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I’ve researched this before but decided not to even bother during COVID. However, they offered me a 6 month trial, albeit slightly pointless as you understandably can’t benefit from the hotel statuses they offer (i.e. top tier or near top tier at most big chains instantly). They’ve offered me an Elite membership upgrade for $295 rather than $995, which is $100 cheaper than their standard membership which is odd.
Anyway, a lot of benefits are US based. However, they have some decent airline discounts and intriguing offers like an instant Virgin Atlantic silver membership after one flight, and Gold reduced to 500 tier point requirement within 6 months (rather than 1000 points in 12…although I think Virgin have temporarily reduced the ask to 800).
There are also many hotel discounts and VIP extras including waived resort fees, but I haven’t researched yet to see if these are truly better than travel portals. I think you get 3 nights free at the Atlantis Bahamas, some decent credits at Caesar’s resorts (i.e. no resort fee and $100 dining credit) but this is all US/Caribbean based.
Loads of business benefits I’ll never use.
Has anyone signed up to Founders Card? I’d never consider for $500+ but at $295 it seems appealing? Even to make this back and more through a few flight and hotel discounts?
I’ve just been offered 12 months free. Looks superficially interesting. I’ll wait for Rob to review it first before subscribing! They are now offering 12% of certain United Flights.
I have it. If I remember rightly, the free level is pretty pointless, but there are some interesting benefits at higher levels. I paid for the mid tier, which gave me free Stripe processing and the amount I saved on card processing fees for a membership event I was running paid for the cost of the card.
I’ve not used it for anything else yet, though, including travel-based offers. But at the very least I’ve saved a few quid.
I have a free 6months. I am still undecided to pay for it. Looking for more feedback and advise…
We have always been a bit sniffy about it, especially as some benefits are US driven (eg the BA flight discount was for US departures only).
I have had the one year free membership. Only thing that has been useful was the discounted tariff across IHG hotels (you had to access the link from the FC website which then opened up a discount code within the IHG app) which I have used at few intercontinental to get tariff not available anywhere else (and also credited points).
Other then that, pretty useless for UK based travellers, especially if already paying for an Amex Platinum or other premium card with travel benefits.
What are the main airlines benefits for US-based people?
I remember having a free trial a few years ago but—and I really can’t remember the details—I recall that certain benefits were only available for paying members.
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