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flyAU 
Auburn Fan
ATL
Member since Dec 2010
5611 posts
| Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/27/13 at 6:28 pm)
I travel quite a lot and was looking for a credit card that has some good perks. Since my Sky Club membership has expired, I was thinking of a card that could give me access to clubs. I have a corporate card that my company insists that we use so specifics on hotel/air/food are not a big deal.
So far the two that I have seen that offer some good perks are:
http://exploreplatinum.americanexpress.com/ https://www.theritzcarltonrewardscard.com/1100015
Any suggestions? Are these worth the hefty annual fee if I was going to pay 350 for sky club anyway?
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I Love Bama 
Alabama Fan
Alabama
Member since Nov 2007
27077 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/27/13 at 6:57 pm to flyAU)
quote:
I travel quite a lot
really? I haven't heard. 
Why aren't you renewing the skyclub?
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NC_Tigah 
LSU Fan
Member since Sep 2003
40137 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/27/13 at 7:04 pm to flyAU)
quote:
Any suggestions?
Visa Signature® BankMiles / Private Banking Cardquote:
Are these worth the hefty annual fee
No annual fee . . . . depending
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Tigah in the ATL
LSU Fan
Atlanta
Member since Feb 2005
20592 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/27/13 at 7:12 pm to flyAU)
The Starwood card has a good rep.
If you have a single airline, a miles card for that airline makes sense.
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NC_Tigah
LSU Fan
Member since Sep 2003
40137 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/27/13 at 7:50 pm to Tigah in the ATL)
quote:
If you have a single airline, a miles card for that airline makes sense.
Blackout dates are a PITA
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Siderophore
LSU Fan
Member since Nov 2010
3334 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/27/13 at 8:20 pm to flyAU)
Can't speak for personal experience but all of my friends who are frequent travelers consider AmEx as literally the only option.
The people who say this take international flights at least 3 times a year though.
But the 200 dollar annual credit on airline incidental charges does take a lot out of the 450 annual fee.
This post was edited on 1/27 at 8:23 pm
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BACONisMEATcandy
LSU Fan
My opinions are my own
Member since Dec 2007
37663 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/27/13 at 8:35 pm to flyAU)
If you are flying Delta a majority of the time Delta Reserve is awesome.... I love it
If that's not the case I would go with the Amex Platinum you linked 
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flyAU
Auburn Fan
ATL
Member since Dec 2010
5611 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/27/13 at 9:18 pm to I Love Bama)
quote:
really? I haven't heard.
quote:
Why aren't you renewing the skyclub?
I will if the credit cards who provide free access to all the clubs don't make sense.
$350 to renew Sky Club
$450 for Amex Platinum which gives access to Sky Club and many other airline clubs
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flyAU
Auburn Fan
ATL
Member since Dec 2010
5611 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/27/13 at 9:20 pm to BACONisMEATcandy)
quote:
If you are flying Delta a majority of the time Delta Reserve is awesome.... I love it
Delta is my primary. Being in Atlanta it allows me to get most places direct. I had looked at Reserve but wasnt sure if it would be preferable over Amex Plat.
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gazelles 
Georgia Fan
Member since Apr 2011
748 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/28/13 at 6:46 am to flyAU)
platinum has been great for me. if not only for the customer service.
i like that ritz card though too
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coolpapaboze 
Nebraska Fan
Parts Unknown
Member since Dec 2006
7024 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/28/13 at 7:15 am to flyAU)
The Amex platinum card will get you into most airport lounges (United is the only major exception). It's great for dining reservations, the travel agency has bailed me out multiple times, and you can accumulate points to use for anything, any time, which is more flexible than most cards. If you travel a lot, especially internationally, it is the card to have.
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BACONisMEATcandy
LSU Fan
My opinions are my own
Member since Dec 2007
37663 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/28/13 at 8:35 am to flyAU)
quote:
Delta is my primary. Being in Atlanta it allows me to get most places direct. I had looked at Reserve but wasnt sure if it would be preferable over Amex Plat.
If you fly Delta 85% of the time or more I'd go with the Amex:
-gives you another free bag incase you need it
-earn 30k mqm's (if you spend 60K on the card)
-tiebreaker for upgrades
-access to skyclub
Also, Amex offered it to me for $300 for my 1st year.... was a no brainer for me
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Rev1897
LSU Fan
NOLA
Member since Dec 2008
442 posts
 Online
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/28/13 at 8:35 am to coolpapaboze)
Chase sapphire preferred,
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BACONisMEATcandy
LSU Fan
My opinions are my own
Member since Dec 2007
37663 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/28/13 at 12:55 pm to Rev1897)
quote:
Chase sapphire preferred,
Not even in the same class as Amex Platinum IMO 
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flyAU
Auburn Fan
ATL
Member since Dec 2010
5611 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:06 pm to BACONisMEATcandy)
quote:
If you fly Delta 85% of the time or more I'd go with the Amex:
-gives you another free bag incase you need it
-earn 30k mqm's (if you spend 60K on the card)
-tiebreaker for upgrades
-access to skyclub
Extra bag is a rare perk I would use. (not to mention the platinum card gives you $200 in incidentals on airlines each year)
I am not sure that I ever spend 60k on a card, so I might possibly be chasing something that wouldn't be possible.
Tiebraker would be nice for upgrades!
The sky club is a primary reason for me getting one of these cards. Added bonus that platinum does allow for other clubs as well.
Very tough decision.
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BACONisMEATcandy
LSU Fan
My opinions are my own
Member since Dec 2007
37663 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:27 pm to flyAU)
Sounds like Platinum is where you should go to me
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Golfer
LSU Fan
Coral Bay, St. John, USVI
Member since Nov 2005
47475 posts
Online
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:32 pm to flyAU)
quote:
Tiebraker would be nice for upgrades!
I hate how they market this...its only used when you and another person in your medallion group have booked the same fare class.
So the odds that you and say, another platinum, are both flying on a K-class fare is rather rare. Besides, the next tie breaker is time of booking.
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BACONisMEATcandy
LSU Fan
My opinions are my own
Member since Dec 2007
37663 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:42 pm to Golfer)
I hate that they've all but basically force me to go through ATL instead of Memphis... I doubt I ever see and upgrade again as a Gold w/ Q class ticket 
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Golfer
LSU Fan
Coral Bay, St. John, USVI
Member since Nov 2005
47475 posts
Online
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:47 pm to BACONisMEATcandy)
quote:
I hate that they've all but basically force me to go through ATL instead of Memphis... I doubt I ever see and upgrade again as a Gold w/ Q class ticket
Hard to come by out of DCA, especially during peak times. I'm sliding back to gold in a month...sucks. Only missed two upgrades last year:
LAX-ATL on a Friday afternoon, and ATL-YUL on a Monday (a lot of companies allow for paid F travel for "international")
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BACONisMEATcandy
LSU Fan
My opinions are my own
Member since Dec 2007
37663 posts
| re: Best Credit card for a frequent traveller (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:49 pm to Golfer)
I fly Sundays so I still have a chance leaving... but when I flay back on Friday nights I generally have 0 shot
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