Avoid these 3 mistakes to maximize your rewards credit card

If you’re in the market for a premium travel credit card, get ready to pay an even heftier annual fee.
On Thursday, American Express rolled out the latest version of its Platinum card, which now comes with a $895 fee, up from $695. Earlier this summer, JPMorgan Chase upped the annual charge for its Sapphire Reserve card to $795.
If that’s not money you’re willing to part with, or if you know you won’t be able to take full advantage of an expensive card’s perks, you may be more comfortable with a lower-rung rewards card with a more modest fee.
But you shouldn’t shy away from cards with fees altogether, says Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy.