American Express Platinum - 125K Signup Bonus + 15x at Restaurants and Amex Small Biz

OP are you getting any kind of referral here? https://www.americanexpress.com/u...62210INT#/

Quote from Aerodaves : OP are you getting any kind of referral here? https://www.americanexpress.com/u...62210INT#/

I wish I was, but sadly no. It's actually through a deal with Resy.

You can find it here: https://resy.com/amex-offers

Just trying to be helpful.

that annual fee, ouch!

The Cap One Venture X card seems a better deal I think assuming you can hit the 10k spend limit to get the bonus points

Quote from Aerodaves : OP are you getting any kind of referral here? https://www.americanexpress.com/u...62210INT#/

Amex referral will tell when you open the page that "xxxxxx has referred you"

Quote from cdiddydaddy : I wish I was, but sadly no. It's actually through a deal with Resy. You can find it here: https://resy.com/amex-offers Just trying to be helpful.

OK thanks. That $695 annual fee kills it for me.

this is a good deal, i would sign up if i don't already have it

Has welcome offer ever been higher than 125k? Not in a rush to apply for this card but might if this is the best it's ever been

Quote from GCS : that annual fee, ouch! The Cap One Venture X card seems a better deal I think assuming you can hit the 10k spend limit to get the bonus points

TBH, Venture X is a borderline value. Those 100k points are only worth $500 if you use them for cash (statement credit...not real cash), and $800 if you redeem them for gift cards. You only get the $1000 value if you use it for a statment credit on travel expenses. The extra bonuses, like $100 GE credit is only good once every 5 years, and $300 annual credit for travel is only through their portal, which I've found to be 15-25% over priced for short duration stays (ex: 1 night PGH Weston = $139 via C1, $106 for a logged-in night via Priceline - all fees and taxes included). Most offers for flights and hotels are equal or less flexible than direct bookings.

All that said, I have the Venture X, but partly because of the Visa Infinite benefits - free damage insurance on post-paid cell phone svc, int'l lounge availability, and Dulles is one of my two primary international airports and they're going to get a swanky CapOne lounge this year. Also, I use AirBnB for family stuff enough I know I can use the $200 bonus.

Quote from overzeetop : TBH, Venture X is a borderline value. Those 100k points are only worth $500 if you use them for cash (statement credit...not real cash), and $800 if you redeem them for gift cards. You only get the $1000 value if you use it for a statment credit on travel expenses. The extra bonuses, like $100 GE credit is only good once every 5 years, and $300 annual credit for travel is only through their portal, which I've found to be 15-25% over priced for short duration stays (ex: 1 night PGH Weston = $139 via C1, $106 for a logged-in night via Priceline - all fees and taxes included). Most offers for flights and hotels are equal or less flexible than direct bookings. All that said, I have the Venture X, but partly because of the Visa Infinite benefits - free damage insurance on post-paid cell phone svc, int'l lounge availability, and Dulles is one of my two primary international airports and they're going to get a swanky CapOne lounge this year. Also, I use AirBnB for family stuff enough I know I can use the $200 bonus.

I would be primarily using it for flights which based on my research I am not seeing hardly any price difference between booking direct, cap one travel site, and chase travel site.

I have 140k points with chase which will cover our outbound flights next year to Seattle for a cruise and some but not all of our return flights. We will also need points (or just pay for it) for flights from Seattle to Vancouver and back as well (or we take a train if it fits our schedule but that ride is 4 hours).

Doing the Venture X with the 100k points and $300 travel credit is more than enough for return flights and probably our Seattle to Vancouver flights. Chase points I have would cover flights out there and probably the hotel in Seattle for 2 nights. Of course if I could stomach regular main cabin the chase points are enough to cover all my flights and then some. But alas I don't think I can handle VA to Seattle and back in main cabin.

I am interested in the GE credit as we intend to apply for this soon as well to ease some of our travelling next year. That makes the 395 fee more palatable than the 695. We travel some but probably not enough for either of these cards tbh. I am just trying to maximize as much savings as I can for our big trip next year.

Quote from GCS : ...or just pay for it...

My God, man - there are children here; you watch what you say!


Seriously though, if it works for you, great. I was a bit miffed by the Venture when I realized that points were not redeemable or transferrable between cards. OTOH, the transfer to the Venture X will give me enough to go to Lisbon next spring. I need to check, but I think I can make the 10k over the next two months and still apply to a previous travel purchase (90 day rolling window). BA direct allows some additional perks like London stopovers and such, and will likely be easier to deal with if we have to delay or cancel due to the Upsilon variant next April.

Quote from overzeetop : My God, man - there are children here; you watch what you say! Seriously though, if it works for you, great. I was a bit miffed by the Venture when I realized that points were not redeemable or transferrable between cards. OTOH, the transfer to the Venture X will give me enough to go to Lisbon next spring. I need to check, but I think I can make the 10k over the next two months and still apply to a previous travel purchase (90 day rolling window). BA direct allows some additional perks like London stopovers and such, and will likely be easier to deal with if we have to delay or cancel due to the Upsilon variant next April.

yeah its hard to figure out what is best for us. I may just do the easy and cheap citicard offer which is $300 credit after 1k in purchases. Do that for each of us and that is $600. Have to give this more thought as I am just not certain. One thing I have noticed is that booking through the Amex travel site requires a lot more points than at Chase and Cap One.

Quote from overzeetop : TBH, Venture X is a borderline value. Those 100k points are only worth $500 if you use them for cash (statement credit...not real cash), and $800 if you redeem them for gift cards. You only get the $1000 value if you use it for a statment credit on travel expenses.

120K points (100K bonus + 20K on $10K spend) will cover an international roundtrip business class award flight if done right, or typically $4K+ in value.

Using credit card points for anything but transfers to mileage programs for award redemptions is suboptimal, with very rare exceptions.

Quote from overzeetop : TBH, Venture X is a borderline value. Those 100k points are only worth $500 if you use them for cash (statement credit...not real cash), and $800 if you redeem them for gift cards. You only get the $1000 value if you use it for a statment credit on travel expenses.

Isn't the AMEX platinum pretty terrible to for cash redemptions? It's not a perfect 1:1. Venture X is probably the best overall entry level travel card. Pretty strong daily spend driver with the flat 2x miles. AMEX platinum is starting to feel a little "niche" and for those that travel probably >5 times per year to maximize those lounges.

As with all travel cards, transferring to partners is the best approach. Cash/gift card redemptions should be a last resort.

Quote from MadJukes : Has welcome offer ever been higher than 125k? Not in a rush to apply for this card but might if this is the best it's ever been

I haven't seen it. Perhaps something targeted, but not as a general offer.