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Credit card issuers understand that consumers have different motivations for using credit cards. And in response, they create a wide range of credit cards that appeal to the unique tastes and preferences of consumers. For a popular category like ‘travel,’ look no further than Chase Sapphire Reserve® credit card. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the most popular credit cards, considering that it was specifically designed to fit the needs of those who want to earn travel rewards through everyday usage. It was also named “Best Premium Travel Credit Card” by MONEY® Magazine in 2018, which means that even industry insiders recognize the value that the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can bring to your life.
Of course, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® isn’t the only travel card on the market. In fact, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has its fair share of competitors that offer a different combination of perks, rewards structures, and credit card benefits. This begs the question:
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look to see if any of the following credit cards stack up to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, including:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
- Delta Reserve® Card from American Express
- United MileagePlus Club Card
First, let’s take a look at why the Chase Sapphire Reserve® remains one of the most sought-after credit cards for those who love to travel–and much more!
Chase Sapphire Reserve® at a glance
Annual fee: $550 ($75 for each additional cardholder)
Rewards: up to 10x points on Travel and Dining from airfare and hotels to fine dining and cafés, 1x points for all other purchases
Sign-up bonus: 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from opening an account.
Travel credit: Earn a $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel-related purchases charged to the card each account anniversary year.
Point value: Estimated between 1 to 1.5 cents per point. This includes a 50% bonus when points are redeemed for airfare, car rentals, hotels, and cruises through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal
Foreign transaction fees: none
Other perks:
- Gain access to over 1,300 airport lounges around the world after an easy, one-time enrollment in the Priority Pass™ Select program
- Earn up to $100 towards the application fee for Global Entry or TSA Pre?®
Shopping Credit Card Rewards
Extended Warranty: 1 Year
Purchase Protection: 120 Days
Extended Return: 90 Days
Travel Credit Card Rewards
Lost luggage reimbursement: Up to $3,000
Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance: Up to $10,000
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Primary coverage
Travel Accident insurance: Up to $1,000,000
Travel and emergency assistance services: 24/7, 365 days a year
Trip Delay reimbursement: Over 6 hours
Baggage Delay Insurance: Over 6 hours
* * *
Okay, now that you understand why the Chase Sapphire Reserve® credit card is such a versatile card, let’s compare it across a number of key categories with its competitors, including:
- Annual fee
- Current introductory bonus
- Points earned per purchase
- Redemptions
- Travel credits
- Lounge access
- Coverage/Benefits
Because each card has different aspects that may make it a better choice depending on what you value in a travel rewards credit card, we’ll be ranking each card to see how it stacks up again the Chase Sapphire Rewards card.
Annual Fee
1. Chase Sapphire Reserve®: $550
1. Hilton Honors Amex Aspire: $450
1. Delta Reserve: $450
1. United MileagePlus Club: $450
2. Amex Platinum: $550
Annual fees can be a big factor in deciding whether to use a credit card. For premium credit cards, this holds especially true, as they typically cost hundreds of dollars for the opportunity to earn large rewards. As you can see from above, almost all premium cards charge $450 per year to use them, with the exception for the Amex Platinum, which is in second-place at $550.
There’s another component to annual fees, however–additional cardholders.
1. Hilton Honors Amex Aspire: $0 for each additional cardholder (total: $450/year)
1. Delta Reserve: $0 for each additional cardholder (total: $450/year)
1. United MileagePlus Club: $0 for each additional cardholder (total: $450/year)
2. Chase Sapphire Reserve®: $75 for each additional cardholder (total: $625)
3. Amex Platinum: $175 for up to 3 additional cardholders (total: $725/year)
As you can see, when you add additional cardholders, almost every card offers a better annual fee than the Chase Sapphire Reserve®–except for the Amex Platinum, which can be pricey when you want more authorized users to enjoy the benefits of the card.
Current Introductory Bonus
1. Amex Platinum: Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards points after you use the card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of opening the account (estimated value: $1,200)
2. Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 50,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards points after you use the card to spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening the account (estimated value: $750)
3. Hilton Honors Amex Aspire: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors points after you spend $4,000 in purchases on the card within the first 3 months of opening the account (estimated value: $900)
4. United MileagePlus Club: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening the account (estimated value: $700)
5. Delta Reserve: Earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (known as MQMs) and 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 3 months of opening the account (estimated value: $480, not including the MQMs)
Issuers try to entice consumers with juicy introductory bonuses for signing up to use their cards. However, these bonuses typically come with a catch, where you have to charge the card a certain amount to qualify. There’s also the issue of how you’re able to redeem these points.
Above, we’ve broken down each card down to the estimated value, where the top spot for introductory bonus goes to the Amex Platinum, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is behind by $450. Following that, the Hilton Honors Aspire card comes in third at $900, followed by the United MileagePlus Club Card in fourth place. In the last place, the Delta Reserve Card only offers $480 along with MQMs, which still factors out to a comparatively small introductory bonus.
Points earned per purchase
1. Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn up to 10 Ultimate Rewards® points per dollar spent on travel and dining purchases, 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
2. Hilton Honors Amex Aspire: Earn 14 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent at Hilton properties around the world; earn 7 points per dollar spent on flights booked at Amex Travel, flights booked directly with the airline, car rentals booked directly from select rental companies, and at US restaurants; 3 points per dollar spent on all other purchases
3. Amex Platinum: Earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on airfare purchases booked through the airline or through Amex Travel, as well as on prepaid hotels booked directly through Amex; earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
4. United MileagePlus Club: Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on United ticket purchases; earn 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases
5. Delta Reserve: Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases; 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
Of all the categories, the ability to earn as you spend is probably the most important choice for consumers. And as expected, the acclaimed Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes in first with up to 10x earning on all travel and dining purchases. Furthermore, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® encompasses a large number of activities that fall under the umbrella of travel, so even many everyday expenses (i.e public transit, taxis) are fair game for high earnings. Additionally, cardholders earn Ultimate Rewards® points on all purchases, which means you’ll be able to get up to a 10 percent return on all travel expenses.
In second place is the Hilton Honors Amex Aspire, which offers an incredible 14 points per dollar spent at Hilton properties and 7 points per dollar spent on airfare, car rentals, and restaurants. The Amex Platinum card comes in third due to its 5x earnings on airfare and hotels; however, there are some booking requirements and limited travel protections that make this card less appealing. The United MileagePlus Card is fourth due to the 1.5 miles per dollar spent on everyday purchases, while the Delta Reserve finishes in the last place due to lackluster earning potential–even on Delta purchases.
Redemptions
Amex Platinum: Cardholders have multiple direct redemptions, including Uber rides, gift cards, and travel options. Additionally, cardholders can transfer points to 1 of 18 airline partners or 3 hotel partners.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Points can be redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.5 cents per point; transfer points to 1 of 9 airline partners or 4 hotel partners.
Hilton Honors Amex Aspire: Points can be redeemed for stays at Hilton Honors hotels.
Delta Reserve: Points can be redeemed for flight miles on Delta and its various partners
United MileagePlus Club: Points can be redeemed for flight miles on United and its various partners
You may have noticed that this category doesn’t have any definitive rankings. The reason for this is that each of these credit cards offers different options for redeeming your points. Depending on your preference, each card may offer its own advantages.
If you’re looking for sheer numbers, the Amex Platinum offers a total of 21 transfer partners and varied redemption options, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a still-impressive 13 transfer partners for hotels and airlines. What may sway some cardholders towards the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card is that it has the ability to redeem points for travel at a rate of 1.5 cents apiece, which enables users go get value out of the Ultimate Rewards program.
The remaining cards all offer their own rewards that may be to your liking, such as the United MileagePlus Club, which is geared towards those who love to fly United and earn exceptional flight redemptions. Similarly, the Hilton Honors Amex Aspire card and the Delta Reserve both feature programs that are heavily geared towards their brands, so if you’re a diehard fan of Delta or Hilton, these cards should be in your wallet.
Travel Credit
1. Chase Sapphire Reserve®: $300 travel credit each account anniversary
2. Hilton Honors Amex Aspire: $250 airline fee credit each calendar year; $250 Hilton resort credit each year of card membership; $100 on-property credit for two-night Waldorf-Astoria or Conrad stays
3. Amex Platinum: $200 airline fee credit toward incidentals like baggage fees and lounge passes each calendar year; up to $200 in annual Uber credits
4. Delta Reserve: None
4. United MileagePlus Club: None
As you can see, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a hefty travel reward above the rest of the cards. First, the $300 credit is a higher dollar amount than any of its competitors and can be used for any travel-related purchase. Additionally, the travel credits post instantly to your account–which is in sharp contrast to other cards which require the period of an entire statement or may require you to speak to customer service over the phone to obtain your credit.
In second-place is the Hilton Honors Aspire credit card, as there is the potential to earn more than $500 in travel credits each year. There are a few catches, as the card’s airline fee credit requires that users designate a single airline and only applies to fees. The $250 resort credit requires that you visit a participating resort, while the $100 property credit can be useful if you visit any Conrad or Waldorf-Astoria properties.
The Amex Platinum earns the third position, as the $200 airline fee credit requires you to designate a single airline and also only applies to fees. However, you may be able to use a workaround to get airline gift cards for certain participating airlines. And, for those that use ridesharing services frequently in the United States, the monthly Uber credits can make getting around a breeze.
Last, both the Delta Reserve and the United MileagePlus Club don’t come with travel credits, so you may want to look elsewhere for freebies.
Lounge Access
1. Amex Platinum: Airspace lounges (2 free guests or immediate family), Centurion Lounges (2 free guests), Delta Sky Club when flying Delta (guests are $29 each), and Priority Pass Select (2 free guests),
2. Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Priority Pass Select (2 guests)
2. Hilton Honors Amex Aspire: Priority Pass Select (2 free guests)
2. United MileagePlus Club: United Club membership (2 free guests or immediate family)
3. Delta Reserve: Delta Sky Club access when traveling on a Delta-operated or Delta-coded flight (guests are $29 each)
As with the redemptions category, getting access to various airport lounges is a matter of personal taste. However, the Amex Platinum offers cardholders the greatest flexibility in choice among airport lounges, which puts it in the top position. As for the remaining four cards, it is a tie for second-place except for the Delta Reserve, as it is the only card that doesn’t offer 2 free guests.
Coverage
As you may know, credit cards offer a wealth of benefits that go beyond just rewards points, lounge access, and cash back. Below, we’ll compare each card on whether they offer coverage and to what extent.
Additionally, you should know that Sift is one of the most versatile apps that can automatically unlock these benefits and alert you to potential savings that you may not have known you were entitled to. Named by Google as one of the Best Apps of 2018, Sift even files claims on your behalf–saving you time and getting the coverage that you’re entitled to for using a particular credit card.
[Note: Because the terms and conditions vary between card issuers, the following benefits are unranked.]
Car Rental Coverage
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Yes (primary)
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Yes (secondary)
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: Yes (secondary)
Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: Yes (secondary)
United MileagePlus Club Card: Yes (primary)
Travel Assistance
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Yes
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Yes
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: Yes
Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: Yes
United MileagePlus Club Card: Yes
Baggage Loss or Damage
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Yes (up to $3,000 per passenger)
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Yes (up to $2,000 for checked bags and $3,000 for carry-on bags, limited at $3,000 for all luggage
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: Yes (up to $2,000 for checked bags and $3,000 for carry-on bags, limited at $3,000 for all luggage)
Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: Yes (up to $500 for checked bags and $1,250 for carry-on bags, limited at $1,250 for all luggage)
United MileagePlus Club Card: Yes (up to $3,000 per passenger)
Baggage Delay
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Yes ($100 per day for up to 5 days if bags are more than six hours late)
The Platinum Card® from American Express: No
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: No
Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: No
United MileagePlus Club Card: Yes (up to $100 per day for 3 days if bags are more than six hours late)
Trip Delay
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Yes (up to $500 per ticket for delays of more than 6 hours)
The Platinum Card® from American Express: No
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: No
Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: No
United MileagePlus Club Card: Yes (up to $500 per ticket for delays of more than 12 hours or overnight)
Trip Cancellation / Interruption
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Yes (up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip)
The Platinum Card® from American Express: No
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: No
Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: No
United MileagePlus Club Card: Yes (up to $10,000 per trip)
Travel Accident Insurance
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Yes
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Yes
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: Yes
Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: Yes
United MileagePlus Club Card: Yes
Emergency Evacuation & Transportation
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Yes (up to $100,000)
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Yes (up to $100,000 per trip)
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: No
Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: No
United MileagePlus Club Card: No
Roadside Assistance
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Yes (up to $50 per incident, four times per year)
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Yes (up to four times per year at no cost)
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: Yes (up to four times per year at no cost)
Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: Yes (up to four times per year at no cost)
United MileagePlus Club Card: No
Purchase Protection
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Yes (within 120 days, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year)
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Yes (within 120 days, up to $10,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per year)
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: Yes (within 120 days, up to $10,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per year)
Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: Yes (within 120 days, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year)
United MileagePlus Club Card: Yes (within 120 days, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year)
Extended Warranty
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Yes (additional year on warranties of 3 years or less)
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Yes (up to an additional year on warranties of 5 years or less)
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: Yes (up to 2 additional years on warranties of 5 years or less)
Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: Yes (up to 2 additional years on warranties of 5 years or less)
United MileagePlus Club Card: Yes (additional year on warranties of 3 years or less)
Return Protection
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Yes (90 days, up to $500 per item and $1,000 per year)
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Yes (90 days, up to $300 per item and $1,000 per year)
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: Yes (90 days, up to $300 per item and $1,000 per year)
Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: Yes (90 days, up to $300 per item and $1,000 per year)
United MileagePlus Club Card: Yes (90 days, up to $500 per item and $1,000 year)
Price Protection
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: No
The Platinum Card® from American Express: No
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: No
Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: No
United MileagePlus Club Card: Yes (90 days, up to $500 per item and $2,500 per year)
Missed Event Ticket Protection
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: No
The Platinum Card® from American Express: No
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: No
Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: No
United MileagePlus Club Card: No
