Is Amex Concierge Better Than Chase Concierge Services?
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Summary:
Both American Express and Chase offer concierge services to some of their cardholders. However, American Express provides its own services, while Chase uses a third party (Visa) to provide concierge services. American Express also offers a dedicated concierge with its luxury Centurion card, but you’ll have to pay a very high annual fee to get it. For those who want concierge services with a lower annual fee, Chase’s Sapphire Preferred card is a better option.
While you may be able to seek out the services of a hotel concierge when you travel, you can also benefit from concierge services if you hold certain credit cards. Two of the most popular credit card companies offering concierge services are American Express and Chase. While they offer many of the same benefits, such as restaurant reservations and arranging transportation, they differ in the levels of personalization offered, and how much you’ll have to pay in annual fees to be eligible.
Keep reading to find out more about the credit card concierge services offered by Chase and American Express, and which cards might be a better fit for you and your lifestyle.
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What is a credit card concierge?
Similar to a hotel concierge, a credit card concierge is a person who can help you with various services in your everyday life and while you are traveling. However, instead of meeting them face-to-face, you would more than likely call a number on the back of your credit card or send an email for help. They can assist you with simple requests such as picking up your dry cleaning, to more complicated tasks like making travel arrangements or getting you hard-to-find reservations at a swanky restaurant.
Here are some of the services a credit card concierge can provide:
- Arranging transportation
- Sourcing tickets for concerts, movies, and events
- Planning itineraries and making travel arrangements
- Recommending restaurants
- Making hotel reservations
- Pet care
- Delivering flowers
- Dry cleaning and laundry services
- Grocery shopping
Pro Tip
If you aren’t sure that a concierge will provide what you need, don’t be afraid to call and ask. You might be surprised at the breadth of tasks they are able to complete.
How does Chase’s concierge work?
Not all Chase credit cards include concierge services as part of their benefits. You will need to check your service agreement to make sure that you have access to concierge services. Chase’s concierge services are actually provided by Visa, and there are two tiers of service.
Visa Signature concierge service
If your card includes this service, you can call or email a request 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The number to call in the United States is 800-953-7392 and 630-350-4551 abroad. Most standard requests will be completed within 24 to 48 hours.
According to the Visa Signature website, “Depending on the nature of the request, a Concierge Representative may be able to assist them right away. If the request needs to be researched, the Concierge Representative will contact the cardholder by follow-up phone call or email.”
There’s no limit to the number of times a Visa Signature cardholder can use the service. It is important to note that any goods or services purchased on the cardholders’ behalf will be billed to their Visa Signature card (in this case, a Chase credit card with Visa Signature concierge services).
Visa Infinite concierge service
If your Chase credit card includes Visa Infinite concierge service, you can call 877-660-0905 in the U.S. or 312-800-4290 abroad for help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Although this is considered Visa’s premium concierge service, the website does not provide a lot of information about exactly what they provide. But it says they can help with “dinner reservations or Broadway, music and sporting event tickets.”
Cardmembers are responsible for the cost of any goods or services purchased using the credit card concierge service.
Which Chase credit cards offer concierge services?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which has a $95 annual fee, includes Visa Signature concierge service.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card, which has an annual fee of $550, includes Visa Infinite concierge service.
How does Amex’s concierge work?
American Express has its own concierge service, available 24/7 to card members with premium credit cards. In this case, “premium” cards include platinum cards or other eligible cards. You can access the service in the U.S. by calling 800-525-3355 or 954-473-2123 abroad.
American Express calls their service a “do-anything concierge,” which means that they can help you with all kinds of tasks, like getting event tickets or sending gifts. They can sometimes fulfill unusual requests — perhaps ordering a children’s birthday cake with a certain character on it. However, it depends on the individual concierge and how much work they’re willing or able to do for you.
Pro Tip
American Express has its own travel service called Amex Travel that is separate from the concierge service. If you call to book a flight, hotel, or rental car, the concierge may refer you to an Amex Travel representative to process the booking. If you have other travel-related questions, you can ask the concierge for advice.
Which American Express credit cards offer concierge services?
Typically, the higher the annual fee on your card, the more likely you are to have concierge services as part of your benefits. So, if you have a platinum card or a “black card” from American Express, you are eligible for concierge services. Here are some of the cards that come with access to a concierge:
- American Express Platinum card (annual fee: $695)
- American Express Business Platinum card (annual fee: $695)
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card (annual fee: $450)
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express card (annual fee: $550)
If you’re lucky enough to get approved for the American Express Centurion card (and it is one of the hardest cards to get), you will have a dedicated concierge assigned to you. This is a great perk, as it means that person can give you much more personalized service.
The Centurion card, also known as the Amex black card, is truly a luxury card available to high-net-worth individuals by invitation only. The card has an initiation fee of $10,000 and its annual fee is $5,000.
Pro Tip
Make sure that you review all of the potential benefits before you apply for your next card. Even if your credit card does not offer concierge services, it may offer other rewards that are similarly helpful, such as travel assistance.
Chase concierge service vs. Amex concierge service
Before you apply for a credit card with concierge services, be sure to review the differences between Chase and American Express.
| American Express | Chase |
|---|---|
| Has its own concierge service. | Provides concierge services through a third party (Visa). |
| Offers two levels of service: American Express concierge service (included with platinum-level cards) or a dedicated concierge (included with Centurion cards). | Offers two levels of service: Visa Signature concierge service and Visa Infinite concierge service. |
| Some American Express cards are charge cards, which means the balance has to be paid off each month. | Credit card balances can be carried over time. |
| Annual fees range from $450 for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card to $5,000 for the American Express Centurion card. | Annual fees range from $95 for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card to $550 for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. |
If you’re looking for a credit card that offers concierge services, you can use our tool to compare card benefits and read reviews.
FAQs
Are concierge services worth it?
If you travel frequently or you just like to have someone else take care of details like making reservations and securing tickets, concierge services can definitely be worth the cost of your credit card’s annual fees. If you want exclusive access to events or reservations at restaurants that are hard to get into, you can definitely benefit from concierge services.
What is the most prestigious Amex card?
The American Express Centurion card, or black card, is the hardest Amex card to get and comes with a hefty $5,000 annual fee. But it is also the only American Express card to provide a dedicated concierge to cardholders.
Is Amex concierge free?
American Express concierge services are included as part of the annual fee you pay. For example, if you have an American Express Platinum card, you will have to pay the $695 annual fee in order to get those services, but at no additional cost.
Key Takeaways
- American Express provides its own concierge services, while Chase uses a third party (Visa) to provide concierge services.
- Both companies provide a phone number for you to contact a credit card concierge to get help with restaurant reservations, personal shopping, event tickets, and more.
- American Express offers a dedicated concierge with its luxury Centurion card, but you will have to pay several thousand dollars a year to get it.
- For those who want concierge services with a lower annual fee, Chase’s Sapphire cards are a better option.
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Cara Corey is a writer and editor who loves to help people make sense of confusing topics. Her work has been featured in many blogs, newspapers, and magazines, including the Des Moines Register, Boulder Daily Camera, Better Homes and Gardens, and Parents Magazine.
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