It seems like it was just Mother's Day, but Father's Day is just a couple of weeks away, and while I can't take my dad on a trip right now like I took my mom to Chile, I did want to get him something special that he'd appreciate for Father's Day.
In my last round of credit card applications, I decided replace my American Express Platinum card with the Mercedes-Benz version of it since the card currently comes with a 50,000-point sign-up bonus (when you spend $3,000 in 3 months) and all the same great benefits of the regular Platinum card, including airline and Priority Pass lounge access and a refund of the $100 Global Entry Fee.
While my Mercedes-Benz Platinum card comes with a hefty $475 annual fee, I can actually get up to three additional cards for $175 total, and each of those cards entitles the cardholder to many of the same benefits including the airport lounge access and the Global Entry fee refund (though not the $200 airline fee rebate- primary and additional cardholders share the same $200 in rebates).
So I figured that instead of a traditional Father's Day gift like a necktie or some cologne, I'd get my dad an additional Mercedes-Benz Platinum card so he could enjoy lounge access on his travels and get Global Entry for free. Since hopefully both he and my mom will be traveling internationally with me more and more, he can get Global Entry for free so we can both zip through TSA PreCheck and customs and immigration without it becoming an awkward airport etiquette question. Though $175 might seem like a lot it's a mere fraction of the value of what I'll be giving my dad and with the two extra additional cardholders, I was able to get my two employees extra cards as well so they can have lounge access when traveling. I swear I'm not the worst boss in the world!
Update: Beginning March 22, 2014, American Express Card Members will no longer have access to American Airlines Admiral Club and US Airways Club airport lounges through Airport Club Access / Airport Lounge Program. This means that Card Members will no longer be able to gain complimentary access to the American Airlines airport lounges (known as Admirals Club lounges) or the US Airways Club airport lounges as a benefit of their Platinum Card Membership. Cardmembers will continue to receive access to participating Delta Sky Club lounges, Priority Pass Select (enrollment is required), and Airspace lounges in JFK, CLE and BWI airports.
As a reminder, the terms of Amex Platinum's airport lounge access are that when you have a valid ticket for same-day travel, the Platinum card will get you access to Delta, American and US Airways lounges – potentially saving you membership fees of up to around $500 each per year if you were to join each separately – and you can even bring two guests or your spouse and any children under 21, so my mom can come with him when they're traveling together. US Airways even allows entry if you are flying on a different carrier. The Card also confers Priority Pass Select access to over 600 airport lounges in 100 countries (guests can also enter for a $27 per person fee). So that's potentially up to a $1,500 value right there, and then as I mentioned, he gets the Global Entry fee refunded, so that's another $100.
All in all, I think he's going to be pretty happy, and I'm thrilled to get him a gift I know he'll love and make his traveling time a lot more comfortable.
What are the rest of you planning to do for dear old dad this Father's Day? Any great gift ideas? Share them below!
