@redpat wrote:
I'm all in on AA this year. I will keep my Reserve though, just for FC companion ticket for one trip and use their hotel portal once for a weekend get away. $450 isn't bad for FC fare of $1,200 - $1,300 for one of our annual trips.
If that works for you and is something you will use, that is great. I do remember that when a friend checked prices under the old international airline program (I thing that was the name), it only qualified against the full fare Business Class or First Class tickets and that it was about the same price as buying two discount Business Class that provided more/better benefits (both passengers got miles and could fly their own itinerary). It seemed to only be useful to those who could get their company to pay for over priced full fare tickets in order to get a “free” companion ticket).
I'm glad of the change because the cost will be $100 less for the prepaid FC fare, saving now $750 - $850 in airfare. I now have to take a look at resy now to see how that works since we dine a lot personally and for business, why not for $240 in credits (covers some of the tip).
I would have no problem hitting $20 a month for all restaurants, but having just looked at the Resy restaurants in LA and Las Vegas, I did not find one of the places we go regularly. Something that forces me to change where I eat to “offset the costs of the card” is much less interesting.
I mean if you even have gold and book a hotel once that's $100 credit for a net AF of $50 vs $99. If you have a delta card some must travel or take a weekend trip some where other than once a year.
I read the terms and realized that it is not for AmEx’s portal, but for Delta’s “Delta Stays” site and checked myself. Their rates are $50 above Hyatt’s rack rates ($399 vs. $349) let alone the $343 AAA rate, the $315 Veteran’s rate, or the $193 for Government/Military rates. Even just their rate to Hyatt’s rack rate would mean one’s $100 credit would really be worth only $50, and since one would give up one’s World of Hyatt benefits losing the free breakfast would make it worth even less.
Obviously they make money on their hotel portal and they would like cardholders to try it once a year.....Okay, I'll bite for a $100 saving for Reserve and I'm sure many will for gold for a $49 savings.
Yes, sometimes it seems they make a lot of money with their portal, just not sure it is ever be close enough in price to make it worth it to use.
