Excellent information. As usual. My favorite benefits are free nights, benefits based on hotel status, and, believe it or not, travel (including car rental) insurance!
@@MarkReese so which card is best for lounge access now? Always heard the Platinum gave the most accessibility to ALL available lounges. Has that changed now?
If I book a hotel through my Chase portal and show up to Marriott with my Platinum Elite Status would I still be eligible for all the perks? Or do i have to book through Marriott?
Very unlikely. For current elite status to be recognized, you'll need to book directly. Same goes for earning credits towards status & for earning hotel points.
Love the Venture X. That in combination with Surpass and Premier got my lodging covered. However, I’m looking for a good card that can give me a companion air ticket. Is it worth getting a card for that? I’m in upstate NY. Do you have a video comparing all airline CCs?
Nice combo! I don't have a video comparing all airline credit cards. There are too many to do that in 1 video. While it can be worth getting a companion certificate for some people, you'll have to keep in mind the opportunity cost of doing so. Many of them have spend requirements to earn the certificate, which means not earning rewards on another card. Only you can determine what you value.
Marriott Bonvoy. Reasons... 1. They have the greatest # of upscale & luxury brands, which are the types of hotels I like staying at most. 2. They offer automatic Platinum Elite status via a credit card, which is the sweet spot of the entire program & the level that includes nearly all of the benefits I value in a hotel program. 3. I'm 2-3 years away from achieving Lifetime Platinum Elite status, which is the closest 'lifetime status' opportunity of any hotel program within reach for me. I decided to pursue it so I can get off the 'status hamster wheel' for good.
Mark- will you cancel/downgrade the Bonvoy Brilliant once you achieve lifetime Platinum? I’m thinking of doing so once I achieve lifetime platinum, since the card has a quite hefty AF
@@nickevans4273 - Current plan is to downgrade to the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card. It has a $95 AF and comes with a Free Night Award up to 35K points in value.
Depends on the rooms you want to book, but yes, at a 20K/night rate that's possible! Even better, IHG gives a 4th Night Free when redeeming points if you have the credit card 😃
I am looking into the IHG Premier in January 2024, after applying for the Sapphire Preferred in late November to purchase business-class round-trip tickets for a 2.5 week trip to the Netherlands in June 2024. I currently have the Venture X [and am almost done with the minimum spend required for the 90k SUB], and the Chase Freedom Unlimited. The anniversary free night on the IHG Premier is a great perk, and is greater than the annual fee! In addition, the SUB is actually higher than that in terms of redemption with the 4th night free, so with a 20k/night redemption, you could stay at the same hotel for 9 free nights (instead of 7)! IHG Premier fits my spending pattern on hotels as well, as I don't care about luxury/resort hotels - I just want a clean room with a comfortable bed, shower, air conditioning, free wifi, and a refrigerator/microwave (if I am staying for at least 4 nights). 2-3 star rated hotels are perfectly fine, and I have no problems staying at a Holiday Inn on vacation (or even a Holiday Inn Express). Flights are another story - while I am fine with economy/economy plus for domestic trips, I like the flexibility of lie-flight business class for long-haul (7+ hour) flights so I can lie down and get some sleep (as well as enjoy the lounge and extra leg room), as I can't sleep on a plane sitting up.
That's common when booking via 3rd-party channels (e.g. Expedia, Hotels.com, etc.) and/or if your loyalty # didn't appear on the reservation. You'll need to book directly with the hotel websites w/ your loyalty account to guarantee your benefits.
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Excellent information. As usual.
My favorite benefits are free nights, benefits based on hotel status, and, believe it or not, travel (including car rental) insurance!
Solid benefits to have 💯
Definitely my favorite benifit is transfer partners and transfer bonuses
💯💯
Totally missed this video but I’m here now with a 👍🏽👍🏽
💯👍
Lime Green makes a Leprechaun happy, Are Lingus is the only line not tacky. 🍀
☘☘☘
It was great enjoying with you on Maui, Mark. Just wish you would drink with us
Great to have met ya brotha! 🌴🤙
Excelente video, Mark!
I need that (Business) Platinum for holiday spending, but pop-up jail (on both sides) is very real!
Love your content.
- Ivan
"La Carcel Pop-Up" nunca me ha gustado 😆
Great video! I only saw 7 benefits though. Did I miss one?
Nah I just miscounted 😂
Didnt Amex remove priority pass from Platinum too? How is the card beneficial without that option?
The Amex Platinum Card still has Priority Pass access, though only to lounges (i.e. it excludes Priority Pass restaurant, spa, and retail locations).
@@MarkReese so which card is best for lounge access now? Always heard the Platinum gave the most accessibility to ALL available lounges. Has that changed now?
@@JPfreedom - Amex Platinum still has the most comprehensive lounge access.
If I book a hotel through my Chase portal and show up to Marriott with my Platinum Elite Status would I still be eligible for all the perks? Or do i have to book through Marriott?
Very unlikely. For current elite status to be recognized, you'll need to book directly. Same goes for earning credits towards status & for earning hotel points.
Thank you Mark!
💯👍
Great information + video!
Thanks!
Are there any differences in the protections/insurances between the VentureX and the Sapphire cards?
Yes. See this video starting at 12 min 30 sec: ruclips.net/video/0QyelzCgaZM/видео.htmlsi=A8o-SpsF2vyxUbSZ&t=750
Excellent video Mark. Definitely one of the best!
Thank you!
Great video
Thank you!
You need to make that printable for us.
Which part?
Love the Venture X. That in combination with Surpass and Premier got my lodging covered. However, I’m looking for a good card that can give me a companion air ticket. Is it worth getting a card for that? I’m in upstate NY. Do you have a video comparing all airline CCs?
Nice combo! I don't have a video comparing all airline credit cards. There are too many to do that in 1 video. While it can be worth getting a companion certificate for some people, you'll have to keep in mind the opportunity cost of doing so. Many of them have spend requirements to earn the certificate, which means not earning rewards on another card. Only you can determine what you value.
@@MarkReese thank you! Very fair points.
But I get Hilton Family Rate discounts :)
Awesome!
Thank you very informative!
You're welcome!
He didn’t mention cellphone protections
Another great benefit! However, I only used the Chase Sapphire Reserve's protections in the example. That card does not have cellphone protections.
Curious, what is your preferred hotel loyalty program? And why?
Marriott Bonvoy. Reasons...
1. They have the greatest # of upscale & luxury brands, which are the types of hotels I like staying at most.
2. They offer automatic Platinum Elite status via a credit card, which is the sweet spot of the entire program & the level that includes nearly all of the benefits I value in a hotel program.
3. I'm 2-3 years away from achieving Lifetime Platinum Elite status, which is the closest 'lifetime status' opportunity of any hotel program within reach for me. I decided to pursue it so I can get off the 'status hamster wheel' for good.
Thank you, Mark! Love the content!
Mark- will you cancel/downgrade the Bonvoy Brilliant once you achieve lifetime Platinum? I’m thinking of doing so once I achieve lifetime platinum, since the card has a quite hefty AF
@@nickevans4273 - Current plan is to downgrade to the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card. It has a $95 AF and comes with a Free Night Award up to 35K points in value.
@@MarkReese awesome. That’s what I’m going to do too when I hit lifetime platinum. Gonna take me a while, but good to have the plan in place.
Do you think a personal credit card or a business credit card is better?
Neither. 2 cards for 2 different purposes.
3/6 for me :)
🌟
On the IHG Premier, the signing bonus (140k for 3,000 spend in 1st 3 months) is about *7* free nights since rooms average 20,000 points per night! 😊
Depends on the rooms you want to book, but yes, at a 20K/night rate that's possible! Even better, IHG gives a 4th Night Free when redeeming points if you have the credit card 😃
@@MarkReese I've gotten some nice suites for 17000.
I am looking into the IHG Premier in January 2024, after applying for the Sapphire Preferred in late November to purchase business-class round-trip tickets for a 2.5 week trip to the Netherlands in June 2024. I currently have the Venture X [and am almost done with the minimum spend required for the 90k SUB], and the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
The anniversary free night on the IHG Premier is a great perk, and is greater than the annual fee! In addition, the SUB is actually higher than that in terms of redemption with the 4th night free, so with a 20k/night redemption, you could stay at the same hotel for 9 free nights (instead of 7)!
IHG Premier fits my spending pattern on hotels as well, as I don't care about luxury/resort hotels - I just want a clean room with a comfortable bed, shower, air conditioning, free wifi, and a refrigerator/microwave (if I am staying for at least 4 nights). 2-3 star rated hotels are perfectly fine, and I have no problems staying at a Holiday Inn on vacation (or even a Holiday Inn Express).
Flights are another story - while I am fine with economy/economy plus for domestic trips, I like the flexibility of lie-flight business class for long-haul (7+ hour) flights so I can lie down and get some sleep (as well as enjoy the lounge and extra leg room), as I can't sleep on a plane sitting up.
Is anyone talking about Robin Hood acquiring X1 credit cards?
Some channels may be...but not this one haha
👍🏻
👍
7 benefits, 8 benefits - whatever it takes. :)
😁👍
1st
Almost! 🥈
No benefit could ever match the benefit of not being in the game
Agreed.
Can I pay all your bills with my credit card and you send me cash?
@@ac41510 negative
You were back in the game yesterday
@@DCGEMINI202 fake news
I’ve read how people say some hotels don’t acknowledge their status for whatever reason. What’s the reason for that??
That's common when booking via 3rd-party channels (e.g. Expedia, Hotels.com, etc.) and/or if your loyalty # didn't appear on the reservation. You'll need to book directly with the hotel websites w/ your loyalty account to guarantee your benefits.