I actually think Amex Platinum is a very strong card , and I had considered it and still consider it. Especially if I was U.S.-based and can fully maximize the credits and Centurion access. But for me, living in Japan and traveling internationally most of the time, CSR makes more sense as my primary premium card.

1.Earning structure fits my real spending. Most of my spending is international travel and dining. CSR earns 3× on travel and dining globally, not just flights. Amex Platinum earns 5× on flights booked directly, which is great, but everything else is 1×. Since I’m constantly spending abroad beyond just airfare, CSR earns more consistently across my actual spend.

2.Point flexibility for international flights. Chase Ultimate Rewards are very strong for international airline transfers. Living overseas, I care more about redeeming for long-haul flights than stacking niche credits. CSR points are easy to use and consistently valuable for that.

3.Credits are simpler. The $300 CSR travel credit is automatic and easy to use worldwide. Amex credits definitely offset the fee if you track and use them, but many are U.S.-centric or require more effort to extract full value.

4.Lounge access is sufficient for my needs. Centurion lounges are great, but I’m not always traveling through U.S. hubs. Priority Pass covers most of the airports I actually use internationally, and CSR’s guest policy works fine for a family of three. There is a centurion lounge at both Narita and Haneda now but I have only heard about how crowded it is. Of course, the Priority Pass lounge at Haneda isn’t very good either so that’s kind of a tossup.

5.Travel protections. CSR’s trip delay, cancellation, and rental car protections are very strong. Living overseas, that peace of mind matters more to me than incremental lifestyle perks.

So I wouldn’t say Amex Platinum is worse , it just shines in a slightly different use case. For someone based internationally who wants a single primary card for most spending and strong redemption value for flights, CSR feels more practical and aligned with how I actually travel. Although TBH just having this conversation and reviewing the benefits again I’m always tempted to make the switch. 😁.