Platinum American Express Vs Revolut Ultra: the differences for travelers and accumulators of points and miles
Here at TFC we have a slogan: the first rule is to have the right paper. A month later, from [...]
Here at TFC we have a slogan: the first rule is to have the right paper.
In this article:
A month later, since I became the owner of Revolut Ultra, the flagship product of the fintech that is dominating the European scene, I want to take stock, as always as a paying customer and say pros and cons of this card comparing it with the only undisputed Queen in the Italian market the American Express Platinum.
#spoileralert If you are simply looking for an answer to the question, "Can it replace my Platinum?" the honest and truthful answer is NO.
The question that haunts me is just that, "Barbone what paper do you recommend for..." having said that I am not a financial advisor and that I do not pretend to teach anyone anything from this point of view, I do want to have my say when it comes to accumulating points with daily expenses and turning these points into trips, stays and other opportunities.
A month or so after I upgraded from Revolut base to Ultra card., the most exclusive of all, I decided to make a comparison between the two top products on the Italian market, the only two that allow you to accumulate points that can then be converted into miles and points from other loyalty programs.
I do not want to analyze the financial aspects also because one is a Debit Card the other is a Credit Card, In this comparison I will focus only on the aspects of the traveler and the serial accumulator of points and miles.
Revolut Ultra Vs American Express Platinum Card: the price
They are not two cheap products, but it could not be otherwise since they offer included in the quota of high value-added services especially for travelers.
Becoming a Revolut customer costs nothing, but upgrading to Ultra involves a monthly outlay of 55€. It is possible to pay the fee in one installment and In this case the price drops to 540€/year.
La The American Express Platinum Card has an annual cost of 720€, a fee that is charged monthly. There are (almost) never offers that give away the fee, at most a bonus of MR points is given to discount, in whole or in part, the monthly fee of 60€.
Revolut Ultra Vs American Express Platinum Card: the points
I membership rewards have made history and we can say transformed airline loyalty programs as well, while RevPoints are the newcomers. Both Cards allow the cardholder to accumulate 1 point for every euro spent, both cards have limitations on the type of transactions that do not generate points, and in this respect Revolut is the one that places the fewest constraints.
Revolut Ultra Vs American Express Platinum Card: partners and conversion rates.
The beauty of Membership or RevPoints is that, unlike a co-branded card such as the Mastercard Gold Miles&More, are not linked to a specific airline, but may from time to time be converted to third-party loyalty programs, a huge advantage when it comes to flexibility of use and prevention from sudden devaluations.
American Express is definitely the one best equipped in this case. MR points can be converted into points/miles from 9 different airline loyalty programs, 3 hotel chains in addition to Italo Più and Payback. On the contrary RevPoints have only 8 partners among the loyalty programs, but two are of very poor value (Aer Lingus and Vueling). The real difference, however, is the conversion rate.
Analyzing the partner programs of both cards we see that with American Express 5 MR points become 4 avios in the Iberia and British loyalty programs, while 3 MR points become 2 Flying Blue miles. In contrast, all Revolut partners have a 1:1 par change.
Revolut Ultra Vs American Express Platinum Card: the bonuses
One of the most important aspects for a serial accumulator of points and miles is definitely to Being able to accumulate bonus points, In this respect, the two cards have very different approaches. American Express allows all cardholders, regardless of the card held to take advantage of the Introduce a friend that allows you to accumulate up to 300 thousand free points each year. In addition to this, new holders can take advantage of, depending on the offer of the moment, a promotion that can give as many as 180 thousand points upon signing up for the Card.
Revolut has a present-a-friend promotion, but only in the form of a credit for the holder. Nothing comparable in short.
In contrast while Amex Offers allow holders to almost always get immediate cashback, there is a strong focus on multipliers and challenges at Revolut. There are offers coming in at X20, this means that with one expense you can, in one fell swoop put as many as 50k revpoints in your pocket, enough to detach a business class ticket from Europe to New York.
Travel insurance included for both, but watch out for loopholes
Both products have rich travel and contingency insurance, but without much ado the Amex one is definitely more comprehensive and with many fewer asterisks. Let's just say that I am happy owner of both, but I sleep soundly because I have the Amex not the Revolut.
Lounges are similar, but not for everyone
Comparing Dragonpass to Priority Pass is difficult; they are two very good products with very often mirror coverage. With rare exceptions where you get in with one you get in with the other. The only subtle difference is. with Platinum card you get into many more lounges, always with a free companion and thanks to the Supplementary Card you double the number of guests.
With Revolut Ultra zero status
Another key traveler apsect are benefits such as statuses in hotel chains, car rentals, and other lesser-known perks (such as lounges at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles or at sporting events around the world), all of which are not present in Ultra card benefits, but only benefit Platinum cardholders.
Then what would be the right strategy
My advice is always the same: never leave a point on the street. This means that where I cannot accumulate MR points, I will accumulate Revolut points if I can from now on. The fact that you can move up/down in product level, resulting in a better/worse rate of Revpoints accumulation per spend, allows you to scientifically choose how and when to move from the base product to a higher level product so that you can take advantage of bonuses and benefits and then return to a lower monthly cost. Becoming a Revolut holder costs nothing, in fact if you do it now you get 20 euros as a bonus.
