CSR or Amex Platinum?

[Anonymous]

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@Berk wrote:

I would look at the Priority Pass web site and see if there are airport lounges available for the cities you fly into, out of, and connect through. If lounges are available, the CSR may be the way to go since Chase partners with United and Marriott so the rewards you get using the card can be transferred to either program. And the $300.00 airline reimbursement will come in handy depending on what categories they let you use the reimbursement for. Amex's is only $200.

As far as a travel perks card with a lower fee, I have no idea.

I too cannot use my Plat card to book business travel. Used to be able to but that stopped three years ago. I fly Delta and fly into and out of airports that have the Centurion Lounge so for me the Plat made the most sense because of the lounge access and the abililty to transfer points to the Delta Sky Miles program. Car rental perks mean nothing to me as I'm usually President's Circle with Hertz by the middle of the year. The hotel perks are nice on the rare occassions when I have to stay in a property other than Hilton. My gold status with Marriott came in handy in February when I stayed at a golf resort in Hoover Alabama. I was upgraded to a suite on the top floor without having stayed in a Marriott one time, while my boss was relegated to a broom closet on the first floor.

For me, the travel perks card is all about the lounge access. This isn't true for everybody but being in an airport lounge sure beats waiting in the terminal. And I never get enough miles in a year to begin to hit the higher tiers with Delta where the access is complementary.

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HAHAHA!!! That's great!!!

[Berk]

One of the best travel moments I've ever had...

[iced]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Berk wrote:

I would look at the Priority Pass web site and see if there are airport lounges available for the cities you fly into, out of, and connect through. If lounges are available, the CSR may be the way to go since Chase partners with United and Marriott so the rewards you get using the card can be transferred to either program. And the $300.00 airline reimbursement will come in handy depending on what categories they let you use the reimbursement for. Amex's is only $200.

As far as a travel perks card with a lower fee, I have no idea.

I too cannot use my Plat card to book business travel. Used to be able to but that stopped three years ago. I fly Delta and fly into and out of airports that have the Centurion Lounge so for me the Plat made the most sense because of the lounge access and the abililty to transfer points to the Delta Sky Miles program. Car rental perks mean nothing to me as I'm usually President's Circle with Hertz by the middle of the year. The hotel perks are nice on the rare occassions when I have to stay in a property other than Hilton. My gold status with Marriott came in handy in February when I stayed at a golf resort in Hoover Alabama. I was upgraded to a suite on the top floor without having stayed in a Marriott one time, while my boss was relegated to a broom closet on the first floor.

For me, the travel perks card is all about the lounge access. This isn't true for everybody but being in an airport lounge sure beats waiting in the terminal. And I never get enough miles in a year to begin to hit the higher tiers with Delta where the access is complementary.

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HAHAHA!!! That's great!!!

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This feels like random luck more than anything. As a Marriott Platinum I frequently get the broom closet.

[Berk]

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@iced wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Berk wrote:

I would look at the Priority Pass web site and see if there are airport lounges available for the cities you fly into, out of, and connect through. If lounges are available, the CSR may be the way to go since Chase partners with United and Marriott so the rewards you get using the card can be transferred to either program. And the $300.00 airline reimbursement will come in handy depending on what categories they let you use the reimbursement for. Amex's is only $200.

As far as a travel perks card with a lower fee, I have no idea.

I too cannot use my Plat card to book business travel. Used to be able to but that stopped three years ago. I fly Delta and fly into and out of airports that have the Centurion Lounge so for me the Plat made the most sense because of the lounge access and the abililty to transfer points to the Delta Sky Miles program. Car rental perks mean nothing to me as I'm usually President's Circle with Hertz by the middle of the year. The hotel perks are nice on the rare occassions when I have to stay in a property other than Hilton. My gold status with Marriott came in handy in February when I stayed at a golf resort in Hoover Alabama. I was upgraded to a suite on the top floor without having stayed in a Marriott one time, while my boss was relegated to a broom closet on the first floor.

For me, the travel perks card is all about the lounge access. This isn't true for everybody but being in an airport lounge sure beats waiting in the terminal. And I never get enough miles in a year to begin to hit the higher tiers with Delta where the access is complementary.

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HAHAHA!!! That's great!!!

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This feels like random luck more than anything. As a Marriott Platinum I frequently get the broom closet.

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It probably was but I did get the suite because I was gold. Wouldn't have happened otherwise I don't think. And it was in the winter during off-season so the hotel wasn't all that full.

[Anonymous]

If you travel frequently through Centurion lounge airports or ride uber a lot  then the Platinum can be worth it. Otherwise the CSR offers better everything or comparable at least in overall quality of the card. 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Hello Community! I am in the market for a new card, and wondered whether you recommend the CSR or Amex Platinum?

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Hello! I have both the CSR and Plat. I travel and eat out a ton so I truly do maximize the benefits on both cards which greatly outweigh both of the annual fees in my case. I also transfer points amongst both card's partners, so I like a combination of UR and MR points. 

I use my CSR for all dining (minus fast food as I use my Cash+ for the fast food 5% category), hotels, rental cars (CSR serves as primary insurance which is a HUGE benefit that the Plat doesn't provide) and all other misc travel fees that qualify under the 3% bucket (parking, tolls, cabs, Uber - after utilizing the monthly Plat $15 credit - , airfare booked through 3rd parties and Priority Pass access (which comes with "unlimited guests" at no charge). The BIGGEST benefit to the CSR though is the 1.5 bonus on my UR points earned through my Chase Freedom and Chase Unlimited cards. The CSR+ Freedom+FU is by FAR the best combo out there right now!

I use my Plat pretty much to book all of my business and personal airfare (my company reimburses me) booked directly with the airlines to get the 5X. If I find a good deal on the Amex travel site for hotels I will occassionally use the Plat for the 5X as well. I usually end up finding much cheaper rates through 3rd party sites or directly through the hotelier's sites so I don't use the hotel booking through Plat often. The main benefit of this card is the auto gold status at Hilton and SPG and access to the Centurion lounges. Oh and yeah and the $200 Uber credit! If I don't use Uber in a given month, I use it for an UberEats order which is always fun. 

I would say the CSR would meet most individual's needs the best based on the flexibility of earning and redeeming points and flexibility of the travel credit. However if perks are important to you, it is tough to beat the perks that come with the Plat. Both cards do not make sense unless you travel a lot. 

Let us know what you end up deciding on!