When it comes to the heavyweights, we often talk about two major competitors in the travel credit card space. Over the years, issuers have increased fees and added new ‘credits’ to offset the fee. The latest one to join the herd was the new Chase Sapphire Reserve. Before Chase launched the Sapphire Reserve, many of us old timers still thought that the Amex Platinum Card was the ‘OG’ of the premium travel credit card space. So, given all the new updates and changes, how does the new Chase Sapphire Reserve stack up against the Amex Platinum Card? Let’s have a look.
Amex Platinum Card v/s Chase Sapphire Reserve
| Feature | American Express Platinum Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve Card |
| Annual Fee | $695 | $795 |
| Welcome Bonus & Application Link | Up to 175,000 points | 100,000 points + $500 in travel credits |
| Minimum Spend Required | $8,000 in 6 months | $5,000 in 3 months |
| Authorized User Fee | $195 | $195 |
So that we don’t miss the woods for the trees, I want to clarify that this is just a comparison between the two card products. Both Amex and Chase have airline and hotel partners that overlap. On the other hand, each one has their own transfer partners that are unique.
If you prefer the Chase ecosystem over the Amex ecosystem simply because you prefer one of their airline or hotel partners, then your choice may be easier compared to others. However, if you’re looking to make a decision simply based on the value proposition of each card, then this format should help you decide. Also, given how steep the annual fees are now, many of you may just be thinking of keeping just one ‘premium’ credit card instead of many.
Making a Decision
So how do the cards stack up against each other? Let’s have a look.
1. Earning points: Firstly, select which card rewards you more on spend. If your organic spend is more aligned with airlines, hotels and dining, then the Sapphire Reserve is a great option for you. Conversely, if you buy flights and use the Amex Travel portal more often, then the Amex Platinum card is a better option.
| Earning Points | American Express Platinum Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve Card |
| Airlines | 5x | 4x |
| Hotels | 1x | 4x |
| Dining | 1x | 3x |
| Travel Portal Bonus | 5x | 8x |
2. Redeeming points: Who do you want to primarily redeem points with? For some it may be a fixed points redemption via Chase Travel. For others, they may be strictly only wanting to transfer points to transfer partners. Again, here your travel pattern will dictate whether you choose one over the other. For example, if you love staying at Hyatt properties, then the Reserve becomes a no-brainer. If you prefer Hilton though, then Amex becomes an easy choice.
3. Elite status: The Amex Platinum card gives you complimentary Gold elite status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. In my opinion, Hilton Honors Gold status is really valuable as you get complimentary breakfast outside the US and a breakfast credit at hotels in the US. Marriott Bonvoy Gold, on the other hand, isn’t as valuable. In this case, it’s clear that you’ll pick one based on which hotel chain you frequently stay with.
| Elite Status | American Express Platinum Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve Card |
| Marriott Bonvoy | Complimentary Gold Elite Status | None |
| Hilton Honors | Complimentary Gold Elite Status | None |
| IHG One | None | Platinum Elite Status (until 12/31/2027) |
4. Lounge Access: What’s your primary airport? Does it have a Centurion Lounge or a Sapphire Lounge? If you look at some of the common comments on my previous posts about the Amex Platinum card, you’ll often see a theme. People frequently complaining about overcrowding at Centurion lounges. That’s a major issue and if you’re someone who is closer to a Sapphire lounge, then the Reserve becomes an easy choice. If you have guests with you when you visit Priority Pass lounges, then the Sapphire Reserve has an edge over the Platinum.
| Lounge Access | American Express Platinum Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve Card |
| Branded Lounges | Centurion Lounges | Sapphire Lounges & select Air Canada lounges |
| Priority Pass Select | Yes | Yes |
| Additional Guests w/Priority Access | 2 | 1 |
5. Credits & Coupons: Here’s where it gets a bit tricky. Firstly, you need to decide whether you already spend more at Amex’s partner brands v/s Chase’s. In essence, these credits or coupons are primarily meant to make customers switch from one brand to another so that they spend every now and then to utilize the credits. If you value Apple Music and Apple TV+ more than Amex’s Digital Entertainment credit with the likes of Peacock, NYT, WSJ, etc, then the Sapphire Reserve works better for you.
| Statement Credits | American Express Platinum Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve Card |
| Uber/Uber Eats | $200 per year (split monthly) | None |
| Lyft | – | $10/month |
| DoorDash & Caviar/DashPass | – | Complimentary for 12 months (in addition to monthly credits & discounts) |
| Airline Credit | $200/year, only on incidentals with US based airlines | None |
| Hotel Credit | $200 per year with Fine Hotels & Resorts/Hotel Collection | $500 Edit Credit (bi-annual) |
| Travel Credit | None | $300 per account anniversary year |
| Dining Credit | None | $300 (bi-annual w/Sapphire Reserve Tables) |
| Clear Plus | $199 annually | None |
| Global Entry/TSA Pre Check | $120 every 4 years | $120 every 4 years |
| Digital Entertainment | $240 per year ($20 per month with NYT, WSJ, etc) | Apple TV+, Apple Music – complimentary subscription until 06/22/2027 |
On the other hand, if you shop at Walmart, Saks and take Uber Rides or order Uber Eats, then the Amex Platinum becomes a more viable option.
| Shopping | American Express Platinum Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve Card |
| Walmart | Complimentary Walmart+ Membership | None |
| Saks | $100 (split bi-annually) | None |
| Peloton | None | $120 ($10/month) |
| Equinox | $300/ year on digital subscription or club membership | None |
| Stubhub | None | $300 (split bi-annually) |
6. Travel Insurance & Protections: Here, the Sapphire Reserve definitely has the edge. Sapphire Reserve’s trip delay kicks in immediately if the delay is for 6 hours or more. In contrast, Amex Platinum offer Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance, but unlike Sapphire Reserve, you must buy a round trip ticket fully paid with your Amex Platinum Card. In case of the Sapphire Reserve, even if you simply pay the award fees and taxes on a one way trip, your insurance benefits apply.
Extra Benefits for Big Spenders!
If you’re a big spender, then the Chase Sapphire Reserve has an edge here.
On the Amex Platinum Card, once you spend $75,000 in a calendar year, you unlock the following benefits:
- Complimentary guest access at Centurion Lounges all over the world
- Unlimited Delta SkyClub access, for the primary cardholder and up to two additional guests
In contrast, the new Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a lot of different benefits once you cross the $75,000 spend threshold:
- Diamond elite status with IHG One Rewards (for the year you qualify in and the year thereafter)
- $250 credit for shopping at The Shops by Chase
- $500 Chase Travel Credit with Southwest Airlines and complimentary A-list status (for the year you qualify in and the year thereafter)
Card Refresh Coming Soon
The Amex Platinum Card will soon undergo a refresh. You can refer to this post for all the details. As per American Express, both consumer and business versions will see a refresh some time later this Fall.
The Pundit’s Mantra
Here’s how I’ve been doing it. I have the Amex Platinum Card – Charles Schwab version. In this post, I’ve explained why the card works well for me. Due to the Amex Platinum card and the Blue Business Plus card, I already have access to Amex’s Membership Rewards points ecosystem. Also, I’ve now carried the Chase Sapphire Preferred card in my wallet for over half a decade. It has a simple $95 annual fee and lets me transfer points to Chase’s points transfer partners as well. This combo works perfectly for me.
If you were to choose just one card, which one will you go for and why? Tell us in the comments section.
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New Credit Card Offers
American Express Business Credit Cards
- Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards points with the Business Platinum Card
- Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards and enjoy a 0% intro APR on the Business Gold Card
Chase Sapphire Cards
- Earn 100,000 bonus points and a $500 statement credit with the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
- Earn 200,000 bonus points with the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card for Business
Co Branded Hilton Honors Cards
- Earn 100,000 bonus points and a $100 statement credit with the Hilton Honors American Express card
- No fee for the first year, earn 130,000 bonus points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card
- Earn 175,000 bonus points with the Hilton Aspire card, in addition to 1 free night certificate each year
- Earn 175,000 bonus points with the Hilton Business Card
Co-Branded Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
- Earn 185,000 bonus points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
- Earn 155,000 bonus points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card
- Earn 125,000 bonus points with the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card
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I have Amex Platinum Business and Sapphire Preferred, like you. Also United Quest, which gives me 2free United Club (meh) passes per year. I usually from LGA, and use Centurion in terminal B or if flying Delta from terminal C, the Sky Club. I fly to ORD several times per year and use United passes there (never at LGA.) With 10 Centurion visits per year, and a wider network than Sapphire, I am way ahead with my current setup. Not paying another $795 since my needs are adequately covered.
That is sound strategy!
I’ve been a member of AX platinum for over 40 years and have enjoyed the perks etc but the card now is getting expensive especially if your retired. I was just informed that unless I actually book with American Express travel direct I cannot get the cruise perk points of two times. They only offer one time. Irrespective of if I book with an exclusive AX approved agency. This is very confusing and looks like they are now competing with their own AX 3rd party agencies
Unless I book with direct with AX travel. This was also confirmed to me but my AX travel.. This is probably my last year with AX as it’s very confusing.
I have both cards and I only use the Chase card if someone doesn’t take the Amex which is rare. Chase is CONSTANTLY declining charges. Which when you are shopping at high end places or paying a bill in public is extremely humiliating regardless that it may be an error. Here’s the real info: Amex is credit card company that has some banking features, Chase is a bank with some credit cards. Use each for what they are good at because neither can do both at a high level.
That’s very odd. I usually have had charges declined because certain merchants don’t accept Amex at all, but I’ve never had an issue with Chase/Visa even while shopping abroad in SE Asia or Europe.
Actually, I’ve just started seeing this problem myself. In the last two weeks, I had a decline in Seoul, two in Bangkok, and one in Seattle. Each time, any Amex I had went through without issue.
Check your number 5 section. The hotel and dining credits are a little switched.
@CMC: Thanks, updated it!
I think you forgot the CSR’s $300/year travel credit.