We’ve spent a lot of time this year at Credit Card Pro analyzing the rewards and benefits of our core premium credit cards plus providing strategies and tips on how to travel smarter. In case you missed an article or two (or three), here are some of the major takeaways from 2018.
Detailed Credit Card Reviews
Each of our core cards offers a competitive advantage and overall level of excellence. We completed meticulous reviews of our ultra-premium cards—Luxury Card Mastercard®Gold Card™, The Platinum Card®from American Express, Chase Sapphire®Reserve, and U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite®Card—detailing where each card fared comparatively as “Best in Class” all the way to “Worst in Class.”
Simplifying the Fine Print
We combed over the fine print of credit card agreements and guides to benefits to simplify the implicit-yet-complicated protections of our core credit cards: auto rental collision damage waiver, travel accident insurance, trip delay protection from inclement weather, return protection (when a merchant won’t accept the return of a personal item), purchase protection (when purchased items are lost, stolen, or accidentally damaged), and price protection (insurance against price drops).
Card-Specific News and Benefits
We reported on news as it happened regarding changes in cardholder benefits for our core cards and industry news such as JP Morgan’s $330 million dollar loss from reward redemptions. We also demystified some excellent and under-utilized card benefits like Amex offers, Luxury Card’s Hotel and Travel Program and Luxury Card Experiences, and Chase’s 24-Hour Travel Accident Insurance.
Chronicles of the Citi Prestige Card and the American Express Gold Card
We chronicled the ups and downs of Citi’s top-end card over the year. The card first slashed a number of cardholder benefits, then released its more restrictive guide to benefits, then disappeared from the Web, and then finally resurfaced at year’s end with news of a 2019 reboot. Huzzah!
Additionally, we examined the American Express relaunch of its gold card with a new look and perks, comparing it to older iterations.
Maximizing Elite Credit Card Concierge Services
We detailed how to take full advantage of the best credit card service you never knew about. Then, we put a number of elite credit card concierges to the test.
Airport Lounge News
We all love us a good lounge here at Credit Card Pro, and we know you do too! So we’ve kept you up to date with the rapid expansion of the American Express Centurion Lounge®Network and all the new Priority Pass™lounges that have come into the fold over the past year.
Trusted Traveler Programs
We’ve continued to report on the expansion of the TSA Pre-Check and Global Entry programs, reporting on milestones for both programs, including the additions of new enrollment centers at select airports, and how to enroll in these trusted traveler programs for free.
Using Frequent Flyer Miles Wisely
We’ve alerted you to some of the best deals on the sale of frequent flyer miles—the best sales in recent history—and how to be slick with these sales and score first- or business- class seats for a fraction of the retail price. We also taught you how to unlock a wealth of airline award tickets with the powerful Avios currency, the easily accessible frequent flyer currency of British Airways, and alerted you to the best points transfers for business-class air ticketsand how to book Singapore Airlines’ new first-class suites with points and miles.
Marriott-Starwood Merger
We chronicled the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Marriott-Starwood merger and helped alert readers to major changes for award redemptions, credit card affiliations, and elite status changes.
Traveling Smarter
We gave you all kinds of tips for traveling smarter including how to maximize tools on Google Flights and Wikipedia and how to travel to 210 countries without paying any roaming fees.
We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of credit cards and rewards programs in 2018. We look forward to keeping you in the credit card know throughout 2019. Happy New Year!
