With so many bank cards in the marketplace providing beneficial advantages and rewards, it may be difficult to resolve which one deserves an utility.
Right here at TPG, we perceive this firsthand, as our workers members typically take stock of their very own setups and weigh whether or not they need to add a brand new card to their wallets. With a number of concerns at play, the choice is just not all the time simple.
From profitable welcome bonuses to refreshed perks, many elements can affect your choice. This is a snapshot of the playing cards TPG staffers are making use of for proper now and why.
American Categorical Platinum Card (Mehdi Sijelmassi)
Welcome supply: New American Categorical Platinum Card® members can discover out their supply and could also be eligible for as excessive as 175,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome affords differ, and also you might not be eligible for a suggestion.)
Annual price: $895 (see charges and charges)
Senior Product Analyst Mehdi Sijelmassi mentioned the truth that he certified for the 175,000-point welcome supply on the Amex Platinum was an enormous driver in his choice to use. He ran the numbers on the cardboard advantages he already spends cash on and which of them he plans to make use of, and noticed that he got here out within the inexperienced.
The assertion credit that made up many of the worth for Mehdi had been:
Plus, he mentioned he is trying ahead to receiving Centurion Lounge entry and elevating his journey expertise even additional.
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To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the Amex Platinum.
*Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
#Pay along with your Amex Platinum at an eligible U.S. Resy restaurant; no reservation is required.
^Legitimate on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S. Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account if you add the Amex Platinum as a fee methodology and redeem with any Amex card.
Apply right here: Amex Platinum
Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit score Card (Ben Smithson)
Welcome supply: New candidates can earn 80,000 bonus factors and a 25,000-point World Companion Award after spending $4,000 or extra on purchases throughout the first 90 days from account opening.
Annual price: $395
The Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit score Card is on the prime of Senior Factors and Miles Author Ben Smithson’s want listing, although he is by no means flown Alaska Airways (and mentioned he most likely by no means will).
Ben needs to earn among the most respected airline factors in a single giant welcome bonus. He additionally sees the worth within the versatile 25,000‑level World Companion Award, which may be redeemed on all of Alaska’s airline companions, together with American Airways and British Airways. That perk is good even for somebody like Ben, who is predicated in London and would not fly with Alaska Airways.
To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the Atmos Rewards Summit.
Apply right here: Atmos Rewards Summit
Citi Strata Premier Card (Julie Hong)
Welcome supply: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months from account opening.
Annual price: $95
Senior PR Supervisor Julie Hong opened the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see charges and charges) as a result of she’s keen to begin transferring Citi ThankYou Rewards factors to American Airways.
Plus, she has the Citi Double Money® Card (see charges and charges) and can be capable to mix rewards from that card with these from the Strata Premier for a greater switch ratio.
With the Double Money alone, Julie might switch her ThankYou factors to American Airways AAdvantage at a 1:0.7 ratio, which means 1,000 ThankYou factors would turn into 700 American Airways miles. Nonetheless, by pairing the Strata Premier along with her Double Money, she’ll unlock a better 1:1 switch ratio and obtain 1,000 American Airways miles for each 1,000 ThankYou factors transferred.
To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the Strata Premier.
Apply right here: Citi Strata Premier
United Explorer Card (Rachel Craft)
Welcome supply: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual price: $0 introductory annual price for the primary yr (then $150 thereafter)
She’s lastly pulling the set off as a result of she needs to do a safari subsequent yr, and United Airways has 80,000-mile business-class award flights from Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN) to numerous cities in Africa. She has additionally acquired a barely larger customized welcome supply (80,000 miles), which is simply sufficient to cowl one in every of her flights.
To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the United Explorer.
Apply right here: United Explorer
World of Hyatt Credit score Card (Olivia Mittak)
Welcome supply: Earn as much as 60,000 bonus factors:
- 30,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening
- 30,000 extra bonus factors by incomes 2 bonus factors per greenback spent within the first six months from account opening (on purchases that usually earn 1 bonus level; on as much as $15,000 spent)
Additionally, earn two whole tier-qualifying night time credit towards Hyatt elite standing (for every eligible night time stayed with Hyatt from Oct. 16, 2025, to Jan. 31, 2026, on as much as 15 nights).
Annual price: $95
Credit score Playing cards Editor Olivia Mittak is within the World of Hyatt Credit score Card (see charges and charges) for its Class 1-4 free night time certificates and the power to earn qualifying night time credit for standing.
By redeeming the cardboard’s annual free night time certificates, Olivia can simply offset the $95 annual price, since any keep costing no less than $96 per night time places her forward.
To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the World of Hyatt card.
Apply right here: World of Hyatt card
Backside line
TPG staffers strategy every new card strategically. They think about their present playing cards, upcoming journeys and the place new perks will add probably the most worth.
There is no single greatest technique, however by reviewing your playing cards and objectives, you’ll be able to construct a setup that helps your journey ambitions — identical to our consultants.
Associated: How to decide on the most effective bank card for you
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
