The American Categorical® Gold Card and the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and charges) are at all times in my pockets — each are favorites right here at TPG.
Apart from the advantages of those playing cards, each the Sapphire Most popular and the Amex Gold earn versatile factors, which I can switch to companion airways and accommodations to maximise my redemptions.
Nevertheless, after utilizing each playing cards and their factors currencies, one program reigns supreme. Let us take a look at why I prioritize incomes Chase Final Rewards factors as a substitute of American Categorical Membership Rewards factors.
Which is best for factors: Amex or Chase?
Amex and Chase each have versatile currencies which can be extraordinarily invaluable. TPGs August 2025 valuations peg Amex Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents per level and Chase Final Rewards factors at 2.05 cents some extent.
Chase factors can generally be extra invaluable when redeemed by Chase Journey℠. As a Sapphire Most popular cardholder, my factors are price as much as 1.75 cents per level, relying on the particular redemption, with Factors Increase.
Nevertheless, whenever you redeem Membership Rewards factors by the American Categorical Journey portal, your factors are solely price as much as 1 cent apiece.
Apart from reserving by the respective portals, I have a tendency to maximise my factors by transferring them to airline and resort companions. Whereas Amex has 20 switch companions in comparison with Chase’s 14 companions, every program presents invaluable resort and airline choices, permitting you to maximise your rewards with candy spot redemptions.
One other redemption possibility is to redeem factors for money again. Amex factors are solely price a meager 0.6 cents per level when redeemed this fashion, in comparison with Chase factors, that are price 1 cent per level.
Whereas each packages have positives and negatives, I prioritize incomes Chase factors over Amex factors.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day e-newsletter
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
By signing up, you’ll obtain newsletters and promotional content material and comply with our Phrases of Use and acknowledge the information practices in our Privateness Coverage. You might unsubscribe at any time.
Associated: Amex Membership Rewards vs. Chase Final Rewards: Which is the perfect?
Why am I not prioritizing incomes Amex Factors?
Amex Membership Rewards factors are probably the most invaluable versatile level currencies you possibly can earn.
A few of my favourite methods to make use of Amex factors are transferring them to Avianca LifeMiles and Air Canada Aeroplan for redemptions on Star Alliance flights or to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership to fly throughout the pond.
Regardless of these invaluable switch companions, I do not discover a lot worth in a lot of Amex’s different switch companions and barely use them.
The majority of my spending on my playing cards is eating, and that is why my Amex Gold at all times stays in my pockets. It earns 4 factors per greenback spent on worldwide eating at eating places (on as much as $50,000 every calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback spent).
Moreover, the Amex Gold earns 3 factors per greenback spent on flights booked with airways or Amex Journey, and it has been my major card for reserving flights.
Nevertheless, I’m now prioritizing Chase factors over Amex as a result of I’ve a stockpile of Amex factors. At TPG, we suggest not hoarding factors, as airways and accommodations often devalue their packages. Every time I’ve a big financial institution of 1 rewards forex, I look to earn extra in any forex I’m low on.
Moreover, the vast majority of my flights for the remainder of the 12 months are already booked. So, I am specializing in resort redemptions for the remainder of the 12 months; Chase has the perfect resort switch companions, with Hyatt, IHG and Marriott.
Whereas my Chase Sapphire Most popular solely earns me 3 factors per greenback spent on eating and a couple of factors per greenback spent on journey purchases (i.e., reserving flights), I am opting to sacrifice incomes an additional level per greenback spent on these purchases so I can earn the forex I would like.
Associated: Chase Sapphire Most popular vs. Amex Gold: Which mid-tier favourite is best for you?
Why am I prioritizing incomes Chase factors?
Chase Final Rewards are my most dear versatile rewards forex. My go-to redemption with Final Rewards factors is transferring them to World of Hyatt to cowl my resort stays when touring.
As I discussed, I’ve all my flights booked for the remainder of 2025, however I haven’t got all my resort stays deliberate. I’ve far fewer Chase factors than Amex factors, however with Hyatt being a switch companion of Chase, I can get an ideal redemption worth.
I’ve typically scored room redemptions throughout peak season in standard European cities for between 6,500 and 9,500 factors. Hyatt nonetheless makes use of a hard and fast award chart, not like different packages that function utilizing dynamic pricing. Subsequently, I usually discover excellent worth for award room charges, particularly throughout off-peak dates.
Only in the near past, I transferred 6,500 Chase factors to Hyatt for a quick in a single day keep on the Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport, which might have price me over $200.
With Chase Final Rewards, I can even switch my factors to Southwest Airways. The Southwest Speedy Rewards program often has award gross sales and presents nonstop flights on much less standard routes that many home airways normally fly, however with a connection. In consequence, Southwest has turn into my go-to airline after I want a last-minute home award flight.
Moreover, there’s United Airways, one other invaluable Chase switch companion. With United, I can unlock quite a few flight prospects by redeeming miles to e-book award tickets on United planes or Star Alliance companion airways.
For instance, I only recently redeemed 8,000 United miles and paid $25 in taxes and charges for a flight on LOT Polish Airways from Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). The money value was over $300, which netted me a worth of over 2.3 cents per mile.
Associated: I used to be sitting on 150,000 bank card factors — here is how I acquired previous evaluation paralysis to redeem a portion of them
Different concerns
I additionally respect that my factors are price as much as 1.75 cents per level when reserving by Chase Journey (relying on the particular reserving).
I do not typically e-book flights or accommodations by the portal as a result of I can get extra worth by utilizing switch companions, however it is a doubtlessly larger worth than I might get if I booked by Amex Journey, as journey booked by their portal is simply price as much as 1 cent per level.
Figuring out that I can nonetheless get greater than 1 cent per level by reserving by Chase Journey (relying on the reserving) if a switch companion redemption is unavailable makes Chase factors that rather more invaluable to me.
Moreover, incomes Chase Final Rewards factors provides me extra flexibility if I ever resolve I would like money again for my factors, as every Chase level is price 1 cent when redeemed for money again. This makes it doable to get money again at a 1:1 ratio with Chase, even when my journey technique adjustments.
Lastly, I’ve many upcoming worldwide journeys deliberate. Having traveled overseas extensively, I discover it a lot simpler to make use of a Chase Visa bank card when abroad. Regardless of Amex’s vast acceptance worldwide, I’ve encountered many locations overseas that do not settle for Amex, making it tougher to earn Amex factors after I’m overseas.
Associated: From worldwide enterprise class to home journey: 6 of the perfect Chase Final Rewards candy spots
Backside line
The Chase Sapphire Most popular and the Amex Gold are two playing cards with nice earnings charges. Due to this, they’re each key gamers in my overarching factors and miles incomes technique. Nevertheless, my present earnings technique emphasizes accruing Chase factors.
My technique might change if I run low on Amex factors or if a brand new profitable welcome provide presents itself, however total, Chase presents higher redemption companions that assist me maximize my travels.
Associated: Why I like my Chase Sapphire Most popular card — and can at all times maintain it in my pockets
