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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We have the CSR, CSP, 3 Chase Inks, and Chase Freedom.

I also have the Venture and VentureX.

I feel like if you want to get into the points game and get a lot of free travel, Chase is the way to go.  If you just want lounge access and to get reimbursed for some travel, VentureX.

I'm canceling my VentureX this year because I got it only because they didn't limit authorized users and AUs got lounge access, and that was immediately changed after I got the card.  We use the Chases all the time and I've learned that system pretty well, plus we go to a lot of Hyatts so the partner system works for us.[/quote]

I feel this way about Amex points.  I like Chase too and Hyatt is definitely a crown jewel of their system, but their point acquisition policy limits you.  Once you have both Sapphires and one each of Inks, you're done.  They used to give out Inks freely (I had five at one point) but that time has ended.  You are now limited to one per category.  Once you've exhausted bonuses on this limited lineup of cards, you're essentially done earning points except with regular spending.

Whereas Amex has a long list of cards you can continue getting with SUBs, they give retention bonuses and their bonused categories are much more generous.  Amex gold has x4 on groceries, Amex green has x3 on all travel, Amex Plat has X5. [/quote]

What benefits do you use on the American Express platinum? Do you book travel through American Express to make it worthwhile? I feel that with some of the high fee cards, you’re using benefits to offset the fee rather than making additional money/benefits.

We got an American Express platinum card with an additional user last year, but I don’t think I can justify keeping now that the fee for both has increased from $890 to $1090. Made a big effort to use the benefits for a year and came out $620 ahead but don’t think I would be able to do that for another year. I can get 6x points on groceries and streaming on my American Express preferred card for $95 fee per year (they reduced to $50 for me year). Also extra points for travel on Sapphire preferred. [/quote]

Amex Plat is one of these cards where you really have to value the benefits to make it work.  Not everyone does, and it's okay.  I got it primarily for the fat sign up bonus.  If you get it in December, you can triple dip on the benefits and then cancel since they reset every calendar year.  I used the airline credit to fund United Travel Bank, I use the hotel credits for girl night staycation with my daughter, I use Lululemon for odds and ends, I use Uber credits for takeout once a month.  Not sure if I would do all that if it wasn't prepaid so some of it is definitely changing behavior to use the credits.  Every time I try to cancel it, they throw a retention bonus at me so I cave.  It's perfectly fine to decide you don't need it anymore. [
 
Can you use the $200 United travel bank credit for flights? I thought you could only use it for things like baggage fees, seat allocation, etc.

How much of a retention bonus did they give you? [/quote]

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