If you travel a lot and want to get a new credit card, you might be thinking about two options: the American Express® Gold Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Maybe you want to get lots of points when you spend money on things like eating out and buying groceries every day. Or perhaps you want to have good travel insurance in case your travel plans get messed up. Both of these cards are good for people who travel often, but between Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Gold, which is the best option for you?
Let’s take a closer look at these cards to understand why they can be useful for frequent travelers.
Amex Gold Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve – Welcome Offer
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a special deal right now. If you get this card and spend $4,000 on stuff in the first three months, they’ll give you 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points.
On the other hand, if you get the Amex Gold Card and spend $4,000 on certain things in the first six months, they’ll also give you 60,000 Membership Rewards points. These points are worth about $1,200 when you use them right.
But, there’s a little twist. At times, there’s a chance you could come across a special offer granting you 75,000 bonus Membership Rewards points with the Amex Gold Card when you make $4,000 in purchases within the initial three months. But this deal can change anytime.
Remember, getting this bonus is just part of the story. You also need to check if you’re allowed to apply for these cards because Chase and Amex have some rules about who can get these bonuses.
Chase Sapphire Reserve vs American Express Gold – Bonus Categories
The American Express Gold Card is great if you buy a lot of stuff from In American grocery stores annually, this card rewards you with 4 Membership Rewards® points for every dollar spent at restaurants, which includes takeout and U.S. delivery orders., 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 each year, then 1 point per dollar), you’ll earn 4 Membership Rewards® points for every dollar you spend. When booking flights directly with airlines or through American Express travel, you’ll receive 3 points per dollar, and for all other purchases, you’ll get 1 point per dollar.
Now, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is different. It gives you 5 points for every dollar you spend on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when you use Chase Ultimate Rewards® to book your travel after you’ve spent $300 on travel in a year. For other travel and dining, you get 3 points for each dollar you spend, and for everything else, you get 1 point for each dollar.
Redemption Options Between Amex Gold vs Sapphire Reserve
Both programs offer access to several common airlines where you can transfer your points. These airlines include Virgin Atlantic, Singapore KrisFlyer, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Emirates Skywards, and British Airways Executive Club.
If you want to fly in fancy premium cabins on long flights, American Express points are usually better. That’s because you can transfer them at a 1:1 ratio to airlines like ANA Mileage Club and Air Canada Aeroplan. But if you prefer using your points for hotel stays, Chase is a good choice. They have a 1:1 transfer to World of Hyatt, which can be great for getting hotel deals.
Using transfer partners is the best way to make your points go further, especially if you want to stay in really nice hotels or fly in luxury. But if you like keeping things simple and flexible, Chase Sapphire Reserve has another option. If you opt to redeem your points for travel bookings through Chase, you’ll enjoy a 50% bonus, effectively increasing the value of your points. This can make it easier to use your points without worrying about transfer partners.
Fees and APR
The Amex Gold Card costs $250 per year, which is less than the Sapphire Reserve’s $550 fee. This makes the Gold Card a more suitable option, particularly if you won’t be utilizing airport lounge access and plan to maximize the card’s 4 points per dollar rewards.
However, the Sapphire Reserve offers a $300 travel credit each year, which can offset much of its annual fee. Remember this when you’re figuring out the true cost of the fee.
The Amex Gold Card doesn’t impose an additional fee for the initial five authorized users, but it does tack on $35 for each extra card beyond the initial five. On the other hand, the Sapphire Reserve adds $75 for each additional user. If your intention is to include numerous authorized users to fulfill spending criteria and accumulate extra points, possessing an Amex Gold Card could potentially be the more cost-effective choice for you.
Card Benefits of Amex Gold and Chase Sapphire Reserve
Here’s where we see the biggest differences between these cards. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a fancy travel card with fancy perks. First off, it gives you a $300 travel credit each year, which helps a lot with its $550 annual fee. This credit works for things like plane tickets and hotel stays.
The Sapphire Reserve also comes with a Priority Pass membership that lets you into airport lounges and even some restaurants. You also get a concierge service, help with Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and some good travel and baggage insurance.
Plus, you get free food delivery with DoorDash for at least a year.
Now, the Amex Gold card is great for food lovers. It gives you a $10 monthly dining credit at places like Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, and more. You also get up to $120 in Uber Cash every year, which you can use for Uber rides or Uber Eats. If you use these benefits fully, they almost cover the card’s $250 annual fee.
The Amex Gold card also has some insurance for your stuff when you travel, like if your bags get lost or delayed. And if you book at least two nights at certain hotels through Amex, you can get up to $100 in property credits.
Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Gold – Which Should You Choose?
Both offer enticing welcome offers and bonus categories tailored to your spending habits, but your choice ultimately hinges on your travel goals and preferences. Consider how you’d like to redeem your rewards, whether for luxurious flights or hotel stays, and factor in the card fees and benefits that align with your needs. So, whether you’re leaning towards the Sapphire’s travel perks or the Gold’s dining delights, take a moment to evaluate which card suits your lifestyle best, and start maximizing your travel rewards today!