In the world of travel cards, two of the most popular are the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply, rates & fees). These cards earn flexible rewards that can be used to book travel, get cash back, transfer to partners and more. Plus, each card includes valuable welcome bonuses, travel protections and other perks that justify their annual fees.
The Preferred Card has a reasonable annual fee of $95, and it earns bonus points on dining and travel. The Platinum Card charges a premium annual fee of $695 but includes up to $1,500 in annual statement credits, airport lounge access and hotel elite status.
Compare the rewards, perks and fees of the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Platinum to decide which one is the best fit for your spending and travel needs.
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Platinum overview
| CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED | AMEX PLATINUM | |
|---|---|---|
Annual fees
| $95
| $695
|
Annual credits
| $50 hotel credit
| Up to $1,500 in annual statement credits
|
Welcome bonus
| Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening
| Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
|
Point values
| 1 to 2 cents
| 0.5 to 2 cents
|
Redemption options
| Travel, cash back, gift cards, online shopping, transfer partners
| Travel, cash back, gift cards, online shopping, transfer partners
|
Transfer partners
| 14 (11 airlines, 3 hotels)
| 21 (18 airlines, 3 hotels)
|
Foreign transaction fees
| $0
| None
|
Lounge access
| None
| Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounge, Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass (enrollment required) and more
|
Rewards and benefits
The best travel cards offer valuable rewards and benefits for cardholders. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is geared more toward entry-level or budget-conscious travelers, while the American Express Platinum Card is a luxury card for frequent travelers.
Earning rewards
You’ll earn 5 points per $1 on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per $1 on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases with the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
The Amex Platinum Card earns 5 Membership Rewards® points per $1 for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per $1 on other purchases.
While the Amex Platinum earns more points per dollar spent on some types of travel, the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s bonuses on dining, online groceries and streaming helps people maximize rewards on everyday purchases. For frequent flyers, it is the best American Express card for flights because the bonus points on travel really add up.
Consider pairing either card with others from the same bank (aka an Amex Trifecta or a Chase Trifecta) to maximize rewards on all purchases.
Winner: Tie
Redeeming rewards
Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Amex Platinum Card earn flexible points that offer numerous redemption options. While you can redeem points for cash back, online shopping and gift cards, the highest values for your points tend to be booking travel or transferring them to partners.
Points on the Sapphire Preferred are worth at least 1 cent each, even when redeeming for cash back and worth 1.25 cents each (25% more) when booking travel through Chase Travel℠. Amex Membership Rewards® points do not offer additional value when booking travel and redemption options can be as low as 0.5 cents each.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Transfer partners
When comparing the Chase Sapphire Preferred to the Amex Platinum, their transfer partners are often one of the biggest deciding factors for savvy points and miles users. Each program partners with an array of airlines and hotels where you can transfer points to other travel loyalty programs to book award flights and room reservations. This can often yield a better value than booking travel through the card issuer.
Compare each card’s partners to determine which program has your preferred airlines and hotels. For example, Chase has 14 partners like United, Southwest and Hyatt — while Amex has 21 partners, including Delta and Hilton. There are some loyalty programs that participate in both programs, like Marriott or Air France/KLM Flying Blue.
Winner: Amex Platinum
Cash back
You can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards® and Membership Rewards points for cash back or statement credits. However, Ultimate Rewards points are worth almost twice as much when redeemed for cash compared to Membership Rewards points.
You’ll get 1 cent per point with points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Platinum’s 0.6 cents per point.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Welcome bonus
You’ll get a significantly higher welcome bonus with the Amex Platinum vs. the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Consider your ability to meet the minimum spending requirement amount within the available time frame before applying for a card. If hitting the minimum spend causes you to rack up debt that you can’t pay off or spend more than you’d like, it’s not worth it.
With the Amex Platinum, new cardholders can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Chase Sapphire Preferred applicants can earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Winner: Amex Platinum
Want to earn the biggest bonus possible? Here’s some tips on how to find the Chase Sapphire Preferred 80k bonus points offer
Travel benefits
The Amex Platinum is loaded with travel benefits, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s list of travel benefits is shorter. With the Platinum Card, you’ll enjoy complimentary airport lounge access, Hilton and Marriott Gold status, Fine Hotels & Resorts® benefits and more. It also reimburses application fees for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (up to $100 in statement credits) and CLEAR® membership fees (up to $189 in statement credits). Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Winner: Amex Platinum
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The Platinum Card® from American Express
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Blueprint receives compensation from our partners for featured offers, which impacts how and where the placement is displayed.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Baggage delay insurance
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you’ll receive up to $100 a day per person when your bags are delayed over six hours. This benefit covers you for up to five days and reimburses you for essentials, such as clothing and toiletries, while you wait for your baggage to arrive. The Amex Platinum does not offer baggage delay benefits, but its coverage does offer up to $3,000 per person for baggage that is damaged or lost in transit, this includes both checked bags and carry-ons.¹
Winner: Tie
Trip delay reimbursement
Both travel cards include protection for unreimbursed expenses like food and lodging in case of trip delay. The Preferred Card covers up to $500 per ticket when the delay is more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay. Amex’s coverage kicks in after just six hours, but it is limited to $500 per trip and twice within a 12-month period.²
Winner: Amex Platinum
Rental car insurance
You’ll receive primary rental car protection against damage or theft with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. This means that your auto insurance doesn’t get involved if there’s a claim. The Amex Platinum Card includes secondary coverage³, which covers the portion of the claim that your auto insurance doesn’t pay. Neither card covers damage to other vehicles or injuries as a result of an accident.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Fees and charges
There’s no question that the Amex Platinum Card charges higher annual fees, including for authorized users. But otherwise, both cards lack foreign transaction fees – a crucial feature for a travel card.
| CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED | AMEX PLATINUM | |
|---|---|---|
Annual fee
| $95
| $695
|
Authorized user fee
| None
| Up to $195
|
Foreign transaction fee
| $0
| None
|
Balance transfer fee
| Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
| N/A
|
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Special offers
While the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Amex Platinum don’t feature introductory APR promotions, they do have some special offers from partners.
With the Amex Platinum you can get an up to $20 monthly statement credit on digital entertainment for participating providers (enrollment required). You can also get an up to $155 Walmart+ statement credit if you use your Amex Platinum to pay for your subscription (covers the $12.95 monthly Walmart+ cost) and up to $15 in Uber Cash per month ($20 in December) for eligible Uber rides or Uber Eats orders in the U.S. (card must be added to Uber account to receive this benefit). Terms apply.
Additionally the Amex Platinum has up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue statement credits per year (issued bi-annually for U.S. purchases) and an up to $300 annual Equinox statement credit towards an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal). Enrollment is required for both offers.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a few special offers but they are only for a limited time. You can earn 5 points per $1 spent on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025, one complimentary year of DashPass when you activate by December 31, 2024, six months of Instacart+ when activated by July 31, 2024 and 5 points per $1 spent on Peloton equipment and accessories over $150 (up to 25,000 total points) through March 31, 2025.
Winner: Amex Platinum
Additional perks
These lesser-known perks offer hidden value to cardholders who take advantage of them. These benefits can protect your purchases, help when you have car trouble and save you time.
Purchase protection
Purchase protection covers eligible purchases against damages or theft. With the Sapphire Preferred Card, your purchases are protected up to $500 per claim for the first 120 days. You can submit a maximum of $50,000 in purchase protection claims through your card.
The Amex Platinum covers up to $10,000 per claim, but only for the first 90 days. Additionally, it covers up to $50,000 per year, not for the lifetime of the card.⁴ Your American Express Platinum Card also covers cellphones against damage or theft up to $800 per claim (twice within 12 months) after a $50 deductible.⁵ The Chase Sapphire Preferred does not offer cellphone protection.
Winner: Amex Platinum
Return protection
Return protection reimburses you for eligible items when a merchant won’t accept your returns. The Chase Sapphire Preferred doesn’t offer this benefit, but the American Express Platinum does. The Platinum Card’s benefit refunds the full purchase price of eligible items, up to $300 per claim, within 90 days from the date of purchase. Shipping and handling charges are excluded, and you can receive a maximum of $1,000 per year under this coverage.⁶
Winner: Amex Platinum
Extended warranty
This benefit provides up to an extra year on the manufacturer’s warranty on eligible purchases. With Chase, you’ll receive one full year of additional coverage on warranties of three years or less. Amex doubles the manufacturer’s warranty up to one year. In both instances, coverage is limited to your purchase price (less shipping and handling) up to $10,000 and up to $50,000 per account.⁷
Winner: Tie
Roadside emergency assistance
If you have car trouble, Chase Sapphire Preferred offers roadside dispatch. This pay-per-use service is available 24/7 within the U.S. and includes pre-negotiated rates for common vehicle services, such as towing, tire changing, jump starts and fuel delivery. Chase does not charge for coordinating these services, but the vendors charge for the services rendered.
Amex Platinum cardholders do not receive this benefit.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Concierge services
Amex Platinum cardholders have complimentary access to a concierge who can buy event tickets, make dining reservations, book tee times and handle other inquiries on your behalf. The Preferred Card does not offer concierge services.
Winner: Amex Platinum
Chase Sapphire Preferred might be right for you if:
- You want to keep costs low. This card has an annual fee under $100, which is significantly lower than the Amex Platinum. Having a lower annual fee makes it easier to earn enough rewards to offset its cost.
- You want to maximize points on everyday purchases. The Preferred Card earns elevated bonus points on dining and all travel purchases. Compare that to the Platinum Card, which only earns elevated points on eligible flights (up to $500,000 per calendar year) and prepaid hotel reservations.
- You want a higher value when redeeming points. The minimum redemption value of an Ultimate Rewards point is 1 cent, even when redeeming for cash back. Additionally, your points are worth 25% more when booking travel through Chase.
Amex Platinum might be right for you if:
- You want airport lounge access. The Amex Platinum Card includes complimentary lounge access at Centurion Lounges, Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges and more when flying any airline. Access to Delta Sky Club lounges is available if you used your Amex Platinum to purchase your Delta ticket.
- You purchase airfare regularly. Amex Platinum cardholders earn 5 Membership Rewards® points per $1 for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 5 points per $1 on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per $1 on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
- You want elite status benefits at hotels. Cardholders receive complimentary Gold elite status through Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy when linking accounts with enrollment. Additional benefits are available when booking travel through Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection.
Final verdict
When comparing the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Platinum, both cards have a lot to offer. They earn flexible rewards, include travel protections and offer generous welcome bonuses.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a lower carrying cost and earns rewards on everyday spending categories, while the Amex Platinum’s earning power and benefits are geared toward frequent flyers.
Both cards have numerous transfer partners, and many travelers earn Ultimate Rewards or Membership Rewards based on which program has the loyalty programs they prefer. Overall, we recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred for beginners and the Amex Platinum Card for frequent travelers.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Yes, the Amex Platinum Card is one of the best luxury travel cards in the industry. It includes numerous perks, like airport lounge access, hotel elite status and statement credits for travel, retail purchases and more.
With an annual fee of $695, this card is targeted at affluent travelers and frequent flyers who want a premium travel experience.
Depending on your travel goals, it can be worth having both cards, especially if you want access to a wider array of transfer partners.
However, if you’re going to have multiple cards, many travelers choose cards that earn the same type of points or rewards from one of the card’s transfer partners. This allows you to maximize rewards on purchases and accelerates your path to booking free flights and hotel rooms.
For the best odds of approval, you should have good to excellent credit when applying for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. This typically means a FICO Score of at least 670. If your score is too low, take steps to improve your score, like paying down your balances and making all payments on time.
The U.S. version of the American Express Platinum Card does not have a published income requirement. However, when reviewing applications, Amex may take the income stated on your application into consideration when analyzing your monthly debt obligations. To improve your approval odds, increase your income and keep your monthly payments low.
As a luxury travel card, the Amex Platinum has an annual fee of $695, which is hard to swallow for many travelers. It includes over $1,500 in statement credits that can reduce your out-of-pocket costs, plus other benefits that are harder to value. This card’s fee is worth it if you can use its credits and benefits enough to justify the premium cost.
For rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
¹Baggage 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.Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
²Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
³Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
⁴Purchase 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. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
⁵Coverage 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. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
⁶With 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. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
⁷When 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. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.