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Luxury rewards cards come with some serious perks—and some serious annual fees. That doesn't mean they don't deserve a place in your wallet; it just means you should make sure you squeeze them for everything they're worth.
Whether you've had your card for a while or just got it, here are some ways to maximize your card's rewards.
Sign Up for Any Opt-In Services
Luxury cards often come with amazing benefits—like Uber credits and airport lounge memberships—but to get them, you have to make sure you're signed up for the services. Doing this as soon as possible can help you plan ahead, saving you time and money.
Here are a few popular luxury rewards cards and some of the opt-in services they offer.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Uber credits. Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms apply.
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. With this card you get a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, but before you can use it you need to register for a Priority Pass account and receive your membership card. Do this as soon as you can so you can lounge in luxury the next time you fly. Terms apply.
Luxury CardTM Mastercard® Black CardTM
- Global Entry application credit. This card will reimburse the $100 Global Entry application fee when you use your card to pay it. Your card must be open for at least seven days before the charge hits, and a statement credit will appear in two to three weeks. This credit is only offered once every five years.
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. Before you can use this perk, you need to register for a Priority Pass account and receive your membership card.
Remember to Get Your Travel Reimbursements
Many high-end cards now come with some sort of travel reimbursement, but how you can cash in on them differs from card to card. Here is a breakdown of what you have to do to qualify for your travel reimbursement with a few popular luxury rewards cards.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- $200 airline fee credit. To receive this credit, you have to select a qualifying airline in the American Express online portal and then make a qualifying purchase. In this case, the only purchases that qualify are incidental fees—like checked baggage or in-flight meals—that are charged to your card. Make sure to select your airline before traveling to get reimbursed for any incidental fees you might incur. This credit can be used once every calendar year. Terms apply.
Luxury CardTM Mastercard® Black CardTM
- $100 annual airline credit. This credit applies to purchases made with a qualifying airline for things like airfare, baggage, lounge access and some in-flight purchases. Once these charges appear on your account, you will automatically be eligible for the $100 credit. The credit is only good once every calendar year.
Plan Your Spending
Another great aspect of these high-end cards is that they typically offer more rewards points for each dollar you spend. For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express offers 5 points for every dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5 points for every dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. The card offers 1 point for every dollar spent on all other purchases. Terms apply.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers 10 points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals and 5 points per dollar spent on air travel when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards® (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually). You'll also earn 3 points per dollar spent on all other travel and dining purchases, including takeout and eligible delivery services. You'll earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
These amplified rewards can be seriously valuable for people who spend a lot in certain categories each year. As with everything, if you plan ahead and understand what your card offers, you should be able to maximize your reward spending and use the right card for your purchases.
Utilize Other Luxury Services
Luxury cards come with many benefits, but some of them get buried in the fine print. Maximizing your card's value starts with knowing everything it offers—both big and small.
Check out these cards and their often-overlooked card benefits. It could save you some serious cash and could come in handy when making big purchases or traveling.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Terms apply.
- Platinum Concierge
Luxury CardTM Mastercard® Black CardTM
- Luxury Card Concierge
- Global luggage delivery option when you travel
- Charter service for luxury travel
If you don't already have a luxury rewards credit card and want to check out some of your options, browse through Experian's credit marketplace to see what is available. You can also use Experian's CreditMatchTM tool to be matched with cards that might be right for you using your FICO® Score☉ . As always, if you are thinking about applying for new credit, it's a good idea to check your credit reports and score to know where you stand. You can get a free copy of your credit report from Experian.