Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Citi Prestige

Chase and Citi have created cards for VIP travelers, Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Citi Prestige, respectively, each of which comes with a hefty annual fee of $450. For that money, cardmembers get a premium travel experience that includes, among other things, access to airport lounges. At least for some period of time for Citi Prestige, which will stop providing access to Admirals Club on July 23, 2017. That card still has some perks going for it, including the 4th night free offer…

In any case, we have two strong cards, and picking up either of the two — and using it responsibly — will provide cardmembers with a number of benefits. Let’s delve into details, shall we?

The Two Cards

Head to Head Comparison

	Chase Sapphire Reserve	Citi Prestige© Card
Sign-up bonus	100,000 points (worth $1,500 in travel services)	40,000 points (worth $532 in air travel)
Build points	3x points on travel and dining, and 1x point on other purchases.	3x points on ar travel and hotels, 2x points on dining and entertainment, 1x point on other purchases.
Travel credit	$300 per year	$250 per year on air travel
Lounge access	Priority Pass™ Select membership	Priority Pass™ Select membership (existing cardmembers have access to AA Admirals Club lounges through July 23, 2017)
Hotel benefits	Accelerated access to Club 5C status with Relais & Châteaux.	Free 4th night stay at any hotel for bookings through Citi Prestige® Concierge
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit	Up to $100 every 4th year	Up to $100 (every 4th year?)
APR	16.24% - 23.24%	15.49%
Foreign Transaction Fee	none	none
Annual Fee	$450	$450
Go for it!	Apply Now at a secure website	Apply Now at a secure website

So which of the two cards works better for you?