Rosemarie Clancy

Apple Card – Credit Score & Income Needed + Odds of Approval

November 29, 2021 by Rosemarie Clancy

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If you’re a fan of Apple, you may be wondering if the tech giant’s branded credit card is a good fit for you. This titanium card designed by Apple is a card that lets you earn cash back on your purchases rather than earning miles or points like many other rewards cards. So does the Apple card deserve a place in your digital wallet?

For starters, it has no annual fee so you don’t have to worry about getting charged to carry this card. The card also doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees or even late fees, so you don’t have to worry too much about those either, though a late payment will cause you to accrue more interest and it will affect your credit score negatively so that’s something to avoid.

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Pre-Approval Without a Credit Inquiry

You can usually see if you’re approved for this card in less than a minute without taking a ding on your credit score initially, which usually goes down by a few points with a hard inquiry. Apple’s card issuer will tell you what your credit limit and interest rate will be, but your credit score will not be impacted unless you accept the offer. Don’t worry though, because hard inquiries are usually removed within a few months.

Before you fill out an application for the Apple card, let’s go over the earning potential to see if it’s a good choice for your spending patterns. There are many generous credit card offers in the market, and many card issuers have rules about how many cards you can apply for in a specific period of time so you should keep that in mind if you plan to apply for other cards in the near future.

Bonus Earning Categories

You’ll earn 3% cash back on purchases at Apple stores, within the App Store and for Apple services. But most people don’t shop at the Apple store that often so unless you spend a lot on apps as well, this bonus category is limited.

You can also earn 3% cash back at select merchants when you use the Apple card with Apple Pay, which is the digital wallet on iPhones. Merchants include Uber and Uber Eats, Walgreens and Duane Reade drug stores, in-store T-Mobile, Nike (in US stores, on the website or through Nike apps), Exxon and Mobil gas stations, and Panera restaurants. All of these purchases must be made using Apple Pay to qualify for 3% cash back.

All other purchases made using the card through Apple Pay earn 2% cash back, and everything else purchased using the Apple card earns 1% cash back. Keep in mind that Apple Pay is not accepted everywhere in the US and is even more limited in acceptance overseas.

Who is the Apple Card For?

The Apple card is good for someone who buys Apple products. You may be planning to purchase a new iPhone or MacBook from the Apple store and if that’s your goal, you can get 3% cash back and you can even choose to pay in installments and avoid interest for a period of time.

It’s also good for iPhone users that use Apple Pay for contactless payments as this category earns 2-3% cash back depending on the merchant. The list of merchants that offer 3% are limited to those listed above, so unless you use those merchants regularly the Apple credit card may not be very rewarding.

If you don’t like waiting, then this card might be a good choice for you. You can apply for the card through Apple Pay on your iPhone, and if your application is successful you can start using the card through the app immediately.

Also, you won’t have to wait a month to get your rewards with the Apple card because cash back is applied every day so you don’t have to wait until the next billing cycle as you do with most other cash back cards. You do need to have an Apple Cash account to get the cash immediately, but if you don’t have one then it will be applied as a statement credit.

The Apple card also has a neat feature that lets you choose an amount to pay on your card and it will estimate the interest cost in real time, which may help with financial planning. You might pay off your card faster when you see the savings.

You do need to be 18 years or older and a US citizen or lawful resident. You also need to use two-factor authentication with your Apple ID and sign into iCloud with your Apple ID to be eligible for this card. You also may be required to use your driver’s license or state-issued ID to verify your identity

Credit Score Range Typically Required

There is not a lot of information on what specific credit score is likely to be approved for this card because that information is largely crowd sourced, and because this Apple card was only introduced in 2019 so the amount of feedback from applicants is limited.

Apple primarily uses the FICO Score 9 which ranges from 300 to 850, and on their website it indicates that a score of 660 or more is considered “favorable” to obtain the Apple card.

This card is issued by Goldman Sachs, who will use your FICO and other credit scores, your credit report and the income you report on your application to make a decision. If you have a freeze on your credit report, be sure to lift that temporarily before you apply for the card.

What’s included in my credit score?

The most important factor in determining your credit score is payment history. It accounts for 35% of your score and it will help the lender determine the risk they are taking if they give you a line of credit.

The second most important factor is the amount you owe, which is also known as your debt-to-credit ratio. This is calculated by looking at how much of your available credit you are using, and this accounts for 30% of the score.

The length of credit history makes up 15% of your score. A longer credit history is preferable, but not critical for a good credit score. This part of the score includes the age of your oldest account, the age of your newest account and the average age of all your other accounts. It also looks at usage to see how long ago you used some accounts.

Your credit mix, which includes credit cards and different types of loans including mortgages, student loans and car financing, makes up 10% of your score. New credit accounts for the last 10% so this part of your score is lowered if you have opened a number of new credit accounts recently.

Income Level and Other Factors Considered

There is no specific income level required to be approved for the Apple Card, but you will be asked what your income is on the application and you’ll also be asked how much you pay for housing.

Credit card issuers have their own data that they can use to compare your income and obligations against current customers with a similar profile to help them determine your creditworthiness.

The key thing they are trying to determine is your ability to pay off your debt, so if more than half your income is going toward housing and you have debt like student loans that you are paying off, then you may not be a good credit risk and will be declined.

If approved for the card, the initial credit limit is determined by looking at your income and the minimum payments due on your existing debt to determine your ability to pay off your new Apple card.

Odds of Approval

Even though Apple indicates that a score of 660 is favorable for approval, that is only considered a fair credit rating. If your score is in the good or excellent range you will have a much better chance of getting approved.

If your score is below 600, you likely won’t be approved. There are some other things that might cause you to be declined for the Apple card including being past due on payments recently, having a checking account closed for overdrafting your account, having a judgement against you from litigation, having property that’s been repossessed or having negative public records like a tax lien or bankruptcy filing,

If you’re heavily in debt and you don’t earn enough to meet your obligations that will also lead to a declined application. And if you’ve maxed out your credit lines in the last three months or you’ve opened a lot of new accounts recently those are also red flags.

Issuer Rules

One thing you don’t have to worry about are the rules that many credit card issuers have implemented in recent years to try and stop people from applying for too many cards to get sign-up bonuses. Chase for example has a 5/24 rule, where you can’t apply for more than five cards with any card issuers in two years or you will be automatically denied.

Also, because Wells Fargo does not issue as many credit cards as Chase, Citi or American Express you likely don’t have to worry about the Apple card issuer denying you because you already have too many credit cards or lines of credit with the bank.

Why the Apple Card May Not Be Right For You

Now that we’ve gone over all the reasons why you might want to apply for the Apple credit card, let’s talk about why this card may not be a good choice.

This card is not good for someone who is interested in a sign-up bonus as the card does not come with one. Many cash back cards offer a welcome offer of $200 like the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express even has a $300 welcome offer.

There is no 0% APR introductory offer, though you can use your card to pay for Apple products in monthly installments if you check out using that option. But if you buy your Apple device from another retailer you can’t pay off that purchase over time and avoid interest.

If you’re thinking of getting the Apple card to pay for a new tech product, you might want to consider the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card for more flexibility on where you make the purchase. The Citi card comes with a 0% introductory APR for 15 months (variable APR of between 14.74% and 24.74% after that) and it includes a $200 sign-up bonus after you spend $750 in the first three months of having the card.

If you don’t own an iPhone 6 or later, then this is probably not the best card for you because bonus points are primarily earned when making purchases through Apple Pay and that does not work on older phones. And if you’re an Android user, this also won’t be a good card for you as you won’t have access to Apple digital wallet and will be limited to 1% cash back on purchases.

There are plenty of other cash back cards that offer 1.5% or more in cash back on all purchases, so one of those cards might be more rewarding. The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card for example offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases and the Citi Double Cash credit card offers 1% cash back when you make the purchase and another 1% when you pay off the balance.

Final Thoughts

If you’re planning a big purchase from the Apple store, the Apple card may be a good choice. And if you use Apple Pay for most of your purchases, this card can be very rewarding especially if you order Ubers to get around and for meal deliveries or if you use the merchants that offer 3% cash back.

If you don’t plan to pay off your card when the statement comes due, then a 0% interest card will give you time to pay off your balance and save you money in the long run because paying interest on a credit card will totally negate any rewards you’ve earned.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

Best Ways to Earn Citi ThankYou Points

October 1, 2021 by Rosemarie Clancy

Citi ThankYou Points are a flexible currency rewards program like American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards. You earn ThankYou points by using your Citi debit or credit cards, and points can be redeemed for travel in the bank’s online booking portal or they can be transferred to airline programs if you have one of its premium cards.

Citi partners with 17 airlines programs including American Airlines AAdvantage and JetBlue TrueBlue here in the US. The others are foreign carrier programs including the popular Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest and Qatar Airways Privilege Club.

Transfer rates are usually 1:1 for most programs, but that can vary according to the card you have. You must have either the Citi Prestige or Citi Premier® Card to convert ThankYou points to miles in an airline program.

There are only a handful of Citi cards that earn ThankYou points, though the Citi Prestige premium travel credit card is not being offered for the foreseeable future and may be discontinued. It’s also possible it may get an overhaul to make it more competitive in the crowded premium travel credit card market.

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Which Citi Cards Earn ThankYou Points?

The Citi Prestige is not currently available to new applicants, but if you have it in your wallet you can still use it to earn and redeem points. Because this was the top-of-the-line card that has a $495 annual fee, it has the best earning and redemption options.

The two major credit cards that earn ThankYou points and are available for new applicants are the Citi Premier® Card, which is a mid-tier card with a $95 annual fee, and the Citi Rewards+® Card, which rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase and has no annual fee.

Citi also lets you earn ThankYou points for using your debit card, it has a new cashback card that earns 5x ThankYou points per dollar spent, and also a co-branded telecom card that offers these rewards.

In this article, we’ll go over all the ways that you can boost your ThankYou points balance through bonus earning categories and other strategies. All cards noted earn at least one point per dollar spent, though we are focusing on options to maximize your points earned through bonus opportunities.

Sign-Up and Welcome Bonuses

Sign-up bonuses are one of the best ways to get a lot of points after meeting minimum spend requirements. For a limited time, both the Citi Premier card and the Citi Rewards+ card are offering elevated sign-up bonuses.

Now is a good time to get the Citi Premier card because it has its best ever sign-up bonus of 75,000 points!

You also need to have either this card or the Prestige to transfer points to airlines, and since the Prestige card is not currently available this is your best bet if you want to convert these points to miles. This card has a $95 annual fee.

The Citi Rewards+ credit card is offering 20,000 points after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first three months.

This card has no annual fee and is offering a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. After the intro period a variable APR of 14.24% to 24.24% applies.

Open a Newly Launched Product – Like Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

Citi has also introduced a new card called the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card card which gives you 5% cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle up to $500, then it earns 1%.

There is no need to enroll in rotating bonus categories to get the 5x points. Eligible categories are drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, live entertainment, restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, and select travel, transit and streaming services.

What’s important to know on this one is that cash back is earned as ThankYou points which can be redeemed for travel or you can choose to get a statement credit or a check or explore other redemption options.

This new card comes with $200 cash back after you spend $750 in purchases in the first three months of having the card. It also has a 0% introductory APR for 15 months that is good for purchases and balance transfers. A variable APR of 14.24% to 24.24% apply after the intro period.

There is no annual fee.

Or the Citi AT&T Access Card

The AT&T Access Credit Card from Citi earns 2x ThankYou points per dollar spent online at retail and travel websites and on products and services from AT&T including phone accessories and tablets. It earns one ThankYou point per dollar on everything else.

This card comes with a 10,000 point sign-up bonus after you make $1,000 in purchases in the first three months after opening the card. There is no annual fee.

Or the Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer is another way to earn double ThankYou points. You don’t earn them directly, but you can convert rewards earned to the flexible currency. This card gives you one point when you make a purchase and another point when you pay it off.

This is a fairly new option on this card and it turns the already popular cashback card into a ThankYou point earning powerhouse. There is no annual fee for this card.

Spend with your Citi Debit Card

Citi is unique in that it lets you earn ThankYou points by using your debit card. To start earning this way, you enroll your eligible checking account in the ThankYour Rewards program and set up one qualifying direct deposit and one qualifying bill payment each statement cycle.

If you don’t have a Citi checking account, you can open one to start earning ThankYou points this way if you use your debit card more than a credit card. This is not new. It was actually a big component of the ThankYou program which was designed to reward banking customers.

Go Travel Somewhere

Travel is an obvious bonus earning category for travel rewards programs, and Citi is very generous in how it defines travel. It includes airlines as well as travel agencies including travel aggregators and tour operators.

If you currently hold the Citi Prestige card you can earn 5x ThankYou points on travel purchases in those categories, though hotel and cruise line bookings will only earn 3x points with this card. One way around this is to book your hotel or cruise through a travel agent to get the 5x points.

The next best option if you don’t have the Prestige, is the Citi Premier card which earns 3x on travel.

Go Grocery Shopping

Another popular bonus points earning category is supermarkets. To get extra points in this category, use your CitiRewards+ card, which earns 2x ThankYou points on up to $6,000 per year in combined supermarket and gas station purchases for a maximum bonus of 12,000 points per year in this category and one point after that.

After you max out that bonus category or if you don’t have this card, there are still a few ways to earn bonus points for grocery shopping. You can use the new Custom Cash card and get 5x points if supermarkets are your top spending category in any month, or you can use the Double Cash card as noted in the dining section above.

Fill Up the Tank

Gas station purchases are also a popular category for consumers seeking rewards for their everyday spending. The Citi Premier card offers 3x points in this category, and the Citi Rewards+ earns 2x points on up to $6,000 in combined purchases per year on groceries and gas. Citi includes all gas station purchases in this category, not just fuel.

Dine Out

Prior to pandemic and Covid-19, Dining has always been a popular category for travel rewards cards, and Citi recognizes that by having it as a top earning category for people collecting ThankYou points. The Citi Prestige card earns 5x points per dollar on dining, takeout and deliveries, and the Premier card earns 3x points.

In addition to establishments serving food, Citi also includes fast food restaurants as well as bars, cafes, taverns, lounges and nightclubs in this category. Some other card issuers do not allow bonus point earning in the dining category for these kinds of places. But some places that serve food but are in a larger establishment like an airport or amusement park will not code as dining.

Keep in mind that if dining is your top spending category, the Citi Custom Cash card will give you 5x for that category. And you can earn 2x points on dining if you use the Citi Double Cash card and convert those points once the bill is paid. This holds true for any of the bonus categories below as well.

Go to a Ball Game

When it comes to entertainment, the best Citi card to earn bonus points is the Citi Premier card, which earns 2 x points. Entertainment includes amusement parks, movie theaters, sports, theatrical productions and tourist attractions.

With all of the recent changes in its lineup of cards, it’s clear that Citi is trying to bolster its ThankYou Points rewards program by giving people new ways to earn those points. They also may be revamping their premium rewards card behind the scenes.

It looks like they may be taking a page from Chase’s playbook on how they built their Ultimate Rewards program. Before Chase introduced the Sapphire line of cards, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was a flexible cash back card that let you choose the option of earning cash back or Ultimate Rewards. By allowing customers to convert their Citi Double Cash rewards to ThankYou points, they will increase the branding of the ThankYou Rewards program.

Chase also introduced 5% rotating bonus categories similar to what Discover offers, and we are now seeing that with the new Custom Cash card that is offering 5x on your top category and rewards you with ThankYou points that can be used for travel or converted.

My prediction is that Citi will reintroduce its premium Prestige card, perhaps with a new name. Watch for a big splash if/when that comes out. If they follow Chase’s lead there will be a huge sign-up bonus like we saw when the Chase Sapphire Reserve launched.

Citi may try to lure customers with a smaller annual fee than the Chase SapphireReserve or the Platinum card from American Express, both of which have increased their annual fees this past year or so.

Final Thoughts

If you are currently holding the Citi Prestige card and are considering downgrading it, think twice about that especially if you spend a lot on travel and dining as this is the only Citi card that lets you earn 5x in those categories and Citi has halted applications for it.

If you are planning to transfer your ThankYou points to an airline program, you need to have either the Citi Prestige or the Premier card. If you don’t currently hold the Premier card, then it might be a good time to apply.

If you make a lot of small purchases, the Citi Rewards+ is a good idea to boost your points balance. For example, every $2 cup of coffee will automatically round up to reward you with 10 ThankYou points.

With the elevated bonuses in place, this is a great time to add either the Premier or Rewards+ card to your wallet. If you don’t already have either one, think about applying for both cards while the limited time bonus offers are in place. Together they will reward you with 80,000 bonus points and minimum spend for both is $5,500 and only one annual fee is involved for a cost of $95. That’s a nice stash of ThankYou points for a small outlay of cash.

If you’re not a big fan of cashback cards because you like to use your points for travel, it’s time to give the Citi Double Cash card a second look. The ability to earn 2x points on all purchases is very valuable, especially now that you can convert those points to miles.

And finally, the new Custom Cash card is also worth considering because of its ability to earn 5x ThankYou points in your top spending category every month.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

How to Earn American Express Membership Rewards Points Fast

August 26, 2021 by Rosemarie Clancy

The American Express Membership Rewards program is one of the largest credit card rewards programs and the most established flexible points programs. Reward programs with flexible currency are very popular with travelers because cardholders can use reward points to purchase travel or they can be transferred to hotel and airline programs.

Many travelers prefer flexible redemption options because they don’t always have flexible travel plans. With flexible points, you can transfer points to over a dozen American Express travel partners or you can use your points to book travel directly through Amex. This is a great option when awards seats are limited or if you are not familiar with how airline programs work or don’t have the time to search for award space.

The Amex rewards program is also popular because the card issuer has a lot of credit cards that let you earn Membership Rewards. They range from ones with no annual fee to premium cards. Cardholders earn one point for every dollar spent and they earn bonus points on select categories depending on the card.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

Which Cards Earn Membership Rewards?

Popular Amex cards that earn Membership Rewards points include:

the Amex EveryDay and Amex EveryDay Preferred cards,
the American Express® Green Card,
Blue from American Express,
American Express® Gold Card and
the The Platinum Card® from American Express.

For small business owners, the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, the American Express® Business Gold Card and the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express are the most popular ones that earn Membership Rewards points.

Amex also issues a number of co-branded hotel and airline cards, but these cards earn miles or points in the associated airline or hotel loyalty program rather than the Amex Membership Rewards program. Amex also has a number of cashback cards which also earn points, but those are redeemed for cash and are not Membership Rewards points so keep that in mind when choosing a card.

All American Express cards that earn points in the Membership Rewards program earn 1x point per dollar spent. You can maximize the points you earn by using an Amex card that lets you earn bonus points in select categories.

In this article, we’re going to cover some of the ways you can boost your Membership Rewards points balance by taking advantage of bonus points earning opportunities using both personal and business charge and credit cards issued by American Express.

12 Ways to Earn Amex Rewards Points Quickly

Take Advantage of Sign-Up Bonuses

Credit card sign-up bonuses are the best way to jumpstart your Amex rewards balance or build your points stash. There are five personal American Express credit cards that offer welcome bonuses to get you on your way. Amex will only allow you to earn one sign-up bonus for any particular card so it’s a good idea to apply when there is an elevated offer.

Two Amex cards are currently offering big bonuses for a limited time including the Platinum Card from American Express, which is currently offering a whopping 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 in the first six months you have the card. The card does have a $695 annual fee though, so make sure the rewards and benefits are worth it for you before hitting the apply button.

If that annual fee is too high for you, then you might want to consider the Amex Gold card, which has a $250 annual fee and an elevated sign-up bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $4,000 within the first six months. Most other Amex cards in the Membership Rewards program also offer sign-up bonuses, but these are the two largest bonuses currently available for personal cards.

Find Bonus Spending Categories that Fit Your Life

Bonus spending categories are a great way to maximize your points earning ability. It’s a good idea to make sure the card you are applying for rewards you in the areas where you spend the most.

For example, as part of its sign-up bonus, the Amex Platinum card lets you earn Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.. You’ll also earn 5x on flights and prepaid hotels, and one point per dollar on all other purchases.

The Amex Gold card offers 4x per dollar on dining and groceries and 3x on flights. These are both good options for travelers. Other cards in the American Express Membership Rewards lineup also have bonus spending categories, but in general the better bonuses can be found on cards with an annual fee.

Book Flights Using Amex Gold or Platinum

Book a flight using the Platinum Card by American Express (see credit score requirements) or the Amex Gold Card (see credit score requirements) and earn 5x or 3x points respectively. Airline tickets purchased through third-party airline booking sites don’t trigger the bonus so be sure to book directly with the airline.

If you spend $10,000 a year on airfare and book it with the carrier using the Platinum card, you’ll earn 50,000 points a year. The same amount charged to your Gold Card would earn 30,000 points a year.

There is no limit on bonus points earned with the Gold Card, and the bonus is maxed out if you spend $500,000 on airfare annually with the Platinum card. Most people don’t spend that much money flying, but if you travel frequently, fly first class and bring companions, you might max out this bonus. If you do, that would earn you 2.5 million Membership Rewards points.

Use Amex Travel

Use Amex Travel to book your travel and earn bonus points. Most Amex travel cards offer bonuses on bookings through their portal. For example, the Platinum offers 5x per dollar spent on prepaid hotel bookings through Amex, and the Gold offers 3x per dollar spent on airfare booked through the Amex portal. The EveryDay Preferred card earns 3x points on all travel booked through Amex Travel.

Business cards in the lineup also offer bonuses for booking through the Amex portal. The Business Platinum Card for example offers 5x on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel.

Use an Amex EveryDay card

If you don’t travel that frequently, there is a way to earn 20% or 50% extra points per month if you use one of the Amex EveryDay cards often. The no-fee Amex EveryDay card earns 2x on groceries and one point on everything else. The Amex EveryDay Prefered credit card, which carries a $95 annual fee, earns 3x per dollar spent on groceries and 2x at gas stations.

If you use one of these card cards 30 times or more per month, you’ll earn a bonus that month. The no-fee card has a 20% bonus and the Preferred version offers a 50% bonus every month you make the required number of charges.

There is no minimum amount needed to qualify for the bonus, so even buying a pack of gum will count. But if the purchases are small the bonus will be as well, so keep that in mind. You can use the card every day to buy your morning coffee and to pay for your daily commute to work and easily hit the bonus, but be sure to take advantage of bonus earning categories like gas stations and supermarkets to maximize the points you earn.

Buy Groceries

Using an Amex card to buy groceries can be very rewarding. If you use the Amex Gold Card, you can earn 4x points on groceries at US supermarkets up to $25,000 per calendar year. If you spend $1,000 a month on groceries, you’ll earn 4,000 Membership Rewards points a month or 48,000 a year.

If you use the EveryDay Preferred card for your grocery shopping and you spend $500 a month on groceries which earn 3x with that card up to $6,000 a year, you’ll earn 1,500 points per month. If you make 30 purchases of any kind to get the 50% bonus, those 1,500 points from grocery spend will become 2,250 points.

After bonus categories are maxed out, you earn one point per dollar spent, so keep track of how much spend and switch to a new Amex card with a supermarket bonus if you reach the cap.

Bonuses are only at US supermarkets and some stores that sell groceries may not be categorized by Amex as supermarkets. For example, Amex does not classify specialty food stores, superstores like Walmart or Target, or warehouse clubs like Costco as supermarkets. When in doubt, check your statement to see how the store is categorized.

Dine Out or Order Takeout

Earn 4x points per dollar spent eating out w/ Amex Gold!

If you dine out or order takeout and you have the Amex Gold card, you can earn 4x points per dollar spent on those purchases up to $25,000 per year. If you max out that category by spending a little more than $2,000 per month at restaurants or for food deliveries, that adds up to 100,000 points a year.

Also, the Platinum card is currently offering 10x points on restaurant dining worldwide and at small business in the Amex Shop Small collection as part of its welcome bonus. That bonus is only good for new cardmembers in the first six months of holding the card, and it caps out at $25,000 in combined purchases. But if you max out that bonus, it’s worth 250,000 bonus points.

Several Amex cards also offer a monthly dining credit that will automatically appear on your statement the month the purchase is made. For example, the Gold Card offers up to a $10 credit every month on orders through GrubHub, Seamless, or at the Cheesecake Factory, Boxed and participating Shake Shacks. Other certain co-branded Delta, Hilton and Marriott Amex cards also offer dining credits from $5 to $20 so check the fine print to see if your card is eligible.

Fuel Up

Fuel up or get snacks at the gas station and you can also earn bonus Membership Rewards points with Amex cards. The Amex EveryDay Preferred credit card, which is a mid-tier card that has a $95 annual fee, will earn you 2x points on US gas stations.

The American Express Business Gold Card automatically gives you 4x points for the first $150,000 in combined purchases from 2 categories each calendar year. If you spend $500 a month in gas and it is one of your top 2 spending categories, you will earn 1,000 Membership Rewards points a month.

Use an Amex Business Card

Use an Amex business card to earn bonus points. If you have the Business Gold you will earn 2x bonus points on your top two spending categories up to $150,000 as noted above. The categories that can potentially earn double points are gas stations, airfare purchased directly from the airline, US restaurant dining including takeout and delivery, advertising online, TV or radio in the US, shipping and select technology like hardware, software and cloud storage.

The Blue Business Plus card lets you earn 2x points on business expenses up to $50,000 per year. That can translate to 100,000 points. You earn one point per dollar spent after you reach that limit.

If you have the Amex Business Platinum you can earn 1.5 points per dollar spent on big purchases over $5,000 up to a million points per year. A $10,000 purchase for example will earn you 15,000 Membership Rewards points.

Review your Amex Offers

Amex Offers are discounts and bonus earning opportunities on dining, shopping and travel. The offers are linked to your card, and you can find them by logging into your account and viewing your offers by card. If you have more than one Amex card, check offers for each card as the deals vary by card. And check often as offers expire and new ones are added frequently.

The offers typically have an expiration date, but there is no limit on how many you can add so if you think you might use an offer, go ahead and add it to your Amex card and be sure to use the associated card to make the purchase.

You can enable your location to view local offers, or you can find offers for online stores, restaurant chains, gas stations and retailers. For example, current offers on some cards include an extra bonus point up to 5,000 points on bestbuy.com purchases and two extra bonus points per dollar spent at Yard House, Longhorn Steakhouse or Capital Grille. There are also offers for BP, Amoco and Shell that earn two or three bonus points per dollar spent.

Shop through Rakuten

Rakuten has partnered with Amex so you can earn membership rewards points.

Shop through Rakuten, which was formerly known as Ebates, to earn bonus points. Rakuten offers cashback rebates for in-store and online shopping, and they have partnered with American Express and you can now earn Membership Rewards instead of cash.

You need to set up a new account to earn Amex points as you can’t convert your current account from cashback to Membership Rewards. You’ll verify your Amex account by using your American Express login.

Once you sign up, you can earn 3,000 Membership Rewards points if you make a purchase over $25 in the first 90 days after opening your account. When shopping online, be sure to go to the online retailer from the Rakuten site to get the bonus offer. If you plan to use an in-store offer, you need to link your card and activate the offer.

Add more Users or Refer a Friend

You can also earn Amex Membership Rewards points for adding an authorized user or referring a friend to sign up for a card. The offers to add an authorized user are targeted or may be offered when you apply.

If you want to refer someone, go to the “Refer a Friend” section in your online account or in the app and share your custom link via text or email. The bonus points vary by card and the applicant has to be approved for you to get the points, but the Amex EveryDay and Blue Business Plus cards have a referral bonus of 10,000 points with a limit of 55,000 points earned by referrals each year.

Final Thoughts

American Express allows you to carry up to five of their credit cards at any time including business cards, so if you want to accumulate a boatload of Membership Rewards points to splurge on a first class ticket or take the whole family on vacation, you can apply for a few cards. Charge cards are not included so you can have the Amex Green, Gold or Platinum card plus five other personal or business cards.

Watch for elevated offers so you can get the biggest welcome bonus available since you can only get it once. Be sure to space out the applications to give yourself enough time to meet the minimum spend on each card. If your credit score is in the excellent range above 720, you can apply for the Gold or Platinum card. But if your score is borderline, you might want to start with the EveryDay card as it will be easier to get approved for.

When it comes time to spend, use the highest earning Amex card in your wallet for your spending categories, and be mindful of the caps on earning. You’ll be able to accumulate plenty of Membership Rewards points and reach your travel goal quickly with this strategy.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

Delta Air Lines Baggage Policy & Fees + how to avoid paying them

July 22, 2021 by Rosemarie Clancy

You may have gotten a great deal on your airline ticket, but if you don’t know what you can or can’t take on board your flight you may be in for a surprise or even a shock at the check-in counter.

Since every airline has its own unique baggage policy, it’s important to check what is or isn’t allowed so you don’t overpack or have to leave something behind at the airport. Being aware of the baggage policy for the airline you are flying on can also help you avoid unnecessary fees.

You should know the size and weight restrictions for each piece of luggage or equipment you plan to bring, how many bags you are allowed, and what items are prohibited in the cabin and in checked bags.

We’re going to take a look at Delta Air Lines baggage policy to help guide you through the packing process and let you know what you can or can’t take with you on your Delta flight. We’ll also give you some tips on how you can avoid paying baggage fees on the carrier.

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Delta Air Lines Baggage Rules

Like many airlines, Delta’s baggage allowance varies based on route, fare class, and whether you have elite status with the airline or if you carry one of it’s co-branded credit cards.

You can check in online or in the Delta app 24 hours before your flight and let the airline know how many bags you are taking with you. If you check in online, you drop your bags at the baggage drop. Let’s go over the rules for carry-on and checked bags.

You can check the baggage calculator on this page for a planned trip, or you can estimate the cost of checking bags for a particular route by entering your departure and destination as well as the type of fare you plan to purchase on Delta including Basic Economy, Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+, First Class, Delta Premium Select or Delta One.

You can also enter the dates of travel, your status with Delta’s SkyMiles frequent flyer program including whether you are a general member, Silver Medallion, Gold Medallion, Platinum Medallion or Diamond Medallion, and the type of Delta credit card you have including:

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card,
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, and
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Or the business versions of these cards.

Checked Baggage Allowance

If you’re seated in the main cabin for a flight within the US for example, you don’t get any free checked bags if you don’t have a Delta credit card or elite status. A passenger flying on a domestic flight with no status or co-branded credit card will pay $30 for their first checked bag and $40 for a second checked bag.

You generally get one free checked bag on International flights, but be sure to check Delta’s baggage calculator because that can vary by destination and fare class.

Whether you get a free bag because of your route, loyalty program elite status or Delta credit card, luggage must still be within limits or there will be an extra fee. Bags must weigh under 50 pounds, and the bag should not be more than 62 inches when you add up the length, width and height of the suitcase.

SkyMiles Elite Status

If you have Silver, Gold or Platinum Medallion status in the Delta SkyMiles loyalty program, your first checked bag is free. Medallion members traveling in basic economy, main cabin or Comfort+ seats between the US or Canada and any international destination can also check a second bag up to 50 pounds for free.

Medallion members traveling in Premium Select can check up to three free bags up to 50 pounds each, and Delta One or First Class passengers can check three free bags up to 70 pounds.

SkyMiles Credit Cards

If you carry one of six Delta SkyMiles credit cards by American Express including the Gold, Platinum or Reserve cards or business versions of those cards and you book your flight using the card, your first checked bag and a checked bag for up to eight more people traveling on your reservation is also free.

The Delta SkyMiles Gold card costs $95 a year, but the annual fee for the first year is waived. The SkyMiles Platinum card costs $250 a year, and the premium Reserve credit card costs $550 a year. Each card comes with additional benefits. For more details on sign-up bonuses and perks of holding the card, check here for details.

Include your SkyMiles number in your reservation, and the fee for the first bag for each passenger in the reservation will be waived. The free bag benefit does not apply to overweight or oversized bags.

Excess Baggage Fees

Each passenger can check up to 10 bags on Delta or Delta Shuttle flights and up to four bags on Delta Connection flights, but they have to pay a fee for each bag beyond their allowance. Overweight and oversized bags, and items with a unique size, shape or weight are subject to extra fees. And if your bag exceeds both weight and size limits you could be charged fees for both.

If you are traveling within the US, USVI or Puerto Rico, a third bag will cost $150 to check each way, and each bag beyond that up to the maximum of 10 will cost $200 each to check.

Bags from 51-70 pounds in weight will cost an extra $100 one-way, and bags weighing from 71-100 pounds will cost $200 extra. Bags over 100 pounds are not allowed.

If the bag is bigger than the total 62 linear inches allowed, it is considered oversized. If the bag is 63-80 inches (length + height + width) it will cost $200. Bags that are over 80 inches are not allowed.

Those rates can go up for international travel based on the route. This chart has full details by destination or you can view them below:

Excess Baggage Fees for International Travel

Traveling From:	Traveling To:	Bag #3	Bags 4-10
US / Canada + USVI, PR	US / Canada + USVI, PR	$150	$200 ea
US / Canada + USVI, PR	Caribbean	$150	$200 ea
US / Canada + USVI, PR	Central America	$150	$200 ea
US / Canada	Mexico	$180	$200 ea
Mexico / Caribbean / Central America	Mexico / Caribbean / Central America	$125	$200 ea
US / Canada	Honduras / El Salvador	$200	$200 ea
US / Canada	Guatemala City	$200	$285
South America	US / Canada / Mexico / Caribbean / Central America	$200	$200 ea
North / Central/ South America	Europe / North Africa	$285	$285 ea
Asia	Everywhere	$200	$200 ea
US / Canada / Mexico	Tahiti	$285	$285 ea
Brazil	Everywhere else	$200	$200 ea
All other international destinations		$200	$200 ea

Carry-On Allowance

If you don’t qualify for a free checked bag and you’re trying to avoid paying a fee to check your luggage, you might want to bring your bag on board. Delta allows one carry-on and one personal item per passenger.

The carry-on suitcase can go in the overhead bin and must be no more than 45 inches in size when you add up the length, height and width of the bag. In addition to meeting that overall size requirement, the carry-on cannot be more than 22 inches in length, 14 inches in width and 9 inches in height including handles and wheels, with the exception of small musical instruments that can fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.

There is no weight restriction for carry-on bags on most flights, but if you’re flying to Singapore (SIN) your carry-on should be under 15 pounds, and if your destination is Beijing (PEK) or Shanghai (PVG) your carry-on luggage should not be more than 22 pounds.

If the bag is too big or if the flight is very full and overhead space is limited, you will need to check your bag at the gate. There is no charge for the checked bag if it is because the plane is full. Also, if you are on a Delta Connection flight with less than 50 seats you can only bring a personal item on board.

Personal Items

In addition to a carry-on, each passenger is allowed to bring a personal item that they can store below the seat in front of theirs. Personal items include a purse, small backpack, laptop, camera bag, diaper bag or another item of a similar size.

You can also bring a few things that don’t count as your personal item like a jacket, umbrella, food and beverages purchased after you get through security, duty-free purchases, and special items like a stroller, wheelchair, child safety seat or assistive devices like a cane or crutches.

If you are planning to carry your luggage on board, keep in mind that there are restrictions on liquids, gels, aerosols and pastes. This includes beverages, hair products, toothpaste and suntan lotions. These items should not contain more than 100 milliliters (3.4 ounces) of product even if the container is only partially full.

Liquids need to be in a clear, quart-sized plastic bag that you can seal, and you will need to put it in a bin when you go through security. If you need to bring liquids that are bigger than that, they need to go in your checked luggage. There are some exceptions to this rule for necessary items like medication, breast milk, infant formula or juice which can get a special screening.

Infants and Children

All children traveling on Delta must be ticketed, but if they are under two years of age they can sit on your lap and their ticket is usually 10% of the cost of the adult ticket. Other children’s fares are discounted based on route.

Baggage rules for kids vary depending on the fare purchased. If they are traveling for free, they don’t get any baggage allowance. When traveling on an international ticket that costs 10% of the adult fare, children are allowed one checked bag up to 20 pounds with a maximum size of 34 inches (length + height + width).

You can check strollers and car seats for free, and you can bring an FAA-approved safety seat on board the plane for use during takeoff and landing if there is an empty seat in your row or if you have purchased a seat for the child.

In addition to a carry-on bag, parents can bring an infant or booster seat, bassinet, and a breast pump and cooler bag for an infant traveling with them. Seats and bassinets must be secured by a seatbelt and must meet carry-on size restrictions.

If the child’s ticket costs at least 50% of the adult’s fare, then the child gets the same baggage allowance as an adult.

Bringing Pets Onboard

You can bring a small dog, cat or bird on board the plane if they fit in a small, ventilated carrier that fits under the seat. The pet counts as your one carry-on item, but you can still bring a personal item on board.

You pay a fee each way at check-in. Fees are $125 for flights within the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. It’s $200 for international routes or flights going to/from the USVI, and $75 for flights to/from Brazil.

If your pet is too big to fit in a carrier under the seat, they would normally have to be shipped aa cargo, but that is under embargo currently because of the pandemic. Check here for updates.

There are also some exceptions for small animals. Birds are only allowed on US flights excluding Hawaii, USVI, Puerto Rico and Guam. There are also currently some temporary suspensions on bringing dogs on board that were imported from countries that have a high risk for rabies, so check this link for more information on which countries are excluded and if the suspension is still in place when you plan to travel.

Valuable, Fragile and Other Items

In addition to items for infants and children, you can also bring medical supplies and equipment on your trip but rules vary. A wheelchair can be brought on board for example, but there are some rules governing battery operated ones. Let the airline know 48 hours in advance if you plan to bring one. You can also bring syringes on board as long as you have the corresponding labeled medication.

You can’t check valuable items like cash, jewelry, electronics, photography equipment, works of art and other high-value items in your luggage. You should bring those on board with you in your personal item or carry-on. If the item being checked is fragile, you will need to sign a limited liability waiver.

If the item is too large or too fragile to put in an overhead bin, you can purchase a seat with a bulkhead or divider in front of it for the item as long as the item doesn’t block emergency exits or the aisle. It cannot weigh more than 100 pounds and must be able to be secured with a seatbelt.

You can check sports equipment like a bicycle, but it will count as a checked bag and if it is overweight it will incur those extra fees. Bikes over 100 pounds or bigger than 115 linear inches are not allowed. For more details on restrictions on particular items like golf clubs, surfboards, ski equipment and other items, check the sports equipment page link above.

You can also bring musical instruments on board the airplane or check them. Small instruments can be carried on board as your free carry-on. Bigger instruments can be checked, but cannot exceed 150 linear inches and it can’t weigh more than 165 pounds including the case. You can also choose to purchase a seat for the instrument, but it has the same size and weight restrictions as instruments checked as baggage.

Prohibited Items

The Transportation and Safety Administration (TSA) sets the rules for what you can bring on the plane or check in your luggage, so those rules are the same for all US carriers. The main things to avoid in checked bags are flammable items, and avoid bringing anything that can be used as a weapon on board.

Some things like dynamite, gunpowder, flammable liquids and other hazardous materials are obvious items to avoid packing. But there are also other prohibited things that are less obvious like cooking spray, chlorine for pools and smart luggage with non-removable lithium batteries.

You might think that alcohol is prohibited, but you can bring up to five liters of alcohol in your checked luggage if it is under 70% alcohol (140 proof). Wine is not included in this limit. And if you want to bring mini-bottles of liquor on the plane, they must fit in the quart-sized bag that has your other liquids in it.

If you’re unsure about whether an item is allowed, you can check the TSA site or reach out to the agency on Facebook or Twitter at AskTSA.

When to Pay for Baggage

Many people avoid checking bags and just pack what they can fit in their carry-on in order to avoid paying fees, waiting for luggage at their destination, and to avoid possible delayed or lost luggage. But that’s not always practical.

If you are staying a week or more, especially at a colder destination that requires bulkier clothing, you may not be able to fit everything in a carry-on. When you’re traveling with children, especially infants, you often have to bring extra gear. And if you’re planning to surf or play golf and bring your own equipment, you’ll need to check those items. These are just a few examples of times when you will need to check baggage.

Credit Cards That Reimburse You For Checked Baggage Fees

These premium cards reimburse you for baggage fees.

If you do have to check bags and pay a fee, be sure to check your wallet to see if you have an airline credit on a premium credit card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Or you can erase the charges by using points on a travel credit card issued by Capital One or Barclays. With the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card for example, you can use 3,000 points to erase a $30 baggage fee.

Exclusions & Waivers

There are some exceptions to the rules. For example, active members of the military including United States Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Navy or Coast Guard that are traveling on military orders are allowed to bring up to five free bags that are up to 80 linear inches and up to 100 pounds each regardless of fare class.

Military members traveling for personal reasons get two free bags up to 50 pounds each if they are booked in basic economy, main cabin or Comfort+. And if they are ticketed in first class, Premium Select or Delta One, they can bring three free bags up to 70 pounds each.

You also need to be careful about what airline you are on even if you booked through Delta as that carrier may have different rules. If your flight is on a Delta SkyTeam alliance or codeshare partner airline, then be sure to check on that carrier’s baggage rules.

If you have purchased duty-free items at the airport, they will not count as part of your baggage allowance or personal item. They will be delivered to your plane and you can pick them up before you board.

Final Thoughts

The best way to avoid baggage fees is to limit what you are bringing with you to a carry-on suitcase and a personal item. That’s not always possible though, so if you want to avoid baggage fees on Delta and you don’t have elite status, the easiest way to get a free checked bag is by having one of the carrier’s co-branded Amex cards.

Be sure to measure and weigh your luggage to avoid overweight and oversized baggage charges, and check the baggage calculator on the airline’s website so you are clear about how many checked bags you can bring on your flight so there are no surprises at check in.

If you do have to check bags and they are not free, be sure to check if you have any credit cards that will reimburse you for airline incidentals or allow you to erase travel charges on your card and be sure to use that card to pay for your checked bags so you can get a refund from the card issuer.
Once your bags are checked, you can track your luggage using the bag tag, confirmation or file reference number. And Delta has a 20-minute guarantee. If the bags don’t arrive at the carousel within 20 minutes of landing, you can fill out this form and get 2,500 Delta SkyMiles as compensation.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

Delta Comfort Plus – how it compares + is it worth it?

July 8, 2021 by Rosemarie Clancy

When booking airline tickets in the past, there were three choices: coach, business or first class. Over the past decade or so, airlines have introduced a few more types of fares that are sometimes confusing for travelers reserving flights.

Some of the newer fares are very basic non-refundable low fares where you pay extra for checked bags, seat assignments and early check-in. These were designed to compete with low-cost carriers that offer cheaper fares because they charge passengers for these extras. Delta introduced these fares in 2013.

While those basic fares are a step below traditional coach fares, another class of fares have also entered the market to bridge the gap between coach and the upper classes. These seats offer more comfort like extra leg room, more recline and other benefits.

In this article we are going to take a closer look at what Delta Air Lines offers with its Comfort+ fare and how it compares to other seating options offered by the carrier.

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What is Delta Comfort+

First let’s go over what it isn’t. It is not an extra cabin of service. The carrier still offers only three primary cabins on board aircraft: the main cabin, its Delta One business cabin and the first class cabin. Delta Comfort+ is available on flights that have two cabins of service based on availability, though features vary depending on the aircraft and destination.

This type of fare was first introduced by Delta as Economy Comfort on international flights in 2011 and expanded to domestic flights in 2012. That service was rebranded as Comfort+ in 2015 so it’s been around for a decade in one form or another.

It’s available on flights throughout the US, Canada, Asia Pacific region, Latin American and the Caribbean, as well as most transatlantic markets. It’s also available on flights within the Asia Pacific region; Central and South America including Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru; Africa, India and the Middle East; and most intra-European flights including the UK.

Delta Comfort+ vs Main Cabin

It’s important to note that this is not a separate cabin like first class. It’s an experience within the main cabin, according to the airline. There are three experiences for main cabin flyers including basic economy, coach and Comfort+.

If you select a Delta Comfort+ seat in the main cabin, you’ll get up to 3” of extra legroom compared to a coach seat, and you also get dedicated overhead bin space for your carry-on.

You’ll also get to board earlier than coach passengers with Sky Priority boarding because these seats are called earlier than basic economy and main cabin seats, and you’ll get off the plane quicker as well because Delta Comfort+ seats are closer to the front of the plane so passengers seated in this section will deplane sooner.

You’ll also get a seat with more legroom and recline than in the main cabin, and you’ll be served premium snacks on flights over 900 mies and complimentary alcoholic beverages on all flights that offer beverage service in the main cabin. Passengers in coach on long-haul flights do get complimentary beer, wine and spirits, but you have to pay for drinks on shorter flights.

On long-haul international flights, if you book a Comfort+ seat you’ll also get a pillow and blanket, as well as a complimentary headset and amenity kit that includes eyeshades, earplugs, a toothbrush and toothpaste. Seats on flights over 6.5 hours also recline more than coach.

A transcontinental round-trip flight from JFK to LAX that clocks in at 6 hours and 33 minutes will run you $291 in basic economy, $352 for the main cabin, but will cost $673 if you want to fly in Comfort+. First class is not offered on this route as Delta has replaced it with Delta One service, which was priced at $1,607, way more than twice the cost of Comfort+.

Delta Comfort+ vs First Class

While Delta Comfort+ seats are closer to the first class cabin and they offer amenities that are better than those offered in coach, they cost much less than first class fares. The seating and amenities in Comfort+ are better than coach, but fall short of a first class experience.

Delta First Class offers bigger, more comfortable seats in first class and elevated food and beverage offerings. You also get lounge access with first class seats, but not with Economy+. On some routes like transcontinental ones, Delta has replaced its first class service with Delta One, a premium product that offers lie-flat seats and even more amenities than first class.

For some travelers, Economy+ might be the closest they will get to the first class cabin as it is a much more affordable upgrade that comes with some nice benefits.

On some international flights, Delta One is the top cabin choice. To give you an idea of the price difference, I looked at flights from NYC to Dublin in mid-October. Basic Economy tickets cost $875 at the time of writing, a seat in the main cabin goes for $1,025, Comfort+ costs $1,277 and Premium Select is $1,416. Delta One will cost at least double on that same flight at $3,958.

As you can see on this flight, the fare jumps about $200 for each fare class upgrade, and then skyrockets when it comes to premium seats. You need to determine whether the cost of each of those incremental upgrades is worth that price to you.

Delta Comfort+ vs Premium Select

There’s also another Delta product that sounds similar to Comfort+, but it is different. Delta introduced Premium Select on some international routes on widebody aircraft in 2017.

The seats are wider, have additional recline and adjustable foot and leg rests. Premium Select seats are 19” wide, have 38” of legroom, which is 4” of extra legroom over coach seats but only one inch more than Delta Comfort+, and the recline is steeper at 7”. But so is the price.

Premium Select is only currently available on some flights and it doesn’t really compete with Delta Comfort+ in most markets as Premium Select is only available currently on some flights. And sometimes Comfort+ is a real bargain. Keep in mind that these Delta products are only available on Delta hardware, so if a flight is operated by a partner airline, these products will not be available.

For example, I checked on a flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Bangkok (BKK) route in mid-October and the lowest fare was on a flight operated by Korean Air and neither Comfort+ nor Premium Select were offered. There is also no basic economy fare on this flight as it doesn’t compete with low-cost carriers on this route.

But to give you an idea of pricing on that route on a flight operated by Delta with two stopovers, a seat in the main cabin costs $1,111 when I checked, compared to $1,150 for Comfort+. AT $40, that is definitely worth the cost to upgrade.

But watch out for multiple cabins, also referred to as mixed cabins, especially where partner airlines are involved. A flight with mixed cabins means that at least one leg of your flight has a different fare class than another, so you may not be getting the flight experience you are expecting for the whole trip.

What is the Cost to Upgrade

You can buy a Delta Comfort+ fare at the time of ticketing if it’s an option, or you can upgrade to Comfort+ after your ticket is issued. Since it is an add-on product, your ticket does not need to be reissued.

The cost to upgrade to Comfort+ will vary depending on a number of factors like the destination and demand, but it is relative to the cost of the flight in a lot of cases. I did a few quick searches to give you an idea of the price involved. A flight from JFK to San Diego in mid-August that costs $602 in the main cabin, is priced at $932 for Comfort+. A flight from JFK to Honolulu in early September was priced at $879 when I last checked, and it was $1,119 for Comfort+. You can expect to pay about 30-40% more based on my research.

You can also upgrade using miles. In general, Delta charges one cent per mile, so if the upgrade costs $100 then you will need to use 10,000 miles.

It may cost more if you want to upgrade after ticketing, but not necessarily. Delta will offer you the best price available if you choose to upgrade. Fees are charges for each segment of the flight.

You can upgrade up to three hours before your scheduled departure if seats are available. This can be done online by going to My Trips on the Delta site or in the app, or you can call reservations.

Upgrades are not available from Basic Economy seats, even if you are an elite status holder. Complimentary upgrades are also not available after boarding regardless of fare class or status.

Upgrades for Delta SkyMilles Members

SkyMiles members can earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) and accrue miles for the upgrades if purchased through a Delta channel including on the airline’s website, app, airport kiosk and select. If you upgrade a Delta flight in Amsterdam (AMS) or Paris (CDG), you will not earn MQDs for the purchase.

SkyMiles Medallion elite status holders and elites from partner airlines have complimentary access to Comfort+ if it is available on their flight. Delta has two categories of membership in its Delta SkyMiles program including general membership and Medallion elite membership. Within Medallion elite membership, there are four tiers including Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond.

Any person with Medallion status is eligible for unlimited complimentary upgrades to first class and Delta Comfort+, but keep in mind that these upgrades are doled out according to status level and other factors so you are not guaranteed an upgrade.

Diamond and Platinum Medallion members can select upgrade certificates as part of their Choice benefits, and those global or regional upgrade certificates can then be used to upgrade to Comfort+.

You can request an upgrade in a specified time period before your flight for yourself and one companion booked on the same reservation. Diamond and Platinum Medallion members can request an upgrade right after they are ticketed. Gold Medallion members can do so 72 hours before departure, and Silver Medallion members have to wait until 24 hours before departure. If the status holder is not traveling on the original reservation, the companion will not have access.

Food and Beverages

In addition to the standard fare available in coach, passengers in Comfort+ seating get complimentary Starbucks coffee, beer, wine and alcoholic drinks on flights with beverage service in the main cabin.

There are also better snacks including fruit and premium snacks on routes over 900 miles with no meal service. For example, on flights from Atlanta (ATL) and Minneapolis (MSP) to Honolulu (HNL) you’ll be served a Luvo wrap and a frozen Greek yogurt bar.

But don’t expect the free-flowing champagne and chef-inspired meals you would get in first class or Delta One. Those cabins cost much more because you get much more including lounge access and free checked bags..

Baggage Allowance

As with all Delta flights, you will get a free carry-on and personal item included in your fare. Baggage fees for checked bags on Delta vary by route, but in general you pay $30 for your first checked bag on most flights within North America and you get one free bag on flight overseas. A second bag will cost you anywhere from $40 to $100, depending on the flight.

There are some cases where Delta Comfort+ passengers get a free first checked bag like on flights from the US to El Salvador, Ecuador and Panama and Tahiti, but in general having a seat in Delta Comfort+ will not get you an extra baggage allowance.

When it comes to getting free checked bags, having elite status or holding a co-branded credit card is usually your best bet to avoid baggage fees. For example, Medallion members get one free checked bag regardless of the route or class of service. And travelers who have the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card get one free checked bag on any Delta flight.

Is it Worth it?

As with any airfare upgrade, you should ask yourself two questions. Do I need it and can I afford it? In most cases, an upgraded flight experience is a luxury, but Comfort+ seats are not that much more expensive than coach seats and sometimes it is a necessity.

If you’re cramped sitting in a traditional coach seat because of your height, then this upgrade is probably worth it for you to be able to fly more comfortably. If you have trouble sleeping on flights and need to get some rest, then it also might make sense to upgrade.

If you have an important business meeting at your destination and want to land refreshed, Comfort+ is a much more affordable option than first class travel, so you should definitely consider this alternative.

Consider Comfort Plus for Long Flights

The upgrade to Comfort+ also makes a lot of sense on long-haul international flights when comfort and sleep are issues for many flyers. It’s also a good idea if you plan to work or stream movies on your electronic devices, as there are plugs under the seats on most flights so you won’t have to pack a battery charger and you’ll land with your devices fully charged.

Also, if you plan to buy several cocktails and they are not free on your flight, then think about how much that would cost and balance that against the cost of the upgrade. And if you enjoy more premium snacks and getting on and off the plane sooner, this upgrade may be worth it.

On the other hand, if you’re on a budget and you don’t have the money to spare, this is probably an unnecessary splurge. As with anything in life you need to balance the value of something against cost to obtain it.

Before you purchase or upgrade to a Comfort+ seat, do the math to see how much extra it will cost you, and make your own determination about whether the extra cost is worth it to you based on the benefits.

As you can see from the searches we did, the price can vary widely to upgrade from the main cabin to Comfort+. If the cost is negligible like the price difference we saw on the LAX to BKK route we searched, then go for it. A mere $40 to get more comfort and free drinks is a great bargain. Anything under $100 is probably advisable, especially on a long flight.

But when the difference is nearly double, you really need to think twice and check your budget to make sure this upgrade is worth it. And if it’s more than double, it’s probably not worth the upgrade unless you really need the legroom. Maybe you should check your mileage balance to see if you can get a better deal with an award ticket. Or if you don’t have mles, check out current credit card offers if you aspire to travel in style, but can’t afford it.

On the other hand, if you’ve got elite status and the upgrade to Comfort+ or beyond is complimentary, then it’s a no-brainer to get on the upgrade list before you fly to see if you qualify.

The bottom line: If you’re considering flying in business or first class, especially for a domestic flight, Comfort+ is a much more affordable option than Delta One or first class if you are seeking comfort and a few extra benefits to make your trip more enjoyable, but shop around on flights as the rates for upgraded service can vary widely.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

Credit Score Needed American Express® Gold Card + odds of approval

July 7, 2021 by Rosemarie Clancy

The American Express® Gold Card is a rewarding credit card that is one of the top charge cards in the Amex portfolio. The card has some great benefits and bonus point earning categories, and at $250 a year the annual fee is less than half the cost of a premium cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express or the premium Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

The Amex Gold card is currently offering 60,000 American Express Membership Rewards points after you make $4,000 in purchases in the first six months of having the card. This metal card is an impressive card to hold, and you can currently get it in Rose Gold as well. You may also be eligible for a targeted 75,000 point bonus.

Six months is a nice long window to meet minimum spend, unlike many other cards that only give you three months to meet spend and earn a sign-up bonus. You need to spend just under $700 a month to meet the Amex Gold spend requirement, which is more manageable than spending double that to earn the bonus on the mid-tier Chase Sapphire Preferred card for example.

The Gold card also comes with some generous statement credits that can help you offset the annual fee including Uber and dining credits.

If you’re considering applying for this card, continue reading our guide below to see the typical credit score required, the type of consumer(s) that can instantly qualify and to fully understand your odds of approval.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

Credit Score Range Typically Required

If you’re interested in getting the Amex Gold card, you might be wondering if you will be approved if you submit an application. Like any credit card, your credit score is an important factor. But there are other variables that Amex will consider when you apply.

You will need to have a good or excellent credit score to qualify for this card. And if your credit score is considered good, then it needs to be in the high end of that range. Many banks provide you with your credit score in their online portal, so check there or use an online service like Credit Karma to see your score.

You can also review your credit scores from the three credit bureaus which include Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Don’t be surprised if the scores are different at each agency. That’s because they all use slightly different scoring models.

What’s included in my credit score?

The credit scores from each credit reporting company should be in agreement on whether your score is poor, fair, good, very good or excellent/exceptional, as they all take the same data into consideration. Scores are based on payment history (35%), debt-to-credit ratio (30%), length of credit history (15%), credit mix (10%) and new credit (10%).

If the scores are too far away from each other though, check your credit history with the bureau who has the lower score to make sure there are no errors on your credit report that might be dragging your credit score down.

A very good FICO credit score is 740 or above, and if your score is in this range then you’ve got a very good shot at having a successful application and getting the Amex Gold card. But you can still get approved for this card if you have a score of 700, or even as low as 670. The lower your credit score is though, the better your credit history and income level needs to be to compensate.

Income Level Required

American Express does not disclose the income requirement for successful applicants, but in addition to income, they will also ask you how much you pay for rent or mortgage each month and they will crunch the numbers to check your creditworthiness and determine if you are a good credit risk.

Amex will also look at other things like how long you’ve been at your job, the amount of debt you carry, the number of open credit card accounts and how many recent hard inquiries are on your credit report, so there are more things involved in their decision than just your credit score and income.

Amex also uses its own internal data to determine your eligibility. They will gauge your ability to pay charges on the card based on what current Gold cardholders spend and how that matches your income and expenses.

You also need to be at least 18 and a US citizen or permanent resident, but this is not a card for people new to credit cards as you need to have credit history. It’s also favorable for applicants who have previously been approved for an American Express card.

Keep in mind that all the income you receive including alimony, child support and investment income can be included in what you report to American Express on your application, so be sure to include that in your calculations. You don’t have to disclose it on your application, but it will improve your odds of getting approved if your wages are not sufficient.

Odds of Approval

If your score is excellent and you have a high income, then you have an excellent chance of getting approved for this card. If you already have other cards or history with American Express that will count in your favor as well, but only if your cards are in good standing.

If your score is very good, and you only make $40,000 a year for example, you can still get approved if you have a clean credit history and low housing costs. If your credit score is hovering around 700 though, a higher income in the $50,000 or more range will boost your chances of getting approved.

But if you have a score over 800, income of $50,000 or more and a deep credit history with no issues, you will likely get instant approval. You may also want to consider the Amex Platinum card rather than the Amex Gold if your credit score and income are at these levels. You can get a rundown of the credit score required with the Amex Platinum card here.

If your income is lower, or if you have too much debt or a history of late payments, even just a few, you will likely be denied.

If you’re uncertain about your eligibility and want to avoid a ding on your credit score, you can check to see if you pre-qualify. You just enter some info including name and Social Security number and the site will show you Amex cards you will likely qualify for. But even if you don’t see the Gold card among your offers, you can still apply. An approval is much more likely though if Amex has pre-determined that you are a good candidate for the Gold card.

Who is the Amex Gold Card For?

The American Express Gold Card is a great fit for travelers because it has a lot of travel benefits, and you get the most value out of Membership Reward points when redeemed for travel. It also earns 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, which will help you earn rewards faster to reach your travel goal.

It’s also a good Membership Rewards earning card for foodies and almost anyone because it earns 4x points for dining, takeout and food delivery worldwide, and 4x on purchases at US supermarkets up to $25,000 per calendar year. That can add up to 100,000 points annually for buying groceries if you max out that bonus.

While some other cards added food purchases as a temporary bonus category during the pandemic, the 4x earning on Amex Gold dining and groceries is not likely to change as it was in place before COVID. The Citi Prestige card is one of the few cards that offers a bigger bonus for dining at 5x points per dollar spent, but that card has a $495 annual fee. All other purchases made using the Gold card earn one point per dollar.

Travelers will benefit the most by holding the Amex Gold card though, because Membership Rewards are a valuable, flexible currency that can be used to book travel with Amex, or they can be transferred to airline or hotel programs for even greater potential value. If you don’t travel much, they can also be used for gift certificates or you can pay with points at popular sites like Amazon or Best Buy.

It’s also easier to get the Gold card than the Platinum Card, which is the top credit card available to the public from Amex. There is only one card that is more prestigious than the Platinum, and it is much more difficult to get and much more expensive to hold. It is the Centurion Card from American Express and by invitation only, so you won’t be invited to apply for that Black card unless you’re already an Amex cardholder and you make and spend a lot.

American Express Rules

There are a few other things that may cause you to get denied for the Amex Gold even if you have an excellent credit score and good income. Like other banks and credit card issuers, Amex has some rules to stop people from applying for too many credit cards.

It should be at least five days since you last applied for an Amex card. For example, if you applied for the Amex Platinum card and got an instant decision denying your application, wait a week before you apply for the Gold card. You also should not apply for more than two Amex cards in a 90-day period, even if your application was denied.

American Express also has a rule that indicates you can only have five active Amex cards with a preset spending limit, including both personal and business cards. The Gold card however, does not have a preset spending limit so this rule won’t likely be an issue.

One last rule to keep in mind is that you can only get a welcome bonus one time for each of its products. That means if you previously got a sign-up bonus for the American Express Gold Card, or the American Express Premier Rewards Gold as it was known before it rebranded in 2018, then you are not eligible for another welcome bonus.

Is the Gold Card Worth the Annual Fee?

If you think your credit score, history and income are good enough to qualify, then you might be wondering if this card is worth the annual $250 fee. Let’s take a look at the value of the welcome bonus and the statement credits and benefits and that can offset the fee.

The 60,000 point bonus can vary in value depending on how you redeem the points, but it is worth $600 in travel booked through the Amex portal where points are worth a penny a piece. You can also transfer the points to a hotel loyalty or an airline rewards program, which usually offers the highest potential value.

Airline Transfer Partners

Amex Membership Rewards transfer to16 airline programs that include carriers in the three major airline alliances at a ratio of 1:1 for most carriers, so the Amex Gold bonus could be turned into 60,000 miles.

Airline transfer partner programs include Aer Lingus AerClub, Aeromexico Club Premier, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Alitalia MilleMiglia, ANA Mileage Club, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Avios, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Delta SkyMiles, El Al Matmid Frequent Flyer Club, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, HawaiianMiles, Iberia Plus, JetBlue TrueBlue, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Singapore KrisFlyer and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

There are many redemption possibilities with all these airline partners, but to give you an idea of the value of 60,00 miles, two round-trip domestic tickets on one of the legacy carriers cost an average of 50,000 miles. Or you can book a one-way business class ticket to Europe for about 60,000 points. The best way to get the most value per mile is usually by booking international travel in first or business class.

Hotel Transfer Partners

You can also transfer your Amex Membership Rewards points to three hotel programs including Choice Privileges (1:1 ratio), Hilton Honors (1:2 ratio) and Marriott Bonvoy (1:1). These transfers don’t always represent the best value even when you get two points per MR in the Hilton program, but if you just need a few thousand more points for an award stay in one of the programs, then it’s nice to have this option. It can also make sense if a particular property has a great redemption rate for a certain property.

To check the redemption value of airline and hotel bookings, just compare the cash price you would pay to determine the value of the points you would need to redeem to get the award ticket or night.

You can also use points for gift cards, cover charges on your statement or for other redemptions like Uber rides, but some of these don’t offer the best redemption value so you may get as little as half a penny per point. But even at that low-value redemption, those welcome points are worth at least $300.

Statement Credits

If you take advantage of statement credits available on the American Express Gold Card, you can get up to $240 annually, which covers the annual cost of the card. There is also an Uber Eats pass that is available for a limited time and is valued at $119.

The Amex Gold card comes with up to $120 in Uber Cash. When you add your Gold card to your Uber account, you get an automatic $10 credit every month that can be used for Uber rides in the US or Uber Eats. You’ll also earn 4x bonus points on all Uber food deliveries purchased using your Gold card.

Amex Gold also has an additional Uber benefit that is available to new cardholders who apply before the end of 2021. You’ll get 12 complimentary months of Uber Eats Pass once you enroll. The pass eliminates delivery fees and gives you a 5% discount on orders over $15.

The card also comes with a $120 annual dining credit. You can get up to a $10 monthly statement credit for Grubhub, Seamless, Boxed and other participating dining partners. You have to enroll in this offer when you get the Gold card, and use it to pay for your purchase to get the credit each month.

Travel Benefits

The travel benefits that come with the card also add value if you use the benefits. If you book a hotel in the Hotel Collection with American Express Travel, you get a $100 credit that can be used at the hotel for things like dining or spa treatments. Qualifying activities vary by property.

If your baggage is damaged, lost or stolen while you’re on a plane, train, ship or bus on a ticket purchased using the Gold card, you have coverage up to $1,250 for carry-ons and up to $500 for checked baggage. There’s also trip delay insurance of up to $300 if your trip is delayed more than 12 hours because of a covered reason. It can be used twice a year for eligible expenses including meals, lodging and toiletries.

You’ll also have access to the Global Assist Hotline when you travel more than 100 miles from home. It is available around the clock for financial, legal, medical and other emergencies and can help you get cash in an emergency and assist with missing luggage in addition to other services.

The Gold card also comes with car rental loss and damage insurance. Pay for the rental using the card and decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) at the counter when you pick up the car, but check with the card issuer when you make your booking to make sure the coverage applies to the location you are renting from and for the vehicle you are renting as there are some exclusions.

You also have access to personalized travel services to book your trip, and when you make purchases overseas there are no foreign transaction fees.

Shopping and Entertainment

You can book American Express cardmember-only experiences with the Gold card including Broadway shows, concerts and sporting events. You will also have access to premium seating for select events with the Preferred Seating benefit.

You’ll also be eligible for Amex Offers which are discounts and/or bonus points earning opportunities when you shop at featured retailers online or in store.

Other Benefits

The American Express App also has local offers that you can take advantage of. And you can use the Send & Split feature to send money to other Venmo and PayPal users without being charged the standard credit card fee.

Or you can split a dinner bill with a PayPal or Venmo user and get a credit back to your Gold card, and you’ll earn rewards on the bill paid. You do need to enroll to use this service. You can also add anyone over 13 as an authorized user and earn rewards on their purchases.

Ways to Pay Your Card

You should be aware that the Amex Gold is a charge card, and while it doesn’t have a preset spending limit, your credit line is not limitless. If you are planning a big purchase, you might want to check with the issuer to make sure there is a big enough credit line and to ensure that the purchase is not flagged as fraud.

To avoid diluting the value of points earned, we recommend paying off your balance every month. But the Amex Gold charge card will allow you to pay the minimum amount due and use the Pay Over Time feature where you carry the balance with interest of 15.99% to 22.99% depending on your creditworthiness.

There is also a Plan It feature that allows you to split large purchases into monthly payments with a fixed fee, though there is a limit on the amount you can carry as a balance or move to a plan.

Final Thoughts

Now is a great time to apply for the American Express Gold Card. Not only is travel opening up again after the pandemic, but you might be eligible for the targeted 75,000 point welcome bonus, and the popular Rose Gold card is also currently available.

If you are approved for the Gold card, make sure you channel enough spend to the card to get the welcome bonus. Don’t forget to use it for groceries, dining and food orders to earn the 4x bonus points on those categories, and use it for your travel bookings to get the 3x bonus. And remember to use the monthly dining and Uber statement credits to make sure you get the full value of Gold card membership.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

Rosemarie Clancy

Pre-Approval Without a Credit Inquiry

Bonus Earning Categories

Who is the Apple Card For?

Credit Score Range Typically Required

What’s included in my credit score?

Income Level and Other Factors Considered

Odds of Approval

Issuer Rules

Why the Apple Card May Not Be Right For You

Final Thoughts

Which Citi Cards Earn ThankYou Points?

Sign-Up and Welcome Bonuses

Open a Newly Launched Product – Like Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

Or the Citi AT&T Access Card

Or the Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

Spend with your Citi Debit Card

Go Travel Somewhere

Go Grocery Shopping

Fill Up the Tank

Dine Out

Go to a Ball Game

Final Thoughts

Which Cards Earn Membership Rewards?

12 Ways to Earn Amex Rewards Points Quickly

Take Advantage of Sign-Up Bonuses

Find Bonus Spending Categories that Fit Your Life

Book Flights Using Amex Gold or Platinum

Use Amex Travel

Use an Amex EveryDay card

Buy Groceries

Dine Out or Order Takeout

Fuel Up

Use an Amex Business Card

Review your Amex Offers

Shop through Rakuten

Add more Users or Refer a Friend

Final Thoughts

Delta Air Lines Baggage Rules

Checked Baggage Allowance

SkyMiles Elite Status

SkyMiles Credit Cards

Excess Baggage Fees

Excess Baggage Fees for International Travel

Carry-On Allowance

Personal Items

Infants and Children

Bringing Pets Onboard

Valuable, Fragile and Other Items

Prohibited Items

When to Pay for Baggage

Credit Cards That Reimburse You For Checked Baggage Fees

Exclusions & Waivers

Final Thoughts

What is Delta Comfort+

Delta Comfort+ vs Main Cabin

Delta Comfort+ vs First Class

Delta Comfort+ vs Premium Select

What is the Cost to Upgrade

Upgrades for Delta SkyMilles Members

Food and Beverages

Baggage Allowance

Is it Worth it?

Consider Comfort Plus for Long Flights

Credit Score Range Typically Required

What’s included in my credit score?

Income Level Required

Odds of Approval

Who is the Amex Gold Card For?

American Express Rules

Is the Gold Card Worth the Annual Fee?

Airline Transfer Partners

Hotel Transfer Partners

Statement Credits

Travel Benefits

Shopping and Entertainment

Other Benefits

Ways to Pay Your Card

Final Thoughts

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