The Amex Platinum ($895/yr) and Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795/yr) are the two cards everyone compares when they graduate from mid-tier travel cards. Both come with lounge access, travel credits, and transfer points to airlines and hotels. Both require you to justify a fee that most cards would never dare charge.
The difference isn't one being better than the other — it's that they're built around completely different travel styles. Getting this wrong means paying $800+ for a card that doesn't fit your life.
Fee Math: What You Actually Get Per Dollar Paid
Amex Platinum ($895/yr) stacks credits aggressively: $200 airline fee credit, $200 hotel credit (Fine Hotels + Resorts), $240 digital entertainment credit, $155 Walmart+ credit, $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, and more. If you use all of them, the effective net fee can drop below $100 — but these credits are spread across many specific categories and require active management.
Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795/yr) gives you a simple $300 annual travel credit that applies automatically to any travel purchase — flights, hotels, Uber, tolls, parking. That's the easiest $300 you'll ever redeem. The card also includes Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit ($100 every 4 years). Net it out and the effective annual cost is roughly $495 before you earn a single point.
Lounge Access: Centurion vs. Priority Pass
This is the biggest practical difference between the two cards.
Amex Platinum gets you into Centurion Lounges (widely considered the best domestic lounge experience), Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta, Priority Pass lounges worldwide, and Escape Lounges. Centurion Lounges have a reputation for real food, open bars, and spa services — not just stale pretzels and bad coffee. Note: Amex now limits free guests at Centurion lounges unless you spend $75k+ on the card.
Chase Sapphire Reserve includes Priority Pass Select, which covers 1,400+ lounges in 600+ cities worldwide. Priority Pass is broader in sheer number of locations, but the quality varies enormously. You may walk into a mediocre lounge when the Platinum holder walks into Centurion. The Reserve no longer includes Priority Pass restaurant access.
Earning Rates
Amex Platinum earns 5× on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com (on up to $500k/yr), and 5× on hotels booked through Amex Travel. It earns just 1× on everything else — restaurants, gas, groceries, everything. The Platinum is not an everyday spending card.
Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 10× on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel, 5× on flights through Chase Travel, 3× on all dining and all other travel, and 1× on everything else. The 3× on dining and 3× on travel outside the portal make it a legitimately strong everyday driver for people who eat out and travel.
Transfer Partners
| Amex Membership Rewards | Chase Ultimate Rewards |
|---|---|
| Delta SkyMiles (1:1) | United MileagePlus (1:1) |
| Air France/KLM Flying Blue (1:1) | Southwest Rapid Rewards (1:1) |
| British Airways Avios (1:1) | Air France/KLM Flying Blue (1:1) |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (1:1) | British Airways Avios (1:1) |
| ANA Mileage Club (1:1) | Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (1:1) |
| Hilton Honors (1:2) | World of Hyatt (1:1) |
| Marriott Bonvoy (1:1) | IHG One Rewards (1:1) |
| Emirates Skywards (1:1) | Marriott Bonvoy (1:1) |
Both programs are excellent. Amex has Delta and Emirates; Chase has United, Southwest, and Hyatt. The Hyatt transfer is widely regarded as the single best transfer in personal finance — you can book a $500+ hotel night for 15,000–25,000 points. Chase doesn't have Delta; Amex doesn't have United or Southwest. Pick based on which airlines and hotels you actually use.
Who Should Get the Amex Platinum
- You fly Delta frequently and want lounge access on those flights
- You fly through airports with Centurion Lounges and use them regularly
- You book a lot of flights directly with airlines and will hit 5× on significant spend
- You can realistically use the niche credits (Walmart+, digital entertainment, hotel credit)
- You value premium hotel benefits through Fine Hotels + Resorts
Who Should Get the Chase Sapphire Reserve
- You dine out heavily and want a card that earns 3× on every restaurant meal
- You want a card that works hard even when you're not traveling
- You transfer points to Hyatt for outsized hotel value
- You fly United or Southwest and want a domestic airline transfer partner
- You want a simple, high-value travel credit that doesn't require tracking categories
The Bottom Line
For frequent business travelers who live in airports and want the very best lounge experience: the Amex Platinum earns its place. For people who travel several times a year, eat out regularly, and want one card that does everything well: the Chase Sapphire Reserve wins. Browse all top travel cards to see the full landscape.
If you want to compare them side by side with a mid-tier option, see our Capital One Venture X review — it's worth considering at $395 before committing to $795 or $895.
Compare both cards side by side against your spending profile.
Annual fees, bonus offers, and rewards rates are accurate as of 2026. Always verify current offers at the issuer's official website before applying. CardCompass may earn a commission if you apply for a card through our site. See our Advertiser Disclosure for details.