Anonymous
Post 08/01/2024 10:19     Subject: Chase Sapphire Reserve Alternate?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For the reasons many have mentioned, lounge access is nice if you would have the card anyway for other reasons, but lounge access alone is not a reason to get a premium card. We rarely use it because almost never do layovers or arrive super early to the airport.


Exactly- one of the big benefits of the DC area is having nonstops to so many places if you utilize all 3 airports. The only time we ever have a stop is if going to some pretty remote western airport like the smaller ones near some of the national parks. And we rarely check bags and have PreCheck, so are usually getting to the airport around an hour from departure. As such, even with lounge access it's not worth spending more time in the airport, so we pretty rarely do it. One thing that was nice when the Sapphire Reserve has the restaurant perk was going 45 minutes early if the flight was around mealtime, and getting a discounted meal before the flight so we didn't have to bring food onboard. But that's gone now. Thanks Chef Geoff's, you weren't bad for airport food.


What do you mean it's gone now? Is there no more discounts on meals at the airports?


https://onemileatatime.com/news/chase-sapphire-reserve-cuts-priority-pass-restaurants/
Anonymous
Post 08/01/2024 09:33     Subject: Chase Sapphire Reserve Alternate?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For the reasons many have mentioned, lounge access is nice if you would have the card anyway for other reasons, but lounge access alone is not a reason to get a premium card. We rarely use it because almost never do layovers or arrive super early to the airport.


Exactly- one of the big benefits of the DC area is having nonstops to so many places if you utilize all 3 airports. The only time we ever have a stop is if going to some pretty remote western airport like the smaller ones near some of the national parks. And we rarely check bags and have PreCheck, so are usually getting to the airport around an hour from departure. As such, even with lounge access it's not worth spending more time in the airport, so we pretty rarely do it. One thing that was nice when the Sapphire Reserve has the restaurant perk was going 45 minutes early if the flight was around mealtime, and getting a discounted meal before the flight so we didn't have to bring food onboard. But that's gone now. Thanks Chef Geoff's, you weren't bad for airport food.


What do you mean it's gone now? Is there no more discounts on meals at the airports?
Anonymous
Post 08/01/2024 09:19     Subject: Re:Chase Sapphire Reserve Alternate?
I’ve had the Reserve since it launched and never had any issues. What kind of issues did you have?
Anonymous
Post 08/01/2024 09:16     Subject: Chase Sapphire Reserve Alternate?
Anonymous wrote:Lounges are a gimmick. The companies have a massive incentive to have them as full as possible, so eventually these lounges will be worthless and they’ll make you pay a lot to get what you had for free. Just look at what happened with priority pass.

If lounge access is your top priority with a card, I’d get the highest end airline card for the airline you fly the most.


PP here- agreed, the crowding also reduces the value of the credit card and PP lounges significantly. You get to the airport 30 extra minutes early to grab some food and...there's a 45-60 minute wait. And once you get in, it's hard to find a seat, etc.
Anonymous
Post 08/01/2024 08:25     Subject: Chase Sapphire Reserve Alternate?
Lounges are a gimmick. The companies have a massive incentive to have them as full as possible, so eventually these lounges will be worthless and they’ll make you pay a lot to get what you had for free. Just look at what happened with priority pass.

If lounge access is your top priority with a card, I’d get the highest end airline card for the airline you fly the most.
Anonymous
Post 07/31/2024 23:13     Subject: Chase Sapphire Reserve Alternate?
Anonymous wrote:For the reasons many have mentioned, lounge access is nice if you would have the card anyway for other reasons, but lounge access alone is not a reason to get a premium card. We rarely use it because almost never do layovers or arrive super early to the airport.


Exactly- one of the big benefits of the DC area is having nonstops to so many places if you utilize all 3 airports. The only time we ever have a stop is if going to some pretty remote western airport like the smaller ones near some of the national parks. And we rarely check bags and have PreCheck, so are usually getting to the airport around an hour from departure. As such, even with lounge access it's not worth spending more time in the airport, so we pretty rarely do it. One thing that was nice when the Sapphire Reserve has the restaurant perk was going 45 minutes early if the flight was around mealtime, and getting a discounted meal before the flight so we didn't have to bring food onboard. But that's gone now. Thanks Chef Geoff's, you weren't bad for airport food.
Anonymous
Post 07/31/2024 19:48     Subject: Chase Sapphire Reserve Alternate?
For the reasons many have mentioned, lounge access is nice if you would have the card anyway for other reasons, but lounge access alone is not a reason to get a premium card. We rarely use it because almost never do layovers or arrive super early to the airport.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2024 18:25     Subject: Chase Sapphire Reserve Alternate?
I manage my mom's Amex Platinum. There are decent offers and benefits on there but you have to keep track of them and use them/ manually opt in. The main reason to have it is to use the lounges, but she doesn't travel so I don't think it's worth it for her.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2024 13:05     Subject: Chase Sapphire Reserve Alternate?
I use Amex platinum but you’re right about it not being accepted everywhere.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2024 12:15     Subject: Re:Chase Sapphire Reserve Alternate?
The 2 similar cars are Cap One VentureX and AmEx Platinum.

I'd lean towards the CapOne, since they have a really good lounge at IAD and AmEx has non. AmEx does have a new lounge at DCA, but it gets full quickly. CapOne will be opening a grab'n'go style lounge at DCA soon.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2024 12:00     Subject: Chase Sapphire Reserve Alternate?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Venture X is the corollary to CSR on the Capital One side.

If you're sure you're done with the CSR, I would downgrade to a Freedom so that you don't lose all your points.


If OP downgrades to Freedom, they will lose the ability to transfer the points to partners. If they want to keep the ability to transfer, they should downgrade to the Sapphire Preferred.

And yes VentureX is the closest version to what OP is looking for. $395 annual fee, but they give you 10k points each year as an anniversary bonus, and a $300 annual credit for bookings through the CapOne portal. That $300 credit is a little annoying to use, but we end up utilizing it each year through a random hotel booking we need for a weekend trip or similar.


Other nice thing about the VentureX is that you get authorized users for free, which means you only need one annual fee for lounge access for the family, as each AU gets lounge access (including priority pass) with 2 guests. That said, I don't value the lounge access THAT much- most of the PP lounges in the US are pretty bad, they took away the PP restaurant perk, and the CapOne lounges, while nice, are popular and crowded now, and often have a wait. It's a nice thing when it works out, but don't put a ton of expected value towards it.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2024 11:59     Subject: Chase Sapphire Reserve Alternate?
We downgraded to preferred and got a venture X but haven’t had it long enough to have an opinion.

We use our Chase points for United miles and I haven’t figured out the best way to use Cap 1 points but I figure worst case I’ll use them as cash.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2024 11:56     Subject: Chase Sapphire Reserve Alternate?
Anonymous wrote:Venture X is the corollary to CSR on the Capital One side.

If you're sure you're done with the CSR, I would downgrade to a Freedom so that you don't lose all your points.


If OP downgrades to Freedom, they will lose the ability to transfer the points to partners. If they want to keep the ability to transfer, they should downgrade to the Sapphire Preferred.

And yes VentureX is the closest version to what OP is looking for. $395 annual fee, but they give you 10k points each year as an anniversary bonus, and a $300 annual credit for bookings through the CapOne portal. That $300 credit is a little annoying to use, but we end up utilizing it each year through a random hotel booking we need for a weekend trip or similar.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2024 11:48     Subject: Chase Sapphire Reserve Alternate?
Venture X is the corollary to CSR on the Capital One side.

If you're sure you're done with the CSR, I would downgrade to a Freedom so that you don't lose all your points.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2024 11:36     Subject: Chase Sapphire Reserve Alternate?
After being mucked around by Chase a few times, I am looking to take my business elsewhere. Do you have any recommendations for a travel credit card that offers similar perks to the Chase Sapphire Reserve? I like the 3x points for travel and dining, I also like the lounge access, travel insurance, lack of foreign transaction fees, and the TSA Pre-Check credits. I don't like the customer service, which is why I would like to leave Chase and use another card. I also don't love the $550 annual fee, but the card more than paid for itself so I put up with it.

I was looking into the Citi Strata and Capital One Venture Rewards. Any other good cards out there? I'm open to an Amex but find that many European merchants don't accept Amex.