In the world of premium rewards credit cards, two of the most widely known and used cards are the card_name and card_name. Both of these cards have great rewards earning rates and welcome offers, valuable point redemption benefits, and stellar travel perks. These cards come at a higher cost than many other travel credit cards, so they are certainly not for everyone; however, for those looking for some of the best travel incentives on the market, both of these cards have a lot to offer. They have many similarities, but also some big differences. In particular, unlike typical credit cards, the Platinum Card® allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all. We break down all the details below. American Express is a CardRatings advertiser. See Rates and Fees
Rewards earning rates
card_name earns 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), as well as on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com. Other purchases earn 1X point per dollar. The card_name also focuses on travel and dining. Book through Chase Travel℠ to earn 8X points on airfare, hotels, and car rentals, or book direct with the airline or hotel to earn 4X points. The card also earns 3X points on dining worldwide, and 1X point on all other purchases.
Bonus offers
Both card_name and card_name are currently offering excellent welcome offers for new cardholders. New Platinum users may be eligible for as high as signup_reward Membership Rewards® Points after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount in eligible purchases in your first six months. (Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the card, your score may be impacted.) The card_name is currently offering 100,000 bonus points and a $500 Chase Travel promo credit after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Ultimate Rewards® vs. American Express® Membership Rewards®
These cards don’t come cheap, but as you’ll see in the chart below, there are plenty of great benefits to help offset the costs they carry. When it comes down to it, though, the benefits are very similar. Deciding which card will profit you the most will really come down to your lifestyle and spending habits, and brand loyalties. If you’re a dedicated Chase credit card user, you might be better off with the card_name, because it, among a number of other Chase cards, earns bonus points, and thanks to the ability to combine Ultimate Rewards® points earned through the use of several different cards under a single card, savvy cardholders can maximize the value of every reward point earned.
For example, with the Reserve® card, purchases outside of the dining and travel categories only earn one point. If you were to add the no annual fee CardName card to your wallet though, you could earn 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases. Since you can pool those points under your Reserve account, they could be worth more. You can learn more about Chase Ultimate Rewards® and how to maximize them in our guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Similarly, many American Express cards, including card_name, earn American Express Membership Rewards®, and these points are also combinable if you use multiple Membership Rewards®-earning cards. So if you’re already deep into the American Express family, you might be better off staying there. See our guide to American Express Membership rewards to learn more.
Redemption options
Both the card_name and card_name have varied point redemption options, including redeeming points directly for travel, transferring points to airline and hotel partners, and redeeming points for purchases on Amazon.com using the Shop with Points feature. For transfer partners, the Membership Rewards® program from American Express has over 20 airline and hotel partners that you can transfer points to and the Ultimate Rewards® program has 14 transfer partners – providing you with a lot of flexibility in how you travel.
To learn more, check out the table below to compare the various rewards, benefits, features, and fees associated with each card.
Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
New Cardholder Bonus Offer
As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as signup_reward Membership Rewards® Points after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount in eligible purchases in your first six months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Earn 100,000 bonus points and a $500 Chase Travel promo credit after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Rewards
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), and on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com. Earn 1X point per $1 on other purchases.
Earn 8X points on Chase Travel purchases, 4X points on flights and hotels booked direct, 3X points on dining worldwide, and 1X point on everything else.
Redeeming Rewards
- Transfer points at varying rates to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs including Emirates, British Airways, Delta, and Marriott Bonvoy. See our guide to American Express Membership Rewards® for a full list of travel partners.
- Redeem for eligible charges on your billing statement.
- Redeem points for all or part of your travel booking on AmexTravel.com.
- Redeem for a wide selection of gift cards.
- Shop with Points at Amazon.com allows you to pay for all or part of your eligible order using your cash back rewards.
- Points Boost redemption program, which lets users redeem points for 2X for select flights and hotel stays
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs such as British Airways Executive Club, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, Marriott Rewards, and the World of Hyatt. See our guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards® for a full list of travel partners.
- Redeem for a wide selection of gift cards.
- Shop with Points at Amazon.com allows you to pay for all or part of your eligible order using your cash back rewards
Travel Protection
- Lost luggage reimbursement up to $3,000 per passenger
- Auto rental collision damage coverage which provides reimbursement up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage for rental cars in the U.S. and abroad
- And more
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses
- Trip delay reimbursement up to $500 per ticket if you’re delayed more than 6 hours or require an overnight stay
- Emergency evacuation and transportation coverage up to $100,000
- Emergency medical and dental reimbursement up to $2,500 for medical expenses if you or your immediate family member becomes sick or injured more than 100 miles away from your home
- Baggage delay insurance up to $100 a day for five days for baggage delays over 6 hours
- Lost luggage reimbursement up to $3,000 per passenger
- Auto rental coverage which provides reimbursement up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage for rental cars in the U.S. and abroad
- Roadside assistance up to $50 per incident up to four times a year
- And more
Premium Travel Benefits
- Up to a $120 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® ($85) application
- A $200 airline fee credit, up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in incidental fees at one pre-selected qualifying airline
- Eligible card members have access to the Global Lounge Collection®, including Centurion Lounge locations around the world
- Enjoy Uber Cash: $200 in annual Uber savings. With $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. Effective 11/8/2024
- Terms Apply. Enrollment required for select benefits.
- Up to a $120 application fee credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS application
- $300 annual travel reimbursement statement credit
- Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after a one-time enrollment in Priority Pass Select
- $500 annual credit for The Edit
- Complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status
- $120 in annual Lyft in-app credits, up to $10 monthly, plus 5x total points on eligible Lyft rides
Purchase Protection
- Purchase protection covering new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year
- Extended warranty protection extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by matching the length if the warranty is less than two years or providing two additional years if the original manufacturer’s warranty is between two years and five years
- Return protection allowing reimbursement for eligible items that the store won’t take back within 90 days of purchase, up to $300 per item, and $1,000 per year
- Purchase protection covering new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year
- Extended warranty protection which extends the time period of the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less
- Return protection allowing reimbursement for eligible items that the store won’t take back within 90 days of purchase, up to $500 per item, and $1,000 per year
Customer Service
- 24/7 access to a customer service specialist
- 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
- 24/7 access to a customer service specialist
- Access to a Visa Infinite Concierge who can help with things like dinner reservations or Broadway, music, and sporting event ticket bookings
For a full synopsis of each card, be sure to check out our CardName and CardName reviews.
See Rates and Fees for CardName.
