American Express Platinum vs. Citi Prestige: Battle of premium cards for luxury travelers

The right credit card can help you travel in style. If you’re willing to pay a higher annual fee, you can access a range of luxury credit cards packed with benefits that make your travel experiences easier and save you money on all kinds of purchases.

card_name and the Citi Prestige Card are two of the most popular premium travel cards. Unfortunately, the Citi Prestige Card closed to new applications in 2021. However, existing Citi Prestige card holders can still use the card and take advantage of its perks. But is it still the best choice? Here’s how it stacks up against the Amex Platinum.

How the cards stack up

Welcome bonus winner: card_name

Since the Citi Prestige card does not accept new users, the card_name is the only one offering a welcome bonus and wins by default. New card_name cardholders can earn 80,000 points if they spend $8,000 in the first six months of account opening.

Rewards winner: card_name

The Citi Prestige card has a slight edge when earning rewards. With 5 points per dollar on restaurant purchases, users can easily rack up points for non-travel purchases, while the card_name’s bonus rewards rate is much more limited to travel spending, such as on flights and hotels.

However, things aren’t as clear when it comes to redeeming points. You can redeem points for travel on either card through the issuer or for gift cards or merchandise. You can often get a higher point value when you opt to transfer to one of American Express Membership Rewards or Citi ThankYou Rewards programs’ travel partners. This is because points are only worth about 1 cent per piece when you redeem for travel with the issuer, but they could be worth much more with the right airline or hotel program.

Both Citi and Amex offer competitive lists of transfer partners, but we give Membership Rewards the edge, thanks to the inclusion of major programs such as Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and Delta SkyMiles.

Annual fee winner: Citi Prestige

card_name and the Citi Prestige Card are expensive, with annual fees of annual_fees and $495, respectively. While the Citi card charges $200 less and is the more affordable choice, you should closely examine the available perks, credits, and rewards to ensure you are getting enough value out of either card to justify the cost.

APR winner: Citi Prestige

The Citi Prestige has a slightly lower APR range than the card_name, but keep in mind that only those with the best credit scores qualify for the lowest rate.

Foreign transaction fee winner: Draw

Neither the card_name nor the Citi Prestige card charges a foreign transaction fee.

Additional perks winner: card_name

While you can earn a good amount of rewards on travel, where both cards truly shine is with their additional perks. Both include a slate of statement credits and other benefits that can make travel more enjoyable and affordable.

The Citi Prestige has one particularly valuable offering. Cardholders can get their fourth night free on up to two qualifying hotel stays per year, which can save hundreds of dollars on the right stay.

Still, the card_name has a veritable laundry list of perks that can offer well over $1000 in value if you make use of everything, including the most comprehensive lounge access available on a credit card, credits for qualifying rideshare, digital entertainment and retail purchases, automatic elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, and more.

Which card earns the most

In terms of straight earnings, the Citi Prestige Card has the potential to earn more for most spenders. That’s because the card_name focuses its bonus earnings exclusively on travel purchases, while the Citi Prestige extends to everyday purchases like dining.

Consider you spend $20,000 on your card per year, $5,000 of which is on travel. Let’s say $2,000 was spent on flights (which you booked with airlines or the issuer), and the other $3,000 was spent on hotels. You also spent $5,000 on dining and the remaining $10,000 on miscellaneous purchases.

With the card_name, you’d earn 40,000 points in rewards over the year, while the Citi Prestige would give you 54,000 points.

Our recommendations

Why we recommend the card_name

While you can theoretically earn more in rewards with the Citi Prestige than with the card_name, we still think the Platinum is the overall better choice. That’s because luxury cards with high annual fees offer most of their value from additional perks and credits rather than the points you can earn.

With over $1,500 in potential value, card_name Express easily outpaces its annual_fees annual fee for the right kind of traveler. Plus, it offers more exclusive lounge access than any other credit card.

Why you would still opt for the Citi Prestige

If you have a Citi Prestige in your wallet, one perk can make it worth keeping open—the fourth-night free benefit. Twice a year, Citi Prestige cardholders can get their fourth night of a four-night-or-longer hotel stay for free just by paying with the card. If you like pricier hotels, this benefit alone can more than cover the card’s $495 fee. That’s before you factor in the annual travel statement credits.

Though card_name has a better list of perks overall, the fourth night free is a unique offering many cardholders will want to stay loyal to.

TIME Stamp: Luxury benefits offset the high annual fees

The card_name and Citi Prestige come with expensive price tags but are accompanied by benefits that can justify the cost. Since Citi Prestige no longer accepts new applications, only existing cardholders can take advantage of the card’s benefits, like a valuable fourth-night free perk. If you fully use the perk, it can be worth keeping the Citi Prestige card in your wallet. Otherwise, the Amex Platinum has a more comprehensive list of benefits.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What Is the difference between Citi Prestige and card_name cards?

The Citi Prestige and card_name are unique cards offered by different issuers, each with individual rewards rates, perks, and terms. The Citi Prestige is no longer available for new applications.

Is card_name still prestigious?

It depends on what you consider prestigious. You should have at least excellent credit (a score above 740) to apply for card_name, making it difficult for just anyone to qualify. Additionally, the annual_fees annual fee will put this card out of the price range of some spenders. Even though you can offset the cost with credits, you’ll have to have the funds available to pay the initial fee and travel frequently enough to use the card’s perks.

Are Amex or Citi points better?

It depends on the cardholder. If you plan to redeem your points for travel with the issuer, there is no real difference between the two currencies. However, if you want to transfer to a hotel or airline loyalty partner, it will depend on the programs you frequent. For example, Citi offers Accor Live Limitless as a transfer partner, while American Express does not. Meanwhile, American Express partners with Delta Air Lines, while Citi does not.

Is card_name a luxury card?

The card_name is often described as a “luxury” credit card because it charges a high annual fee of annual_fees and offers plush perks like lounge access and statement credits tailored to more luxurious experiences. However, it’s not the best choice for a budget traveler.