Amex Points vs. Chase Points: Not All Points Are Equal
There are dozens of rewards credit cards on the market, but the two big titans are American Express and Chase. Both companies offer many ways to earn points and ways to utilize those points. We'll explore rewards credit cards, Chase and Amex credit card rewards programs, where the points can be transferred, and credit requirements to be approved for the top Amex and Chase rewards cards.
Rewards credit cards
Because there are so many credit cards to choose from, companies offer various perks in the form of rewards to entice customers and set them apart from the competition. There are a variety of rewards:
Cashback
Airline miles
Hotel points
General travel points
Amex Membership Rewards
Amex credit card rewards are some of the best in the industry. Users earn Membership Rewards points with American Express cards excluding airline and hotel co-branded cards. The points can be redeemed for gift cards, to pay for online purchases with certain retailers, and for travel expenses.
Travel expenses are where the points are most valuable, worth between one and two cents per point, depending on how they're used. The American Express Platinum is the star of American Express's travel rewards credit cards.
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase users earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points which are worth at least one cent per point when cashed out for a statement credit but can be more valuable when transferred to Chase's 14 airline and hotel partners. The star of Chase's travel rewards credit cards is the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Transfer partners
Amex has the edge over Chase with a total of 21 transfer partners, 18 airlines, and three hotel chains
Airlines
Aer Lingus-AerClub Avios
Aeromexico-Club Premier
Air Canada-Aeroplan
Air France-KLM-Flying Blue
Alitalia-MileMiglia
ANA-Mileage Club Miles
Avianca-Lifemiles
British Airways-Executive Club Avios
Cathay Pacific-Asia Miles
Delta-SkyMiles
El Al-Matmid Frequent Flyer Club
Emirates-Skyward Miles
Etihad Airways-Etihad Guest
Hawaiian Airlines-HawaiianMiles
Iberia-Iberia Plus
JetBlue-TrueBlue
Qantas-Qantas Frequent Flyer
Singapore Airlines-KrisFlyer
Virgin Atlantic-Flying Club
Hotels
Choice-Choice Privileges
Hilton-Hilton Honors
Marriott-Bonvoy
Chase Ultimate Rewards has 11 airline partners and three hotel partners.
Airlines
Aer Lingus-AerClub Avios
Air Canada-Aeroplan
Air France-KLM-Flying Blue
British Airways-Executive Club Avios
Emirates-Skyward Miles
Iberia-Iberia Plus
JetBlue-TrueBlue
Singapore Airlines-KrisFlyer
Southwest-Rapid Rewards
United-MileagePlus
Virgin Atlantic-Flying Club
Hotels
Hyatt-World of Hyatt
IHG-Rewards Club
Marriott-Bonvoy
You can't transfer Amex points to Chase, but you can transfer them to a partner that works with both companies. As you can see in the lists above, there is a lot of crossover.
Credit requirements
Typically, only those with very healthy credit scores will be approved for rewards credit cards, and that's especially true for the high-end Amex and Chase travel cards. The Amex Platinum requires a score of 690 or above, which means a score in the Good or Excellent range.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve requires a score of 750 or above, which means a score in the Excellent range. It's not impossible to be approved with lower credit scores, but each time you apply for a credit card, your score drops a few points, and the inquiry goes on your credit report, so you don't want to apply for any card you're unlikely to be approved for.
While both cards offer some terrific benefits, including lounge access in the case of the Amex Platinum, they also come with very high annual fees. Amex Platinum's yearly cost is $695, and Chase Sapphire Reserve's is $550. These annual fees can be worth it if you use the benefits the cards offer and travel frequently.
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