Hey Reader,

Yesterday, I flew to L.A. and was reminded why I love lounge access so, so much. After braving the long lines to self-tag my checked bag (I'm traveling for 3 months, so I just couldn't didn't want to make a carry-on work), I made it into the Amex Centurion lounge.

The Centurion lounges are a thing of beauty (if you can get in). In addition to delicious food, a full bar, and beautiful furniture, each one has a special "member service". At JFK, it's an Equinox Body Lab mini restorative therapy gym and a beautiful speakeasy. At LAX, it's a spa with manicures and massages (the manicure I got lasted so long, I've since bought the nail polish).

I'm seeing 125k (normally 80k) welcome bonus offers for the Platinum and 90k (normally 60k) welcome bonus offers for the Gold, so if you've been considering the Amex, now might be a good time to snag one. Because of some annoying new Amex rules, I always recommend signing up for the Gold before the Platinum.

When it comes to luxury travel, some of the most common questions I get asked are 1) How to get lounge access for "free" and 2) If the American Express Platinum Card is actually worth it.
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And I'm here to help! Today I'll dive into exactly how you can figure out if the Amex is worth it for you, which travel cards I love for lounge access, and how you could spend 180,000 Amex points ✈️

How to Tell if the American Express Platinum Card is Worth It This is an expensive card, but there are 3 simple criteria you can use to evaluate to figure out if it's worth it (for me, the answer is definitely yes. At least, for now). Check it Out

The Best Card for Airport Lounge Access Lounge access has probably changed my travel experience more than anything (except flying in business class for free, thanks to points). Fortunately, there are a LOT of good options for travel cards (beyond Amex) that help you earn points and come with great lounge perks. Check it Out

How to Use 180,000 Amex Points Turns out, a lot of you have points you didn't realize you could use for epic vacations! So I'm starting a new series on social where I help you figure out how to use your points. Feel free to add a comment if you want me to inspire you, or if you want me to do more specific trip research, I offer custom consults here. Check it Out

Elevated American Express® Gold Card​ offer💰 I use my Amex gold pretty much every day thanks to the 4x earnings on dining and groceries (where most of my money goes, other than travel). I'm seeing the above offer from this link (it usually offers 60k points and no statement credit), so I'm jealous I can't sign up myself. ​The Platinum Card® from American Express: Seeing 100k-125k point welcome bonus instead of the standard 80k. This is my card for luxury lounge access You can learn more here about my favorite beginner card for earning 60,000 flexible points, worth at least $750, for just $95 a year. ​ Highest-Ever Welcome Bonus Offer 💰 If you're in the market for a new card that comes with a ton of points, this is the moment you've been waiting for. The welcome bonus on one of my favorite business cards just jumped from 80k to 120k points (worth at least $1,500) and costs just $95 a year. I'm not allowed to name this card over email 🤫 but it's the second card in the list here - check it out. Not sure if you qualify for a business card? It's easier than you think - here's an article answering all your FAQs. ​ Not sure which card is right for you? I offer free consultations based on your goals.

Hope this helps and feel free to reply if you have questions!

Cheers to your next adventure ✈️🥂,

Deryn and the team at Inside the Upgrade

​www.InsideTheUpgrade.com​

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You + Me, We're a Team I always want to know what you want to learn. Feel free to reply to this email and let me know if you have any questions. I also offer free card consultations if you need a little more help!