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The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab vs IHG One Rewards Traveler

Both are well-respected travel cards. The The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab comes from American Express at $695/yr; the IHG One Rewards Traveler from Chase at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($960 more in estimated value) than the IHG One Rewards Traveler's. Get the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab first; revisit the IHG One Rewards Traveler after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureThe Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles SchwabIHG One Rewards Traveler
Annual fee$695$0
Sign-up bonusUp to 80,000 Membership Rewards points80,000 points
Bonus value (est.)$1,440$480
Min spend to unlock bonus$8,000 in 6 mo$2,000 in 3 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressChase
Card categorytravelhotel
Best earning category (Flights_direct_or_amextravel)5x1x
Transfer partnersamex-mrNone
Headline benefits
  • Invest with Rewards 1.1c/pt into Schwab
  • Centurion + Priority Pass + Delta Sky Club
  • 5X flights, 5X prepaid hotels
  • $1,500+ in annual credits
  • 4th night free on awards
  • 17x at IHG
  • No annual fee
  • Silver status
Read the full review
The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab
$695/yr · Up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
IHG One Rewards Traveler
$0/yr · 80,000 points

Editorial take: The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab

The premium Platinum for Schwab brokerage customers. Same lounge access, FHR, and credit suite as the Personal Platinum, but the killer feature is Invest with Rewards at 1.1 cents per point cash-into-brokerage — the highest fixed-value MR redemption in the program. Best for cardholders who don't max out airline transfer partners.

Editorial take: IHG One Rewards Traveler

The 4th-night-free benefit alone makes this a standout, on a 4-night IHG stay, you're effectively getting 25% off. Stack with transfer bonuses from Chase UR for serious savings.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab or IHG One Rewards Traveler?
The The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab has the bigger bonus, Up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points, worth roughly $1,440, versus 80,000 points (~$480) on the IHG One Rewards Traveler.
Is the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab's $695 annual fee worth it compared to the IHG One Rewards Traveler?
Premium cards like the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab ($695/yr) earn their fee through credits, travel, dining, lounge access, statement reimbursements. If you'd actively use $695+ of those credits, the math works. The IHG One Rewards Traveler at $0/yr trades some perks for a lower commitment.
Can I have both the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab and IHG One Rewards Traveler?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab or the IHG One Rewards Traveler first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab: $8,000 spend in 6 months. IHG One Rewards Traveler: $2,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.