Best Premium Card
What Are You Missing By Not Having The Best Premium Card?
Credit cards have gained a permanent place in most people's wallets and purses. While there are many kinds of credit and charge cards available, premium cards are the best option, because they give you great points, rewards, customer service and experiences.
So what are you missing by not having the best card?
Customer Service:
Many of the regular credit cards will make it all but impossible to get an actual human on the phone but the best premium cards give you around-the-clock access to great customer service and concierge service. The people on the phone are always helpful, too. For example, I've had American Express customer service people advise me against using points for one purchase, because I was close to building up enough points to have a free, round trip airline ticket to anywhere in the country. The customer service that a great card can give you is often overlooked, but it can be one of the most valuable benefits.
Travel Benefits
Many of these customer service programs can help you plan a vacation and will handle the entire process-from booking flights, ground transportation, the best hotels and exciting activities to do while you're there. Other travel benefits often include things such as emergency medical assistance and rental car and baggage damage/loss insurance.
Points and Rewards
Almost every premium credit or charge card lets you earn points or cash back whenever you use your card to make a purchase. Most of the cards have categories or merchants that give you bonus points (double or triple points) when you make certain purchases. These points can be redeemed for a variety of rewards. You can redeem points for:
- Travel
- It usually takes between 20,000-25,000 points to get a free roundtrip airline ticket to anywhere in the United States
- Shopping rewards at many different merchants
- Various merchants may include Dell, Apple, Sony, Dick's Sporting Goods and Nordstrom
- Tickets to concerts
- You can redeem your American Express Membership Rewards points towards all or part of the cost of any ticket on Ticketmaster.com
- Unique Experiences
Entertainment Access
Another perk of having a premium credit/charge card is that simply having one of these cards gets you access to some fantastic entertainment and sports opportunities and events. Here are just a few examples from three different programs (these are real examples, but there are no guarantees these are still available now):
- American Express - Cardmembers can play the South Course at Oakland Hills Country Club (the site of the 2008 PGA Championship) on April 28, 2008. They also can purchase exclusive VIP packages to see the EAGLES before the general public. These packages may include tickets in the first 20 rows to the concert, a gift bag, pre-show party and private entrance.
- Visa Signature - Visa Signature cardholders have access to exclusive Kentucky Derby VIP packages, which typically include tickets, preferred seating, food, transportation, etc.
- Citi Private Pass - Citi Cardmembers have access to preferred seating at concerts for artists such as Maroon 5, Journey, Counting Crows and REM
These are just a few of the typical benefits you may receive if you decide to get a premium credit or charge card. Since every card is a little different, you can check out our list of cards for more details and discover which one is right for you.
