Best of
Best Premium Credit Cards of January 2020
NerdWalletJanuary 14, 2020
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Show summary
Our pick for
Overall premium card
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
Annual Fee
$550
Rewards Rate
1x-3x
Points
Intro offer
50,000
Points
Recommended Credit Score
✭ 2019 AWARD WINNER: Best premium credit card
Not only does the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offer a massive sign-up bonus and rich ongoing rewards, but cardholders also have a lot of flexibility in how they redeem those rewards, giving them access to a wide variety of airlines and hotel chains.
✭ 2019 AWARD WINNER: Best premium credit card
Not only does the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offer a massive sign-up bonus and rich ongoing rewards, but cardholders also have a lot of flexibility in how they redeem those rewards, giving them access to a wide variety of airlines and hotel chains.
Pros
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® stands out for its large sign-up bonus as well as ongoing rewards: 3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Those points can then be redeemed for 1.5 cents each when you book travel through Chase. You might even be able to squeeze more value out of your points by transferring them to the card's various hotel and airline partners. Other perks and highlights include an annual $300 travel credit, airport lounge access, application-fee credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry, and no foreign transaction fees.Cons
The $550 annual fee is a big one, and anyone who pays it should ensure they are getting more value out of the card than they are paying. If you use the $300 annual travel credit, then you’re already most of the way there.- Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Named "Best Premium Travel Credit Card" for 2018 by MONEY® Magazine
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year
- 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. $0 foreign transaction fees.
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select
- Up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
- One Year Complimentary Lyft Pink ($199 minimum value). Complimentary DashPass subscription from DoorDash after activating by 12/31/21.
Our pick for
Luxury travel perks
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
Annual Fee
$550
Rewards Rate
1x-5x
Points
Intro offer
60,000
Points
Recommended Credit Score
The welcome offer, high rewards rates, rich redemption options, perks like airport lounge access and complimentary hotel benefits worth hundreds of dollars — everything about The Platinum Card® from American Express card screams luxury. Terms apply.
The welcome offer, high rewards rates, rich redemption options, perks like airport lounge access and complimentary hotel benefits worth hundreds of dollars — everything about The Platinum Card® from American Express card screams luxury. Terms apply.
Pros
The Platinum Card® from American Express is designed for consumers with high-end tastes and spending habits. In addition to the large welcome offer, cardholders earn 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on airfare (as long as you make the purchase through the airlines or American Express Travel); 5 points per $1 spent on hotels booked through amextravel.com; and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. In addition, you get a $200 credit toward airline fees, $200 of annual Uber credits. Cardholders also enjoy access to over 1,000 airport lounges around the world, automatic upgrades at select hotels and no foreign transaction fees. Terms apply.Cons
The biggest downside is the $550 annual fee, which stands out as high even among premium cards. Cardholders who are big travel spenders, though, will have no trouble extracting more value than they’re paying. Another negative is that not all merchants accept American Express, especially overseas.- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
- Enjoy Uber VIP status and free rides in the U.S. up to $15 each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
- 5X Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
- Enjoy access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
- Receive complimentary benefits with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts. Learn More.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
- Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
- $550 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- View Rates and Fees
See if you qualify for a better offer with American Express:
Our pick for
Premium airline card
on Citibank's application
on Citibank's application
Annual Fee
$450
Rewards Rate
1x-2x
Miles
Intro offer
50,000
Miles
Recommended Credit Score
If you are a frequent American Airlines traveler, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® may be calling your name with perks like Admirals Club airport lounge access, no foreign transaction fees and a free checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions.
If you are a frequent American Airlines traveler, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® may be calling your name with perks like Admirals Club airport lounge access, no foreign transaction fees and a free checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions.
Pros
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® comes with a sizable sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. For ongoing rewards, it offers 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airline purchases and 1 AAdvantage mile per dollar on all other purchases. But the card's defining feature is the access it grants to Admirals Club lounges, something no other credit card offers.Cons
As with other premium cards, the annual fee — $450 — is a big one, but it's worth it for Admirals Club devotees. You'd come out ahead by getting this card instead of paying cash for a lounge membership.- Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Admirals Club® membership for you and access for guests traveling with you
- Complimentary Admirals Club® lounge access for authorized users
- Earn 10,000 AAdvantage® Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) after you spend $40,000 in purchases within the year
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 17.24% - 25.24%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
Our pick for
Premium dining card
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
Annual Fee
$250
Rewards Rate
1x-4x
Points
Intro offer
35,000
Points
Recommended Credit Score
With rich dining and travel rewards, not to mention valuable credits, the American Express® Gold Card can offset the cost of indulging in a little luxury.
With rich dining and travel rewards, not to mention valuable credits, the American Express® Gold Card can offset the cost of indulging in a little luxury.
Pros
You get an impressive welcome offer: Earn 35,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 3 months. Terms Apply. You also can earn high rewards rates in certain categories, including restaurants worldwide, U.S. supermarkets, and flights booked with airlines or through amextravel.com. The card also offers $100 a year in airline fee credits and $10 in monthly statement credits when you use the card at eligible merchants, including Grubhub, Seamless, and Shake Shack. Terms apply. The card has no foreign transaction fees. Its annual fee, $250, is also lower than the fees on other premium cards. Terms apply.Cons
Unlike many other premium cards, this one doesn’t come with automatic airport lounge access. You might also still run into merchants who don’t accept American Express. And while the card's credits can help offset most of its annual fee, you'll want to make sure you can make use of those credits.- Earn 35,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 3 months.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points when you dine at restaurants worldwide. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Airline Fee Credit: up to $100 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees at one selected qualifying airline.
- Choose to carry a balance with interest on eligible charges of $100 or more.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- View Rates and Fees
Our pick for
Premium card for business
on American Express's website, or call (866) 512-6673
on American Express's website, or call (866) 512-6673
Annual Fee
$595
Rewards Rate
1x-5x
Points
Intro offer
50,000
Points
Recommended Credit Score
✭ 2019 AWARD WINNER: Best business travel card
For frequent business travelers, the perks that come with The Business Platinum® Card from American Express are hard to beat: elevated rewards, access to airport lounges, hotel status, and credits toward airline fees.
✭ 2019 AWARD WINNER: Best business travel card
For frequent business travelers, the perks that come with The Business Platinum® Card from American Express are hard to beat: elevated rewards, access to airport lounges, hotel status, and credits toward airline fees.
Pros
The Business Platinum® Card from American Express comes with an impressive welcome offer, rich ongoing rewards, including 5X Membership Rewards on flights and prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com, and additional bonus points opportunities, including 35% points back on first- and business-class flights when you meet certain requirements. Terms apply. The card also gives you access to over 1,000 airport lounges around the world that are part of The American Express Global Lounge Collection and an annual $200 credit toward airline fees. New perks for 2019 include a year of complimentary access to WeWork co-working spaces, an annual $200 Dell shopping credit, and a $100 credit toward eligible hotel expenses. Terms apply.Cons
The annual fee of $595 is high, but can easily be worth it if you travel a lot for business. The opportunities to earn bonus points can also get a little complicated.- Welcome Offer: Earn up to 75,000 Membership Rewards® points.
- Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 and an extra 25,000 points after you spend an additional $10,000 all on qualifying purchases made on your Business Platinum Card® within your first 3 months of Card Membership.†
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
- Get 50% more Membership Rewards® points. That's an extra half point per dollar, on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more. You can get up to 1 million additional points per year.
- 35% Airline Bonus: Use Membership Rewards® Pay with Points for all or part of a flight with your selected qualifying airline, and you can get 35% of the points back, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year when flight is booked on amextravel.com.
- Enroll to get up to $200 in statement credits annually by getting up to $100 semi-annually for U.S. purchases with Dell. Terms apply.
- Terms Apply
- View Rates and Fees
Last updated on January 14, 2020
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen in multiple categories.
