points between OnePass and Amtrak Guest Rewards accounts will cease.
f 2011. Perhaps a new, similar, option will show up in Mileage Plus? I'm not holding my breath.