Last updated on February 24th, 2023
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- See Pay Over Time APR Regular Purchase APR
- 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
Luxury is always within reach when you use The Platinum Card® from American Express. This exclusive rewards card offers premium travel rewards and a host of additional perks for the savvy voyager. Uber Cash and complimentary lounge access are just a few of the more practical perks that lend ongoing value to Platinum Card members beyond the impressive signup bonus.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Earn 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
- 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline
- Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®
- VIP status and $200 Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the U.S. annually
- Complimentary Gold status in Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors programs
- Complimentary membership in premium car rental programs
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
- $179 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR® membership
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $25 back each month on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax
- Terms Apply
- Regular Purchase APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Penalty APR: See Rates & Fees
- Annual Fee: $695
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- You travel often and can take advantage of a myriad of benefits including access to airport lounges and Uber credits
- you intend to sign up for Global Entry or TSA Pre?®
- You prefer airline flexibility when redeeming points for travel
- You're likely spend $6,000 within the first six months as a cardholder to receive the card’s welcome offer
- You'll take advantage of exclusive events and experiences available only to Platinum cardholders
American Express Platinum Card® Review
Superior features, earning potential, and cardholder perks elevate the American Express Platinum Card® to a distinctly different level than other travel rewards cards. Granted, such exclusive treatment will cost a pretty penny – a $695 annual fee to be exact – but for those that like to travel in style, this card easily recoups the upfront cost with a bevy of statement credit opportunities and complimentary upgrades.
Welcome Offer
To start, new cardholders will earn a welcome offer bonus of 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 within the first six months of opening the account. That’s a pretty modest spending requirement – $1,000 per month – which is why this card is best suited for those who have a significant annual travel budget.
Earning Points with the American Express Platinum Card®
Despite of its frills, this card boasts a forthright rewards system that makes earning points painless. In terms of earning potential, the American Express Platinum Card® provides 5X points on flights booked with any airline directly. You also earn 5X points for flights and prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Bookings can be made over the phone or online with American Express Travel. All other purchases earn 1X point per dollar.
How to Redeem Amex Membership Rewards
As with other loyalty programs, Amex Membership Rewards points apply to a wide variety of redemption options. Those redemption options include:
- Travel
- Statement credits
- Shopping for merchandise
- Gift Cards
- Charitable donations
- Partner transfers
Flexible Airline/Hotel Rewards
The flexibility of the American Express Platinum travel card makes it a great option for those who aren’t loyal to a particular airline or want more than just travel perks. As such, point earnings can be redeemed for:
- Travel, including flights, cruises and hotels
- Merchandise through select stores
- Gift cards from select companies
- Statement credits toward eligible purchases on your bill
That said, you also have the option to transfer your rewards to a number of partnered loyalty programs. More importantly, you’ll need to choose a particular airline in order to access the $200 airline fee credit this card includes. You will also need to make sure you are enrolled in the frequent flyer program you wish to transfer points to.
Each year you can select an eligible carrier and put this credit toward baggage fees and other incidentals, as long as you use your card to pay. Qualifying companies include but aren’t limited to: Hawaiian Airlines, Delta, Spirit, Southwest and Alaska Airlines.
This flexibility means you may miss out on some of the loyalty perks that dedicated airline cards typically provide, such as complimentary tickets or in-flight discounts. However, you’ll be able to put your points toward the carrier with the best price for your travel plans.
Note: You may need to have a minimum amount of points in order to start redeeming, depending on your redemption option. For example, you need at least 5,000 points to redeem with American Express Travel. After cashing in your welcome bonus, you’ll need to spend about $1,000 to build your points back up to this level.
Current Amex Membership Rewards Transfer Partners
| AeroMexico (Club Premier) | Avianca (LifeMiles) | Emirates (Skywards) |
| Air Canada (Aeroplan) | British Airways (Executive Club) | Etihad (Guest) |
| Aer Lingus (AerClub) | Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles) | Air France/KLM (Flying Blue) |
| All Nippon Airways (ANA Miles) | Delta Air Lines (SkyMiles) | Hawaiian Airlines (HawaiianMiles) |
| Iberia Plus | Choice Privileges | Hilton Honors |
| Marriott Bonvoy | JetBlue (TrueBlue) | Marriott Bonvoy |
| Marriott Bonvoy | Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club) |
Airport Perks
If you’re looking to upgrade your trip from start to finish, The Platinum Card won’t disappoint. In addition to improving your in-flight experience, this card begins to offer perks before you even board the plane.
For starters, you can skip the check-in line with a $100 credit for Global Entry, or an $85 credit for TSA Pre✓® – whichever is charged to the card account first (after enrolling). It’s also worth noting that Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, so it’s worth the extra $15 if you travel internationally often. These credits are renewable every 4 or 4.5 years respectively, since you’re required to reapply.
The card also features a $189 CLEAR statement credit. CLEAR® uses biometrics to assign users a touchless ID, allowing members to move faster through security at select airports and stadiums across the United States. This credit makes travel at airports (and other events) smooth sailing. Note that first you must enroll in CLEAR to receive the benefit.
Once you’re through security, your airport experience becomes even more enjoyable thanks to the American Express Global Lounge connection. Lounge access is one of the standout features of The American Express Platinum credit card, as it requires no spending minimum unlike traditional airline cards. With this benefit you can enter over 1,200 airport lounges in 130 countries, including The Centurion® Lounge, International American Express, Delta Sky Club, and Priority Pass’s list of lounges (see full terms for more details).
Amex Platinum Vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
 |
 |
|
| Card | The Platinum Card® | Sapphire Reserve® |
| Rewards rate | Earn 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines of Amex Travel, 5X on prepaid hotels booked thorugh AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other purchases | Earn 5X on flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 10X on hotels and car rentals through Ultimate Rewards, 10X on Chase Dining, 3X on all other travel purchases, 3X on dining, and 1X on all other purchases |
| TSA Precheck | Yes | Yes |
| Lounge access | Priority Pass Select, Centurion Lounge | Priority Pass Select |
| Travel credits | $400/year | $300/year |
| Annual fee | $695 | $550 |
Upgrade Your Stay
The benefits of The Platinum Card don’t end at the runway. Cardholders will also receive $15 in Uber Cash each month (and $20 in December). This boasts a total value of $200, which will come in handy for those trips to and from the airport. That way, you can forget paying expensive parking fees, or begging friends and family members to navigate the terminal for you.
The Platinum Card also features a $200 hotel credit to match its $200 airline incidentals credit. The hotel statement credit applies each year towards prepaid bookings for hotels that are part of the Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection portfolios. Note that to qualify for the credit, your booking needs to be paid with The Platinum Card and it must be at least two nights.
Other Statement Credits
The Platinum Card also features a variety of other statement credits to help offset the steep annual fee:
- Streaming and Digital Entertainment Credit: Members get up to $20 back each month when they use their card to pay the subscription fee for Audible, New York Times, Peacock, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, or SiriusXM subscription costs. Enrollment is required for each of these services.
- Equinox Credit: Platinum Cardholders can receive up to $300 per year in statement credits for eligible Equinox membership charges to their card. Equinox is an upscale private gym with locations in major cities across the U.S.
- Walmart+: Cardmembers receive a $12.95 statement credit when using the Platinum Card to purchase a Walmart+ subscription. Enrollment in Walmart+ is required.
- SoulCycle: Cardmembers receive up to a $300 credit when purchasing a SoulCycle bike with the Platinum Card (up to 15 bikes per year).
Other American Express Platinum Card® Benefits
When sizing up that American Express Platinum Card annual fee, you’ll want to analyze all the perks this card offers. Luckily, this card boasts many other benefits on top of those available for travel and hotel stays. Some of the most notable perks include:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Resy, offering exclusive access to tables and events when using the Platinum Card
- Two $50 statement credits each year for Saks Fifth Avenue purchases, with no minimum required (Enrollment required)
- Platinum Card Concierge to help you organize your reservations or tickets to an event
- Exclusive events organized by American Express for Platinum cardholders
- Preferred seating at events when available
- InCircle Points can be redeemed for $100 gift cards to Neiman Marcus and other high-end stores
- Year-End Summaries, which can make it easy to prepare for tax season
To get a better sense of what your points are worth and the best way to spend them, you can use the Membership Rewards point calculator. Remember to select The Platinum Card to ensure you get the most accurate estimates.
Should You Apply for The Platinum Card®?
If you’re still wondering, “Is the American Express Platinum Card worth it?” it helps to take a step back. With an annual fee of $695, you’ll want to take advantage of all the statement credits and other perks the card offers to make it worthwhile.
The $200 hotel and airline fee credits, combined with $100 for Global Entry, $200 in Uber Cash and the $100 hotel credit already gives you a value of $600 in your first year. During years when you can’t cash in on Global Entry, you’ll have a difference of about $50. Add to that the CLEAR credit and the card is a versatile – and powerful – travel card.
Add on the 5X points for flights and prepaid hotels, and you can likely make up that difference just by booking one international trip. This doesn’t include the value of your lounge access, discounts on exclusive events, or any of the other hidden perks this card offers.
In short, this card is chock-full of convenience and ensures that you feel like a VIP whenever and however you travel. However, great perks come with great responsibility. High APRs and late fees are not for the lighthearted; it’s important to keep that in mind when considering if you meet the American Express Platinum Card® requirements. This isn’t a card you necessarily want to carry a balance with, if you can help it.
If you’re not quite ready for such a hefty annual fee, compare the American Express Gold Card® vs Platinum. The Gold Card offers 4X points on dining and groceries, along with 3X points for travel, for $250 annually. This could be a great way to work up to Platinum one day, since customers who carry both have the Gold Card’s annual fee waived.
