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At first glance, credit card fees north of $400 don’t make sense to a lot of points and miles fans. Why would you pay $400+ per year for a card that's likely to earn fewer points per dollar than low or no annual fee cards from the same rewards family? It’s not until you look past the simple points per dollar equation that the value of a premium travel rewards card comes into focus.
Premium travel cards offer a host of benefits beyond category bonuses and the number of points earned. Perks such as lounge access, elite status, best in class travel insurance, travel and airline credits, free nights or companion passes, and other travel perks and services that not only help offset the cost of holding the card but can enhance the way you travel, providing added luxury and security.
What Makes a Travel Focused Rewards Card ‘Premium’?
No precise recipe makes a travel rewards card a ‘premium’ product, with the term often hijacked by new cards that don’t fall into the premium category. To make the cut as a premium travel rewards card, the card needs to provide a combination of lounge access, noteworthy travel and auto-rental insurance, some form of elite status with a hotel rewards, car rental, or frequent flyer program, Global Entry/TSA credit, a concierge service, sport a high annual fee, and feature some form of standout, high-ticket perk like the 4th Night Free on the Citi Prestige® Card.
In this post, we’ve focused on the following cards we think fit the premium description, splitting them into three tables. One table covers cards earning flexible or transferable points, and one each covering premium co-brand airline and hotel credit cards that earn miles in a single program.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express – Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Citi Prestige® Card – Earn 50,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® – Earn 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- United Club℠ Infinite Card – Not currently offering a traditional signup bonus. Instead, the annual fee on this card is waived for the first year.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card – Earn 40,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs). after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card – No longer accepting applications
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card – Earn 150,000 Bonus Points after you use your new Card to make $4,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, enjoy a free Weekend Night Reward within your first year and every year after renewal.
Premium Rewards Credit Cards Earning Flexible Points
The most popular premium cards on the market, these three travel cards earn transferable points not tied to a particular hotel or airline program. They all offer lounge access in some form, a range of travel insurance and purchase protection options, travel credits, and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit.
| Benefits | The Platinum Card® from American Express | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Citi Prestige® Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $550 | $550 | $495 |
| Authorized User Fee | $175 (for up to 3 AU's) | $75 | $50 |
| Weclome Bonus | 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points (Terms Apply) | Earn 50,000 bonus points | 50,000 ThankYou Points |
| Travel Credit | $200 Airline credit (incidentals only) | $300 Travel credit | $250 Airline credit (includes airfare) |
| Category Bonus | 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, and on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com | 3x on travel and dining | 5X points on air travel and at restaurants 3X points at hotels and on cruise line purchases 1 point per dollar on all other purchases |
| Priority Pass | 2 guests | 2 guests or immediate family | 2 guests or immediate family |
| Other Lounges | Centurion Lounges Delta SkyClub Lufthansa Lounges (Munich) Airspace & Escape Lounges Plaza Premium Lounges (Guest policy varies) | N/A | N/A |
| Elite Status | Hilton Honors & Marriott Gold Avis Preferred® Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® National Emerald Club Executive | National Emerald Club Executive | National Emerald Club Executive, Sixt Platinum |
| Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit | Every 4 years | Every 4 years | Every 5 years |
| Trip Delay | 6 hours $500 | 6 hours $500 | As of 09/22/19 Citi no longer offers this benefit |
| Baggage Delay | N/A | 6 hours $500 | As of 09/22/19 Citi no longer offers this benefit |
| Auto Rental CDW | Secondary up to $75K | Primary up to $75K | As of 09/22/19 Citi no longer offers this benefit |
| Additional Perks & Benefits | Up to $200 annual Uber credit Free Boingo Wi-Fi | 1.5¢ per point redemption through Chase Travel Portal | Free night on hotel bookings of 4 nights booked through ThankYou.com - up to twice per year. |
Premium Rewards Credit Cards Earning Miles
Unfortunately, many of our favorite frequent flyer programs don’t offer a top-tier rewards card. Alaska Mileage Plan would have an instant fan club were they to launch a premium card but, at this stage, it’s just the legacy carriers putting up the big annual fee co-brand cards.
| Benefits | Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® | United Club℠ Infinite Card | Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $450 | $0 intro annual fee, then $525 thereafter | $550 - Rates & Fees |
| Authorized User Fee | $0 | $0 | $175 - Rates & Fees |
| Welcome Offer | Earn 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles | Waived annual fee for the first year. | Earn 40,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) |
| EQD/EQM | 10,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) after spending $40,000 per calendar year | N/A | 15,000 MQMs for every $30,000 you spend in a calendar year, up to a maximum 60,000 MQMs |
| Category Bonus | • 2x on American flights • 1x on all other purchases | • 4x miles on United purchases • 2x miles on dining • 2x miles on all other travel • 1x on all other purchase | • 3x on Delta purchases • 1x on everything else |
| Lounge Access | • Admirals Club (+ 2 guests or immediate family) (AU cardholders also get free access) | • United Club (+ 2 guests or 1 adult and dependent children under 21 years of age) • Star Alliance Lounges when traveling same-day on Star Alliance ticket | • Delta Sky Club® & international partner lounges when traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed/operated flight • 2X one-time guest passes for complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club • The Centurion Lounge - When flying a same-day Delta-marketed/operated flight paid for with a U.S. issued American Express charge or credit Card |
| Elite Status | N/A | • Hertz President's Circle® Membership | N/A |
| Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit | Every 5 years | Every 4 years | Every 4 years |
| Trip Delay | As of 09/22/19 Citi no longer offers this benefit | • 12 hours • $500 | • 6 hours • $500 |
| Baggage Delay | As of 09/22/19 Citi no longer offers this benefit | • 6 hours • $100 day up to 3 days | N/A |
| Auto Rental CDW | As of 09/22/19 Citi no longer offers this benefit | Primary coverage up to retail value of vehicle | Secondary up to $75K |
| Additional Perks & Benefits | • Free first checked bag for cardholder and up to 8 companions • 25% off in-flight purchases on AA • Access to Reduced Mileage Awards • Priority check-in, airport screening, and early boarding | • 1st and 2nd bag free for the primary cardholder and 1 companion • Close in award fees waived • Complimentary Premier Upgrades on award tickets | • Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card • First checked bag free for cardholder and up to 8 companions • Priority boarding |
NOTE: A significant and important differentiator to know about with the Delta Reserve is that it only provides access to a Delta Sky Club when traveling on Delta.
The primary difference between the airline cards and those listed in the flexible points table is that you should only get a premium co-brand airline card if you regularly fly that airline. Paying a yearly annual fee of $550 (Rates & Fees) for the Delta Reserve with all its Delta perks makes no sense if your primary carrier is American or United.
Premium Rewards Credit Cards Earning Hotel Points
There are currently just two co-brand hotel cards we would consider premium rewards cards. The Hilton Aspire and the Ritz-Carlton Card. Believe it or not, the Ritz-Carlton Card can get you better airline elite status than the co-brand airline cards above, potentially providing United Premier Silver Status through RewardsPlus, a reciprocal agreement between Marriott and United when you spend $75k in a calendar year. The Hilton Aspire is the latest premium rewards card to enter the market and sports a unique combination of top-tier elite status and airline and hotel credits, supported by complimentary Weekend Night Rewards and lounge access.
| Benefits | The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card | Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $450 | $450 - Rates & Fees |
| Authorized User Fee | $0 | $0 - Rates & Fees |
| Welcome Bonus | No longer open to applications. | Earn 150,000 Bonus Points after you use your new Card to make $4,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, enjoy a free Weekend Night Reward within your first year and every year after renewal. |
| Category Bonus | 5x at Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, and SPG 2x on dining and travel | 14x on Hilton purchases 7x on flights booked direct with airlines or AmexTravel.com, car rentals booked direct with select rental agencies, and U.S. restaurants 3x on all other purchases |
| Lounge Access | Priority Pass Select (+ 2x guests + AU cardholders also get free access) | Priority Pass Select (+ 2x guests) |
| Elite Status | Complimentary Gold Elite for first year and spend $10K per calendar year to retain. Spend $75K for Platinum Elite and United Premier Silver status | Hilton Honors Diamond Elite |
| Travel Credits | $300 airline incidental credit (based on a calendar year) $100 credit on roundtrip U.S. domestic coach airline tickets for 2–5 people $100 hotel credit on paid Ritz-Carlton stays | $250 Airline incidental fee statement credit $250 Hilton resort statement credit $100 Waldorf Astoria and Conrad credit when booking Aspire Card package |
| Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit | Every 5 years | N/A |
| Trip Delay | 6 hours $500 | 6 hours $500 per covered trip 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period |
| Additional Perks & Benefits | 10% annual bonus on points earned with the card 3 Club Level upgrades each year on paid stays of up to seven nights Visa Infinite benefits | Annual Weekend Night Reward on your account anniversary Second Weekend Night Reward after $60K spend per calendar year 24/7 access to Amex Concierge |
The Ritz-Carlton Card charges a $450 annual fee; however, you aren't charged for authorized users. Those authorized users still qualify for lounge access making the Ritz-Carlton Card the least expensive option for authorized user Priority Pass lounge access.
Final Thoughts
What’s the best premium travel rewards card? That depends on a number of factors. Before pulling the trigger on a premium rewards card, think about where you live and how you travel. If you’re considering the Amex Platinum, is there a Centurion Lounge at your local airport? Will you max out the Uber credits? Do you want Trip and Baggage Delay coverage?
Each card offers some unique value points while typically falling short in another area. First, determine how you would use the card, and whether it will provide enough value to warrant paying the higher annual fee. If the numbers stack up, you may be onto a winner.
If you have any questions about the cards or benefits listed, please get in touch in the comments below, and we’ll do our best to answer.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
The Citi Prestige $250 airfare credit is now a more general travel credit (one of the very few positive changes to this card). Perhaps it’s time to update the chart?
Thanks for this comprehensive overview! But please do consider updating your chart to reflect the major Citi Prestige changes. Thanks! 🙂
How does the FoundersCard and Crystal Visa Infinite card compare to these premium cards?
FoundersCard isn’t a credit card, so its a bit of a different value proposition — The Crystal Infinite Visa is a solid card, but a challenge for most to get, so we’ve not included it in this comparison.
I join the others in praise of the CSR cc. Love it!
Chase really came out swinging with the CSR. Good product with a great initial bonus.
I like the CSR a lot, plan on keeping long term. Will probably grab an amex plat at some point too, but don’t think I’ll keep long term
Thanks, this is a good reference list.
Earning 3x on the top two categories I spend in, and the lowest net AF; for me, just cant beat the CSR.
Thanks for the detailed comparison. The ritz carlton card looks competitive if you don’t fly enough on a single airline to get silver status.
Amex platinum for me also with the HH gold status.
Delta just informed me that the 2019 MQD qualification waiver for Diamond’s with the credit card will require $250K in spend instead of $25K!
Yeah quite the bombshell – https://awardwallet.com/blog/10x-increase-delta-diamond-mqd-waiver-spending-requirement-250k-instead-25k/
I got a 70K bonus with the Delta platinum Amex card with a $175 annual fee. But I got $100 statement credit by making a purchase on Delta’s website.
The AMEX Platinum is a keeper for me. They used to have a more premium trip insurance, that I am grandfathered in to, that you pay $27 for per trip. I believe those benefits are the best out there and have come in handy many times. They also used to offer a travel medical insurance, that I’m also grandfathered in to, that you pay $13.00 a month for. The coverage on that is great and covers anything your primary insurance won’t pay when you travel.
I have to go along with a lot of others here. I’ve been really happy with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card overall.
We booked our trip to Europe many months ago before we were able to apply for the Chase Reserve card (because of the 24 mo./5 rule). We booked the other half of our trip on the Reserve Card. When I called the Reserve card about travel insurance I was advised only the part we charged with the card would be covered, thus excluding free evacuation, trip cancellation reimbursement, and other perks. We then paid for travel insurance through another company. Was Chase correct when they told us we would not be covered for the whole trip as stated under the Preferred Card? If not, do we have any recourse for the trip insurance we paid for?
Sam, each benefit has different requirements. Without knowing exactly how you purchased components of your trip (such as the common-carrier costs – e.g. airline) I can’t say for sure. The Sapphire Reserve does not require 100% of the trip to be purchased on it to be covered for benefits. Give the guide to benefits a review: https://www.chasebenefits.com/sapphirereserve
I need one premium rewards CC: the CSR.
If only you could take the greatest benefits of each card and create a truly “best” credit card.
I spent a decade swearing I’d never have a card with an annual fee, but the Chase Sapphire Reserve has changed that. But I’d be careful about recommending it to others unless they’d be meticulous about understanding and taking advantage, there are too many stories of mistakes being made or redemptions at terrible values.
Agree with Steve, the premium cards have better signup bonuses and they come with extra benefits but you need to have an exit strategy when the costs eventually outweigh the benefits. They are not for everyone.
The Delta AmEx just changed annual spend from $25K to $250K to maintain Diamond Status in 2019
Yes, they did! 🙁 https://awardwallet.com/blog/10x-increase-delta-diamond-mqd-waiver-spending-requirement-250k-instead-25k/
What about the new BoA card? I believe there is a new US Bank card as well?
They’re nowhere in the same league as these. While they have “premium” in their name, and they do have some excellent benefits, adding them into the mix here would require adding the Sapphire Preferred, and that is a separate category of card product.
For Chase delay, http://www.chasebenefits.com/sapphirereserve document states 6hrs not 3hrs.
You’re right, sorry about that. The Prestige is 3 hours and the Sapphire Reserve is 6 hours; swapped the columns.
As a reminder… there’s NO authorized user fee to add any credit card (that supports it) into your digital wallet to be used on Pay, Samsung Pay, etc.
While that means that you won’t be able to carry around a physical card, you won’t NEED one at any location that accepts contactless payments.
I think in the end, there is definitely a card out there for everyone if you look close enough.
I think, over a few years, I will rotate through all of the premiums. Thank you for the info all in one place. It looks like a bookmarking of this page is in order!
thanks for the comparison!!! Great stuff!!
I think you switched around the trip delay and baggage delay between CSR and Prestige.
We did; fixed it now though. Thanks!
Please check the informationon the Citi/AA Advantage Card. I think only spending on the Barclay card makes you eligible for EQM’s. It was a rude surprise for me this year because I was using the Citicard instead of Barclay and no EQM’s were showing up in my AA profile.
Laura, the Citi Executive card (https://www.aa.com/citiexecutive) provides a mechanism to earn EQMs (up to 10k/year). Other Citi/AA cards do not.
Some great comparisons contained within this article, always find information of this source useful as a quick reference guide.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has mega travel insurance benefits beyond trip and baggage delay like free evacuation in case of illness or injury, trip cancellation reimbursement, etc. Since you didn’t mention these I’m wondering if they’ve discontinued them. That’s the main reason I switched to this card from AmEx Platinum.
These benefits definitely exist — frankly, the insurance benefits on the Sapphire Reserve and the Ritz Card are too much to fit in one place: https://awardwallet.com/blog/best-credit-cards-for-free-travel-insurance/
Those are some exceptional benefits. I know some cards have towing and price protection, but this is something you just don’t see. Thanks!