When I'm in the Int'l space the VX and CSR outshine my CS Platinum card in everyday use. However, through my Platinum and other Amex ecosystem hotel cards, my travel experiences are made more luxurious for the most part. Right now, I have all 3 travel cards but really only "need" two. Over the next year I will decide which Visa Infinite card to sacrifice - the CSR or VX. Great review Matt👍🏾
Because I always travel with at least three credit cards, I must choose 3. But I'll take 5: Chase Sapphire Reserve 10X, 5X, 3X City Strata Premier 10%, 5%, 3% Wells Fargo Autograph 3% Navy Federal CashRewards 2% And if I need it for special lounges, AMX Platinum If there's a hotel stay, I'll bring that card also.
Honestly the perks and benefits are all different enough with the Plat and CSR, it's worth it (to those who utilize them) to hold both. I wouldn't do CSR + VX, but some people can. Basically using the VX to fill in the 1X categories. But it's better to just go with a Freedom Unlimited. And you can do Plat + CSR, or Plat + VX. Great combo's
Great video! I’m currently trying to decide between the VX and CSR. Definitely like that the travel credit and anniversary miles of the VX basically covers the annual fee, although I realize the $300 credit is not very flexible. With CSR, the $300 credit is flexible and effectively brings the annual fee down to $250 with isn’t bad considering everything you get. I also live in San Diego and they are supposed to be opening a sapphire lounge by the end of the year. Decisions decisions 🤔. What would you do in my case? Lol
I have the ritz Carlton, that gives me access to the sapphire lounges. With the travel credit I only pay out of pockets $150. For me it’s better than the CSR, The VX is awesome comes out free with all the annual credits.
Great video - definitely gave me some things to think about. My wife and I are new to this points game and we just got the CSP recently. We have been considering adding the VX primarily for the lounge access since it's AF is only $395 and no cost for addl cardmembers with full perks vs paying $550 for upgrading to CSR
With the AMEX card you can pay a small fee (per auto rental) to have the card serve as primary insurance. I believe it’s two tier fee. I usually go for the 100k protection being $25ish. I currently use AMEX P, VX and CSP. Considering getting the CSR in the near future. Using the AMEX card is the easiest for my travel. I had a few bad incidents with the VX travel portal in Mexico. Might be time to upgrade my CSP card.
Like he said that's awesome that your setup works for you. What I am curious about though is the fees that you pay for all three, do the combined benefits outweigh the smaller fee you would pay if you only held the CSR?
@@richsamuel2922 the other cards offer enough credits to offset most of if not all of the annual fees. Also I fly out of Denver and Dallas frequently and almost never out of NYC. So the lounge access is better with VX. And USBAR still has priority pass restaurant.
My just got chase sapphire reserve as travel credit of $300 is flexible and they open new lounges. I have capital one since my hometown is dfw . I plan to cancel Amex since many benefits they don’t apply to me. I feel they give small benefit like $15 uber credit but that not enough so I feel like it’s gimmicky. I plan to use the Capital One and Chase sapphire reserve lounges.
The csr also has access to some plaza premium lounges. They are listed with the PP network. My opinion those who like the VX do so for the lounges a young family would need. As a card I think your credits are for prepaying for the travel portal use.
So if there could be only one, and value air and lounge access over hotel- would it be the Platinum? My wife and I are gearing up for a big overseas trip next year and would like one card that I can apply and have the best travel experience.
The platinum would be a great option if those benefits work well for you. It is worth noting that you should take a non Amex card with you along with your platinum, as Amex coverage cable be a little spotty overseas
Thank you for the quick response. Have been torn between the AMEX Platinum and Chase Select Reserve for way too long. If only the AMEX Gold had the lounge access I’d been a happy camper.
We have csr and platinum. Book flights directly when it makes sense instead of portal on the plat and for hotel status and lounges, and then use the csr for everything else on the trip for the 3x. With the chase teifecta and the .5x multiplier we rack up far more points than amex. We never put any other spend on the plat, 1x is unacceptable.
Correct. Standard credit card. And I really haven't heard of many people being targeted with that offer in an while. Might have been a short lived thing!
You didn't elaborate on the situation with product change from Chase Sapphire Preferred to Chase Sapphire Reserved. And if you did, how did you go by doing it? Thanks.
Once you have held the card for at least a year, you can call the number on the back of your card and request a product change to the other Sapphire Card. With Chase you can only product change in the same family, so sapphire to sapphire or freedom to freedom.
Auth Users on the CSR having the same card number, CVV, and Ex date are a non starter. Capital One does Authorized Users and Account Managers correctly to me
The Altitude Reserve could definitely be added to this list as well. The Aspire card I look at a little bit differently because it is a Co Branded credit card. I have that card currently and it is great!
I wouldn't say rarely. Amex is certainly accepted in certain places overseas. And theirs more to the card for travel than just spending money overseas. You have all of the other travel perks like lounge access, travel insurance, hotel status, etc.
I would argue that the CSR is the winner for its insurance and you are able to access it by just paying taxes on a 1 way ticket. Imagine having to stay at the airport for a couple of days due to flight disruption or cancellation. These are the things that make me stop using an airlines for years but if you have insurance, that is another story. Just my 2 cents.
Platinum is boring. The most exciting thing is the annual fee only because it’s high. Lounges aren’t worth it anymore due to long lines. CSR vs VX is a toss up. Really depends if you get value out of the Reserve’s Lyft Pink complementary subscription.
I like your methodology; it makes a lot of sense. Thank you for sharing
When I'm in the Int'l space the VX and CSR outshine my CS Platinum card in everyday use. However, through my Platinum and other Amex ecosystem hotel cards, my travel experiences are made more luxurious for the most part. Right now, I have all 3 travel cards but really only "need" two. Over the next year I will decide which Visa Infinite card to sacrifice - the CSR or VX. Great review Matt👍🏾
Because I always travel with at least three credit cards, I must choose 3.
But I'll take 5:
Chase Sapphire Reserve 10X, 5X, 3X
City Strata Premier 10%, 5%, 3%
Wells Fargo Autograph 3%
Navy Federal CashRewards 2%
And if I need it for special lounges, AMX Platinum
If there's a hotel stay, I'll bring that card also.
Honestly the perks and benefits are all different enough with the Plat and CSR, it's worth it (to those who utilize them) to hold both.
I wouldn't do CSR + VX, but some people can. Basically using the VX to fill in the 1X categories. But it's better to just go with a Freedom Unlimited.
And you can do Plat + CSR, or Plat + VX. Great combo's
That makes sense. If you can make them both work for you, do it!
My main travel cards are Venture X, Chase aeroplan and MX Hilton surpass.
Great video! I’m currently trying to decide between the VX and CSR. Definitely like that the travel credit and anniversary miles of the VX basically covers the annual fee, although I realize the $300 credit is not very flexible.
With CSR, the $300 credit is flexible and effectively brings the annual fee down to $250 with isn’t bad considering everything you get.
I also live in San Diego and they are supposed to be opening a sapphire lounge by the end of the year. Decisions decisions 🤔.
What would you do in my case? Lol
One thing that I would add for the CSR is the Roadside Assistance benefit is also a major plus that is included.
I have the ritz Carlton, that gives me access to the sapphire lounges. With the travel credit I only pay out of pockets $150. For me it’s better than the CSR, The VX is awesome comes out free with all the annual credits.
If you still have the delta reserve you won’t be missing much by switching the plat for the csr
That’s true! The only downside would be you can’t enter the SkyClub or centurion lounge when you’re not flying delta.
Great video - definitely gave me some things to think about. My wife and I are new to this points game and we just got the CSP recently. We have been considering adding the VX primarily for the lounge access since it's AF is only $395 and no cost for addl cardmembers with full perks vs paying $550 for upgrading to CSR
Thank you! That was one of the reasons I got them Venture X as well!
With the AMEX card you can pay a small fee (per auto rental) to have the card serve as primary insurance. I believe it’s two tier fee. I usually go for the 100k protection being $25ish.
I currently use AMEX P, VX and CSP. Considering getting the CSR in the near future.
Using the AMEX card is the easiest for my travel. I had a few bad incidents with the VX travel portal in Mexico. Might be time to upgrade my CSP card.
You did not mention CSR can bring 2 additional guests into their lounges for free. I can bring my children and friends. AMEX, only yourself.
CSR is useless to me. My lounge access is covered by VX, hotel and car rental status covered by Amex, and the insurance is covered by USBAR
Makes sense! Glad that those other cards work for you!
Like he said that's awesome that your setup works for you. What I am curious about though is the fees that you pay for all three, do the combined benefits outweigh the smaller fee you would pay if you only held the CSR?
@@richsamuel2922 the other cards offer enough credits to offset most of if not all of the annual fees. Also I fly out of Denver and Dallas frequently and almost never out of NYC. So the lounge access is better with VX. And USBAR still has priority pass restaurant.
Lmfao, you are spread thin af. I get UR points from everything and megaboost them with CSR. The best card ever.
What’s your total annual fee 🤡
Im currently testing out the amx biz platinum. But i might change next year & pc my CSP to CSR & down grade my plat to a biz gold
My just got chase sapphire reserve as travel credit of $300 is flexible and they open new lounges. I have capital one since my hometown is dfw . I plan to cancel Amex since many benefits they don’t apply to me. I feel they give small benefit like $15 uber credit but that not enough so I feel like it’s gimmicky. I plan to use the Capital One and Chase sapphire reserve lounges.
The csr also has access to some plaza premium lounges. They are listed with the PP network.
My opinion those who like the VX do so for the lounges a young family would need. As a card I think your credits are for prepaying for the travel portal use.
I have 5 cards.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Sapphire Preferred
AMEX Gold
Capital one Platinum secured (starter)
Capital one Quicksilver (starter)
I do want to cancel my starters but not sure because it’s my oldest accounts and I’ve been eyeing Capital one savor one or venture x
Definitely keep the oldest account open! It will help your credit score tremendously!
You dinged the Venture X for making you have to book the portal but not the CSR?
The CSR has an advantage to booking through the portal, the 50% points bonus.
So if there could be only one, and value air and lounge access over hotel- would it be the Platinum? My wife and I are gearing up for a big overseas trip next year and would like one card that I can apply and have the best travel experience.
The platinum would be a great option if those benefits work well for you. It is worth noting that you should take a non Amex card with you along with your platinum, as Amex coverage cable be a little spotty overseas
Thank you for the quick response. Have been torn between the AMEX Platinum and Chase Select Reserve for way too long. If only the AMEX Gold had the lounge access I’d been a happy camper.
We have csr and platinum. Book flights directly when it makes sense instead of portal on the plat and for hotel status and lounges, and then use the csr for everything else on the trip for the 3x. With the chase teifecta and the .5x multiplier we rack up far more points than amex. We never put any other spend on the plat, 1x is unacceptable.
Is the venture X considered a charge card?
It’s by default a credit card, however some people were targeted with an offer to convert the card into a charge card.
Oh okay.. but without that targeted offer, it’s not considered a charge card right?
Correct. Standard credit card. And I really haven't heard of many people being targeted with that offer in an while. Might have been a short lived thing!
You didn't elaborate on the situation with product change from Chase Sapphire Preferred to Chase Sapphire Reserved. And if you did, how did you go by doing it? Thanks.
Once you have held the card for at least a year, you can call the number on the back of your card and request a product change to the other Sapphire Card. With Chase you can only product change in the same family, so sapphire to sapphire or freedom to freedom.
Can you downgrade CSP to Freedom?
Auth Users on the CSR having the same card number, CVV, and Ex date are a non starter. Capital One does Authorized Users and Account Managers correctly to me
Feels a Little skewed but you explained your reasoning well so I'm not mad just a Little in different
Which part felt skewed? I think anyone’s take on which card is best might feel skewed haha
Why not add the Hilton Aspire, or US bank Altitude reserve? $400 AF with a $325 travel credit. 1.5cpp redemption from their portal
The Altitude Reserve could definitely be added to this list as well. The Aspire card I look at a little bit differently because it is a Co Branded credit card. I have that card currently and it is great!
Why do you call AMEX the travel card?
It's rarely accepted overseas!
I wouldn't say rarely. Amex is certainly accepted in certain places overseas. And theirs more to the card for travel than just spending money overseas. You have all of the other travel perks like lounge access, travel insurance, hotel status, etc.
Why does no one mention the hotel status you get with the CSR?
Because most of them are Amex paid shill, they always mention to forget benefits that the reserve have always
Your Anex delta links not working
Oh no! Thank you for catching that. I just got it fixed!!
Can you use the chase sapphire reserve 300 travel credit on car rentals?
Yes!
I would argue that the CSR is the winner for its insurance and you are able to access it by just paying taxes on a 1 way ticket. Imagine having to stay at the airport for a couple of days due to flight disruption or cancellation. These are the things that make me stop using an airlines for years but if you have insurance, that is another story. Just my 2 cents.
That insurance and certainly top notch on that card!
you did not evaluate this super fairly tbh
What could I have done better? I would love the input
Platinum is boring. The most exciting thing is the annual fee only because it’s high. Lounges aren’t worth it anymore due to long lines.
CSR vs VX is a toss up. Really depends if you get value out of the Reserve’s Lyft Pink complementary subscription.
The platinum actually does have primary you just have to add it for 15$ (I think)
That like saying, the reserve has access to sky lounge you just have to get a first class delta ticket with points…