#

Introduction: The Premium Travel Card Showdown

As a seasoned travel credit card enthusiast, I’m constantly asked which premium card offers the most value. The truth is, it depends on your individual spending habits and travel style. However, two cards consistently rise to the top of the list: the American Express Platinum Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Both boast luxurious perks and hefty annual fees. Now that the Chase Sapphire Reserve has undergone a significant refresh with new benefits and a higher annual fee, I thought it was the perfect time to delve into a detailed comparison. So, let’s dive in and determine which card deserves a spot in your wallet.

#

Head-to-Head: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

To begin, let’s examine a side-by-side comparison of the key features of each card:

| Feature | Amex Platinum | Chase Sapphire Reserve | |——————-|————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-|—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————| | Welcome Offer | Discover your offer and see if you are eligible to earn as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. | Earn 100,000 bonus points and a $500 Chase Travel℠ credit* after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | | Annual Fee | $695 | $795 | | Earning Rates |

• 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar year, then 1x)
• 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel
• 1x point on all other purchases

|

• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through Dec. 31, 2027)
• 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
• 5x points on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027)
• 4x points on flights and hotel purchases directly from the merchant
• 3x points on dining
• 1x point on all other purchases

| | Notable Benefits |

• $200 annual airline incidental statement credit
• $200 annual Uber Cash
• $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue statement credit
• $200 annual hotel statement credit
• Up to $199 Clear Plus credit
• Up to $240 annual digital entertainment statement credit
• Up to $300 annual Equinox credit
• Up to $300 in annual SoulCycle statement credits
• Up to $155 in statement credits per calendar year to cover the cost of a monthly Walmart+ membership
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit

|

• $500 annual statement credit for The Edit (up to $250 biannually), plus a $300 annual travel credit
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/Nexus credit
• $300 annual statement credit for StubHub or Viagogo (through Dec. 31, 2027)
• Complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music (through June 22, 2027)
• $300 annual dining credit at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables (up to $150 biannually)
• $120 in annual statement credits toward Peloton memberships; activation required (through Dec. 31, 2027)
• Complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription and $25 in DoorDash promos each month
• $10 monthly Lyft credit
• Complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
• Additional spend-incentivized perks after spending $75,000 in a calendar year

|

*Note: The Chase Travel credit is a one-time credit for new Sapphire Reserve cardholders.

#

The All-Important Welcome Bonus

When deciding on a premium card, the welcome bonus can be a significant factor in offsetting the annual fee. The Amex Platinum offers a potential bonus of up to 175,000 Membership Rewards points after meeting the spending requirement. Considering that Membership Rewards points are valued around 2 cents each, this bonus could be worth a whopping $3,500! However, keep in mind that Amex has a “once per lifetime” rule for welcome bonuses, so you’ll want to ensure you’re targeted for the highest possible offer before applying.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve, on the other hand, entices new cardholders with 100,000 bonus points and a $500 Chase Travel credit after meeting the spending requirement. With Ultimate Rewards points valued around 2.05 cents each, plus the travel credit, this bonus is worth approximately $2,550. The spending requirement is also slightly lower, making it easier to achieve. I would note that this elevated bonus is a big increase.

My Take: This round is a tie! If you can snag a stellar Amex Platinum offer (more than 100,000 points), go for it. If not, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is equally compelling.

#

Unveiling the Benefits: Credits, Status, and More

Now, let’s delve into the core of these cards: their benefits. Both the Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve offer a plethora of perks designed to enhance your travel experiences and everyday life.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve has the higher annual fee at $795, so they have loaded this card with credits that may offset this fee for most travelers. These include: * $500 annual hotel credit for hotels booked through The Edit by Chase Travel * $300 flexible travel credit that can be used towards a flight, car rental, parking or more. * $300 annual dining credit at exclusive restaurants.

The Amex Platinum offers a wide array of statement credits, including: * $200 airline fee credit * $200 hotel credit * $200 Uber credit * $199 Clear credit * $240 digital entertainment credit * $300 Equinox credit * $155 Walmart+ credit * $100 Saks credit

In addition to statement credits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status, as well as spend-based bonuses. Lounge access includes Priority Pass Select and access to Chase Sapphire Lounges. The Amex Platinum offers access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Clubs, and more. You also get complimentary Gold status with Hilton and Marriott, as well as car rental elite status.

My Take: This is a tough one, as it depends entirely on your spending habits. The Amex Platinum offers a greater variety of credits, but they require more effort to utilize. The Chase Sapphire Reserve’s credits are more straightforward. For travel protections, Chase has historically been the leader, however the Amex platinum has attempted to partially close this gap. I prefer the travel credits that the Chase Sapphire Reserve is offering.

#

Earning Points: Maximizing Your Rewards

The ability to earn points quickly is another key factor to consider. The Amex Platinum offers 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, as well as on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel. All other purchases earn 1x point per dollar.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve provides a more diverse range of bonus categories, including 10x points on Peloton equipment, 8x points on Chase Travel, 5x points on Lyft, 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly with the merchant, and 3x points on dining.

My Take: The Chase Sapphire Reserve takes the lead in this category. While the Amex Platinum shines for direct flight bookings, the Sapphire Reserve offers bonus points on a wider range of travel and dining expenses, making it easier to accumulate points over time.

#

Redeeming Points: Turning Rewards into Experiences

The value of a credit card lies not only in how you earn points but also in how you redeem them. With Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards points valued similarly, the choice comes down to their redemption options.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a 50% bonus when redeeming points for travel directly through Chase Travel (until October 26, 2027), providing a minimum redemption value of 1.5 cents per point. Additionally, the new “Points Boost” feature allows you to redeem points at up to 2 cents per dollar spent with select airlines and hotels.

The Amex Platinum offers a less favorable redemption rate through American Express Travel, with flights at 1 cent per point and hotels at 0.7 cents.

My Take: The Chase Sapphire Reserve clearly wins in this category. The 50% bonus and Points Boost offer a higher redemption value for travel.

#

Transferring Points: The Ultimate Flexibility

The true power of travel rewards lies in transferring points to airline and hotel loyalty programs. The Amex Platinum boasts 21 airline and three hotel transfer partners, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve has 14 airline and hotel partners.

My Take: This is a tie. Both cards offer valuable transfer partners, with the Amex Platinum providing a slightly wider selection.

#

The Verdict: Which Card is Right for You?

So, which card should you choose?

Choose the Amex Platinum if:

* You travel frequently and can take advantage of the extensive lounge access * You can easily utilize the various statement credits offered. * You are seeking Hilton or Marriott Gold status.

Choose the Chase Sapphire Reserve if:

* You want a more flexible and accessible set of statement credits. * You want to maximize your points earnings across a wider range of categories. * You want a higher redemption value for travel through the Chase Travel portal.

#

Final Thoughts: A Dynamic Landscape

Both the Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve are exceptional premium travel credit cards. The Chase Sapphire Reserve refresh has made it the slightly more compelling option for many travelers, thanks to its user-friendly benefits and strong earning potential. However, I expect American Express to respond with its own updates to the Amex Platinum in the future, making this a constantly evolving landscape. Ultimately, the best card for you depends on your individual needs and preferences.