HAVE PREMIUM CREDIT CARDS LOST THEIR ALLURE?

Annual fees rise, but top-tier cards may offer fewer useful perks

- STORY BY JAKE JONES

PEOPLE OFTEN ASSOCIATE the most expensive thing with being the best in its class. Of course, that is ultimately a subjective question, but nevertheless, the mysterious allure of a highly priced commodity usually brings with it the notion that it's "better" than its lower-priced competition. Credit cards with hefty annual fees are no exception. Cards like the American Express Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve have garnered a reputation for being the "best" travel cards on the market, especially for those new to the credit card space who are looking to get in on the action. These days, the annual fees on these high-end cards are slowly creeping their way toward the $1,000 threshold, and marketing teams are hard at work trying to showcase how the perks that come with these cards offer more back-end value than what it costs to keep them open every year.

Travel Perks That Made Sense