American Express Platinum - good idea for interview traveling?

[waterlily]

Okay it seems like a random question to ask, but I swear it has a pre-med relevance! 😛 I just got invited for american express platinum. I was surprised, I don't know how a broke, college student with no AMEX cards previously gets invited. I usually throw away every credit card offers I get, but the incentives that it offers is very appealing so I'm actually debating about this one. Thus, I wanted to ask if any of you guys have or know anything about this card and can tell me more about the perks.

I know with Amex platinum, to get your money's worth, you need to travel a lot! But since I'm applying this season and I anticipate to travel a lot for interviews, then maybe it'd be useful. They give a lot of travel perks. Also, I'm very intrigued b/c if I spend the card 3 times before the end of Sept, I get enough points to redeem it for 2 airline tickets. Which would be useful for interviews. The downside, the annual fee is about $400! But I'm thinking maybe the tickets are worth it? Any insight would be super helpful.

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[JayQuah]

Okay it seems like a random question to ask, but I swear it has a pre-med relevance! 😛 I just got invited for american express platinum. I was surprised, I don't know how a broke, college student with no AMEX cards previously gets invited. I usually throw away every credit card offers I get, but the incentives that it offers is very appealing so I'm actually debating about this one. Thus, I wanted to ask if any of you guys have or know anything about this card and can tell me more about the perks.

I know with Amex platinum, to get your money's worth, you need to travel a lot! But since I'm applying this season and I anticipate to travel a lot for interviews, then maybe it'd be useful. They give a lot of travel perks. Also, I'm very intrigued b/c if I spend the card 3 times before the end of Sept, I get enough points to redeem it for 2 airline tickets. Which would be useful for interviews. The downside, the annual fee is about $400! But I'm thinking maybe the tickets are worth it? Any insight would be super helpful.

I don't use credit cards. Don't want to leave a paper trail. Send in the fees in small, unmarked sacks of quarters.

 

[Tigerstang]

I have one. It's especially useful if you fly continental, as it gives you access to their lounge, which is nice if you have long layovers/get to the airport early. Free drinks, free wirless, and nice couches. Actually makes an airport bearable.

 

[unfrozencaveman]

Note though, with american express cards (not the blue one), you cannot keep a balance.

Plus getting cards and cancelling them later isn't a good idea for your credit.

 

[beanbean]

My husband has an AMEX platinum card becuase he travels extensively for business. There used to be a minimum annual income requirement, but maybe they have changed that.

The card does give you lounge access Continental and soem other airlines. Points earned can be used for travel and hotels. The travel benefits for the fine hotels program won't help you as a poor college student as the hotels that are members are all very expensive. Often the AMEX rate for platinum members which you need to use to get the free amenities is higher than online prices.

I personally don't feel the card is worth the fee for someone in your situation. Try to figure out what airline you will fly the most this year, join the frequent flyer program and get a credit card through them.

 

[runner1979]

Not worth it. I have one (courtesy of my parents) and it really wouldn't be worth the annual fee unless you plan on taking advantage of the International Airline Proram (2 for 1 first and business class airfare) or the Fine hotels program. The annual fee itself is just about the cost of 2 domestic tickets if you travel savvy enough. Lounge access is really much less exciting than it used to be--besides, you don't go to the airport early just to sit in a crowded lounge that offers free cheese and crackers and internet.

They have an amazing travel concierge, but if you are doing plain vanilla travel, than the internet is the best place.

Save yourself the trouble and get a card that has a much smaller annual fee and similar rewards.

 

[diosa428]

The American Airlines card gives you like 10,000 miles for signing up and then 1 mile for every dollar you spend. That's what I'm going to use - by the end I'll probably have at least one free plane ticket (although I already have a lot of miles with them).

 

[Newquagmire]

another option is the amex-costco card which gives you 2% back for travel expenses and 3% back for eating at restaurants with no annual fee.

 

[mshheaddoc]

My husband has an AMEX platinum card becuase he travels extensively for business. There used to be a minimum annual income requirement, but maybe they have changed that.

The card does give you lounge access Continental and soem other airlines. Points earned can be used for travel and hotels. The travel benefits for the fine hotels program won't help you as a poor college student as the hotels that are members are all very expensive. Often the AMEX rate for platinum members which you need to use to get the free amenities is higher than online prices.

I personally don't feel the card is worth the fee for someone in your situation. Try to figure out what airline you will fly the most this year, join the frequent flyer program and get a credit card through them.

bean bean said everything I was going to say. For this card there is a minimum income requirement I was told ... did you just get invited to apply or did you already apply? I get invitiations in the mail but then if I were to apply without income, they would hand me off to their student division(this happened in college). If you are currently working full time, I would probably go with a rewards card. The card you're looking at I don't think is worth the $400 because honestly, airfares have gone down now that the summer is closing. Just my opinion. I'd go with a rewards card, but not amex or discover. i was looking at AMEX blue rewards but recently got a citibank dividends card that i love.

 

[Starvin Marvin]

bean bean said everything I was going to say. For this card there is a minimum income requirement I was told ... did you just get invited to apply or did you already apply? I get invitiations in the mail but then if I were to apply without income, they would hand me off to their student division(this happened in college). If you are currently working full time, I would probably go with a rewards card. The card you're looking at I don't think is worth the $400 because honestly, airfares have gone down now that the summer is closing. Just my opinion. I'd go with a rewards card, but not amex or discover. i was looking at AMEX blue rewards but recently got a citibank dividends card that i love.

I agree, $400 is a lot for an annual fee. You can find similar rewards cards out there for much less. I also have a citibank dividends platinum card that I've had for almost a year and a half. It's great, 5% cash back on groceries, gas stations, and drug stores, and considering the increasing price of gas..., a lot of my money ends up in that category. Every other purchase gets you 1%. I think I've netted over $300 cash back so far, and I can end up spending that on anything. And, there's no annual fee.

 

[C.P. Jones]

I also have a citibank dividends platinum card that I've had for almost a year and a half. It's great, 5% cash back on groceries, gas stations, and drug stores, and considering the increasing price of gas..., a lot of my money ends up in that category. Every other purchase gets you 1%. I think I've netted over $300 cash back so far, and I can end up spending that on anything. And, there's no annual fee.

Agreed, this is a wonderful card. it's like having everything on sale everyday

 

[waterlily]

I agree, $400 is a lot for an annual fee. You can find similar rewards cards out there for much less. I also have a citibank dividends platinum card that I've had for almost a year and a half. It's great, 5% cash back on groceries, gas stations, and drug stores, and considering the increasing price of gas..., a lot of my money ends up in that category. Every other purchase gets you 1%. I think I've netted over $300 cash back so far, and I can end up spending that on anything. And, there's no annual fee.

Thanks everyone for their response! I actually just recently got the citi dividend card b/c of the good things I've heard about it =) I think everyone is right with AMEX platinum, it's not worth it if I'm not going to fully benefit from all of the perks that it offers. I guess I was lured by the 2 free airline tickets...I guess I'll just do without them and save $400 on something else

 

[roboyce]

Thanks everyone for their response! I actually just recently got the citi dividend card b/c of the good things I've heard about it =) I think everyone is right with AMEX platinum, it's not worth it if I'm not going to fully benefit from all of the perks that it offers. I guess I was lured by the 2 free airline tickets...I guess I'll just do without them and save $400 on something else

This is probably a little too late for you (sorry), but if anyone else is interested, I have the AMEX Delta Skymiles Card Gold. You get 1 frequent flier mile for every dollar you spend and 2 miles for every dollar you spend on groceries and gas. Additionally, you get 15,000 miles for signing up and then 1,000 miles every times you book a flight through Delta.com. It has an $85 annual fee, but it is waived the first year. Basically, I'm going to use the card for the first year and then cancel. I've already got over 50,000 miles, but I travel quite a bit in my job. Just a thought for anyone interested.