Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

[Dustink]

My vote:

AMEX Plat (AF $450) & US Bank Flexperks (AF $49)

That combination is much better for domestic travel. Spending goes on the US Bank card and the AMEX plat gets you travel benefits.

Both cards have decent concierge. The combination will yield better rewards and benefits, but at a discount AF wise.

[pinipig523]

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@RhubarbPie wrote:
Regarding lounge access, if you redeem your ultimate rewards for premium cabins (which is the best, most valuable use of your points. International business or first will get you the highest redemption value, but if you go to Hawaii regularly, that would be a good redemption as well), you will have lounge access anyways.

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So if I use UR to book a flight for a premium class - I get lounge access as a perk?

[CreditScholar]

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@pinipig523 wrote:

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@RhubarbPie wrote:
Regarding lounge access, if you redeem your ultimate rewards for premium cabins (which is the best, most valuable use of your points. International business or first will get you the highest redemption value, but if you go to Hawaii regularly, that would be a good redemption as well), you will have lounge access anyways.

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So if I use UR to book a flight for a premium class - I get lounge access as a perk?

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J and F tickets should get you lounge access regardless of whether you have an actual lounge membership or not. They'll issue you single-use passes when you get your boarding card.

I've thought about the palladium card a fair bit in the past year or so, and from a simple cost-benefit analysis it doesn't provide enough for the AF. Other than the "plunk factor", you can get roughly equivalent (or superior) benefits for less. This is doubly true if you don't spend 100k per year for the 35k bonus.

As someone who does charge over 100k per year, I've found that the CSP + United Club + JPM Ritz offers better benefits for the same AF. As it currently stands, I simply can't justify moving over 250k to CPC just for a credit card.

[pinipig523]

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@CreditScholar wrote:

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@pinipig523 wrote:

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@RhubarbPie wrote:
Regarding lounge access, if you redeem your ultimate rewards for premium cabins (which is the best, most valuable use of your points. International business or first will get you the highest redemption value, but if you go to Hawaii regularly, that would be a good redemption as well), you will have lounge access anyways.

---

So if I use UR to book a flight for a premium class - I get lounge access as a perk?

---

J and F tickets should get you lounge access regardless of whether you have an actual lounge membership or not. They'll issue you single-use passes when you get your boarding card.

I've thought about the palladium card a fair bit in the past year or so, and from a simple cost-benefit analysis it doesn't provide enough for the AF. Other than the "plunk factor", you can get roughly equivalent (or superior) benefits for less. This is doubly true if you don't spend 100k per year for the 35k bonus.

As someone who does charge over 100k per year, I've found that the CSP + United Club + JPM Ritz offers better benefits for the same AF. As it currently stands, I simply can't justify moving over 250k to CPC just for a credit card.

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Thanks for the response... I'm already CPC so I wonder if this is just natural progression to get the Palladium.  But I think you're right about the CSP.  

[CreditScholar]

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@pinipig523 wrote:

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@CreditScholar wrote:

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@pinipig523 wrote:

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@RhubarbPie wrote:
Regarding lounge access, if you redeem your ultimate rewards for premium cabins (which is the best, most valuable use of your points. International business or first will get you the highest redemption value, but if you go to Hawaii regularly, that would be a good redemption as well), you will have lounge access anyways.

---

So if I use UR to book a flight for a premium class - I get lounge access as a perk?

---

J and F tickets should get you lounge access regardless of whether you have an actual lounge membership or not. They'll issue you single-use passes when you get your boarding card.

I've thought about the palladium card a fair bit in the past year or so, and from a simple cost-benefit analysis it doesn't provide enough for the AF. Other than the "plunk factor", you can get roughly equivalent (or superior) benefits for less. This is doubly true if you don't spend 100k per year for the 35k bonus.

As someone who does charge over 100k per year, I've found that the CSP + United Club + JPM Ritz offers better benefits for the same AF. As it currently stands, I simply can't justify moving over 250k to CPC just for a credit card.

---

Thanks for the response... I'm already CPC so I wonder if this is just natural progression to get the Palladium.  But I think you're right about the CSP.  

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I don't know if there's anything "natural" about it perse, because either it fits your needs or it doesn't. If something else fits better and costs the same (or less), it's fairly clear-cut IMO.

[pinipig523]

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@CreditScholar wrote:

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I don't know if there's anything "natural" about it perse, because either it fits your needs or it doesn't. If something else fits better and costs the same (or less), it's fairly clear-cut IMO.

By "natural" I meant that if I have the "opportunity" to apply and possibly get approved for the Palladium, then maybe I should take advantage of this opportunity.  

But I think I see, CSP is just as good for my spending pattern.

[FinStar]

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@CreditScholar wrote:

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@pinipig523 wrote:

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@CreditScholar wrote:

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@pinipig523 wrote:

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@RhubarbPie wrote:
Regarding lounge access, if you redeem your ultimate rewards for premium cabins (which is the best, most valuable use of your points. International business or first will get you the highest redemption value, but if you go to Hawaii regularly, that would be a good redemption as well), you will have lounge access anyways.

---

So if I use UR to book a flight for a premium class - I get lounge access as a perk?

---

J and F tickets should get you lounge access regardless of whether you have an actual lounge membership or not. They'll issue you single-use passes when you get your boarding card.

I've thought about the palladium card a fair bit in the past year or so, and from a simple cost-benefit analysis it doesn't provide enough for the AF. Other than the "plunk factor", you can get roughly equivalent (or superior) benefits for less. This is doubly true if you don't spend 100k per year for the 35k bonus.

As someone who does charge over 100k per year, I've found that the CSP + United Club + JPM Ritz offers better benefits for the same AF. As it currently stands, I simply can't justify moving over 250k to CPC just for a credit card.

---

Thanks for the response... I'm already CPC so I wonder if this is just natural progression to get the Palladium.  But I think you're right about the CSP.  

---

I don't know if there's anything "natural" about it perse, because either it fits your needs or it doesn't. If something else fits better and costs the same (or less), it's fairly clear-cut IMO.

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+1

[indiolatino61]

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@Dustink wrote:

If you don't spend $100k+ per year, I don't think the palladium is for you.

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+1

[RhubarbPie]

Yes, if you are flying in F or J, you will have lounge access.

[LS2982]

I agree with others here if your not a real big spender I would leave palladium alone and go for CSP.