Originally Posted by
VegasGambler
Priority pass gives restaurant access at many, many, many more airports and terminals than Amex has Centurion lounges. $28 credit per person for you and up to 2 guests.
Considering that most airline club lounges or contract lounges in the US do not have hot food (beyond soup), have only very cheap drinks for free, and a hot meal in many airports will cost a minimum of $20, this is a very valuable benefit for those who travel domestically a lot (or who travel internationally in coach). I consider it more valuable than the lounge access part of PP. The Centurion lounge does have "real" food and drinks, but, again, there are far fewer of them than there are PP restaurants. Also PP restaurants can be used on arrival, while Centurion lounges cannot. I will often stop for a meal when I land.
And, of course, there's no reason to choose. The cards are fairly complementary. The only real overlap is PP lounge, and airline spend. The CSR is good for non-airline travel spend (aided by the fact that so many things count as travel) and PP restaurant access. The Amex is good for Centurion Lounge, incidental airline fees if you pay them (I generally don't, due to status) and IAP if you travel internationally in premium cabins. Someone who travels often (at least monthly) probably should carry both, especially if that travel includes at least one premium cabin international trip a year.
The benefits from Chase CSR is easily expendable or replaceable. But the benefits from AmEx Plat are not replaceable. Ritz Carlton and the old CNB Crystal card both offer the best PP. But only AmEx Plat offers Centurion and Delta (if fly Delta) lounges. Chase PP won't get me into Delta even if I fly Delta.
I believe PP restaurant only applies in US. Both PP and PP restaurants sometimes are hard to find in US. There is only one in EWR, And only Minute Suite in ATL. Nothing in PHX. EWR, ATL and PHX are huge and important airports. But no PP?? How come? What is the use of it?
The PP lounges are fairly good overseas. But there is no PP restaurant. So no difference of the CSR PP vs other PP.
Again, if Chase CSR offers anything special, I'll go for it and keep it forever. But it does not. If CSR adds partner status, I'll 100% go for it.