The post is updated with new information on a regular basis.
The Platinum Card from American Express is one of the most popular travel reward cards. When booking hotels through Amex's Fine Hotels & Resorts program and Chase's Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, both cards offer valuable transferable rewards, lounge access and the ability to receive elite- like perks.
Travel insurance is included on the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum Card. The two premium travel rewards cards offer an excellent combination of trip insurance and bonus earnings. Let's compare the travel insurance provided by these cards.
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Amex Platinum | |
|---|---|---|
| Trip delay insurance | Up to $500 per ticket when you’re delayed by six-plus hours or overnight. | Up to $500 per covered trip when you’re delayed by six-plus hours, with a maximum of two claims per eligible card within a 12-month period.* |
| Baggage delay insurance | Up to $100 per day for up to five days when your baggage is delayed by six-plus hours. | None. |
| Trip cancellation/interruption insurance | Up to $10,000 per person, up to $20,000 per trip | Up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per card per 12-month period.* |
| Auto rental collision damage waiver | Primary insurance up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage. | Secondary insurance up to $75,000 for theft, damage, loss of use and other fees.^ |
| Emergency medical and dental benefit | Up to $2,500 for emergency medical expenses, subject to a $50 deductible.
You can get a hotel room for up to five days after a hospital stay. | None. |
| Emergency evacuation insurance | Up to $100,000 when you pay for at least part of your common carrier travel with the card. Evacuation must be preapproved by the benefit administrator in order to be covered. | Can be provided at no cost to you if coordinated through and approved by the Premium Global Assist Hotline.# |
| Lost luggage reimbursement | Up to $3,000 per person, with a $500 cap on jewelry and watches and a $500 cap on cameras and other electronic equipment. | Up to $3,000 per person (up to $2,000 for checked luggage) when traveling on a common carrier, with a $1,000-per-person cap on high-value items. For New York state residents, there is a maximum of $2,000 per bag for each person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all covered bags and covered persons on the trip. The entire fare for your trip (one-way or round-trip) must be paid for with your eligible card for this benefit to take effect.† |
| Roadside assistance | Up to $50 per service event, up to four times per year. | None. |
| Travel accident insurance | Up to $1 million loss of life common carrier insurance per person.
Loss of life travel accident insurance can be as high as $100,000. | None. |
Eligibility and benefits vary by card. There are terms and conditions. For more information, visit american express.com/benefits guide. Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Some vehicle types and CarRentalss are not covered. There are terms and conditions. For more information, visit american express.com/benefits guide. The policies are written by an insurance company. Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. There are terms and conditions. For more information, visit american express.com/benefits guide. Emergency medical transportation assistance can be provided at no cost if Premium Global Assist Hotline approves it. Card members are responsible for the costs charged by third party service providers. There are terms and conditions. For more information, visit american express.com/benefits guide. The policies are written by an insurance company.
Baggage delay insurance, emergency medical and dental benefits, roadside assistance, and travel accident insurance aren't offered by the Amex Platinum. The Amex Platinum does not provide any types of insurance in this guide.
I will compare the protection against the type of insurance provided by both cards. The guide to benefits for both cards can be found here.
Check out our reviews of the Chase and Amex cards.
Which card is best for you?
Reimbursement for reasonable expenses during a delay can be provided by trip delay insurance. Here is a comparison of the trip delay insurance of the two cards.
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| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Amex Platinum | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum reimbursement | Up to $500 per ticket when you’re delayed by six-plus hours or overnight. | Up to $500 per covered trip when you’re delayed by six-plus hours, with a maximum of two claims per eligible card within a 12-month period.* |
| What can be reimbursed | Reasonable additional expenses incurred during a covered trip delay, including meals, lodging, toiletries and medication. | Reasonable additional expenses including, but not limited to, meals, lodging, toiletries, medicine and other personal use items. |
| How long a delay is required | Six-plus hours or overnight. | Six-plus hours. |
| Who is covered | You, your spouse or domestic partner and your legally dependent children under 26 years old. | You, your spouse or domestic partner, your unmarried dependent child up to 19 (or under 26 if a full-time student at an accredited college or university) and traveling companions. |
| How to get coverage | Charge all or a portion of a common carrier fare to your credit card account and/or rewards programs associated with your account. | Charge the full amount of transportation by common carrier to your card or in combination with accumulated points on your card or redeemable certificates, vouchers, coupons or discounts awarded from a frequent flyer program or similar program. |
| What is covered | Delays caused by equipment failure, inclement weather, strike and hijacking/skyjacking. | Delays caused by inclement weather, terrorist action or hijacking, common carrier equipment failure and lost or stolen passports or travel documents. |
| What isn’t covered | Any delay due to a covered hazard that was made public or made known to you before your departure.
There are any pre-paid expenses related to your trip. | Covered losses that are made public or known to the traveler before departure.
Before the trip, expenses were paid. The traveler is to blame for the loss. |
| Other restrictions | Travel must not exceed 365 days.
It is necessary to travel to a destination other than the city of residence. | Requires round-trip travel to one or more destinations other than the traveler’s city of residence, consisting of round-trip, one-way or a combination of one-way and round-trip bookings.
Round-trip travel must not last more than one year from the city of residence. |
Eligibility and benefits vary by card. There are terms and conditions. For more information, visit american express.com/benefits guide. The policies are written by New Hampshire Insurance Company.
There are differences in trip delay coverage.
My $1,100-per-night hotel room was paid for by Chase.
When you have to cancel or alter a trip due to a covered situation, you may be able to get reimbursement for non-refundable, pre-trip expenses. You might be covered for additional expenses. Here is a comparison of the trip cancellation and interruption insurance of the two cards.
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Amex Platinum | |
|---|---|---|
| Trip cancellation benefit may reimburse | Nonrefundable prepaid travel expenses charged by a travel supplier (not including event tickets or prepaid fees to theme parks, museums, golf courses or other points of interest unless part of a package).
A rewards program imposes redeposit fees. | Nonrefundable amount paid to a travel supplier with your card.* |
| Trip interruption benefit may reimburse | Nonrefundable prepaid travel expenses charged by a travel supplier (not including event tickets or prepaid fees to theme parks, museums, golf courses or other points of interest unless part of a package).
A rewards program imposes redeposit fees. Fees can be changed It costs to return a rental vehicle to the nearest CarRentals. | The forfeited, non-refundable, pre-paid land, air and sea transportation arrangements that were missed.
Additional transportation expenses that the traveler incurs and not to exceed the cost of an economy-class air ticket by the most direct route for the traveler to rejoin their trip or to return to their origin are included. There are additional expenses to purchase tickets. |
| Who is covered | You and your immediate family members. | You, your spouse or domestic partner, your unmarried dependent child up to 19 (or under 26 if a full-time student at an accredited college or university) and traveling companions. |
| How to get coverage | Charge all or a portion of a trip to your credit card account and/or rewards programs associated with your account. | Charge the full amount of round-trip transportation by common carrier to your card or in combination with accumulated points on your card or redeemable certificates, vouchers, coupons or discounts awarded from a frequent flyer program or similar program. Round-trip travel may be booked as a round-trip itinerary or a combination of one-way and round-trip bookings. |
| Maximum coverage | $10,000 per covered person, up to $20,000 per trip and up to $40,000 per 12-month period. Trip interruption coverage also provides a maximum of $250 for ground transportation needs. | $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card in 12 consecutive months. |
| Other restrictions | Trips scheduled to last longer than 60 days aren’t covered.
Civil unrest and travel booked past the 26th week of pregnancy are excluded. Most transportation expenses will not be paid back. | Requires round-trip travel to one or more destinations other than the traveler’s city of residence, which can be a combination of one-way and round-trip travel.
Round-trip travel must not last more than one year from the city of residence. Preexisting conditions, financial insolvency of a travel supplier, travel for paid participation in a sport, any parachuting or race activities, and non- emergency medical treatments are excluded. |
Eligibility and benefits vary by card. There are terms and conditions. For more information, visit american express.com/benefits guide. The policies are written by New Hampshire Insurance Company.
The main differences in trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage are shown in the above table.
If you're wondering if the Amex Platinum's insurance will cover coronaviruses, check out American Express' trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
Most travel insurance doesn't cover avoiding outbreak.
If you are in an accident or your car is stolen, you can get a collision damage Waiver from the cards. Here is a comparison of the rental car insurance of the two credit cards.
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Amex Platinum | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage type | Primary. | Secondary.^ |
| Maximum coverage | $75,000. | $75,000. |
| How to get coverage | You use your credit card account and/or rewards programs associated with your account to initiate and complete the entire car rental transaction.
You don't want the rental company'sCollision Damage Waiver option. | You reserve and pay for the entire rental using your eligible card or using Membership Rewards points.
You can decline coverage at the rental company counter if you want to. |
| Who is covered | The cardholder and any authorized drivers on the car rental contract when the cardholder is the primary driver. | The cardmember, their spouse or domestic partner and authorized drivers. |
| What is covered | Theft, damage, valid loss-of-use charges, administrative fees and reasonable and customary towing charges to the nearest qualified repair facility. | Damage, theft, reasonable and customary charges related to the rental vehicle after the damage or theft, such as loss of rental vehicle use, appraisal fees provided they are supported with verifiable documentation, towing charges and storage, which are charged by the nearest vendor or facility capable of rendering assistance. |
| Excluded vehicle types | Antique cars
Vehicles with open cargo beds are included. There are motorcycles and mopeds. There are vehicles called limos. Vehicles for recreational purposes. There are passenger vans with seating for more than nine people. | Cargo vans, custom vans, vans with a seating capacity over eight passengers, cube van or box truck, any truck that has a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 lbs. or more or commercial uses of vehicles.
It is possible to lease or mini-lease vehicles. Cars that have been manufactured less than 10 years before the date of the rental agreement are considered old. There are limos. Off-road vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, recreational vehicles, golf or motorized carts, campers, trailers and any other vehicle are not provided by a rental company Peer-to-peer rentals, as well as moving van rentals from companies that are not vehicle rentals, are also available. |
| Other restrictions | Rental periods of up to 31 days are covered | Rental periods of up to 30 days are covered.
Rents in Australia, Italy and New Zealand are not included. |
Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Some vehicle types and CarRentalss are not covered. There are terms and conditions. For more information, visit american express.com/benefits guide. The policies are written by an insurance company. American Express Travel Related Services Company Inc. offers coverage.
The main differences in car rental collision damage protection are shown in the above table.
You can enroll in American Express Premium Car Rental protection if you want to get primary coverage for rental cars.
The mistakes and how to avoid them are related.
Emergency medical transport and evacuate can be arranged and paid for by the emergency insurance provided by these cards. The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum Card have different emergency insurance policies.
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Amex Platinum | |
|---|---|---|
| What coverage is provided | Necessary emergency evacuation and transportation expenses up to $100,000 to the nearest hospital where you can obtain appropriate medical treatment or to your residence. | Medical transport and evacuation from an inadequate facility to a more appropriate medical facility, as decided by the Premium Global Assist Hotline.#
If the original ticket becomes invalid as a result of the evacuee's departure, economy-class flights home for the evacuee and one family member are available. |
| How to get coverage | Charge any portion of a common carrier fare or travel agent booking to your credit card account and/or rewards programs associated with your account. | Be a cardmember. |
| Who is covered | You, your spouse and eligible children under age 19 (or under 26 if enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited university). | The cardmember and additional cardmembers.
When traveling on the same trip itinerary as the cardmember, the cardmember's spouse or domestic partner and dependent children under the age of 26 are included. |
| Other restrictions | The benefit administrator must preapprove transport to be covered.
The length of the trip cannot be less than 5 days or more than 60 days and must be over 100 miles from the traveler's home. | Transport must be authorized and arranged through the Premium Global Assistance program to be covered. |
Eligibility can vary by card. There are terms and conditions. For more information, visit american express.com/benefits guide. Emergency medical transportation assistance can be provided at no cost if Premium Global Assist Hotline approves it. Card members are responsible for the costs charged by third party service providers.
The main differences in the emergency medical evaluation benefit are shown in the above table.
Travel insurance and Medjet medical transport memberships are not the same. There is a reason why you need both.
If your luggage is lost, damaged or stolen, the lost luggage benefit can reimburse you. Here is a comparison of the lost luggage reimbursements provided by the two cards.
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Amex Platinum | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum coverage | Up to $3,000 per person per trip, including a limit of $500 per person per trip for jewelry and watches and a limit of $500 per person per trip for cameras and other electronic equipment. | Up to $3,000 per person for carry-on baggage and up to $2,000 per person for checked baggage, with a limit of $1,000 per person for high-risk items. For New York residents, the maximum coverage is $2,000 per bag per person and $10,000 aggregate per covered trip.† |
| How to get coverage | Charge all or a portion of a common carrier fare to your credit card account and/or rewards programs associated with your account. | Purchase the entire fare for a common carrier vehicle ticket on an eligible card or using Amex Membership Rewards points. |
| Who is covered | You and your immediate family members. | You, your spouse or domestic partner, your dependent children under 23 years of age and select older dependant children who are incapacitated. |
| What is covered | Checked baggage, carry-on baggage and/or personal property contained within due to loss, damage or theft occurring during a trip. | The replacement cost of baggage in the event of damage or loss while in direct transit to or from a common carrier’s terminal to board or exit a common carrier vehicle or when baggage is checked in with or carried on the common carrier. |
| What isn’t covered | War-related losses.
There are items that have been removed from carry-on baggage that have ended up on a cruise line. Valuable papers, or documents. There is money or securities. There are tickets Travelers' checks are used. There are furs | War-related losses.
The acts of customer or other government authority are not included. Other travel documents include credit cards. There are securities. There are any kinds of documents and tickets. Cash or its equivalent, notes, accounts, bills, currency, deed, evidence of debt or intangible property, rare stamps or coins are negotiable instruments. Plants and animals There are food items and consumables. There are glasses and sunglasses. Prosthetic devices and hearing aids. There are prescription drugs and non prescription drugs. The property was shipped before the departure date. |
| Other restrictions | You must report the loss to the common carrier within the carrier's required time frame for checked baggage.
You have to report the loss to the carrier when you leave. | Trips can not exceed 365 days.
The common carrier requires you to report the loss within a certain time frame. |
Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. There are terms and conditions. For more information, visit american express.com/benefits guide. The policies are written by an insurance company.
The main differences in lost luggage reimbursement are shown in the above table.
You need to know everything about the baggage insurance plan.
The Platinum Card from American Express gives 5 Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar), for an approximate 10% return on investment. 10 Chase Ultimate Reward points per dollar on hotels and rental cars purchased through the Chase Travel portal, 5 Chase Ultimate Reward points per dollar on flights booked through this portal, 10 Chase Ultimate Reward points per dollar on all other travel, and 3 Chase Ultimate Reward points per dollar on all other travel are
The Amex Platinum Card has an annual fee of $700, while the Sapphire Reserve has an annual fee of $550.
Which is the best rewards program?
Even though the earning gap can sway one way or the other, you might want to use the Chase Sapphire Reserve when booking a flight. You should check out the guide to both cards to find out which one is best for you. There are some reasons to think about each card.
There is an official application link.
There is an official application link for the Platinum Card.
Some travelers who have both cards put their flights on the Amex Platinum to earn 5 points per dollar and put other travel expenses on the Chase Reserve to earn 3 points per dollar and use their trip cancellation and interruption protection.
You might want to keep the Amex Platinum mainly for Centurion Lounge access, hotel elite status and access to Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, as well as nearly 1,500 in annual credits available to card members.
You might want to avoid booking flights with the Amex Platinum because they don't have baggage delay protection. You would prefer to use the Chase Sapphire Reserve for airfare and other travel expenses.
Click here to find the Amex Platinum card's rates and fees.
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