Barclays Mastercard Gold Card Review

Mastercard Gold Card holders receive benefits including:

Given you earn one point per dollar on all purchases with the Mastercard Gold Card, the best way to maximize your benefits is to use the card. The card offers 2% value for airfare redemptions and 2% value for cash back redemptions.

Annual fee: A $995 annual fee is required for the Mastercard Gold Card. The Chase Sapphire Reserve requires a $550 annual fee.

Rewards: The Mastercard Gold Card rewards program offers one point per dollar on purchases. The card offers 2% value for airfare redemptions and 2% value for cash back redemptions. The Chase Sapphire Reserve reward program offers three points per dollar on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit and three points per dollar on dining at restaurants.

Sign-up bonus: The Mastercard Gold Card does not offer a sign-up bonus. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can 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®.

Benefits: Mastercard Gold Card holders receive benefits including a fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA Precheck expedited screening, airport lounge access with Priority Pass Select, an auto rental collision waiver, baggage delay insurance, cellphone protection, travel accident insurance, travel assistance services, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and up to a $200 annual airline credit. Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits include no foreign transaction fees, access to airport lounges through Priority Pass Select, a fee credit toward TSA Global Entry, purchase protection, travel accident insurance, trip delay reimbursement, and emergency evacuation and transportation.

Annual fee: A $995 annual fee is required for the Mastercard Gold Card. The Platinum Card from American Express requires a $695 annual fee.

Rewards: With the Mastercard Gold Card rewards program, you earn one point per dollar in purchases. Points can be redeemed for 2% value for airfare redemptions and 2% value for cash back redemptions. The Platinum Card from American Express offers 5X Membership Rewards® 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® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

Introductory bonus: The Mastercard Gold Card does not offer an introductory bonus. The Platinum Card from American Express allows new cardholders to earn earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points points by making after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Benefits: Mastercard Gold Card holders receive a fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA Precheck expedited screening, airport lounge access with Priority Pass Select, an auto rental collision waiver, baggage delay insurance, cellphone protection, travel accident insurance, travel assistance services, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and up to a $200 annual airline credit. The Platinum Card from American Express allows you to receive purchase protection, rental car insurance, global assist hotline, extended warranty coverage, platinum concierge, access to the Global Lounge Collection, a $200 airline fee credit, a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck and up to $200 in Uber rides annually.