@K-in-Boston wrote:
Will your international trips continue to be primarily to Germany? If so, how much do you value direct flights versus connecting ones? One downside to going all-in with SkyTeam, Delta, and its partners, is that the other alliances are better suited for direct flights since getting to Germany on these airlines is going to almost assuredly require a stop in Amsterdam, Paris, or London. You spelled Aer Lingus correctly - and unfortunately again if Ireland is a frequent destination, direct routes are something you may want to consider. Going from say Boston or New York to Dublin is not only cheap but a very quick flight on Aer Lingus, whereas with SkyTeam you will often be taking a more expensive (sometimes much more) flight to Amsterdam or Paris only to backtrack to Ireland - which can easily double the travel time with a layover included. Do you have an idea of which destinations will be your primary ones?
Spending more on choosing a seat, for bags, and for lounge access can certainly add up. In this case if Delta will at least be your primary domestic airline, it would be strongly worth considering a Delta cobranded card and possibly the American Express Platinum Card. This is also a case where it might be worth running the numbers for going for elite status. On Delta, all levels from Silver up will be able to choose exit row and premium Main Cabin seats at no charge at the time of booking. Platinum up can also choose any available Comfort+ seat as soon as the ticket has been ticketed (which would be seconds after paying for it). All elite members not only get additional baggage allowance, but also all of the Gold, Platinum, and Reserve cobranded cards include the first bag free for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same itinerary with you. Delta Reserve cards and Amex Paltinum include SkyClub access, while the Amex Platinum also includes access to the Centurion Lounge and numerous others through both partnerships and Priority Pass. It's also important to note that elite members will often earn much more mileage on flights than non-elites and the value of those miles paired along with certain perks can often more than offset the price difference between a lower cost ticket on another airline.
Simply being a Delta SkyMiles member will give you access to a discount on CLEAR membership; those with elite statuses get further discounts. At the moment no US-issued credit card is giving a rebate on NEXUS membership, even though the fees are much lower. If you live convenient enough to an enrollment center and travel to Canada even occasionally, I would strongly suggest just paying for that out of pocket since the convenience is well worth it, and it also comes with Global Entry and TSA PreCheck. Otherwise, many cards cover Global Entry these days, and the sole thing you would be missing out on would be that you cannot use the NEXUS lanes to enter Canada (but can use them to re-enter the US).
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It sounds like at a minimum, either a Delta cobranded card or Amex Platinum may be well worth it to you - possibly both. If you go the Amex Platinum route, you will also likely want to consider the Amex Gold soon as well as it would really help you to rack up points with its 4x on dining and grocery spend. If you go the Delta route, it'll be important to consider what your travel habits are, whether you would be able to use a companion certificate, and how much you would be likely to spend on the card each year as the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve both have additional elite-qualifying bonuses - as well as Welcome Offers from Amex that include a bolus of bonus MQMs - and the ability to waive the MQD requirements for higher status tiers if you have otherwise earned the MQMs or MQSs to qualify.
Chase Sapphire Reserve is also a great card, but ideally you'd want to pair it with a card or cards from the Freedom family to maximize earnings. For Delta, you could move the URs to Virgin Atlantic or KLM/Air France for best value or get 1.5 cents per point in the Chase travel portal. Other than Priority Pass, there are no airline perks outside of the $300 travel reimbursement each year that does cover much more than the Amex Platinum's $200 airline credit.
Thank you for such an in depth response. I will have to read several times your response and several of the follow-up responses to wrap my brain around all these options.
I will be flying to Germany at least twice a year from MSP so my layover spots are either in the US or yes UK, FR, AM. A full direct flight is not an option I will always have at least one layover and ideally just one. I prefer a direct flights from Europe to home (& visa versa) which will either be from FR or AM or if I do Aer L and if they return to direct to MSP than from Dub.
The best two options are Delta/KLM MSP>AMS and either Hamburg, Munich or Berlin or when Aer L reopens their direct flights than the same but replace AMS with Dublin.
I use Germany as my homebase and travel from there to explore.
Grocery shopping in the US is maybe $1,500 a yr. The bulk of my spending is on business advertising, operation/system services, coach/education, and last yr. opening a Glamping experience so this yr maintence, operations, marketing, etc. Following these are travel and dinning. Gas is also not a large expenditure.
For the most part I live very conservatively and don't do lots of extra spending and try to be very calcutive when spending and getting the most benifits out of the money I spend
so I can travel.
I know many have responded about the perks branded cards would give are negated by my first class ticket purchases. I would ideally like to not be buying first class tickets but would rather purchase more tickets and travel back and forth more on the same money spend and gain upgrade perks from it along with the spending I do in life. This is of course not speaking of Covid times but looking to the future. During Covid than yes First Class and Premium Economy.
In reading all the comments and your following ones I am thinking a two card approach would be good as well as a consideration of a business card.
Not going to lie, to you and those who have mastered these cards and how to maximis them I am in awe. I am sooo confused and appreciate all the time and help you give.
Thank you!!
