Priority Club Select Visa members recently received a pleasant surprise in their email inbox–Platinum membership. The card originally offered Gold status for owning the card so this is a definite step up for members. Cardholders now receive complimentary Platinum status for as long as they remain cardholders.

Platinum status comes with a 50 percent bonus on base points and a complimentary room upgrade when available as well as guaranteed room availability with 72 hours advance notice (except during special events) and an exclusive toll-free Platinum Elite customer service number. Members normally need to stay a minimum of 50 nights or earn at least 60,000 points in a calendar year to reach Platinum status.

To learn more about the card, visit http://insideflyerus.wpengine.com/link/?6316 – The current signup bonus is 60,000 points. The cost of the card is $49 per year (free the first year) and you receive a free night certificate on your anniversary every year among other benefits such as no foreign exchange fees, double points on eligible gas, grocery and dining purchases and a 10 percent rebate when redeeming points for stays.

Bottom line: This means that if you get this card, you can effectively earn up to 20 points per dollar spent: up to 10 base points earned per dollar at Priority Club hotels, plus the 50 percent bonus for 15 points per dollar, plus five points earned for using your card for the stay for a total of 20 points per dollar.

Milepoint member miles and smiles mentioned another use for his Platinum status, “I used my Platinum status to gain status at Best Western, Choice and Club Carlson, which has led to more points and some upgrades with those chains.” (As always on things of this nature–matching elite status–“your mileage may vary” applies.) But regardless of how you use it, getting a hotel’s highest elite simply for owning a credit card is worth the $49 annual fee.