Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve: Which Card Wins for Summer Travel?
KEY POINTS
- The Amex Platinum Card offers luxury perks like Centurion Lounge access and elite hotel status.
- The Chase Sapphire Reserve maximizes travel and dining purchases, with 3x to 10x total points in those categories.
- Both cards offer huge welcome bonuses for meeting minimum spend requirements.
I'll never forget my first airport lounge experience. I was 26, on a work trip to Austin, when my boss waved me into the Delta Sky Club as his guest. I tried to act cool -- like I belonged there -- but inside, I was buzzing like a kid in a candy store. Free drinks, gourmet snacks, fancy bathrooms, lightning-fast wifi…it felt like a whole different world.
After that trip I learned that getting into airport lounges isn't actually that hard. Holding the right credit card can get you access to more than 1,400 lounges worldwide -- no boss required.
Today, two of the best cards for VIP travel perks (including lounge access) are The Platinum Card® from American Express (see rates and fees) and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees). We'll break down the differences so you can determine which is best for you this year.
Comparison at a glance
Here's a quick side-by-side comparison of these two awesome travel cards:
| Amex Platinum Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
| Annual fee | $695 | $550 |
| Standout perks |
-$200 in hotel credits -$200 in airline fee credits -$199 CLEAR® Plus credit -Hotel elite status with Hilton and Marriott -Walmart+ credit up to $12.95 each month -$200 in Uber cash ($15/month and $35 in December) -Terms apply; enrollment may be required |
-$300 annual travel credit -Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Fee Credit -DashPass by DoorDash for 12 months (worth $120) when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027 |
| Lounge access | Centurion Lounges, Escape Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), Lufthansa Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounge | Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club, Priority Pass Select (enrollment required) |
| Earning points |
-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 -1X points on other purchases |
-10x total points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually -5x total points on air travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually -3x points on other travel and dining -1x points on all other purchases -Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel through Chase |
Both are killer cards, built for heavy travelers.
While the Amex Platinum Card does have a slightly higher annual fee ($695, see rates and fees), it includes a much wider range of annual credits, as well as access to more airport lounges.
I will say, though, that I'm a huge fan of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. In my eyes, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card has higher earning opportunities for everyday spending. With its slightly lower fee of $550, it may be a better fit for those who like to stretch their travel budget a bit further.
What I love about the Amex Platinum Card
If you're looking for the full VIP experience, The Platinum Card® from American Express is tough to beat.
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
= Best
= Excellent
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= Fair = Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorOn American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
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This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required), and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome bonus worth $800 in points. Terms apply.
Read Full Review -
- Big welcome offer
- Substantial spending credits
- Airport lounge access
- Hotel benefits
- Flexible travel points
- Annual fee
- Limited bonus categories
- Spending credits can be complicated to manage
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- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- With American Express Global Lounge Collection® eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
- A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID – this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
- $695 annual fee.¤
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
The access to Centurion Lounges alone make those long layovers actually enjoyable. Terms apply. I've eaten full meals, drunk plenty of mimosas, and even showered once before a long-haul flight -- all thanks to the airport lounge perks included with my card membership.
Hotel elite status is an underrated perk. Just by having the card, you can get room upgrades, early check-ins, and late checkouts at Hilton and Marriott properties. Terms apply; enrollment may be required.
One low-key perk that I love is the $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit. Terms apply. I use this to buy my wife fancy gifts each year (one for her birthday in July and one in December for Christmas!).
If you're a frequent traveler who loves a first-class vibe, consider applying for The Platinum Card® from American Express here (see rates and fees).
What I love about Chase Sapphire Reserve
If you want premium perks and serious bang for your buck, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® delivers the goods.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorGood/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.24% - 28.74% Variable
Rewards 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 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.
Annual Fee
$550
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 bonus points
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All the perks we've come to expect from a top travel card, including a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, and big bonuses on travel and dining. Points are transferable to airline and hotel partners or worth 50% more if you book through Chase Travel. The annual fee is hefty, but if you can use all its features, this card could be well worth the cost.
Read Full Review -
- Travel credits
- Airport lounge access
- Travel and dining rewards
- Welcome offer
- Flexible travel points
- Annual fee
- Limited-time benefits
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- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- 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 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
First off, the $300 annual travel credit is almost effortless to use. (Plus, it makes up for over half the annual fee.)
Point redemptions are where Chase Sapphire Reserve® truly crushes it. Your points are worth 50% more when you book through Chase Travel. That's up to $900 in travel value from a welcome offer of 60,000 bonus points (after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months).
And you get 10x total points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually, 5x total points on air travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually, and 3x points on other travel and dining. It's easy to see how everyday spending can stack up points really fast.
If you want a practical card without giving up great travel perks, apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® here (see rates and fees).
Final verdict: Which card should you pick?
If you're chasing luxury experiences -- and you'll actually use lounge access, hotel upgrades, and airline credits -- the Amex Platinum Card is your ticket to a VIP summer.
If you want to maximize value per dollar and score easy rewards on everything from Uber rides to steak dinners, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® probably fits your style better.
Our Research Expert
Joel is a full-time writer at Motley Fool Money, known for his clear, approachable voice on topics like credit cards, savings hacks, and side hustles. He’s been writing about money since 2018 and previously managed editorial content for the How To Money podcast.
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For rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here