✈ Why This $695 Annual Fee Doesn't Scare Me, Fly to Madrid from $585 & More Daily News From TPG ✈

Also: We tested 5 viral travel products on a long-haul economy flight June 30, 2023 [THE POINTS GUY]( [View in browser]( [TPG Daily NEWSLETTER]( [THE POINTS GUY]( How to offset your card's annual fee by Becky Blaine, Newsletter Editor [TPG | Hero Image] We talk here often about some credit cards that have hefty annual fees, and while premium cards might not be for everyone, whether it’s worth it might surprise you. OK, hear me out … yes, $695 is a lot of money. But here is why the annual fee on [The Platinum Card® from American Express]( doesn’t scare me. Back when I first got this card, the annual fee was only $495 – after my first year of card membership, it jumped to a whopping $695. Did I roll my eyes? Yes. Did I quickly do the math to see if it was worth keeping the card? Also yes – here’s what I found. I travel a lot and the card had a list of travel perks I leverage to enhance my travel experiences (and life in general), like 5 points per dollar on airfare booked in the Amex Travel portal or directly with the airline (up to $500,000 in purchase per year). Plus, I enjoy having [Centurion lounge access](. Do I contemplate leaving my husband at the gate now, since only primary cardholders can get in? Sometimes. Now to the math: Last year I used my [$200 Fine Hotels + Resorts credit]( by booking the Conrad Washington, DC through the Amex Travel portal. The hotel was also running a special offer for a third night free, plus there was an additional $200 Amex Offer that I activated to stack. In total I [saved over $897 on my stay.]( I plan to do pretty much the same thing again this year, and I’m on the lookout for monthly offers to activate for an upcoming trip. I save another $200 annually by enrolling in the [Uber Cash benefit]( so now I’ve covered $400 of the annual fee just with these two benefits (and I get to enjoy Uber Eats at lunchtime once a month or so). Next, I always enroll in the [$200 airline fee credit]( when my husband decides to fly without me (and my elite status), he might need to check a bag or pay for a Main Cabin Extra seat. Now I’ve covered $600 of the annual fee. Another no-brainer is the up to [$240 digital entertainment credit]( with select providers, which I enroll in to cover our streaming services like Hulu and Disney+. Not only has the card now paid for itself, but it’s also saved me money. As an added bonus, I just used my [Saks Fifth Avenue $50 semiannual credit]( to buy a pair of Tretorn sneakers I’d been eyeing (where my ‘80s kids at!?), and I got free shipping too. This is all before I used my $189 annual [Clear Plus credit]( and $100 Global Entry credit to renew my memberships and [continue breezing through airport security](. I’ve now reached a grand total of $1,229 worth of savings for a card that cost me $695 to have in my wallet, putting me ahead over $500. And of course, it’s very easy to come out ahead on the math the first year since new applicants to the American Express Platinum card can earn [80,000 Membership Rewards Points]( after spending $6,000 on purchases on the card in your first six months of card membership, which according to [TPG’s current valuations]( is worth $1,600 when maximized with hotel and airline [transfer partners](. Is $695 a lot of money? Yes. Will I keep this card and pay that fee (while making the most of every built-in credit)? Absolutely. - [Here's how much value you can get from the Amex Platinum card in your 1st year]( - [$4,000 in value: Why I made the Amex Platinum my 1st premium card]( - [Is the Amex Platinum worth the annual fee?]( - [How to maximize benefits with the Amex Platinum Card]( Posts in this newsletter contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, [visit this page](. Photo Credit: WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY. Today’s top stories [Fly Delta from multiple US cities to Madrid this summer for just $585]( Snag these cheap flights before they are gone. [Read more]( [We tested 5 viral travel products on a long-haul economy flight — were they worth the hype?]( The internet is filled with promises of travel products that can make long-haul economy flights feel more comfortable. [Read more]( [Southwest schedule extended: Book now to save on flights through March 6, 2024]( Southwest just extended its schedule, so now is an excellent time to book Southwest flights through March 6, 2024, at low rates. [Read more]( [What it was like onboard JetBlue's splashy inaugural from New York to Paris]( With fares starting at just $499, it's a great way to fly from the U.S. to Europe. [Read more]( [Here are airline passenger rights during a travel meltdown]( What exactly are you entitled to when an airline delays or cancels your flight? [Read more]( The latest 1. [Free nights and easy status: Why I have 3 Marriott Bonvoy credit cards and pay over $1,200 in annual fees]( 2. [What it’s like staying at Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas]( 3. [What happens if my cruise line goes bankrupt or shuts down?]( 4. [What’s faster? Watch us race from Tokyo to Kyoto by bullet train and plane]( 5. [Current offers on the Ink Business cards: Earn up to 100,000 bonus points]( 6. [Radisson Rewards Americas will begin integrating with Choice Privileges on July 18: Here's what we know so far]( 7. [New IHG card offers: Earn up to 140,000 points + a $100 statement credit]( 8. [You can transfer World of Hyatt points to other members: Here’s how]( 9. [8 frequently asked questions about the Capital One Venture X card]( 10. [Southwest adds 1 new route, resumes 31 seasonal routes in schedule extension]( [fb]( [insta]( [yt]( [tw]( [in]( [mail](mailto:hello@thepointsguy.com) You are receiving this email because you opted in at [thepointsguy.com](. Where to find us: The Points Guy 100 5th Ave., 16th Floor New York, NY 10011 USA USA If this newsletter was forwarded to you, you can subscribe [here](. Changed your mind? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe]( at any time. Advertiser Disclosure: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which [ThePointsGuy.com]( receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our [advertising policy]( page for more information. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. THE POINTS GUY © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2023