Thread: Citi ThankYou Premier vs. Amex Platinum?

OK, I am torn and I need to pull the trigger. In the upcoming year I am going with wife to NZ and to EU. We also do 4 domestic trips per year. I have been with Amex (Blue) and Discover for over a decade. Happy with them, but here is what I need now:

• Card that does not charge me 3% transaction fee.
• Gives me some travel benefits like insurance (auto especially) and frequent flyer miles
• Three airlines I like to fly: Jet Blue, Finnair, and American

I am torn between Amex Platinum and Citi ThankYou Premier. Lounge access is nice to have, but I may use it maybe 4 times per year. We are frugal, so we find darn good travel deals. I don't need to pay $450 to boost my ego, I have enough of it as it is I am not sure I will get more benefits than from Citi. Am I wrong?

Also, not sure how well accepted Amex is in Europe and New Zealand. Never been to NZ and I mostly used Visa in Europe, so I am not sure how well Amex is accepted.
I spend and pay off every month about $3K.

Which card you think is the better choice?

Originally Posted by agurkas

OK, I am torn and I need to pull the trigger. In the upcoming year I am going with wife to NZ and to EU. We also do 4 domestic trips per year. I have been with Amex (Blue) and Discover for over a decade. Happy with them, but here is what I need now:

• Card that does not charge me 3% transaction fee.
• Gives me some travel benefits like insurance (auto especially) and frequent flyer miles
• Three airlines I like to fly: Jet Blue, Finnair, and American

I am torn between Amex Platinum and Citi ThankYou Premier. Lounge access is nice to have, but I may use it maybe 4 times per year. We are frugal, so we find darn good travel deals. I don't need to pay $450 to boost my ego, I have enough of it as it is I am not sure I will get more benefits than from Citi. Am I wrong?

Also, not sure how well accepted Amex is in Europe and New Zealand. Never been to NZ and I mostly used Visa in Europe, so I am not sure how well Amex is accepted.
I spend and pay off every month about $3K.

Which card you think is the better choice?

MasterCard is accepted in more places (although Amex is accepted at most tourist destinations).

If you are not a snob and you don't feel the need to pay $450 a year, why not consider the Capital One Venture card? No foreign transaction fees and the points you earn can be used on ANY airline.

I can't talk about CITI card, I have no idea about them.

I agree with CC Deville, if you do not want to pay $450UDS or you do not need to, do not go for the Platinum card.

I can tell you, AMEX is well accepted in tourist locations in all the major cities (Rome, Paris, Madrid, Netherlands) that I have been. There are places that do not accept AMEX, but usually are small restaurants, hostels, newspaper stands, and they are not meant for tourist. The rest, museums, hotels, art galleries, airports, restaurants, stadiums, or any other tourist attraction will take AMEX with no problem.

About the airport lounges, that depends on you, if you like to use them or not. I can tell you I use them every time I travel internally or internationally, regardless if I only do 1 or 100 travels per year, I will be there.

Clarification: I don't mind paying, as long as I get benefits I need.

Same lounge access can be had for about $200 per year
And since I need to pick an airline to get $200 in fees reimbursed, that limits what I get back, since I rarely pay any additional fees.
Car insurance... it is fine, but they don't cover right hand drive countries.

What else is in Amex Platinum that would be worth it?

Since I need to give my wife a card too, that is another $175 on top. So I am trying to see what is my ROI.

Originally Posted by CC Deville

MasterCard is accepted in more places (although Amex is accepted at most tourist destinations).

If you are not a snob and you don't feel the need to pay $450 a year, why not consider the Capital One Venture card? No foreign transaction fees and the points you earn can be used on ANY airline.

and you get a concierge so when you are in Europe and looking for assistance in making dinner reservations and recommendations the concierge is there. same with tickets for soccer games. I agree with cc the venture one card is great, 0 annual fee vs 450. so if you need the airport lounge, copies of your year end summary and platinum tickets then spend 450. If you want a great card that's designed for business travelers at the airport, you can spend a few bucks at subway, popeyes, burger king, an airport restaurant. a card that has 0% foreign transaction fee and a concierge I would agree with CC.