The Platinum Card® from American Express Review: Lots of New Perks, Bigger Credits, Increased Annual Fee

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Updated with new perks, increased credits, and increased annual fee. card_name is the classic premium travel card, with an extended list of luxurious perks along with a hefty annual fee. It’s time for another look again as they have added many new perks and increased their annual fee. Notable, none of the previous credit and features were removed, so all the improvements can be easily compared to see if you feel they offset the annual fee increase.

Here is the sign-up bonus and rewards structure:

  • As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards(R) points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • 5X Membership Rewards(R) points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel(R), including Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel(R) on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
  • 1X MR points on other purchases.

Here are the many statement credits included with the card:

  • NEW! $300 lululemon Credit. Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card(R) for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
  • NEW! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy. When you use the Platinum Card(R) to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card(R). Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
  • Improved: $300 Digital Entertainment Credit (up to $25 per month). Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card(R) at participating partners. Enrollment required.
  • Improved: $600 Hotel Credit. Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel(R) using the Platinum Card(R). *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • Improved: $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit. With the Platinum Card(R) you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card(R) to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card(R) to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
  • $200 Airline Fee credit. Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card(R) Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit. Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card(R). *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R) credit. Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck(R) application fee (through a TSA official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card(R). Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • $209 CLEAR(R) Plus Credit. CLEAR(R) Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card(R). *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
  • $100 Saks Credit. Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card(R). That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
  • $300 Equinox credit annually. Up to $300 back in statement credits each calendar year towards an Equinox membership. Enrollment is required.
  • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike credit. $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike. Enrollment is required.
  • American Express Global Lounge Collection(R). With over 1,550 airport lounges – more than any other credit card company on the market* – enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection(R), over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club(R) visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass™ Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
  • $895 annual fee.
  • See Rates and Fees

Note the following language:

Welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had this Card. We may also consider the number of American Express Cards you have opened and closed as well as other factors in making a decision on your welcome offer eligibility.

Not sure about your history? The application will tell you if they detect that you are not eligible for the bonus based on their records. Given that you can only get the welcome offer once time per lifetime, it is best to apply during a limited-time offer.

Membership Rewards points can be converted to the following airline and hotel programs (there are more, this is just a selection):

  • Delta SkyMiles
  • Hawaiian Airlines
  • JetBlue
  • ANA Mileage Club (partner of United Airlines)
  • Air Canada (partner of United Airlines)
  • British Airways (partner of American Airlines)
  • FlyingBlue (Air France/KLM)
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Virgin Atlantic
  • Choice Privileges
  • Hilton Honors
  • Marriott Rewards (Starwood)

They also run limited-time 25% to 40% bonuses on points transfers. You can also transfer to gift cards many retailers at varying rates, but many available at the rate of 10,000 MR points = $100 gift card. My most recent redemption was a $100 Home Depot card for 10,000 points, sometimes less when they run special discount. However, don’t expect the cash-equivalent prepaid credit cards at that rate, it’s usually closer to a 0.6 cent/point ratio.

American Express Global Lounge Collection. With American Express Global Lounge Collection(R), eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,550 airport lounges globally, including:

  • The Centurion® Lounges
  • Delta Sky Club(R) Access when flying an eligible Delta flight
  • Escape Lounges
  • Priority Pass(TM) Select Lounges. Enrollment required
  • Lufthansa Lounges, when flying Lufthansa Group
  • Plaza Premium Lounges

Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass™ Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express(R) App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.

Adding together all the many credits, you can easily see that the perks can easily add up to much more than the $895 annual fee. The question is whether you can take advantage of those perks and how much value you personally get out of them. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Bottom line. card_name has added an impressively large list of new perks while also adding a generous welcome offer. You’ll have to see if your lifestyle matches up to the perks that this card offers.

I will be adding this improved offer on my list of Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers.

(See Rates and Fees)

The Business Platinum Card(R) from American Express Review

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Updated with improved welcome offer, new perks, and increased annual fee. card_name is the ultra-premium AmEx business card with a very long list of perks and statement credits. You also get a broad airline lounge access program and an improved welcome offer. I’ve tried to keep it brief, but there is a lot to cover:

  • Elevated Welcome Offer: Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards(R) points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Business Platinum Card(R) within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
  • Unlock over $3,500 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
  • NEW: Up to $600 Hotel Credit. Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card(R). The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • Up to $200 Hilton Statement Credit. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Business Platinum Card® Account. Enrollment required.
  • NEW: Up to $150 Dell credit. Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
  • NEW: Up to $250 Adobe credit. Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
  • Up to $360 Indeed credit ($90 per quarter). Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
  • Up to $120 Wireless telephone credit ($10 per month). Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
  • 5X Membership Rewards(R) points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • 2X Membership Rewards(R) points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
  • 1X points on other eligible purchases.
  • 35% Airline Bonus. You can receive 35% Membership Rewards® points back after you use the Pay With Points feature for all or part of a flight booked with American Express Travel if the flight is either First or Business class or on your selected qualifying airline, up to 1,000,000 bonus points back per calendar year.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Business Platinum Card®. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • CLEAR(R) Plus Credit: Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR(R) Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
  • $895 annual fee.
  • See Rates and Fees

Note the following language: “Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product.” You can only get the welcome offer on the Platinum Business AmEx once time per lifetime, so it is best to apply during an improved offer (and also the time when perks have been added but before the annual fee increase).

American Express Global Lounge Collection. The American Express Global Lounge Collection(R) can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.

  • The Centurion® Lounges
  • Delta Sky Club(R) Access when flying an eligible Delta flight
  • Escape Lounges
  • Priority Pass(TM) Select Lounges. Enrollment required.
  • Lufthansa Lounges, when flying Lufthansa Group
  • Plaza Premium Lounges

35% Airline Bonus details. Let’s say your selected airline is Delta, and you want to buy a couple economy Delta tickets for $1,000 using their Pay with Points features. This means that $1,000 ticket booked through AmEx Travel will only cost you 65,000 Membership Rewards points net (100,000 points and then 35,000 point rebated back). This improves the 1 cent per point value to 1.54 cents per point value. This means that 120,000 Membership Rewards points can be worth $1,848 in airfare on your selected airline.

Transfer partners. You can transfer Membership Rewards points to 16 airline and 3 hotel partners including Delta, British Airways, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Air Canada, Hilton, Starwood Preferred Guest, and Choice Hotels. If you’re good at snagging award tickets, you can get even better value this way.

Bottom line. card_name is the ultra-premium AmEx business card that includes a HUGE list of perks. Add them up for your own situation and see how it compares with the annual fee. Keep in mind that the annual fee can also count as a business expense.

The net first-year value of this card is easily over $1,000, as it is definitely one of the Top 10 Best Business Card Offers.

(See Rates and Fees)

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Review: 6% Cash Back at US Supermarkets ($6,000/Year), Enhanced $120 Disney Streaming Credit

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Updated with improved $120 Disney Streaming Credit (now up to $10 per month with no minimum or bundle required). The card_name is one of my longtime keeper cards even with an annual fee. The headline feature is 6% cash back at US stand-alone supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), but I also use it for 6% cash back on all my streaming subscriptions. If you spend $100 a week at supermarkets, that alone will earn you over $300 a year in rewards. The welcome offer is also currently very generous. The highlights:

  • Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be reg_apr,reg_apr_type.
  • 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1% after that).
  • 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
  • 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations.
  • 3% cash back on eligible transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more.
  • 1% cash back on other purchases.
  • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
  • $120 Disney Streaming Credit. Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred(R) Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at disneyplus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you’re approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you’re approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • See Rates and Fees

Max out your benefit by buying gift cards at US supermarkets. I use this card to buy gift cards at eligible supermarkets to use up the annual limit and get 6% back. My local Safeway has an entire wall of options, but I usually go with Amazon, Apple, or Starbucks (gifts). You can easily confirm that your purchase still gets 6% cash back on your account online:

Supermarkets details. “US stand-alone supermarkets” means that superstores, convenience stores and warehouse clubs are not considered supermarkets. This means no Super Wal-Mart, no Super Target, no Costco. Examples of merchants that do count (and this is not a complete list!) are (source):

ALDI
FreshDirect
Gelson’s
Hy-Vee
Kings Food Markets
Meijer
ShopRite
Smart & Final
Stop & Shop
Trader Joe’s
Vons
Whole Foods
Winn-Dixie

Gasoline details. “US stand-alone gas stations” means that superstores, supermarkets, and warehouse clubs that sell gasoline are not considered gas stations. This means no Target, no Costco, no Sam’s Club. Examples of merchants that count (again not a complete list!) are Exxon, Mobil, Hess, Shell, Gulf, Murphy USA, Murphy Express.

US Streaming Subscriptions details. These are all included at 6% cash back:

Amazon Music Unlimited
AMC+
Apple Music
Apple TV+
Audible
Britbox
DirecTV Stream (formerly known as AT&T TV or AT&T TV NOW)
Discovery+
Disney+
ESPN+
Fubo TV
HBO Max
Hulu
iHeartRadio
Kindle Unlimited
Luminary
MGM+
MLB.TV
NBA League Pass
Netflix
Pandora
Paramount+
Peacock
Prime Video
Sling TV
SiriusXM Streaming and Satellite
Spotify
Starz
TIDAL Music
YouTube Music Premium
YouTube Premium
YouTube TV

Disney Streaming credit details (worth up to $120 a year). Now, with the enhanced $120 Disney Streaming Credit, you can earn up to $10 back per month as a statement credit when you use your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card to purchase a subscription, or bundle subscription, on DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites, now with no minimum purchase requirement. Subscription is subject to auto-renewal.

If you already have this card, you can enroll in this offer here.

Annual fee. There is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95, but with the improved Disney Streaming credit that works with no minimums from Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN+, that can already more than completely offsets any future annual fee on its own. We already pay for Disney+ with no ads, so we already max out the $120 in annual credits.

The 6% cash back category can also quickly help this card earn its keep. The max cap of $6,000 annually works out to a steady averaged rate of $500 a month, which at 6% back would net you $360 cash back in a year vs. $60 at 1% cash back. Heck, simply hitting the $100 mark in a single trip at the supermarket is far too easy these days.

Alternatively, the card_name offers 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%) and other perks but with no annual fee. Terms apply. (See Rates and Fees)

Cash back is officially given in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit, gift cards, and merchandise. You can also use it to offset your Amazon.com purchases at checkout. I usually just stick with statements credit to directly pay down my monthly bill.

Bottom line. The card_name has the key feature of 6% cash back at US supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year). You can now also get 6% cash back on Netflix/Spotify/HBO Now as well as 3% cash back at US gas stations and transit (Uber/Lyft/train). This has been a “keeper” card for me for many years now. I treat it like one of my 5% cash back cards, except there are no rotating categories or activations to worry about. They also just improved their Disney Streaming credit to be worth up to $10/month ($120 annually), which I also utilize.

Rates and Fees for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express :Rates and Fees for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Rates and Fees for Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Rates and Fees for Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Review: 125,000 Points Limited-Time Offer

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New limited-time offer, at all-time high values. The card_name is the re-branded business credit card of the Marriott Bonvoy program. This card offers unique perks for Marriott customers, along with a generous new customer incentive. Here are the highlights:

  • Limited-time offer: Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new Card to make $8,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms apply. Offer ends 10/22/2025.
  • New award night top-off option: Marriott now allows you to supplement your free night certificates with up to 15,000 points of your own. For example, the 50k Award can be used to book a hotel at 65,000 points level if you spend 15,000 points of your own. This opens up the number of potential hotels available in expensive areas.
  • Room rate discount: 7% discount on eligible Marriott Bonvoy hotel bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy(R) member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business(R) American Express(R) Card Member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate.
  • 6X points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy(R) program.
  • 4X points at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
  • 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
  • Receive a Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60k in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R). Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with this card.
  • Elite Night Credits: Receive credit for 15 nights towards the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status, each calendar year.
  • Annual fee is $125.
  • See Rates and Fees

Keep in mind the following terms and conditions:

Welcome offer not available to applicants who (i) have or have had the Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards® Business Credit Card from Chase in the last 30 days, (ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Credit Card from Chase or the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or (iii) received a new Card Member bonus offer in the last 24 months on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase or the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase.

This is more specific than before, note the different 30-day, 90-day, and 24-month waiting periods that may now include consumer cards. American Express usually gives you a pop-up warning during the application process if you are ineligible based on their records. This is why you should be looking to get the best possible bonus (like a limited-time offer) when you do apply.

Many people aren’t aware of the fact that they can apply for business credit cards, even if they are not a corporation or LLC. The business type is called a sole proprietorship, and these days many people are full-time or part-time consultants, freelancers, eBay/Amazon/Etsy sellers, Uber/Lyft drivers, or other one-person business owners. This is the simplest business entity, but it is fully legit and recognized by the IRS. On a business credit card application, you should use your own legal name as the business name, and your Social Security Number as the Tax ID.

NEW: Certificates can be combined with up to 15,000 points for nicer hotels. Marriott now allows you to supplement your free night certificates with up to 15,000 points of your own. In other words, if your certificate is worth 35,000 points, the maximum hotel value you can redeem for is 50,000 points after adding 15,000 points of your own. if your certificate is worth 50,000 points, the maximum hotel value you can redeem for is 65,000 points after adding 15,000 points of your own.

You can use the Marriott free night search tool to price out some sample hotels for yourself. Also, here are details on the Free Night Award Top Off option.

What is a reasonable estimate for the value of a Marriott Bonvoy point? Based on multiple real-world searches of redeemable properties, I choose to use a conservative estimate of 0.70 cents per Bonvoy point. That means 50,000 Bonvoy points = estimated $350 redeemable value, and 100,000 Bonvoy points = estimated $700 redeemable hotel night value. However, I almost always get closer to 1 cent per point value when I actually choose to redeem. Remember to compare the full price of the hotel price with all taxes, as that is what you would have to pay instead of just points.

What can I book with 65,000 points? Based on a few quick searches (log in and try to book with points), the following premium hotels can potentially be booked for 65,000 points or less. (* Marriott no longer publishes a fixed point award chart):

  • The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, Big Island, Hawaii
  • The Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Bali
  • Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa
  • JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa
  • Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld®
  • Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
  • The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes

35k Free Night Award (Anniversary). At your card anniversary, you will receive a Free Night Award that is good for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel. This excludes the very top properties, but for regular travelers it will be very easy to get your $95 or even $125 value. Many W Hotels, Westin, and even some Ritz-Carltons worldwide are included. Here are some sample hotels that may qualify under the 35,000 point limit (* Marriott no longer publishes a fixed point award chart):

  • Sheraton Kona Resort (Big Island, Hawaii)
  • Courtyard Waikiki Beach (Honolulu, Oahu)
  • Sheraton Kauai Resort (Kauai, Hawaii)
  • W Atlanta
  • New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge
  • Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
  • W Chicago
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing, China
  • The S. Regis Bangkok, Thailand

You can expand this even further if you use the top-off option and look for hotels at up to 50,000 Bonvoy points.

Bottom line. The card_name is the co-branded business card between Marriott hotels and American Express. You also get a Free Night Award at card anniversary, which can be worth much more than the annual fee. Check out the current welcome offer, which can be redeemed for multiple free nights at hotels around the world.

Also see: Top 10 Best Small Business Card Bonus Offers.

(See Rates and Fees)

American Express® Gold Card: As High As 100,000 Points Welcome Offer, $84 Dunkin’ Credit, $100 Resy Credit, $120 Uber Cash, $120 Dining Credit

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The card_name has been refreshed in order to get back to its former glory as a status card with several new perks and credits mostly related to travel and dining. Here are the highlights:

  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards(R) Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • 4X Membership Rewards(R) points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 of purchases per calendar year, then 1X for the rest of the year).
  • 4X Membership Rewards(R) points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 of purchases per calendar year, then 1X for the rest of the year).
  • 3X Membership Rewards(R) points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • 2X Membership Rewards(R) points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • 1X Membership Rewards(R) point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 in Uber Cash. Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards(R) points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin’ Credit (NEW): Get up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express(R) Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit (NEW). Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express(R) Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. This is broken down into up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment is required.
  • $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express(R) Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment is required.
  • The Hotel Collection benefit. Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you’re approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you’re approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • $325 annual fee (increased). Additional cards (authorized users) are free.
  • See Rates and Fees

Note the following:

Welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had this Card or the Premier Rewards Gold Card. We may also consider the number of American Express Cards you have opened and closed as well as other factors in making a decision on your welcome offer eligibility.

The application will tell you if they detect that you are not eligible for the bonus based on their records.

Membership Rewards points can be converted to the following airline and hotel programs (there are more, this is just a selection):

  • Delta SkyMiles
  • Hawaiian Airlines
  • JetBlue
  • ANA Mileage Club (partner of United Airlines)
  • Air Canada (partner of United Airlines)
  • British Airways (partner of American Airlines)
  • FlyingBlue (Air France/KLM)
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Virgin Atlantic
  • Choice Privileges
  • Hilton Honors
  • Marriott Rewards (Starwood)

You can also transfer to gift cards many retailers at varying rates, but many available at the rate of 10,000 MR points = $100 gift card. My most common redemption is a $100 Home Depot card for 10,000 points, sometimes less when they run special discount. However, don’t expect the cash-equivalent prepaid credit cards at that rate, it’s usually closer to a 0.6 cent/point ratio.

The value this card really depends on if you can use up their long list of annual credits, worth over $400 in value annually. Their target customer is a “food lover” that travels regularly. If you can take advantage of the credits, your potential first year value is higher than $800 with the current limited-offer.

Bottom line. The new card_name has a bunch of new features more targeted at the young, urban traveler including hundreds of dollars of potential credits related to dining out and travel.

(See Rates and Fees)

Capital One Spark Cash Review: Simple Business Card with 2% Cash Back on Every Purchase

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The card_name is a straightforward business credit card offering a big early spend bonus offer in addition to ongoing unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases (or better). Here are the highlights:

  • Earn a $1,000 cash bonus when you spend $10,000 within 3 months of account opening.
  • Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere with no limits or category restrictions.
  • 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One’s travel booking site.
  • Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases.
  • Rewards won’t expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $0 annual fee for the first year; $95 after that.

The required spending hurdle may seem like a lot, but many businesses make a lot of purchases for raw materials and/or inventory. If you pay estimated taxes each quarter, you can also pay the IRS via credit card with a 1.75% fee and still come out ahead.

This card does not have all of the bells and whistles like top-level rewards, transferrable airline miles, or airport lounge access. For that, look into the Capital One Venture X Business Card and its higher annual fee.

If you also hold the Spark Miles, Capital One Venture, or the Capital One Venture X rewards cards, you can convert your cash back rewards into their “miles”, which are then transferrable to various airline miles programs including British Airways Avios. With the right companion card, $2,000 in cash rewards could be converted to 200,000 miles.

Many people aren’t aware of the fact that they can apply for business credit cards, even if they are not a corporation or LLC. The business type is called a sole proprietorship, and these days many people are full-time or part-time consultants, freelancers, eBay/Amazon/Etsy sellers, Uber/Lyft drivers, or other one-person business owners. This is the simplest business entity, but it is fully legit and recognized by the IRS. On a business credit card application, you should use your own legal name as the business name, and your Social Security Number as the Tax ID.

Bottom line. The card_name is the flavor of Capital One business cards that has the combination of straightforward and solid 2% cash back rewards, modest annual fee ($0 for the first year; $95 after that), and works like a traditional credit card.

Due to the high current first-year value, I will be adding this to my Top 10 Best Small Business Card Bonus Offers.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: 75,000 Miles (Worth $750 in Travel)

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The card_name is a premium travel rewards card with a flat 2 Miles per dollar on all purchases. 75,000 miles can be redeemed as a $750 credit towards any travel purchase made with the card (any airline website, any hotel website, AirBNB stays, Uber rides, no blackout dates). Here are the highlights:

  • 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening – that’s equal to $750 in travel.
  • 2x miles on every purchase, every day.
  • 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. They offer a Price Match Guarantee.
  • Up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.
  • Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network. This perk is valid through December 31, 2024.
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase-or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel.
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn.
  • $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • $95 annual fee.

Note the following about existing or previous cardholders:

Existing or previous cardmembers are not eligible for this product if they have received a new cardmember bonus for this product in the past 48 months.

(Capital One’s “ultra-premium” card is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which has more perks including Priority Pass airport lounge access and a $300 annual travel credit through Capital One Travel, but also a higher $395 annual fee. This Venture card is more directly competitive with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, while the Venture X competes more directly with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.)

Redemption details. Capital One “miles” can be redeemed directly for a cash statement credit on a 1 mile = $0.01 basis when offsetting any travel purchase made on the card within the past 90 days. In other words, 50,000 miles = $500 toward travel. That means you can fly on any airline or stay at any hotel, pay with this card, and then “erase” that purchase using your miles balance later. This even includes AirBnB vacation rentals, car rentals, and Uber rides.

This means that earning 2 miles on every $1 in purchases essentially makes this a 2% back card when applied towards travel. You also have the option of booking travel through their travel portal, similar to Chase Ultimate Rewards, but you are not required to do so. You have the flexibility of booking through them or making the purchase directly through the airline, hotel, car rental counter, etc. This makes it easy to combine and spend all your Capital One miles.

Miles transfer options. Capital One now allows you to transfer your “miles” into select airline miles programs as well. Here are the airline transfer partners:

  • Aeromexico
  • Air France/KLM
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
  • Avianca Lifemiles
  • British Airways Avios
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Etihad
  • EVA
  • Finnair
  • Qantas
  • Singapore Airlines Krisflyer
  • TAP Air Portugal
  • Turkish Airlines
  • Virgin Red

Hotel partners

  • Accor Live Limitless
  • Choice Hotels

If you know how to leverage one of these international airline miles programs (my favorites are Aeroplan and Avios since you can combine family points), this can be a very valuable option. Otherwise, it’s nice to know you can always get a certain level of value by redeeming against any travel purchase.

Bottom line. The card_name earns 2x miles on every purchase, which you can either redeem against any travel purchase or transfer to one of their airline/hotel partners.

Due to the $700+ potential first-year value, I will be adding this card to my list of Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Review: $750 Cash Bonus, No Annual Fee

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The card_name is a small business credit card has a limited-offer of a $750 cash bonus (75,000 Ultimate Rewards points) for new cardholders and the simplicity of a flat, unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and all with zero annual fee. Here are the details:

  • $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Unlimited, flat 1.5% cash back (or flat 1.5X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent) on all purchases with no limit.
  • Free additional cards for employees.
  • No annual fee.

Ultimate Rewards points. The cash sign-up bonus actually comes in the form of Ultimate Rewards points at 1 point = 1 cent in cash. 50,000 points = $500 cash. If you have one of the other annual fee cards that offer a boost in value like the Ink Business Preferred, Sapphire Preferred, or Sapphire Reserve, you can transfer your points between Ultimate Rewards accounts and redeem using that other card’s 25% travel bonus. This can increase the value of your points.

You could think of this card as the small business version of the Chase Freedom Unlimited card.

Prefer airline and/or hotel points? You can’t transfer points to miles directly with this card, but if you transfer over your Ultimate Rewards points to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (or Ink Business Preferred card), then you can use that card to transfer into hotel and/or airline miles. If you value those miles/points at more than 1 cent per point, then your 1.5X rewards from this card can be significantly higher. Examples:

– You could earn 1.5 United miles per dollar spent.
– You could earn 1.5 Hyatt points per dollar spent.
– You could earn 1.5 British Airways Avios per dollar spent.
– You could earn 1.5 Southwest Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent.

For example, if you placed a perceived value of 1.5 cents on each United mile or Southwest Rapid Rewards point, then you’d receive 2.25 cents of perceived value per dollar spent with this card. Your actual numbers will depend on your own specific redemption choices.

Many people aren’t aware of the fact that they can apply for business credit cards, even if they are not a corporation or LLC. The business type is called a sole proprietorship, and these days many people are full-time or part-time consultants, freelancers, eBay/Amazon/Etsy sellers, or other one-person business owners. This is the simplest business entity, but it is fully legit and recognized by the IRS. On a business credit card application, you should use your own legal name as the business name, and your Social Security Number as the Tax ID.

Note that Chase has an unofficial rule that they will automatically deny approval on new credit cards if you have 5 or more new credit cards from any issuer on your credit report within the past 2 years (aka the 5/24 rule). This rule is designed to discourage folks that apply for high numbers of sign-up bonuses. This rule applies on a per-person basis, so in our household one applies to Chase while the other applies at other card issuers.

Bottom line. The card_name has a large sign-up bonus and flat 1.5% cash back with no annual fee. This card is best for people who want simple and straightforward rewards. If you have certain other Chase credit cards, you can transfer Ultimate Rewards points over to those cards and increase your value. Be sure to compare with other Chase small business cards – Ink Business Preferred and Ink Business Cash.

Also see: Top 10 Best Small Business Card Bonus Offers.

CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard® Review: 75,000 Bonus Miles (Limited-Time Offer)

Updated. The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard® is a solid business travel card from Citi and American Airlines. They have recently boosted their sign-up bonus with a limited-time offer. Here are the details:

  • 75,000 American Airlines bonus miles after $5,000 in purchases within the first 5 months.
  • First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 4 travel companions.
  • Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights.
  • Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations.
  • Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on other purchases.
  • Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible mile earned from purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • $0 annual fee for the first 12 months, then $99.

Note the following fine print:

American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® account in the past 48 months.

To clarify, you can have both one of the consumer version of this card AND one of this business card version under your name. The bonuses are also separate.

Baggage fee value. Currently, American Airlines recently joined the other airlines and now charges $30 one-way for the first checked bag and $40 one-way for the second checked bag in Economy. That’s $60 roundtrip for a single checked bag, per person. With this card, your first checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation.

Redemption tips. American Airlines MileSAAver awards are still 25,000 miles for a round-trip ticket within the contiguous 48 states. Their online system is pretty good for looking for domestic AA awards. If the trip is less than 500 miles, then it is only 15,000 miles round-trip within the contiguous 48 states. Under-500 miles routes include Las Vegas to/from Los Angeles, Charleston to/from Miami, New York to/from Washington DC, Philadelphia to Boston, and many others.

Companion Certificate perk. I don’t see this available on the consumer version of this card: Earn an American Airlines Companion Certificate for domestic main cabin travel after you spend $30,000 or more in purchases each cardmembership year and cardmembership is renewed. Redeeming the certificate costs $99 for the ticketing fee plus $21.60 to $43.20 in government taxes and fees, based on itinerary.

Business card eligibility. Many people aren’t aware that they can apply for business credit cards, even if they are not a corporation or LLC. Any individual can be a small business. Perhaps you sell items on eBay, Craiglist, or Etsy. Maybe you do some graphic design, web design, freelancing and/or consulting. If you received a 1099-MISC tax form and filled out a Schedule C, that means you have business income, you pay self-employment taxes, and you’re a sole proprietorship. This is the simplest business entity, but it is fully legit and recognized by the IRS. On a business credit card application, you should use your own legal name as the business name, and your Social Security Number as the Tax ID.

Bottom line. The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard® offers a lot of potential value when you regularly fly on American and use the early boarding and free first checked bag benefit (now up to $80 per person, roundtrip). Right now, there is a limited-time sign-up bonus and the annual fee is waived for the first year.

Also see: Top 10 Best Small Business Card Bonus Offers.

Total Wireless (Verizon) Switch Promo: $15/month Unlimited Plan For Metro, Mint, or T-Mobile Customers

If you currently have cell service from T-Mobile, Metro, Ultra Mobile, or Mint Mobile (all owned by T-Mobile), consider this aggressive deal from Total Wireless (owned by Verizon). You must switch over at least 2 lines and bring your own device. Importantly, this offer also ends soon 9/30/24. Here is the press release, and the offer page is Totalwireless.com/byebye.

  • $15/month per line (includes all taxes and fees) for their Total 5G Unlimited plan. This usually cost $50/month with AutoPay. Discounted price is guaranteed for 5 years.
  • Unlimited 5G data on Verizon 5G network, never throttled. Total promises “Unlimited data that never slows you down because of how much you use” and that “Speeds do not slow down through network management”. This is better terms than most MVNOs offer, which usually have lower priority during congested spots and throttling after a certain amount data usage. Supposedly, these are better data terms than the basic Visible plan.
  • 15 GB hotspot.
  • Free international calling from the US to 85+ destinations, texting to 200+ destinations.
  • Free international roaming in Canada & Mexico, 15+ countries total.
  • No contract.

It seems that T-Mobile and Verizon are in a bit of a beef right now regarding poaching each other’s customers. Might a good time to take advantage? I’m definitely considering it as a Mint customer, although I do hate the porting process as I’ve run into problems before. The switching is always the most stressful part.

To activate this offer, Metro, Mint Mobile, Ultra Mobile and T-Mobile customers can bring their phones to exclusive Total Wireless stores or visit Totalwireless.com/byebye, use code “BYEBYEMETRO,” “BYEBYEMINT,” or “BYEBYETMOBILE” and port in their phone numbers.

Fidelity Adds Multi-Factor Authentication with Authenticator Apps

Fidelity just added the ability to use any Authenticator app with standard TOTP multi-factor support. TOTP stands for Time-based One-Time Password. This includes Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Duo, and 1Password. Previously, you were limited to the non-standard Symantic VIP app. This was announced on the Fidelity subreddit from an official moderator.

I’m not a security expert, but view this is a positive development since Authenticator apps are considered a better form of multi-factor authentication (MFA) than SMS text messages, as your text messages can be intercepted within the mobile networks via “SIM swap” or other method. (This why you should also add a password to your cellular provider to authorize any porting, and a SIM PIN (iPhone) or SIM Lock (Android) on your actual phone.) Authenticator apps are more securely linked a specific device as the number resets every 30 seconds and doesn’t travel over the internet or any other network (unless your phone is hacked with malware). Directions:

Here’s how to enroll an authenticator app through the Fidelity mobile app:

Open the Fidelity mobile app and select the Profile icon.
Select General settings and then Authenticator app.
Toggle Authenticator app on.
Copy the secret key.
Follow your authenticator app’s instructions to connect it to your Fidelity account using the secret key.
Go back to the Fidelity mobile app and select Next. Paste in the 6-digit code from the authenticator app to complete the enrollment.
Once you’re enrolled, you’ll get an authenticator-app challenge at any Fidelity login unless you already indicated that your device is a trusted one.

You must first enable the Authenticator option via your Fidelity app on smartphone. (Enrollment on desktop is coming.) After that, you can use Authenticator apps on your desktop browser logins as well. If you had Symantec VIP enabled previously, enabling the Authenticator option will automatically deactivate the Symantec VIP and use your designated Authenticator app instead.

The gold standard of MFA remains a physical device like a YubiKey, but that is more expensive and less convenient. As of this writing (August 2024), Fidelity does not officially support any third-party hardware authentication devices like Yubikey.

A brief MFA definition from PC World:

What Is Multi-Factor Authentication?
As the name implies, MFA means you use more than one type of authentication to unlock an online account or app. Usually, the first factor is your password. MFA means you add another factor in addition to that password. Experts classify authentication factors into three groups:

Something you know (a password, for example).
Something you have (a physical object).
Something you are (a fingerprint or other biometric trait).
When you use an authenticator app, you bolster the password you know with your token, smartphone, or smartwatch.

As a side note, Vanguard does not support standard Authenticator apps, but it does support FIDO2-certified physical security keys like Yubikey. Most newer Android phones can also be set up as a FIDO2 key. Vanguard has also starting using their smartphone app as another factor.

Capital One Spark Cash Plus Review: $2,000+ Cash Bonus + 2% Cash Back

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Updated with new big bonus for big spenders. The card_name is a rewards business charge card offering a big early spend bonus offer in addition to ongoing unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases (or better). Instead of a standard credit card where you can carry a balance and pay interest, this is a charge card where the balance is due in full every month. Here are the highlights:

  • One-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. You’ll also earn 2% cash back, which means you’ll earn a total of $600 + $2,000 = $2,600 in cash rewards on that $30,000 of spending. That’s a total of 8.6%!
  • Additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. You can earn this bonus multiple times over the course of year 1.
  • Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere with no limits or category restrictions.
  • 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One’s travel booking site.
  • Comes with no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history and credit profile.
  • Add employee cards for free, and earn unlimited 2% cash back from their purchases
  • Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month.
  • $150 annual fee; Spend $150,000 annually and Capital One will refund this fee every year.

Consider that if you exactly meet both of the spending requirements above ($30,000 within first 3 months), you will end up with the $2,000 cash bonus plus $600 from 2% cash back = $2,600 cash total. That’s effectively 8.66% back on $30,000 of card spending!

This card does have a $150 annual fee, which makes it best suited for businesses with significant spending needs. NEW: Spend $150,000 annually and Capital One will refund this fee every year.

That may all seem like a lot, but many businesses make a lot of purchases for raw materials and/or inventory. If you pay estimated taxes each quarter, you can also pay the IRS via credit card with a 1.82% fee and still come out ahead.

This card does not have all of the bells and whistles like top-level rewards, transferrable airline miles, or airport lounge access. For that, look into the Capital One Venture X Business Card and its higher annual fee.

If you also hold the Spark Miles, Capital One Venture, or the Capital One Venture X rewards cards, you can convert your cash back rewards into their “miles”, which are then transferrable to various airline miles programs including British Airways Avios. With the right companion card, $2,000 in cash rewards could be converted to 200,000 miles.

Many people aren’t aware of the fact that they can apply for business credit cards, even if they are not a corporation or LLC. The business type is called a sole proprietorship, and these days many people are full-time or part-time consultants, freelancers, eBay/Amazon/Etsy sellers, Uber/Lyft drivers, or other one-person business owners. This is the simplest business entity, but it is fully legit and recognized by the IRS. On a business credit card application, you should use your own legal name as the business name, and your Social Security Number as the Tax ID.

Bottom line. The card_name is a rewards business card where you pay in full each month. If you put a lot of purchases on a card, this card is offering a big early spend bonus offer in addition to ongoing 2% cash back on all purchases (or better).

Due to the high first-year value, I will be adding this to my Top 10 Best Small Business Card Bonus Offers.