{"id":108098,"date":"2025-07-14T08:55:27","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T08:55:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalbrandsmagazine.com\/?p=107252"},"modified":"2025-07-14T08:55:27","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T08:55:27","slug":"are-premium-travel-cards-losing-value","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalbrandsmagazine.com\/gbmstaging\/are-premium-travel-cards-losing-value\/","title":{"rendered":"Frequent Flier, Frequent Fees: Are Premium Travel Cards Losing Value?"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><em><strong>Top-tier travel credit cards from Chase and American Express are increasing their annual fees by $100 or more in 2025.<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><em><strong>Frequent travellers may need to reassess how they earn, spend, and value credit card rewards in light of these global changes.<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re like me and measure time in visa stamps, travel credit cards aren&#8217;t just a financial tool\u2014they&#8217;re part of your lifestyle. Whether it\u2019s a 5:30 AM cappuccino in Rome\u2019s Fiumicino or a last-minute upgrade in Singapore, the perks from a card like the American Express Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve can shape your travel rhythm. But things are shifting. The comfort once tucked quietly into your wallet is coming with a higher price tag, and that change affects travellers across the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reports from Slate confirm that Chase and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanexpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Express<\/a> are significantly raising annual fees on their most popular travel cards. And while the adjustments are beginning in the U.S., anyone familiar with how global finance operates knows that changes in one market often ripple into others. UK-based cardholders, as well as international users, should be prepared.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The Fees Are Rising\u2014and Fast<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s look at the hard numbers first:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chase Sapphire Reserve: rising from $550 to $650<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Express Platinum (US): currently $695, with industry speculation pointing to a potential increase to $795 or more in late 2025 or 2026 as part of an announced overhaul<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the UK, the Amex Platinum already sits at \u00a3575. If the trend follows as expected, cardholders could soon be paying upwards of \u00a3650 a year. It\u2019s not just about one brand either\u2014fee increases tend to trigger a chain reaction. Other issuers like Barclays and HSBC could follow suit to maintain perceived value parity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What\u2019s Driving These Fee Hikes?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Behind the price increases are several strategic moves:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Higher Operational Costs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: As global inflation pushes up prices for almost everything\u2014from fraud protection to customer service\u2014credit card companies are passing some of those expenses on to users.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Expanded Perks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Issuers are bulking up benefits, offering everything from digital wellness subscriptions to rideshare credits and enhanced travel insurance. But many of these new \u201cperks\u201d are geographically limited or require complex activations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Wider Redemption Usage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: More travellers are using their points and lounge access, which raises the issuer&#8217;s cost per user. Lounges are now frequently overcrowded, and perks that used to feel exclusive are no longer rare.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>For Global Travellers, the Impact Varies Widely<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As someone with both a UK-issued Amex Platinum and a U.S.-based Chase Sapphire Reserve, I\u2019ve seen both sides of this experience. On paper, these cards are packed with value. But in practice, their effectiveness depends heavily on where you are and how you travel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For instance, lounge access in major cities like New York or London is relatively easy to use, assuming you don\u2019t mind waiting. But try using those same perks in Nairobi or Quito, and you\u2019ll quickly see the limits. Some terminals don\u2019t even recognise the lounge program, and others have blackout hours.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Redemption portals can be equally frustrating. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalbrandsmagazine.com\/one-stop-shop-booking-platforms-in-travel-industry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Booking flights<\/a> through the Amex Travel platform often means higher prices than you\u2019d find directly through the airline. Transferring points to hotel or airline partners can offer better value, but requires a level of planning and loyalty that doesn\u2019t fit all travel styles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>A Breakdown of the Real Costs and Returns<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s put the numbers into context. In the UK:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amex Platinum: <\/span><b>\u00a3575<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> annual fee, likely rising<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chase Sapphire Reserve: currently ~$650 converted<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Benefits include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lounge access valued at ~\u00a330\/visit<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annual credits for travel or dining (\u00a3150+ value)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comprehensive insurance packages<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalbrandsmagazine.com\/private-jets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">travel internationally<\/a> three or more times per year and redeem points aggressively, you might come out ahead. But based on my usage\u201435 flights a year across four continents\u2014I\u2019ve found that I redeem just 60\u201370% of the advertised benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Ask Yourself: Are You Getting the Value?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s what I use to assess whether a travel card is still worth it:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Am I using the travel and dining credits fully each year?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are my lounge visits regular and stress-free?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do I use the insurance for rental cars or delayed baggage?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are the points being redeemed for flights and hotels I\u2019d book anyway?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If I can&#8217;t confidently answer yes to at least three of those questions, I reconsider the card.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Rethinking Which Cards Work Best Globally<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For UK and global travellers alike, there are alternative options worth exploring:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Barclays Avios Plus (UK)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Ideal if you fly British Airways frequently. \u00a320\/month with decent Avios rewards.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>HSBC World Elite Mastercard<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 More widely accepted in Asia, strong lounge access, <\/span><b>\u00a3290<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> annual fee.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Capital One Venture X (US)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Simpler point structure, $395 fee, better value for general travel spending.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Revolut Metal \/ Monzo Premium<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Low-fee options that are agile and digital-first, with real-time spending insights and minimal overseas charges.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I spent most of last year travelling through Southeast Asia and found Monzo far more practical than American Express, especially in rural Vietnam or smaller European airports.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>How to Decide if You Should Keep or Cancel<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make a travel usage audit. Literally:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Log every flight, hotel, and lounge use for three months.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note whether you\u2019re using your card\u2019s portal, third-party sites, or direct bookings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tally your savings (or lack thereof) on perks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The goal is to remove assumptions and see your card\u2019s actual return on investment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The Messaging from Card Issuers vs. Reality<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issuers say these increases bring more value. Chase has promised a new luxury travel portal. Amex touts curated experiences and premium customer service. Yet for many of us, what we experience are waitlist lounges, awkwardly segmented insurance terms, and digital benefits we didn\u2019t ask for.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forums like Flyertalk and Reddit\u2019s r\/Churning community are filled with stories from cardholders who feel the promised luxury isn\u2019t being delivered.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What\u2019s on the Horizon for Travel Card Users<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expect the following by late 2025 into 2026:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UK and EU fees will align more closely with U.S. levels<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More fintech entrants will offer travel features \u00e0 la carte<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Card companies may face pressure to increase transparency around real-world redemption rates<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The future likely belongs to hybrid cards, offering customisable perks instead of preset packages. Brands that allow travellers to build their benefits, whether it\u2019s extra baggage, carbon offsets, or better mobile support abroad, will stand out.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Advice for Global Travel Buffs<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Track how many perks you use and the savings generated<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ask your issuer for a breakdown of benefits used annually\u2014some provide this on request<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t be afraid to downgrade or cancel\u2014even long-time customers are doing it<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loyalty doesn\u2019t require blind commitment. Your travel credit card should move with you, not slow you down.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Top-tier travel credit cards from Chase and American Express are increasing their annual fees by $100 or more in 2025. Frequent travellers may need to reassess how they earn, spend, and value credit card rewards in light of these global changes. If you\u2019re like me and measure time in visa stamps, travel credit cards aren&#8217;t [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":108476,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","beyondwords_generate_audio":"","beyondwords_project_id":"","beyondwords_content_id":"","beyondwords_preview_token":"","beyondwords_player_content":"","beyondwords_player_style":"","beyondwords_language_code":"","beyondwords_language_id":"","beyondwords_title_voice_id":"","beyondwords_body_voice_id":"","beyondwords_summary_voice_id":"","beyondwords_error_message":"","beyondwords_disabled":"","beyondwords_delete_content":"","beyondwords_podcast_id":"","beyondwords_hash":"","publish_post_to_speechkit":"","speechkit_hash":"","speechkit_generate_audio":"","speechkit_project_id":"","speechkit_podcast_id":"","speechkit_error_message":"","speechkit_disabled":"","speechkit_access_key":"","speechkit_error":"","speechkit_info":"","speechkit_response":"","speechkit_retries":"","speechkit_status":"","speechkit_updated_at":"","_speechkit_link":"","_speechkit_text":""},"categories":[5,10],"tags":[31692],"class_list":["post-108098","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-finance","category-travel","tag-travel-cards"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalbrandsmagazine.com\/gbmstaging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalbrandsmagazine.com\/gbmstaging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalbrandsmagazine.com\/gbmstaging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalbrandsmagazine.com\/gbmstaging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalbrandsmagazine.com\/gbmstaging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108098"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalbrandsmagazine.com\/gbmstaging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108098\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalbrandsmagazine.com\/gbmstaging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalbrandsmagazine.com\/gbmstaging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalbrandsmagazine.com\/gbmstaging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalbrandsmagazine.com\/gbmstaging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}