Premium Cards guides

A premium credit card charges a high annual fee in exchange for travel credits, airport lounge access, upgraded perks and stronger travel insurance, and it is for you if you travel often and will use enough of those benefits to cover the fee. Premium cards generally require good to excellent credit.

The key comparison is the fee minus the value you would really get. Count only the credits you would spend anyway, since many are limited to specific merchants or must be used in set periods. Then add lounge access, insurance and the rewards you expect to earn, and compare the total with a mid-tier travel card that costs far less. Also check authorized user fees and which lounges you can actually reach from your home airport.

Read when a high-fee premium card pays off and annual fee vs no annual fee. For examples, compare the Platinum Card from American Express with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and check each issuer's current fee and credit terms before you apply.