21. Best Travel Credit Cards for Lounge Access: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Reserve

The era of sitting at a crowded gate fighting over a single power outlet is over for savvy travelers. If you are willing to pay an annual fee, premium credit cards can unlock airport lounges that offer free food, drinks, showers, and comfortable seating. The two biggest contenders in this space are The Platinum CardĀ® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire ReserveĀ®. This guide breaks down exactly which card offers better value for your specific travel style.

The Cost of Entry

Before comparing the lounge networks, it is important to understand the financial commitment. These are not entry-level cards, but the sticker price is often offset by the benefits if you use them correctly.

  • The Platinum CardĀ® from American Express: The annual fee is $695.
  • Chase Sapphire ReserveĀ®: The annual fee is $550.

While the Amex Platinum costs $145 more upfront, it offers a wider variety of specific credits that can technically exceed the fee if you use them all. However, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a much simpler, more flexible travel credit system.

Amex Platinum: The King of Volume

If your primary goal is to never be without a lounge option, American Express is the clear winner. The Amex Global Lounge Collection is the most extensive network available to a single cardholder. It includes access to over 1,400 lounges across 140 countries.

The Centurion Lounge Network

This is the crown jewel of the Amex portfolio. These lounges are owned and operated by American Express and are generally superior to standard airline clubs. Locations include major hubs like New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), and Dallas (DFW). You can expect chef-curated menus, craft cocktails, and high-speed Wi-Fi.

Delta SkyClub Access

This is a massive benefit for Delta flyers. If you are holding a Platinum Card and flying on a same-day Delta flight, you get complimentary access to Delta SkyClubs. Considering a standalone SkyClub membership can cost upwards of $695, this benefit alone can justify the annual fee for loyal Delta customers.

Priority Pass and Plaza Premium

Like the Chase card, Amex comes with a Priority Pass Select membership. Additionally, it grants access to Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges. This redundancy ensures that even in smaller airports, you are likely to find a place to sit.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: The Flexible Contender

The Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR) has a smaller proprietary network, but it makes up for it with flexibility and better guest policies.

Priority Pass with Restaurants

Both cards offer Priority Pass, but they are not equal. American Express removed the ā€œnon-loungeā€ experiences from their membership. Chase did not.

With the CSR, your Priority Pass membership includes credits at airport restaurants. This usually amounts to $28 per person (up to $56 for you and a guest) deducted from your bill at participating restaurants like Bobby Vanā€™s Steakhouse at JFK or the Cadillac Mexican Kitchen at IAH. If the lounges are full, you can still grab a free meal at a sit-down restaurant.

The New Chase Sapphire Lounges

Chase has recently started opening its own branded spaces to compete with the Centurion Lounge. Current locations include Boston (BOS), Hong Kong (HKG), and New York LaGuardia (LGA), with more planned for Phoenix and San Diego. These spaces are modern, less crowded than Centurion lounges, and feature local food options.

The Critical Difference: Guest Access

This section is often the deciding factor for families or couples who travel together.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Wins for Families: The CSR allows you to bring two guests into Priority Pass lounges for free. This is huge for couples or parents traveling with a child. For the Chase Sapphire Lounges, you can also bring two guests per visit.

Amex Platinum Restricts Guests: As of 2023, American Express changed its guest policy for Centurion Lounges. You cannot bring guests for free unless you spend $75,000 on the card in a calendar year. Otherwise, you must pay $50 per adult guest (and $30 for children) per visit. For Delta SkyClubs, you must pay $50 for each guest. You generally do get two free guests for standard Priority Pass lounges, but the exclusion from the premium Centurion lounges is a major drawback for families.

Offsetting the Fees: Credits and Perks

To determine true value, you must look at how easy it is to earn back the annual fee.

Chase Sapphire Reserve:

  • $300 Annual Travel Credit: This is applied automatically to any travel purchase. Flights, hotels, taxis, trains, or parking fees trigger the credit. It effectively reduces the annual fee to $250.
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: Up to $100 credit every four years.

Amex Platinum:

  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: This is for incidentals only (baggage fees, seat selection) on one selected airline. It does not cover ticket prices.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Distributed as $15 per month (and $35 in December).
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Valid only on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: $20 per month for services like Disney+, Hulu, or The New York Times.
  • $189 CLEAR Plus Credit: Covers the full cost of a CLEAR membership.

The Verdict

The right card depends entirely on who you travel with and which airports you frequent.

Choose the Amex Platinum if:

  1. You are a solo business traveler.
  2. You fly Delta Air Lines frequently.
  3. You want access to the high-end Centurion Lounges and are willing to pay for guests.
  4. You can naturally use the Uber, streaming, and incidental credits to offset the $695 fee.

Choose the Chase Sapphire Reserve if:

  1. You travel with a partner, spouse, or children (thanks to the free guest policy).
  2. You value the flexibility of eating at airport restaurants using Priority Pass.
  3. You want a simple $300 travel credit that applies to any travel expense without hoops to jump through.
  4. Your home airport has a new Chase Sapphire Lounge (like BOS or LGA).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Amex Platinum give me access to United Club or American Airlines Admirals Club? No. Neither the Amex Platinum nor the Chase Sapphire Reserve provides access to United or American Airlines lounges. You would need the specific co-branded credit cards from those airlines for access.

Do these cards cover the cost of the food inside the lounge? Yes. Once you gain entry to a Centurion Lounge, Chase Sapphire Lounge, or Priority Pass lounge, the food and beverages (including alcohol) are complimentary.

Can I get the Global Entry credit on both cards? Yes. If you hold both cards, you can use the credit on one card for yourself and use the credit on the second card to pay for a friend or family memberā€™s application fee.

Do authorized users get lounge access? Yes, but it usually costs money to add them.

  • Chase: $75 per authorized user. They get their own Priority Pass Select membership.
  • Amex: $195 for up to three authorized users (total, not each). They get full access to Centurion, Delta (if flying Delta), and Priority Pass lounges. This is a ā€œhackā€ to get family access to Centurion lounges without spending $75k.