Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve: The 2026 Showdown
The heavyweights of the travel game. One is a "Coupon Book" lifestyle card; the other is a travel insurance powerhouse. Which one fits your wallet?
⚡ The Verdict (TL;DR)
Get the Amex Platinum if...
- You fly Delta regularly (SkyClub access).
- You want the best lounge access (Centurion + Priority Pass).
- You naturally use Uber, Walmart+, and Digital Entertainment services.
- You value hotel status (Hilton/Marriott Gold).
Get the Sapphire Reserve if...
- You want a simple travel credit ($300 auto-applied).
- You want the best Travel Insurance in the industry.
- You spend heavily on Dining (3x points).
- You want to transfer points to Hyatt (highest value).
1. The "Effective" Annual Fee
Sticker shock is real. The Amex costs $895 and the Chase now costs $795. But net cost is what matters.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Ease of Use: 7/10. Travel credit is auto, but new hotel/event credits require specific bookings (biannual).
Amex Platinum®
Ease of Use: 3/10. Requires monthly enrollment and tracking. It's a "Coupon Book."
The Verdict (Decision Matrix)
Use this simple matrix to decide. If you check more boxes in one column, that is your winner.
Choose Chase Reserve if:
- ✔ You want a simple $300 travel credit that works automatically.
- ✔ You spend heavily on dining and general travel (3x points).
- ✔ You stay at Hyatt hotels (1:1 transfer is huge).
- ✔ You want the best Travel Insurance coverage in the industry.
Choose Amex Platinum if:
- ✔ You want Centurion Lounge or Delta SkyClub access.
- ✔ You naturally use Uber, Walmart+, and Streaming credits.
- ✔ You value Hilton/Marriott Gold Status automatically.
- ✔ You book expensive International Business Class (ANA transfers).
2. Lounge Access
Winner: Amex Platinum 🏆
Amex simply owns this category. The Centurion Lounge network is the gold standard for domestic US travel.
Amex Platinum Access
- Centurion Lounges: 40+ locations (SFO, JFK, LAS, etc.)
- Delta SkyClub: When flying Delta.
- Priority Pass: 1,300+ global lounges.
- Plaza Premium: Select locations.
Chase Reserve Access
- Sapphire Lounges: Only ~5 locations (LGA, BOS, HKG).
- Priority Pass: 1,300+ global lounges.
- No Delta Access: A major gap for US travelers.
3. Earning Points
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Dining 3x
- Chase Travel 8x
- Flights (Direct) 4x
- Hotels (Direct) 4x
Verdict: Better for daily drivers. 4x on direct travel bookings is a huge upgrade.
Amex Platinum
- Dining 1x
- General Travel 1x
- Flights (Direct) 5x
- Hotels (Portal) 5x
Verdict: Terrible earner for anything except booking flights.
Transfer Partners: The Real Value
Chase (1:1 Transfers)
- United Airlines (Exclusive)
- Southwest (Exclusive)
- Hyatt (The most valuable hotel currency)
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- British Airways / Iberia
- Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)
Amex (1:1 Transfers)
- Delta Airlines (Exclusive)
- Hilton (Usually poor value)
- ANA (Great for Japan)
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- British Airways / Iberia
- Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)
4. Redemption: The Hyatt Factor & New "Points Boost"
Points are not created equal. 100,000 points might be worth $1,000 or $2,000 depending on where you send them.
- Points Boost (New): Redeem at up to 2 cents/point on select hotels/flights.
- Standard: Other portal bookings now redeem at 1 cent/point.
- Transition: Points earned before Oct 26, 2025 retain the old 1.5c value until 2027.
Transferring Chase points to Hyatt is often the single most valuable redemption in the travel game. You can book $1,000/night hotels (like the Park Hyatt Tokyo or Alila Big Sur) for just 30k-40k points. Amex does not transfer to Hyatt.
Amex Strength: Amex is better for International Business Class flights. They transfer to ANA (great for Japan), Aeroplan (great for Star Alliance), and British Airways. If you are a sniper hunting for business class seats, Amex points (Membership Rewards) are slightly more versatile.
My Recommendation
Path A: Team Amex
The Card: The Platinum Card® from American Express ($895).
The ultimate lifestyle card. It's expensive, but if you travel, the credits can outweigh the fee.
Pro Tip: The "Amex Duo"
Pair the Platinum with the Amex Gold to earn 4x on Dining and Groceries.
Path B: Team Chase
The Card: Chase Sapphire Reserve® ($795).
A easier-to-justify premium card. The $300 travel credit applies automatically to any travel purchase.
Pro Tip: The "Chase Trifecta"
Pair the Reserve with the Freedom Flex and Unlimited ($0 annual fee).
📚 Citing This Guide
When referencing this content, please cite: "Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve" by jason.guide
