topic Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select in Credit Cards

Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

arkane — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 20:29:42 GMT

Ever since the Amerirpise Platinum gravy train died (RIP ), I've been looking for a "cheap AF" card to try and save my PP Select membership. I'm aware that no-AF and PP Select do not go together, so I'm trying to minimize the AF spend for the PP Select membership.

So far from my research, I think the Hilton Ascend card at $95 AF with 10 free PP lounge visits is as cheap as it gets. I know USB's Altitude Reserve is technially cheaper at $75 net AF if I use up all $325 of travel credit, but it only comes wih 4 free PP passes, so on a per pass basis, it's more expensive. Since I'm an AirBnB type person, the Hilton Ascend card is virtually useless to me apart from the PP Select membership for $95. Just wanted to ask all you experts (*cough*@K-in-Boston*cough*) if I'm missing any obvious or better choices.

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

Shadowfactor — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 03:49:06 GMT

As far as I know the lowest AF card with PP is the Hilton card.

You mentioned USB Altitude Reserve, I personally think thats the best option. It does have an effective AF of $75 but if you use WIFI on planes it comes with passes which make the card completely free if you use just 5 of them.

The next best choice is either CSR or Prestige. Being that you are an AirBNB user, the prestige and its 4NF might not be appealing but its an easy way to get PP for a low net AF if you can milk the 4NF

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

wasCB14 — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 03:58:09 GMT

What value do you assign to the credits on Amex Platinum?

Keep it mind it has those "little network" lounges...Airspace, Plaza Premium, Escape, a little Lufthansa...not "only" Cent/PP/Delta.

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

arkane — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 04:18:03 GMT

You mean Uber credits? Almost 0 since they don't rollover, and UberEats has gone whack with charging small order fees on top of a service fee ON TOP of a delivery fee. A $6 meal comes out to >$15 total **bleep**?!

In any case though, Amex Plat is out of the question, since I simply cannot justify the massive $550 AF for the little travelling I do each year (2-3 trips MAX).

@Shadowfactor wrote:
As far as I know the lowest AF card with PP is the Hilton card.

You mentioned USB Altitude Reserve, I personally think thats the best option. It does have an effective AF of $75 but if you use WIFI on planes it comes with passes which make the card completely free if you use just 5 of them.

The next best choice is either CSR or Prestige. Being that you are an AirBNB user, the prestige and its 4NF might not be appealing but its an easy way to get PP for a low net AF if you can milk the 4NF

Yeah Altitude Reserve is definitely on my radar, but to get that $75 net AF I'm forced to rack up $325 in travel expenses every year. Thus far it hasn't been too hard since I usually fly 2-3 times a year anyway, but I'm just not a huge fan of the whole "prepay for travel credit, use it or lose it" model. Same with CSR. Plus with how conservative USB is, I'm gonna have to garden for 18 months just to have a shot lol.

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

wasCB14 — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 04:43:20 GMT

I'm not a fan of the new Eats fee structure, either. I'll be able to use the credit for rides for the next few months, but I absolutely understand how the "trickle" isn't useful for everyone. The Uber card doesn't require frequent riding to work as a nice dining/streaming card.

If you do go with Hilton, keep in mind that PP acceptance can be spotty. Depending on the time of day or how busy a lounge is, it may refuse or waitlist PP customers.

That uncertainty would make me reluctant to pay an AF for a card if the main appeal was PP.

I personally find Hilton points almost useless, but purely on a "AF for 10 passes" basis it might be your cheapest option.

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 04:55:09 GMT

UNFCU Elite is probably the cheapest card with PP at $50 AF. The downside is that the underwriting is pretty strict (I for instance was denied the card and counteroffered the Azure instead despite having >800 credit score and six figure income).

https://www.unfcu.org/credit-cards/elite/

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

arkane — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 05:02:06 GMT

Ha I knew I was missing some little known cards with huge benefits! I think you've just found my next card!

But yeah, definitely need to garden for a while before I even think about applying given what you said. Did they give you any specific reasons why they denied you for the Elite? Is that open to "senior members" or have some additional, non-credit related restrictions?

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

wasCB14 — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 05:05:51 GMT

@arkane wrote:
Ha I knew I was missing some little known cards with huge benefits! I think you've just found my next card!

But yeah, definitely need to garden for a while before I even think about applying given what you said. Did they give you any specific reasons why they denied you for the Elite? Is that open to "senior members" or have some additional, non-credit related restrictions?

https://www.unfcu.org/credit-cards/elite/

Priority Pass™ Select: enrolled members receive five free visits annually at any of the participating lounges, and can purchase additional visits

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

arkane — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 05:08:15 GMT

Yeah I noticed. Totally fine with me though since I travel so irregularly that 5 visits is about as much as I'd need/want in a given year. Hell if the Hilton Ascend had an option to pay $50 for five PP passes I'd take it!

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 05:10:17 GMT

@arkane wrote:
Ha I knew I was missing some little known cards with huge benefits! I think you've just found my next card!

But yeah, definitely need to garden for a while before I even think about applying given what you said. Did they give you any specific reasons why they denied you for the Elite? Is that open to "senior members" or have some additional, non-credit related restrictions?

I don't recall why exactly as it's been a while but I wouldn't be surprised if length of time at the CU was a factor (I had joined just to get one of their cards). It might be worth revisiting if I ever decide to kill off most of my AF cards though.

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

FinStar — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 05:15:28 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
UNFCU Elite is probably the cheapest card with PP at $50 AF. The downside is that the underwriting is pretty strict (I for instance was denied the card and counteroffered the Azure instead despite having >800 credit score and six figure income).

https://www.unfcu.org/credit-cards/elite/

Agree on the strict UW criteria. I've had the Elite for a few years now, but UNFCU seems to be selective with that product.

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

coldfusion — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 10:49:46 GMT

@FinStar wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
UNFCU Elite is probably the cheapest card with PP at $50 AF. The downside is that the underwriting is pretty strict (I for instance was denied the card and counteroffered the Azure instead despite having >800 credit score and six figure income).

https://www.unfcu.org/credit-cards/elite/
Agree on the strict UW criteria. I've had the Elite for a few years now, but UNFCU seems to be selective with that product.

There is the $15K mininum SL restriction, although my success inferred that they don't consider many new accounts as being an automatic disqualifier.

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

K-in-Boston — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 21:17:36 GMT

Great advice so far! Really I would seriously consider the Altitude Reserve. It is only open to existing customers, so that is a downside. I grabbed it just to churn the $750 SUB, but quickly realized it’s a keeper. I have numerous PP and Global Entry options available to me, so I don’t even factor those in. However, the travel credit is easy to use as it’s loosely defined and the ability to always get 4.5% back on non-category spend where mobile payment is available makes it easy to earn points and recoup the remainder of the AF. It’s also great for mobile payments on questionable categories where you’re not sure how it will code.

If you are a Mac user with an iPhone, Apple Pay even extends to more traditional online shopping in some cases if you remember to use Safari. For me, the travel credit and gogo passes already make it break-even.

As for USB underwriting, I really haven’t found it strict. There was the odd $500 approval in 2017 for my Cash+ card, but even with a TON of new accounts and scores around 730-740 a quick underwriting call got me $15k the day I received the card. A year later, I picked up the AR for $14k.

My only real complaint is that it’s a beautiful card that is permanently in the sock drawer since I only use it with Apple Pay.

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

UpperNwGuy — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 22:41:12 GMT

Where are you using your Priority Pass membership? I have Priority Pass through the CSR, but I've found it to be almost useless within the United States. I have used it some in Europe, but if I downgrade the CSR, I wouldn't pay an annual fee to a new card just to get Priority Pass.

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

K-in-Boston — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 22:46:54 GMT

Assuming the question wasn’t actually directed at me, but I finally got around to using mine at a lounge at CUN last month. In addition to lounges, there are a decent number of restaurant options available and continuing to be added also. If I didn’t have Sky Club access anyway, I’d use it a LOT more.

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

arkane — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 00:09:46 GMT

@UpperNwGuy wrote:
Where are you using your Priority Pass membership? I have Priority Pass through the CSR, but I've found it to be almost useless within the United States. I have used it some in Europe, but if I downgrade the CSR, I wouldn't pay an annual fee to a new card just to get Priority Pass.

Mostly from SFO. The nice thing about PP in SFO is I can mooch free food (up to $28) from Yankee Pier and SF Giants Clubhouse. Didn't really care too much for the lounge but being able to kick back and enjoy some free food when I'm at the airport a few hours too early is always nice.

Next year I may get a chance to use it at HKG if I'm lucky enough, and I heard the PP Lounge there is out of this world.

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 00:41:14 GMT

Shame the Amerprise Platinum loophole has been closed. My multi year use of that will end in September.

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

arkane — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 03:19:14 GMT

If I was honest with myself, that gravy train had to come to an end sooner or later. I mean really, for a whooping $0 AF, you could get $400 in AA eGCs through the loophole that has since been closed (RIP ), up to $250 in Uber credits, up to $150 in Saks credits, complimentary PP Select, and a lot more. And because the Ameriprise Platinum didn't have a SUB, it was completely churnable. God knows how much Amex was bleeding on this card. Still a terrible loss though. :/

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

Shadowfactor — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 03:40:57 GMT

@UpperNwGuy wrote:
Where are you using your Priority Pass membership? I have Priority Pass through the CSR, but I've found it to be almost useless within the United States. I have used it some in Europe, but if I downgrade the CSR, I wouldn't pay an annual fee to a new card just to get Priority Pass.

I agree, the times that I've tried to use real lounges through PP in the US either the options have been terrible or I was turned away for space constraints. PP does have some different options such as Restaurants and Minute suites which can be amazing during a longer layover and you want to nap. It's come in handy 2-3 times already. I've found that they will let you stack PP cards if you have multiple memberships so that you can extend it past an hour.

PP overseas is much better but still not great. I've only tried about 3 lounges in europe and 4 in the carribean. Wasnt all that impressed with them. Better then nothing but not nearly as good as OW business lounges.

Re: Cheapest card to get Priority Pass Select

FinStar — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 03:42:11 GMT

@arkane wrote:
If I was honest with myself, that gravy train had to come to an end sooner or later. I mean really, for a whooping $0 AF, you could get $400 in AA eGCs through the loophole that has since been closed (RIP ), up to $250 in Uber credits, up to $150 in Saks credits, complimentary PP Select, and a lot more. And because the Ameriprise Platinum didn't have a SUB, it was completely churnable. God knows how much Amex was bleeding on this card. Still a terrible loss though. :/

I was approved for the 1st year A/F-waived version literally just days before I learned of the change(s). Not bad for a "test drive" Now, if only that elusive 100K MR version would just show itself...