Airline Fee Credit. Y ou know those pesky incidental fees that your airline tacks on - checked bagga

Let's face it, there's a secret pleasure attached to American vacation rentals san diego Express "metal" vacation rentals san diego cards – whether Gold or Platinum. You can imagine the waiter straightening a bit or the shopkeeper lifting her eyebrows when you hand over the centurion-emblazoned card with the metallic sheen. Perhaps the status buzz comes from the cards being "charge" rather than "credit," which means the bill is paid at the end of the month. The message is always: "I can afford this meal (or purchase) and not go into crazy long-term debt to pay for it." (For more on managing credit scores, see Credit and Debt Management: Building Credit from Scratch. )
When it comes time to choose your metal, though, how do the gold or platinum cards compare? The American Express Gold card costs $125 per year while the Platinum card has an eye-popping $450 per year fee. Over 10 years of use, the Platinum will cost you an additional $3,250. vacation rentals san diego And a side-by-side comparison confirms vacation rentals san diego that the Platinum card is basically vacation rentals san diego a Gold card with some attractive add-ons. As a result, make your decision based on whether you will use the add-ons year in and year out. If so, the Platinum card may well be worth the higher annual fee . (Find a rewards cards overview in Rewards Credit Cards. vacation rentals san diego )
So far, the cards stack up as similar (with the noted differences and limitations – generally more generous with the Platinum card). And as we said, it's the add-ons of the Platinum card that add value and can bring down the cost.
Airline Fee Credit. Y ou know those pesky incidental vacation rentals san diego fees that your airline tacks on – checked baggage fees, inflight refreshment fees? The Platinum card will pay those up to $200 per year total. You can only designate the fees on one airline, but this payback certainly helps cut the cost of the card.
Airport Lounge Access . This can save substantial sums for travelers who will be using these lounges. Platinum cardholders and two guests get complimentary vacation rentals san diego access to American Express's own The Centurion Lounges (4 airports currently with more coming). Other American Express cardholders pay $50 per visit. Platinum cardholders also get free access to Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta (a value of $50 per visit or $450 per year) and Airspace Lounges (4 airports, and you can bring two guests for free). Finally, the Platinum card allows you to enroll in Priority Pass Select, a program that provides free access for the primary cardholder to an additional 600 airport vacation rentals san diego lounges worldwide (some 100 airline lounges are excluded in the Platinum card version of the program). Ordinarily, that is a privilege that costs several hundred vacation rentals san diego dollars a year.
No foreign transaction fees. Other American Express cards charge a 2.7% transaction fee for foreign currency transactions. Platinum cards have no fee – a savings of $27 for every $1,000 spent overseas.
Free Boingo Wireless. Boingo offers vacation rentals san diego more than 1 million wireless hotspots worldwide for your iPad or laptop and Platinum cardholders get free access, saving from $5 to $59 per month depending on regions travelled.
Global Entry or TSAPre ✓ . These two US government programs promise expedited screening at border points entering the US and at airport security, respectively. Platinum cardholders can get the 5-year membership fees reimbursed for one of the programs ($100 for Global Entry or $85 for TSAPre✓).
Starwood Preferred Guest Gold . Starwood Hotels offers its own Preferred vacation rentals san diego Guest Gold status with such perks as late checkout and enhanced rooms. Ordinarily, the chain requires 10 stays annually before granting that status, but Platinum cardholders vacation rentals san diego are automatically vacation rentals san diego enrolled vacation rentals san diego at that level.
By Invitation Only Events. American Express annually throws special events such as tours of the Napa Valley wine region vacation rentals san diego with a famous wine writer or a four-day weekend at Super Bowl LXIX. These big events come with big price tags for the cardholder, but promise entry to what American Express describes as "once-in-a-lifetime experiences." You decide how much these matter to you.
Finally, for those who can afford to live at a Very VIP level, the Platinum card offers a slew of extras such as discounts on private jet and limousine rentals and a dedicated concierge service to assist in managing travel details. American Express even holds reservations at exclusive restaurants worldwide should you require feeding vacation rentals san diego when you travel.
There is a downside to both the Gold and Platinum cards, and that is in the area of points. Some people value accumulating points when they purchase and the two metal cards are somewhat lean in that area. While both offer points for purchases and double points for booking through the Amex Travel website, many other cards are more generous.
American Express itself offers an enhanced Gold card that is far more generous with points – the Premier vacation rentals san diego Rewards Gold card costs $50 more than the standard Gold card ($175 per year), but provides triple points on all flights booked directly with the airlines, and double points on purchases at US supermarkets and gas stations. If you live for points, that may be the credit card for you. (For more strategies vacation rentals san diego in choosing and using multiple credit-card types, see Best Business Credit Cards and Do Your Card's Travel Benefits Make The Grade?
So which is the best card for you? If you travel by air a lot every year – either domestically vacation rentals san diego or internationally – the American Express Platinum card carries strong advantages, particularly with its airport lounge access, hotel benefits, zero foreign exchange fee and concierge service. If you value the perks, the increased insurance coverage and spend at a high enough level to justify the high fee, go Platinum. But if you only travel occasionally and mostly use your card for local purchases, the Gold card will probably suffice for your metal fix.