The Platinum Card® from American Express is a charge card designed for those who have an excellent credit history, can pay in full each month, and want to avoid accumulating credit card debt.

This platinum card is by far one of the most glamorous of all platinum cards - offering numerous benefits and services to cardholders. In addition to the services provided by the gold card, the platinum card offers a concierge service, exclusive shopping discounts, up to $500,000 in travel accident insurance, and various travel related discounts, benefits, and services for cardholders (too many to list here). Read the ‘Additional Perks’ section (see below) as some of the benefits are quite impressive and unique.

Access to the Membership Rewards® program is free and offers cardholders the opportunity to redeem accumulated points for various services and benefits. For those who are not familiar with the Membership Rewards® program, it is by far one of the best and most flexible reward programs available, with no expiration or yearly limit applied towards points earned. Plus, cardholders get 25,000 bonus points when they spend $1,000 in their first three months of membership - that\'s the equivalent of one domestic airline ticket.

Of course, all these services and benefits come with a hefty price - a $450 annual fee, which is one of the highest annual fees in the credit card industry. Due to its high annual fee, this card should be exclusively used by those who spend at least $3,500 - $4,500 or more on their credit cards each month, frequently travel, and plan to take advantage of the many exclusive benefits offered.

Therefore, those who will take advantage of the many services and discounts and plan to spend several thousand dollars a month will benefit most from the Platinum Card® from American Express.

Card Last Review 2009-09-01

The Delta Reserve Credit Card, issued by American Express®, is fit for Delta frequent flyers with good credit who want to earn miles with little effort.

Although the rewards program offers the standard one mile for every dollar spent on purchases, cardholders will be happy to know that they can earn two miles for every eligible dollar spent buying groceries, at drugstores, home improvement and hardware stores, gas stations, and for certain U.S. postal services. Cardholders can pay for all or part of their flight with miles earned through the Pay with Miles option.

For cardholders who are interested in earning miles more speedily, they will rack up to 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after making their first purchase with the card. Cardholders will also earn up to 30,000 MQMs with Built-in Miles Boost(SM) for spending $30,000 in one year. If they spend $60,000 in a year, that will add an additional 15,000 MQMs and bonus miles toward their reward account.

MQMs can either be used towards upgrading to Medallion® status or passed on to friends and family members who have Delta SkyMiles® accounts of their own. Every year, cardholders will also be awarded a free companion certificate for domestic travel in either coach or first-class.

In addition to the bonus miles that can be earned, cardholders will have access to a wealth of American Express® benefits. Some of the conveniences offered include concierge services, car rental insurance, travel accident insurance, roadside assistance, and emergency services if a card is ever lost, Global Assist® access, and a year-end summary of all account activity. There are also a few protection services available to cardholders which includes extended warranties, purchase return and protection, and a fraud protection guarantee.

This card offers a reduced annual fee of $395 for eligible existing American Express cardmembers. Otherwise the basic annual fee is $450. Additional cards are available at the annual rate of $175 per card.

Bottom line, the Delta Reserve Credit Card is perfect for people who can spend enough to maximize the benefits of carrying the card. An ideal card carrier should not have a problem with the above average rates.

Card Last Review 2009-09-01