AMEX Platinum

[BACONATOR]

The $300 credit is actually a travel credit.
I've had it applied to bar/restaurant tabs, airport parking, and Uber rides.

Just pointing that out, since you probably want to balance that out with the credits from the Amex or other cards which may not be as flexible.

I can attest the same thing with AMEX. I paid a baggage fee (because I was too dumb to figure out to select 0 bags if you're military), and I've bought booze on the plane. Both were refunded by AMEX. Caveat: travel credit only applies to your selected airline (you designate one once per year if you like, in January), so beware of that fact.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Late to the game…but HOLY CRAP! I thought my USAA card was sweet…but this seems to beat all comers.

Why do you feel USAA is sweet card???

 

[Chachi]

The $300 credit is actually a travel credit.
I've had it applied to bar/restaurant tabs, airport parking, and Uber rides.

Just pointing that out, since you probably want to balance that out with the credits from the Amex or other cards which may not be as flexible.

Is the annual fee for the chase sapphire waived for military?

 

[Randy Daytona]

The $300 credit is actually a travel credit.
I've had it applied to bar/restaurant tabs, airport parking, and Uber rides.

Just pointing that out, since you probably want to balance that out with the credits from the Amex or other cards which may not be as flexible.

Good catch. The $450 fee in reality gets reduced to $150 after you use the $300 in travel credits. The other very nice part is the 50% bump if you use it for airfare, i.e., the 100,000 point bonus is actually good for $1500 in airfare.

Combine that with the Hyatt Card I mentioned earlier (upon signing for it, you get 2 free nights at ANY Hyatt in the world) and you can travel pretty nicely. The Hyatt in Milan is a 5 star so that is a fantastic deal. After that, the card's $95 per year fee also gives you 1 free night per year - so it balances out. Lastly, the AMEX Blue Cash preferred gives a whopping 6% back on your first $6,000 in groceries. Although it too has a $95 per year fee, you still end up $265 ahead per year.

 

[armada1651]

Is the annual fee for the chase sapphire waived for military?

No.

 

[Chachi]

No.

Thanks!

 

[Randy Daytona]

Limited time offer: Not the AMEX Platinum Card, but rather the AMEX Delta Platinum Skymiles Card. 70,000 Skymiles for $4,000 of spending in the first 4 months. Also has a $100 statement credit, annual domestic companion pass and 1st bag free. Annual fee is $195.

 

[Hopeful Hoya]

Also of note, if you refer someone for a Platinum card when they apply you get a 15k points bonus (up to 55k total a year).

 

[DanMa1156]

Also of note, if you refer someone for a Platinum card when they apply you get a 15k points bonus (up to 55k total a year).

With that said... anyone want to get the AMEX platinum?

 

[AllYourBass]

I'm booking a flight through amextravel.com right now and I'm wondering if any of you have found decently priced trip insurance (through AMEX or elsewhere) that would allow for trip cancellation due to something work-related...specifically, a cancellation due to "I bought my tickets four months early and then found out my leave back to CONUS wasn't approved because too many people are leaving the local area."

The deal on the flight is outrageously good enough to be worth adding the cost of trip insurance, and having that sort of insurance would generally be a peace-of-mind thing for me and my wife anyway.

EDIT: Went with USAA's "Airline Ticket Protector" for about $35/ticket. Covers leave revocation.

 

[hscs]

Check with the airline for their policy. They may refund you if it is for operational reasons, and you have a letter from your squadron.

 

[ChuckM]

Check with the airline for their policy. They may refund you if it is for operational reasons, and you have a letter from your squadron.

Some ask for the CO's name and phone number. Others want letterhead with red ink at the bottom. I would ensure the COC is onboard, but it's doable.

 

[villanelle]

We've used USAA's affiliate and we sprung the extra few bucks for the "cancel for any time" level, just so we didn't have to dick around with anything else. (You know how those front offices can be! ) I wanted to be able to cancel if he suddenly had a ton of duty time in port for some reason, or something that didn't quite count as "operational reasons" in as clear a way as "canceled port call" or "leave revocation" did.

 

[sevenhelmet]

I’ve had a blue sky for years and never filed anything for military service. With no annual fee, I just never thought about it, despite carrying a balance on occasion. Just got the Amex platinum a few months ago and filed a military service exemption with Amex for the new card’s annual fee (a 10 minute phone call). Well I just got not only my fees waived/refunded on the Platinum, but got what appears to be every fee and interest charge refunded from YEARS on the Blue Sky. Thanks, Amex!


Winning. It’s been a good day already.

 

[insanebikerboy]

I’ve had a blue sky for years and never filed anything for military service. With no annual fee, I just never thought about it, despite carrying a balance on occasion. Just got the Amex platinum a few months ago and filed a military service exemption with Amex for the new card’s annual fee (a 10 minute phone call). Well I just got not only my fees waived/refunded on the Platinum, but got what appears to be every fee and interest charge refunded from YEARS on the Blue Sky. Thanks, Amex!


Winning. It’s been a good day already.

Same thing happened to me, I randomly had a refund/credit in my Amex in order of thousands of dollars. They apparently even calculated interest on the amount they paid me.

Quality service for sure.