Amex Platimum or Visa Black

[CreditCuriosity]

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@taxi818 wrote:

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@ibmrad7 wrote:

There is not even a comparison between the two. Close your eyes and get the Platinum.

On another note, look up Citi Prestige as well.

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No need to say anything else on this thread. this says it all

+1

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Unless i was to get the targeted mail with no AF for life like that one person on this forum (can you say struck by lightning?) with a 50k limit... He hit the lottery.. Although still a blah card, just a nice 50k utilization pad

[youdontkillmoney]

I have

1. AMEX plat

2. Citi Prestige

3. Visa Black card

4. Diners Club Carte Blanche

(I have other cc's too, but in this "space" you're talking about these are the main trvael cards I have, so can't speak to Ritz, etc)

Cross black card off the list, for the fee you really get no value

Diners Carte Blanche I'd cross off since you don't get any reimbursement credit

Plat has the Centurion club, but it's only in a few airports but hands down THE best lounge at airports, you get a full selection of real food, and plates of it, plus Plat you get the $200 credit but can't apply against air tickets, but Plat you also get good customer service in terms of protection, disputes, etc (which I use a lot of). I am happy with Plat

The Citi prestige is the 2nd card in my wallet when they do not take amex, and you get the $250 reimbursement credit (applies against air tickets, and lounge access at Admirals which AMEX does not give, but Admirals is not that great of a club, skimps on food and it is sparse; I use Delta lounges under AMEX. Prestige can also give you access to priority, but so does amex.

All in all, get AMEX plat #1 and if you can afford it, nice to have Citi prestige too for their $250 credit and admirals club access, so with both you cover more possibilities

[takeshi74]

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@ghawdex wrote:

I'm wanting to apply for one of these, I will mainly use these for traveling. Which one is overall best?

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Define best.

Platinum if you're actually looking for benefits.  Visa Black is you want to just show off and try to impress others with a "black" card.  Are you sure that these 2 options are the best suited to what you're looking for?  It would help if you'd clarify what you want from your travel card.

[ghawdex]

Hi everyone,

I appreciate everyone responding back, maybe I should have elaborate a bit of my uses.

The card will be mainly use for travels to Europe. I have always used Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa. My other purposes for the card would be for cruises, mostly European countries and some more local ones (Mexico and what not). At this point, I am crossing out the Visa black card. It seems like the Amex plat is a big choice. I have never heard of the ritz calrtion card until now, so I will look into that one as well.

Any other advice and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Black is awful. I'd rather not have a card than have Black. 

[boosnark]

I've had the Amex Platinum for about twenty years. I use it for the Priority Pass and Rewards points, albeit at a measly $1 per point. However, there are no foreign transaction fees, and the savings add up significantly since I travel and move around a lot internationally. But of late, Amex fraud protection has been somewhat draconian, so have another card handy for those unsavory situations where they suddenly  prevent you fron making a charge due to "suspicious" activity on your account. It is sometimes hard to verify charges when you're out in a place with no internet access and no ability to make phone calls easily. There are other Visa/MC cards from say Capital One or Chase that do not charge foreign transaction fees that can be used as "back up." Having said all of this some of the PP lounges in Europe are pretty atrocious (e.g. the one at Frankfurt) and over the years I've not had much use for the lounge access. It's a nice to have, though, but I recently applied and got the Chase Sapphire Preferred just for the ability to get points and I'll just park the Platinum to the bottom of the credit card pit for now.

[Anonymous]

Seriously?

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Seriously?

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I assume so!   The Plat is not a good earning card, getting 1MR per $.   It is usually valued for its perks, such as lounge access (although that has also been getting more restricted).    So if OP wants a card to earn travel to Europe, the Plat isn't a good choice.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Seriously?

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I assume so!   The Plat is not a good earning card, getting 1MR per $.   It is usually valued for its perks, such as lounge access (although that has also been getting more restricted).    So if OP wants a card to earn travel to Europe, the Plat isn't a good choice.

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LTL, what have they been doing to restrict lounge access.  That's about the only reason I'd like the card because there is a Centurion lounge in my favorite spot, Vegas.

[NRB525]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Seriously?

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I assume so!   The Plat is not a good earning card, getting 1MR per $.   It is usually valued for its perks, such as lounge access (although that has also been getting more restricted).    So if OP wants a card to earn travel to Europe, the Plat isn't a good choice.

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LTL, what have they been doing to restrict lounge access.  That's about the only reason I'd like the card because there is a Centurion lounge in my favorite spot, Vegas.

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Well, for Centurion lounge access, one location, perhaps three now, it could be Platinum only (not sure if other cards go there also).

For global access, you can actually buy a separate Priority Pass for $99 per year, plus $27 per visit for the basic level, more money for more pre-paid visits. Gets 700 lounges.

Other cards like Citi Prestige or Diners Club (if you can get one) also have extensive international lounge access.

Delta AMEX cards have varying levels of co-payment to get acess to the Delta lounges which are not many of the international lounges.

Each card depends on how much you want to spend up front for the AF, vs how many visits or "reduced fee" visits one gets.