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Best premium credit cards for luxury perks of March 2024

Travel credits, airport lounge access and elite access help these cards rise to the top. CardRatings editors compare the best luxury credit cards for both personal and business needs. View More

You don’t have to be a millionaire to travel like one. That’s thanks to the growing number of premium credit cards that offer a wide range of luxury perks and features to qualifying cardholders. From concierge services to fee credits for your travel purchases to complimentary airport lounge access and, of course, excellent rewards-earning possibilities, these credit cards from our partners offer members access to an elite world of luxury travel. Plus the options extend beyond credit cards for individuals to credit cards for small business owners, making traveling for business just a little more comfortable and rewarding.

You’ll need an excellent credit history and score to qualify for these cards, and the annual fees in some cases might make you shy away, but if you’re a frequent traveler with a taste for the finer things in life, those fees can oftentimes be worth it. Continue on for our top picks for the best luxury credit cards. View Less

author Brooklyn Lowery
Terms apply; see the online credit card application for full terms and conditions of offers and rewards.

20+ years

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List of Winners

  • CardName – Best for Travel Benefits
  • CardName – Best for Point Redemption Value
  • CardName – Best for Dining Out
  • CardName – Best for Hotel Rewards
  • CardName – Best for Air Travel
  • CardName – Best for a VIP Airport Experience
  • CardName – Best for First and Business Class Air Travel
  • CardName – Best for Small Businesses
  • CardName – Best for Free Companion Travel
  • CardName – Best for VIP Experiences

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CardName discontinued 

Cardholder Favorite
EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: This travel credit card from Capital One offers a number of valuable perks with a modest annual fee – for a luxury credit card that is. Travel credits, high miles earned on purchases, cell phone protection, lounge access and more all make this card a competitive choice. Plus, this is one of few luxury cards that allows you to add authorized users without paying an additional fee.

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
75,000 miles Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in the first three months
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Additionally, enjoy 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first account anniversary.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2X miles on all other purchases.

Luxury Perks: Receive $300 annual credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel; enjoy unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network; receive up to a $100 credit to cover your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee; and, when you pay your monthly wireless bill with your covered Capital One card, your cell phone is protected for the next calendar month. This is only a taste of what this card has to offer!

PROS:

  • This card offers free price drop protection, meaning, if you book a flight when Capital One recommends, and the price later drops, you'll get a partial refund.
  • Furthermore, if you find a better price, Capital One will match it. Just let them know within 24 hours of booking, and they will refund you the difference.
  • For a luxury card, the annual fee actually isn't horrible - especially considering all the perks that come with the card. If you've been wanting to dip your toe into the luxury credit card market, but have been afraid to commit to a large annual fee, this card may be a good place to start.

CONS:

  • The rewards offering is great, but to really get the most value out of earning rewards, you'll need to book your trips through Capital One Travel. If you prefer to book travel on third-party sites, like Expedia, you may not find this card as rewarding.
  • The annual fee for this card isn't too daunting for a luxury credit card, but still, you should consider if you'll utilize the card's perks enough to offset the annual fee before you make any final decisions.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 80.2 71.9
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.7 7.1
Customer Service 7.9 7.4
Website/App Usability 8.5 7.4
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.5 6.9
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 8.2 7.2

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: Frequent travelers will appreciate that this card not only offers three points per $1 spent on airline purchases, but also on travel-related expenses from taxi rides to hotel stays (after earning your annual travel reimbursement), and greater still, on dining purchases as well. Plus, users also receive a $300 credit each year for reimbursement for travel. Pair this with a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit and the cost of airport lounge access (which is complimentary with this card), and suddenly, the annual fee cost doesn't seem so bad. Oh, and did we mention that points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards? Overall, the value of this card is hard to beat.

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
60,000 points Earn 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 with your card in the first three months from account opening. Your points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, making the bonus alone worth $900 towards travel.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees; $75 for each additional authorized user

The Rewards: Book through the Ultimate Rewards to earn five points on flights and 10 points on car rentals and hotels (after earning your annual $300 travel reimbursement). Three points per $1 on worldwide dining and on your other travel, from airfare and hotels to taxis and trains, after you reach the $300 travel reimbursement each year; three points on dining worldwide; and one point on all other purchases.

Luxury Perks: Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee; access to 1,300-plus airport lounges worldwide after a one-time enrollment in Priority Pass Select; special car rental privileges from National Car Rental, Avis and Silvercar; special benefits during your stay with the Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection; and access to a Visa Infinite Concierge who can help with things like dinner reservations or Broadway, music, and sporting event ticket bookings.

PROS:

  • With this card, you’ll earn three points for each $1 you spend on airline purchases and other travel related expenses, after the $300 annual reimbursement for travel charges. You'll also earn three points per $1 on dining. Plus, there's extra earning possible on some travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal.
  • Other valuable benefits include up to a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit and airport lounge access which can make traveling more comfortable and is covered by the card.
  • This card offers new cardholders a bonus of 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after your spend $4,000 with the card in the first three months of account opening. Plus, if you redeem your points through Chase Ultimate Rewards, they’re worth 50% more, so that bonus could be worth $900.

CONS:

  • This card has a AnnualFees annual fee, which can get costly if you aren’t getting enough out of the travel benefits and rewards program.
  • Although this is a popular premium travel card, some of the rewards might be valued lower than those offered by cards with similarly high annual fees. A lot of this depends on how you like to use your rewards. If redeeming rewards through Chase Ultimate Rewards, this value is hard to beat.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 75.6 83.2
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.5 8.2
Customer Service 7.6 8.3
Website/App Usability 7.7 8.3
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.1 8.7
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.3 8.4

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

Cardholder Favorite
EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: Unlike many cards with luxury perks, the Gold Card doesn't come with a super-expensive annual fee. This card not only offers users a chance to easily rack up Membership Rewards points, but it also offers a number of great luxury perks which easily make the fee worth the cost. American Express is a CardRatings advertiser

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
60,000 points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first six months.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.; 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X); 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com; and 1X point on other eligible purchases. Additionally, you can earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with your card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations (enrollment required).

Luxury Perks: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Plus other elite shopping and travel benefits.

PROS:

  • You can earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X). You can also earn 3X points on flights you book directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • New cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards points once spending $6,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first six months.
  • Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with your card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations (enrollment required).

CONS:

  • This card has a much smaller annual fee of AnnualFees but it’s still higher than the annual fees you’ll find on many other cards, some that offer excellent restaurant and supermarket rewards. You’ll need to calculate your spending in the bonus categories as well as the benefits the card offers to determine if it will be worth it to you.
  • Unlike typical credit cards, this card allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all. There is a "Pay Over Time" option for some purchases, but you should still think of this card as one you'll need to pay off in full every month. That could be considered a pro if you need that kind of restriction to keep you paying off your card regularly.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 81.9 83.4
Rewards Program Satisfaction 8.0 8.4
Customer Service 8.4 8.4
Website/App Usability 8.2 8.3
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.6 8.4
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 8.2 8.2

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: With brands like The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, JW Marriott, and W Hotels, Bonvoy offers a little something for every type of luxury traveler. Plus, there are a number of other hotels under the Bonvoy umbrella, like Sheraton, Westin, Aloft, and Courtyard, so this card is great for families and business travelers as well.

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership.
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Earn 6X Bonvoy points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels; 3X points when you eat at restaurants worldwide or book a flight directly with airlines; and 2X points on other eligible purchases.

Luxury Perks: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express card at restaurants worldwide. Additionally, enjoy a Free Night Award for a participating hotel (up to 85,000 Bonvoy Points) each year after your card renewal month; up to $100 Marriott Bonvoy property credit when you book a two-night minimum stay at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis to cover qualifying charges; access to Priority Pass Select airport lounges around the globe; a statement credit of up to $100 for your Global Entry, or up to $85 for your TSA PreCheck, application fee; and a number of other premium travel benefits. Enrollment required for select benefits.

PROS:

  • If you’re a fan of Marriott hotels – or any of the hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program, including Starwood and Ritz-Carlton properties – this card can help you earn rewards for free night stays as well as gain you access to a number of premium travel benefits.
  • There are so many premium travel benefits offered with this card that the annual fee almost becomes an afterthought. If you take advantage of the numerous perks this card offers, you should have no trouble offsetting its annual fee.
  • Don't overlook the welcome bonus offer. Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership. Depending on your travel destination and dates, the bonus points alone could score you a few free nights

CONS:

  • Of course, the annual fee is something to consider, but luxury benefits do come at a price.
  • This card offers the most valuable perks and benefits for people who frequently stay in Marriott Bonvoy hotels. If you prefer to switch it up sometimes in other hotel brands, or just whichever hotel has the best deal, you’ll want to look at a different travel rewards card.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 77.1 74.9
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.7 7.5
Customer Service 7.7 7.5
Website/App Usability 7.9 7.4
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 7.9 7.6
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.5 7.4

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: To start, five points earned for each $1 spent on airline purchases directly with airlines and on flight purchases and hotel stays booked through American Express Travel is a great perk for frequent travelers; however, the benefits don't stop there. While the annual fee price tag might seem steep at first, the plethora of luxury perks associated with this card quickly outweigh the cost. With up to $200 in annual Uber savings, a $200 airline fee credit with a pre-selected airline, a credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee, and more (more than $1,400 worth of available benefits in your first year, in fact) the annual fee easily pays for itself, and we've only even just gotten started with the long list of luxury perks that are offered with this card. Terms Apply. Enrollment required for select benefits

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
80,000 points Earn 80,000 points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees; $195 for up to three additional authorized users

The Rewards: Earn 5X points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year); 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com; and one point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

Luxury Perks: Up to $200 in annual Uber savings with $15 in Uber Cash each month, and $35 December; annual $200 airline fee credit with a pre-qualifying airline of your choice; up to $200 back annually when you use your card for prepaid bookings with American Express Travel at Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection (minimum two-night stay required); fee reimbursement for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application; up to $300 back each year when you pay for your eligible Equinox membership with your card; up to $240 back in statement credit when you use your card for purchases with Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal; complimentary membership in premium car rental programs, including special upgrades and discounts; platinum concierge services for assistance with things like reservations or ticket purchases; and a number of other elite shopping and travel benefits. Terms Apply. Enrollment required for select benefits

PROS:

  • This card awards five points for each $1 you spend on airline purchases directly with airlines as well as on American Express Travel flight purchases (up to $500,000 spent each calendar year) and hotel stays.
  • It also offers a ton of valuable luxury benefits such as a $200 airline fee credit you can use with a pre-selected airline of your choice, up to $200 in annual Uber savings and a credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. Terms Apply. Enrollment required for select benefits.
  • Enjoy 24/7 Platinum Club Concierge service to help with travel arrangements, obtaining tickets to events or even picking out the perfect gift for that special someone.

CONS:

  • You can’t ignore the AnnualFees annual fee. If you don’t use the luxury perks that are offered or if you don’t travel often, the annual fee might be too much of an expense.
  • Unlike typical credit cards, this card allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all. If you need to carry a balance from month to month, you’ll likely need to look for a different card.
  • As an American Express card, it isn't as widely accepted, especially internationally, as a Visa or Mastercard. That said, the network is ever-growing so this might not be an issue for you.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 77.1 77.8
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.9 7.7
Customer Service 7.5 8.1
Website/App Usability 7.4 7.8
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.3 7.9
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.4 7.6

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: A good choice for those loyal to the American Airlines brand, users of this card are sure to appreciate the easy points that can be racked up when making American Airlines ticket reservations, as well as a list of other perks such as Admirals Club access, priority check-in, priority airport screening and boarding privileges, free first checked bags and a number of other benefits. Citi is a CardRatings advertiser

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
70,000 miles Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first three months of account opening.
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus:Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first three months of account opening.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Earn four AAdvantage® bonus miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn one mile for every $1 spent on other eligible purchases. Keep in mind you'll earn one Loyalty Point for every eligible mile earned with your card.

Luxury Perks: Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement; Admirals Club access (or a prorated refund of your Admirals Club membership fee if you're already a member); priority check-in, priority airport screening and boarding privileges for you and up to eight travel companions on the same reservation; first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to eight travel companions traveling with you on the same reservation.

PROS:

  • As a new cardholder, you can earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first three months of account opening.
  • Earn four miles for each $1 you spend on American Airlines purchases and one mile for each $1 spent on other purchases.
  • Other card benefits include Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement, access to Admirals Club, priority check-in and several other travel benefits.

CONS:

  • This card comes with a AnnualFees annual fee, which for luxury cards isn’t out of the ordinary. However, you’ll still need to determine if you will get enough value out of the rewards programs and benefits for it to be worth it.
  • This luxury rewards card includes benefits and rewards exclusively for frequent American Airlines travelers. If you frequently travel with other airlines or prefer to shop around, you’ll likely get more out of a different travel card.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 77.4 76.1
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.6 7.7
Customer Service 7.5 7.8
Website/App Usability 8.3 7.7
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.1 7.6
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.7 7.3

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: There are a lot of great perks to love with this card, such as the five points earned per $1 spent on flights and pre-paid hotels booked through amextravel.com, or even hotel upgrades and airline fee credits, but one of the features that stands out to us the most is when you use your rewards points to book a first class or business class flight with any airline available through American Express Travel, or when you book any class flight with your pre-selected qualifying airline, you'll get 35% of the points back. With this benefit, you can get up to 1 million points back per calendar year, which in the end, could put a lot of money back in your pocket.

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
120,000 points Earn 120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within your first three months of card membership. Plus, use your points to book a first class or business class flight with any airline available through American Express Travel and get 35% of the points back, or get 35% of the points back when you book any class flight with your pre-selected qualifying airline through amextravel.com. With this benefit, you can get up to 1 million points back per calendar year.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Earn 5 points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels through amextravel.com; an extra half-point (or, 1.5 points) per $1 on eligible purchases with U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers, and shipping providers as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (up to a cap).

Luxury Perks: Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years; an annual $200 travel credit to use towards things like baggage or incidental fees with your pre-selected airline; access to a plethora of airport lounges around the world; complimentary benefits such as room upgrades, daily breakfast for two people, late check-out, complimentary WiFi and a unique amenity, such as a food and beverage credit or a one-way private sedan transfer, when booking hotel stays through the Fine Hotels and Resorts group; Hilton Honors Gold Status benefits at stays within the Hilton Portfolio; access to platinum travel counselors who specialize in providing custom itineraries and tailored recommendations to help you make the most of your travels; access to premium seats for select cultural and sporting events; baggage insurance plans offering up to $3,000 in coverage; premium car rental privileges; and a number of other premium shopping and travel benefits and services. Enrollment required for select benefits

PROS:

  • You can earn five points for each $1 you spend on flights and pre-paid hotels booked with amextravel.com. You can also earn 35% of your points back if you book your flight with a pre-selected qualifying airline (up to 1 million points back per calendar year.)
  • This card comes with a ton of luxury perks such as a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credits every four years or 4.5 years, respectively; an annual $200 travel credit for expenses with a pre-selected airline; airport lounge access; room upgrades; daily breakfast for two people when staying at particular hotels; and many others. Enrollment required for select benefits.
  • New cardholders can earn mega bonus points by completing qualifying purchases within your first three months of card membership (details in the "Card Details" tab).

CONS:

  • This card comes with a hefty annual fee of AnnualFees. If you don’t think you’ll be able to offset some or all of that fee with the benefits and rewards the card offers, you should consider using a card with a lower (or no) annual fee.
  • The rewards earning on purchases outside of a few travel-related categories aren't great. You may want to consider adding another card to your business wallet to earn maximum points on your everyday purchases.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 75.1 80.3
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.5 8.1
Customer Service 7.4 8.0
Website/App Usability 7.9 7.8
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 7.3 8.1
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.6 8.1

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: If you spend a lot in one particular category, this might be a good option for you. With this card, users can earn 4x Membership Rewards points on the two categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle (4X points apply to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these two categories each calendar year). This is a great feature for businesses who have high expenses in one area, as it truly allows for maximum point accumulation. Plus, this card also offers a number of great expense management tools such as a designated account manager, easy QuickBooks connection, and a detailed end-of-year account summary, making it a practical card to have on hand.

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
70,000 points Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of opening an account.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Earn 4x Membership Rewards points on the two categories where your business spends the most (each billing cycle) from six eligible categories. While your top two categories may change, you will earn 4x points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1x thereafter). Only the top two categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap. Additionally, earn 3x Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold card.

Luxury Perks: While the CardName does offer some great travel and shopping benefits like car rental loss and damage insurance, premium roadside assistance, travel accident insurance, baggage insurance plans, extended warranty, and purchase protection, this card is more so focused on offering users with great expense management tools, which truly makes it a great business card. Some of the featured perks include a designated account manager to access and manage your business card account; the American Express Business App, which helps you to manage card expenses by allowing you to add receipts and notes to your transactions; easy connection to QuickBooks; account alerts; and a detailed year-end account summary. A flexible payment option can help manage cash flow on purchases of $100 or more.

PROS:

  • This card charges a lower annual fee than it's Platinum cousin, which is nice if you want a luxury card and benefits without the higher annual fee.
  • This card awards 4x Membership Rewards points on the two categories where your business spends the most (each billing cycle) from six eligible categories. While your top two categories may change, you will earn 4x points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1x thereafter). Only the top two categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap. Additionally, earn 3x Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold card.
  • New cardholders can earn 70,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of opening an account, which is a nice bank of Membership Rewards® points.

CONS:

  • For a luxury card, this card has a lower annual fee of AnnualFees but it’s still large enough that you’ll need to run the numbers and determine if you can offset this fee with the rewards and benefits offered.
  • It doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, but it's worth keeping in mind that American Express cards are overall less widely accepted than Visa or Mastercard, particularly overseas. Perhaps keep a Visa or Mastercard handy if you plan to head overseas, just in case.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 79.9 80.7
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.9 8.0
Customer Service 7.9 8.2
Website/App Usability 8.3 8.0
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.1 8.2
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 8.1 8.0

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: This card offers a number of nice perks, such as complimentary access to a few airport lounge networks, a first class, Delta Comfort+, or main cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon card renewal (taxes and fees required), and priority boarding, but what's fun about this card is that users easily have the ability to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs), which helps you reach elevated levels of Medallion Status, and subsequently, have access to even more benefits like waived fees, complimentary upgrades and more.

Read our full CardName review.

Limited Time Offer
110,000 miles Limited Time Offer: Earn 110,000 bonus miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership (offer ends 3/27/24)
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

Limited Time Offer: Earn 110,000 bonus miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership (offer ends 3/27/24).

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Earn 1.5X miles on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after you spend $150,000 in purchases on your card in a year (if your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply). Additionally, earn 3x miles per dollar on Delta purchases.

Luxury Perks: Complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge and a couple of other lounge networks when you book your Delta ticket on your Reserve card; priority boarding; a first class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your card (taxes and fees required); your first checked bag free; baggage insurance plan; concierge services; and a number of other travel, shopping, and expense management perks. Enrollment required for select benefits.

PROS:

  • You also get a bunch of luxury travel perks such as complimentary access to some airport lounges, a first class, Delta Comfort+, or main cabin round-trip companion certificate each year you renew, priority boarding and many others. Enrollment required for select benefits.
  • Earn 1.5X miles on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after you spend $150,000 in purchases on your card in a year (if your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply). Additionally, earn 3x miles per dollar on Delta purchases.

CONS:

  • This card includes several luxury perks but it also has a fairly high annual fee of AnnualFees. It’s important to figure out if you can get enough value from the extras to justify the annual fee.
  • Most, if not all, of the luxury perks and benefits you get with this card are exclusive to Delta airlines. If you are not a frequent Delta flyer or you don’t travel enough to use these benefits, you’ll want to consider a different travel or business card.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 78.7 77.6
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.8 7.7
Customer Service 7.9 8.0
Website/App Usability 7.6 7.9
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.2 7.5
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.9 7.6

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

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foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: Even the name of this card screams elite credit card, and if the name isn't enough, the look should do it. The Black Card comes with a long list of luxury perks that are sure to make its users feel special. From airline and hotel credits, to VIP airport lounge access, to premium gifts, this card offers it all. It even gives users access to things like plane and yacht charter services, personal chauffeurs, and invitation-only, luxury experiences. When it comes to premium credit cards, this one lends itself to a life of luxury.

Read our full CardName review.

Rewards
1 points/$1 spent Earn 1 points for every $1 spent. Redeem points for 2% value on airfare and 1.5% value on cash back redemptions
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

Bonus: There's no traditional bonus with this card; however, the value of your points redemption when it comes to airfare is high at 2%. That means that every point is worth $.02 when redeemed for airfare. That's a higher redemption rate than what's typically offered.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees; $195 for each additional authorized user

The Rewards: Earn one point for every $1 spent with 2% value for airfare redemptions and 1.5% value for cash back redemptions. Terms and conditions apply

Luxury Perks: Annual $100 airline credit to be used towards flight-related purchases including airline tickets, baggage fees, and upgrades; $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit; VIP access to 1,300+ airport lounges in more than 500 cities worldwide; luxury gifts from recognized brand names, given throughout membership; room upgrades, complimentary food and beverages and spa credits when booking hotel stays with your card; global luggage delivery services, which allow you to send your luggage ahead of time to nearly any destination worldwide to avoid the hassle of carrying, checking and claiming bags; competitive pricing and upgrades on premium car rentals; access to charter services, from flying by private jet to chartering a yacht; access to personal chauffeured services; 24/7 access to Luxury Card Concierge, a lifestyle management service tailored to your personal requirements, from booking an extravagant travel itinerary to sourcing hard-to-find gifts; access to invitation-only, luxury experiences such as court side seats, backstage passes, and dress rehearsal tickets; LUXURY MAGAZINE subscription; and a number of other elite shopping and travel benefits and services.

PROS:

  • This card comes with several luxury benefits you won’t get with other cards such as plane and yacht charter services, personal chauffeurs and invitation-only experiences.
  • It offers a higher than normal rate of 2% rewards when you redeem for airfare, which is also not typical of travel rewards cards.
  • Other luxury perks include an annual $100 airline credit, $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, VIP airport lounge access, luxury gifts and many others.

CONS:

  • As with most luxury cards, this one has a higher annual fee of AnnualFees. However, it is slightly lower than some of the other luxury cards offering similar benefits and rewards.
  • There is no traditional bonus for new card members, which can sometimes get you started with new card right away and give you a better idea of whether the annual fee will be worth it.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 82.2 85.4
Rewards Program Satisfaction 8.1 8.4
Customer Service 7.9 8.7
Website/App Usability 7.8 8.9
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.9 8.9
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 8.7 8.3

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

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FAQ

If you travel often the CardName is one of the best premium credit cards you can own. This card features a number of invaluable perks such as complimentary lounge access and travel credits. Combine that with the fact that the points it earns are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, and you have a luxury travel card that's hard to beat. Plus, if you hold any other Chase Travel earning cards such as the no-annual-fee CardNamediscontinued or CardNamediscontinued cards, you set yourself up for an excellent rewards earning strategy as points earned with these cards can all be pooled under your Chase Sapphire Reserve® account, and therefore be worth 50% more towards travel. For example, the Reserve® card only earns one point on "other" purchases, but with the Freedom Unlimited® card the unlimited 1.5% cash back is just the beginning of what you can earn. You'll enjoy 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

We all desire different things from our credit cards though, so what's the most glamorous and appropriate card for you might not be the most suitable card for the next person. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card for example offers a lot of valuable perks for frequent airline travelers, but its hotel rewards are limited. If you're constantly staying in hotels, you might prefer something like the CardName discontinued, which includes up to $200 back in statement credit each year when you use your card for prepaid bookings with American Express Travel at Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection (requires a two-night minimum stay) properties. (Terms apply; enrollment required for some benefits)

On an ongoing basis, the Platinum Card® offers 5X Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com, as well as 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.

Deciding on the best luxury credit card ultimately comes down to your spending and lifestyle habits. The best credit card will be the credit card you actually use, so when evaluating your options, make sure you'll actually utilize the perks available.

Information related to Chase Freedom FlexSM has been collected independently by CardRatings and was neither reviewed nor provided by the card issuer

The CardName and the CardName discontinued are both excellent premium credit cards. Which is better depends on your spending habits and issuer preferences.

For example, as explained above, the CardName is a great card to use alongside other credit cards in the Ultimate Rewards family. If you already have other Ultimate Rewards-earning cards, adding the Reserve® card to the bunch could really benefit you as you can pool rewards under your Reserve® account to increase their value. The Reserve® also earns bonus rewards on dining, whereas the Platinum Card® does not earn bonus rewards on these purchases, so if you dine out a lot, the Reserve® may be the better option for you. On the other hand, the Platinum Card® offers a ton of extra perks like streaming credits, savings with Uber, and Platinum Concierge services, so ultimately, it really just comes down to what it is that you value and expect from your credit card. Both are great options for the right user.

Luxury credit cards can carry a hefty annual fee, so if you travel infrequently or otherwise won't use the card benefits, you may be better off with a lower tier card that comes with no or a low annual fee.

However, frequent travelers may find that the benefits of a premium card easily outweigh the cost. Checked baggage fees add up, airport lounge access could cost hundreds, earning elite status can take years, etc. With the right credit card, these aren't things you'll have to worry about. Sure, you'll pay a fee for your credit card, but that will cover the cost of things you'd likely pay for anyway, and then you get so much more in addition to that, like bonus rewards on select spending, extended warranty protection, travel insurance, hotel discounts, access to card concierge services, and more.

There are also a number of premium cards with annual fees ranging from $95-$250. You may not get a full lounge membership with these cards, but you may get some lounge access, elite qualifying miles or nights, travel concierge service or statement credits for travel and dining.

To determine whether a premium card is worth the annual fee, add up the value of all the perks you could reasonably expect to use in a year and see whether they outweigh the cost.

The perks and features of these cards are certainly appealing, but it's important to note that these cards aren't for everyone. In fact, they probably aren't even for most people.

Before deciding to apply for one of these cards, make sure you have a firm grasp on your credit history and credit score. The reality is that you're going to need a stellar credit history to be approved for one of these cards – and applying for a credit card for which you won't be approved will do nothing more than ding your credit score.

If you like what you see here, but aren't ready for the larger-than-typical annual fees, that's okay. There are still some excellent travel rewards credit cards out there that don't come with massive annual fees. Plus, those cards, while you still need a healthy credit history to qualify, will likely not require quite the same income base that these luxury credit cards do.

So if you're enticed by the perks and features, but not ready to take the plunge for one of these cards, take a look instead at our picks for the best travel rewards credit cards. You could very well find your perfect credit card match there.

It may be time for you to apply for a premium credit card if you are 1) already comfortable paying a credit card annual fee, and 2) find yourself wishing your current credit card offered a bit more.

Credit cards with a low, or no annual fee can offer some great benefits, but when it comes to the cream of the crop of credit cards perks, premium credit cards are where you'll get the most bang for your buck. Things like airport lounge access, travel credits, elite status, free companion travel, special car rental privileges and concierge services are usually reserved for luxury credit card holders. The annual fees for these cards can be steep, but if you're someone who will regularly use these benefits, you likely won't have much trouble offsetting the cost of your card.

Take the CardName for example. It gains cardholders access to Priority Pass membership, which starts at $99 annually for the basic membership plan if you were to join without a credit card offering access, plus $32 a visit for you, and $32 for each guest you bring. And that's just the very base plan. More expensive plans costs as much as $429 annually, and still charge for visitors. With the Venture X card, you get unlimited Priority Pass lounge visits for you and your guests, just for being a cardholder. That alone has the potential to more than offset the card's annual fee, and it's not even taking into consideration things like Capital One Lounge access or the $300 statement credit you can earn for bookings made through Capital One Travel. CardRatings Senior Managing Editor Jennifer Doss shares what went into her decision to upgrade to a premium credit card.

If you're looking for luxury perks, a premium credit card may be the way to get them, and can also save you money. If you're ready to take your credit rewards strategy to the next level, the cards in the list above are a great place to start your luxury credit card journey.

author
Brooklyn Lowery
Editor & Credit Card Expert

A journalist for nearly 20 years, Brooklyn has published work on a broad range of topics including personal finance and business as well as travel and human interest pieces. As a finance expert, she has provided commentary on credit cards, card rewards and personal finance for outlets including Forbes, Fox Business and many others. Her own wanderlust and travel experiences...Read more


Survey Methodology: CardRatings commissioned Op4G in September 2023 to conduct surveys among 1,869 cardholders nationwide. CardRatings website analytics from Jan. 1, 2023-Aug. 31, 2023 were used to determine a selection of the most popular cards and additional cards were included to add survey breadth. Responses to each of nine questions were given on a scale of 1-10 and respondents’ scores were then averaged under broad topics. To determine the overall score, responses from questions 1-8 were summed and the answer to “How likely are you to recommend this card to a friend, coworker or family member?” was double weighted. “Current Scores” reflect scores from the most recent survey (2023); “Past Scores” reflect scores from the 2022 survey.

Ranking Methodology: CardRatings experts review the fine print, details, perks, rewards and features of hundreds of cards and compare them side-by-side with similar cards. A card that makes an excellent balance transfer card may not make a great cash-back rewards card even though it offers those rewards. While the Best of the Year list is announced annually, that list – and all other “best of” lists on CardRatings – are regularly reviewed and updated as issuers change the terms and features of each card often.

For rates and fees for the American Express cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: CardName (See Rates and Fees); CardName (See Rates and Fees); CardName (See Rates and Fees); CardName (See Rates and Fees); CardName (See Rates and Fees); CardName (See Rates and Fees)

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Disclaimer:

The information in this article is believed to be accurate as of the date it was written. Please keep in mind that credit card offers change frequently. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this article. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. See the online credit card application for full terms and conditions on offers and rewards. Please verify all terms and conditions of any credit card prior to applying.

This content is not provided by any company mentioned in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed here are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any such company. CardRatings.com does not review every company or every offer available on the market.