The Must-Have Travel Points Credit Cards

American Express Platinum

The American Express Platinum is one of several premier travel points credit cards available. What makes it so good? In addition to having many travel benefits like trip protection, primary car rental insurance coverage, global entry application fee, $200 travel credit, and no foreign transaction fees, the AMEX Platinum also automatically gives you elite status for several rewards programs including:

  • Starwood Preferred Guest
  • Hilton HHonors
  • Emerald Club

Elite status at a hotel or car rental rewards program means you are first in line for complimentary upgrades for hotel rooms or cars. You also get other nice benefits like complimentary breakfast and lounge access at certain hotels.

This card earns points for the American Express Member Rewards program. Similar to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, the AMEX Member Rewards allows you to transfer points to other partners including (but not limited to):

  • Delta
  • British Airways
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Hilton

The American Express Platinum also gives you and a guest complimentary access to the American Express Centurion lounges as well a host of other lounges offered by Priority Pass. Many people rightly believe airports are some of the worst parts of traveling. However, with lounges that offer complementary food and drink (and sometimes showers), airports don’t seem so bad.

Pros of American Express Platinum:

  • Can transfer points to a large number of transfer partners.
  • A LOT of travel benefits, including:
    • $200 annual travel credit
    • $100 credit for global entry application cost
    • Airport lounge access
  • Elite status for several programs

Cons of American Express Platinum:

  • STEEP annual fee of $550
  • Earning the sign-up bonus usually requires a high minimum spend of usually around $5,000 within three months.

Apply for the American Express Platinum here.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the premier version of the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It has everything the Preferred has and more. A lot more. These added benefits include:

  • Access to more than 1,000 airport lounges worldwide through Priority Pass
  • Elite status with some car rental companies
  • The ability to earn points faster
  • $300 annual travel credit

Pros of Chase Sapphire Reserve:

  • Can transfer points to a large number of transfer partners.
  • A LOT of travel benefits, including:
    • $300 annual travel credit
    • $100 credit for global entry application cost
    • Airport lounge access
  • Elite status for several programs
  • 3x points earning for dining and travel

Cons of Chase Sapphire Reserve:

  • STEEP annual fee of $450

Apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve here.