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I've never seen a card like the CSR. It really only compares to the AmEx Platinum and Citi Prestige (although some other banks are now trying to compete). The A
by Kihashi 9y ago
I've never seen a card like the CSR. It really only compares to the AmEx Platinum and Citi Prestige (although some other banks are now trying to compete). The AmEx plat has far too many restrictions to make it valuable to me (and, it seems, many others). The bonus category (5% on travel) is only for one particular airline. I have (almost) no airline loyalty. I will fly with whoever is cheapest (unless the prices are close). The travel credit is for airline incidentals with a single airline. Since I never check a bag or pay for things in flight, that is entirely useless to me. The Uber credit is also useless. I might be able to use the Uber credit-- if it weren't spread out over 12 months. The Centurion lounge access is only useful if you are regularly in places that have a Centurion lounge.
Meanwhile, for the CSR, travel (for both the category bonus and the credit) is travel. There are very few restrictions. It offers the same Global Entry credit, the same Priority Pass membership, the same primary rental car insurance, and the same rental car benefits. It also offers things like trip delay insurance that the AmEx does not. Additionally, it offers United as a transfer partner and United still has the most flights out of my airport. If one were based out of a Delta hub, the math changes since the AmEx has delta as a transfer partner and offers Delta Lounge access.
tldr: The restrictions on the AmEx make it hard to use and justify the annual fee vs a no AF card like Citi Double Cash. The CSR's lack of restrictions make it easy to get more value than the AF.