SECOND PLACE: AMERICAN EXPRESS PLATINUM CARD

American Express, the maker of the Black Card, also offers a less extravagant version in a more reasonable price range. You might think of it as the American Express Centurion Card’s little brother: the American Express Platinum Card. At $450 a year, it is a much less costly way to own the prestige and perks of a luxury credit card.

Complete with complimentary companion airfare and a personal concierge, the Amex Platinum is a “mini-me” to the more famous Amex Centurion. Of course, there are differences in spending limits and how much is insured, but the treatment cardholders receive is quite similar to the offensively extravagant American Express Black card.

The American Express Platinum offers $500,000 travel insurance, not to mention domestic and international companion tickets, bag insurance, car rental privilege, club access, and many other benefits. Also, the Amex Platinum card offers a “global assistance hotline,” which is there to save you from “medical, legal, financial and other” emergencies, 24/7.

When we called American Express customer service to ask about the Amex Platinum card, the helpful customer service rep suggested another card: the American Express Blue Sky Card, a lower-end card with no annual fees, and many travel perks similar to the big-name luxury cards. This traveler-friendly card offers $100,000 travel insurance, and lets you earn points that you can redeem on any flight on any airline.

RATING: Second Place. All in all, the American Express Platinum Card is an excellent alternative to its terrifyingly luxurious Centurion sibling. You receive many of the same benefits, at a fraction of the annual cost. “So you can still use it to buy a jet, just a smaller one?” we asked the rep. He answered the question with the seriousness of a high-end customer service professional: “Presumably, but it all depends on your Membership Rewards. I can’t know for sure, until we’ve processed your application.”

(Also see the American Express Gold Card. At $125 a year, it provides shopping perks, and rewards like entertainment and shopping deals, but you’ll fly to these locations in coach, rather than first class.)

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