Credit card changing fortunes (Nov 2019 Edition)

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hands holding a ball of credit cards

One of the things that has long fascinated me about rewards credit cards is the way in which changes to other things (other cards, rewards programs, airport lounges, etc.) can effect the perceived value of a card.  OK, so yes, that proves that I’m a credit card nerd.  Still, even if you’re not a credit card nerd, I think you’ll find this interesting too…

I took a look at a number of popular rewards credit cards and imposed my subjective judgment: is the card’s value trending up or down?  You’ll notice in this round-up that some trends are self-imposed (such as changes to the Amex Green card or the Amex Delta cards).  However, many more trends are caused by other cards.  Thanks to the massive devaluations to the CNB and Uber cards, for example, many other cards are trending up…

Amex Cards

Green Card

Trend Amex Green Card
a green arrow pointing up Until recently, the Amex Green card had no purpose other than as a relatively cheap downgrade from the Amex Platinum card.  Now, in exchange for an increased annual fee (which has jumped from $95 to $150), Amex has thrown in solid bonus earnings (3X dining and travel) and a couple of valuable perks (most noteworthy is the annual $100 CLEAR rebate).  Read more here: Amex Green takes on Chase Sapphire Reserve with narrow miss.
Card Name w Details & Review (no offer)
FM Mini Review: This card is worth considering as your go-to travel card, but only if you value its CLEAR and Lounge Buddy credits. Also note that Amex cards continue to have limited acceptance in many international destinations. Click here for our complete card review

$150 Annual Fee
Earning rate: ✦ 3X on travel & transit (including flights, hotels, taxis, and rideshares) ✦ 3X dining ✦ 1X points on other purchases. Terms apply. See
Base: 1X (1.55%)
Travel: 3X (4.65%)
Dine: 3X (4.65%)
Card Info: Amex Pay Over Time Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Noteworthy perks: $189 CLEAR credit annually ✦ $100 LoungeBuddy credit annually Terms Apply.

Platinum cards (and other high end Amex cards)

Trend Amex Platinum Cards (and other high end cards)
a red arrow pointing down Amex devalued their Platinum cards (and other cards that offer Priority Pass) when they dropped Priority Pass restaurants.  On the other hand, the same cards increased in value with the addition of travel protections: trip interruption & cancellation, and trip delay.  The value of the latter was tempered by a reduction in purchase protections.  Overall, I think the changes are net negative.

Delta Cards

Trend Delta Credit Cards
a green and red arrows Delta has announced huge changes coming to their Amex Delta card portfolio starting Jan 30, 2020.  Here’s my summary of trends:

  • Delta Blue (fee free): Trends up as Amex drops FX fees and offers 2X at restaurants worldwide.
  • Delta Gold Cards (Consumer & Business): Trend up. The Gold cards benefit from new bonus categories and a $100 flight credit with $10K spend. The biggest loss is that spend on this card no longer counts towards an MQD waiver (which you need only if you’re trying for elite status).
  • Delta Platinum Cards (Consumer & Business): Trend down. Annual fee goes up from $195 to $250.  Miles Boost is replaced with Status Boost and so we no longer earn bonus miles with high spend.  New bonus categories mean that the changes may be a net positive for some.
  • Delta Reserve Cards (Consumer & Business): Trend is mixed. On the positive side, the cards gain Centurion Lounge access, 2 SkyClub guest passes per year, additional status boost thresholds, and free upgrades for non-elites.  On the negative side, the annual fee jumps up to $550, and Miles Boost is replaced with Status Boost so we no longer earn bonus miles.

Chase Cards

Sapphire Reserve

Trend Sapphire Reserve
a green arrow pointing up The Sapphire Reserve card hasn’t changed, but changes to other ultra premium cards has made this one more valuable.  Chase already had the best ultra-premium travel protections, but Citi used to be a close second with their Prestige card.  That changed dramatically when Citi dropped their travel protections altogether.  Meanwhile, Amex Platinum cards may have become more interesting when Amex added modest travel protections, but Amex also devalued their Priority Pass membership.  Taken together, these changes to competitor cards has cemented the Sapphire Reserve’s place as the best all around travel card.
Card Name w Details & Review (no offer)
FM Mini Review: Excellent all-around card for frequent traveler. Best when paired with no-fee Chase Freedom Flex, no-fee Freedom Unlimited & no-fee Chase Ink Cash Click here for our complete card review

$550 Annual Fee
Earning rate: 10X hotels & car rentals booked through Chase ✦ 10X Chase Dining ✦ 5X flights booked through Chase ✦ 3X Travel and Dining ✦ 10X Lyft (through March 2025)
Base: 1X (1.5%)
Travel: 10X (15%)
Dine: 3X (4.5%)
Other: 10X (15%)
Card Info: Visa Infinite issued by Chase. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Noteworthy perks: $300 Annual Travel Credit ✦ Points worth 1.5 cents each towards travel when booked through the Chase Travel(SM) Portal✦ Transfer points to airline & hotel partners ✦ Primary auto rental collision damage waiver ✦ Priority Pass Select lounge access ✦ Up to $100 Global Entry fee credit ✦ $5 monthly DoorDash in-app credit through December 2024 ✦ Free DashPass through 2025 ✦ Earn 10X on Lyft spend✦ Free Lyft Pink All Access Memberhsip through December 2024 ✦ $15 monthly Instacart credit ✦ 12 months free Instacart+

Ritz

Trend Ritz Card
a green arrow pointing up Following the massive devaluation of the CNB Crystal Visa Infinite card, the Ritz card is the last card standing to offer the Visa Infinite Discount Air Benefit ($100 off domestic round trip flights for 2) and Priority Pass with unlimited guests.  The only way to get this card today is to first have a Chase Marriott Bonvoy consumer card and to ask for an upgrade.  The Ritz card also includes the same excellent travel protections as found on the Sapphire Reserve card.
Card Name w Details & Review (no offer)
FM Mini Review: While the card is pricey, the annual free night, plus $300 in ariline fee credits, plus other perks make this card a keeper.

$450 Annual Fee
Earning rate: ✦ 6X Ritz & Marriott.✦ 3X airline tickets purchased directly with the airline, at car rental agencies and at restaurants ✦ 2X everywhere else
Base: 2X (1.6%)
Travel: 3X (2.4%)
Dine: 3X (2.4%)
Brand: 6X (4.8%)
Card Info: Visa Infinite issued by Chase. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Big spend bonus: $75K spend per calendar year for Platinum elite status
Noteworthy perks: ✦ Annual 85K hotel certificate upon renewal ✦ 3 club level upgrades. $100 hotel credit for each 2 night or longer stay ✦ Priority Pass Select with unlimited guests ✦ $300 annual credit for airline incidentals ✦ Automatic Gold Status

Citi Cards

Prestige

Trend Citi Prestige
a red arrow pointing down When Citi first announced major changes to the Prestige card, including ruining the 4th Night Free benefit, I saw more good than bad in those changes.  The ability to earn 5X transferable points for travel & dining on a card with excellent travel protections was insanely great.  But now that Citi has dropped nearly all travel & purchase protections, I can’t justify using this card for travel.  Is 5X dining enough to make this card a keeper?  Probably not.
Card Name w Details & Review (no offer)
FM Mini Review: The Prestige card's best in class 5X rewards for dining, airfare, and travel agencies is hard to beat. Sadly, this travel card doesn't provide any travel protections.

$495 Annual Fee
Earning rate: 5X airfare, dining, and travel agencies ✦ 3X hotels and cruise line ✦ 1X everywhere else
Base: 1X (1.45%)
Travel: 5X (7.25%)
Dine: 5X (7.25%)
Card Info: Mastercard World Elite issued by Citi. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Noteworthy perks: $250 travel rebate per calendar year ✦ Free lounge access: Citi Properietary Lounges; and Priority Pass Select with free guests ✦ $100 Global Entry application fee credit ✦ 4th night free hotel benefit

Premier

Trend Citi Premier
a green arrow pointing up Other than losing travel & purchase protections, the Citi Premier card hasn’t changed much.  It still offers solid bonus categories: 3X for travel and at gas stations; and 2X for dining and entertainment.  The $95 Premier card benefits from the falling fortunes of the $495 Prestige card and the rising fortunes of the fee-free Citi Double Cash.  You still need the Premier or Prestige card to retain the ability to transfer ThankYou points to airline partners and the Premier card is a much cheaper option for doing so.  Also, while the Prestige lost its ability to buy airfare at better than 1 cent per point value, the Premier retains its ability to purchase any travel booked through the ThankYou portal at 1.25 cents per point value.
Card Name w Details & Review (no offer)
FM Mini Review: Very strong earnings for spend. Excellent bonus categories. Points transferable to select airlines. Recommend pairing this card with Citi Double Cash and Citi Rewards+. Sadly, this travel card doesn't provide any travel protections. Click here for our complete card review

$95 Annual Fee
Earning rate: 3X grocery ✦ 3X dining ✦ 3X gas stations ✦ 3X flights, hotels, travel agencies
Base: 1X (1.45%)
Travel: 3X (4.35%)
Dine: 3X (4.35%)
Gas: 3X (4.35%)
Grocery: 3X (4.35%)
Card Info: Mastercard World Elite issued by Citi. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Noteworthy perks: Transfer points to airline partners ✦ $100 Annual Hotel Savings Benefit

Double Cash

Trend Citi Double Cash
a green arrow pointing up

The fee-free Double Cash card’s stock went up, way up, when it gained the ability to transfer cash back to ThankYou points. Now, you can earn 2X points per dollar, uncapped.  And as long as you or a trusted friend or family member has a Prestige or Premier card, you can transfer those points to valuable airline programs.  Of course, adding to the rising value here is the fact that Citi ThankYou points are transferable to Turkish Miles & Smiles which can be used to book flights to Hawaii for only 7.5K points one-way!

See our Double Cash Complete Guide for more.

Card Name w Details & Review (no offer)
FM Mini Review: 2X rewards for all spend with no annual fee makes this card a winner. Earn 2X everywhere and redeem for the equivalent of 2% cash back or 2X ThankYou points. Pair with the Premier or Prestige card to make points transferrable to airlines. Click here for our complete card review

No Annual Fee
Earning rate: 2% cash back everywhere (1% cash back for each purchase + 1% when paying your credit card bill for that purchase). ✦ For a limited time: Earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel portal through 12/31/24.
Base: 2X (2.9%)
Travel: 5X (7.25%)
Card Info: Mastercard World Elite issued by Citi. This card imposes foreign transaction fees.
Noteworthy perks: 1X when you make a purchase + 1X when you pay for those purchases

Costco Anywhere Visa

Trend Costco Anywhere Visa
a green arrow pointing up The Costco Anywhere Visa hasn’t changed.  It was already an excellent cash back card.  What has changed is that the Uber Visa card is now practically useless.
Card Name w Details & Review (no offer)

No Annual Fee
Earning rate: ✦ 4% gas and EV charging (up to $7K spend / year) ✦ 3% restaurant & travel; 2% Costco ✦ 1% everywhere else
Base: 1%
Travel: 3%
Dine: 3%
Gas: 4%
Card Info: Visa Signature issued by Citi. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Noteworthy perks: No annual fee with paid Costco membership

Other Issuers

CNB Crystal Visa Infinite

Trend CNB Crystal Visa Infinite
a red arrow pointing down This was a great card.  As of Jan 1 2020, it’s not.  See: CNB Crystal Visa Infinite loses valuable perks as of Jan 1 2020

US Bank Altitude Reserve

Trend US Bank Altitude Reserve
a green arrow pointing up This was already one of my favorite cards.  And now, thanks to the fall of the CNB Crystal Visa Infinite card, I value the Altitude Reserve card’s free Gogo passes more than ever before (since I plan to cancel my CNB card).
Card Name w Details & Review (no offer)
FM Mini Review: With points worth 1.5 cents each towards travel, this card offers an excellent signup bonus. For ongoing use, this card is a winner for those who spend a lot on mobile payments (at 3X, rewards are worth 4.5%) Click here for our complete card review

$400 Annual Fee
Earning rate: 5x prepaid hotel & car rental through Altitude Rewards Center ✦ 3X travel and mobile wallet payments
Base: 1X (1.5%)
Travel: 3X (4.5%)
Shop: 3X (4.5%)
Other: 5X (7.5%)
Card Info: Visa Infinite issued by USB. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Noteworthy perks: $325 in travel/dining credits per membership year ✦ Points worth 1.5 cents each towards travel ✦ Real Time Mobile Rewards (redeem points at full value at time of purchase) ✦ Priority Pass Select airport lounge access (8 per year) ✦ Primary car rental coverage ✦ No foreign transaction fees ✦ Free authorized user cards

Uber Visa

Trend Uber Visa
a red arrow pointing down This used to be one of the best fee-free cash back cards on the market.  Following a massive devaluation, though, I can no longer recommend it.
Card Name w Details & Review (no offer)

Capital One Savor

Trend Capital One Savor
a green arrow pointing up The Capital One Savor cards haven’t changed, but now that we can no longer get 4% cash back at restaurants with the Uber Visa, the Savor card is the place to go if you want lots of cash back from restaurant spend.
Card Name w Details & Review (no offer)

No Annual Fee
Earning rate: 3% on dining, entertainment, select streaming services, and purchases at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®) ✦ 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases ✦ 5% on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel (terms apply) ✦ 1% everywhere else
Base: 1%
Travel: 5%
Dine: 3%
Grocery: 3%
Other: 3%
Card Info: Mastercard issued by CapOne. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Noteworthy perks: Complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024 ✦ No foreign transaction fees
FM Mini Review: Excellent cash back card for dining and entertainment spend.

$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
Earning rate: 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services ✦ 3% at grocery stores ✦ 1% everywhere else ✦ 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases ✦ 5% on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
Base: 1%
Travel: 5%
Dine: 4%
Grocery: 3%
Other: 4%
Card Info: Mastercard issued by CapOne. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Noteworthy perks: No foreign transaction fees

 

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