Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
Premium Travel Card Showdown
Verified July 2026
The Amex Platinum ($895/yr) wins for luxury perks, lounge access, and transfer partners (20 vs 13). The Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795/yr) wins for hotel value with 1:1 Hyatt transfer, The Edit credits, and Chase Sapphire Lounges. Both cards saw major fee increases in 2025 but gained substantial new perks. Choose Amex for lounges and airline partners; choose Chase for hotel redemptions.
At a Glance
The Platinum Card from American Express
- Annual Fee
- $895
- Signup Bonus
- 175,000 points
- Network
- Amex
- Points Currency
- Membership Rewards
- Earning Rates
-
Other Travel Purchases 1xPrepaid Hotels Through Amex Travel 5xFlights Purchased Directly From Airlines Or Amex Travel 5x
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Annual Fee
- $0
- Signup Bonus
- 100,000 points
- Network
- Visa
- Points Currency
- Ultimate Rewards
- Earning Rates
-
Dining 3xChase Travel 8xEverything Else 1xFlights Hotels Direct 4x
Category Breakdown
How they compare across key categories
Annual Fee
Amex winsCSR $795 vs Amex Platinum $895 — both offset with $1,000+ in annual credits
Lounge Access
Amex winsCenturion Lounges + Delta Sky Club + Priority Pass vs Chase Sapphire Lounges + Priority Pass
Transfer Partners
Amex wins20 partners vs 13 — Amex has more airline options
Dining Earning
Chase winsCSR earns 3x dining (8x via Chase Travel); Platinum only 1x
Hotel Value
Chase wins1:1 Hyatt transfer + $500 The Edit hotel credits + $250 Chase Travel hotel credit
Travel Credits
Amex winsAmex offers $2,200+ in credits; CSR offers $1,050+ in credits annually
Travel Insurance
Chase winsCSR includes trip delay, cancellation, and rental car coverage
Status Benefits
Amex winsHilton Gold + Marriott Gold vs no hotel status
Perks & Benefits
The Platinum
- Hotel credit ($600)
- Resy dining credit ($400)
- Uber Cash ($200)
- Digital Entertainment credit ($300)
- Walmart+ credit ($155)
- Lululemon credit ($300)
- Lounge access
- Hilton and Marriott elite status
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- $300 annual travel credit
- $500 The Edit hotel credit
- $300 dining credit
- Priority Pass Select + Chase Sapphire Lounges
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- 1.5 cpp via Points Boost in Chase Travel
- DoorDash DashPass
- No foreign transaction fees
Which Is Right for You?
Get the Amex Platinum if...
- You value Centurion Lounge and Delta Sky Club access
- You want the widest range of airline transfer partners (20)
- You travel internationally and want hotel status perks
- You can maximize $2,200+ in annual statement credits
Get the Chase Sapphire Reserve if...
- You want 4x on direct hotel/flight bookings and 8x via Chase Travel
- You want World of Hyatt transfers and $750 in hotel credits
- You want Chase Sapphire Lounge access
- You value comprehensive travel insurance
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve better for travel?
It depends on your priorities. The Amex Platinum ($895/yr) offers superior lounge access (Centurion Lounges + Delta Sky Club), more transfer partners (20 vs 13), and hotel elite status. The Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795/yr) offers better earning rates (4x direct flights/hotels, 8x via Chase Travel), the 1:1 Hyatt transfer, $750 in hotel credits, and Chase Sapphire Lounge access. Many frequent travelers hold both.
Can you have both the Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Yes — there's no restriction on holding cards from different issuers. Many award travel enthusiasts hold both to access the full range of transfer partners from both Amex Membership Rewards (20 partners) and Chase Ultimate Rewards (13 partners).
Which card has better lounge access?
The Amex Platinum has the edge with Centurion Lounges (widely considered the best US airport lounges), 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club visits per year, Priority Pass Select, and Plaza Premium Lounges. The CSR now offers Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club plus Priority Pass Select — a major upgrade from before.
Which card is better for earning points on everyday spending?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x on dining and 4x on direct flights and hotels — better for everyday spending. The Amex Platinum earns 5x on flights booked directly or through Amex Travel, but only 1x on everything else. For daily spending, CSR wins. For booking through portals, CSR's 8x on Chase Travel is hard to beat.
Ready to use your points?
Search award flight availability across all partner airlines in one place.
Search award flightsNeed More Points?
Earn bonus points with these credit card offers
Can't find availability at your current points balance? These credit cards offer generous welcome bonuses to help you book your dream flight.
The Business Platinum Card from American Express
Business · Annual fee $895
200,000 points
after $20,000 in 3 months
- $300 ChatGPT Business Credit ($300)
- $600 Hotel Credit ($600)
- $850+ Global Lounge Collection Value ($850)
The Platinum Card from American Express
Personal · Annual fee $895
175,000 points
after $12,000 in 6 months
- Hotel credit ($600)
- Resy dining credit ($400)
- Uber Cash ($200)
American Express Gold Card
Personal · Annual fee $325
100,000 points
after $8,000 in 6 months
- Dining statement credit ($120)
- Resy dining credit ($100)
- Uber Cash ($120)
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Personal · Annual fee $95
100,000 points
after $5,000 in 3 months
- Chase Travel Hotel Credit ($100)
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit ($120)
- Apple TV subscription ($156)
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Personal · Annual fee $0
100,000 points
after $6,000 in 3 months
- $300 annual travel credit
- $500 The Edit hotel credit
- $300 dining credit
Chase Ink Business Preferred®
Business · Annual fee $95
100,000 Ultimate Rewards points
after $8,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- 3x points on travel & shipping
- 3x points on advertising
- 3x points on internet/cable/phone
Credit card approval subject to eligibility. Terms and conditions apply. American Express cards shown are available to US residents only.