I was perusing my blog reading list today, which of course includes The Frugal Travel Guy. Today’s post caught my eye. In it, Rick notes that he’s been asked to add the term “Limited Time Offer” to the Chase Sapphire Preferred ads on his site. I think we’ve all known that the 50,000 Ultimate Rewards bonus points offer would not last forever. I don’t think anyone (except Chase) knows when (or if) that signup bonus is going to be reduced, but if you are thinking about getting this great card, don’t wait. Do it now.

Hat tip to Rick.

The annual fee for my Amex Platinum Card just appeared on my monthly statement, and this year, just like every one before, I think about it. Is any card worth $450 dollars per year? The answer for now is yes. The card grants me lounge access to the airlines I fly most, American, Delta, and US Airways, and it is very likely that I would purchase lounge access from one of those airlines if I didn’t already get it with the Platinum Card. This, in combination with the Cruise Privileges Program, justify the annual fee for me. That’s just 2 of the many benefits this card offers travelers, so I will remain an Amex Platinum Cardmember for another year. You can read my post on the many other virtues of the Amex Platinum Card here.

One item of note. As I was reviewing my monthly statement I noted that Amex is dropping the complimentary TripIt Pro subscription that was offered with the card last year. Will I renew TripIt Pro on my own? I’m undecided for now.

The headline says it all. After 3 weeks of carrying my new Chase Sapphire Preferred, and using it exclusively, I have to admit that I really love it. Aside from the obvious things like it looks and feels really cool, the all-around acceptability of your basic Visa card is helpful. (NOTE: That’s not a dig on Amex. My Amex Platinum Card remains my favorite T&E card) Not to mention, there’s no foreign transaction fee.

Chase is currently offering 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points if you spend $3,000.00 in the first 3 months of card membership, and the $95 dollar annual fee is waived the first year as well. This is a great deal because those points can be transferred to many great rewards programs like MileagePlus and Marriott Rewards, not to mention, you can use them to purchase travel through Chase. Seriously, I’m starting to think that the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the American Express Platinum Card are the only 2 cards I’ll carry semi-permanently. (As long as the benefits remain valuable) I’ve only begun to explore the Ultimate Rewards program, so stay tuned for a future post all about that.

You can apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card by clicking here. Note: I do not yet accept referral income, and this link is directly to the Chase website.

Just a little over one week after applying, my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card rests comfortably in my wallet. Of course, it will be the only card I use until I reach the minimum spend ($3000 dollars) for the 50,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards points. Right now, I’m as pleased to have this card as any I’ve ever had. Ultimate Rewards looks like a great program, and the Sapphire Preferred Card will join my American Express Platinum Card as the 2 cards I will likely always carry (at least for now).

Applying was a snap. I was not approved instantly, but about a day and a half after applying, my new card account appeared in my Chase.com profile. So no issues there. I’ll be blogging more about this great card product in the days ahead.

Royal Caribbean has joined the American Express Cruise Privileges Program for Platinum and Centurion Card holders. I first heard of this several weeks ago when a posting on Cruise Critic caught my eye. However, the Amex website was not updated to reflect the change, so I did not mention it. Today, I took a quick look at the Cruise Privileges website, and Royal Caribbean has appeared as a partner.

According to the site, Cruise Privileges participants will receive the following amenities with Royal Caribbean:

• Two-category stateroom upgrade OR up to a $300 dollar on board credit (depending on ship and category booked)
• Complementary dinner for 2 in a specialty restaurant (or a $50 dollar spa credit on Grandeur, Legend, Majesty, Monarch, Rhapsody, and Vision (in other words, ships without a specialty restaurant))
• Bottle of premium champagne

I’m a big proponent of the American Express Platinum Card for travelers, and here’s one more reason why. For a guy like me, this is obviously useful. So if you find yourself wanting to take a Royal Caribbean cruise, and you carry an Amex Platinum or Centurion card, be sure to claim your Cruise Privileges benefits.

I recently received a question from Reader P who lives in Greensboro, North Carolina (GSO). He has started a new career that will have him in the air a bit, and he sought my advice on which airline and hotel programs to choose.

Reader P (Note: I’m editing several emails into one for clarity)

“I need to pick your brain about travel rewards and what you think I need to do to maximize my return.  Looks like I’ll be traveling quite a bit in 2012 and I want to get the most bang for my buck. I live in Greensboro, North Carolina and will be flying quite a bit more than I have in the past, with a focus in the south, east, and west. Further, I’ve never really paid much attention to hotel programs. Which one do you think is best? Also, what do you think of the Amex Platinum Card? Should I upgrade my Amex to Platinum?”

MJonTravel Responds

Living where you live, either US Airways or Delta will probably be your best bet. All things being equal, I’d rather fly Delta than US Airways, but all things aren’t equal. If you fly Delta, you have to go to Altanta. If you fly US, you have to go through Charlotte (or Philadelphia)….OR you can get in your car and drive to Charlotte if you need to. Either airline can fly you up and down the east coast, and to the west when you need to head that way.

As for the miles, in my opinion, US miles are better than Delta miles IF you intend to redeem your miles for international travel. If you are mainly going to redeem for domestic flights, then Delta will work just as well. US Airways is part of the Star Alliance, and that’s a better alliance than Delta’s SkyTeam. In either case, it’s always best to pick one airline mileage program and try to fly that one airline (or one of their alliance partners) as much as you possibly can. Not only will you build miles, you’ll be building “elite” miles and segments towards earning elite status…..and that’s what you want.

For hotels, if I ruled the world, I would only stay at Starwood hotels. But since I don’t, either Hilton HHonors or Marriott Rewards will probably serve you better. It’s a little easier to get to mid tier elite status with Hilton….16 stays or 28 nights will get you to Gold…..  making you eligible for room upgrades, and best of all, they give you free internet at all their hotels if you have Gold status. I’m always torn between Marriott and HIlton….on the whole, I like Marriott hotels better….but it can be more difficult to achieve and maintain elite status with them. Starwood’s points program is the best. The SPG Card from Amex is one of the most popular cards out there. SPG points transfer 1 to 1 to most airline programs including American AAdvantage and US Airways Dividend Miles. The good thing about Marriott or Hilton is…that usually…no matter where you are going, they have some kind of hotel….whether it’s a Courtyard or a Fairfield Inn….or a Hampton Inn or Hilton Garden Inn with Hilton. With Starwood, they mainly have properties in your big cities in the US and around the world. Whichever you go with, my advice is the same, pick one program and stay in their hotels as much as possible. You want elite status.

I am a big fan of the Amex Platinum Card. It is not cheap, but if you get the business version, you might be able to write off the annual fee as a business expense? (Note: I’m not a tax professional, and the deductibility of business card annual fees is something you should consult your tax professional about.) It will get you into the airport lounges of US Airways, Delta, and American on the day of travel. Just hand them your card and a boarding pass for your flight. Heck, US Airways will even admit you with it whether you are flying them that day or not. US also happens to have a lounge in Greensboro. Between the lounge access and the Amex Cruise Privileges program, the card pays for itself as far as I’m concerned. You can read a few of my thoughts on Platinum here.

So….. Delta or US Airways, pick one and fly as much as you can with that program. If you decide to go US, you need to read this link and sign up for their Trial Preferred program. I don’t know if US flies to Colorado Springs (which I understand could be a frequent destination for you) or not. It might be cheaper to fly into DEN and drive down? Don’t know. If you wind up on United, you can credit your flight to your US Airways program and earn miles and elite miles/segments too!

What do you think of my advice to this reader? Are there other options that I’m not considering? Comment to the blog if you’d like to share your thoughts.

Two paragraphs about the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card pretty late last night, and whoa….. lots of traffic. I took a look at my Google Analytics data early this morning, and wow! My very short blurb about the Sapphire card really generated some interest. Not that I didn’t know people are interested in card offers, but I really didn’t know you were that interested. I suppose I’ll have to really start thinking more about monitoring credit card bonuses and great card products and blogging about them.

I’m still waiting to hear from Chase on my Sapphire Preferred application, but the more I think (and read) about it, the more excited I am to possibly receive the card. I’ve admitted before that I’m only a bit player in the credit card bonus game, but they really are a great way to earn some hefty bonus miles. Just remember, your good credit should not be tarnished by your quest for miles. Be responsible, monitor your credit scores, and never…ever….. use rewards cards to “finance” anything. Just earn miles and pay your bill every month, and they can be a great way to pad your mileage balance.

Looking ahead to the remainder of this year, and at least next year’s first quarter, I’m not likely to be traveling as much as I’d prefer. That’s not such a big deal as my travel tends to run in peaks and valleys. But I’m just a tiny bit worried about ensuring that I absolutely have enough miles to cover the big trip to Europe I recently blogged about. Since I think I’ll be a little short on flying, one sure way to amass a good number of miles in a hurry is through a credit card bonus. I’d apply for one of the United offers, but of course, I’ve already collected that one….and Continental too.

Surfing around the blogs, it’s pretty evident that the Chase Sapphire Preferred card has become something that many travelers might want to consider. I’ve been contemplating acquiring the card for weeks…make that months for a variety of other reasons, no foreign transaction fees among them. But the 1 to 1 transfer ratio to Mileage Plus has sealed the deal. With the current offer of 50,000 bonus points for new card holders, I can no longer put off the application for this great card. I’m going for it, and I’m going for it with a vision of how I think spending pattern in the near to medium term is going to coalesce around this card.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

It seems like I’ve seen a lot of blog posts recently entitled something like…. “What’s in My Wallet” or “My Favorite Credit Cards.” This won’t quite be a mirroring post from my perspective, though I’m certainly going to talk about my favorite credit cards. I’m also going to talk about what I wish was in my wallet. First, let’s list what I currently carry.

1. American Express Platinum
2. American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Business
3. Barclays USAirways Premier World MasterCard
4. Chase United Mileage Plus Explorer Visa
5. Chase Continental OnePass MasterCard
6. Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Visa
7. FIA Card Services (Bank of America) Fidelity Rewards Amex

Yes, that’s 7 credit cards, and no, my credit isn’t shot. Of course, 7 cards makes me an absolute amateur in most mileage earning circles. My credit score resides ride around 800 pretty consistently. Further, I carry no balances from month to month. Obviously, my credit card selections have been miles and points focused, and as far as I know, will continue to be going forward. But let’s delve further into why I carry what I carry.

From my perspective, the number one credit card any traveler should carry is the American Express Platinum Card. The Platinum Card’s combination of lounge access, other travel perks, and the fact that it’s issued by American Express, make it an almost required card for a serious traveler. Between lounge access and the American Express cruise privileges program, this card’s $450 dollar annual fee is paid for more than once with the benefits I receive gratis that I’d otherwise pay for. And I haven’t even gotten to the $200 dollar annual airline fee credit and reimbursement for the Global Entry fee.

And the rest? Well, that’s just it. I’m not really all that into any other card I carry. I like the United Mileage Plus Explorer card for its primary car rental insurance coverage. The Marriott Premier Visa for its lack of a foreign transaction fee, and annual Cat 5 certificate. The 15 nights of credit towards elite status aren’t such a bad deal either!  The USAirways MasterCard for its Zone 2 boarding….oh wait….I get that anyway as a US Silver Preferred. I think my favorite “other” card is my Fidelity Investment Rewards Amex. it’s one of the best cash rewards cards out there. Basically, 2 percent cash back for everything you buy as long as you have a Fidelity investment account and deposit your rewards there.

Now, let’s talk about the card I want, but don’t have. No, not the American Express Centurion Card!!!! Even though I wouldn’t mind having one of those! I really believe my favorite card out there right now that I don’t have is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Not only does this card feature no foreign transaction fees and 2 points per dollar on travel and dining expenses, it looks and feels really cool too! The points transfer to such programs as United and Marriott Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. I REALLY want this card!!! But I will not apply right now. Why? Mainly because mortgage interest rates are at a level that it is almost attractive to refinance our mortgage…again. I expect that we will make our decision on that in the next few weeks. And when we do, I am ALL OVER the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. With the United/Continental merger and the fact that I have both a United and Continental card, I have a little spare credit to offer up if Chase is concerned. And really…I do not need 2 United cards. I’m going to have a Chase Sapphire Preferred card, it’s just a matter of time.

So…what card do you want most, and why?

I’m on vacation this week. The first thing I reach for when I travel is my American Express Platinum Card. Here are just a few reasons why I “don’t leave home without it” and neither should you.

As you know, I’ve been a proponent of the American Express Platinum Card for sometime.  Frankly, if you travel at all, you should at least consider adding the Platinum Card to your wallet.  If you fly American, Delta, or US Airways, even better.  Why?  The Platinum Card will get you access to these airlines’ lounges on the day of travel if you hold a boarding pass on their flights.  In the case of US Airways, they’ll grant you access to the US Airways Club whether you’re flying them or not.  Continental Airlines has been a longtime participant in both the Platinum/Centurion lounge access program as well as an Amex Membership Rewards transfer partner.  As of September 30, 2011, that relationship goes away as Continental moves towards full integration with United.  Oh well, life goes on.  So let’s talk about why this card is an even better deal for travelers.

Amex made some changes to the card last year which they marketed as “The Next Generation” of the Platinum Card.  I blogged about those changes then, which included a $200 dollar airline “fee credit” per year, a 20 percent bonus on travel purchases made with Membership Rewards points, and a new travel app that includes a subscription to TripIt Pro, a $49 dollar value.  That’s something, but recently, Amex has rolled out even more enhancements to the Platinum Card product that are worth real money.

First, the lounge access program now includes Priority Pass Select membership.  This adds access to over 600 lounges worldwide.  Notably, the Select level of membership does NOT include access to Continental and United lounges that participate in the Priority Pass program.  No doubt a nod to Chase, which is the issuer of both the Continental and United mileage credit cards.  Still, this is a real enhancement.  Second, if you decide to register for theGlobal Entry program, a US Government offering which allows you to bypass lengthy customs and immigration lines at certain US airports, Amex will credit the $100 dollar application fee back to your account.  Finally, Amex no longer charges its Platinum and Centurion Card holders that annoying foreign transaction fee when making purchases overseas.  So now you’ll be saving 2.7 percent on foreign purchases when using the card overseas.  You can read American Express’ presser on these enhancements here.

At $450 dollars per year, this Card isn’t for everyone.  But if you are a frequent traveler who is likely to purchase a lounge membership from one of their lounge partners, the lounge access alone basically pays for the card.  Couple that with the real enhancements that Amex has made to the Platinum Card, and there’s no question that many travelers should carry this card in their wallets.  I know I do.  Not to sound corny, but I never leave home without it.

Fresh from my email inbox:

Courtesy of US Airways and MasterCard, you could earn up to 1,000 bonus Dividend Miles per trip this summer and early fall.  Book your travel between now and September 5th, using a MasterCard and earn 500 bonus miles for the trip. Use your US Airways Dividend Miles MasterCard and earn an additional 500 miles. Travel must take place between August 1 and September 30, 2011. You can review the T&C’s here.