Tag: Travel Planner

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Wyndham Rewards offers a three-tier award chart, with award nights costing 7,500, 15,000 or 30,000 points per night. This award chart means you can get a lot of value from Wyndham Rewards points, especially on peak travel dates.

The Wyndham portfolio includes brands ranging from Days Inn and Super 8 to Wyndham Grand and the Trademark Collection. You can also book select Caesars Rewards properties, Wyndham vacation club properties and Vacasa vacation rentals with Wyndham points.

Even if you don’t stay with Wyndham properties frequently, it’s worth knowing how to earn Wyndham points for when you discover an award stay you want to book. Here’s a closer look at how to earn Wyndham points.

Earn Wyndham points on hotel stays

You’ll earn 10 points per dollar spent or 1,000 points — whichever is more — on qualifying stays at Wyndham vacation club resorts and participating Wyndham brands, Wyndham destinations and Caesars Rewards properties.

Usually, you’ll earn points on the room rate you pay, but at Dolce Hotels and Resorts, Wyndham Grand, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (including Viva Wyndham properties) and Wyndham Garden, you’ll earn points on your total charges. When you book Go Fast awards, you can earn points on the cash part of your redemption.

You’ll only earn Wyndham points on qualifying stays. Specifically, you can earn points when you book through Wyndham’s call centers, websites, mobile app or at a hotel. You won’t earn points if you book through a third-party website, and you won’t earn points at:

• Wyndham Concorde Resort Isla Margarita, The H Hotel and the Bank of Montreal Institute for Learning
• Echo Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham hotels
• Travelodge properties outside the U.S., Canada and Mexico

You can also occasionally earn more through bonus points promotions.

Elite status bonuses

Wyndham Rewards has four membership levels. At enrollment, you’ll be an entry-level Blue member, but you’ll earn Gold elite status after five nights, Platinum after 15 nights and Diamond after 40 nights.

Wyndham Rewards elite members get bonus points on most stays (excluding Go Fast awards) as follows:

• Gold members: 10% of base points (11 points per dollar in total)
• Platinum members: 15% of base points (15 points per dollar in total)
• Diamond members: 20% of base points (20 points per dollar in total)

Wyndham adds these bonus points to your base points before calculating the 1,000-point per stay minimum. So, Wyndham will only round your points up to 1,000 points per stay if your base points plus your bonus points are less than 1,000.

Related: It’s easy to earn Wyndham’s top-tier Diamond status — here’s how and why you should care

Earn Wyndham points with credit cards

Wyndham and Barclays offer several Wyndham Rewards credit cards. Here’s a quick comparison of these cards’ sign-up bonuses, earning rates and annual fees.

Card	Sign-up bonus	Earning rates	Annual fee
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card	75,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months	5 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham, as well as on qualifying gas purchases 2 points per dollar spent on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases	None
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card	100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months	6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham, as well as on qualifying gas purchases 4 points per dollar spent on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases	$75
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card	50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days, plus 50,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first 12 months	8 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham, as well as on qualifying gas purchases 5 points per dollar spent on eligible marketing, advertising and utilities purchases 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases	$95

The information for the Wyndham Earner, Wyndham Earner Plus and Wyndham Business Earner has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

But, as I’ll discuss in the next section, if you’re looking for an everyday spending card that earns Wyndham Rewards points, you may be better off with a card that earns transferable points.

Related: Which credit card should you use for Wyndham stays?

Transfer points to Wyndham Rewards

You can transfer three main travel currencies to Wyndham Rewards: Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards points and Caesars Rewards reward credits. Let’s take a closer look at these transfer options.

Capital One miles

You can transfer Capital One miles to Wyndham Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. So, if you have one or more Capital One credit cards that earn transferable miles, you can turn these miles into Wyndham points once you’re ready to book an award stay.

Citi ThankYou Rewards points

You can also transfer Citi ThankYou Rewards points to Wyndham Rewards. However, the ratio at which you can transfer points to Wyndham depends on your specific Citi ThankYou card.

For example, you can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio if you have the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees). Know, though, that if you only have the Citi Rewards+® Card (see rates and fees) or the Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees), you can only transfer points at a 5:4 ratio.

Caesars Rewards reward credits

You can transfer Caesars Rewards reward credits to Wyndham Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. However, you can only transfer reward credits in increments of 5,000, and you can only transfer up to 60,000 reward credits to Wyndham Rewards per year. Transfers may take six to eight weeks to process.

Related: The 12 best Wyndham hotels in the world

Earn Wyndham points by shopping

Wyndham Rewards has an online shopping portal. When you start at the Wyndham Rewards shop and earn site, click through to the merchant of your choice and make a purchase, you can earn bonus Wyndham points on your purchase.

Note that these Wyndham points are on top of any rewards you’d earn from the merchant or the credit card you use for the purchase.

Wyndham Business rewards

Wyndham offers business travel and event planning rewards. Whether you manage company travel, plan events professionally or are planning a one-off event, you may be able to earn some extra Wyndham points.

Small and medium businesses

If you manage company travel, you may earn extra rewards and discounts by enrolling your company at the Wyndham Business website. For example, registered small and medium businesses can get up to 22% off the best available rate if they qualify for a volume-based discount. Business accounts can also earn 4 points per dollar when booking stays for groups of crew members.

Wyndham’s Go Meet program

Through Wyndham’s Go Meet program, you can earn 1 point per dollar when you plan an event. Specifically, you can earn points on:

• Guest sleeping rooms, but only when 10 or more rooms are booked on at least one night of your event
• Event space cost
• Event food and beverage charges

You won’t earn points on taxes, resort fees, facility fees, incidental charges, gratuities and related charges.

Not all Wyndham Rewards hotels participate in the Go Meet program. Some Wyndham Rewards properties offer different bonuses to event planners, so look closely at how you’ll earn before signing an event contract.

Earn Wyndham points on tours and activities

When you book tours and activities through Wyndham Rewards Experiences, you can earn 10 Wyndham points per dollar spent on your booking. Viator powers the tours and activities bookable through Wyndham Rewards Experiences. So, you can earn Wyndham points on Viator activities, tours and experiences worldwide.

Earn Wyndham points by taking surveys

You can earn Wyndham points when you join Opinion Rewards Panel and take surveys. Specifically, when you join through Wyndham’s link, you’ll earn 500 Wyndham Rewards points after completing your first survey. You’ll also earn points for every additional survey you take, presumably at much lower rates.

Buy Wyndham points

Finally, you can also buy Wyndham points for yourself or others in increments of 1,000. Wyndham Rewards points cost $13 per 1,000 points, which equals 1.3 cents per point. TPG’s valuations peg the value of Wyndham points at 1.1 cents each. So, buying points usually won’t make sense unless you have a specific high-value redemption in mind.

If you decide to buy Wyndham points, use one of the best credit cards for buying points. When you buy points, they should post within 72 hours. Each Wyndham Rewards account can only receive up to 100,000 points per calendar year from buying or gifting.

Bottom line

As you can see, there are many ways to earn Wyndham points besides staying at Wyndham hotels. Perhaps you’ve found it easy to get good value from Wyndham points and want to earn more. Or, maybe you need to top off your balance for an upcoming redemption.

Either way, you can earn more Wyndham points using one or more methods described in this guide.

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

If you want extra room or perks on an upcoming Hyatt stay, you may be able to redeem points for a club room or suite. Club rooms and suites aren’t available at all World of Hyatt properties and may not be bookable with points for your stay even if the property offers these room types.

However, if the property has club rooms or suites, you may be able to book an upgraded accommodation type using points or a mixture of points and cash. You can also upgrade some paid stays using points even after booking. Here’s what you need to know.

Related: The 23 best Hyatt hotels in the world

Redeem Hyatt points for upgraded rooms and suites

When you look at the World of Hyatt award charts, you’ll see standard room, club room, standard suite and premium suite award pricing. So, if you want to redeem Hyatt points for a club room or suite, you may be able to do so by selecting an upgraded room type.

How to redeem points for club rooms and suites

As mentioned above, just because a World of Hyatt property offers club rooms or suites doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily be able to book them with points. So, the first step is to check the options available for the property you want to book on the dates you want to travel.

Search for an award stay as you typically would, and select the property you want to visit. Then, you’ll see the room types bookable with points.

You can click on the “Suites” tab to see suites you can book with Hyatt points. If the “Suites” tab isn’t visible, it means no suites are bookable with points on your dates.

Note that you can sometimes choose whether to book club rooms or suites with points or points plus cash. Points plus cash rates cost 50% of the points required for a free night plus 30% to 50% of the standard rate for the room type. In the below example, you’d need to decide which option offers better value based on how you value Hyatt points.

Before making your decision, click through to see the cash copay, including any taxes and fees. Before using points to upgrade to a club room, consider whether you know any World of Hyatt members who might be willing to gift you a club lounge access award for your stay.

Related: 5 easy ways to maximize Hyatt award redemptions

Use Hyatt points to upgrade paid stays

You can also sometimes redeem Hyatt points to upgrade paid stays. The upgrade cost is 3,000 points per night for a club upgrade, 6,000 points per night for a standard suite upgrade and 9,000 points per night for a premium suite upgrade.

You can often upgrade paid nights during booking; the option may show up as “Club Upgrade With Points” for club upgrades, “Lp Suite Pts Upgr” for standard suite upgrades and “Upgrade Premium Suite” for premium suite upgrades. To use points to upgrade to a club room or suite at a Hyatt resort, you may need to pay at least the standard rate for a deluxe room.

You can also call Hyatt to inquire about upgrading an existing stay. Not all stays will be eligible, but it’s worth calling to check if you want more space or perks on an upcoming stay.

Related: Is the World of Hyatt credit card worth the annual fee?

How to earn Hyatt points

You have plenty of options to earn Hyatt points to book or upgrade an upcoming stay. If you have Bilt Rewards points or Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. You can also buy Hyatt points.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card and the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card are great ways to earn Hyatt points if you don’t need them immediately. These cards also offer useful perks for Hyatt loyalists, including earning elite night credits as you reach credit card spending thresholds during the calendar year.

Related: Why I aim to spend $15K on my World of Hyatt Credit Card each year

Bottom line

World of Hyatt offers reasonable rates if you want to redeem Hyatt points for upgraded rooms and suites. However, you won’t always see options to upgrade with points, even if the property offers upgraded rooms or suites.

If you have Hyatt Globalist status, you may not be compelled to redeem points for upgrades. After all, Hyatt Globalist members get club access and space-available upgrades up to standard suites. But, if you want a premium suite — or want to guarantee a standard suite — redeeming points for an upgrade can make a lot of sense, even if you have Globalist status.

A United Airlines jet was found to be missing an external panel after completing a scheduled flight to southern Oregon on Friday.

The Boeing 737-800, operating as United Flight 433, landed at Rogue Valley International Medford Airport (MFR) shortly before noon after an hour-long flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO). 

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

There was no mid-flight emergency, a United spokesperson said, nor anything else to suggest that there was damage during what appeared to be a routine flight. The missing panel was only discovered after the flight arrived and passengers disembarked. There were no injuries reported among the 139 passengers and six crewmembers.

After arriving at the gate, a routine inspection found a missing panel on the underside of the aircraft, near where the wing meets the body of the plane, airline and airport officials said. A photo first published by the Rogue Valley Times showed a jagged piece of metal plating appearing as if a piece of it had been torn away. The panel covered mechanical parts next to where the landing gear deploys.

Quite a sight as United #433 lands at Medford Airport this afternoon after panel apparently lost in-flight from San Francisco. No injuries, all safe, per updates coming in from our reporters. Plane is a 25-year-old Boeing 737-824 More coming soon from@RogueValTimes
newsroom. pic.twitter.com/IlN7c1d5mF

— David Sommers (@david_sommers) March 15, 2024

In a statement provided to TPG, United said it was investigating the incident.

“We’ll conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service,” the airline said. “We’ll also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred.”

The older “Next Generation” 737 was first delivered to Continental Airlines in 1998, according to Airfleets.net, and became part of United’s fleet when the two airlines merged in 2012.

It was the latest incident featuring a Boeing jet as the planemaker has come under intense scrutiny following an early January incident aboard an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9, during which a door plug that seals part of the fuselage blew off the jet mid-flight and caused the cabin to depressurize.

It was also the latest among several incidents that have involved United.

Last week, a United Airlines 737 MAX rolled off of a runway into the grass at IAH, causing part of its landing gear to collapse. A day earlier, a tire fell from a Boeing 777-200 flown by United as it departed from San Francisco International Airport, damaging cars in an employee parking lot.

In an email Friday night, a Boeing spokesperson referred questions to United.

We’ll have more on this developing story as warranted.

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without

Qatar Airways is developing a new first-class product to introduce aboard its aircraft, according to a new CNBC report.

The airline is also redesigning its award-winning QSuite, which has been broadly considered among the best business-class products in the world since its debut in 2017.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

New Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer, in an interview with CNBC on Thursday, said that the new cabins represented a shift in strategy to align with “a new era.”

Al Meer took the top job at the airline group in November of last year, following the departure of CEO Akbar Al Baker after nearly three decades at the helm. He was previously the CEO of Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH).

The new business class offering will debut at the Farnborough International Airshow, which is slated to run July 22-26 outside of London. It was not immediately clear when the first class cabin would be unveiled; Al Meer told CNBC that the design was “70-80%” complete and “hopefully we will be able to announce it very soon.”

Qatar Airways currently offers a first-class cabin on its Airbus A380, which operates on some frequencies between the airline’s Doha hub and Bangkok, Paris, London, Sydney and Perth, Australia.

Related: The ultimate guide to Qatar Qsuite

Qatar had planned to phase out the A380s under Al Baker, but Al Meer said the airline would keep the jets active.

The current first-class hard product, while more spacious than the business-class seats, is fairly dated compared to the offerings on Persian Gulf rivals Emirates and Etihad. It’s also missing some features from the QSuites, including closing doors for added privacy.

There were no details available on what the new product would entail. Al Meer told CNBC that the airline was looking to build a product comparable to flying private.

“We wanted to combine the experience of flying commercial and flying on a private jet and develop something new,” he said.

QSuites is available on some of Qatar’s Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 aircraft. Other aircraft — including the A380, the Airbus A330, the Boeing 787 and some of the airline’s 777s and A350s — have older business-class seats. However, they offer an identical “soft product” — or service items like food options, on-demand service and other amenities.

Close to perfect: Qatar Qsuite on a 777-300ER from Doha to New York JFK

Al Meer said that the airline is in talks with Airbus and Boeing for a “big” new aircraft order. However, it was not immediately clear whether the new first and business-class seats would be retrofitted on existing aircraft or only installed on newly ordered jets.

Qatar initially seemed inclined to phase out its first class altogether and instead enhance its onboard business class by introducing QSuites along with elevated dining options and top-tier service; numerous flight attendants would enable customized options like dining on demand instead of during a single meal service.

Emirates and Etihad, on the other hand, have kept the high-yielding top cabin and used it to distinguish themselves among travelers crossing the globe; the branding benefits from the opulence of first class — private suites, caviar, even on-board showers — trickle down to boost the airlines’ reputations across all of their service classes.

Related: Emirates first class still wows: Fully enclosed suites and unlimited caviar

Timing on the new products remains unclear, but they could debut on Qatar’s first Boeing 777X. The airline has 74 of Boeing’s newest jet series on order. The 777X is still undergoing the Federal Aviation Administration’s certification process, and timing for the already-delayed airplane remains unclear. Also unclear is whether the current crisis at Boeing surrounding the 737 MAX will impact the 777X program’s development. But, Al Meer said that the airline expects to receive the first of the new planes by the end of 2025.

Related reading:

• Can you still book Qatar Airways Qsuite awards with American AAdvantage miles?
• Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage
• Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
• What is American Airlines elite status worth?
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Everything you need to know about flying basic economy on American Airlines

TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor.

Bilt Rewards keeps adding enhancements and transfer partners at a pace unmatched by most other credit card rewards programs. Now, Bilt Rewards has announced a new strategic partnership with Alaska Airlines.

Effective immediately, Bilt Rewards members can transfer points to Alaska Mileage Plan at a 1:1 ratio. This is huge news for award travelers, as Marriott Bonvoy points are the only other major transferable currency that transfers to Alaska Mileage Plan.

Due to award chart devaluations, Alaska Mileage Plan miles have become less valuable over the years. Alaska Mileage Plan implemented its most recent award chart changes earlier this week. Now, the starting rates for many awards are higher than ever — and, of course, the award rates you see may be much higher than the listed starting rate. But there are still some high-value uses of Alaska miles, and you can still book free stopovers with Alaska Mileage Plan.

The partnership between Bilt Rewards and Alaska Airlines extends beyond point transfers, though. Later this spring, Alaska Airlines cardholders will start earning 3 miles per dollar spent (on up to $50,000 annually) when using their Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card to pay rent through Bilt. That’s even better than the 1 point per dollar spent on rent payments (up to 100,000 points per calendar year) offered by the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees). You must use the card five times each statement period to earn points (see rewards and benefits).

Related: 6 reasons I love my Bilt Mastercard as a renter in the most expensive city in the US

You can read more about this partnership on Bilt’s website. Brett Catlin, vice president of loyalty at Alaska Airlines, stated via press release:

We have a rich history of connecting communities across the United States. This extraordinary new partnership with Bilt will reward our guests where they live while also connecting them to Alaska Airlines and our oneworld partners’ 1,000+ destinations across the globe.

Meanwhile, Bilt Rewards CEO Ankur Jain commented via press release:

From the Northwestern tip of Alaska to the most southeastern point of Florida, at Bilt we want to continuously reward our members no matter where they live in the United States. As one of the most loved brands in aviation, this first-of-its-kind partnership with Alaska Airlines not only broadens Bilt’s members’ ability to travel everywhere Alaska and its partners fly but also exemplifies our commitment to providing Americans with more valuable ways to earn and redeem rewards on their largest monthly expense, rent, and within their local neighborhood.

Related: How to earn ‘interest’ on your points balance with Bilt Rewards

Bottom line

This new partnership is one more reason to utilize the Bilt Rewards program. If you pay rent, it may also be worth adding the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card to your wallet to earn 3 miles per dollar spent when paying rent through Bilt starting later this spring. Check out our Alaska Airlines Visa credit card review to learn more about this card.

For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.

There’s a newly reopened upscale lounge option for passengers flying out of Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C. It’s now available, free of charge, for travelers who carry the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card.

Last week, Etihad Airways‘ Dulles lounge quietly reopened following a major face-lift — one that appears to bring it into Chase’s growing portfolio of Sapphire Lounges.

Officially, the club remains known as an Etihad Lounge. The airline’s logo remains on prominent display as you enter the space along Dulles’ A concourse.

But Etihad’s website notes the space is a collaboration with JPMorgan Chase and airport lounge operator Airport Dimensions.

Throughout the two-level facility, you’ll find plenty of similarities to other clubs in Chase’s Sapphire Lounge portfolio, from impressive food and drink offerings to a family room and reflection space.

In fact, the front desk itself is adorned with a logo that says “Sapphire Lounge by The Club.” This is the official name of some other Chase lounges, such as the ones at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

In an unusual twist, though, this lounge opened with little fanfare and no formal announcement from Chase, Etihad or Priority Pass.

So, last weekend, I shuffled my travel plans and booked a flight through Dulles to check out the space for myself.

Here’s what I found.

Chase Sapphire Lounge Dulles location

The new Etihad-Chase collaboration lounge is in Dulles’ Terminal A — specifically, near Gate A14.

After you clear security and take the AeroTrain to the terminal, the lounge is just to the left as you enter the concourse.

The lounge’s location puts it in close proximity to many international carriers’ gates at Dulles.

You should also be able to reach the lounge within minutes if you’re departing from a B gate on another U.S. carrier like American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines or JetBlue.

Notably, the lounge is quite far from a majority of the gates used by United Airlines, which operates a hub at Dulles.

You can technically move between all Dulles gates airside, but it’ll be more of a hike to get to the lounge from terminals C and D, where a majority of United’s gates are.

The lounge is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Chase Sapphire Lounge Dulles access

As with the other Sapphire Lounge locations, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders receive unlimited complimentary access for themselves and up to two guests per visit. Just make sure you’ve activated your Priority Pass membership through this card, as that’s what they’ll check to admit you to the lounge.

You’ll also get access if you’re flying in business or first class on an Etihad flight or if you have Gold or Platinum elite status with Etihad Guest.

Additionally, travelers who earn Priority Pass through a different card will receive one complimentary visit to any Sapphire Lounge per year. This is an especially great option for Capital One Venture X cardholders who are turned away from the Dulles Capital One Lounge when it’s full.

Additional guest visits and any visit above the one allowed will cost $75 each.

Chase Sapphire Lounge Dulles layout

Despite the lack of fanfare for this lounge’s reopening, it’s a beautiful space.

It’s a far cry from the massive 21,000-square-foot location at LaGuardia, but this didn’t come as a huge surprise. We expected this space to be similar in size to the Sapphire Lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), which is also a revamped Etihad Lounge.

However, it’s a mere 5,200 square feet, according to the Washington Business Journal, meaning it’s actually much smaller than the 7,600-square-foot space in JFK.

Immediately upon entering, it feels like you’re in a Sapphire Lounge — in no small part because of the sign that says so at the welcome desk. 

The color motif and seating areas are precisely what we’ve come to expect from a Sapphire-branded space.

From the reception area, you’ll notice the bar immediately to your right.

Along the windows straight ahead, you can choose a cozy chair to settle in for some work or to do some planespotting. It was rainy and dark when I was there, but the floor-to-ceiling windows along the back wall mean you can enjoy some great plane views from multiple areas in the lounge.

To your right, you’ll see a stairwell that leads to the second floor and two entrances into the small dining area. Don’t forget to turn all the way to your left to see the space’s most eye-catching, library-themed area.

The shower, meditation room and bathrooms are all on the far side of the dining room.

Upstairs, you’ll find various seating options, including a large center banquette with built-in outlets to charge your devices while you work. It also has its own small snack area.

In such a small space, overcrowding could become a concern. However, the distinct spaces and ample seating throughout the lounge will likely help mitigate the issue significantly.

Chase Sapphire Lounge Dulles amenities

There are fewer amenity offerings here than what you’ll find in the Sapphire Lounge at LaGuardia. Don’t expect to make a facial appointment during your layover here.

Still, the space offers several amenities to make your stay more comfortable.

Just through the dining room, you’ll find three gender-neutral restrooms, a backlit vanity with two stools, a reflection room and a shower. The separate vanity is especially nice for those who need to refresh their hair or makeup, allowing you to do so without taking up one of the limited restrooms.

If you want to use the shower or reflection room, you’ll need to make a reservation at the reception desk or by scanning the QR code on any of the tables.

Additionally, there is a family area just off the bar. It is somewhat small but includes some games and an area for children to run around in a contained space.

Chase Sapphire Lounge Dulles food and drinks

As with its other lounge locations, Chase offers an impressive selection of food and beverages in this lounge.

You can order a drink at the bar or by scanning the QR code on any of the tables on the first level. There are several signature cocktails, including the locally inspired “In Bloom,” which is a cherry blossom take on a mimosa.

As you enter the dining area, you’ll find a grab-and-go section to your left with canned seltzers and soft drinks, espresso machines, locally roasted coffee and a few snacks. Farther back is the hot bar, which offers a variety of individually plated selections.

I was there during breakfast, and the options included a cheese plate, overnight oats, yogurt parfait, shakshuka, brioche French toast and curry potatoes. I highly recommend the shakshuka, which has pomegranate seeds that add an unexpected bright pop to the savory dish.

Additionally, you can scan the QR code on any of the tables on the first floor to order a dish from the made-to-order menu. At breakfast, the choices include breakfast bao, salmon Benedict, gluten-free bagel and gluten-free muffin. This is especially good news for those who just want to walk in and settle in the bar or a corner seating area without venturing into the dining room.

On the second level, you’ll find a smaller snack bar with water, coffee and a few small bites. However, you don’t have the option to order food from the second level. You may want to get some more substantive snacks and a drink to bring up with you if you plan to settle up there.

The staff was extremely friendly and attentive without being overbearing. If you’re like me and can’t decide what to order or want a recommendation on the best spot to get some work done, don’t hesitate to ask.

Bottom line

This lounge opened quietly in early March. But whatever the reason why Chase and Priority Pass did not give it more lip service, the lounge will be a welcome addition to flyers traveling out of Dulles’ A gates. 

If you’re a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder or Priority Pass member, don’t skip it the next time you find yourself passing through. 

Related reading:

• The best credit cards for airport lounge access
• How to choose a credit card for airport lounge access
• The complete guide to Chase Sapphire lounges
• The do’s and don’ts in an airport lounge

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Citi is a TPG advertising partner. 

If you’re looking to boost your summer travel with a nice haul of transferable points, you might want to think about one of Citi’s most viable cards on the market.

The Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees) is offering 60,000 ThankYou points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. According to TPG valuations that peg ThankYou points at 1.8 cents apiece, that’s a bonus worth $1,080.

In the past, Citi has offered up to 80,000 ThankYou bonus points — and while that’s a pretty solid deal, 60,000 ThankYou points also offer tons of value. Let’s dive deeper into Citi’s Premier Card to see what other perks it offers.

Aside from the potential points haul the sign-up bonus offers, the Citi Premier is one of the best earners among rewards credit cards thanks to its various bonus categories. They include:

• 3 ThankYou points per dollar at restaurants
• 3 ThankYou points per dollar at supermarkets
• 3 ThankYou points per dollar at gas stations
• 3 ThankYou points per dollar on air travel and hotels

Currently, Citi is offering 10 points per dollar on airfare, hotel and car rental bookings when booked through the Citi Travel portal on ThankYou.com through June 30, 2024. You’ll also receive 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

What can you do with Citi ThankYou points?

What’s particularly valuable about ThankYou points is the ability to utilize the issuer’s airline and hotel transfer partners.

After you meet the initial spending requirement of $4,000 in the first three months, you’ll have at least 60,000 ThankYou points — and even more, if you’ve spent in the bonus categories listed above — that you can use to book travel that includes flights and hotels.

If you value simplicity, the 60,000-point sign-up bonus will let you book $600 of paid travel directly through the Citi ThankYou travel portal. You’ll earn miles and elite status on these flights by redeeming points this way, and you don’t have to worry about award availability. You could also redeem your points for $600 in gift cards.

TPG credit card writer Danyal Ahmed is a huge fan of the Citi Premier and utilizes his points exclusively by transferring them to some of Citi’s transfer partners.

He finds value in programs such as Air France-KLM Flying Blue, thanks to their standardized award chart between the U.S. and Europe, which offers business-class tickets for 50,000 points one-way while having the ability to add a free stopover.

Before its devaluation, Danyal often transferred his Citi ThankYou points to Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles to secure business-class seats for as little as 47,000 miles one-way to the Middle East. However, another phenomenal use of Citi points is to transfer them to Qatar Airways Privilege Club to book the renowned QSuite business-class product.

Related: Everything you need to know about ThankYou points

Things to consider

Here’s the specific verbiage on application restrictions for this offer:

Bonus ThankYou® Points are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi Premier® account in the past 48 months.

Additional perks offered by the Citi Premier include:

• $100 annual hotel credit (on single hotel stay bookings of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through thankyou.com)
• Free FICO credit score monitoring
• Citi Quick Lock so you can block new purchases without interrupting recurring ones
• Lost wallet protection for emergency cash
• Citi Concierge access
• Complimentary ShopRunner membership
• No foreign transaction fees
• Citi Entertainment
• Extended warranty on purchases and cellphone insurance

Related: Review of the Citi Premier Card

Bottom line

Between the sign-up bonus, earning 3 points per dollar on a wide range of popular bonus categories, and valuable transfer partners, the Citi Premier Card is a great travel rewards credit card.

You can easily rack up ThankYou points through everyday spending on gas, groceries and dining purchases without a cap on how many points you can earn.

---

Apply here: Citi Premier with a 60,000-point bonus offer

---

Editor’s note: TPG’s Gene Sloan accepted a free trip from Princess Cruises to get an early look at Sun Princess. The opinions expressed below are entirely his and weren’t subject to review by the line.

Apparently, I’m not the only cruiser who doesn’t always have the stamina for the drawn-out ship dinners in main dining rooms.

That, or Princess Cruises has just made a colossal mistake with its newest vessel.

As I’m seeing this week during an early look at the still-not-quite-finished Sun Princess, the line has reserved the top level of the ship’s elegant three-deck-high main dining room for passengers looking for a quicker sit-down meal than is typical in a main dining room.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

It’s also changed up the menu for just this one level, offering a set and simple lineup of the sort of comfort food items you find in a diner: a bacon cheeseburger, fish and chips, chicken wings and fried chicken, to name a few.

Renamed Americana by the line, this top floor of the main dining room also offers a solid array of dinerlike breakfast dishes, including made-to-order omelets, a breakfast burrito and a “diner’s hash” made with salt beef or halloumi served with home-style potatoes, fried eggs, roasted bell peppers and griddled onions.

All of the dishes, including the breakfast items, are available all day.

So, yeah, on Princess, you now can have breakfast for dinner — and in an elegant venue, to boot.

To which I say: Fabulous. Bravo, Princess. Who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner? And who doesn’t sometimes want a quicker dinner on a cruise ship that isn’t just a trip to the ship’s buffet?

As I am learning this week, dining at Americana is a much more relaxing alternative to dining at the buffet on Sun Princess — whether it’s at breakfast time, lunchtime or dinnertime.

It’s early days still for Sun Princess, but the ship’s buffet, called The Eatery, has been a madhouse with crowded corridors, slow served-by-staff buffet lines and too few seats — a recipe for frustration. Hopefully, it’ll improve as the currently Mediterranean-based ship sails in warmer climates and more passengers move to outside venues and seating areas for meals.

Note that if you want a traditional main dining room dinner, you’ll find that on the two lower levels of the main dining room. The middle level (called Horizons) offers come-anytime-you-want dining with the normal drawn-out service. The lower level (also called Horizons) offers the more traditional fixed-seating dinner format that once was de rigueur at Princess.

Both of those levels offer a classic main dining room menu with such dishes as Norwegian salmon with creamy mashed potatoes, carrots and lemon-caper butter, and grilled New York strip steak with garlic-herb butter and vegetables.

Related: First look: Sun Princess, the giant new ship from Princess Cruises

A quick take on the quicker menu

In my one visit to Americana so far, I found the dishes a bit hit or miss. (Again, I’m hoping this will all be worked out in the coming weeks as the ship comes into its own.)

It’s hard to mess up a breakfast burrito too badly, for instance, but the chefs at Americana managed to do just that with the one I ordered for a late lunch — breakfast for lunch, after all, is almost as good as breakfast for dinner.

The burrito came out filled with the same uninspired vat-cooked eggs that are in the buffet line at The Eatery, plus a smattering of tofu and black beans. It was billed as “spicy,” but there was no spice to it at all. The relatively tasteless salsa that came on the side wasn’t much help. Plus, the whole thing was oddly tiny.

Memo to Princess: Call up the chefs at your lower-priced sister brand Carnival Cruise Line, which has the always reliable Mexican-serving fast food outlet BlueIguana Cantina on ships, to find out how shipboard burritos should be done.

Lest you think I revel in being critical, I’ll say that I was delighted with the loaded French fries that I ordered as a side. They came smothered in buffalo sauce and huge chunks of blue cheese.

The burgers and sticky pork ribs that the family at the table next to me were noshing on looked great, too, as did the made-to-order banana splits. Possibly, I just ordered the wrong thing.

The good news: I have a couple more days left on this trip to give it all a try.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

The Platinum Card® from American Express overview

The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the top premium travel rewards cards on the market. As a cardmember, you’ll earn valuable Membership Rewards points, receive over $1,500 in annual statement credits (as long as you can take advantage of them) as well as access to an extensive network of airport lounges worldwide. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

---

Nowadays, it seems every bank, airline and hotel offers a premium travel rewards card. But for a long time, The Platinum Card from American Express was the only premium rewards card on the market. With its sleek design and hefty metal weight, there was a bit of prestige attached to being an Amex Platinum cardholder.

That still exists, even though a few competitors in the luxury card category have emerged in recent years, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. When you stack them up against one another, the Amex Platinum shines in ways the others don’t. Then again, it falls flat in some areas, too.

The Amex Platinum has undergone significant changes in recent years and carries a steep $695 annual fee (see rates and fees) — one of the highest on the market. That’s why people often ask whether the Amex Platinum is still worth the annual fee, even with the new perks.

The recommended credit score for this card is above 690 and it ranks as one of the best travel cards, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for every traveler.

Let’s dig into the details and benefits to see whether having the Amex Platinum in your wallet makes sense for you.

Amex Platinum pros and cons

Pros

Cons

The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative, which TPG values at $1,600 This card has a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more (note that enrollment is required for select benefits) The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway

The high annual fee is only worth it if you take full advantage of the card’s benefits —  infrequent travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost Outside of the current welcome bonus, you only earn higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to use compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards

Amex Platinum welcome offer

The current welcome bonus for the Amex Platinum is 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. This is slightly above the standard welcome offer we have seen.

THE POINTS GUY

According to TPG’s latest monthly valuations, Amex Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each, making this bonus worth $1,600. That’s nearly three times the card’s $695 annual fee.

Amex sometimes offers up to 150,000 points to targeted individuals through other channels — like the CardMatch tool, so it’s worth checking out if you’re targeted. Just remember that offers are subject to change at any time and are not necessarily available to everyone.

Related: How to redeem Membership Rewards points for maximum value

Amex Platinum benefits

What truly sets The Platinum Card from American Express apart is the fact that it confers so many valuable best perks and travel benefits. Let’s take a look:

• Up to $200 in statement credits annually for incidental fees charged by one airline you select*
• Up to a $200 annual hotel credit, in the form of a statement credit, on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with Amex Travel when you pay with your Amex Platinum (Hotel Collection stays require a two-night minimum)*
• Up to $200 annually in Uber Cash, valid on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. (split into monthly $15 credits plus a $20 bonus in December)*
• Up to $189 in statement credits to cover your Clear Plus annual membership*
• Up to $240 in annual digital entertainment credit — with the exception of SiriusXM, which will be removed effective May 8 and no longer be eligible for this benefit — disbursed as up to $20 monthly statement credits when you pay for eligible purchases with the Amex Platinum at eligible partners*

• Up to $300 in annual Equinox credit on Equinox gym and Equinox+ app memberships (subject to auto-renewal)*
• Up to a $155 statement credit that covers the cost of a monthly Walmart+ membership when paying with the Amex Platinum (subject to auto-renewal); Plus Up excluded.
• A $100 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or an up to $85 fee credit for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years (depending on which application fee is charged to your card first)
• Up to a $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, split into two up to $50 statement credits between January and June, then July through December*
• Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges, Plaza Premium lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when traveling on same-day Delta flights; Effective February 1, 2025: Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight)*
• Complimentary Gold status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy*
• Complimentary car rental status: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle, Avis Preferred Plus and National Emerald Club Executive*
• Access to Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection
• If your trip is delayed by more than six hours because of a covered reason, you may be eligible to be reimbursed up to $500 per covered trip for reasonable additional expenses**
• If you need to cancel or interrupt your trip because of a covered reason, you may be eligible for reimbursement of up to $10,000 per covered trip**
• Extended warranty benefit extends eligible manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less by up to one additional year***
• Purchase protection protects recent purchases against theft, accidental damage or loss for up to 90 days from the purchase date***

Even if you can use just a handful of these perks, it’s easy to cover most (or all) of the Amex Platinum’s annual fee.

Here’s how TPG director of content Nick Ewen describes it:

“I have no use for some benefits of the Amex Platinum, and others (like Walmart+) I utilize just because they’re there. However, I always max out the digital entertainment credit ($240). I also easily use all $200 in Uber credits and all $200 in airline statement credits annually. In other words, just three of these perks put $640 back in my pocket every year. As a result, I think of it as paying $55 for all of the other benefits on the card — and that makes it a no brainer to keep in my pocket.”

Your exact situation may vary, but crunch the numbers to see how much real-life value you can get from the card.

*Enrollment is required for select benefits. 

**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

***Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Related: How to maximize benefits with the Amex Platinum

Earning points on the Amex Platinum

With the Amex Platinum, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly with the airlines or through the Amex Travel portal (on up to $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar year). Plus, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel.

These 5-point categories are an excellent way to earn lots of Membership Rewards points. Based on TPG valuations, earning 5 points per dollar provides a 10% return.

All other purchases earn just 1 point per dollar, but Platinum cardmembers are eligible for targeted Amex Offers that could boost earning rates at various merchants (including Amazon).

Related: The ultimate guide to saving money with Amex Offers

Redeeming points on the Amex Platinum

Membership Rewards points are one of the most valuable and flexible loyalty currencies ever created for redeeming points. The best way to maximize your points is to transfer them to one of their loyalty program partners.

You can also use your Membership Rewards points to book travel directly through American Express Travel. But if the personal Amex Platinum is the only Amex card in your inventory, using points for airfare and hotel redemptions this way won’t get you amazing value.

You’ll get only 1 cent per point when you redeem the points directly for airfare at Amex Travel and less than 1 cent per point when redeeming for hotel rooms.

From my experience, 9 out of 10 times, you should never redeem Membership Rewards points for flights through American Express Travel, as you will get much better value utilizing transfer partners.

However, suppose you also have The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. In that case, you’ll get one of the very best direct point redemptions available. This results from the 35% points rebate for first- and business-class flights on any airline plus economy flights on your selected airline (up to 1 million bonus points back per calendar year).

Related: Here are 9 of our favorite ways to use Amex Membership Rewards points 

Transferring points on the Amex Platinum

Each Membership Rewards point is worth 2 cents, thanks largely to the program’s airline and hotel transfer partners. Those include at least one helpful option in each major airline alliance (SkyTeam, Star Alliance and Oneworld).

Transferring your points to the right airline or hotel program is usually the best way to maximize your Membership Rewards points value.

Here’s how TPG senior editor Matt Moffitt likes to transfer and redeem his Membership Rewards points:

“I look out for transfer bonuses to maximize my points to book long-haul business-class flights. I often transfer to Iberia Plus for lie-flat seats to Madrid. Sometimes, I’ll transfer to Qantas Frequent Flyer to secure hard-to-find business- or first-class flights back to Australia.”

Which cards compete with the Amex Platinum?

Some other compelling premium credit cards go head-to-head with the Amex Platinum:

• If you want a slightly lower annual fee: Try the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which comes in at a $550 annual fee but offers a $300 travel credit and some of the best travel protections available. However, it can’t beat the Amex Platinum when it comes to perks such as lounge access and hotel benefits. For more information, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
• If you want a much lower annual fee: Capital One’s premium rewards card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, packs a punch and comes with a more affordable $395 annual fee (see rates and fees). The Venture X is potentially more lucrative than the Amex Platinum when it comes to earning, accruing 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked via Capital One Travel and an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on everything else. For more information, read our full review of the Venture X.

For additional options, check out our full list of the best cards for travel rewards and lounge access.

Read more: The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison

Bottom line

If you can take full advantage of more than $1,500 in annual statement credits yearly, The Platinum Card from American Express is one of the most compelling rewards cards, especially if you travel enough to make the hotel statuses and lounge benefits useful or shop enough to get substantial value from the shopping protections.

The Amex Platinum’s $695 annual fee is steep, but the various annual credits can recoup the entire cost (and more), even before considering the card’s other perks.

---

Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express

Check the CardMatch tool to see if you’re targeted for a 150,000-point Platinum Card offer (after meeting minimum spending requirements). These offers are subject to change at any time.

---

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

While some truly excellent credit card bonuses are available right now, sometimes the most lucrative offers are reserved for targeted individuals. One of the best places to look for these elevated targeted offers is by using the CardMatch tool, where you might find introductory bonuses that are much higher than those posted elsewhere.

Here are two to look out for right now.

Top CardMatch offers

If you haven’t used the CardMatch tool recently, now’s an excellent time to check your CardMatch offers. Great offers are available on two of Amex’s top cards, including The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card.

Amex Platinum 150,000-point offer

For the Platinum Card, you could be pre-qualified for an offer of 150,000 points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within your first six months of card membership. The card has an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees).

Based on TPG point valuations, the 150,000 Amex Membership Rewards points bonus is worth a staggering $3,000.

This astronomical bonus number is worth grabbing if you’re eligible, as the highest publicly available welcome offer for the card is 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.

Related: Is the Amex Platinum worth the annual fee?

Amex Gold 90,000-point offer

We also see possibilities for a 90,000-point targeted welcome offer on the American Express Gold Card available for some through the CardMatch tool. This offer is pre-qualified, and the Gold card has a $250 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Targeted cardmembers can earn 90,000 points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of account opening. TPG values 90,000 Membership Rewards points at an impressive $1,800. Others may see a pre-qualified 60,000-point offer after spending $6,000 in the first six months of card membership, which matches the current offer that’s publicly available on the Amex Gold card.

Cardmatch offers vs. public offers

These CardMatch offers are significantly better than those publicly available for both of these American Express cards. Here’s a snapshot for comparison:

• The Amex Platinum Card‘s public offer is 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first six months of card membership. That means you can get an additional 70,000 bonus points if you’re targeted for the CardMatch offer.
• The public offer on the Amex Gold Card is 60,000 bonus points for making $6,000 in purchases in the first six months of account opening. So you may be eligible to get up to 30,000 extra bonus points if you’re targeted for an elevated welcome offer via CardMatch.

It’s important to note that all offers are subject to change at any time, and not everyone will be targeted for an elevated offer.

American Express welcome offers are also “not available to applicants who have or have had this product,” and that limitation also applies to CardMatch offers.

So, if you have had either of these cards in the past (including the Premier Rewards Gold card, the previous version of the Amex Gold), you might be out of luck, even if you are targeted for these offers through CardMatch.

While there are some reports of being able to get a welcome offer for the same card many years after closing the account, this “once-per-lifetime” welcome offer limitation is an important restriction to keep in mind.

Finally, make sure to check your offer closely. Some potential cardholders have reported seeing different offers through the CardMatch tool than those posted here.

How to use CardMatch

CardMatch is straightforward to use, but you may wonder how it works if you haven’t used it before. Here are the simple steps to check your offers:

1. Go to the CardMatch tool
2. Enter your first name, last name, home address, last four digits of your social security number and email address
3. Click “Get matches”
4. Check the box to accept the terms and conditions and click “Submit”
5. After a 60-second or less search, your preapproved offers will appear

Note that this process generates a “soft” credit inquiry on your credit report. This means the inquiry will show up on your credit report but won’t impact your credit score, similar to if you checked your credit report through a free annual check or a paid service.

Related: How to check your credit score for free

Other ways to get targeted offers

No one knows the exact criteria that banks, airlines and hotels use to target certain customers for elevated bonus offers, but many people may not realize their accounts are eligible.

Make sure to go into your account settings for all your cards and loyalty programs and opt-in for marketing communications and emails, as this is often how targeted offers are communicated.

Opting in is just the first step, though. While no one likes wasting time reading through junk mail, it’s important to at least skim emails or snail mail sent from banks, airlines and hotels to see if they contain any elevated offers.

Some targeted offers require you to apply with a unique invitation code or a specific link. If you throw away the letter or delete the email containing that code, it’s possible that you won’t receive the same offer again.

Is the American Express Platinum Card worth it?

The Amex Platinum’s 150,000-point welcome bonus through CardMatch — which, per TPG’s valuations, equates to a hefty sum of $3,000 — is a fantastic offer.

Once you learn to maximize the value of your Membership Rewards points, you can potentially get even more value than that.

Even without the sky-high welcome offer, the Platinum Card is one of the best cards available for frequent travelers.

On the spending side, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly through the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotel bookings made with American Express Travel.

The card also rewards frequent Uber users with up to $200 per calendar year in Uber credits (only in the U.S.).

Plus, you’ll get up to $200 in statement credits for airline fees on your selected airline and up to another $200 in annual statement credits toward prepaid hotel bookings made through Amex Travel at Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection properties (the latter requires a minimum stay of two nights). Enrollment is required for select benefits.

In fact, there are more than $1,500 in annual credits that you can unlock with this card.

Related: Amex Platinum card review

Then there are the airport lounges. Cardmembers are granted access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Amex’s own fantastic Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (Effective February 1, 2025: Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight).

The card has a $695 annual fee, but it can be well worth it if you utilize these perks to their full extent. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Related: Guide to lounge access with the Amex Platinum

Is the American Express Gold Card worth it?

The Amex Gold’s 90,000-point welcome bonus through CardMatch is also much better than the current public offer of just 60,000 points and is worth around $1,800 based on TPG’s valuations.

With a lower annual fee and more varied bonus-earning categories, the Amex Gold is more versatile than the Amex Platinum for everyday spending.

With the Gold card, you’ll earn 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 spent in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and on dining at restaurants, plus 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with an airline or through American Express Travel. You’ll earn 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

You’ll also get a solid lineup of perks, including up to $120 in annual dining credits (available as up to $10 in monthly statement credits for eligible dining partners), $10 per month in Uber Cash credit (up to $120 Uber Cash annually) that you can use for U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. and access to The Hotel Collection booking benefits. Just make sure you add the card to your Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

The card does charge a $250 annual fee, but that is easily offset when you take full advantage of the card’s built-in perks. Terms apply.

TPG credits cards writer Chris Nelson says, “I can use the credits each month organically, bringing the effective annual fee to $10 for me, which is a no-brainer considering it earns 4 points per dollar on dining and 3 points per dollar on flights and these are some of my biggest spending categories.”

Related: Who should (and shouldn’t) get the Amex Gold card?

Other CardMatch offers

While the Platinum and Gold offers are likely the most appealing, you may see other appealing offers through CardMatch.

Previous cards have included the American Express Cash Magnet® Card and the American Express® Green Card. We recommend comparing any offers you receive against the publicly available offers to make sure that the targeted offers through CardMatch are better.

The information for the Amex Cash Magnet and Amex Green cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Other ways to find good welcome offers

Targeted offers can be a great way to get extra bonus points on a card you already planned to apply for, but they aren’t the only way to find a good deal.

Banks often extend limited-time, elevated bonuses that are publicly available to anyone who wants to apply for them, and you can check our list of the best elevated bonuses available right now — which is updated regularly.

If you’ve been on the hunt for the best credit card that suits your spending habits and also features a generous welcome offer, using the CardMatch tool can help you get there.

If you’re looking to fill a specific hole in your points and miles strategy, you may want to consider the following curated lists of best credit cards:

• Travel
• Dining
• Groceries
• Everyday spending

Bottom Line

The CardMatch tool is great because it allows you to find better welcome offers than what is publicly available.

The Amex Platinum and Gold are two of Amex’s most popular cards. The 150,000 point offer for the Amex Platinum and the 90,000 point offer for the Amex Gold available to eligible targeted customers are the highest we have seen. If you’re in the market for a new reward card, now is a great time to see if you qualify for one of these offers.

---

Check the CardMatch tool to see if you’re targeted for up to a 150,000-point welcome offer on The Platinum Card® from American Express offer or up to a 90,000-point American Express® Gold Card offer. These offers are subject to change at any time.

---

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees on the Amex Gold Card, click here.