Top tier credit cards are known to be packed with perks and benefits but how much value do they truly generate once you have been approved for your card?
I have compiled a list of eight top tier cards with the highest annual fees currently in the market (ordered from lowest annual fee to highest annual fee) . The criteria for this list are fairly simple: any card with an annual fee over $300 is included. Then, I calculated the attainable value. This is essentialy the value that will likely be realized. For example, points are almost assuredly to be redeemed but a $10 voucher for a random restaurant probably will not.
Terminology
Attainable Value: Net value obtained through the signup bonus and other benefits minus the annual fee.
Example:
Signup bonus value: $1500
Annual fee: $550
Attainable Value: $950
8. Capital One Venture X
Annual Fee: $395
Attainable Value after annual fee: $755
Coming in at number 8 is the Capital One Venture X with an annual fee of $395. Ironically, this card is ranked last on this list but could easily be first if the ranking were based on unlocking the highest value.
Attainable Value Components
- 75K Bonus Miles valued at $750
- $300 Travel Credit
- $100 Anniversary Bonus
7. Hilton Honors Aspire
Annual Fee: $450
Attainable Value after annual fee: $650
The Hilton Honors Aspire card is ranked number 7. The attainable value for this card is $650, which is obtained through the signup bonus and the annual free night given. The main disadvantage of this card is that your points are tied to Hilton, and although the points are transferable, the low valuation nullifies the value of transferring points.
Attainable Value Components
- 150K Bonus Miles valued at $900
- Free Night Reward Valued at $200
6. United Club Infinite
Annual Fee: $525
Attainable Value after annual fee: $355
I would label this as neither an excellent deal nor a bad deal. This is an average card that is good if you have it, but if you don’t, you’re not missing out on anything special.
Attainable Value Components
- 150K Bonus Miles valued at $900
- Free Night Reward Valued at $200
5. Delta SkyMiles Reserve
Annual fee: $550
Attainable value after annual fee: $650
We are down to our top 5. Delta SkyMiles Reserve provides great value and also great points valuation at 1.4 cents per point. The attainable annual fee for this card is $650, which is conservative when considering the 15% discount on flights booked with rewards.
Attainable Value Components
- 85K bonus miles valued at $1200
4. Chase Sapphire Reserve
Annual fee: $550
Attainable value after annual fee: $650
Chase recently added the $300 annual travel credit feature (similar to the Venture X), which definitely adds value to the card.
Attainable Value Components
- 60K bonus miles valued at $900
- $300 travel credit
3. AAadvantage Executive
Annual Fee: $595
Attainable Value after Annual Fee: No comment
I will try to be as nice as possible but this is about the worst credit card to apply for in terms of value. The only people I would recommend this for are the well-off individuals where value doesn’t matter and are big fans of the admiral club (valued at $850). I will just leave it at that before I go off the rails.
2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Annual Fee: $650
Attainable Value after Annual Fee: $1630
Surprisingly, this card unlocks the most amount of dollar value out of any of the other cards. Between the 200k signup bonus, the $300 dining credit, the free hotel night, and the $100 property credit, you really get your money’s worth with this card.
Attainable Value Components
- 200k signup bonus valued at $1680
- $300 dining credit
- Free hotel night
- $100 property credit
1. American Express Platinum
Annual Fee: $695
Attainable Value after Annual Fee: $945
Coming in second in attainable value but first in having the highest annual fee is the Amex Platinum. The card currently offers a 100k signup bonus and has a coupon book-style benefits program with $200 allocated to Uber Cash, $200 allocated to hotel credit, and $200 allocated to airline credit fees. This card offers great value, but make sure you will use the credits; otherwise, it might not be that valuable.
Attainable Value Components
- 80k signup bonus valued at $800
- $200 Uber Eats Credit
- $200 hotel credit
- $200 airline credit fee
- $240 digital entertainment credit
