AMEX Platinum is a heavy hitter - just make sure those punches aren't directed at you 🥊 🤷♂️ Why not subscribe? 👉 bit.ly/BirchFinance Has anyone cancelled their AMEX after getting one or are they stuck in those golden handcuffs?
Here's a LVL 11 story: Chase Sapphire had an 80K pt promo after spending $5k in 3 months. I used their 5X category (Cell Phone) & overpaid my cell phone bill by $5K for my only charge on the card. Got the 80k promo + ($5000 X 5) = 25k point. Cut a check to myself for $1050. Paid the balance in full. Then called my cell phone company & told them I accidentaly overpaid the bill. They then agreed to credit back that same card. A few days later, a negative $5000 shows up on the Sapphire card, so I called Chase and asked them to cut me a check for the negative balance. I cancelled the card and got the AF back. Wild!!!
I own this card. My mom is from a different country and I was able to pick the Amex Platinum with no Annual fee! From Interbank. I get access to the Centurion and Delta Sky Lounges along with Priority Pass...FOR FREE!
Surprised by how quality this video is as well as the editing, especially seeing you only have 800 subs. Definitely deserve more with this production value
Nice video. I was even more aggressive, let me explain: I got a targeted offer for 150K pts for spending $8k in 3 months. Met the $8k in the first month & got the promo, then paid off the full balance. Transfer the points to Delta Airlines, then cancelled the card within 30 days & AmEx was forced to return the $695 AF back.
Thanks for the note. Thanks more for sharing your Credit Card Ninja-Level 10 Game. Well done my friend! Aggression rewarded. I had only heard about this wrinkle in the fabric of the universe but not met anyone with first-hand experience. The bar as been reset!
Well done, hopefully Amex doesn't claw back the points, they'd be well within their rights to do so based on standard gaming language in the card member agreement 😎
@@lrubio1 I transferred the points out before cancelling. They did send me a nasty e-mail about afterwards. AmEx only allows once per lifetime bonuses anyways so no biggy.
So glad to hear! I really try to make the info easy to digest. And I appreciate you stopping by to leave a note. Have a great day! You’re welcome round these parts any time.
Wow - Thanks so much! I really appreciate it! Just building up the channel one brick at a time. It will get to a million subscribers eventually. Its a marathon, not a sprint 😁
I like your thinking of getting 80% of the value. I think there are other intangibles for having the Platinum than purely looking at the credits and how it fits into your life. I like the fact that it's a charge card so if I make a large purchase it doesn't mess with my debt to credit ratio. It also has good purchase protection and travel insurance. They even pay for medical evacuation even if you didn't pay for the trip with the card. Not to mention American Express has the best customer service that I've experienced. But everyone has to do their own calculus if it's worth it. As many of people say it's always worth it in the first year with that sign up bonus.
You're spot on 🎯 Those intangibles that bring peace of mind to everyday living are definitely perks whose value varies greatly person to person. Just personally for me, the purchase protection, travel insurance, and medical evac wouldn''t hold a lot of value. On the other side of the coin, great customer service is unbeatable. Being on hold and IM'ing chat bots is a nightmare. Not credit card-related, but finance-related, Charles Schwab also has amazing customer service 🙌
I just got the Amex Platinum and I’m gonna do my best to maximize the benefits and getting that 125k sign up bonus! If after a year I don’t think it fits my portfolio I’ll see if I can downgrade or just cancel it. Thanks for the great information. I’m subbing!
You GOTTA hit that sign up bonus. 💯 I'm curious to know how it works out for you after year one. The points definitely make up for the annual fee the first year - and perhaps well into year 2. But after that, it can be hard to justify unless you're really tearing up the travel and hitting that coupon book. Best of luck - get 'er done! Really appreciate you leaving the note 🙏 the feedback helps a ton. And welcome to the team! Great to have you on board!
Very good entry, in this community the platty is normally the source of extremely polarized content, but I commend your common sense approach. I have the CS platinum and I have squeezed tremendous value out of it in year one enough to cover the af a few times over but with my situation being a little unique I enjoy different points of view.
Spot on, Chad! Often times polarizing and generally middle-of-the-road approaches/reviews don't draw much attention, but glad to hear it resonated with you. Thanks so much for taking a few seconds to let me know what you thoughts! That's awesome you got enough value to cover the annual fee for a few years!! Love hearing when someone is able to do that...well done good sir. 👊
75K upgrade offer convinced me to get it. Then having it encouraged me to book directly with Airlines. And that led to me saving $1700 by booking directly with Turkish Airlines, instead of through a travel portal with Korean Airlines. $900 vs $2800. It was such a good deal I didn't bother to use points.
Dang, that's awesome! Love hearing a good success story! That 1700 in savings put you way ahead of the game. Hopefully you can keep those savings rolling in! Well done 🎉
Hey man great value! One question- I may have not followed you at the end. What’s your summary/takeaway for years 2+ for the AMEX Platinum? I also didn’t follow the end wrap up talking about Venture X & Chase Freedom Unlimited. Can you please clarify? Really loving your videos recently!! Hope you continue to grow 💪
Hey Cory, glad to hear you enjoyed it; thanks for the note! Growing bit by bit, but really just enjoying the ride. 🎢 Years 2+...I didn't mention it explicitly because everybody's situation is different, but for myself, I'd be extra hard pressed to justify the annual fee after the signup points have been expended. A buddy of mine got the card about a year ago and is planning to cancel it next year for that exact reason (he got the 150k sign up bonus). Venture X & Chase Freedom are a couple other options if you decide the platinum isn't your cup of tea. I did a full review on both and personally have both of them. They've been great to me thus far! Hope that helps clarify things! Have a great day!
Thanks for the note! That’s a close call between the two. I’d have to do some research. I think a review is definitely in order. Thanks for the suggestion!
I have both. But I know with the annual fees not everyone is able. However, you cover a lot of ground with both without completely overlapping benefits
@@crecasens My hats off to you for having both and being able to use enough benefits to justify both their annual fees! At first glance there seems to be quite a bit of overlap, but well done finding enough difference in the cards to make them both work!!
Hey Paul, thanks for high compliment. A lot of work goes into it; glad to hear it resonates with you! Btw, I love the 2nd half of the quote on your channel banner: "...master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one."
Just to note WiFi is a hit or miss if Amex will cover it. It just depends on the airline/who they use for their internet provider. There are a couple DPs out there that point towards this. Other than that great video. Keep in mind for those folks that this card is catered towards the team travel crowd. I want to add that this card has to be used in a trifecta setup to truly take advantage of the points/amex ecosystem in the long run.
Great points, Albert. Thanks for adding to the convo! Yes, it seems that if the Airline is the wifi provider, it gets covered; however, if its a 3rd party provider, no joy. Must admit, I've seen the trifecta setup and it looks to be quite advantageous!
@@dk4wncp A trifecta in credit card "speak" is just a collection of three credit cards that all complement each other in some way so that the user (you) can maximize points/benefits. Hope this helps!
@@BirchFinance I understand that it works well with the Gold, but you are compounding the problem and getting to a $945 annual fee. Gold is $250 with a $120 dining credit. If you can use the Uber credit, great. The points are fine, but combining a Chase Sapphire (either card) with the Freedom cards covers more spend categories and costs much less.
@@Ljberkow Great point. I'd have to really crunch those benefit numbers to justify a nearly $1k combined annual fee. I'm currently using the CSP and Freedom for some purchases, but my main go-to is still Venture X.
150,000 is not the max. Just got 175,000 personal and 200,000 business. 175,000 points is hard to ignore if you use the benefits. Home Depot gift cards is 1 cent per point. So $1,750 simple bonus.
Two things will help you deal with AMX cards points: Blue Business Cash Rewards Checking account Both preserve MR points. Both can stand alone as a points transfer card. So back off from the expensive cards once in a while. Those 2 cards will keep you earning and saving MR points.
I have the Delta Amex Plat and with the new coupon book of Resy credits... It's definitely going to be a pain. These restaurants in my city are all high end and I don't typically eat at those places on a monthly basis.
Thanks so much! I really appreciate you taking a few seconds to let me know. The CSR is definitely a heavy hitter too. I used to have it until they bumped up the annual fee a few years back, but perhaps I need to revisit that card 🤔. Glad to have you onboard - welcome to the team!
@@BirchFinance I’ve been using the Platinum for travel, the Gold for food/dining and the CSR for everything else. It’s a good setup but complicated and I’m considering dumping Amex altogether and using the CSR for everything. I know it’s not the absolute best solution, but the simplicity, at this point in my life, is more valuable than the benefits I’ll lose from Amex. And in my opinion, the CSR with its UR program is the best for a single card setup. Plus my wife already uses the CSP and racks up plenty of points for us 🙀 so we’ll pool them going forward.
I've never seen the value of it. I already have the Amex Zync card. The airline credits are worthless to me because I fly business or first class. Basically the only perk I'd really use is the $200 Uber credit.
I'm not familiar with the Znyc card - do you like it. But, I'm right there with you. I just could not justify the annual fee for myself, although I'd use up that uber credit and digital entertainment credit easily. It doesn't suit my lifestyle now, but all options remain on the table in the future!
I like your style and honesty. I was thinking about the platinum, but I, too, won't change my lifestyle or spending habits for a card. Plus, the earnings are bad. Constantly using time to check a coupon book and let them decide when to spend is very annoying.
Agreed. The card is just beyond the line of "worth it" for me. Always subject to change, but based on current lifestyle and habits, I gotta pass for now. Good job not letting those perks get the best of you!
While watching your video I haven’t seen you before, and expected you to have a lot of subs because the content was good. I enjoyed the video and I am sure I’ll be back. Subscribed!
Thanks so much! I appreciate the feedback. The channel grows bit by bit thanks to all the amazing support like yours. It's great to have you on the team and I look forward to providing y'all with more content!
I think your math on the point valuations is a bit skewed. I understand the 80% rule; however, I would argue that the 2 cents is already less than 80% of good redemptions. For example I just booked a trip to Spain and got 5.4 cents per point. Also the Delta Sky Club changes start in 2025 not 2024
5.4 cents/point is amazing. I hope other viewers out there see this possibility. If that valuation was the norm, this card would likely be flying off the shelves. Admittedly, I cannot personally attest to these valuation and can only rely on sources I find reputable. Thank you for sharing your first-hand experience and perhaps if someone was on fence, it will nudge them in the right direction!
@@BirchFinance If you are willing to do a little homework and can be slightly flexible with travel plans it is not very difficult to get outsized value like that. To be fair I could have done the exact same redemption with Capital One as well. I currently have both the Venture X and the platinum, but am considering switching my business travel from Delta to American. If I do that I will most likely drop the Amex as I will have most of my layovers in DFW and be able to use my favorite lounge.
@@mjsabie8517 That's great to know. Awesome to hear that you have your travel/points system clearly dialed in! I think you nailed it on the head... The key is homework (patience) and flexibility. If you're talking about the Cap One lounge in DFW...I have yet to check it out, but I hear good things!
I get $750 value from the credits. I'll get a little more if I find something at Saks😂 And of course I'll get more whenevah (Boston accent) I get to one of those high-end resorts 😎
The real problem is that most people who get this card cannot truly afford the card and the lifestyle that comes with it. Then they bitch and complain that the card is garbage. Well you couldn’t afford the card in the first place so there’s that.
Your lips to god's ears. Step one is to know your limitations and to live within your means. Always easier said than done. A continuous internal struggle for folks - myself included.
It always cracks me that all these RUclipsrs when they talk about the platinum card they brag about the lounge but when it comes the chase cards it’s always the points…..so basically the platinum card is a glorified FBI badge for the lounge 😂😂😂😂😂
Ignoring the signup bonuses, the gold card is going to be superior for the vast majority of people. The food + grocery bonus is too strong and will naturally be a larger spend amount for most people. I was a platinum and gold carrier for years and we dropped the platinum because post covid the card really went a different direction from "travel" focused, and was trying to be more "lifestyle". It simply wasn't worth the headspace to try and maximize it when the gold card was generating multiples more points. Also: Airport lounges are significantly worse than they were pre 2020, it's 50/50 now if the regular airport is calmer :)
Amen. Sounds like you did some of the same mental math as me. A credit card should fit into a pre-existing lifestyle/travel pattern rather than dictate it. I haven't take a hard look at the Gold Card, but perhaps I should. Occasionally I'll come across a pretty quiet lounge - mostly for morning flights. But on any given afternoon, it can be hard to just find a seat.
@@BirchFinance For sure, and the rules around the lounges have gotten worse as well. Time limits, flight restrictions, etc. It just isn't the "exclusive" nature it was just a few years ago, basically everyone and their dog has access to lounges now. The Gold card is great because of access to Delta miles, and the ability accumulate them pretty fast.
Hey Tom, I'm not sure I follow your comment, but I'll try my best to clarify. I was trying to demonstrate that, despite various valuations, the AMEX point value is not always so cut and dry. To reconcile this, its helpful for me to just peg it at 80% of the "highest" value. Do you have the platinum?
I do have it. Sorry for not being clearer. For example , there is plenty of availability currently for business class from the west coast to London on AA and BA for 56,800 points in the 2nd half of 2024. At your valuation $.0268, you are saying that a one way business class flight from west coast to London is only worth $1522 , using points this way. I’m only pointing out that the lowest business class fare im seeing for the same flights is $3292.00, giving a valuation of 5.8 cents. More than double that. Just trying to help you point out that there are plenty of higher values out there.
@@tomward1996 Ah, gotcha - back with ya. Yes, definitely there are higher valuations to be found out there and kudos to you for finding that biz class flight - that's huge! I wish 5.8 cents was the norm with the AMEX - I would have instantly signed up. Apart from that sweet flight deal you're referencing, a reasonable expectation for most folks would probably be closer to the 1.6 cents +/- range. I appreciate you pointing that out, and anyone reading this who needs a long-haul flight, grab one of those biz class seats with that fantastic value!
Card is garbage. Too many coupon book crap. No way anyone can use all the credits. $300 equinox? Yea. I spend that in a month. But can only get $25/month. Uber $15 a month. Etc. I will never own it again. Chase sapphire reserve, Hilton aspire am ex, and Marriott Bonvoy card $95 one, I’m already lifetime titanium. This is all I need.
So many coupon book options with this card - definitely. My Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ($95) has quietly punched above it's weight class for me in the last 5 or 6 years I've owned ot. Congrats on lifetime titanium - wow. Thats a big deal!
The Platinum card MORE than pays for itself with just the credits for Uber ($200), Digital Entertainment ($240), Clear ($189), Saks ($100) - all things that I would do under normal circumstances anyway! It's actually a no-brainer to own the Platinum card, especially for me, since I'm near SFO and can make good use of all the lounge access. You're coming out so on top with Platinum that it's not even funny and we haven't even talked about the $300 hotel and $200 airline credits. As far as being "coupon-booky", you can tell yourself that if it makes you feel better but fact is it took me just an a few moments to enroll in all of the appropriate benefits in the Amex app, and then not even an hour to attach the Amex as method of payment in a few other apps and bingo. I just operate as normal. It's not coupon-booky at all, as far as the experience actually goes.
Hey Cesar, thanks for the note! The benefits of the AMEX definitely overfloweth and are well worth the annual fee if they fit your lifestyle. Also, I'm pretty sure that point emoji was invented for your channel! 💥
Do you edit these videos yourself? This is amazing. I’m engaged not only orally, but visually as well. Wow. Keep up the good work and you’ll blow up soon enough. Xoxo 🩷…
Thanks so much! Yep, I do all the editing myself. This one was certainly a labor of love 😅 I appreciate the note and kind words - thanks for watching!!
AMEX Platinum is a heavy hitter - just make sure those punches aren't directed at you 🥊
🤷♂️ Why not subscribe? 👉 bit.ly/BirchFinance
Has anyone cancelled their AMEX after getting one or are they stuck in those golden handcuffs?
Here's a LVL 11 story: Chase Sapphire had an 80K pt promo after spending $5k in 3 months. I used their 5X category (Cell Phone) & overpaid my cell phone bill by $5K for my only charge on the card. Got the 80k promo + ($5000 X 5) = 25k point. Cut a check to myself for $1050. Paid the balance in full. Then called my cell phone company & told them I accidentaly overpaid the bill. They then agreed to credit back that same card. A few days later, a negative $5000 shows up on the Sapphire card, so I called Chase and asked them to cut me a check for the negative balance. I cancelled the card and got the AF back. Wild!!!
I own this card. My mom is from a different country and I was able to pick the Amex Platinum with no Annual fee! From Interbank. I get access to the Centurion and Delta Sky Lounges along with Priority Pass...FOR FREE!
Wow, that’s incredible. Great find!
Surprised by how quality this video is as well as the editing, especially seeing you only have 800 subs. Definitely deserve more with this production value
Thanks for the kind note and encouragement! Just happy to add a little value to the conversation about the AMEX! 👍
Best credit card video I’ve seen
@BigK01asbestos glad you liked it! Thanks for the note!
Nice video. I was even more aggressive, let me explain:
I got a targeted offer for 150K pts for spending $8k in 3 months. Met the $8k in the first month & got the promo, then paid off the full balance. Transfer the points to Delta Airlines, then cancelled the card within 30 days & AmEx was forced to return the $695 AF back.
Thanks for the note. Thanks more for sharing your Credit Card Ninja-Level 10 Game. Well done my friend! Aggression rewarded. I had only heard about this wrinkle in the fabric of the universe but not met anyone with first-hand experience. The bar as been reset!
U r the reason we can't have nice things! Amex will screw new cardmembers over because of folks like u! 😡😈
Well done, hopefully Amex doesn't claw back the points, they'd be well within their rights to do so based on standard gaming language in the card member agreement 😎
@@lrubio1 I transferred the points out before cancelling. They did send me a nasty e-mail about afterwards. AmEx only allows once per lifetime bonuses anyways so no biggy.
Wait why Amex was forced to return the AF??
let me tell you something , the smooth way you explain things is amazing , you're a small channel but with big content , new follower, keep it up!
Thanks so much! I really appreciate you taking a few seconds to send in that note. And super pumped to have you on the team!!
I really enjoyed this video. The graphics were great and made it easy to follow each point. The delivery was very clear and easy to understand.
So glad to hear! I really try to make the info easy to digest. And I appreciate you stopping by to leave a note. Have a great day! You’re welcome round these parts any time.
Quality videos. If I didn't look at your number of subscribers I would have thought this is a million subscribers channel.
Wow - Thanks so much! I really appreciate it! Just building up the channel one brick at a time. It will get to a million subscribers eventually. Its a marathon, not a sprint 😁
I like your thinking of getting 80% of the value. I think there are other intangibles for having the Platinum than purely looking at the credits and how it fits into your life. I like the fact that it's a charge card so if I make a large purchase it doesn't mess with my debt to credit ratio. It also has good purchase protection and travel insurance. They even pay for medical evacuation even if you didn't pay for the trip with the card. Not to mention American Express has the best customer service that I've experienced. But everyone has to do their own calculus if it's worth it. As many of people say it's always worth it in the first year with that sign up bonus.
You're spot on 🎯 Those intangibles that bring peace of mind to everyday living are definitely perks whose value varies greatly person to person. Just personally for me, the purchase protection, travel insurance, and medical evac wouldn''t hold a lot of value. On the other side of the coin, great customer service is unbeatable. Being on hold and IM'ing chat bots is a nightmare. Not credit card-related, but finance-related, Charles Schwab also has amazing customer service 🙌
This is soooo True! I love my card
@@a.Janine.pretty Glad to hear there is no "sign up remorse" on your end! :)
I just got the Amex Platinum and I’m gonna do my best to maximize the benefits and getting that 125k sign up bonus! If after a year I don’t think it fits my portfolio I’ll see if I can downgrade or just cancel it. Thanks for the great information. I’m subbing!
You GOTTA hit that sign up bonus. 💯 I'm curious to know how it works out for you after year one. The points definitely make up for the annual fee the first year - and perhaps well into year 2. But after that, it can be hard to justify unless you're really tearing up the travel and hitting that coupon book. Best of luck - get 'er done! Really appreciate you leaving the note 🙏 the feedback helps a ton. And welcome to the team! Great to have you on board!
🥇AMEX Platinum🥇 is totally worth it if you can maximize its value! Thanks for the info + video!
Awesome! Glad you're able to squeeze all that value out of it. Appreciate you dropping in the note; pumped that you enjoyed the info!
Super informative and helpful video on AMEX Platinum decision. One of the best out there. Thanks!
@@wmo003 So glad to hear you found it helpful! And thanks for swinging by to leave such a nice note! Have a great day!
Very good entry, in this community the platty is normally the source of extremely polarized content, but I commend your common sense approach. I have the CS platinum and I have squeezed tremendous value out of it in year one enough to cover the af a few times over but with my situation being a little unique I enjoy different points of view.
Spot on, Chad! Often times polarizing and generally middle-of-the-road approaches/reviews don't draw much attention, but glad to hear it resonated with you. Thanks so much for taking a few seconds to let me know what you thoughts! That's awesome you got enough value to cover the annual fee for a few years!! Love hearing when someone is able to do that...well done good sir. 👊
Very informational, love the transparency.
Thanks Alejandro! Glad you found it helpful and thanks for letting me know! 🙏
75K upgrade offer convinced me to get it. Then having it encouraged me to book directly with Airlines. And that led to me saving $1700 by booking directly with Turkish Airlines, instead of through a travel portal with Korean Airlines. $900 vs $2800.
It was such a good deal I didn't bother to use points.
Dang, that's awesome! Love hearing a good success story! That 1700 in savings put you way ahead of the game. Hopefully you can keep those savings rolling in! Well done 🎉
I got the 175K sign up offer. Oh yeah.
Awesome! Love hearing that 🎉💰
Hey man great value!
One question- I may have not followed you at the end. What’s your summary/takeaway for years 2+ for the AMEX Platinum?
I also didn’t follow the end wrap up talking about Venture X & Chase Freedom Unlimited. Can you please clarify?
Really loving your videos recently!! Hope you continue to grow 💪
Hey Cory, glad to hear you enjoyed it; thanks for the note! Growing bit by bit, but really just enjoying the ride. 🎢
Years 2+...I didn't mention it explicitly because everybody's situation is different, but for myself, I'd be extra hard pressed to justify the annual fee after the signup points have been expended. A buddy of mine got the card about a year ago and is planning to cancel it next year for that exact reason (he got the 150k sign up bonus).
Venture X & Chase Freedom are a couple other options if you decide the platinum isn't your cup of tea. I did a full review on both and personally have both of them. They've been great to me thus far!
Hope that helps clarify things! Have a great day!
your vids are actually great! can you compare Copilot with Empower?
Thanks for the note! I've been hearing some interest for Empower - its on the list!!
Your Quality videos are Amazing.
Keep up the good work.
New subscribers 👍
Thanks, Sara! Glad you like them and I appreciate you leaving a quick note. Welcome to the team!!
Im on the fence between the platinum and sapphire reserve. Loved this review! Would be great if you did one for the reserve.
Thanks for the note! That’s a close call between the two. I’d have to do some research. I think a review is definitely in order. Thanks for the suggestion!
I have both. But I know with the annual fees not everyone is able. However, you cover a lot of ground with both without completely overlapping benefits
@@crecasens My hats off to you for having both and being able to use enough benefits to justify both their annual fees! At first glance there seems to be quite a bit of overlap, but well done finding enough difference in the cards to make them both work!!
I have the floral design and I have to say...I really like the design.
Nice! Certainly brings additional uniqueness to the card.
can you make a video on the venture x?
I made one last year - still current info! But probably due for a refresh!
😲 How is your content this high quality as a small creator? Easy Sub.
Hey Paul, thanks for high compliment. A lot of work goes into it; glad to hear it resonates with you! Btw, I love the 2nd half of the quote on your channel banner: "...master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one."
Just to note WiFi is a hit or miss if Amex will cover it. It just depends on the airline/who they use for their internet provider. There are a couple DPs out there that point towards this. Other than that great video. Keep in mind for those folks that this card is catered towards the team travel crowd. I want to add that this card has to be used in a trifecta setup to truly take advantage of the points/amex ecosystem in the long run.
Great points, Albert. Thanks for adding to the convo! Yes, it seems that if the Airline is the wifi provider, it gets covered; however, if its a 3rd party provider, no joy. Must admit, I've seen the trifecta setup and it looks to be quite advantageous!
What's trifecta?
@@dk4wncp A trifecta in credit card "speak" is just a collection of three credit cards that all complement each other in some way so that the user (you) can maximize points/benefits. Hope this helps!
@@BirchFinance I understand that it works well with the Gold, but you are compounding the problem and getting to a $945 annual fee. Gold is $250 with a $120 dining credit. If you can use the Uber credit, great. The points are fine, but combining a Chase Sapphire (either card) with the Freedom cards covers more spend categories and costs much less.
@@Ljberkow Great point. I'd have to really crunch those benefit numbers to justify a nearly $1k combined annual fee. I'm currently using the CSP and Freedom for some purchases, but my main go-to is still Venture X.
150,000 is not the max. Just got 175,000 personal and 200,000 business.
175,000 points is hard to ignore if you use the benefits.
Home Depot gift cards is 1 cent per point.
So $1,750 simple bonus.
That’s awesome! New high watermark has been set! Great call on the HD card too. Thanks for sharing! 👍
This was great. Thank you
Thank you for watching and leaving a note. 👍
You sir are HIGHLY entertaining!!! 😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉
😆 Glad you liked it!!!
Two things will help you deal with AMX cards points:
Blue Business Cash
Rewards Checking account
Both preserve MR points.
Both can stand alone as a points transfer card.
So back off from the expensive cards once in a while. Those 2 cards will keep you earning and saving MR points.
Less is more, everybody. You heard it here first. I agree 100%!
👊
Excellent video, and very entertaining
Much appreciated! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for letting me know!
Excellent take, appreciate the realistic valuation of the credits, on-point editing, and the natural delivery, subbed 👍 Looking forward to more
Thanks so much; really appreciate the feedback. Welcome to the team! Glad you enjoyed the video - a lot more on the way! 💥
I have the Delta Amex Plat and with the new coupon book of Resy credits... It's definitely going to be a pain. These restaurants in my city are all high end and I don't typically eat at those places on a monthly basis.
Oh no! Just don’t go broke using all those discounts. 😬 Hopefully you’re staying ahead with some of the card’s other benefits??? 🙏
Incredible production value with this video. Super engaging!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome video and fantastic breakdown on the card. Love the editing work.
So glad you liked it! Really appreciate you leaving a note to let me know. Lots more stuff on the way!
This intro is so good already lol
Hey, thanks for the note! Glad you liked it! ⛵️
and you can book directly with airlines too!
Good call! I was not aware of that option. Thanks for filling in that detail. It's nice to not have to work through a middle-man if possible!
Can you book hotels directly as well?
You absolutely can, but you won't get the same point multiplier as you would from booking through the AMEX website.
That's looking so very much like second job. Thank you very much. 😊
😆 Glad you found value in it; and, thanks so much for the note to let me know!
Sincerely, very well done video. I have the CSR and love this content. Subbed!
Thanks so much! I really appreciate you taking a few seconds to let me know. The CSR is definitely a heavy hitter too. I used to have it until they bumped up the annual fee a few years back, but perhaps I need to revisit that card 🤔. Glad to have you onboard - welcome to the team!
@@BirchFinance I’ve been using the Platinum for travel, the Gold for food/dining and the CSR for everything else. It’s a good setup but complicated and I’m considering dumping Amex altogether and using the CSR for everything. I know it’s not the absolute best solution, but the simplicity, at this point in my life, is more valuable than the benefits I’ll lose from Amex. And in my opinion, the CSR with its UR program is the best for a single card setup. Plus my wife already uses the CSP and racks up plenty of points for us 🙀 so we’ll pool them going forward.
I've never seen the value of it. I already have the Amex Zync card. The airline credits are worthless to me because I fly business or first class. Basically the only perk I'd really use is the $200 Uber credit.
I'm not familiar with the Znyc card - do you like it. But, I'm right there with you. I just could not justify the annual fee for myself, although I'd use up that uber credit and digital entertainment credit easily. It doesn't suit my lifestyle now, but all options remain on the table in the future!
I like your style and honesty. I was thinking about the platinum, but I, too, won't change my lifestyle or spending habits for a card. Plus, the earnings are bad.
Constantly using time to check a coupon book and let them decide when to spend is very annoying.
Agreed. The card is just beyond the line of "worth it" for me. Always subject to change, but based on current lifestyle and habits, I gotta pass for now. Good job not letting those perks get the best of you!
While watching your video I haven’t seen you before, and expected you to have a lot of subs because the content was good. I enjoyed the video and I am sure I’ll be back. Subscribed!
Thanks so much! I appreciate the feedback. The channel grows bit by bit thanks to all the amazing support like yours. It's great to have you on the team and I look forward to providing y'all with more content!
I think your math on the point valuations is a bit skewed. I understand the 80% rule; however, I would argue that the 2 cents is already less than 80% of good redemptions. For example I just booked a trip to Spain and got 5.4 cents per point.
Also the Delta Sky Club changes start in 2025 not 2024
5.4 cents/point is amazing. I hope other viewers out there see this possibility. If that valuation was the norm, this card would likely be flying off the shelves. Admittedly, I cannot personally attest to these valuation and can only rely on sources I find reputable. Thank you for sharing your first-hand experience and perhaps if someone was on fence, it will nudge them in the right direction!
@@BirchFinance If you are willing to do a little homework and can be slightly flexible with travel plans it is not very difficult to get outsized value like that. To be fair I could have done the exact same redemption with Capital One as well. I currently have both the Venture X and the platinum, but am considering switching my business travel from Delta to American. If I do that I will most likely drop the Amex as I will have most of my layovers in DFW and be able to use my favorite lounge.
@@mjsabie8517 That's great to know. Awesome to hear that you have your travel/points system clearly dialed in! I think you nailed it on the head... The key is homework (patience) and flexibility. If you're talking about the Cap One lounge in DFW...I have yet to check it out, but I hear good things!
@@BirchFinance yes that’s my favorite lounge I’ve been to. Haven’t had the chance to visit the other 2 capital one lounges yet.
dave Ramsey should see this video lol 😆😂
😆😆✅
I hope this guy stays with it he has great videos....
Just getting warmed up
I get $750 value from the credits.
I'll get a little more if I find something at Saks😂
And of course I'll get more whenevah (Boston accent) I get to one of those high-end resorts 😎
😆 Bingo.... Obviously as you wrote that you were holding a giant cup of dunkin donuts coffee and wearing a track suit.
@@BirchFinance All American Masters runner here 😎🌬️
@@fogrunr5075 Legit! 💪
I didnt underyand the hotel credit option. How is it $400
It’s just using two $200 credits together. Book night 1 (for a Jan stay) in December and use the next year’s credit to book night 2 in Jan.
ahhhhhhhhh gotcha@@BirchFinance
What about Gold?
Would a review of the Amex Gold be helpful?
You don't need one. You shouldn't beg for rewards thats why they give you a point for every dollar spent except on travel
Life's too short to beg for anything
The real problem is that most people who get this card cannot truly afford the card and the lifestyle that comes with it. Then they bitch and complain that the card is garbage. Well you couldn’t afford the card in the first place so there’s that.
Your lips to god's ears. Step one is to know your limitations and to live within your means. Always easier said than done. A continuous internal struggle for folks - myself included.
Great video.
Thank you! Appreciate you letting me know!
Airline points transfer limited list of domestic airlines. No southwest, united, American. Mostly international airlines.
Double whammy for domestic travelers 👎
It always cracks me that all these RUclipsrs when they talk about the platinum card they brag about the lounge but when it comes the chase cards it’s always the points…..so basically the platinum card is a glorified FBI badge for the lounge 😂😂😂😂😂
Is that right? I hadn't noticed that trend.
Ignoring the signup bonuses, the gold card is going to be superior for the vast majority of people. The food + grocery bonus is too strong and will naturally be a larger spend amount for most people.
I was a platinum and gold carrier for years and we dropped the platinum because post covid the card really went a different direction from "travel" focused, and was trying to be more "lifestyle". It simply wasn't worth the headspace to try and maximize it when the gold card was generating multiples more points.
Also: Airport lounges are significantly worse than they were pre 2020, it's 50/50 now if the regular airport is calmer :)
Amen. Sounds like you did some of the same mental math as me. A credit card should fit into a pre-existing lifestyle/travel pattern rather than dictate it. I haven't take a hard look at the Gold Card, but perhaps I should.
Occasionally I'll come across a pretty quiet lounge - mostly for morning flights. But on any given afternoon, it can be hard to just find a seat.
@@BirchFinance For sure, and the rules around the lounges have gotten worse as well. Time limits, flight restrictions, etc.
It just isn't the "exclusive" nature it was just a few years ago, basically everyone and their dog has access to lounges now.
The Gold card is great because of access to Delta miles, and the ability accumulate them pretty fast.
I was in a lounge last week and someone literally had their dog with them.
So. .0268 points. Show me the west coast to Europe (56800 points) that makes that maths work. Let’s see a $1568 one way biz class ticket.
Hey Tom, I'm not sure I follow your comment, but I'll try my best to clarify. I was trying to demonstrate that, despite various valuations, the AMEX point value is not always so cut and dry. To reconcile this, its helpful for me to just peg it at 80% of the "highest" value. Do you have the platinum?
I do have it. Sorry for not being clearer. For example , there is plenty of availability currently for business class from the west coast to London on AA and BA for 56,800 points in the 2nd half of 2024. At your valuation $.0268, you are saying that a one way business class flight from west coast to London is only worth $1522 , using points this way. I’m only pointing out that the lowest business class fare im seeing for the same flights is $3292.00, giving a valuation of 5.8 cents. More than double that. Just trying to help you point out that there are plenty of higher values out there.
@@tomward1996 Ah, gotcha - back with ya. Yes, definitely there are higher valuations to be found out there and kudos to you for finding that biz class flight - that's huge! I wish 5.8 cents was the norm with the AMEX - I would have instantly signed up. Apart from that sweet flight deal you're referencing, a reasonable expectation for most folks would probably be closer to the 1.6 cents +/- range. I appreciate you pointing that out, and anyone reading this who needs a long-haul flight, grab one of those biz class seats with that fantastic value!
Very Impressive. subscribe..
Thanks - really appreciate the note! Welcome to the team!
Im 5 years old. This video is for me
Haha! Glad it helped! Simple is always better.
I like your presentation style. Happy to channel collab if you're open to it.
Hey Lani, thanks for the note! Shoot me and email and lets discuss!
I'll reach out soon@@BirchFinance
You have never had the card yet you think you're qualified to give pros and cons? Hard pass on your channel.
No worries. Have a good one.
Card is garbage. Too many coupon book crap. No way anyone can use all the credits. $300 equinox? Yea. I spend that in a month. But can only get $25/month. Uber $15 a month. Etc. I will never own it again. Chase sapphire reserve, Hilton aspire am ex, and Marriott Bonvoy card $95 one, I’m already lifetime titanium. This is all I need.
So many coupon book options with this card - definitely. My Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ($95) has quietly punched above it's weight class for me in the last 5 or 6 years I've owned ot. Congrats on lifetime titanium - wow. Thats a big deal!
Card saves me thousands per year…. Each to their own.
The Platinum card MORE than pays for itself with just the credits for Uber ($200), Digital Entertainment ($240), Clear ($189), Saks ($100) - all things that I would do under normal circumstances anyway!
It's actually a no-brainer to own the Platinum card, especially for me, since I'm near SFO and can make good use of all the lounge access.
You're coming out so on top with Platinum that it's not even funny and we haven't even talked about the $300 hotel and $200 airline credits.
As far as being "coupon-booky", you can tell yourself that if it makes you feel better but fact is it took me just an a few moments to enroll in all of the appropriate benefits in the Amex app, and then not even an hour to attach the Amex as method of payment in a few other apps and bingo. I just operate as normal. It's not coupon-booky at all, as far as the experience actually goes.
Equinox really isn’t good. But the rest are good credits.
15 uber is for 1 trip
it's a garbage card
Love the decisiveness of your statement. No waffling, no caveats. One vote unequivocally cast for garbage.
AMEX Platinum is the best travel card in the game. Not easy to justify but is the best IMO. Great video and information! Keep up the great work!🫵
Hey Cesar, thanks for the note! The benefits of the AMEX definitely overfloweth and are well worth the annual fee if they fit your lifestyle. Also, I'm pretty sure that point emoji was invented for your channel! 💥
Do you edit these videos yourself? This is amazing. I’m engaged not only orally, but visually as well. Wow. Keep up the good work and you’ll blow up soon enough. Xoxo 🩷…
Thanks so much! Yep, I do all the editing myself. This one was certainly a labor of love 😅 I appreciate the note and kind words - thanks for watching!!