Perhaps you have The Platinum Card® from American Express. The only spending I put on this card is airfare since it earns an amazing 5 points per dollar spent, up to $500,000 of flights per calendar year. I don’t put the rest of my spend on this card at only 1 point per dollar, though. Fortunately those who want to stay in the Membership Rewards ecosystem have The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express which earns 2X Membership Rewards® points on all eligible spending for the first $50,000 in purchases per year. It’s a no annual fee card too (see rates and fees). And the points transfer to:
Star Alliance: Air Canada, ANA, Avianca, Singapore Airlines
oneworld: British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, Qantas, Qatar
SkyTeam: Aeromexico, Air France KLM, Delta
Non-alliance: Aer Lingus, Emirates Etihad Hawaiian JetBlue
Hotels: Choice Hilton Marriott
Maybe you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Those cards are great for travel and dining spend but really not for the rest of your spending since they’d earn just one point per dollar. Chase loves that spend since it doesn’t have to invest as much rewarding you for it but that’s not what you’re after. You can apply for a no annual fee Chase Freedom Unlimited® which earns 3x on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5x cash back on all other purchases. Then combine those points into your Sapphire Preferred or Reserve account in order to redeem them for travel through the Chase portal or transfer to a variety of airlines or hotel programs:
Star Alliance: Air Canada Singapore Airlines United
oneworld: British Airways Iberia
SkyTeam: Air France KLM Virgin Atlantic
Non-alliance: Aer Lingus Emirates JetBlue Southwest
Hotels: Hyatt IHG Marriott
With Capital One both their Venture and Venture X cards earn 2 points per dollar on all spend and those points transfer to:
Star Alliance: Air Canada Avianca EVA Air Singapore Airlines TAP Air Portugal Turkish Airlines
oneworld: British Airways Cathay Pacific Finnair Qantas
SkyTeam: Aeromexico Air France KL Virgin Atlantic
Non-alliance: Emirates Etihad Hotels Accor Choice Wyndham
Citi Premier® Card cardmembers are earning 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations Air Travel Other Hotels; 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants Supermarkets; but 1 point on other purchases – so don’t use it on other purchases [offer expired]. The Citi Double Cash Card has no annual fee and earns 2 points per dollar on all spending Combine those points with your Premier card then transfer to:
Star Alliance Avianca EVA Air Singapore Thai Turkish Airlines
oneworld Cathay Pacific Malaysia Airlines Qantas Qatar Airways
SkyTeam Aeromexico Air France KLM Virgin Atlantic
Non-alliance Emirates Etihad JetBlue
Hotels Accor Choice Leading Hotels World Wyndham
Always consider getting the card that best bonuses the spend you do the most with a currency that’s most valuable to you – and pair it with a card with the strongest earning in the same ecosystem for your unbonused spend That will avoid leaving too many points on the table avoid ‘overpaying’ for points essentially buying points at least two cents apiece when you’re earning just one point per dollar spent For rates fees The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express click here Information about American Express Platinum Card was produced independently was neither reviewed nor approved by its issuer For rates fees The Platinum Card® from American Express click here.
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