Featured Review: Comparing High-end Credit Cards

Featured Review: Comparing High-end Credit Cards (Old Review NOT Being Updated)

Updated August 16, 2021. Please see our updated review here.

In this featured review, we will compare some of the most popular high-end cards in the market, with an annual fee at least $400. If you want to know about the super exclusive "black card", read our Amex Centurion review. All the following cards come with dazzlingly long lists of perks such as airport lounge access, luxury hotel privileges, 24/7 concierge service, global assistance, by invitation only events, and some offer annual category credits, airline companion pass, hotel elite status, cruise privileges, etc. However, here we want to get down to the core value of each product to make the comparison simpler for the readers.

Amex Platinum Card: annual fee is $695 and $175 for up to three additional Platinum Card users. The card used to dominate this niche market, but we have seen its benefits diluted over the years, mostly due to the changes in the airline industry. Amex has been adding benefits to compensate loss; thus it is still considered our benchmark. Amex offers six major perks on this card: (1) seven different categories of annual credits totaling over $1,400: $200 for airline incidentals (no longer allowing gift card reimbursement since early 2019), $200 for prepaid hotel bookings via Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection, $179 for CLEAR membership, $200 for Uber or Uber Eats (monthly credit expires by next month), $100 for Saks ($50 in the first half and $50 in the second half of a calendar year), $300 for Equinox memberships ($25 per month), and $240 for digital entertainment access ($20 per month), (2) 5x Membership Rewards points on airfare, (3) Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) which is arguably the best luxury hotel program provided by a credit card, (4) Hilton Gold status which we consider the best mid-tier hotel status in industry, and Marriott Gold status, (5) free access to 100+ domestic lounges (Delta, Alaska, Airspace, Centurion, Priority Pass Select) and 1,000+ international lounges (American Express International Lounges, and Priority Pass Select), mostly for you plus two guests, and (6) discounted international premium economy, business, or first class tickets with 20+ airline partners. Note that for an extra $175 a year, you can have up to three additional Platinum Card users and each will have airport lounge access, FHR benefits, and Hilton & Marriott Gold status.
Amex Delta Reserve: with an annual fee of $550, it offers three major perks: (1) access to 50+ Delta Sky Clubs and 10+ Centurion Lounges for the primary cardholder only, (2) an annual domestic coach/first class companion pass, (3) 15K Delta Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) for each $30K spending, up to 4 times a year, and (4) Medallion Qualifying Dollar waiver towards Delta Silver/Gold/Platinum elite status with $25K spending. It makes sense when you make use of the last three perks; otherwise you would be better off with Amex Platinum.
Amex Hilton Honors Aspire: with an annual fee of $450, this card offers five major perks: (1) $250 annual airline incidental credit, (2) $250 annual credit for purchases made at any Hilton portfolio resorts, (3) an anniversary free weekend night at most Hilton portfolio hotels or resorts, (4) complimentary Hilton Diamond status, and (5) Priority Pass Select membership with unlimited access to 50+ domestic lounges and 1,000+ international lounges for you plus two guests.
Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: the annual fee is $450 but with the $300 annual Marriott credits, which are much easier to use than Amex airline incidental credits or Hilton resort credits, is effectively $150. With that, this card offers four main perks: (1) an annual free night at Marriott portfolio hotels or resorts with a redemption level of 50,000 points or less, (2) annual 15 night credits towards Marriott elite status, (3) free Marriott Gold status and upgrade to Marriott Platinum status after $75K annual spending, and (4) Priority Pass Select membership with unlimited airport lounge access for you plus two guests.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Visa Infinite: annual fee is $550 and $75 for each authorized user, but with the annual $300 travel credit it effectively becomes $250. It offers five major perks: (1) 3x Ultimate Rewards (UR) points on travel & dining, 5x on airfare through UR, and 10x on Chase Dining & hotels & car rentals through UR, (2) Priority Pass Select membership with unlimited access for you (primary cardholder or authorized users) and two guests, (3) hotel privileges at 500+ Relais & Chateaux hotels and over 1,000 other luxury hotels worldwide through Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection and Visa Signature/Infinite Hotel Collection, (4) primary rental car insurance, and (5) what we consider the best travel & consumer protection provided by a credit card, including premium roadside assistance. J.P. Morgan Reserve, a private banking version of Sapphire Reserve, adds some unwritten benefits such as complimentary United Club membership.
Chase United Club Visa Infinite: annual fee is $525. The four major perks are: (1) the full United Club membership allowing access to 50+ domestic lounges and 200+ international lounges for the primary cardholder plus two guests, (2) free checked bags and Premier Access for priority check-in, security screening, boarding, and bag handling, (3) hotel privileges at over 1,000 luxury hotels worldwide through Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection and Visa Signature/Infinite Hotel Collection, and (4) primary rental car insurance.
Citi Prestige WEMC (not accepting new applications): annual fee is $495 and $75 for each authorized user, but with the annual $250 travel credit it is considered to be $245. It offers three major perks: (1) an unmatched 5-3-1 ThankYou earning structure, (2) Priority Pass Select with unlimited access for you (primary cardholder or authorized users) plus two guests, and (3) hotel privileges including 4th Night Free at any hotel of your choice twice a year and at over 2,000 luxury hotels through MasterCard World Elite Luxury Hotels & Resorts.
Citi AAdvantage Executive WEMC: annual fee is $450. The four main perks are (1) an annual 10K Elite Qualifying Miles bonus after $40K spending, (2) free checked bags and Priority Access for priority check-in, security screening, boarding, and bag handling, (3) a full Admirals Club membership allowing access to 50+ domestic lounges (American, select Alaska) and 30+ international lounges (American, Qantas etc.) for the primary cardholder plus two guests, and free access to 40+ domestic or international American Admirals Clubs for the authorized user plus two guests, and (4) hotel privileges provided by MasterCard World Elite Luxury Hotels & Resorts.
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite: annual fee is $400, and with the $325 annual travel & dining credit, it is effectively only $75. You receive five major perks: (1) 5x points on prepaid hotels & car rentals (=7.5% travel rewards), and 3x points on travel and mobile wallet spending (=4.5% travel rewards), (2) Priority Pass Select membership with 4 free visits for primary cardholder plus one guest each year, (3) hotel privileges at Relais & Chateaux and through Visa Signature/Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, (4) 12 GoGo inflight Wi-Fi passes each year, and (5) primary rental car insurance.
CNB Crystal Visa Infinite: annual fee is $400 ($95 for each authorized user). With that, you receive four major perks: (1) up to $250 airline incidental credits per card but capped at $350 per account per year, (2) Priority Pass Select membership with unlimited access for you only (primary cardholder and up to one authorized user), (3) hotel privileges through Visa Signature/Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection and at Relais & Chateaux, and (4) 12 GoGo inflight Wi-Fi passes each year for you (primary cardholder and authorized users).
HSBC Elite WEMC: annual fee is $395 ($65 for each authorized user). First of all, you need a HSBC Premier checking account to qualify for this credit card, and in order to waive the $50 monthly fees on the checking account you need large balance, direct deposit, or mortgage account with HSBC. With that, the card offers five main perks: (1) 3x points on travel and 2x on dining (=4.5% and 3% travel rewards respectively), (2) LoungeKey membership with unlimited access for you plus one guest to over 1,000 airport lounge worldwide, (3) hotel privileges provided by MasterCard World Elite Luxury Hotels & Resorts, and (4) various travel discounts (e.g., 10% at Expedia | Agoda | onefinestay, a $100 statement credit for every $2,000 booked through HSBC Travel - up to 4 times a year).
MasterCard Black Card by Barclays: annual fee is $495 ($195 for each authorized user) and is effectively $395 after considering the $100 annual airline credit. It offers three main perks: (1) 2% cash equivalent travel rewards for all expenses, (2) Priority Pass Select membership with unlimited access for you and your guests, and (3) Black Card VIP Hotel & Travel program through Ensemble Travel Group, Mandarin Oriental, and Villas of Destination, which gives you booking benefits at over 3,000 luxury hotels and villas worldwide.

The bottom line is that each of these products targets a certain group of consumers and can be of great value even with the seemingly hefty annual fees. Finally, let's summarize our comparison based on the four most sought out perks:

Airport Lounge Access: While they all have some coverage of airport lounges when it comes to international travel, for domestic airport lounge access in U.S. which is harder to obtain through premium cabin travel or elite status, a frequent flyer of a particular airline has very limited choice. If you are a Delta flyer, you can't beat the value and perks of Amex Platinum; however, if you need Delta MQMs booster and/or MQD waiver in addition to Sky Club access, Amex Delta Reserve will be a great choice. If you are an American flyer, Citi AA Executive will most likely be your best bet. For United flyers, United Club Card is a solid option while JPM Reserve is probably the card you will get if you qualify due to its exclusivity and enhanced features.
Luxury Hotel Privileges: All cards come with some sorts of luxury hotel benefits, but you have to look into the details to decide which fits your need better. If you frequent luxury hotels, Amex Platinum has long been considered the best option due to FHR's wide coverage of over 1,000 luxury hotels and resorts worldwide, consistent benefits, and various promotions. MasterCard Black Card VIP program, via Ensemble Travel Group, Mandarin Oriental, and Villas of Destinations, is a great alternative. If you frequent Hilton portfolio hotels, you will find Amex Hilton Aspire extremely valuable. Even if you only stay a few times at Marriott portfolio hotels, you will probably be interested in Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. Finally, you may still get good value out of Visa Infinite/Signature Hotel Collection (via Chase Sapphire Reserve, United Club, US Bank Altitude Reserve, CNB Crystal), MasterCard World Elite Luxury Hotels & Resorts (via AA Executive, Citi Prestige, HSBC Elite, MasterCard Black), and Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection (via Chase Sapphire Reserve and United Club).
Rewards: Citi Prestige's 5-3-1 ThankYou points earning structure with 16 transfer partners including Avianca, Singapore, Cathay Pacific, Flying Blue, JetBlue, etc., has lead all high-end cards when it comes to rewards. With the 2021 revamp, Sapphire Reserve offers a similarly impressive 10-5-3-1 Ultimate Rewards earning structure, with an option of 1.5 cent per point fixed value travel redemption in addition to the points transfer capability to 12 partners including United, Singapore, British, Southwest, and Hyatt. Amex Platinum offers 5x points on airfare, and Membership Rewards points can be transferred to 20+ partner programs including Delta, British, Air Canada, ANA, Singapore, etc. US Bank Altitude Reserve offers 3x points on travel and mobile wallet spending, and even though the points can't be transferred into frequent traveler miles/points, they have fixed value of 1.5 cents, essentially making the bonus categories returning 4.5% travel rewards. Similarly, HSBC Elite WEMC has a fixed 1.5-cent airfare redemption option and essentially offers 4.5% travel rewards for travel purchases and 3% for dining. MasterCard Black Card returns fixed value 2% cash equivalent travel rewards for all purchases.
Reach Elite Status Faster: While several cards come with some elite like perks such as priority security lanes, priority boarding and waived baggage fees, only two cards offer a way to reach the next level of elite status faster through spending. Delta Reserve's MQMs booster and MQD waiver could be huge to a Delta flyer. Citi AA Executive's 10K EQMs bonus after $40K may not seem much, but American EQMs are extremely hard to come by thus it may still make sense to some.