There are a variety of reasons to pick up credit cards, from big welcome offers, to generous return on spending, to valuable perks. Generally when we talk about the value proposition of credit cards, we do so in the context of the value for the primary cardmember.
Continue reading: 3 Best Credit Cards For Authorized Users: Lounge Access Perks & More
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
@Ben, I believe the Citi Pestige offers an authorized user for $75 which provides Priority Pass Select. I assume it comes with the same restaurant credit as the primary cardholder?
Thanks Ben! Question on the Venture X. My AF comes up in November, is the lounge fee based on my cardmember annual calendar or based on calendar year? So if I pay $195 to add my wife onto Venture X now, then I'd pay the fee again in November?
Also, wondering about the requirements for the Morgan Stanley version of the Amex Platinum with the $0 AU fee. Thoughts on that card?
A person with a Morgan Stanley or E-Trade brokerage account, without a Platinum Cash Plus account, can obtain the Morgan Stanley version of the Amex Platinum. There's a sign up page on the E-Trade website.
What you are stating are the requirements to receive the Annual Engagement Bonus, which equals the card's basic annual fee. However, the CashPlus products do not earn interest. And, with prevailing interest rates, the opportunity cost exceeds the amount of the Annual Engagement Bonus (which is taxable and for which you will receive a 1099 for it).
Thanks for the clarification. I was looking online, looks like if I open an E-Trade account and minimally fund it, I can get the MS version with the free AU. I could use enough of the credits to make the AF worthwhile, but seems more attractive way to avoid the AU fee. Seems all the other card benefits are the same between the personal and MS version of the card.
Bummed when C1 changed the AU PP benefit. Wife and I travel a fair amount, not often enough to places with a C1 lounge to make the AU fee worthwhile, and no guesting privileges hurt as we often travel with family who don't have PP. We do have the Palladium card but not sure if I will keep it for the long haul yet.
Wow. 6 out of 10 stories on the landing page pimpin' credit cards. I remember when that was incidental to the travel coverage on here.
I'll throw in the Ritz-Carlton card as the best AU lounge card: $450 annual fee, $300 airline fee credit (any airline, can be used for paid upgrades), 85k Marriott FNC. AUs are $0 and get access to PP and Sapphire Lounges. Only downside is the hoops to get the card: sign up for Bonvoy Boundless, wait 1 year for the AF to hit, make sure to have a minimum $10k credit limit, and then call in to product change.
Agreed!
Likely is not included because one cannot "apply"... but it should still be listed prominently with an honorable mention.
@Samar RC card is awesome but you can also sign up for the no annual fee Chase Marriott credit card and wait for at least a year but you should put some spending on it every month during the first year before calling for the upgrade. If you have other Chase CC you can move your credit limit around to make it at least 10K if need be.
@stanley-c oh interesting. I had thought you could only product change from the Bonvoy Boundless, but the no annual fee card is probably an easier option.
Thanks, Ben! BTW, I paid for my wife to come to Denver's Centurian lounge a few days ago, and it was great! (Way better when we were there a few years ago.) Definitely worth the $50, easily.
Glad to see an article finally mention Strata Elite, which I've long said is a sleeper for lounge access.
In addition to cheapest AU fee and PP guests, the primary card member gets 4 Admirals Club passes, which are only needed for adults - kids are included free.
And pretty much everyone can take advantage of the hotel and splurge credits bringing the net annual fee down to $95.
My question is- why was this phrased in such a way that excluded the two cards that present the best value, by far, for AU priority pass access, The Ritz and Bank of America PRE?