Amex Platinum Vs. Visa Black Card Vs. Citi Prestige

Update: Some offers mentioned listed here are no longer available. View the current offers here - Citi Prestige Card

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Rewards charge cards come in an extensive variety of flavors. Today TPG Contributor Nick Ewen looks for the bonuses, benefits, and also other aspects of three premium cards to find out how they stack against one another.

With the economy slowly recovering, travel providers and banking institutions have changed over their games to try and woo high spenders. We've seen this with both Delta and United about to revenue-based elite status qualification , and debit card issuers are following suit. Premium cards which require fees of multiple 100's of dollars have been around for some time, but there is however a renewed push to flourish their respective memberships, as evidenced by Citi's recent updates to your Prestige card and ThankYou Rewards program

In this post I'll compare three premium” cards to view which is best to have in your pocketbook: Visa Black Card, American Express Platinum , and Citi Prestige.

Which premium plastic card is best for you, (Image from Shutterstock )

First, my methodology. I'll compare these credit cards across ten different categories: annual fee, current sign-up bonus, points earnings, direct points redemptions, transferring points, fee credits, perks, coverage, customer support, and lounge access. In each category, I'll opt for a winner (that will receive 2 points), a runner-up (who can receive 1 point), and also a last-place finisher (who can receive 0 points). The highest point total with the end is going to be crowned Best Premium Credit Card,” though understand that your rankings could differ depending on how you value certain benefits. Let's get started!

ANNUAL FEE

Visa Black Card: $495 a year, plus $195 per authorized user.

American Express Platinum: $550 each year, plus flat $175 fee for first three authorized users (and $175 per user for added cards).

Citi Prestige: $450, plus $50 per authorized user.

Analysis: It's hard to create these comparisons without taking note fee waivers (see below), because those can cover” a few of the annual fees. However, I offer the slight edge towards the Citi Prestige, considering the lower fee for adding authorized users it comes with additional cardholders get access to lounges starting on October 19.

Winner: Citi Prestige

Runner-up: Amex Platinum

CURRENT SIGN-UP BONUS

Visa Black Card: 25,000 points following $1,500 within the first ninety days.

American Express Platinum: 60,000 points following $5,000 inside first a few months.

Citi Prestige: 40,000 points after working $4,000 inside first three months.

Analysis: The relative valuation on the points is a consideration here. In his March 2015 monthly valuations , TPG lists ThankYou points at 1.6 cents and Membership Rewards at 2.0 cents each. That means the sign-up bonuses for Citi Prestige and Amex Platinum are worth roughly $800 each. Visa Black Card points might be redeemed for airfare at 2 cents apiece, therefore, the sign-up bonus is ostensibly worth as much as $500.

Being that this spending requirements are identical and the sign-up bonus values are equivalent, Amex Platinum and Citi Prestige tie with the win. The Visa Black Card is #2 using a $500 sign-up bonus.

Winner: Amex Platinum and Citi Prestige

Runner-up: Visa Black Card

New bonus categories for the Citi Prestige include airlines, hotels, and entertainment purchases (like concert halls). (Image due to Shutterstock )

POINTS EARNING

American Express Platinum: 1 point per dollar spent everywhere.

Citi Prestige: 3x on air and hotel purchases, 2x on dining and entertainment and 1 point per dollar used on other purchases.

Analysis: Dining, traveling by plane and hotels are huge categories for spending therefore, the Prestige card wins this category absolutely. Runner-up might be more complicated. Even though the Visa Black card doesn't offer any bonus categories for spending, it lets you do have the added advantage of redeeming points for flights at twice the normal value (see below). The American Express Platinum Card offers double points for booking cross their website, nevertheless, you you can also utilize it to book through other shopping on the web portals (and utilize the Visa Black Card at the same time) to ensure Amex travel extra point isn't a game changer. At the end of the morning, the Visa Black Card gives 2% back across the board whenever you redeem for travel, that is more than Amex Platinum offers (only 1% back on travel or even more if you know the way to maximize transfers, though we have seen a lack of solid transfer bonuses lately), so I provide the edge to your Visa Black Card.

Winner: Citi Prestige

Runner-up: Visa Black Card

The Visa Black Card website touts the good thing about booking flights using their points compared to your Amex Platinum.

DIRECT POINT REDEMPTIONS

Visa Black Card: Points could be redeemed for cash, gift cards, and merchandise at a rate of a single cent apiece, or to book airfare throughout the card's Exclusive Rewards program at 2 cents apiece.

American Express Platinum: Membership Rewards points are only able to be redeemed for cash, gift cards, merchandise and travel at 1 cent per piece.

Citi Prestige: ThankYou points can also be worth 1 cent apiece when employed for gift cards or merchandise; they are able to also be used to book flights at 1.33 cents each (or 1.6 cents apiece on American ).

Analysis: All three cards supply you with the ability to redeem points for cash, gift cards, as well as other items through their respective rewards malls, but at merely 1 cent per point, what a very poor value. However, in case you are interested in utilizing your points to book flights directly (which might be a good strategy for earning and/or retaining elite status, as these flights do accrue elite-qualifying miles/segments), the Visa Black card may be the definite winner here, providing you a redemption importance of 2 cents per point (rather than a measly 1 cents/point around the Amex Platinum or 1.33-1.6 cents/point within the Citi Prestige, a worth that's good enough to land from the runner-up position).

Winner: Visa Black Card

You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to 17 airlines and 4 hotels.

TRANSFERS AND OTHER REDEMPTION OPTIONS

Visa Black Card: None

American Express Platinum: Membership Rewards points might be transferred to any of 17 airline partner and 4 hotel partners.

Citi Prestige: After adding 8 airline transfer partners in July, yesterday ThankYou Rewards added a ninth partner (Air France/KLM) to travel along making use of their existing hotel partner (Hilton HHonors).

Analysis: Unfortunately, Visa Black Carddoes not offer cardholders any solutions to transfer points, very first a two-horse race. As of right this moment, I provide the edge on the American Express Platinum. Keep at heart that Citi ThankYou points previously weren't transferable in any way, which means this category isn't blowout who's was just spanning a month ago. In fact, the modern ThankYou Rewards transfer program includes 6 unique partners not contained in Membership Rewards: EVA Air, Etihad, Garuda Indonesia, Malaysia, Qatar, and Thai. Unfortunately, these partners will not include a single U.S.-based airline, and Hilton HHonors is the only hotel option (and it is a section of Membership Rewards). This increased number of partners in addition to (somewhat) frequent transfer bonuses (just like it to JetBlue ) available from Membership Rewards pushes the Platinum Card to victory.

Winner: Amex Platinum

Runner-up: Citi Prestige

Global Entry is amongst the best time-saving travel tools available, and both Amex Platinum and Citi Prestige cardholders are reimbursed the $100 fee every a few years.

FEE CREDITS

Visa Black Card: None.

American Express Platinum: $200 per year or so towards airline fees (for instance baggage fees, in-flight food/drink purchases, and change fees); $100 credit for Global Entry or $85 credit for TSA PreCheck (once every a few years).

Citi Prestige: $250 credit per cardmembership year for airline fees along with a $100 credit for Global Entry every several years.

Analysis: Before Citi Presitge made some big adjustments to October, the Platinum Card is the winner, because it offers a $200 credit per year or so, giving cardmembers the potential of getting two credits through the first year of account opening. However, Citi Prestige cardholders now earn $250 each year in airline fee credits (formerly $200). While reports indicate that smaller denomination gift cards count for the Amex Platinum credit, they're specifically excluded underneath the T&C with the card , therefore, the Citi Prestige will be the clear winner within this category.

Winner: Citi Prestige

Runner-up: Amex Platinum

PERKS

Airline

None

International Airline Program allows you to bring a companion whenever you buy a qualifying refundable ticket

15% discount on first/business; annual complimentary coach companion ticket

Airport

None

Complimentary Boingo Wi-Fi (over a million hotspots)

15% discount on MasterCard Airport Concierge services at exceeding 450 airports worldwide

Hotel perks

Black Card VIP Program, offering special treatment at substantially more than 3,000 hotels & resorts

Fine Hotels & Resorts , offering benefits at a minimum of 750 hotel partners worldwide

4th night free on all hotel stays booked through Carlson Wagonlit Travel

Hotel Elite Status

Ground Transportation

Cruises

Black Card VIP Program includes cruiselines, offering VIP treatment with numerous cruise companies

Cruise privileges, offering benefits on specific lines

Discounts on cruises booked through Carlson Wagonlit Travel

Entertainment

You can redeem points for exclusive experiences (e.g. Super Bowl, Fashion Week, etc.)

Preferred Seating program, By Invitation Only, and Premium Access to obtain tickets and attend exclusive events

Citi Private Pass and Global Events & Experiences to obtain tickets & access special occasions around the world

Other

Luxury gifts from world-renowned brands (like Ray Ban) for both primary and other cardholders

Membership in Neiman Marcus/Bergdorf Goodman's InCircle program

3 complimentary rounds of golf each year in excess of 2,400 courses throughout the world

Both the 15% first/business discount and companion ticket for Citi Prestige need to be booked through Spirit Incentives, and both benefits will disappear on October 19, 2014.

Analysis: This is often a much closer call, since benefits vary considerably depending about the card. The hotel perks are wonderful, along with the Visa Black Card clearly offers more variety with regards to properties (3000+ as compared to 750+ together with the Amex Platinum). However, if you want free travel over luxurious on-property benefits (like upgrades, free breakfast, etc.), the Citi Prestige be your winner. Foreign transaction fees, cruises as well as the other” section above are kind of a wash (unless you're a devoted golfer or LOVE to shop), plus the Citi Prestige and Amex Platinum can also be basically regardless of whether it comes to private jet access, ground transportation, and entertainment offerings.

However, I provide the edge for the Platinum Card to put a few reasons. First, the Platinum Card incorporates better elite status: SPG Gold (no hotel status for the Citi Prestige) and Avis/Hertz/National elite status (as compared to Avis/National/Sixt around the Prestige). While the Citi Prestige offers Avis FIRST instead of just Avis Preferred, I've had those two statuses over the past several years, and I didn't experience anything notable difference. In addition, I feel that Hertz outweighs Sixt, in order that's another leg up with the Platinum Card.

Second, Citi will discontinue its companion airfare benefit in October, even though the Amex Platinum continues offering it. While this benefit clearly doesn't connect with everyone (because of the typically high tariff of refundable tickets), no less than some TPG readers are actually able to take benefit from it (begin to see the comments).

Third, I prefer added perks during hotel stays of the length instead of a free night particularly for a four-night stay, so for me personally, the Fine Hotels & Resorts benefit edges out the brand new free night benefit around the Citi Prestige. Finally, complimentary Boingo wireless is a wonderful perk. I'm still amazed when I cross an airport without free Wi-Fi, and 9 times outside of 10, the paid network is Boingo. These benefits kick the Platinum Card to your top.

Winner: Amex Platinum

Runner-up: Citi Prestige

The coverage provided by prepaid credit cards can help prevent your travel and shopping experiences from getting to be a debacle.

COVERAGE

Yes

Yes

Yes

Up to $3,000

Up to $2,000 for checked luggage and $3,000 for all those luggage

Up to $3,000

Trip Delay Coverage

No

Trip Cancellation / Interruption

Purchase Protection

(Covers damage, theft, or decrease of purchased items within 3 months)

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Return Protection

(Reimbursement when merchant won't accept a return within 3 months of purchase)

No

Yes

Yes

Fraud Detection / Prevention with Zero Liability

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Analysis: These benefits can be highly valuable, vehicles don't get a similar attention that this other flashier ones do. All of prepaid cards include significant coverage for unforeseen circumstances: automobile accidents in rental cars, travel assistance while abroad, lost/damaged bags, roadside assistance, and retail purchase protection. However, the clear winner (with yes for those these sections) would be the Citi Prestige. By offering emergency evacuation coverage, price protection, and identify theft protection, the cardboard definitely outmuscles others.

The race for second is closer. I like how the Visa Black Card covers delayed baggage and delayed trips, and whenever you add in trip cancellation/interruption coverage, that pushes the Black Card into its first runner-up position.

DISCLAIMER: This information was gathered on the respective cards' websites and through phone conversations with support services representatives. Please be sure to check the specifics of each profit to know whether they apply. Some have slightly different amounts of coverage, while some are only provided under certain situations. This table is simply general look in the different coverages included on each card.

Winner: Citi Prestige

Runner-up: Visa Black Card

24 hour concierge service, like that available from the Visa Black Card, provides assistance for virtually every and all travel, entertainment, and gift needs.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

American Express Platinum: Platinum Card Concierge, which supports with restaurant reservations, planning special occasions, and lots of other requests.

Citi Prestige: Citi Prestige Concierge, helping cardmembers arrange gifts, leisure activites, and also other travel and entertainment requests.

Analysis: Each of prepaid cards offers personalized assistance night and day, which means this category is usually a straight-up tie.

Winner: All three (or not a soul, depending on how relative it is).

The SkyTeam lounge at Heathrow's T4 is a wonderful option for Amex Platinum cardholders (and will likely be for Citi Prestige cardmembers after October 19th).

LOUNGE ACCESS

Visa Black Card: Offers cardholders membership in Lounge Club , providing unlimited entry to over 350 lounges in 200 cities worldwide.

American Express Platinum: Provides complimentary use of Delta SkyClubs (when traveling on Delta) and American Express Centurion lounges in Las Vegas , Dallas-Fort Worth , and LaGuardia (San Francisco and Miami locations will open within the fall and early 2015, respectively); also provides Priority Pass Select membership, with well over 600 locations (though guests are $27 each, and it will not include United Club Lounges).

Citi Prestige: This card offers Priority Pass Select membership, though immediate family or approximately 2 guests are admitted without the need of charge; primary cardholders may access AA Admirals Clubs.

Analysis: Lounge access is liable one on the greatest justifications for paying 100's of dollars in annual fees to obtain one of prepaid cards. To examine the differences, I'll start with all the present situation. For the next 8 weeks, Citi Prestige cardholders get Airport Angel access before transitioning to Priority Pass. On the whole, this looks becoming a significant net positive.

Citi Prestige will transition from Airport Angel to Priority Pass in October, expanding their lounge offerings for cardholders.

The Citi Prestige as well as the American Express Platinum have a HUGE advantage on the Visa Black card, as Lounge Club is a lot inferior to Priority Pass when you are looking at locations. In fact, my research indicated that just about one on the 350+ lounges inside Lounge Club network are also from the Priority Pass network. The lone exception is Lounge Club has two locations in San Jose, Costa Rica: VIP Lounge Costa Rica and VIP Santamaria. Priority Pass only allows cardholders gain access to the first of these.

By my calculations, Priority Pass offers 326 unique lounges in 190 additional airports when in comparison to Lounge Club. While the majority of these come in far-flung destinations, there are numerous examples of large international airports and popular holidaymaker destinations where Priority Pass will get you further: Auckland, Bali (2 lounges), Beijing (5 additional locations to search with each shared with Lounge Club), Buenos Aires (Priority Pass gets you into your Star Alliance lounge there), Dubrovnik, Glasgow, Papeete (Tahiti), Paris-ORY, and St. Petersburg (Russia), for starters. China in particular is really a big winner with Priority Pass: 38 airports within the mainland when compared with just 8 for Lounge Club (both also provide usage of lounges in Macau and Hong Kong).

A few others notable locations added with Priority Pass although not with Lounge Club: the Virgin America Loft at LAX, the Air Canada Maple Leaf lounge in LaGuardia (Lounge Club doesn't have any locations at LGA), along with the SkyTeam lounge in Terminal 4 of London-Heathrow.

Amex Platinum cardholders can access Delta Sky Clubs, but guests cost you $29 each!

Given these details, it's clear that Priority Pass surpasses Lounge Club when you are considering lounge access provided on prepaid cards. But which can be better, the American Express Platinum or perhaps the Citi Prestige,

I give the nod to Citi Prestige. American Express Platinum gets to be a slight bump for having the Centurion lounges. However, Citi Prestige has the victory in my book due to its guest policy. American Express Platinum cardholders are necessary to pay a $27 fee per guest when visiting the SkyClub or even a Priority Pass lounge. Citi Prestige cardholders brings in immediate family and around 2 guests. Keep in your mind that individual lounges could have different policies, so make sure to investigate specific locations either online ( for Lounge Club and in charge of Priority Pass) or by downloading apps to the respective programs.

Winner: Citi Prestige

Runner-up: Amex Platinum

Based in this little methodology, Citi Prestige edges out your Amex Platinum for your title of Best Premium Credit Card.”

OVERALL WINNER

So which card arrives on top, Tallying inside the scores, I get the next:

Visa Black Card: 5 points

Citi Prestige: 17 points

Keep planned that this is my own, personal personal valuation on the various benefits supplied by each card. You should analyze each benefit in line with how it might last personally. If you always fly alone, guest lounge access might not be worth much to your account. If you consistently travel with the fam and stay at properties who are not part of Fine Hotels & Resorts, you could possibly prefer the newest fourth night free offer in the Citi Prestige. Hopefully this analysis has highlighted something for certain: unless something changes, the Visa Black card just doesn't build up. If you're looking for a premium charge card, focus your attention for the American Express Platinum and Citi Prestige instead.

Do you've strong feelings about one of prepaid cards, What have your experiences been while using benefits discussed above, Please share your thoughts from the comments below!

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

With great travel benefits, 2x points on travel & dining plus a 50,000 point sign up bonus, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a wonderful card for people looking to get in the points and miles game. Here are the highest 5 reasons it should be in your pocketbook, or read our definitive review for more information.

More Things to Know

Earn 50,000 bonus points when you finally spend $4,000 on purchases from the first a couple of months from account opening. That's $625 toward travel after you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®

2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar allocated to all other purchases.

Earn 5,000 bonus points once you add the 1st authorized user and make up a purchase from the first three months from account opening

No foreign transaction fees

1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs

Get 25% more value after you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $625 toward travel

No blackout dates or travel restrictions - given that there's a seat about the flight, it is possible to book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards

Intro APR on Purchases

Balance Transfer Fee

Either $5 or 5% from the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Recommended Credit

Excellent Credit

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed listed here are author's alone, not those of a typical bank, plastic card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and also have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise not endorsed by any of those entities.

Disclaimer: The responses underneath are not provided or commissioned because of the bank advertiser. Responses weren't reviewed, approved you aren't endorsed because of the bank advertiser. It is not the lender advertiser's responsibility to make certain all posts and/or questions are answered.

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