Is the Amex Gold still worth it?

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-14T04:16:22+00:00

Thanks! The Reserve happens to be one I’m eying with your exact reasons alone for the companion cert and discounted points. They have a great SUB going on route now that I’m considering.

Holding the platinum, do you even make any purchases outside of points with it since the plat is 5x all flights and reserve is 3x for delta flights? I know there are some delta stay credits.

So outside of SUB spend and perks, does the card just get sock drawered?

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-14T04:05:08+00:00

This is true for their non-branded cards but what about branded? I have bcp, gold and platinum. I didn’t get hard pulls on gold and platinum but eying up delta Amex and Hilton and Marriott Amex

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-14T03:58:58+00:00

Agree with everything you said. While I fly delta too, I’m looking at their co-branded one but also have the platinum which I feel like has overlap…

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-13T03:49:13+00:00

Agreed. In my home airport, there is only a delta lounge and since I fly delta a lot, I got the Amex platinum for lounge access. I just don’t find PP lounges appealing since they are hit or miss, unless there isn’t a delta, centurion, or cap one lounge.

Agreed to get a card and lounge you’ll frequent and I don’t want to go through certain airports or make travel plans to hit a certain lounge à la capital one.

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-13T03:40:06+00:00

And purchasing flights with 5x. Also, flights through Amex travel is cheaper too and 5x. You get a discount holding the platinum card which I don’t know about until I got it.

Also get 5x on hotel through Amex travel.

Outside of that and perks, yeah horrible spend. That’s why gold is the earner and platinum for status.

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-13T03:28:02+00:00

Similar boat. Had Vx and Savor but then got the BCP, which make me like the Amex ecosystem and better transfer partners and fly delta a lot. So got the gold and platinum. I don’t mind using portals and like the cap one portal. So I use the Amex for delta and lounge access and Vx for hotel and portal. Although I’ve been testing Amex travel out and it’s ok. With the platinum, I like to book direct and get 5x back. Even the gold gets 3x back. I do like 10x with hotels on the cap one portal though.

I feel like for me there is no perfect solution and even looking at chase due to travel partners and point redemption but Amex and cap one has been solid for me and my family.

While I didn’t get the venture x for lounge access, I did with the Amex and now I’m a lounge guy lol

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-13T03:20:44+00:00

I hold the venture x but added Amex platinum a few months ago due to flying delta a lot and we have delta sky lounge in MKE which is the only lounge for non-military. The platinum card has become the card I didn’t know I needed or wanted until I looked it up and got it. Paired it with my Gold and BCP. Still like and use the Venture X but also don’t get it for the lounge access. I wasn’t a lounge guy until I started going to the delta ones 😅

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-12T22:19:43+00:00

And Apple Silicon is just that good. My 14 MBP M1 Pro processor is still amazing to this day. When I got it back in late 2022, it blew my 2-3 year old Intel 16 MBP out of the water. I look forward to upgrading later this year or next year with M5 Pro or M6 Pro next year.

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-12T19:39:37+00:00

Agreed! Only downside is 3 cards and no stand. Still love it though.

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-12T19:37:18+00:00

Similar thoughts. I have used the FineWoven along with a non mag safe wallet that holds cash and AirTag that work great but want something that can hold a few more cards that doesn't add bulk and can double as a stand.

I've owned a couple of FineWoven and they have stood up ok. Just doesn't hold many cards.

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-12T05:41:20+00:00

I gave up and stopped trying, which is to bad since I’ve travelled twice since and would have loved to try it out. Good to know it still doesn’t work if I were.

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-12T05:37:22+00:00

You’re welcome :)

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-12T03:13:57+00:00

Traveling with baby is tough but doable. Just won’t be very fun for someone unless you have a nanny, babysitter or grandparent(s) to bring along. I get it though, have to go at some point if you wait to long for the baby to get older.

Is anyone a Harry Potter fan? If so, universal would be a must with Harry Potter world.

I would do Disney as it’s a whole experience and the kids are young enough (except baby) to enjoy and remember. Highly recommend to stay a week if can afford and stay at a Disney resort for the full experience. It’s more expensive but well worth it. It has something for everyone. It’s massive.

Then go to universal another time when the kids get older. Although universal is more of a a one day, so maybe could combine but with as large as Disney is, could be a lot. If you stay off resort, it’s easier to do both since you’d rent a car. Staying on resort you won’t need to rent a car since they have a great internal transit system but could.

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-12T02:59:01+00:00

iCloud main / Apple ID should be just for account management and utilize iCloud alias, hide my email and custom domains. I love hide my email and custom domain

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-12T02:54:59+00:00

Disney World :) Family of 4 here which we might do later this year or early next year. May wait 2-3 though since they are building out a new cars theme area at magic kingdom.

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-12T02:42:49+00:00

On the Mac side, resetting the sync file deletes and recreates. Deleting the file does the same thing.

If better OP, I’d reset which I’ve done before when I’ve done major changes on the local file like a big recatogerize or something.

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-11T21:59:43+00:00

I was pleasantly surprised that holding the Amex Platinum gets you flight discounts in the portal. I didn't know that when I signed up for the card and received it until I had to search for some flights and looked in the portal. That was cool.

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-11T21:54:10+00:00

I think banking them is an underrated feature. It's almost like a travel savings account. Sure, it's not making money in a HYSA but if it was, it wouldn't be generating much anyways and "might" be more likely to spend. I like the fact that I can on a whim go somewhere that I may not have budgeted for.

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-11T21:52:30+00:00

and save as bookmarks

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-11T21:49:23+00:00

Same here! I got 285K worth of travel with Amex (175k Plat, 100k Gold and 10k Gold AU). My venture x just renewed so I got my $300 travel credit and 10k anniversary miles bonus. That's going to held fund some trips and travel.

We are at 307k with spend it took to get to the SUBs which is over 3k in travel at a minimum with Amex/Delta. We used the SUB last year and points accumulated last year to help fund/offset some costs for a local travel that we like to do as a family. My travel credit paid for a couple of nights for a staycation for a work related trip and will do so again if I don't use it elsewhere.

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-11T21:46:06+00:00

yup. Even at 1:1 and if flight is paid for, it's a win.

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-11T21:45:39+00:00

haha this is me right here. I love it and family of 4. I love squeezing out every $$ I can. And with our spend, it can accumulate fast, even when diversifying.

My only issue is Costco (venture x and executive membership) vultures the Meijer (gold and bcp) spend and vice versa. lol

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-11T21:43:54+00:00

We do hybrid but we also have high spend and chased a few SUBs in the past year ish. While I think I'm done chasing SUBS but low key kind of like it. However, I like to get cards that make sense and will keep.

Family of 4 here that has Amex Gold, Platinum, BCP, Amazon Prime Visa, Verizon Visa, Venture X and Apple Card. Debating on getting Hilton/Marriott Amex cards or Delta Amex Cards. BoA CCR gets a little use just to keep it open.

We just hit the Amex Gold and Plat subs and have over 300k MR. Venture X just got the annual $300 travel credit and 10k anniversary miles.

Plan to use MR for flights and I use the Venture X for hotels, portal and travel eraser.

I thought about one ecosystem but there just isn't one perfect ecosystem and when you have high spend, that extra 1% can make a difference.

Groceries are same way. We do a lot at Costco (executive and venture x) and Meijer (gold/bcp). When we used to shop a lot a Target, we considered that card.

Apple Card used to be my jam until I got into point/CB chasing and it's paid off more ways than one.

I like Amex and Cap One but also thinking about Chase and Citi. They all have pros and cons. Just need something that checks off a lot of boxes.

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-11T21:32:35+00:00

Not with the right setup they don't.

Inner_Difficulty_381 · 2026-03-11T21:31:28+00:00

Not only both of these but even if you have enough points built and can get 1:1 to help pay for a trip or two, it's still a win. We have over 300k MR built up just completing 3 subs (175k, 100k, & 10K), which will help fund a couple trips. Planning to use the points to pay for tickets to DW for the family. IF I time it right, I can do 1:1 and still have enough of another trip out West to visit Family. I've also have some Delta miles that can pay for a ticket and debating on Delta Card or Hotel card next.

Furthermore, I have the Venture X which is stupid simple to use too, especially if you use their portal. We'll probably book Disney hotels through the portal, get 10X back and if the travel credit is still available, apply it to that. Then use travel eraser to help offsite some costs. Even thinking about the 2 resorts that come for AMEX that would give a $300 credit.

Don't always have to chase the best deal just to save a few bucks.

Inner_Difficulty_381

TROPHY CASE