Your In-Air Netflix Binge Will Soon Get More Expensive
Katherine Fan is a former senior travel features reporter at The Points Guy who covered everything from personal finance to travel and aviation.
Jan. 15, 2019
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2 min read
Your In-Air Netflix Binge Will Soon Get More Expensive
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Netflix is getting slightly less chill, at least where monthly plan costs are involved.
The online streaming service increased the cost of all three of its monthly package prices. The new rates are effective immediately for new members, while existing members will see the price increase hit their bills over the next few months.
Under the new pricing, the Basic plan will increase by 12.5%, from $8 to $9 per month. The mid-tier Standard plan will increase to $13, an 18% increase over the previous rate of $11 per month. And the Premium plan will now cost $16 moving forward, 14% more expensive than the previous $14/month.
Netflix now boasts more than 58 million US subscribers, and 137 million subscribers around the globe. The price hike no doubt will help Netflix bridge some of the financial gap created by its investment in original content. Netflix anticipated $3 of negative free cash flow in 2018, and expects to see similar numbers for 2019. The company spent at least $8 billion in new content in 2018, according to the company's own projections from 2017, and plans to take on an additional $2 billion in debt in 2019 to continue doing so.
As a quick refresher, the best credit cards to use for Netflix subscriptions are the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card for 3x points per dollar, the Uber Visa Card for 2x points, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card for 1x returns, and the Sony Card from Capital One. For an in-depth guide on the best cards to use for various streaming services, check out TPG's recommendations here. Additionally, certain T-Mobile plans offer free Netflix subscriptions as part of their package incentives.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year.Pros
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- Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/3/23.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
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- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
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