Card Comparison · United States
AE Platinum CardvsC Sapphire Reserve
Platinum Card and Sapphire Reserve compared side by side — annual fee, lounge-access program, visit limits, eligibility, and value. All figures from Loungely's verified card data, in USD.
| AEPlatinum Card | CSapphire Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | USD 895/year | USD 795/year |
| Network | American Express | Visa |
| Access program | Centurion Lounge + Priority Pass + Delta SkyClub | Priority Pass Select — unlimited visits + guests |
| Intl lounge visits | — | — |
| Domestic lounge visits | — | — |
| Guest policy | — | Unlimited complimentary guests — one of the most generous guest policies in the US market. |
| Eligibility | Good to excellent credit score, US resident | Good to excellent credit score, US resident |
| Value score | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Best for | US travellers wanting the most comprehensive lounge access on a single card | US travellers wanting Priority Pass with unlimited guest access |
Platinum Card — full review
Fees, lounge terms, activation steps, pros & cons →
Sapphire Reserve — full review
Fees, lounge terms, activation steps, pros & cons →
Platinum Card vs Sapphire Reserve — frequently asked
Is Platinum Card or Sapphire Reserve cheaper?
Sapphire Reserve is cheaper at USD 795/year vs USD 895/year — a difference of 100 USD/yr. A lower fee only wins if the lounge access still covers the airports you fly through.
Which gives better lounge access, Platinum Card or Sapphire Reserve?
Platinum Card: Centurion Lounge + Priority Pass + Delta SkyClub. Sapphire Reserve: Priority Pass Select — unlimited visits + guests. Network reach matters more than raw visit count — a card with unlimited visits on a program that isn't present at your home airport is worth less than a capped card that is.
What are the eligibility differences between Platinum Card and Sapphire Reserve?
Platinum Card — Good to excellent credit score, US resident. Sapphire Reserve — Good to excellent credit score, US resident. Eligibility (income floor, invite-only status, existing-relationship requirements) is often the real deciding factor, not the headline lounge perk.
Is Platinum Card or Sapphire Reserve better value?
Loungely value score — Platinum Card: 5/5 (best for us travellers wanting the most comprehensive lounge access on a single card). Sapphire Reserve: 5/5 (best for us travellers wanting priority pass with unlimited guest access). Both are United States cards, so the fee and access figures are directly comparable in USD.
Compare other United States cards