Premium credit cards are more than a way to pay for purchases – they are a gateway to a different kind of travel. They promise airport lounges that turn layovers into retreats, statement credits that offset hefty fees, and points that unlock luxury flights and hotels. 

At the top of this world stand two giants: The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

These cards are not casual additions to a wallet. 

Their annual fees rival the cost of a weekend getaway, yet in the right hands, they can return far more in value. 

The Amex Platinum is the veteran, known for unmatched lounge access and lifestyle perks. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the challenger, rewriting expectations with flexible credits, broad earning categories, and powerful protections.

In 2025, their rivalry has never been sharper. 

Chase has refreshed the Sapphire Reserve with new benefits and a higher fee, while American Express is preparing its own changes. That makes choosing between them more important than ever. 

Pick the wrong card and you risk wasting thousands in unused perks. Pick the right one and you could change the way you travel for years to come.

Quick Comparison: Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve

When comparing two premium credit cards, it helps to start with the basics. Below is a side-by-side look at the Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve, highlighting the features most travelers care about.

Annual Fees: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve 

The cost of holding a premium travel card is the first hurdle for most people. 

The Amex Platinum charges an annual fee of $695, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve comes in higher at $795. These numbers are steep, especially compared to mid-tier travel cards that fall in the $95 – $250 range.

Paying that much upfront only makes sense if the benefits justify it. 

American Express leans on its long list of lifestyle and travel credits to outweigh the Platinum fee. Chase, on the other hand, relies on flexible credits and broad earning categories to soften the impact of its higher price.

Still, a $100 gap separates the two cards. 

That difference might not feel huge, but when comparing two products that already charge premium fees, it can tip the scales. 

If you are sensitive to cost or just testing the waters with your first luxury card, the lower-priced Amex Platinum provides a gentler entry point.

Winner: Amex Platinum

Its annual fee is lower, making it the more approachable option for travelers weighing their first step into the premium card market.

Welcome Offers: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

One of the most exciting parts of opening a premium travel card is the chance to earn a large welcome bonus. These offers can instantly boost your points balance and often help justify the annual fee in the very first year.

The Amex Platinum currently offers a welcome bonus of up to 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 in the first six months. However, “up to” is the key phrase. Not every applicant will receive the top offer. 

Some are targeted for 125,000 points, and many others report being offered only 100,000 points. Since Amex enforces a strict “once-per-lifetime” rule on welcome offers, it can be worth waiting until you see the highest bonus before applying. 

With The Points Analyst valuation of Membership Rewards at roughly 2.00 cents per point, the best-case 175,000-point offer equals about $3,500 in travel, while a 100,000-point offer is closer to $2,000 in value.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is also delivering its strongest offer in years: 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points plus a $500 Chase Travel credit after spending $5,000 in the first three months. 

Based on current valuations of about 2.00 cents per point, that package comes out to roughly $2,500 in value. However, the spending requirement is lower than the Amex Platinum, making it easier for most cardholders to achieve.

Both offers are impressive, but they reward different strategies. 

The Amex Platinum is best if you can secure the very top offer. The Chase Sapphire Reserve, meanwhile, offers a predictable and attainable package of value that feels less like a gamble.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve

While Amex Platinum can come out ahead with the right targeted offer, the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns the edge here for delivering a consistent, high-value welcome bonus that most applicants can realistically capture.

Earning Points: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

A strong welcome bonus may get you started, but the long-term value of a premium card depends on how well it rewards your everyday spending. Here the strategies of American Express and Chase diverge sharply.

The Amex Platinum focuses narrowly on premium travel purchases. 

You will earn:

• 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year).
• 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel.
• 1 point per dollar on nearly everything else.

That makes the Amex Platinum a powerhouse for airfare, but underwhelming for daily purchases. If most of your spending falls outside flights and hotels, your earning potential will be limited.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve takes a broader approach, rewarding more categories that align with everyday life. 

You will earn:

• 8 points per dollar on Chase Travel purchases.
• 4 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked directly with the merchant.
• 3 points per dollar on dining.
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

These categories make the Chase Sapphire Reserve a better all-around card for ongoing use, especially if you dine out often or use Chase Travel for booking. It is easier to rack up meaningful rewards without having to tailor your spending habits around the card.

For example, imagine a traveler who spends $5,000 a year on airfare, $5,000 on hotels, and $7,500 on dining. 

With the Amex Platinum, that spending would yield about 70,000 points. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the same purchases would earn roughly 97,500 points.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Amex Platinum shines for frequent flyers who consistently book airfare, but the Chase Sapphire Reserve wins for everyday earning. Its mix of dining, travel, and direct-booking bonuses make it more versatile and more rewarding for most travelers.

Statement Credits And Lifestyle Perks: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

Premium cards justify their annual fees by layering on statement credits, but not all credits are created equal. Some are flexible and effortless, while others feel like coupons you need to remember to use. 

The Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve land on opposite ends of that spectrum.

Amex Platinum piles on credits that can add up to well over $1,400 in potential value each year. 

Highlights include:

• $200 airline incidental credit (restricted to one airline you choose each year).
• $200 in Uber Cash ($15 per month, plus a $20 bonus in December).
• $200 hotel credit on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings (minimum two nights).
• $240 in digital entertainment credits ($20 per month).
• $155 Walmart+ membership credit.
• $300 Equinox credit.
• $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit ($50 every six months).
• $199 Clear Plus credit.

The catch? 

Many of these are split into small monthly or biannual chunks, and some apply only to niche services. If you already shop at Saks or use Equinox, the Amex Platinum feels generous. If not, you may find yourself going out of your way to “use” the perks.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve takes a simpler path. Its credits may not look as flashy in number, but they are easier to maximize. 

Key benefits include:

• $300 annual travel credit (automatically applied to nearly any travel purchase).
• $500 hotel credit through The Edit by Chase Travel ($250 twice per year).
• $300 dining credit at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants.
• $300 entertainment credit for StubHub or Viagogo.
• Complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions.
• DoorDash DashPass membership and monthly credits.
• Lyft credits and bonus earnings.

Unlike the Amex “coupon book” style of perks, most Chase credits are straightforward and flexible. If you travel even a couple of times a year, that $300 travel credit alone offsets a large chunk of the annual fee with almost no effort.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Amex Platinum offers more perks on paper, but many require careful tracking or specific habits to use. The Chase Sapphire Reserve credits are simpler, broader, and more practical for the majority of travelers.

Lounge Access And Travel Experience: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

Airport lounges are one of the most visible perks of premium credit cards, and here the Amex Platinum has long been the leader. Its Global Lounge Collection is unmatched in scale and includes:

• Centurion Lounges (exclusive to American Express cardholders, known for premium food and design).
• Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta, with 10 annual visits per year starting in 2025 unless you spend $75,000 on the card).
• Priority Pass Select (though it excludes restaurants).
• Plaza Premium and Escape Lounges, plus access to Aspire and Airspace lounges.

On top of lounges, the Amex Platinum also grants Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold hotel status, along with elite car rental status from Hertz, Avis, and National. 

For frequent international flyers, this combination creates a seamless travel experience with lounge access almost anywhere and elevated hotel treatment on arrival.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a smaller lounge network but still delivers strong value. 

Benefits include:

• Priority Pass Select, including restaurants at participating airports.
• Access to the growing Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club, which allow two free guests per visit.
• Access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Cafés when flying Star Alliance carriers.

Chase pairs its lounge benefits with IHG Platinum Elite status (with an option to earn IHG Diamond Elite after $75,000 spend). While not as prestigious as Hilton Honors or Marriott Bonvoy status, it is a nice extra if you stay with IHG properties.

The difference comes down to scale versus guest access. 

The Amex Platinum gives the widest lounge coverage globally, but guest access is restricted unless you hit very high spending levels. The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers fewer lounges, but its guest-friendly policy makes it better for couples or families traveling together.

Winner: Amex Platinum

The sheer breadth of its Global Lounge Collection makes it the strongest choice for solo travelers and international flyers who value access above all. The Chase Sapphire Reserve remains appealing for those who prioritize bringing guests along, but it cannot match the American Express global lounge footprint.

Travel And Purchase Protections: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

When you are spending hundreds or even thousands on flights, hotels, and experiences, strong protections can make or break a premium card. This is an area where the Chase Sapphire Reserve has consistently led, although Amex Platinum has made improvements.

Chase Sapphire Reserve offers one of the best suites of travel protections in the industry, including:

• Primary Rental Car Insurance (covers damages without needing to involve your personal insurance).
• Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance (up to $10,000 per trip for non-refundable expenses).
• Trip Delay Reimbursement (up to $500 for expenses like meals and hotels if your trip is delayed by more than 6 hours).
• Baggage Delay Insurance (up to $100 per day for essential purchases after 6 hours).
• Emergency Medical and Dental Coverage (up to $2,500 while traveling).
• Emergency Evacuation and Transportation Coverage (up to $100,000).

These protections give travelers confidence that their major expenses are covered in case of unexpected issues. The primary rental car coverage alone is a standout, saving both money and hassle compared to cards that only offer secondary insurance.

The Amex Platinum has closed some of the gap in recent years, adding or enhancing several protections:

• Trip Cancellation and Interruption Coverage (up to $10,000 per trip, $20,000 per year).
• Trip Delay Insurance (up to $500 after a delay of more than 6 hours).
• Secondary Rental Car Coverage (unless you purchase premium coverage separately).
• Purchase Protection (up to $10,000 per claim for 90 days after purchase).
• Extended Warranty Protection (adds an extra year on eligible warranties).

While these protections are valuable, the key difference remains the rental car coverage. For many travelers, that is one of the most commonly used benefits, and the secondary coverage from American Express feels weaker compared to the automatic primary protection with Chase.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Amex Platinum has improved, but Chase still sets the standard with stronger, more comprehensive protections. If peace of mind while traveling is a priority, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the safer bet.

Points Redemption And Transfer Partners: Amex vs Chase

Earning points is only half the story. The real test of a premium travel card is how valuable and flexible those points are when you redeem them. 

Both Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards are among the most valuable currencies in the industry, but they work in different ways.

Amex Membership Rewards offers the widest range of transfer options, with 21 airline and 3 hotel partners. 

This includes programs like ANA Mileage Club, Air Canada Aeroplan, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and Singapore KrisFlyer, which can unlock incredible sweet spots for international Business Class and First Class flights. 

However, not all transfers are instant, and some partners have less favorable ratios. Using Amex Membership Rewards points through the Amex Travel portal yields weaker value: 1.0 cents per point for flights and just 0.7 cents for hotels.

On the other side, Chase Ultimate Rewards has fewer transfer partners – 14 airlines and 3 hotels – but its list is more practical for U.S. travelers. 

Most importantly, Chase has an exclusive gem: World of Hyatt, which offers outsized value for hotel stays. 

Other valuable partners include United Airlines MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, and Air France-KLM Flying Blue. All Chase transfers are 1:1 and mostly instant, reducing the risk of losing award space. 

On top of that, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders get a 50% boost when redeeming points through Chase Travel, giving you a guaranteed value of 1.5 cents per point until 2027, plus access to the new Points Boost program for select partners.

For example, booking a $750 flight would cost 75,000 points with Amex but only 50,000 points with Chase through the portal.

Winner: Tie. 

The Amex Platinum wins for international flyers who can maximize sweet-spot transfers, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve shines for travelers who value Hyatt redemptions, instant transfers, and guaranteed 1.5 cents per point in the portal. 

The right choice depends entirely on your travel style.

Who Each Card Is Best For

At this point, it is clear that the Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve take very different approaches to delivering value. The best choice depends less on which card looks better on paper and more on how you actually travel.

Amex Platinum is best for:

• Frequent Flyers Who Value Lounge Access. With Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, and Priority Pass, it is the card for those who want the widest lounge network.
• Luxury Travelers Chasing Elite Status. Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status, plus rental car elite tiers, can make every trip more comfortable.
• Lifestyle Perks Enthusiasts. If you already use services like Uber, Saks, Walmart+, or Equinox, the Amex Platinum “coupon book” of credits adds up quickly.
• International Travelers. The broader set of airline transfer partners makes Amex Membership Rewards especially valuable for complex international trips.

Chase Sapphire Reserve is best for:

• Everyday Earners. Its bonus categories on travel and dining make it easy to rack up points without changing your spending habits.
• Practical Travelers. The $300 travel credit is automatic and flexible, removing the stress of tracking multiple smaller credits.
• Families and Couples. Chase Sapphire Lounges allow two free guests, making it more guest-friendly than the stricter Amex Platinum rules.
• Value-Focused Redeemers. The 50% boost in Chase Travel and access to World of Hyatt give Ultimate Rewards points consistent, easy-to-use value.

Both cards together? For some, the real answer is not “Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve” but both. 

Holding both gives you the unmatched lounge access and hotel status of the Amex Platinum, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve covers everyday earning and strong protections. 

This strategy works best for frequent travelers who can justify paying two hefty annual fees while fully maximizing both sets of credits.

Final Thoughts

Choosing between the Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve is not about which card looks best on paper. It is about which card aligns with the way you travel. 

The Amex Platinum shines with unmatched lounge access, hotel status, and lifestyle credits that appeal to travelers who enjoy luxury touches. The Chase Sapphire Reserve stands out with practical, easy-to-use credits, stronger everyday earning, and industry-leading protections.

If you want the broadest lounge network and do not mind tracking multiple credits, the Amex Platinum delivers a premium travel experience few cards can rival. 

If you want simplicity, flexibility, and straightforward value, the Chase Sapphire Reserve may be the smarter move – especially after its 2025 refresh.

For some, the best answer is both. 

Pairing the Amex Platinum lounge and status perks with the strong earning and protections on the Chase Sapphire Reserve can create the ultimate travel toolkit. The cost is high, but so is the potential return if you travel often and know how to maximize each benefit.

At the end of the day, your card should feel like a passport to the way you want to travel. 

Before applying, take a close look at your habits: Do you book international flights often? Do you dine out weekly? Do you value simplicity or do you enjoy squeezing every last drop of value from a stack of credits? 

The clearer you are about your travel style, the easier it is to choose.

Kevin Zanes