Cruising Altitude is a weekly column about air travel. Have a suggestion for a future topic? Fill out the form or email me at the address at the bottom of this page.
I have a confession to make. I’m a frequent flyer who got rid of all my credit cards that granted me airport lounge access.
I have no regrets.
For years, I carried both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the American Express Platinum cards in my wallet, but as their annual fees rose and lounges grew more crowded, I felt the costs no longer justified the benefits for me.
The Chase card now costs almost $800 annually, and the Amex nearly $900. Both issuers declined to comment, but public statements suggest that their customers still largely find value in the products.
