The Platinum Card® from American Express (see rates & fees) comes with a not-so-small annual fee of $695. But it also comes with a litany of valuable benefits that can help you offset the annual fee.

However, many of these benefits are not automatic.

Editor's note: In late October 2024, Finnair dramatically increased award prices for flights within the continental U.S. and Canada. Economy award rates increased from 11,000 Avios to 16,500 Avios, and first-class rates increased from 30,000 Avios to 40,000 Avios. This article references the rates in effect when the article was written and published, but current rates are 16,500 Avios for economy and 40,000 Avios for first.

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where our points and miles don’t align with flights we want to book.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, American Express® Green Card, Amex EveryDay® Card and Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card has been collected independently by MileValue. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

All information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by MileValue.

For a long time, most purchases were made with either cash or checks. Credit cards were only used for larger purchases that needed to be paid off over months or years. However, in recent times, more and more people have begun using credit cards for all of their purchases, big or small. On the other hand, some people use their debit cards for everything.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by MileValue.

If you’ve traveled, you’ve probably stayed in a Hilton property.

With a portfolio of 24 brands spread across more than 7,600 properties in 126 countries, you’ll never be far from a Hilton.

And with some of the most luxury hotels on offer, having a co-branded Hilton credit card can unlock valuable perks, making award stays more frequent while earning you points on everyday spending.

The Citi ThankYou® Rewards program allows eligible bank or credit card customers to earn ThankYou Points—a flexible rewards currency—on purchases made with certain Citi credit cards. Although the Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards programs both offer more cards that earn their respective currencies, Citi ThankYou Points are still valuable and easy to earn. 

You can earn Citi ThankYou Points by opening new credit cards to earn their welcome bonuses and paying for everyday purchases with an eligible credit card.

If you’ve ever been frustrated trying to figure out the best ways to search for awards on Oneworld airlines, keep reading for some guidance and tips. We’ll address approaches to make searching easier and find good uses for your points and miles.

Oneworld Alliance Overview

The Oneworld Alliance, along with SkyTeam and Star Alliance, make up the world’s three major airline alliances. Travelers have much to gain from understanding how these alliances function since they provide a global network of flights, allow passengers to earn and redeem miles across member airlines and provide elite benefits across the network.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by 10xTravel.

I love planning and taking complex trips using points and miles to fly in international business class and stay at luxury hotels for a fraction of the retail cost, but sometimes all I want is a relatively close destination for a quick and inexpensive trip.

Car rental protection offered by rental companies can cost $15 to $30 a day—in 10 days, that could be as much as whopping $300. Alternatively, a credit card with rental insurance will offer the same coverage at no extra cost—and even if it does, it's significantly cheaper than what rental companies offer. 

For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express charges a flat fee of $19.95 or $24.95 per rental period (not per day) for primary coverage.

While U.S. Bank is often overlooked as a credit card issuer, there are some U.S. Bank cards out there that offer stellar rewards in specific bonus categories. In particular, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card is one of the best cards on the market for people who spend a large portion of their budget on dining and who don’t want to pay an annual fee.