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With the right travel credit card, you’ll go further faster and with plenty more perks. Of the premium travel rewards cards, The Platinum Card from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve are two of the best on the market. These cards are among the most popular as well, offering members the chance to earn points toward complimentary flights, hotel stays, rental cars, and several other redemptions.
While both cards include a robust amount of statement credits for members to use whether or not they’re traveling, you’ll need to take a closer look to determine which perks will be the most applicable to your current needs and travel preferences.
If you prefer specific airport lounges or travel with certain airlines or hotel brands over others, pay attention to the ones each card is associated with — and the spending categories each one lets you earn bonus points for — so you can make the most of all those benefits and points-earning possibilities.
Welcome Bonus
Whether you’re just starting your points and miles journey or have been a rewards enthusiast for years, a lucrative welcome bonus is a nice way to boost your current balance. Just pay attention to your finances and ensure you’ll be able to hit the minimum spending requirement responsibly (ideally, by paying off your balance in full each month to avoid extra fees).
- Amex Platinum: New cardholders can earn 80,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 within the first six months. Those points are worth $1,600 in travel when redeemed for flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises through AmexTravel.com.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel™.
Verdict: While each welcome bonus offers an incredible amount of points, consider which minimum-spend requirement you’re more comfortable with and whether you’ll be able to meet it within the specified timeframes.
Annual Fee
While a high annual fee may seem intimidating, keep in mind that the card’s included memberships and benefits will help to offset it — or even provide a greater value — as long as you use all of them.
- Amex Platinum: $695
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: $550
Verdict: The Chase Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee is $145 less than the Amex Platinum Card’s, but it depends on which card you think you’ll get the most value from according to your rewards-earning goals.
Earning Rewards
While both rewards programs let you earn points you can eventually use toward flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel elements, each lets you maximize them in different ways.
- Amex Platinum: Earn 5X points by booking flights via AmexTravel.com or directly with the airline, and by reserving prepaid hotel stays through the Amex Membership Rewards portal.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel™ immediately after the first $300 spent on travel purchases annually.
Verdict: The Chase Sapphire Reserve card wins this round because you can earn points through broader spending categories like dining and travel, while the Amex Platinum primarily focuses on travel-related expenses.
Redeeming Rewards
Redeeming awards is one of the best parts of earning rewards points. Here are the best options for redeeming with either card:
- Amex Platinum: The best value comes from transferring Membership Rewards points to airline or hotel partners or redeeming via AmexTravel.com at approximately 1 cent per point.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to travel partners for the highest redemption value or book travel via the Chase travel portal at 1.5 cents per point.
Verdict: The Amex Platinum has a larger network of travel partners for rewards transfers, but the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers better redemption options for cash-back rewards.
Transfer Partners
Cardholders will get the best value by transferring their rewards points directly to associated airline and hotel partners. Here’s what you need to know:
Amex Platinum:
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- British Airways Executive Club
- Hilton Honors
- Marriott Bonvoy
- And many more with a total of 21 partners.
Chase Sapphire Reserve:
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- British Airways Executive Club
- Marriott Bonvoy
- And others with a total of 14 partners.
Verdict: Although the Chase Sapphire Reserve has fewer partners, your choice should be based on which airlines and hotels you frequently use.
Travel Perks and Statement Credits
Both cards offer airport lounge access, benefits for booking luxury accommodations, and credits for travel-related registrations.
- Amex Platinum: Provides up to $1,584 in value through various statement credits and perks like airline fee credits, access to lounges, and much more.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Offers a $300 annual travel credit and access to over 1,300 airport lounges globally.
Additional Benefits and Protections
Both cards offer travel-related insurance and purchase protections with no foreign transaction fees, but they differ in specific coverage details.
- Amex Platinum: Provides secondary coverage for car rentals and trip insurance.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Offers primary car rental coverage and extensive travel protections.
Verdict: The Chase Sapphire Reserve is preferable due to its primary coverage on rentals, whereas Amex Platinum provides secondary coverage.
Bottom Line
Choosing between The Platinum Card from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve involves considering which features align with your travel habits and financial strategies. Identify the card that will serve you best and enable you to maximize your rewards.
