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.
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.
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.
@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.
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. :/
@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.
@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
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...