Which Card Should Replace My Amex Platinum? TPG’s Top 6 Picks

The Platinum® Card from American Expressoffers cardholders more than $1,500 in value thanks to travel, entertainment, and dining statement credits. But nothing in life is free — cardholders pay a $695 annual fee (see prices and fees).

For existing cardholders, Amex’s coupon book-style statement credits can become difficult or tiresome to keep track of. As an Amex Platinum card member, I make a big effort to keep up with the information each month, using as many of my statement credits as possible. For everyone else, the annual fee is $695 (see prices and fees) can be hard to accept — especially if you’ve maxed out the welcome bonus and haven’t taken advantage of all the card’s benefits.

With that said, let’s answer the overarching question: Which card should I replace my Amex Platinum card with? If you’re considering switching your Amex Platinum card to something else, here are six viable options that could work.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has an annual fee of $650 (see prices and fees) and has some similarities to the Amex Platinum.

First, let’s talk lounge access. Starting February 1, 2025, Delta Reserve cardholders will enjoy 15 complimentary visits to Delta Sky Clubs each year, with unlimited visits each year after spending $75,000 in a calendar year with the card. Additionally, primary and supplementary cardholders will enjoy Centurion Lounge And Sky Club access when flying Delta flights during the day. Card members will also pay $50 per person per location to access Sky Club when traveling on Delta partner airlines that are not marketed or operated by Delta.

Admittedly, the Delta Reserve isn’t the card with the best rewards rate ever, but neither is the Platinum. You’ll earn 3 SkyMiles per dollar on purchases at Delta and 1 SkyMile per dollar on purchases everywhere else.

The Delta Reserve offers a simpler, easier-to-use statement credit list than the Amex Platinum. This card offers up to a $240 annual Resy credit (up to $20 monthly), up to a $120 annual ride credit (up to $10 monthly), and up to a $200 annual Delta Stays credit. Enrollment is required to access select benefits.

Related: Credit Card Comparison: Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve

With Delta Reserve, you get a Annual Companion Certificate when you renew your card. This is valid for round-trip First Class, Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ & Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean or Central America tickets. Cardholders also earn 1 MQD for every $10 spent with no limit on the number of MQDs you can spend on the credit card. Additionally, you get an MQD boost of 2,500 MQDs each year.

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Related: How to Get Delta Elite Membership Without Flying in 2024

Register here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve

This next choice is the most obvious one. Chase Sapphire Reserve® always compete directly with Amex Platinum.

Because the Amex Platinum has an annual fee of $695 (see prices and fees), which makes the Sapphire Reserve a more reasonable option. If you’ve thought about applying for a Sapphire Reserve but can’t justify pay two huge annual fees, Maybe now is the time to cancel your Amex Platinum card and switch to the Sapphire Reserve card.

Related: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve: Which Card Is Right for You?

For starters, the Reserve, with its accessibility $300 Annual Travel Creditseems less gimmicky than the Platinum. This credit is automatically posted to your statement for any travel-related expense, whether it’s a flight, an Uber ride, parking fees—the list goes on.

You won’t get Centurion Lounge access with Reserve, but Priority card will still cover more than 1,300 lounges worldwide, and Chase now has its own footprint Branded lounge of the publisher.

The rewards rates are much better on the Reserve, allowing you to earn points beyond just rides. You’ll earn 10 points per dollar spent on Lyft (through March 2025), 3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. These two rewards categories are broad and include any fares that are coded as tourism And eat and drink.

With Sapphire Reserve, you will still get the ability to transfer partners to 11 Chase airline programs and three Chase hotel programs immediately at a 1:1 ratio. Some of TPG’s favorite shows include United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan And World of Hyatt.

Related: Attractive Points with Chase Ultimate Rewards

Register here: Chase Sapphire Reserve

If you don’t want to open a completely new tab (which counts as yank and maybe affect your credit score), you may consider low class arrive American Express® Gold Card. You can still access the same Membership Rewards Program and rewards options without giving up Amex entirely.

Related: Amex Platinum vs. Amex Gold: Which Card is Better?

The annual fee is much more reasonable at $250 (see prices and fees) and is almost compensated by up to $240 in dining credits and Uber Cash statements You’ll get a yearly bonus with this card (requires enrollment; up to $10 per month on each eligible Uber purchase in the US and select dining purchases).

This card is also for foodies, as you’ll earn 4 points per dollar spent at US Supermarket (up to $25,000 per year) and restaurant, 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or on Amex Travel and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else.

While you won’t get the welcome offer if you downgrade your card, you still have the option to close your Amex Platinum card and open an Amex Gold card separately.

Register here: Amex Gold

This recommendation is among the most reasonable options — Chase Sapphire Preferred® Cardwith an annual fee of $95.

While you might not think the Sapphire Preferred is in the same category as the Amex Platinum, hear me out: It still gives you access to transferable points and, in this case, 11 Chase airline programs and three Chase hotel programs. You can also use your points at a rate of 1.25 cents each when booking travel through Chase Travel℠.

You’ll earn 5 points per dollar on all travel purchases through Chase Travel, 3 points per dollar on dining, 3 points per dollar on select streaming services, 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (except Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel and 1 point per dollar on everything else. Again, this is a much better deal daily card while still enjoying great travel benefits (when you need them).

Register here: Chase Sapphire Preferred

If you’re not currently eligible for a Chase card, thank Chase’s infamous 5/24 rule, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see prices and fees) may be your next best choice.

Instead of an annual fee increase, you’ll enjoy a significant fee reduction with the Strata Premier for a reasonable $95 per year. The Citi Strata Premier’s standout benefits include a much better everyday rewards rate: 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com, 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations, 3 points per dollar spent on air travel and hotels, and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else.

Plus, you’ll have great access to a wide range of money transfer partners, many of which are affiliated with Amex. Citi Partners with 19 airline programs, including attractive options such as Air France-KLM Fly Blue, Qatar Airways Privilege ClubAnd Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. If you’re a hotel person, you’ll also love the annual offer of $100 off a hotel stay of $500 or more when you book through CitiTravel.com or call 1-833-737-1288.

You’ll also enjoy a number of travel protections, including trip delay protection, trip cancellation and interruption protection (general transportation), lost or damaged baggage and MasterRental® Insurance (car rentals).

Register here: Citi Strata Premier

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a great alternative to the Amex Platinum, thanks to a number of perks and benefits. With a lower annual fee of $395 (see prices and fees), you will feel less pain than with the Amex Platinum.

This card offers a simple but effective earning structure: 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar spent on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.

This card offers a direct $300 annual travel credit and is much easier to use for bookings through Capital One Travel. Cardholders also earn 10,000 bonus miles each anniversary year, Hertz President’s Circle status*, and 5 miles per dollar spent on Capital One Entertainment purchases through December 31, 2025.

The real highlight of the card is the lounge access. Cardholders get access to Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges, with the ability to bring up to two guests for free. Best of all, the Venture X lets you add authorized users (see prices and fees) free of charge and they also get to use the lounge with the ability to bring up to two guests at no extra cost.

*Upon enrollment, which can be accessed via the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at the upgraded status level until December 31, 2024. Please note, enrollment through the regular Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically identify cardholders as eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status level. Additional terms apply.

Related: The Complete Guide to Capital One Airport Lounges

Register here: Capital One X Venture Fund

For Amex Platinum rates and fees, click This.
For Amex Gold rates and fees, click This.
For Amex SkyMiles Reserve rates and fees, click This.