💥 *UPDATE 1.01.2023:* (a) The Venture X's Priority Pass membership will no longer allow access to restaurant, spa, or retail locations. (b) Per TPG, the Venture X does not have a limit to the # of guests you can bring into Priority Pass lounges. Source: thepointsguy.com/guide/venture-x-unlimited-guests-priority-pass/ 💥 *UPDATE 11.15.2022:* The CSR now offers a complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership for 2 years, then 50% off in Year 3. 🚘 💥 *UPDATE 11.04.2022:* The Amex Platinum Card now offers Hertz President's Circle status 🏆 👉 *OOPS!:* I forgot to mention the Capital One Venture X also gives you access to Plaza Premium Lounges. 😃✈ Thanks to viewer 'Go and Love' for pointing that out! 💳👇 VIEW CREDIT CARD OFFERS! markscreditcards.com/offers 👀👇 FIND YOUR NEXT BEST CARD! markscreditcards.com/cardexplorer 🚨📲 SUBSCRIBE to Credit Card Welcome Offer Notifications! markscreditcards.com/welcomeofferalerts 🚨📲SUBSCRIBE to Transfer Partner Bonus Notifications! markscreditcards.com/transferbonusalerts 🛍 RAKUTEN - Earn Cash Back! markscreditcards.com/rakuten ⬆ (More links in Description below video!
Anymore word Mark on Chase finally getting their old travel portal company back and getting rid of Expedia? When that happens, would it correlate with lounges like the Centurion?
Venture X is easily the most straight forward. All the coupons for the Platinum don't really work for me... but I love MR for ANA transfer and Chase for Hyatt... but I only have the Preferred because I can't justify the $550 when I have a Venture X for Priority Pass...
great break down. I was looking into the Platinum but the $200 hotel credit is only if you go through the hotel collection or the other one, the $200 flight credit only goes for the airline you pick for the year. Another thing starting February you can no longer bring 2 free guests into the lounges. Those were deal breakers for me. Venture X looks like the winner and since it's new there's alot of growth for it
This is honestly a great breakdown between all three cards. I enjoy your presentation for each strengths and weaknesses. Mark, you're the credit card wikipedia when it comes to fine prints and benefits. I don't have neither of those cards. I'm debating whether to upgrade the CSP to CSR next month since I already have the Chase Quadfecta or keep the CSP and apply for the Venture X.
Mark this video came at a the perfect time for me. I have the CSR and Amex Plat (will likely cancel in March) and have been debating downgrading the CSR and applying for the Venture X per its perceived superiorities like the better lounge access, AF/credits, rental car status, etc. But seeing your breakdown made me realize the CSR suits my needs just fine. It may lose a little ground in black and white, but it's the intangibles that push it over the top. I love the simplicity and the easy ability to get 1.5 cpp without having to search or jump through hoops. Also I've personally used the trip delay insurance and got over $400 reimbursed to me, so I know it works! Plus I have multiple other Chase cards already. I'm intrigued by the moves Capital One is making but if you aim to kill the King, you can't come in second place six times. Now if only Chase had a deal with Delta then I'd never need Amex again, lol!
One nice thing about Capital One Venture X and its "basics" approach is that it is so easy to just squeeze in one trip and basically cover the fee (if you haven't been able to do any appreciable trips for one year). If anyone is into local staycations from time to time, you could rent a nice car and/or hotel through the portal and have a nice break.
I love my VentureX card and have had good experiences with their customer service. One day their rep sat on a conference call with me for over an hour to resolve an issue. I recommend it to everyone. The travel portal can be a pain sometimes but its cons are easily outweighed. They pay you to keep the card. Premium benefits for free basically. To me the CSR doesn't offer enough. If Amex ever builds a Centurion lounge at O'Hare I'll get a Platinum card.
The Luxury Card Trifecta!! These are all such powerful cards. If I had to give my opinion on each: The Amex Platinum is best for overall perks and benefits if you really use everything it comes with, but it's expensive! The Venture X is the best beginner luxury travel card and is really easy to use and get positive value from. The Chase Sapphire Reserve has some easy-to-use benefits, but it isn't distinguished enough from the Chase Sapphire Preferred yet to justify the annual fee. Those are my opinions at least! Great video Mark!
All three cards have their strong points and weaknesses. I don’t think I like the idea of being locked into booking through a portal, especially for hotels. Another aspect to consider from these cards are the respective trifectas. The Amex Gold, Savor and the Freedom cards earn a lot of points on everyday spend. Since the Amex Platinum doesn’t have great multipliers, you are almost forced to get the Gold to generate MR points through everyday spend.
The detail put into each one of your videos is incredible!! Thanks a ton Mark. Amazing work, clearly one of the top sources for credit card info in general. Beyond just youtube at this point.
Venturex also has access to plaza premium. Also about amex plat’s $200 hotel credit: it’s only for their fhr/hc hotels that I find consistently overpriced even compared to the same hotel at another ota, so could be a case of charging you more to give you the credit
Another good one. Love the charts! Note that both the Charles Scwab Platinum and Business Platinum change the values on the Amex side. For example, a Business Checking Account + Business Platinum gives you 1 cent per point cash back as a floor and 1.54 cents per point in flights through the Amex Portal. You also skipped the Sapphire Reserve’s significant Instacart credits (which may be temporary, but this year it totals about $270 for Instacart, which is huge)
I had all 3 of those, but cancelled Platinum, when it became a coupon book and CSR, when they increased the fee to $550. I got Venture X instead, to complement my Altitude Reserve, Hilton Aspire and Citi Prestige.
@@jdbdidoek Amex couponization is ridiculous. I would accept once a year coupon, maybe once in a half a year, but once a month is too much. However, Amex upgraded Hilton Aspire and Surpass cards recently, and they became even better than before. There was a slight upgrade to business gold, but this requires once a month action, and they cancelled shipping category, which I was using. Gas and dining are covered by other cards for me. So this is a first candidate for cancellation. $135 effective AF is still higher than Ink Preferred, so back to Chase. Much better card with lower AF.
Another great comprehensive video of the strengths and weaknesses of each card. Far too many of these videos from other creators are very biased where they try and sell you on their favorite card or the one that benefits them to promote.
One thing to mention: VentureX have a $395 but gives you a $400 credit ($300 travel credit + 10.000 anniversary miles). So they are basically paying you $5 to keep the card. Booking through the portal and using the $300 travel credit is pretty simple in my opinion. I think if you spend at least $400/year in travels, having the VentureX is really great, plus you get all the benefits.
if you book flights via Capital one portal price is higher , also they don;t have feature for multi-cities booking. Communication with customer service is only by phone method, no chat, no email to have proofs of communications..
1. Definitely worth doing a comparison of the portal vs. other channels. My last flight booking via the C1 portal was the same as on the airline site directly, so it won't always be higher. 2. Correct, multi-city bookings aren't an option right now.
Hi Mark. I had an idea for a video. If you had to start from scratch with zero credit, like a kid out of high school.. what would your action plan be to build up your credit score fast. Just thought this might be helpful to people if you haven't made a video like that yet.
My wife just moved to the US in July, obviously she would have ZERO credit/history. We got her a Capital One QuickSilver Secured card with a $300 limit. She stuck to a 5% - 8% usage and within 2 months she got a 700 Experian score. Hope that helps.
Get Amex if you like coupon books or want your points clawed back, or never awarded... Personal experience. That's why I cancelled most of my Amex cards.
Mark, this video was fantastic. What I’d love to see is this level of comparison but with the business platinum instead. No one really talks about it, and I believe it’s benefits outshine the vanilla.
After 2 years of grinding finally got approved for my platinum Amex. Data points : 660 experian 24 hard pulls 60k income Auto Repo 2015 (Wells Fargo auto loan fraud) ^ had to wait to get this removed. Got a savings with Amex in 2019 so I build a relationship with them, my Amex Hilton surpass has “member since 2019” - but I applied for the Hilton card in June 2022? 😁. But I’ll take it! Chase does not love me when I initially applied for the sapphire reserve, so I guess Amex will always be my LOVER forever. Mark you are the best!! Thanks for your videos , big fan for 3 years already! “Mark Reese Fan since 2020” 😂
Congrats on your approval for the Amex Platinum Card & thanks for sharing your data points! Great to have you on board as a Mark Reese Fan Since 2020! 😄👊
This video was very helpful. I've thought about about getting the Amex platinum, but the benefits and credits are so complicated. After listening to your breakdown, I think overall the CSR would fit my needs best. The flexible points, flexible airline credit, and travel protections are great, and I like not having to keep up with a bunch of credits. Thanks.
AMEX Platinum is only good if you're going to do a lot of (premium) travel. 1% points for the CSR is pretty underwhelming, but if you can pair this with a couple other Chase cards with high reward categories, then all of a sudden the 1.5x redemption bonus rate is huge. Venture X is really good all-around card because of the 2% catch-all points, AND it's essentially free (without having to deal with BS monthly $10 discounts for businesses you don't already patronize). You just need to make sure you are redeeming them on the travel portal or through transfer partners.
Great video. One point of nuance is in terms of transfer partners, CSR is superior domestically (usa) due to the presence of more domestic airlines than the other two with United, southwest (!!!), and jetblue. Platinum only has jetblue and delta (delta keeps devaluing pts). And capital one has ZERO domestic airlines on the list. Going by just the number of airline partners is of questionable utility.
The Reserve card NOT only has the $60 credit but it has the DashPass that is valued at $120, $10 per month for DashPass. I get the DashPass for free till December 31st, 2024. Lord willing they renew that because I use this a whole lot and save so much money on delivery and fees waived. I absolutely LOVE IT!
@@MarkReese I’ve been enjoying them since I had the Preferred but LOVE my Reserve more. Wish they made a far better looking design and added a whole lot more weight to it. L🤣L!
Marky boy, one of your best videos in my opinion. I shared this video with a few friends that are looking for a travel card. Btw, I have the Platinum and the Venture X. I never been interested in the Sapphire Reserve.
One thing to mention is card acceptability if your traveling outside of the U.S. Amex is not widely accepted in Europe or the UK. This is a big downside of my Amex.
I like the Sapphire Reserve because of its ability to give a high redemption across all lodging and airlines, minimizing the number of specialty cards needed.
Venture X credits are something that I can use it towards something more substantial & meaningful value. Plus an annual 10,000 credit is not bad also which $100.
The sapphire reserve now just bumped the welcome bonus to 80,000 points so for anyone watching a little late that could make a big difference to your decision
amazing video as always. i was wondering if you get the chance it’d be great to see a comparison video between the amex gold card and marriott bonvoy bevy card because they have shockingly similar traits, i.e. $250 annual fee, 4x back on restaurants and groceries. seems like the only difference is the statement credits and marriott perks.
Thanks George! Marriott Bonvoy Bevy = better for Marriott-specific perks...not rewards. Amex Gold = better for earning rewards that are way more flexible (and therefore more valuable); not great for travel benefits. Basically, 2 different purposes.
If you value varied lounge access (travel to asia, middle east etc)..its gotta be Amex. Just weeks ago this card saved me as I desperately needed wifi in Jeddah airport and the truth about relying on any single lounge/network.. it doesnt really work - closures, hours, bad wifi, so you need options. Side point - Im thinking of getting Google Fi to help further with this. Lastly - Im thinking of getting CSR or CSP for the Hyatt partnership alone.
Awesome video! I think you could also add customer service to your rankings. Thats an important factor when it comes to getting help. Amex is my favorite- even if I don’t earn as many points on some transactions. Still worth it to me.
In most of these videos, I learn something. But today I found a gold mine in Accor Live Limitless. I was looking for a decent transfer partner for some nights in Europe and this is one the most amazing partners outside the US!
Yep, I forgot about the Plaza Premium access so I added a pinned comment below the video 👍 As a Visa Infinite card, the C1VX does provide National Emerald Club Executive. Here's the link to enroll: legacy.nationalcar.com/en_US/car-rental/partners/partner-details/affinity/5030764-visa-infinite.html
Fully entrenched in the chase ecosystem and the 48 months on my sapphire bonus will be up next year. Was thinking about downgrading to the freedom unlimited (already have the flex) and upgrading to the CSR. That said, the value doesn't really seem to be there for the sign up bonus, and I'm considering keeping the CSP and getting the Venture X. But those 150k Amex Platinum sign up bonuses are tough to pass up! So torn!
Hopefully we'll see an elevated welcome offer from the CSR at some point. Though 60K points, while it looks small, is actually worth $900 towards travel. That's still quite strong.
Isn't that fact alone worth a Gold Medal? I think this is the best card out there right now because of the double points (which I transfer to British Airways 1:1) and use to buy American Airlines flights.
@@VincentPascual Yep that’s the one. I really liked it! Lots of staff when I was there-even when it was at capacity it was kept very clean, and the table service was good. It was convenient to have an app-based ordering system where you can have food and drinks delivered to you. Much more time spent relaxing as opposed to waiting at the bar for a cocktail. Quality and variety of the offerings was good.
Ok, so I finished watching and I have to say, your video really validated my impression that having both Chase and Amex is a great combo. I have the Platinum running on nearly two years and although it has the least multipliers, I’ve gotten so many reward flights including a business class return flight from London to LAX. Capital One is trying and I believe one day it will be a better competitor but Amex has had decades to develop their ecosystem and Chase has been doing it a while too.
Excellent review! Wondering if you left off the Amex Plat $200 Uber credit because it isn’t exactly a retail credit? Even so, it is a direct credit and easier to use than Equinox or SoulCycle IMO.
@@MarkReese Thanks, Mark. I must have missed it. You packed a lot of info into this very comprehensive video, the best comparison I’ve seen. Great use of the charts and the different colors and fonts. I’m getting the most out of my Platinum, thanks in large part to you. Thanks again!
Would love for you to have added the Ritz Carlton to this comparison! Maybe a 'part II' coming out soon? Like an 'all premium credit cards' comparison and then rank them :) lets goo!
Haha I like the sound of it, but I don't think I'll do a video comparing all premium cards. Too long & too many cards that aren't necessarily competitors (e.g. I don't view hotel cards as competitors to general bank cards).
Up to you. You'll have to weigh the pros & cons for your own spending, travel habits, rewards & benefit preferences, etc. Downgrading after Year 1 is a possibility. Just realize if you downgrade to the Gold Card or Green Card, for example, you will not be able to get a signup bonus for either of them at that time...or in the future. So if you want a bonus on either of those, you may want to apply for them directly.
Jai Ho - the benefits with Avis and National come from the Visa Infinite side, not Capital One. You can enroll in National's Emerald Club Executive at this link: legacy.nationalcar.com/en_US/car-rental/partners/partner-details/affinity/5030764-visa-infinite.html
Great video! One comment about cell phone protection category. If you pair the CSR with no annual fee card such as Freedom Flex, you will get a very similar cell phone protection as what Amex Platinum offers. Therefore Chase would win that category over Amex without extra costs. Thanks again and all the best to you! Great channel.
So I have the AMEX PLAT and hotels via the portal are often higher than if I book directly with hotel. Is it the same case with the venture x portal & chase sapphire reserve portal ?
Great video here Mark! Love the side-by-side comparison with all the comparative categories & charts. In my own personal opinion, I'd go with the AMEX Plat as the best overall card (especially if you value things like lounge access & hotel statuses, etc). The Venture X is a great option as well because it is essentially a Keeper Card with the yearly credits outpacing the fee. And then personally for me the CSR takes last place, but that's simply because I already have the CSP and get a lot of the same perks.
Thanks Matt! I too am using the CSP on the Chase side. I really like the access to transfer partners, the flat-rate redemption of 1.25¢, and the primary car rental insurance. Strong value prop. for a $95 AF card 🏆
💥 *UPDATE 1.01.2023:* (a) The Venture X's Priority Pass membership will no longer allow access to restaurant, spa, or retail locations. (b) Per TPG, the Venture X does not have a limit to the # of guests you can bring into Priority Pass lounges. Source: thepointsguy.com/guide/venture-x-unlimited-guests-priority-pass/
💥 *UPDATE 11.15.2022:* The CSR now offers a complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership for 2 years, then 50% off in Year 3. 🚘
💥 *UPDATE 11.04.2022:* The Amex Platinum Card now offers Hertz President's Circle status 🏆
👉 *OOPS!:* I forgot to mention the Capital One Venture X also gives you access to Plaza Premium Lounges. 😃✈ Thanks to viewer 'Go and Love' for pointing that out!
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Did you hear about the new upcoming us bank shopper card? It’s going to change the game as we know it. Includes 6% on Walmart and Amazon. 3% on Costco
@@arey256 - I sure did (you might see my comment on the Doctor of Credit post) 😁👍 Sounds like a great card.
Anymore word Mark on Chase finally getting their old travel portal company back and getting rid of Expedia?
When that happens, would it correlate with lounges like the Centurion?
@@user-lj5ri3gp5o - What kind of update were you looking for? I don't see Chase's acquisition of cxLoyalty impacting the Centurion Lounge.
@@MarkReese But the $95 annual fee ruins it.
Venture X is easily the most straight forward. All the coupons for the Platinum don't really work for me... but I love MR for ANA transfer and Chase for Hyatt... but I only have the Preferred because I can't justify the $550 when I have a Venture X for Priority Pass...
CSP is a great way to maintain those transfers to Hyatt 💯
great break down. I was looking into the Platinum but the $200 hotel credit is only if you go through the hotel collection or the other one, the $200 flight credit only goes for the airline you pick for the year. Another thing starting February you can no longer bring 2 free guests into the lounges. Those were deal breakers for me. Venture X looks like the winner and since it's new there's alot of growth for it
Great that you've done the analysis for your situation! 💯
This is honestly a great breakdown between all three cards. I enjoy your presentation for each strengths and weaknesses. Mark, you're the credit card wikipedia when it comes to fine prints and benefits. I don't have neither of those cards. I'm debating whether to upgrade the CSP to CSR next month since I already have the Chase Quadfecta or keep the CSP and apply for the Venture X.
Thank you, Thi!
Mark this video came at a the perfect time for me. I have the CSR and Amex Plat (will likely cancel in March) and have been debating downgrading the CSR and applying for the Venture X per its perceived superiorities like the better lounge access, AF/credits, rental car status, etc. But seeing your breakdown made me realize the CSR suits my needs just fine. It may lose a little ground in black and white, but it's the intangibles that push it over the top. I love the simplicity and the easy ability to get 1.5 cpp without having to search or jump through hoops. Also I've personally used the trip delay insurance and got over $400 reimbursed to me, so I know it works! Plus I have multiple other Chase cards already. I'm intrigued by the moves Capital One is making but if you aim to kill the King, you can't come in second place six times. Now if only Chase had a deal with Delta then I'd never need Amex again, lol!
Glad the video helped, Alex! Encouraging to hear that the trip delay insurance was beneficial for ya ✈️
One nice thing about Capital One Venture X and its "basics" approach is that it is so easy to just squeeze in one trip and basically cover the fee (if you haven't been able to do any appreciable trips for one year). If anyone is into local staycations from time to time, you could rent a nice car and/or hotel through the portal and have a nice break.
Absolutely! 💯
This is the exact logic for me going wit this card lol.
Have all 3. They each pay for themselves in different ways. Excellent summary video.
Awesome! ✈️
I love my VentureX card and have had good experiences with their customer service. One day their rep sat on a conference call with me for over an hour to resolve an issue. I recommend it to everyone. The travel portal can be a pain sometimes but its cons are easily outweighed. They pay you to keep the card. Premium benefits for free basically. To me the CSR doesn't offer enough. If Amex ever builds a Centurion lounge at O'Hare I'll get a Platinum card.
Great to hear you've had a positive experience with the C1VX, Peter!
The Luxury Card Trifecta!! These are all such powerful cards. If I had to give my opinion on each: The Amex Platinum is best for overall perks and benefits if you really use everything it comes with, but it's expensive! The Venture X is the best beginner luxury travel card and is really easy to use and get positive value from. The Chase Sapphire Reserve has some easy-to-use benefits, but it isn't distinguished enough from the Chase Sapphire Preferred yet to justify the annual fee. Those are my opinions at least! Great video Mark!
Great way to look at the 3 cards, Spencer! 👊
All three cards have their strong points and weaknesses. I don’t think I like the idea of being locked into booking through a portal, especially for hotels. Another aspect to consider from these cards are the respective trifectas. The Amex Gold, Savor and the Freedom cards earn a lot of points on everyday spend. Since the Amex Platinum doesn’t have great multipliers, you are almost forced to get the Gold to generate MR points through everyday spend.
Excellent points above, Paul!
The detail put into each one of your videos is incredible!! Thanks a ton Mark. Amazing work, clearly one of the top sources for credit card info in general. Beyond just youtube at this point.
Thank you, Champ! 🏆
Platinum, Platinum Bus and the X with a Ink Preferred is my setup. I travel for work.
Nice! 👊✈️
AMEX Platinum for me! Fits my spending habits and lifestyle, and I very much value the AMEX lounge network. Thanks for the comprehensive video Mark 👑!
Good choice! 💥
Venturex also has access to plaza premium. Also about amex plat’s $200 hotel credit: it’s only for their fhr/hc hotels that I find consistently overpriced even compared to the same hotel at another ota, so could be a case of charging you more to give you the credit
Correct on both! 👊 I added a pinned comment below the video about the Plaza Premium Lounge access via the C1VX.
Another good one. Love the charts!
Note that both the Charles Scwab Platinum and Business Platinum change the values on the Amex side. For example, a Business Checking Account + Business Platinum gives you 1 cent per point cash back as a floor and 1.54 cents per point in flights through the Amex Portal. You also skipped the Sapphire Reserve’s significant Instacart credits (which may be temporary, but this year it totals about $270 for Instacart, which is huge)
Correct! This video was focused on just the personal version ✌
Thanks for such a detailed breakdown on all three CCs! Didn't realize just how good & competitive the CSR could be. Great info + video!
You bet! 💯
I had all 3 of those, but cancelled Platinum, when it became a coupon book and CSR, when they increased the fee to $550. I got Venture X instead, to complement my Altitude Reserve, Hilton Aspire and Citi Prestige.
Still got some awesome cards! 🏆
@yurig2530 All rewards cards are "coupon books" lol You just couldn't afford the annual fees
@@jdbdidoek Amex couponization is ridiculous. I would accept once a year coupon, maybe once in a half a year, but once a month is too much. However, Amex upgraded Hilton Aspire and Surpass cards recently, and they became even better than before. There was a slight upgrade to business gold, but this requires once a month action, and they cancelled shipping category, which I was using. Gas and dining are covered by other cards for me. So this is a first candidate for cancellation. $135 effective AF is still higher than Ink Preferred, so back to Chase. Much better card with lower AF.
Another great comprehensive video of the strengths and weaknesses of each card. Far too many of these videos from other creators are very biased where they try and sell you on their favorite card or the one that benefits them to promote.
Thank you! 🏆
This is exactly the breakdown I was looking for. Excellent job! Thank you!
💯👍
For me 1st Venture X, 2nd Platinum and in last place Sapphire Reserve.
Rockin' that Venture X! 💯
I have the CSR and Venture X.
Awesome 👊
Just got approved for anex gold with a targeted 75k welcome bonus. My Chase Trifecta (CSR, CFU, and CFF) are still my workhorses
Nice, congrats on that approval! 💥
One thing to mention: VentureX have a $395 but gives you a $400 credit ($300 travel credit + 10.000 anniversary miles). So they are basically paying you $5 to keep the card. Booking through the portal and using the $300 travel credit is pretty simple in my opinion.
I think if you spend at least $400/year in travels, having the VentureX is really great, plus you get all the benefits.
Great way to look at it! 😃✈
if you book flights via Capital one portal price is higher , also they don;t have feature for multi-cities booking. Communication with customer service is only by phone method, no chat, no email to have proofs of communications..
1. Definitely worth doing a comparison of the portal vs. other channels. My last flight booking via the C1 portal was the same as on the airline site directly, so it won't always be higher.
2. Correct, multi-city bookings aren't an option right now.
I have the CSR and CFU. Extremely simple way to get an effective 2.25%+ back on everything.
🏆
Hi Mark. I had an idea for a video. If you had to start from scratch with zero credit, like a kid out of high school.. what would your action plan be to build up your credit score fast. Just thought this might be helpful to people if you haven't made a video like that yet.
Thanks for the suggestion, Matt! 😃👊
I co-sign this suggestion.
My wife just moved to the US in July, obviously she would have ZERO credit/history. We got her a Capital One QuickSilver Secured card with a $300 limit. She stuck to a 5% - 8% usage and within 2 months she got a 700 Experian score. Hope that helps.
@Nick S same here with my wife being at no score. Got her cap one platinum secured, stayed below 20% usage, 2 months later her c score is now 735.
My 18 yr old has a 20 yr credit history via authorize user
RE: lounge access- Not sure if it's new, but venture X also includes Plaza premium lounges.
Correct, I forgot to include those ✌ They were added in June 2022 I believe.
What a wonderful, comprehensive guide. Thank you for making it so simple to understand so many complicated details. I appreciate your time and effort!
Glad it was helpful!
Get Amex if you like coupon books or want your points clawed back, or never awarded... Personal experience. That's why I cancelled most of my Amex cards.
😬
Mark, this video was fantastic. What I’d love to see is this level of comparison but with the business platinum instead. No one really talks about it, and I believe it’s benefits outshine the vanilla.
Thanks Richard! 👊
After 2 years of grinding finally got approved for my platinum Amex.
Data points :
660 experian
24 hard pulls
60k income
Auto Repo 2015 (Wells Fargo auto loan fraud)
^ had to wait to get this removed.
Got a savings with Amex in 2019 so I build a relationship with them, my Amex Hilton surpass has “member since 2019” - but I applied for the Hilton card in June 2022? 😁. But I’ll take it! Chase does not love me when I initially applied for the sapphire reserve, so I guess Amex will always be my LOVER forever. Mark you are the best!! Thanks for your videos , big fan for 3 years already! “Mark Reese Fan since 2020” 😂
Congrats on your approval for the Amex Platinum Card & thanks for sharing your data points! Great to have you on board as a Mark Reese Fan Since 2020! 😄👊
This video was very helpful. I've thought about about getting the Amex platinum, but the benefits and credits are so complicated. After listening to your breakdown, I think overall the CSR would fit my needs best. The flexible points, flexible airline credit, and travel protections are great, and I like not having to keep up with a bunch of credits. Thanks.
Glad it helped!
AMEX Platinum is only good if you're going to do a lot of (premium) travel. 1% points for the CSR is pretty underwhelming, but if you can pair this with a couple other Chase cards with high reward categories, then all of a sudden the 1.5x redemption bonus rate is huge. Venture X is really good all-around card because of the 2% catch-all points, AND it's essentially free (without having to deal with BS monthly $10 discounts for businesses you don't already patronize). You just need to make sure you are redeeming them on the travel portal or through transfer partners.
Absolutely!
Love the great detailed breakdowns. Extremely helpful especially for someone like myself who is fairly new to the credit card game!! 💯
Glad it helped! 👊
VentureX also allows you to get into Plaza Premium lounges
That's right, I missed that one!
Just added a pinned comment, thanks!
Great video. One point of nuance is in terms of transfer partners, CSR is superior domestically (usa) due to the presence of more domestic airlines than the other two with United, southwest (!!!), and jetblue. Platinum only has jetblue and delta (delta keeps devaluing pts). And capital one has ZERO domestic airlines on the list. Going by just the number of airline partners is of questionable utility.
Good point! ✈
This is by far the best comparison I have ever seen between these 3 cards
Thank you, Sufiyan!
It's obvious you put a lot of work into these videos. Very informative, as always!
Thank you! Glad you enjoy them 👊
I have all 3. But I really don't value the Platinum Amex. I am forcing myself just to use the perks. I'll be dropping it next year.
Makes sense to drop it if it's not working for ya 👍
The Reserve card NOT only has the $60 credit but it has the DashPass that is valued at $120, $10 per month for DashPass. I get the DashPass for free till December 31st, 2024. Lord willing they renew that because I use this a whole lot and save so much money on delivery and fees waived. I absolutely LOVE IT!
Great point, thanks Ronnie! Enjoy the benefit!
@@MarkReese I’ve been enjoying them since I had the Preferred but LOVE my Reserve more. Wish they made a far better looking design and added a whole lot more weight to it. L🤣L!
Marky boy, one of your best videos in my opinion. I shared this video with a few friends that are looking for a travel card. Btw, I have the Platinum and the Venture X. I never been interested in the Sapphire Reserve.
Thanks Leo!
Capital One Venture X def on my 2023 bucket list!
Make it happen!
The most thorough comparison! Thank you for doing the work.
Glad you found it helpful!
One thing to mention is card acceptability if your traveling outside of the U.S. Amex is not widely accepted in Europe or the UK. This is a big downside of my Amex.
Good point, Karl!
I like the Sapphire Reserve because of its ability to give a high redemption across all lodging and airlines, minimizing the number of specialty cards needed.
For sure! 💯
Venture X credits are something that I can use it towards something more substantial & meaningful value. Plus an annual 10,000 credit is not bad also which $100.
For sure! ✈️💯
The sapphire reserve now just bumped the welcome bonus to 80,000 points so for anyone watching a little late that could make a big difference to your decision
Yep, nice offer! 🏆
amazing video as always. i was wondering if you get the chance it’d be great to see a comparison video between the amex gold card and marriott bonvoy bevy card because they have shockingly similar traits, i.e. $250 annual fee, 4x back on restaurants and groceries. seems like the only difference is the statement credits and marriott perks.
Thanks George!
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy = better for Marriott-specific perks...not rewards.
Amex Gold = better for earning rewards that are way more flexible (and therefore more valuable); not great for travel benefits.
Basically, 2 different purposes.
Provides wealth of travel information in deciding which travel card you prefer. Thank you!
Sure thing!
@@MarkReese I always go to this specific presentation as a refresher whenever I used these three (3) premium cards. Thanks Mark!
If you value varied lounge access (travel to asia, middle east etc)..its gotta be Amex. Just weeks ago this card saved me as I desperately needed wifi in Jeddah airport and the truth about relying on any single lounge/network.. it doesnt really work - closures, hours, bad wifi, so you need options. Side point - Im thinking of getting Google Fi to help further with this. Lastly - Im thinking of getting CSR or CSP for the Hyatt partnership alone.
Yep the wifi access via lounges can be really useful!
Awesome video! I think you could also add customer service to your rankings. Thats an important factor when it comes to getting help. Amex is my favorite- even if I don’t earn as many points on some transactions. Still worth it to me.
Good point, Scott!
In most of these videos, I learn something. But today I found a gold mine in Accor Live Limitless. I was looking for a decent transfer partner for some nights in Europe and this is one the most amazing partners outside the US!
You uncovered a great gem! 💎 Yep, ALL points can have huge value.
Thank you for your time finding information for us ..very helpful.
You're welcome!
The chase portal is always more expensive than the Cap1 portal for me.
Good to do that comparison prior to booking 👍
love my capital one x the miles had up fast. also Capital one is starting to open up there own airport lounges.
Glad to hear you're liking the card, Pat!
Thank you! This seemed like a lot of work. But is very useful information.
Glad it helped!
A quick comment - Capital One give you access to Plaza Premium Lounges. However, it did not provide access to the National Car Emerald Executive Club.
Yep, I forgot about the Plaza Premium access so I added a pinned comment below the video 👍
As a Visa Infinite card, the C1VX does provide National Emerald Club Executive. Here's the link to enroll: legacy.nationalcar.com/en_US/car-rental/partners/partner-details/affinity/5030764-visa-infinite.html
I love how the Platinum looks premium compared to the two
🏆
Thanks. I’m stuck with booking thru a company travel portal. Seems none are ideal for that setup but chase is certainly better than Amex
If you can still pay with your own card, and if the transaction codes as 'travel,' then the CSR might earn 3X points.
@@MarkReese exactly. I’m just a bit gunshy after the csp stepped back benefits years ago.. didn’t love that.
Great work again on the video!
Fully entrenched in the chase ecosystem and the 48 months on my sapphire bonus will be up next year. Was thinking about downgrading to the freedom unlimited (already have the flex) and upgrading to the CSR. That said, the value doesn't really seem to be there for the sign up bonus, and I'm considering keeping the CSP and getting the Venture X. But those 150k Amex Platinum sign up bonuses are tough to pass up! So torn!
Hopefully we'll see an elevated welcome offer from the CSR at some point. Though 60K points, while it looks small, is actually worth $900 towards travel. That's still quite strong.
I have all 3 😬 but I’ve debated this with myself all the time. I can’t convince myself to downgrade any of these cards yet.
I had all 3 until amex canceled my account and lost everything and messed up my credit
Haha if all 3 work for you, that's all good!
Very comprehensive and detailed review. Thanks.
You're welcome!
Amazing organization of information. Thanks for making this choice ... more simple Mark. 😉
Thanks Mitch, you bet! 👊
Need to factor in that Venture X gives DOUBLE points on all purchases, which really adds up.
Indeed! 🌟
Isn't that fact alone worth a Gold Medal? I think this is the best card out there right now because of the double points (which I transfer to British Airways 1:1) and use to buy American Airlines flights.
@@toxicmegakitten - If we're comparing base earning rates, then yep, the C1VX would take the Gold! 🥇
Capitol One also gives you Plaza Premium lounge access.
Yep, I forgot that one! Added a pinned comment below the video 👍
Thanks so much! Appreciate the info comparing all three in one video! ! ✌️
Sure thing, Robert!
I just started the video but I just wanted to say this is a great comparison topic. As always, your videos are always very insightful.
Appreciate it! 🎬
One of the best and most comprehensive video
Thank you!
Doesn’t the Venture X have Plaza Premium access too?
Yuuuuup I used it at SFO last month
Yes it does 👍 I added a pinned comment below the video. Thanks for catching that.
@@AdamBA380 The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at SFO, right? How was it?
@@VincentPascual Yep that’s the one. I really liked it! Lots of staff when I was there-even when it was at capacity it was kept very clean, and the table service was good. It was convenient to have an app-based ordering system where you can have food and drinks delivered to you. Much more time spent relaxing as opposed to waiting at the bar for a cocktail. Quality and variety of the offerings was good.
You are a GOAT! Thank you for the great review with my favorite top 3 cards!
Thank you, Hee! Glad the video helped!
Honestly I keep it simple with my capital one quicksilver...
Simplicity for the win 🏆
Thank you for putting this together!
Of course!
Are there any changes to these cars for 2023?
See pinned comment above ☝
Ok, so I finished watching and I have to say, your video really validated my impression that having both Chase and Amex is a great combo. I have the Platinum running on nearly two years and although it has the least multipliers, I’ve gotten so many reward flights including a business class return flight from London to LAX. Capital One is trying and I believe one day it will be a better competitor but Amex has had decades to develop their ecosystem and Chase has been doing it a while too.
Great that both cards are providing you with the value you want, Jeremy!
Excellent review! Wondering if you left off the Amex Plat $200 Uber credit because it isn’t exactly a retail credit? Even so, it is a direct credit and easier to use than Equinox or SoulCycle IMO.
The $200 Uber Cash benefit was included in the travel section at 7:29. Uber = primarily ground transportation = travel.
@@MarkReese Thanks, Mark. I must have missed it. You packed a lot of info into this very comprehensive video, the best comparison I’ve seen. Great use of the charts and the different colors and fonts. I’m getting the most out of my Platinum, thanks in large part to you. Thanks again!
Great video! Nice to see the CSR get some love.
Thanks Michael! Indeed 👊
Have you done an updated video for late 2023?
I haven't. Some updates were posted in the pinned comment. I may do an updated comparison in 2024.
I would say
1. amex platinum
2. CSR
3. Venture x
👊💯👊
Would love for you to have added the Ritz Carlton to this comparison! Maybe a 'part II' coming out soon? Like an 'all premium credit cards' comparison and then rank them :) lets goo!
Haha I like the sound of it, but I don't think I'll do a video comparing all premium cards. Too long & too many cards that aren't necessarily competitors (e.g. I don't view hotel cards as competitors to general bank cards).
Wonderful work as always mark. Thank you!
Sure thing, Michael!
Plaza premium is available on the Venture One X the 7:30 mark you don’t have it listed
Correct 👍 I added a pinned comment below the video mentioning that. Thanks Trae.
Hi - I have the Reserve, would you recommend getting the Amex as well? I wonder if I can try after year to downgrade?
Up to you. You'll have to weigh the pros & cons for your own spending, travel habits, rewards & benefit preferences, etc. Downgrading after Year 1 is a possibility.
Just realize if you downgrade to the Gold Card or Green Card, for example, you will not be able to get a signup bonus for either of them at that time...or in the future.
So if you want a bonus on either of those, you may want to apply for them directly.
CSR also has the $15 monthly instacart credit. I think it's up until at least 2024.
Good catch, thanks Mikey!
Amex Platinum now includes Hertz Presidents Circle Status
Correct 👍 See the pinned comment below the video for that info, plus other updates.
Venture X doesn't have the Avis Preferred and National status, it has the Hertz President's Circle status. I wished it did, would be nice.
It offers Avis through Visa Infinite and you can status match Hertz to National
Jai Ho - the benefits with Avis and National come from the Visa Infinite side, not Capital One. You can enroll in National's Emerald Club Executive at this link: legacy.nationalcar.com/en_US/car-rental/partners/partner-details/affinity/5030764-visa-infinite.html
Great video! One comment about cell phone protection category. If you pair the CSR with no annual fee card such as Freedom Flex, you will get a very similar cell phone protection as what Amex Platinum offers. Therefore Chase would win that category over Amex without extra costs.
Thanks again and all the best to you! Great channel.
Great point, Bakhtiyor!
@@MarkReese thanks for taking the time and writing up my name ))
Mark - You are always very detailed...
Yes I am 😁
Best analysis IMO. You won me over!
Thank you!
Didnt even know you had the csr I though you only had the cs nice video😊
I had the CSR years ago, not any longer ✌️
@@MarkReese notice the chase premier buisness card it’s available now 🫤
Wish if USBank Latitude reserve was in that comparison 😕
Great video as usual 👌
Perhaps in another video!
U forgot about the CSR giving a $15 dollar credit towards instacart
Good catch!
So I have the AMEX PLAT and hotels via the portal are often higher than if I book directly with hotel. Is it the same case with the venture x portal & chase sapphire reserve portal ?
It can vary based on the hotel, flight, etc. They can be higher, lower, or the same.
Another great video. Thanks Mark
You bet!
Will authorize user have the same overall benefits as the primary holder?
Not even close 😁✌Here's a link to another video about the Amex Platinum AU benefits: ruclips.net/video/7EI7IV3DIoU/видео.html
Which ones is the hardest and easiest to get thanks. Great video
The Amex Platinum is likely the easiest to get.
I have the Preserve time to upgrade 👍
💯👍 Just be aware that upgrading from the Preferred to the Reserve = no welcome offer.
Great video to compare these cards.
Thanks Lisandro!
Great video here Mark! Love the side-by-side comparison with all the comparative categories & charts. In my own personal opinion, I'd go with the AMEX Plat as the best overall card (especially if you value things like lounge access & hotel statuses, etc). The Venture X is a great option as well because it is essentially a Keeper Card with the yearly credits outpacing the fee. And then personally for me the CSR takes last place, but that's simply because I already have the CSP and get a lot of the same perks.
Thanks Matt! I too am using the CSP on the Chase side. I really like the access to transfer partners, the flat-rate redemption of 1.25¢, and the primary car rental insurance. Strong value prop. for a $95 AF card 🏆
@@MarkReese Absolutely! One of the best if not the best mid-tier option out there!
As usual great value shared, thanks!! What are your thoughts on the amex blue business plus?
Thank you! I'm personally a fan of the Amex Blue Business Plus & have it myself, but me liking it doesn't mean everyone should get it.
@@MarkReese I read you! in your experience does amex typically do a hard inquiry for the blue business plus for already existing cardholders?
@@ms.studly8602 - Likely not. If it's your 1st business card, they may, but not necessarily guaranteed.
Thanks JMR.
Sure thing!