Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum… two of the top-tier travel credit cards. But which one reigns supreme for families? Well, having had both cards in our wallets for some time, we’re here to say that they’re both great. However, we made the switch from Platinum to Chase Sapphire Reserve. Why, you ask?
Just for the record, all the opinions in this post are our own – this isn’t sponsored in anyway and we don’t get any compensation on the credit card links. We do have an affiliate link for our actual, physical wallet though. You don’t pay more for it, we just get enough for a coffee if you buy. Anyway… we’re just enthusiasts sharing our research.
Why Chase Sapphire Reserve?
At first glance, it seems like a super expensive option. With an authorized user, it’s $525 per year. Yikes. But it’s the one travel thing we splurge on: with that annual fee, you get a Global Entry credit ($100), travel credit ($300), Priority Pass membership, and awesome points (3x on travel and dining). Plus, if you put $4,000 on your card in the first three months, you get a bonus of 50,000 points. Sweet.
Pro Tip: Combine your Chase Sapphire Reserve with the free Chase Freedom and the Freedom Unlimited cards. Requires some work, but you can REALLY stack up points doing this.
And Why Leave Amex?
Well, we aren’t “leaving” American Express. We’re just downgrading to the Green Card. As longtime American Express loyalists it pains us to say it, but the Platinum card has made some changes that are not at all family-friendly. They’ve raised the price by $100 annually, removed the gift card option for travel credits, removed the restaurant option in Priority Pass, and don’t allow kids as guests in their Centurion Lounge. And even worse for us standby travelers, they don’t allow standby passengers in at all.