Credit Cards Travel Credit Cards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^® vs. The Platinum Card^® from American Express vs. Citi Prestige: Which Premium Card is the Best?

These top cards aren't one-size-fits-all for every traveler, but there's a good case for each one. (Citi is a FinanceBuzz partner.)

By Ben Luthi

Edited by Laura Bostwick

Updated June 24, 2025

For frequent travelers, a premium card can elevate your travel experience. Whether it's great rewards, huge bonus offers, or VIP perks, these credit cards can provide a lot more value to cardmembers than what they charge in annual fees.

Three of the best premium travel cards on the market include the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, The Platinum Card^® from American Express, and the Citi Prestige (no longer available for applications). Which card is best? We intend to find out.

Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express vs. Citi Prestige: Highlights of all three

	Chase Sapphire Reserve^® 5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	The Platinum Card^® from American Express 4.9 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Citi Prestige^® Card (no longer available for applications)
Welcome bonus	Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	Earn as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 6 months (welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer; apply and find out your offer)	N/A
How rewards are earned	8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠ (including The Edit℠), 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct, 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases	5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases	N/A
Redeeming points for travel	Redeem for travel through Chase Travel or transfer to one of Chase's airline or hotel partners	Redeem for travel through American Express Travel® or transfer to one of Amex's airline or hotel partners	Redeem for travel through Citi or transfer to one of Citi's airline partners
Travel credits	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lounge access	Yes	Yes	Yes
TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry Credit	Yes	Yes	Yes
Foreign transaction fee	None	None	None
Fee to add authorized user	$195	Costs $195 for each additional card user; no fee for Companion Platinum cards	$75
Annual fee	$795	$695 (Terms apply)	$495
Recommended credit score to apply	Excellent	Excellent, Good	Excellent
	Learn more	Learn more

One thing to note is that while the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Citi Prestige are true credit cards, the Amex Platinum is not. Unlike typical credit cards, the Amex Platinum allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all, so you may be required to pay your balance in full each month. If that's a deal-breaker for you, it may be better to compare the other two more directly.

Travel and purchase coverage, compared

In addition to perks that make a trip go more smoothly and add a little luxury, it's also helpful that you can sleep at night knowing your card has you covered if something goes wrong. Fortunately, this is also an area where these credit cards excel.

Travel protection

	Chase Sapphire Reserve^®	The Platinum Card^® from American Express	Citi Prestige
Rental car coverage	Primary coverage of up to $75,000	Secondary coverage of up to $75,000; primary coverage can be purchased for much lower than what the car-rental company charges	Secondary coverage of up to $75,000 in the U.S.; coverage is primary when used overseas
Trip cancellation/trip interruption	Up to $10,000 per person and up to $20,000 per trip	Not offered	Up to $5,000 per trip
Trip delay reimbursement	Up to $500 per ticket	Not offered	Up to $500 per traveler per trip
Travel accident insurance	Up to $1 million in coverage	Up to $500,000 in coverage	Up to $1 million in coverage
Emergency evacuation and transportation	Up to $100,000 in coverage	Up to $100,000 in coverage	Up to $100,000 in coverage
Emergency medical and dental	Up to $2,500	Up to $20,000 for medical, up to $1,000 for dental, and up to $1,000 for prescriptions	Not offered
Baggage loss, delay, or damage	Up to $100 per day for five days if delayed; up to $3,000 per passenger if lost	No coverage for delayed baggage; up to $2,000 for lost checked baggage, up to $3,000 for lost checked and carry-on luggage; up to $10,000 total for all covered people per trip¹ <p>Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.</p><p></p><ul><li>Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. </li><li>Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. </li><li>Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.</li></ul><p></p>	Up to $500 per covered traveler per trip if delayed; up to $3,000 per traveler per trip ($2,000 for NY residents) and up to $10,000 total per trip if lost
Roadside assistance	Up to $50 per incident 4X per year	Will pay for eligible services up to 4X per year	Dispatch only

Purchase protection

Purchase protection	Up to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per year	Up to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per year² <p class="">Purchase Protection is an embedded benefit of your Card Membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect Covered Purchases made on your Eligible Card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Coverage Limits Apply. <br></p><p></p><ul><li>Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. </li><li>Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.</li><li>Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.</li></ul><p></p>	Up to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per year
Return protection	Up to $500 per item and up to $1,000 per year	Up to $300 per item and up to $1,000 per year³ <p>With Return Protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won't take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories.</p><p></p><ul><li>Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. </li><li>Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.</li></ul><p></p>	Up to $500 per item and up to $1,500 per year
Extended warranty protection	Extends original warranties of up to three years for another year	Matches the original warranty for up to two additional years⁴ <p>When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty§ can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.</p><p></p><ul><li>Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. </li><li>Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. </li><li>Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.</li></ul><p></p>	Extends original or purchases warranty for another two years for a maximum of seven years from the purchase date
Price protection	Not offered	Not offered	Up to $200 per item and up to $1,000 per year
Cell phone protection	Not offered	Up to $800 per claim with a $50 deductible and up to two claims per 12-month period⁵ <p>Coverage for a Stolen or damaged Eligible Cellular Wireless Telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per Eligible Card Account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per Eligible Card Account per 12 month period.</p><p></p><ul><li>Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. </li><li>Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. </li><li>Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.</li></ul><p></p>	Up to $1,000 per claim with a $50 deductible and up to $1,500 total per 12-month period

Main differences to note

All three travel rewards cards have a lot of similarities in the features they offer. But there are some key differences to note. For example, the Amex Platinum offers the most value in the form of perks but falls a little short with trip protections.

On the flip side, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a wide array of travel insurance benefits but doesn't provide as many perks as the Amex Platinum.

On the rewards front, the Amex Platinum doesn't do so hot, offering just one point per dollar on most of the purchases you'll make. If it's rewards and bonus categories you're after, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Citi Prestige are a much better match.

As you consider a card based on benefits and protections, it's important to look at the fine print to know what's actually covered. With trip cancellation and interruption insurance, for instance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers four times the maximum per trip as the Citi Prestige.

It's also important to note that each card may differ in what's considered excluded from coverage, so be sure to read the terms and conditions.

Which card should you choose?

There's no single best travel credit card out there for everyone, so it's important to know what you want out of a card to ensure you get the right one for you. Here are our thoughts about which card is best for which type of person and why.

Excellent for most travelers: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Among these three premium cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve provides the best fit for most people who want elite travel perks. The card's annual travel statement credits of up to $300 is easy to use.

It also offers up to $500 in hotel credits with The Edit (up to $250 in statement credits from January-June and again from July-December for prepaid bookings with The Edit. Two-night minimum required. Purchases that qualify will not earn points). And you can get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables. With all this, you're well on your way to getting more out of the card than you've paid for the annual fee of $795.

Add to that the card's insurance protections and airport lounge access, credits and discounts at Lyft and DoorDash, premium rental car benefits (including discounts and upgrades), and more, it's hard to turn the card down if you prioritize luxury benefits.

It also offers a strong rewards program, and people who aren't sure they're savvy enough to maximize point value through transfer partners could still get more value when booking eligible travel through Chase with its Points Boost program.

With this program, your points could be worth up to 2X more on select hotels and flights.

Explore all the benefits and features in our full Chase Sapphire Reserve review.

Excellent benefits for frequent travelers: Amex Platinum

If you want as many luxury perks as possible, the Amex Platinum is your best bet. The card offers complimentary access to more airport lounge networks than any other card available to the public, and you can expect preferential treatment with two major hotel brands and three major rental car companies. Select benefits do require enrollment.

What's more, the card offers a variety of perks and benefits that could help offset the annual cost.

Just keep in mind that the card's rewards rates are lackluster. And if you want to get more than one cent per point when redeeming, you'll need to transfer your rewards to one of Amex's travel partners.

Explore all the benefits and features in our full Amex Platinum review.

FAQs

Is it worth having the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum?

Both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Platinum could be worth having for people who spend enough on travel purchases each year. Both have fairly steep annual fees, however. The Chase Sapphire Reserve's is $795, while the Amex Platinum's is $695.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers hundreds in statement credits, and you earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠ (including The Edit℠), 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct, 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases.

The American Express Platinum offers a variety of credits and benefits. And since you get 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®, you can easily offset the card's annual fee if the credits and other perks are useful for your lifestyle.

Is the Citi Prestige metal?

The Citi Prestige, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Amex Platinum cards are all constructed of a metal alloy. The Amex Platinum was once the heaviest of the three at 18 grams, but a recent upgrade to the Citi Prestige puts it at 18 grams as well. The Chase Sapphire Reserve weighs 13 grams.

What credit score do you need for the Chase Sapphire Reserve?

You'll need excellent credit to qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and the Citi Prestige card requires excellent credit as well. You can apply for the Amex Platinum card with good or excellent credit.

Remember that there's never any guarantee you'll be approved, and credit card issuers take into account other factors such as your income.

Is the Amex Platinum worth the annual fee?

If you can take advantage of the card's credits and benefits, the Amex Platinum card is likely worth the annual fee. That's because you get a variety of credits and perks, which can offset the $695 annual fee. But you also have to consider earning rates and other benefits.

If you'll use the $300 annual travel credit that comes with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, then you need to offset an additional $495. This is likely possible through everyday spending, travel spending, and using the card's benefits.

The Citi Prestige is a bit more difficult to pin down since it has different rewards rates for airfare and hotels. But given the $250 annual travel credit, you only have $245 left of the $495 fee to offset.

Is the Citi Prestige card a Mastercard?

Yes, the Citi Prestige is a Mastercard, which means it is widely accepted at many retailers. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a Visa card, which is also widely accepted, while the Amex Platinum is an American Express card. While none of these cards have foreign transaction fees, American Express cards are generally accepted at fewer retailers in most countries.

Bottom line

The Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card from American Express are premium travel rewards cards that offer various perks and benefits that can help you earn enough value to justify their annual fees. The Citi Prestige also comes with premium benefits, but it's no longer open to new applications.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve impresses with a $300 annual travel credit, robust rewards on travel and dining, and a host of benefits, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of travelers. Meanwhile, The Platinum Card from American Express caters to those craving luxury, offering extensive airport lounge access, elite hotel perks, and exclusive benefits, albeit with modest rewards rates. Keep in mind that select American Express benefits require enrollment.

Premium Travel Benefits