Up until recently the only travel card I had was the United Explorer Plus card.  It gave me extra miles for purchases, free baggage on United flights, and the ever-popular Excursionist Perk.  I had perused the miles forums and noticed that all the experts were getting cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Amex Platinum, but I had trouble swallowing the idea of $550 a year annual fee. Recently though I took the plunge and it turns out, that in reality – the card isn’t going to cost me much more than my United Explorer card that has a $99 annual fee.  Actually, it’s ended up costing me less. …