Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Episode Summary & Guide

Episode: How to Tell If a Premium Travel Card Is Worth the Fee
Hosts: Meghan Coyle, Sally French (with Tess Vigland subbing for Sally in the news segment)
Date: November 5, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a comprehensive analysis of premium travel credit cards, with hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle breaking down whether hefty annual fees can be justified by card perks. The conversation covers the latest updates in travel rewards, detailed reviews of the top premium travel credit cards, and practical advice to help listeners determine the best choice given their travel styles and spending habits.

Throughout, the hosts keep the tone approachable and humorous, full of real-world tips, memorable moments, candid takes, and a clear-eyed look at the numbers.

Key Segments & Timestamps

1. [00:00-10:26] - News Roundup: Lounges, Card Partnerships & Airline Updates
2. [10:26-36:40] - Premium General Travel Cards: Deep Dives & Comparisons
3. [36:40-49:50] - Airline & Hotel Specific Premium Cards: Are They Worth It?
4. [49:50-53:36] - Choosing the Right Card, General Advice, and Additional Options
5. [53:36-56:30] - Listener Question & Episode Wrap

1. News Roundup: Recent Travel and Card Updates

[00:00-10:26]

• Lounge Openings at Salt Lake City (01:22)

  • Megan describes the expanded Delta Sky Club and opening of the city's first Amex Centurion Lounge. The Sky Club is now the second-largest in the network, with nine private phone booths, but lacks showers—unlike the other SLC location.
  • The Centurion Lounge offers "all the amenities travelers want," including two fireplaces (a Centurion Lounge first), a barista, two full bars, a shower suite, and a terrace with mountain views.
  • Notable Quote:

    “This is the first Centurion Lounge in the world with a fireplace. And there’s two fireplaces. So very cool. Actually, maybe I should say warm.” – Meghan [03:16]

• Southwest Launches a Rapid Rewards Debit Card (03:53)

  • First-of-its-kind for Southwest, with modest earning of 1 point per dollar on Southwest, restaurants, subscriptions, and utilities; 1 point per $2 elsewhere.
  • Welcome bonus: 2,500 points with two recurring deposits and $100 spend in 90 days—but only worth about $32.
  • $6.99 monthly fee, waived with $2,500 average linked balance; no credit check needed.
  • Compared to credit cards, perks are limited and sign-up bonuses are much smaller.

• Wells Fargo Rewards Adds JetBlue True Blue Transfers (06:20)

  • "One to one" transfer allows Wells Fargo cardholders to move their points into JetBlue, and possibly book on United via JetBlue's new Blue Sky partnership.
  • Transfer partners still lag behind Chase or Amex.

• Vacasa-Wyndham Partnership Ending (07:20)

  • Popular for family vacation redemptions, this sweet spot (book with Wyndham points via Vacasa) is ending—final reservations by Nov 30, 2025, for stay by Jan 31, 2026.
  • Notable Quote:

    “This used to be a sweet spot... It was pretty easy to get more than 1.5 cents per point on these bookings, which is decent.” – Meghan [07:53]

• United Returns to Bangkok (08:53)

  • United launches LAX-Bangkok via Hong Kong, opening more award seats to SE Asia—a boost for United/Chase points holders.
  • Notable Quote:

    “Dim sum, anyone? Or maybe a hot bowl of congee with fried shallots and pork floss?” – Tess [09:22]

2. Premium General Travel Cards: Which Card Is Right For You?

[10:26-36:40]

Card Buckets Explained (10:49):

• Three Categories:
  1. General/Transferable currencies (e.g., Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X, Citi Strata Elite)
  2. Airline-specific
  3. Hotel-specific

AMEX Platinum ($895 annual fee) [15:18]

• New this year: Dining (Resy) and Lululemon credits. "Basic free money."
• Uber Cash: $200/yr (monthly + December bonus).
• Lounge Access: Centurion, Delta Sky Clubs (up to 10 times/year); showers at many locations.
• Big strengths: Points transfer, luxury perks, lounge network.
• Weaknesses: Statement credits can be complicated to use (e.g., only one airline for $200 airline fee), transfer partners less valuable, rural areas may have trouble using some credits.
• Memorable Moment:

  “This is such a good benefit, especially if you can eat as much free food as you can, if you enjoy a cocktail.” – Sally [15:21]

• Expert Tip:

  “I use my airline incidental credit for Delta Sky Club guest fees!” – Meghan [17:14]

Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795 annual fee) [19:55]

• Travel credit: $300, applies broadly (“Just delete $300 from the annual fee, because it’s so easy to use.” – Sally [21:10])
• Earn rates: 4x on hotels, 3x on meals booked direct.
• Statement credits less practical for some than Amex’s; smaller dining network.
• Lounge network: fewer than Amex but competitive (with some unique perks like facials at select Chase lounges).
• Transfer partners: Hyatt, United, Southwest are huge plus.
• Travel Insurance: Best in class.
• Notable Quote:

  “If you travel a lot, something does eventually go wrong and this card might be able to cover you.” – Meghan [25:32]

Capital One Venture X ($395 annual fee) [27:12]

• Travel credit: $300 (via Capital One portal), 10k anniversary points (~$100) – “It’s literally a $5 moneymaker.” – Megan [28:02]
• Earn rate: 2x on all spend (“…at Walgreens or the cafe or your kid’s tuition…” – Sally [30:24])
• Lounges: Capital One lounges lauded for food, grab-and-go, napping pods, but limited locations.
• Transfer partners: Heavily international; takes more know-how.
• Weakness: Mediocre travel insurance.

Citi Strata Elite ($595 annual fee) [32:03]

• Earning: 12x hotels/cars/attractions (only in portal), 6x flights in portal, 6x dining (but only Fridays & Saturdays 6pm-6am), 3x all other restaurants.
• Credits: $200 “Splurge” for limited merchants, $200 blacklane credit (chauffeur, split into $100 chunks).
• Lounge: Priority Pass and 4 Admirals Club visits/year.
• Transfer partners: Only card transferring to American Airlines.
• Quirky structure ("reverse happy hour" dining bonus).

Summing Up the General Card Choices (36:40):

• Capital One Venture X: No-brainer for Capital One lounge users, or if you value simple earning and credits.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve: Excellent for direct-booking hotels, dining, strong travel insurance, and transfer partners.
• Amex Platinum: Best for statement credits, luxury, and lounge lovers.
• Citi Strata Elite: Ideal if you want Amex-like perks but with American Airlines as a transfer partner or frequently dine out weekends.

3. Airline & Hotel Premium Cards: Who Should Get Them?

[36:40-49:50]

Airline Premium Cards Discussion [41:08]

• Main Point: Only worthwhile for people who are truly brand-loyal to a particular airline. Co-branded premium cards get you airline lounge access, higher earning on that airline, headstart on elite status and (often) companion certificates.
• Megan reveals she’s been booking many Alaska miles flights due to better redemption rates than American’s own program.

Featured Airline Cards:

• Alaska/Hawaiian: Atmos Rewards Summit Card ($395)
  • Global Companion Award: Up to 25,000 points for a companion’s flight on Alaska, Hawaiian, or oneWorld partners.
• American Airlines: Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard ($595)
  • Admirals Club access ($850 value), 4x on American spend, fast track to elite status via spend.
• Delta SkyMiles Reserve AMEX ($650)
  • Sky Club/Centurion lounge access when flying Delta (15 visits/yr), companion certificate includes first class, but limited US routes.
• United Club Card ($695)
  • United Club membership ($750 value), but club renovations ongoing and food can be unexciting.

Key Considerations:

• Opportunity cost of earning airline miles (esp. with dynamic pricing, uncompetitive redemption values).
• Companion certificates are valuable if you fly together regularly or take long-haul trips.

Hotel Premium Cards Discussion [46:43]

• Hilton Honors AMEX Aspire ($550)

  • Diamond status, robust perks (free breakfast/food credit, upgrades, water bottles).
  • Free night certificates can be used at luxe properties—“If you are going to stay at a hotel that costs more than $550, just go ahead and apply for this card.” – Sally [48:34]

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant AMEX ($650)

  • Platinum Elite status (one level down from top), free night certificate (up to 85k points)—but top Marriott hotels may require double that.

4. Choosing the Right Premium Card for You

[49:50-53:36]

• Decide based on how much you spend, your loyalty patterns, and whether you’ll fully use the card perks.
• Brand loyalists: Airline/hotel cards make sense.
• Free agents: General premium cards offer wider flexibility.
• Occasional travelers: Consider mid-tier or $0-fee cards for solid value with lower risk/commitment.
• “If you are booking those expensive rooms anyway… you could be leaving a lot on the table by NOT having one of these cards.” – Sally [51:11]
• "It is sort of a fun way to cosplay as a rich person." – Meghan [51:23]

5. Listener Question: What Happens to My Chase Sapphire Reserve Points If I Cancel?

[53:36-55:29]

Key Guidance:

• Best Option: Downgrade to a no-annual-fee Chase card (e.g., Freedom Unlimited or Flex) to keep points and credit history.
• Other Option: Downgrade to Sapphire Preferred ($95 annual fee) to retain transfer partners.
• Transfer Out Option: Move points to a transfer partner before closure—but only if you’re ready to use them.
• Bottom Line: Never close a card until your points are safe, either in a partner program or another Chase card.

Most Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Justifying High Fees:

  “If you are screaming, 'Why would anyone spend $895 on an annual fee?' I say that’s OK. Don’t spend $895 on an annual fee!” – Sally [13:32]

• On Lounges:

  “I'm at the point where now if an airport doesn’t have a lounge, I’m like, what do I do...? Do I have to pay $7 for this Starbucks coffee?” – Sally [51:51]

• On Real-world Card Use:

  “I did not used to book these super bougie hotels until I got a premium travel card that let me do it for a lot cheaper and on points.” – Meghan [51:23]

• On “Coupon Book” Perks:

  "The Chase Sapphire Reserve does have some statement credits that kind of do give that coupon book energy..." – Meghan [21:46]

• On Airline Cards:

  “This card basically gets you elite status perks without the elite status.” – Sally (re: Citi AAdvantage Executive) [43:22]

Quick Reference Guide: How to Decide if a Premium Travel Card Is Worth It

Ask yourself:

• Will you use the included lounge access?
• Do the statement credits match your actual spending habits?
• Are the points earned and redemption partners valuable for your travel style?
• Would you be loyal to a brand (for hotel/airline cards), or do you prefer flexibility?
• Will travel protections make a difference based on your travel volume or style?
• Could you get similar value from a mid-tier or no-annual-fee card?

Final Advice:
"You could possibly get a couple of these if they fit in your budget. We do have a couple of these. So you're not completely off the rails if you have multiple." – Sally [52:38]

Resources Mentioned

• Full reviews of the cards (see episode description links)
• Lounge location lists for each card
• Points value/calculator tools at NerdWallet

This episode is your playbook for deciding whether a premium travel card deserves a slot in your wallet, bringing clarity, laughs, and lots of hard-won tips from two travel points pros who practice what they preach.