Anonymous wrote:If you've got any card with an annual fee and you're not getting several times it back in rewards you're doing something very wrong.

I do Chase, not Amex, but I easily redeem $2,000-3,000 a year in points, plus the $300 travel credit, plus the $120 Lyft credit, plus the $60 doordash credit, plus the free global entry. Makes the $600 fee look like a bargain and the lounge access is just icing on top.

Maybe some of us are just doing things differently enough that the pricey cards do not make sense for us.

We never use Uber or Lyft. We do not have any food delivered. Other "credits" offered generally are services we never use. We always fly up front, for medical reasons, which means points are not a good value for redemption. We have Nexus, which is lower cost than GE, and lasts 5 years.

People should do what makes sense for their situation. Not everyone will get good value from a pricey card. Clearly some do.

i do get to watch a colleague go thru contortions to use random services to psychologically justify his pricey card. It makes him happy so why not. It would not make me happy so I don't bother.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The nice thing about DCA is you can cut it pretty close to your flight and not have to waste any time in any lounge.

Except for layovers, never really understand the appeal of spending more time than necessary in airports.

Meh. Flights aren’t always on time, and I like free food and drinks.

Card annual fee is $700.

If you've got any card with an annual fee and you're not getting several times it back in rewards you're doing something very wrong.

I do Chase, not Amex, but I easily redeem $2,000-3,000 a year in points, plus the $300 travel credit, plus the $120 Lyft credit, plus the $60 doordash credit, plus the free global entry. Makes the $600 fee look like a bargain and the lounge access is just icing on top.

I am someone very much "in the game", so yes I easily make up the annual fee. But I don't think it's quite that simple for the average person as these credits become more "coupons" requiring you jump through hoops. The rumored additional increase in the Sapphire Reserve fee to $800 makes the coupon book even more explicit.

https://liveandletsfly.com/crazy-chase-sapphire-reserve-changes-floated/

And the credits through Amex are more convoluted than Chase. $200 airline credit? Can't be used for airfare, only ancillary fees, and you have to choose the airline in advance. $200 hotel credit? Only available for a very limited number of expensive hotels, must be booked through Amex site and must be prepaid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The nice thing about DCA is you can cut it pretty close to your flight and not have to waste any time in any lounge.

Except for layovers, never really understand the appeal of spending more time than necessary in airports.

Meh. Flights aren’t always on time, and I like free food and drinks.

Card annual fee is $700.

If you've got any card with an annual fee and you're not getting several times it back in rewards you're doing something very wrong.

I do Chase, not Amex, but I easily redeem $2,000-3,000 a year in points, plus the $300 travel credit, plus the $120 Lyft credit, plus the $60 doordash credit, plus the free global entry. Makes the $600 fee look like a bargain and the lounge access is just icing on top.

Definitely the centurion lounge

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The nice thing about DCA is you can cut it pretty close to your flight and not have to waste any time in any lounge.

Except for layovers, never really understand the appeal of spending more time than necessary in airports.

Meh. Flights aren’t always on time, and I like free food and drinks.

Card annual fee is $700.

That’s the concern of my employer, not me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The nice thing about DCA is you can cut it pretty close to your flight and not have to waste any time in any lounge.

Except for layovers, never really understand the appeal of spending more time than necessary in airports.

Meh. Flights aren’t always on time, and I like free food and drinks.

Card annual fee is $700.

Anonymous wrote:The nice thing about DCA is you can cut it pretty close to your flight and not have to waste any time in any lounge.

Except for layovers, never really understand the appeal of spending more time than necessary in airports.

Mostly agree - time in the airport is almost by definition worse than time elsewhere. I do like to add an extra 30 minutes if my flight is leaving close to a meal time. But yeah if it's a 10:30 AM flight to Chicago, no way, eat at home and arrive an hour before departure.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been to both and actually prefer centurion because I think the food quality and selection is better. But I’ve only been there during breakfast. Sounds silly but the bacon is amazing.

Thanks! I won’t be there in the morning, but I’ll keep that in mind for future trips.

Anonymous wrote:The nice thing about DCA is you can cut it pretty close to your flight and not have to waste any time in any lounge.

Except for layovers, never really understand the appeal of spending more time than necessary in airports.

Meh. Flights aren’t always on time, and I like free food and drinks.

The nice thing about DCA is you can cut it pretty close to your flight and not have to waste any time in any lounge.

Except for layovers, never really understand the appeal of spending more time than necessary in airports.

I’ve been to both and actually prefer centurion because I think the food quality and selection is better. But I’ve only been there during breakfast. Sounds silly but the bacon is amazing.

I’m flying in and out this weekend, and would like to know which is better.

I care about traffic. food quality, and clean bathrooms.

The Centurion lounge in ATL was packed and disappointing, so now I’m searching for advice on which is better.