After the Chase Sapphire Reserve changes, the American Express Trifecta looks more appealing. But the Amex trifecta and the Chase trifecta are far from perfect. While they Membership Rewards and Ultimate Rewards can offer solid value, there are things to consider if you are choosing between the Amex trifecta or Chase trifecta.
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41 comments
Have both trifectas but AMEX clearly better.
✅✅✅. American Express travel credit and acceptance worldwide are preventing Amex to be THE CARD that you must have, I understand that the acceptance is not that easy to change because is up to the merchants But that incidental inconvenience credit…… Amex can changed to travel 🧳 credit right away. I already killed My reserved no chase trifecta for me but I’d Amex do no fix the travel credit this year I will be killing the platinum no no Amex trifecta for me either 😂.
I have the Chase Freedom and the Chase Slate but no one mentions the Chase Slate card. Is it not a good card?
Does anyone knows the real reason why you can’t use anymore the Amex incidental travel credit to buy gift-cards? Considering that you are paying up front with the anual fee
Will have to go with amex as i have corporate card which will save me 100 on gold and 150 on platinum annual fee
I have both trifecta. I agree with you people don't take the time to understand points transfers. Really like how you break down everything. I'm stacking points for my honeymoon when I get married. So, I will be eyes deep in your videos on how to use transfer partners when that time comes. 🤟🤟🤟 thanks again.
Amex fees are higher but if you can afford the trifecta overall I find the Amex Gold grocery& food category paired with Platinum 5X travel to be a big win. I use all the perks from Uber and Saks, but will admit the airline credits are harder to use for sure. Triggering the airline credit for AMEX is biggest downside vs Chase.
Presently holding two of each – AMEX Platinum and Gold; CSP and Freedom. Applied for Ink Preferred and deciding between AMEX Everyday Preferred or BBP. Trying to learn the best way to maximize AMEX points through transfers. I enjoy all the "nice to have" benefits of AMEX so I am leaning that direction to become my primary trifecta.
man you were too fast to say all those info ….it was like someone are chasing you
I plan on using the gold, bbp, penfed power cash (everything/foreign travel card where Amex isn’t accepted), and Wells Fargo propel card/ visa signature combo. That way you get everything covered with a low annual fee. Dining, Airfare, all travel, steaming services, and gas. I love that the gold has no additional authorized user fee which is great for families. Lastly, I will only use the propel for travel purchases in person because the Rakuten site really earns mega MR points combined with the BBP on travel. I’m downgrading my CSR and am really disappointed with the change chase made. The 3X multipliers are really not worth the upfront 550 annual fee.
Yeah. Amex is more of a late game set up. It's still really important to play by the acquisition rules of one wants to fully optimize return.
Those who go out of order can lock themselves out of some good cards.
Awesome video thank you!
I heard Amex is in talks with Chinese banks to increase acceptance and/or to open operations in the Asia region. Something that was in the financial news recently.
Amazing video! I love how fair, unbiased, and informative you are. I have the Chase "quadfecta," and looking to build an Amex trifecta. I burnt 1 Chase slot with the Platinum only because I was targeted for the 100K offer. Luckily I can get the Amex BBP while under 5/24, and will get the Gold once I max out my Chase slots. Diversifying is the key to this hobby and maximize earning. Keep up the great work, Dustin!! 💳💳 #Points&Miles #Chase #Amex
I’m sorry I just love UR points, so simple to use. I’m keeping my chase trifecta but I also do have the AMEX gold business and the BBP. I think those credit cards should do it for me and will not be applying for anymore anytime soon.
I have the AMEX Gold + BBP combo for point earning potential since I'm a non-frequent traveler. I do use GrubHub a lot as well as grocery shopping. And I use the BBP in places where the Chase Freedom/Discover It don't offer 5% back in their current quarter.
It is kinda hard for me to set up a Chase Trifecta right now due to me being at 6/24 (only have Chase Freedom right now), but for AMEX it's pretty easy if I traveled more often. 🙂
Why a business card in the amex setup?
I’m one card away from chase trifecta. Then this 550 AF came 🤦♂️. But i do use Lyft so that 10% might be good for me and I do order food a lot so I’ll use those 60 credit for both year so it my workout for me Also I’m aiming for the quadficta Looking at the ink cash or ink perferred. Gotta see which one Closing in the ink cash. But not sure yet
Boxed doesn't have guacamole. 🙁
You know what credit card team I stand with! 😀
Question so does booking with a travel agent doesn’t give you the multipliers on cards that have travel correct?
Chase Trifecta I would add the Amex cash preferred for Grocery 6%and 3% on gas. Amex trifecta needs a visa/MasterCard SavorOne is great for international travel.
I'm working on completing the Chase trifecta this year before hitting the Amex trifecta. Will get the Amex Blue Business card first, then the Gold, and then the big daddy Amex Platinum.
How is AMEX once in a life time better than chase’s 5/24 ? You can basically get another signup bonus every 2 years ish.
CS Platinum is my backup plan if the Business Plat ever turns unfavorable, hopefully they keep it around.
Amex gold also has 3x on flights 🙂 teamAmex
Personally, I can't justify keeping basically any Amex MR card long term except for the Blue Business Plus. I'll probably keep my Sapphire Preferred rather than PCing to the Reserve, and between the CSP and US Bank Altitude Reserve, the more I think about it, I'll probably be fine without upgrading to the (revamped) CSR. I'm probably just going to get a AAA membership to cover roadside – which from what I can tell will be better than the roadside offered on the CSR – and just deal with the limited number of free Priority Pass entries from the Altitude Reserve.
Definitely not thrilled with the changes to the CSR. The DoorDash credit makes up for it some. I've never used food delivery services but I could extract value from it as we do on occasion eat out. The lyft perks are nearly useless to me as I live in the suburbs. So ultimately I'm going to pay more and get less. That said no matter how I slice and dice Amex, it doesn't really make any sense to me as a casual economy only type traveler that lives near a SouthWest hub. I can see going to AMEX as a late game value add because other avenues have been exhausted, but not as my bread and butter.
10:40 thank you!!! So glad you said it. Everyone needs to hear this message.
Keep up the good work!
I was considering getting the CSR for the trifecta , however after the changes I can’t justify the 550 with my current spending habits , I love my marriot bonvoy card by Amex . 300 dollar credit toward hotel stays+ unlimited airport visits for me and 2 guests+ tsa precheck etc is hard to beat it don’t have the point earning that my Hilton card with 95 dollar feee has but the benefits are more then worth it to me
Leaning towards the platinum but still need time to think about it. Recently went on a family Vacay to Costa Rica and it sure was nice having a Visa without a foreign transaction fee. Brother in-law was having issues with acceptance with his propel card. If I did switch to Amex I feel I would still need a Visa back up but to what is something I got to figure out. Co branded? Flexible currency? And if I did switch to an Amex set up my annual fees burden would go way up, higher then the 100$ increase in CSR. Just got a player 2 so where she fit in?
I have the chase trifecta and probably going to drop reserve for preferred by renewal time
Whoa…that's a lot of info. I had to hit pause a couple of times just to read the charts and I had to rewind a few times just to catch the point. Tons of info – I like when you do charts in the background. Maybe more charts and less face time.
I was searching value of Hilton points and watched a couple of your videos which are awesome!
You are right…I'm one of those people still learning all the Platinum AMEX perks – I had the regular Platinum for $495 in 2017 and then switched to the Platinum MSSB $550 in 2018 to earn another sign up perk. Also the MSSB AMEX (unlike schwab) is free for 2nd cardholder.
I take advantage of the offers, Saks benefit, $200 airline credit, shoprunner and of course the Centurion perk. If I leave Houston, I will switch to another card unless the city I move to has an AMEX centurion lounge. I get my money's worth in Centurion lounge access and its such a nice perk. Uber perk isn't of much value to me since it credits only domestic rentals.
CON: AMEX travel sometimes charges more for hotels and air then booking direct. A few weeks ago I booked a premium seat on EVA air thru AMEX then learned that it didn't include a assigned seat. I had to go direct to EVA air website and pay for a seat.
PRO: I called AMEX customer service to complain about the extra fee on a premium fare. How can it be "premium" if there is no assigned seat? AMEX gladly reimbursed the fee which I thought was terrific customer service.
Keep up the reviews…I'm gonna watch another!
BBP+Green+EDP
Perfect for family man with small kids that travel mostly domestically. No way I'm taking those brats on an international flight and running rampant in the lounges.
I just found something interesting. I changed the standard Trifecta model around and mixed Chase and AmEx cards together. It only works because my trio of AmEx cards is all cash back so you don't wind up with travel points from two different banks.
I found that adding a CSR card, (1 extra user, discounting some temporary perks, assuming 1.25 for UR points), and combining it with my AmEx trio, I could get between 35% and 40% better than just the cash back cards. The key is Lyft and Airlines, but at $5k air and $2k Lyft per year, adding the CSR makes the difference. And the AmEx 6% of groceries is huge when coupled with the 3% card for more than $6,000 per year. For travelers, you get all the CSR benefits mixed with the great everyday cash back of AmEx. If I assume 1.5 on UR points with $40k of spending, the net return on spending was 3.9%.
I don't like the idea of using business cards in these types of videos given that everyone cant gets a business card. But still great video bro. Also, I love when you rock the Sooner gear
Thanks for the value. I would suggest more visuals of the math just to look at
My Chase trifecta: Chase freedom, Chase Business Ink Cash, and CSR….1) the freedom bc of the rotating categories 5% back 2) Ink bc of the 5% on (phone, internet, cable $400/month) and 5% at office supply stores (you can also buy gift cards) 3) CSR bc of the premium benefits
Amex has all the good categories for my spend big time. And I always research for the best deal so it’s no problem doing hw for using MR points but I am switching. Awesome review. Top of that you actually speak with your viewer in the comments. Btw I’m learning how to get the Schwab plat now. Never thought about that 1.25 cash back until now. So if I do redeem them Can I book a flight with the plat and pay it with my cash back to I can still use that 5%. But only if the deal works out
Can you do the Amex Trifecta with the Hilton Surpass, Amex Gold, and Amex Platinum for those us us that prefer WA, Conrad and regular Holton hotels?
Can you combine Amex and Chase points if you transfer to an airline they both transfer to?