They should make the Airline incidental credit easier to use by automatically being triggered with any airline. Also 5x on hotel bookings not just through the travel portal.
@@brayanrojas99 - Thanks Brayan! If Amex were to model it's $200 credit after the Chase Sapphire Reserve's $300 credit, THAT would be an amazing day ✈️
Great video update; as you stated, they are making it easier for us to $695 of value. I'm in with Uber ($200), FHR ($200), and now the Digital Ent. credit ($240), which puts me at $640 without blinking. I need to dial in the airline credit, but don't value the Saks, because I wouldn't otherwise shop there. I really value lounge access, though the CC still suffers from overcrowding. One of the best things about meeting you in the Delta Sky Club yesterday, was your reminding me that I could also go to the Sky Club post-flight. After arriving in LA, it was nice to relax for a bit, before my drive to the OC. Keep up the great work!
I cancelled my Platinum Card a few months ago. I probably would have broken even but I have a newborn and I know I will not be traveling for the next year or so. I will probably be picking up the Charles Schwab version eventually just not now. I was offered 40k points with a $3k spend or a flat $175 statement credit. I passed on it.
For all us LA area Amex Plat cardholders, the best way to obtain and argue for a retention offer is the not being able to access their brand "new" centurion lounge at LAX. Unless you fly Delta, there is no current lounge access at LAX with the Platinum Card.
I think they've done a pretty good job honing these credits. I'll def use the digital credit for HBO Max instead of Audible, cause I have like 5 Audible credits that have piled up that I haven't used. I love the Clear credit. It's something I balked at when I first heard about it, but I used Clear 6 times last year (3 round trips), and it was AMAZING. The combination of TSA Pre Check plus Clear is f'n god tier. If you don't need to check any bags, you can get from your drop off to your gate in like 10-15 min, even when the airport is insane. I got through security in 5 min at Denver and MCO, while it took my friends about 40 -60 min to get through regular security. Don't tell Clear, but I'd probably keep it at this point, even without the Amex credit.
@@Anthonyjones-pq4ff Clear is just an "express" lane to get through security before your departing flight, kind of like TSA Precheck (or any other international equivalent), but fewer people have Clear right now because it's much more expensive than TSA Precheck or Global Entry (which comes bundled with TSA Precheck). It doesn't do anything for you at your destination. Global Entry will allow you to bypass the Customs line, which can save you a ton of time at your destination, if that destination has Global Entry kiosks (google Global Entry locations for a list of participating airports around the world). I believe Clear is only available at US airports, so it won't help if you're departing flight is outside the US, but would help if you are departing from the US, if your departing airport has Clear (there's a list of participating airports on their website). Best case scenario, you're flying out of the US from a location with Clear. You spend maybe 5 minutes getting through security in the US, then your destination has Global Entry so you basically skip customs at your destination. Then you have to go through regular security on your flight back to the US, but you get to skip US Customs with Global Entry when you return.
Following your advice, I got the Hulu (with ads), Disney+, ESPN+ bundle AND added HBO Max as an add on for $20.99 a month! You get $15.97 in bundle discounts. So, I am just paying a dollar a month. That is totally 💯 rad!
Disney has been super focused on subscriber growth lately and even considering an ad-supported version of Disney+ which makes me think that they approached Amex rather than the other way around. A lot of people signed up for a 3 year Disney+ bundle when the service launched in November 2019 so Disney also needs to do something to offset the inevitable drop in subscribers that will come this November. This change with the Platinum card means that in November, I'm probably dropping Audible to keep Disney+. The problem with the Platinum card is that I only use it as a coupon book due to the lack of spend multipliers. I don't even use it for airfare much because I often pay part of the round trip with points or credits so I have to use a different card to get insurance.
keep voicing you opinions, AMEX now has major premium competition, they will need to make changes to stay on top. Customer discovery surveys they should be doing
Even so, removing guests from Centurion lounge access and increasing the annual fee to $700 basically killed this card for me..not paying $700 bill to keep this card 🤷♂️ canceling it.
🎅🏻 Even just a few Centurion Lounge guest passes per year would be a big improvement from zero guests. I usually travel solo, but on that rare occasion I’d love to impress my boss, a friend, my parents, or future partner when we happen to travel together. Having just a few one-time use guest passes would tremendously justify this card.
I got a notification today from AMEX about the upcoming Uber One charge and I threw my hands up because I can't keep track of whether it's reimbursed or not anymore. Didn't they say it was going to end at one point, then changed their mind? You're right, they need to keep it a standard benefit. I still don't know if I need to cancel it (because I'm definitely not paying out of pocket for it.)
Agree. It has replaced Amazon Prime for me and their prices are much better. I basically get same day delivery and Walmart prices without having to set foot in the store (which I can’t stand).
@@kitk4tsworld no doubt. Even if you don’t like their food you can still get consumable items like toilet paper, paper towels, etc for cheap. I use it a lot for pet supplies.
What I never see mentioned as well is the corporate advantage. Since the card is marketed toward that demographic, if you hold an AMEX corporate card, you are eligible for $150 in statement credit, reducing the fee.
I already paid for Hulu (w/ Espn & Disney) separately and just subscribed for Audible for the sake of using up the free credits. Basically, this is amazing.. and would have never known unless this video told me. (canceled Audible just now) Thank you Seb!
Actually I quiet enjoy the Walmart+ credit. I’m not a big AMZN shopper anyways, W+ serves as an emergency backup / replacement to my Prime membership, once in a blue moon when I need something random, I’ll order from W+. Saved me the Prime AF
🎅 Really liking the entertainment credit and like you said I am honestly considering getting a second Platinum (Schwab) and holding on to it. I currently use the benefit on NYT but this credit also lets me get the Disney+ bundle (which I previously got through Verizon) and swap my Verizon benefit to getting travel passes.
@asksebby can you use the credit for multiple services? Such as if you have a cheaper plan with Sirius will the balance of the credit apply towards Disney plus?
Thank you Sebby for your continued research. I’m still in the early game but you’ve helped me a lot. I’ve even gotten my friends to start doing this game that we play! 🎅🎅🎅
I use the Uber, Airline, and the Digital Entertainment credits. The DEC gets me free Sirius XM which provides me with traffic and weather in my car. The Saks credit...I'm done with. Buy stuff that doesn't really matter and still have to pay more than $50 a go. The FHR credit isn't worth it to me in the mid-atlantic because most hotels in the system are WAY to much above the after credit price I want to pay. All that being said, my EAF is $140 a year. That is worth it for the extra warranty, customer service for random events I want to go to, and lounge access. Thanks Sebby and great analysis as always.
I think AEP needs to work on the purchase multiplier. I love my AE Gold for the food, dinning, and gas. I would like a dinning multiplier even if it was to high end chains. Maybe AEP should team up with a high end food service delivery like Butcherbox or Goldbelly.
I’m good now. I’m on someone else’s Netflix, I get HBO Max included in my AT&T wireless plan and now I’m getting SiriusXM and the Disney+ bundle for just a few bucks total.
I already have the Disney+ bundle through my Verizon wireless plan. I currently use the digital entertainment credit for Sirius satellite credit and the Times. I tend to get over the annual fee in value but sometimes it feels like a pain.
I will stick with audible. I find great value in it as I was a subscriber before and I get my disney free from Verizon. I subscribed to hbo max for one month and found nothing of interest so will gladly stick with the audible credit. I pay a couple bucks on top of the credit but gets me 2 books a month.
Thx for your video. Have Amex biz plat card for many years in Canada, does not have Uber, Sak, airline benefits etc you mentioned in videos, refused my retention offer request last year 😞 suggestion ?
100% agree the Walmart, Equinox, and Clear have no value at all for me. The rest is getting pretty solid. Really digging this new change for Hulu\Disney.
Hey so I’ve seen your Chanel for a few years now and last year I finally got the Platinum Card , but do you think I should do a retention offer?!? I thought it would only apply to people who’ve had it for more time. My one year is in May of this year.
🎅🏻 I always finish👍🏽👍🏽. The one thing I would like to change to improve the credits would be for the airline credit to work with all airlines I hate having to choose just one and being stuck for the year with that.
🎅 Hey Sebby, speaking of multiple Platinum cards, would you consider doing another military credit card strategy/analysis? Alot of military folk go for at least two with the waiving of the annual fee. I'd be especially interested in topics like foreign transaction fees, retainment bonuses, and getting local cards while overseas.
Jason, consider getting three for yourself (MS, CS, and the Vanilla). Then, if you’re married… think about getting 3x more for your spouse. Active duty spouses also get the fees waived. Then add the Gold cards into the equation and stack the rewards
I had no problem using the old entertainment credit. I do have peacock because Yellowstone and audible is an easy win. but I might cancel peacock and start Hulu instead. Equinox annoys me though
Costco doesn’t have 89 gas (at least not where I live), so I like the Walmart+ subscription for 5 cents off per gallon as well as compare prices for groceries vs Amazon Fresh.
Clear is nice, also I always max out entertainment because I use audible... I have a massive audible library of science fiction and fantasy novels that I find I enjoy alot more than streaming video now... Because you can binge listen to audiobooks while doing other things - in the car, working out, waiting times, doing chores etc.
🎅🦌hey sebby, I can't find info on whether the platinum AMEX card still has perks on travel insurance and rental card insurance.. could you or anyone help? great content
The platinum card is in the best spot it’s ever been in for a wider audience of consumers. I’m just excited that they’re getting rid of free guest pass. Hopefully lounges won’t always be so crowded.
Hey brother thanks for awesome review... just checking coz pretty new to this game. Your math doesn't include the statement credit value of SUB like the 100k to 125k points?
🎅 I personally could use the nytimes credit, but I feel like the addition of more credits could lead people to get multiple subscriptions, and go over the $240 limit, effectively spending more, as most of these subscriptions aren’t a straight $20 a month anyway
So do you think that now is a better time than before to have both the Gold and the Platinum Card? I have the Gold currently and have been offered upgrade to platinum but I almost feel like it would be worth it to have both.....? I'd love to know your thoughts
I canceled Peacock immediately, which I didn’t use or really want, and added my Plat card to my Hulu subscription. Net gain for me, but not monumental. ***I wish card companies would make the Global Entry/TSA credit a Global Entry/TSA/PASSPORT RENEWAL credit*** 🤞🍀✈️
I have a question sebby I'm a truck driver I rarely fly lol What credit score do u need to have to have Amex and also which one should I apply for first. But at the same time I thought about applying for discover also. Which one should I go with first.
Hmm not bad at all. The only thing I would like for AMEX to consider is looking at a credit for Disney Parks Admission, Parks Spend (merchandise) and Disney Hotel. But I know, there is already a General Credit for specific Hotels. And Maybe, a more focused high end credit for (Gold/Platinum) at premium dining at places such as Eddie V's Seafood where it would be easy to drop $250.00 for two.
Sebby, have you ever thought about making videos on travel opportunities? Ex. 1, a video detailing a great seasonal opportunity for a use case for points on airfare & hotel to a specific location. Ex. 2, a video detailing a flash-sale type of opportunity for a use case for points to a specific location. I know I would watch. I have a hard time finding good use cases for points & while I purse my degree and work full-time, it would be awesome to have a competent individual tell me, “hey, this is a good use case for your points, you should consider it.” 🎅🏼🦌
I just can't justify the hotel credit. It's only specific hotels, and always the ones that have the worst deals. Instead of saving $200 once a year, you can save more than that per booking by just using a different hotel finding service and getting a lower price for the same quality.
I like the Walmart + credit, had COVID ordered Walmart grocery several times and also scan my cart, scan QR code at self checkout so easy. I guess I'm old style still with travel too, I'll watch you tube videos of people walking around the resort or hotel to get the vibe and read reviews. Instagram is fake, might as well look at a photoshopped brochure.
🎅Sebby, I think Amex can provide the Equinox credit regardless of membership type. I hope they do down the line. It’s the one subscription that I do have even way before I applied for the Amex Platnumn card. I figure that Amex is limiting the credit to only those folks that have the most expensive memberships. To that end, they are issuing less credits at the total level because of this.
I got the targeted 150k points offer in the mail not even three days after I was approved for the card lol. Not too mad though since I applied through Resy
better partnerships (stuff that is still high end but more widely available) , make uber permanent credit, better card personalization options, more miles
Hey sebby planning on applying for the freedom flex when my first card reaches a year old if I got approved and got the sign up bonus would I have to wait 24 months in order to get the sign up bonus for the freedom unlimited? Also thanks for the videos and start to my credit card journey :)
I was told you are eligible for only one freedom sign up bonus once per 24 months. However this was back in November 2021 so that may have changed, or the rep was clueless 😅
