@icedwrote:
@redpatwrote:
@UpperNwGuyNot so, my airport has an Escape Lounge and I have been using that one instead of Admiral's because the food and drink offerings are better. In addition, they have added Centurion Lounges and I know travel frequently that now has one and go everytime I'm there.
Amex did give up access to the Admiral Lounges but have more than made up for it. thThere isn't a better card on the market at offers lounge access like amex. Nobody offers 5x points. Amex seems to be the only one adding to their rewards and perks program when others try to be amex and end up nerfing perks because in all honesty amex has the secret sauce for those who travel a lot.
What secret sauce and perks am I missing as a frequent traveler? My priorities are lounge access, point accrual, and insurances (car/medivac/cancellation/etc), and as a frequent traveler I get the first for free on any international itinerary (which all frequent flyer programs on international carriers bestow at a mid-level of statu). American Express' travel insurances are somewhat inferior to similar offerings, even on the platinum, and the 5x earning is very narrowly-focused compared to other offerings as well.
I'll admit that when I fly Delta domestically, American Express is the only show in town with consistent lounge access, but for the other carriers American Express doesn't offer much of anything except the Uber credits (and not much at that) and the occasional Centurion lounge (there's 8 in the entire US; by comparison, there's 34 Delta Sky Club and 39 United Club locations). Internationally with Delta, I'm in business so lounge access is a given there.
It's a matter of personal preference on whether one card of another fits their needs, but to state categorically that AmEx is the best game in town and the "secret sauce" for frequent travelers is just simply not true.
I said there is no one that offers lounge access coverage like Amex. I fly AA exclusively but having access to Centurion and Escape Lounges have benefits to a large number. The 5x could be narrowly focused for you but not me and I book first class for Domestic flights and Business Class for business travel internationally. Therefore, 5x is huge and I'll give up travel interruption insurance for the additional points, I think I can afford that myself if things change now and then. I've learned along time ago when you are flying in and out of airports you have to role with the punches and everything is out of your control if there are delays, cancellations or natural disasters. Sooner or later you will get home.
Personal Cards: Amex Plat | Amex Delta Res | CSR | Citi AA Exec Business Cards: Ink+ | Amex BGR
@icedChase MileagePlus Club offers United Club membership, which extends to every Star Alliance airlines' lounge in the world. That easily rivals American Express' + Delta's coverage internationally. Same with Citi AA World Elite and Admiral's Club membership and their OneWorld partners, as you know. There is something to be said for the person who does fly Delta a lot and books Delta tickets for the 5x points plus the lounge access, but they also lose out on things like 3x for all other travel/dining such as what the CSR offers, so it's trade-off where one's personal priorities must be evaluated. No single card among them has it all.
Thus, different strokes for different folks, which was my point - there is no single card or even bank that's the obvious defacto choice for frequent travelers.
The cards that you mentioned are all Airline specific cards with annual fees of $450 with no offset of $200 airline credit or $200 uber credit bringing the cost of the card down to $150 at the least. Name one non-airline card that has the lounge coverage that Amex Plat offers? I have moved MR points to Avios to fly AA. So it just doesn't apply to Delta.
@icedwrote:
@redpatwrote:
I can go on about the 5x MR on flights vs something like the CSR's 3x on all dining/travel, but the obvious conclusion is that which is better is completely dependent on how heavily one's flight spend is versus hotel/dining/etc.
Again, situational. Broad strokes bad.
You don't have to go on, I have the CSR, lol!
Personally I don't think there is anything wrong with the charge cards; and with all due respect, I think the wrong question is being asked. It's not are AMEX charge cards no longer trendy anymore it's are people actually waking up an realizing that they should only get cards that fit their spending/travel habits.
There are way too many threads on myfico to count of people who admit to never traveling (or traveling rarely maybe once a year) but want to apply for the CSR or the AMEX Platinum with the hefty AFs. Constantly the more veteran members on here tell them that they can't recommend the person applies for the card because they don't know that person's spending/traveling habits. Still people for some reason feel like they don't have a great credit portfolio if they don't have a AMEX in there, and to some people, the design of the AMEX charge cards are the "legendary AMEXs."
For some of us who actually get cards that fit our spending and travel habits, any AFs on a card is chump change compared to what we get back. In most cases people end up saving money with the card by paying the AF.
Back on topic...if people finally realizing that they should only get a AMEX charge card because it fits their travel/spending habits (and not because everyone else has it and it looks cool) is considered charge cards not being trendy anymore then I welcome it. I can't wait for everyone to get back to only applying for cards they need versus applying for cards because everyone else is running around with it and/or applying because it makes their credit portfolio look cool 
If AMEX still backdated newer accounts like they use to, I think more people would apply. At least that was my justification for getting a Gold Card last time I had one. Ah, the good ol' days.
