The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) and American Express Platinum Card® are the two heavyweights of the travel card world. You’ll earn a massive welcome offer and a long list of perks with either one — for a steep annual fee.
We estimate both cards can save you thousands of dollars a year. So the real question isn’t which card is “better” in general. It’s which one is better for you.
Here’s how they compare head to head, and why I think the more popular pick isn’t necessarily the right one.
American Express Platinum Card®: Built for big spenders and frequent flyers
The Platinum Card® has an $895 annual fee (see rates and fees), pretty much the highest you’ll find on any card. But you can cover it several times over with more than $3,500 a year in perks. My favorites are:
- $600 in annual hotel credits for prepaid bookings through Amex Travel at Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection (THC requires a min. two-night stay)
- $300 in annual digital entertainment credits
- A $219 annual CLEAR+ credit
- $200 a year in airline fee credits
- $200 in annual Uber Cash
- $120 in annual Uber One credits
- 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year
- 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®
- Access to more than 1,550 airport lounges worldwide
- Terms apply; enrollment may be required
The Platinum Card® is probably the de facto choice for anyone wanting premium travel perks. It’s basically a luxury travel coupon book, and can help you save on everything from snazzy hotels to airline fees to rideshares and more. Terms apply; enrollment may be required
Don’t be fooled — it takes a good amount of effort to save with the Platinum Card®. If you don’t use it, you’ll be on the hook for $895 a year (see rates and fees). That’s not chump change.
But between its lavish perks and its sky-high welcome bonus offer, the Platinum Card® is still the standard for big spenders and frequent flyers.
Current welcome bonus offer: Apply and find out if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Terms apply.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: A smarter choice for most people
Put simply, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the luxury travel card I recommend. That’s because it’s an easier sell for people who don’t spend their whole life in airports.
First, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a slightly lower $795 annual fee. It comes with over $3,000 a year in perks, though, including:
- $500 for bookings at “The Edit” hotel collection ($250 twice a year)
- A $300 annual travel credit
- Complimentary Apple TV plus Apple Music, worth up to $288 annually
- Up to $120 every four years to cover the cost of a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee
- $120 in Lyft credits
- Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
That $300 travel credit is my favorite perk on either card. It’s super versatile, applying automatically to your first $300 in travel spending each year. And it effectively brings the card’s annual fee to $495 off the bat.
The complimentary Apple TV and Apple Music subscriptions are a nice touch, too. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also has better earning rates on everyday spending:
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct
- 3x points on dining worldwide
That 3x on dining is what makes the Chase Sapphire Reserve® worth it even when you’re not traveling. It’s also got its own valuable welcome bonus that makes it worth a look.
Current sign-up bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Platinum Card® vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Which is better?
To be clear, the Platinum Card® still wins for jetsetters. Its list of travel perks and its valuable welcome bonus offer are pretty much unmatched.
But for people who travel less often and still want premium perks, I think the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the smarter pick. It has more everyday-friendly perks and earning rates, plus you’ve got $100 less in annual fees to worry about.
These aren’t the only two premium cards out there, though. For more picks, check out our full list of the best luxury cards available now.
