Best Premium Credit Cards of 2022

Premium credit cards have quite an allure. They promise terrific rewards programs, big welcome bonuses, and high end perks that can make celebrities blush.

The problem however is that for all of the benefits they wave in front of you, there’s also a big annual fee. Can your budget handle a $450 fee every year?

Let’s take a look at five of the best premium credit cards on the market today. Each card has its own specific benefits but they also all share two things in common. First, every card is geared toward travelers and hotel stayers. If you’re not a frequent flyer, then these credit cards are simply not for you. Second, they all require the most excellent of credit for approval.

DoughRoller’s Best Premium Credit Cards of 2022

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® Triple points are earned on all travel purchases and single points are earned on all other purchases. When you use your points to book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, they’re worth 50% more so that initial bonus can actually be worth $900.

The biggest perk of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is that every year, Chase offers a $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary. I can tell you from personal experience that the process to receive the credit is seamless. You simply charge a travel purchase to your card and a few days after it posts, Chase will apply the credit.

Also included is Priority Pass™ Select membership which means airport lounge access and a refund of up to $100 for an application into Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.

The annual fee to own the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card is $550

• Sign-up Bonus - Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• Annual Fee - $550

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Nothing says status like Platinum and The Platinum Card® from American Express delivers. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Earn 5X Membership Rewards(R) Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards(R) Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1x point on all other eligible purchases.

On top of the welcome offer and rewards program, the Platinum Card from American Express delivers the best travel perks in the industry. Each cardholder will receive a $200 Uber credit annually ($15/month), good for reimbursement on rides or eats orders (after enrollment).

All of this and more can be yours for a steep annual fee of $695.

• Welcome Bonus - Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Annual Fee - $695

See Rates & Fees.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard

50,000 American Airlines bonus miles can be earned after spending $5,000 in purchases during the first three months of account ownership. Double miles per dollar spent are earned on all American Airlines purchases and single miles per dollar spent are earned on everything else.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® includes access to the Admirals Club at no additional charge. It also includes a $100 fee reimbursement every five years for Global Entry or TSA Pre Check. Cardholders will enjoy priority check-in and boarding privileges for up to eight travel companions on the same reservation.

Every year you spend at least $40,000 in purchases, you’ll earn 10,000 Elite Qualifying miles. Here’s a handy chart on how many qualifying miles you’ll need to reach elite status:

The annual fee on the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is $450.

• Sign-up Bonus - 50,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first three months of account opening.
• Annual Fee - $450

The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card

You won’t find bonus points with The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card, but you will find two complimentary nights at any participating tier 1-4 Ritz-Carlton hotel after spending $4,000 in the first three months. Depending on the hotel you choose, this bonus has the potential to save you over $1,000.

Five points are earned per dollar spent at Ritz-Carlton and SPG hotels; two points per dollar spent is earned on airline tickets (purchased directly with the airline) and at car rental agencies and restaurants; one point per dollar spent is earned on everything else. Points never expire as long as the account remains in good standing.

Adding an authorized cardholder and getting them to make a purchase inside of the first three months is also worth 10,000 bonus points.

The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card offers a $300 annual travel credit, good for incidental fees while flying. Airport lounge access, baggage fees, and airline seat upgrades are a few examples of what qualifies for the credit.

The hotel benefits specific to this card are also quite nice. You can upgrade to the Club Level three times each year with a paid stay of up to 7 nights. You can also receive a $100 hotel credit toward dining, spa, or other recreational activities with a paid stay of two nights or more. Finally, you’ll immediately be given Gold Elite status with the ability to receive Platinum Elite status (if you can spend $75,000 annually on the card).

The annual fee on the Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card is $450.

• Sign-up Bonus - 2 free nights at tier 1-4 Ritz-Carlton hotels after spending $4,000 in the first three months.
• Annual Fee - $450

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• Doughroller’s Best Luxury Credit Cards
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