It is coming to that time of the year that I start to get rather concerned about reducing expenses. With the holidays coming, my reselling business will become a prime focus, however I never try to lose sight what we’re paying for the credit card benefits we are getting.

So with that, in a post similar to Joe’s “Annual Fee reduction” post, I’ll cover the cards that both my wife and I are carrying and what we plan to do about them.

Disclaimer: Primary cardholder benefits may not be exhaustive lists, as these benefits are well covered elsewhere.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

My wife and I were both happy to get this back when it was first released, despite being far beyond 5/24. That said, you get the following benefits:

• Priority Pass Select
• Ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to airline partners
• 50% more value when redeeming Ultimate Rewards Points for travel (e.g. 1.5 cents per point).
• $300 Annual Travel Credit – Automatic vice AMEX.
• Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
• No Foreign Transaction Fee
• Primary Car Rental Insurance
• Annual Fee: $450

As an authorized user, you get the following benefits:

• Priority Pass Select
• Ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to airline partners (though this confuses me, as the points should be under the ownership of the primary cardholder, yes?)
• Primary Car Rental Insurance
• Annual Fee: $75

Verdict:  Likely not a keeper, assuming another card provides Primary Car Rental Insurance, like the Chase Ink Plus. 

American Express Business Platinum

The benefits of this card are rather well known for the primary cardholder, you get:

• Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Club Lounges and Priority Pass Select
• $200 Airline Fee Credit
• 35% points reimbursement when paying with points for premium tickets (or any class on your selected airline) – note, I’m grandfathered in on the 50% points reimbursement that ended a few months back.
• No foreign transaction fees
• 10 free GoGo internet passes, and unlimited Wi-Fi at Boingo Hotspots
• American Express Platinum Concierge Services (a benefit I definitely am not maximizing!)
• American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
• A bunch of status – National, SPG (which translates to Marriott), Hilton.
• Annual Fee: $450

As an authorized user, you get the following benefits:

• 10 Gogo in flight passes
• Most everything above, except the $200 credit)
• Cost: $300 Annual Fee.

Verdict:  Not worth it, unless I’m missing something.

Citi Prestige

The Citi Prestige has actually become a much more important card in my wallet of late. The travel benefits seem to be some of the best. Here’s what you get:

• A $250 Air Travel Credit – Automatic vice AMEX.
• Complimentary 4^th night free on hotel stays of 4 nights or longer.
• No Foreign Transaction Fee
• Priority Pass Select
• Ability to transfer points to Citi Thank You partners

Authorized users get:

• Priority Pass Select
• Annual Fee: $50

Verdict: Possibly worthwhile if the authorized user gets the travel protection; also cheapest Priority Pass Select.

Wrapping Up

I realize this isn’t an exhaustive list. There are other great premium cards out there, like Chase’s Ritz Carlton card, Bank of America’s new one, and the Citi AAdvantage Executive–which I already am an authorized user on–and a few others from American Express. Rather, I wanted to look at the big three, and I have to be honest. I’m having a hard time seeing the value of an authorized user on any of the cards. Its a shame, because I’ve been really enjoying my Chase Sapphire Reserve.