The Capital One Venture X stands out with a balanced mix of benefits and a $395 annual fee. Its 2x miles floor on all purchases makes it a very simple card to use. Furthermore, the $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 annual anniversary miles help offset the annual fee of this card. With complimentary Priority Pass and Capital One Lounge access, and no foreign transaction fees, it’s ideal for frequent travelers seeking value and convenience while maximizing simplicity.
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 miles anniversary bonus
- Complimentary Priority Pass membership and access to Capital One Lounges
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free authorized users, who also get lounge access
For frequent travelers interested in managing more credits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers premium perks and protection. Despite its hefty annual fee, it offers significant travel credits and points multipliers on travel and dining. Furthermore, it includes Priority Pass & Chase lounge access, top-tier travel insurance, and elevated point earnings on Lyft rides, making it perfect for those seeking luxury and convenience.
- 3x points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit
- 3x points on dining at restaurants
- 1x point on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit, applicable to a wide range of travel purchases
- Redeem points for 1.5 cents each through Chase Travel℠
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access
- Comprehensive travel and purchase protections, including trip delay reimbursement and primary rental car insurance
The Amex Platinum is frequently marketed as being associated with luxury travel, featuring a large annual fee but packed with high-end benefits. Despite its hefty coupon-book like structure, if you can take advantage of all its benefits and credits, it can really deliver an improved, high-value travel experience.
- 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel
- 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
- 1x point on all other purchases
- Up to $200 in statement credits for annual airline incidental fees
- Up to $200 annual Uber credit ($15 Uber Cash/month with up to a $20 Uber Cash bonus in December) - you must add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account, and then pay with any AMEX card
- Up to $200 annual statement credit on prepaid Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings
- Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on your Platinum Card
- Complimentary access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Select lounges, and other partner lounges
- Up to $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through an official vendor)
- Extensive travel and purchase protections
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Chase Sapphire Lounge At Boston Logan Airport (BOS)
This is an extraordinarily difficult question to answer. Each card offers a unique set of benefits, making them suitable for different types of travelers. Let's run through some characteristics of each card that can make one better than another.
Annual Fees
- Amex Platinum: The Amex Platinum has the highest annual fee at $695. However, it offers extensive credits including a $200 annual airline fee credit, $200 in Uber credits, and a $200 hotel credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings. These credits can significantly offset the high annual fee if utilized effectively, but there are so many of them that it can be very difficult to keep track of.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: With a $550 annual fee, the Sapphire Reserve provides a $300 annual travel credit that is easy to use across a wide range of travel purchases. This effectively reduces the annual fee to $250 if you travel enough to take full advantage of the credit.
- Capital One Venture X: The Venture X has the lowest annual fee of the three at $395. It also offers the clearest path to breaking even on the annual fee, with its $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel, along with a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus.
On the annual fee side, I think the Venture X is the clear winner in terms of ease of breaking even. However, if you’re really able to leverage a sizable portion of the credits, the Amex Platinum can also dominate this category. Nevertheless, with so many moving pieces, the Platinum requires a lot of maintenance and brain power.
Earning Rates
- Amex Platinum: This card excels with 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel and 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. However, for other purchases, it only earns 1x points.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: The Reserve card offers 3x points on travel and dining, making it a good choice for those who spend heavily in these categories. After using the $300 travel credit, travel purchases earn 3x points. However, for all other purchases, it only earns 1x points.
- Capital One Venture X: The Venture X card provides 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2x miles on all other purchases, offering a straightforward and lucrative earning structure.
However, since many people get these cards with the intentions of using them for travel, the Platinum absolutely crushes the competition for earnings when booking directly with airlines. When it comes to direct hotel bookings, the Reserve is the best among the three.
Lounge Access
Centurion Lounge Entrance At Philadelphia Airport (PHL)
- Amex Platinum: Offers complimentary access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Select lounges, and Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta). This extensive lounge network is a major perk for travelers who want to relax in style before their flights.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Provides complimentary Priority Pass Select membership and unlimited access to Chase Lounges by the Club.
- Capital One Venture X: Includes complimentary Priority Pass membership and access to Capital One Lounges.
I think it’s clear that the Platinum offers the most robust lounge network to date. In any case, each card is stronger in certain airports than others. For example, if you are flying out of Boston frequently, the Chase Lounge there is ranked among the top priority pass lounges in the country. Likewise, if you are flying out of Washington DC frequently, the Capital One lounge there is known to be a top lounge in the states as well.
Travel Insurance
- Amex Platinum: Offers a comprehensive suite of travel insurances, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, and premium global assist hotline. This card provides robust coverage for various travel mishaps. Terms apply.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Known for its best-in-class travel insurance benefits, the Reserve card includes trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, primary rental car insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and emergency evacuation and transportation. These protections are highly regarded for their extensive coverage.
- Capital One Venture X: Includes a variety of travel insurance protections such as trip cancellation/interruption coverage, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, primary rental car insurance, and travel accident insurance. These benefits provide peace of mind for travelers.
When it comes to travel insurance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is widely recognized for offering the most comprehensive coverage, including primary rental car insurance and extensive trip delay and cancellation protections. The Amex Platinum also provides robust travel insurance benefits, covering a wide range of travel-related incidents and offering additional perks like the premium global assist hotline. The Capital One Venture X offers solid travel insurance protections as well, making it a strong contender, though not quite as extensive as the Reserve.
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.
How To Decide Between The Cards
- Amex Platinum is the most complex premium travel credit card. However, if you can effectively leverage all of its benefits, you can garner a lot of value out of the card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve can generally provide significant value, but really requires you to visit Chase lounges frequently to break even on the investment
- Capital One Venture X is the simplest premium travel credit card, offering a lot for its annual fee
Each of these premium travel cards excels in different areas, making them suitable for various types of travelers. The Amex Platinum is ideal for luxury travelers who can fully utilize its extensive credits and elite status benefits. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is perfect for frequent travelers who value comprehensive travel insurance, practical everyday benefits, and high points redemption rates. The Capital One Venture X offers a balanced mix of benefits with a lower annual fee, making it a great choice for those seeking value, simplicity, and solid travel perks. Depending on your travel habits, spending patterns, and primary airports, one of these cards will likely suit your needs better than the others.
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