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Comment by tasha0663 | Hacker News Reader

We're pleased to announce these exciting new options for redeeming your skymiles!

Tangentially related: I just got a letter from my Visa card supplier here in Switzerland saying they've changed the Priority Pass (airport lounges) benefit to be unlimited. Previously it was only four free visits per year. I thought for sure they would make it worse when I opened it, but I guess last year was a great time to re-negotiate group discounts for travel.

Credit card signup bonuses are also getting more aggressive in general.

Many of them are at or near record all time highs.

What’s the best one you know of right now?

Depends on what you're looking for, cash back, hotel or airline miles. Here's a great list of the best sign up bonuses right now.

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/best-current-credit-card-sign...

The Capital One mastercard, $200 cash, no fee, minimal payments for 1.5 year at 0% (ideal to take advantage of inflation), various warranties thrown in for rentals etc

https://money.slickdeals.net/credit-score/capital-one-quicks...

There’s way better out there.

Citi’s Premier just had a $800 signup bonus for a $95 annual fee. Easy money. Lots of these out there.

I could only find references to gift cards, not cash bonus.

Funny thing is I considered citi recently, but figured out it wasn't worth it. I ended up with capital one.

Now if you can recommend Visa cards with cash signup bonus, I'm still looking for one :)

Citi’s ThankYou points can be redeemed for statement credit or bank deposit. With the right mix of cards it comes back at one cent per point.

The Resy Amex Gold and Platinum offers are really nice: https://resy.com/amex-offers . Same as the regular midgrade Amex offers (between $750 and $2500 worth of points, depending on card and what you value MR points at), but also, 10x points on restaurants on the Platinum for the first six months (up to $25k spend), and 20% back on restaurants on the Gold for the first year (up to $1250 spend).

Are they more aggressive in a dollar converted reward or just the # of points?

Number of points.

Since the best value is usually transferring points into airlines, they let others be the bad guy.

Dollar converted reward. I regularly get 12-15 new credit cards a year and communities of people doing that (churners) are well attuned to the tricks used to reduce the real value.

It’s a race to the bottom with increasing fees and awards. That business needs to be regulated or better disrupted.

I don't see what you are talking about in Europe.

I think chase sapphire reserve was the peak at $1,500 bonus (assuming you were already going to travel) in exchange a $450 fee, but that was offset by $100 global entry credit and a few other benefits, so it was close to $1,500 free for many people I know. I know my wife and I got it, and it was basically $3k for free.

It was so costly that Chase had to list mention it specifically in their 10-K and I believe all the other banks looked and it and said no way are we spending that much.

I wish that happened here in the UK

Maybe.

Remember everyone gets it, so the lounge may be full of screaming kids and mooches pillaging napkins and ketchup!

It already is, except they are adults. My experience in United lounges the past year, barely worth free, not worth paying for. Bad coffee, even the on demand espresso capucino maker is crap. Lots of packaged food with signs you have to eat it in the lounge, not intended to take with you. Very little real food. Not a fan.

About the best benefit is if you need customer service to find new flights, no line for that at least. Hilarious you need a lounge pass to get no wait customer service and clean restrooms.

> My experience in United lounges the past year, barely worth free, not worth paying for.

What United lounges have you been to?

The ones I've been to, for example Newark, have free unlimited restaurant-quality table service, and unlimited premium alcohol, including unlimited Champagne. To be honest I usually look for longer layovers because it's a bit of a treat in there. I love working on their glowing mock-marble bar tops with unlimited iced Champs.

And that's just the basic business-class lounge. I once had the fortune to be in United's Global First lounge in SF, and that was something more again.

https://itstravelseason.com/airlines/united-polaris-lounge-f...

The basic United lounge is called "United Club", it's a much worse offering than the Polaris lounge you are referring to.

The customer service desk really is the only thing about that worth it anymore for travel within the US, at least, and "worth it" has been questionable. Lounge access at some international airports is much, much nicer, but only worth it if those are places you're flying.

The United affiliate lounges in much of east Asia make United's own look even more embarrassing unless you're in one of the international first/business ones. Although when the Chicago Polaris lounge was new I got stuck there on a super delayed flight and managed to kill a bottle of Yamazaki whiskey almost by myself, which probably wasn't great for my health and against policy but I slept like a baby on the way to Germany when we finally departed.

Or all the lounges stop accepting Priority Pass members when you're actually traveling. The first year I had it it was great, the second year, I traveled like 5 times and every lounge wasn't allowing Priority Pass members.

If you dont mind, could you mention which vendor you use for this card, i am using one from a local cantonal bank which is good but doesnt have lounges in.

Thanks

I think they probably did that because Priority Pass has so few lounges that even accept it anymore.

And I have found that even lounges that PP claims to work with are very quick to tell you that the lounge is full so they can reserve space for their actual business class and first class passengers.

I've been turned away more than once from a club that was supposedly at capacity when more than half the tables are empty.

So I figure priority pass thought, why not offer unlimited? No one can use it anyway.

Or, as AA calls it “Hey! Want some magazines?”

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