Your Guide to The Platinum Card from American Express

If you’re looking for a solid, do it all travel card, then The Platinum Card® from American Express should be on your radar. This one card brings you great airport lounge access, hotel status, and more.

Let’s keep it short, because there’s a lot to get into with this great card and we’re going to take a deep dive into everything you need to know about the Amex Platinum.

The Basics of The Platinum Card from American Express

Before we dive deep into the perks of the Amex Platinum, we need to go over all the basics.

Singapore Star Alliance Award Devaluation

Singapore Krisflyer, loyalty program of Singapore Airlines, increased the price of various partner award prices on April 16, 2019. These changes weren't without notice, as they announced in March the impending devaluation. Devaluations always suck but are inevitable.

Singapore devaluations sting in a special way as they are by far the easiest mile to earn. Every major transferrable point currency--Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi Thank You Points, Capital One miles and Marriott Rewards--transfer to Singapore Krisflyer, so they are the sweetheart of foreign loyalty programs.

Thankfully the changes weren't drastic.

Tons of Singapore Business Award Space Between EWR & SIN

October 11 is the day Singapore resumes services on the longest flight in the world between Singapore and Newark. Singapore previously flew this route until 2013 when they got rid of the one type of plane they had capable of the long haul flight. One of Singapore's new A350-900ULR, loaded only with premium economy and Business seats, no economy, will make the ~18 hour journey in each direction.

While the Singapore to Newark route was announced (and went on sale) at the end of May, premium cabin award space wasn't too hot until just recently.

Lufthansa 1st Award Space Open (in Advance) Between US & Europe!

Update: 5/8/18: I originally posted this at the end of April to report on Lufthansa First Class award space open specifically between San Francisco and Munich, but it looks like there is now plenty of space on various other routes as well!

Singapore Awards Flying United Now Bookable Online: How-To & Tips

Get excited, because you can now book Singapore Krisflyer awards flying Star Alliance partner United online! Why should you be excited? Because being able to book anything online versus having to call and speak to a representative, which was previously the only option, is going to save you a significant amount of time.

Easy 1k Singapore Miles for Opening a New Account

If you don't already have a Singapore Krisflyer account, sign up by March 31, 2018 and enter promo code JOINKFSQ on your application for a 1,000 mile bonus.

Scratching your head? Wondering why you would need an account with a loyalty program based on the other side of the world?
Star Alliance Access
Singapore Airlines is in the Star Alliance. Aside from redeeming Singapore miles on their own world renowned premium cabins, you can also redeem their miles on any Star Alliance carrier like United.

Singapore Devalues Star Alliance Award Chart; Best Awards Untouched

REMINDER: Singapore's award prices to Europe in First Class and Africa, Asia, and Oceania in all classes are increasing in price as of December 7, 2017 (this Thursday).

One of My Favorite Perks Redeeming Singapore Miles

I recently booked myself in United economy to fly back to the United States from Buenos Aires for Christmas. Why would I torture myself in economy? Well, a few reasons...

It's the holidays. Holidays = not much premium cabin award space, and economy cash tickets are pricey.
There aren't too many Business Class product options between Buenos Aires and the United States, and the one that has the most award space tends to be United. United's Business Class is OK, but nothing to write home about. Sometimes I don't feel like using more miles for it.

Singapore Award Space Now Visible on United.com

You can now see Singapore Airlines award space on united.com, which means you can book Singapore award space on united.com. This was not the case as of a few days ago.

Singapore doesn't really release premium cabin award space to its Star Alliance partners, so you won't see much Singapore Business and First Class on United's website.

Do Singapore Awards Flying Alaska Price per Segment?

A few days ago I wrote about the award chart Singapore Krisflyer just published for flying their newest partner Alaska Airlines.

I noted that within Singapore's list of conditions for the chart is a confusing line prohibiting "transfers"...

...which leads one to believe that awards will price per segment. It’s not totally clear, however, that a transfer and a connection (i.e. layover) are the same thing--most people don't call layovers or connections transfers. There are prices on the award chart that seem just a little too cheap if "transfers" (layovers) were indeed permitted, though.