amex platinum travel card review

Amex Platinum card review: High annual fee with loads of perks

Editor's note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

The Platinum Card® from American Express overview

The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the top premium travel rewards cards on the market. As a cardmember, you'll earn valuable Membership Rewards points, receive over $1,500 in annual statement credits (as long as you can take advantage of them) as well as access to an extensive network of airport lounges worldwide. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Nowadays, it seems every bank, airline and hotel offers a premium travel rewards card . But for a long time, The Platinum Card from American Express was the only premium rewards card on the market. With its sleek design and hefty metal weight, there was a bit of prestige attached to being an Amex Platinum cardholder.

That still exists, even though a few competitors in the luxury card category have emerged in recent years, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card . When you stack them up against one another, the Amex Platinum shines in ways the others don't. Then again, it falls flat in some areas, too.

The Amex Platinum has undergone significant changes in recent years and carries a steep $695 annual fee (see rates and fees ) — one of the highest on the market. That's why people often ask whether the Amex Platinum is still worth the annual fee , even with the new perks.

The recommended credit score for this card is above 690 and it ranks as one of the best travel cards , but that doesn't mean it's right for every traveler.

Let's dig into the details and benefits to see whether having the Amex Platinum in your wallet makes sense for you.

Amex Platinum pros and cons

Amex platinum welcome offer.

The current welcome bonus for the Amex Platinum is 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. This is slightly above the standard welcome offer we have seen.

THE POINTS GUY

According to TPG's latest monthly valuations , Amex Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each, making this bonus worth $1,600. That's nearly three times the card's $695 annual fee.

Amex sometimes offers up to 150,000 points to targeted individuals through other channels — like the CardMatch tool , so it's worth checking out if you're targeted. Just remember that offers are subject to change at any time and are not necessarily available to everyone.

Related: How to redeem Membership Rewards points for maximum value

Amex Platinum benefits

What truly sets The Platinum Card from American Express apart is the fact that it confers so many valuable best perks and travel benefits. Let's take a look:

• Up to $200 in statement credits annually for incidental fees charged by one airline you select*
• Up to a $200 annual hotel credit , in the form of a statement credit, on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with Amex Travel when you pay with your Amex Platinum (Hotel Collection stays require a two-night minimum)*
• Up to $200 annually in Uber Cash , valid on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. (split into monthly $15 credits plus a $20 bonus in December)*
• Up to $189 in statement credits to cover your Clear Plus annual membership *
• Up to $240 in annual digital entertainment credit — with the exception of SiriusXM, which will be removed effective May 8 and no longer be eligible for this benefit — disbursed as up to $20 monthly statement credits when you pay for eligible purchases with the Amex Platinum at eligible partners*

• Up to $300 in annual Equinox credit on Equinox gym and Equinox+ app memberships (subject to auto-renewal)*
• Up to a $155 statement credit that covers the cost of a monthly Walmart+ membership when paying with the Amex Platinum (subject to auto-renewal); Plus Up excluded.
• A $100 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or an up to $85 fee credit for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years (depending on which application fee is charged to your card first)
• Up to a $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit , split into two up to $50 statement credits between January and June, then July through December*
• Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection , including Centurion Lounges , Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges, Plaza Premium lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when traveling on same-day Delta flights; Effective February 1, 2025: Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight)*
• Complimentary Gold status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy *
• Complimentary car rental status : Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle, Avis Preferred Plus and National Emerald Club Executive*
• Access to Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection
• If your trip is delayed by more than six hours because of a covered reason, you may be eligible to be reimbursed up to $500 per covered trip for reasonable additional expenses**
• If you need to cancel or interrupt your trip because of a covered reason, you may be eligible for reimbursement of up to $10,000 per covered trip**
• Extended warranty benefit extends eligible manufacturer's warranties of five years or less by up to one additional year***
• Purchase protection protects recent purchases against theft, accidental damage or loss for up to 90 days from the purchase date***
• Terms apply to the benefits listed

Even if you can use just a handful of these perks, it's easy to cover most (or all) of the Amex Platinum's annual fee.

Here's how TPG director of content Nick Ewen describes it:

"I have no use for some benefits of the Amex Platinum, and others (like Walmart+) I utilize just because they're there. However, I always max out the digital entertainment credit ($240). I also easily use all $200 in Uber credits and all $200 in airline statement credits annually. In other words, just three of these perks put $640 back in my pocket every year. As a result, I think of it as paying $55 for all of the other benefits on the card — and that makes it a no brainer to keep in my pocket."

Your exact situation may vary, but crunch the numbers to see how much real-life value you can get from the card.

* Enrollment is required for select benefits.

**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

***Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Related: How to maximize benefits with the Amex Platinum

Earning points on the Amex Platinum

With the Amex Platinum, you'll earn 5 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly with the airlines or through the Amex Travel portal (on up to $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar year). Plus, you'll earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel .

These 5-point categories are an excellent way to earn lots of Membership Rewards points. Based on TPG valuations , earning 5 points per dollar provides a 10% return.

All other purchases earn just 1 point per dollar, but Platinum cardmembers are eligible for targeted Amex Offers that could boost earning rates at various merchants (including Amazon ).

Related: The ultimate guide to saving money with Amex Offers

Redeeming points on the Amex Platinum

Membership Rewards points are one of the most valuable and flexible loyalty currencies ever created for redeeming points. The best way to maximize your points is to transfer them to one of their loyalty program partners.

You can also use your Membership Rewards points to book travel directly through American Express Travel. But if the personal Amex Platinum is the only Amex card in your inventory, using points for airfare and hotel redemptions this way won't get you amazing value.

You'll get only 1 cent per point when you redeem the points directly for airfare at Amex Travel and less than 1 cent per point when redeeming for hotel rooms.

From my experience, 9 out of 10 times, you should never redeem Membership Rewards points for flights through American Express Travel, as you will get much better value utilizing transfer partners .

However, suppose you also have The Business Platinum Card® from American Express . In that case, you'll get one of the very best direct point redemptions available . This results from the 35% points rebate for first- and business-class flights on any airline plus economy flights on your selected airline (up to 1 million bonus points back per calendar year).

Related: Here are 9 of our favorite ways to use Amex Membership Rewards points

Transferring points on the Amex Platinum

Each Membership Rewards point is worth 2 cents, thanks largely to the program's airline and hotel transfer partners . Those include at least one helpful option in each major airline alliance ( SkyTeam , Star Alliance and Oneworld ).

Transferring your points to the right airline or hotel program is usually the best way to maximize your Membership Rewards points value.

Here's how TPG senior editor Matt Moffitt likes to transfer and redeem his Membership Rewards points:

"I look out for transfer bonuses to maximize my points to book long-haul business-class flights. I often transfer to Iberia Plus for lie-flat seats to Madrid. Sometimes, I'll transfer to Qantas Frequent Flyer to secure hard-to-find business- or first-class flights back to Australia."

Which cards compete with the Amex Platinum?

Some other compelling premium credit cards go head-to-head with the Amex Platinum:

• If you want a slightly lower annual fee: Try the Chase Sapphire Reserve , which comes in at a $550 annual fee but offers a $300 travel credit and some of the best travel protections available . However, it can't beat the Amex Platinum when it comes to perks such as lounge access and hotel benefits. For more information, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve .
• If you want a much lower annual fee: Capital One's premium rewards card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , packs a punch and comes with a more affordable $395 annual fee (see rates and fees ). The Venture X is potentially more lucrative than the Amex Platinum when it comes to earning, accruing 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked via Capital One Travel and an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on everything else. For more information, read our full review of the Venture X .

For additional options, check out our full list of the best cards for travel rewards and lounge access .

Read more: The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison

Bottom line

If you can take full advantage of more than $1,500 in annual statement credits yearly, The Platinum Card from American Express is one of the most compelling rewards cards, especially if you travel enough to make the hotel statuses and lounge benefits useful or shop enough to get substantial value from the shopping protections .

The Amex Platinum's $695 annual fee is steep, but the various annual credits can recoup the entire cost (and more), even before considering the card's other perks.

Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express

Check the CardMatch tool to see if you're targeted for a 150,000-point Platinum Card offer (after meeting minimum spending requirements). These offers are subject to change at any time.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here .

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American Express Platinum Card review: An elite travel card with first-class benefits

If you’re a frequent traveler who wants to level up your luxury, the Platinum Card® from American Express could help you accomplish this goal. This premium travel card offers a number of travel perks, including annual credits, airport lounge access, and exclusive hotel benefits.

But unfortunately, luxury isn’t cheap and the card comes with a pricey annual fee. Despite this, the Amex Platinum may still be worth it if you can maximize its many benefits.

Here’s everything you need to know about the card’s features, perks, and drawbacks to help you decide if it’s right for your wallet.

The Platinum Card from American Express

Annual fee : $695 (See rates and fees .)

Welcome offer : Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first six months

5x points on prepaid hotels booked via American Express Travel

5x on flights booked through Amex Travel or directly with airlines (up to $500,000 per calendar year)

1x on other qualifying purchases

More details : Over $1,500 worth of statement credits available, offering added perks for travel, entertainment, and dining purchases

The Amex Platinum’s variable APR is 21.24% to 29.24%, depending on your credit and other factors.

This card has a steep $695 annual fee . While this may seem like a large upfront cost, frequent travelers can easily offset it by earning this card’s welcome offer and taking advantage of its many credits.

Welcome offer

As a new cardholder, you can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 in the first six months.

If you were to use those bonus points to book a flight via Amex Travel, the welcome offer would have a value of $800. However, redemption values vary based on how you use your points; you could potentially squeeze even more from your Amex points by transferring them to one of the issuer’s 20+ airline or hotel partners.

Intro offer

Unfortunately, there’s no promotional 0% APR with this card. Its regular APR applies immediately.

Rewards rate

5x points on prepaid hotels booked via Amex Travel

How to earn rewards

The Amex Platinum is a true travel rewards card in the sense that you’ll earn the highest reward rate on qualifying travel purchases. You can maximize your rewards by booking your hotels and flights through the Amex portal or purchasing tickets directly from airlines. These purchases will net you 5x points.

Other qualifying purchases made with your card will earn 1x points. As with other cards, you won’t earn rewards on statement credits, balance transfers, or cash advances.

How to redeem rewards

You can redeem your Membership Rewards points for trips booked through Amex Travel or transfer them to one of over 20 American Express travel partners. Popular partner programs include British Airways Executive Club, Delta SkyMiles , JetBlue TrueBlue, Emirates Skywards, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Besides that, you can also redeem your rewards for gift cards, statement credits, deposits to an eligible American Express checking account, or merchandise.

Additional benefits

You can earn over $1,500 in credits* at popular brands with the Amex Platinum :

Up to $300 in annual Equinox membership credits

Up to $300 in statement credits when you purchase a SoulCycle bike

Up to $240 in annual digital entertainment credits for select streaming services and online media subscriptions ($20 per month)

Up to $200 in statement credits for incidental fees on an airline of your choosing

Up to $200 in annual Uber Cash credits ($15 per month, plus $20 extra in December)

Up to $200 in annual hotel credits at properties in the Fine Hotels + Resorts and Hotel Collection programs (for prepaid bookings made through Amex Travel)

Up to $189 in annual CLEAR Plus credits

Up to $155 in annual Walmart+ credit ($12.95 per month, plus tax)

Up to $100 in annual credits for Saks Fifth Avenue purchases ($50 from Jan.-June, $50 from July-Dec.)

Up to $100 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits every four years

*Terms apply and enrollment may be required for certain offers and benefits listed above.

Airport lounge access

With this card, you can also make your airport experience more relaxing. You’ll get free access to over 1,400 American Express Global Lounge locations in over 40 countries.

Hotel and car rental perks

Get complimentary elite hotel status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors . Cardholders can also enroll in Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, or National Car Rental Emerald Club to access exclusive car rental perks.

Special perks are also available when you book with Fine Hotels + Resorts or Hotel Collection properties through Amex Travel. Benefits may include things like free breakfast for two, free room upgrades, guaranteed late checkout, and early check-in (when available).

Insurance and protections

This card offers several insurance benefits, including trip delay and interruption insurance, car rental damage and loss coverage (secondary), and trip cancellation insurance. You can also access the Premium Global Assist hotline for help if you encounter a medical, legal, or financial emergency while traveling over 100 miles from home.**

Cardmembers also get extended warranty and purchase protection. Your card’s extended warranty coverage will extend eligible manufacturers’ warranties of 5 years or less by a year. Coverage limits are $10,000 per item or $50,000 per calendar year. Likewise, if you make a purchase with your card and that item is damaged, lost, or stolen, you could get reimbursed up to $10,000 per item or $50,000 per calendar year.

**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Dining and other perks

As a card member, you can access special dining experiences and reservations through Global Dining Access by Resy. You’ll also get access to exclusive experiences, including sporting events, art exhibits, and more, through the American Express By Invitation Only program.

Who is the Platinum Card from American Express best for?

In general, it only makes sense to apply for the Amex Platinum card if you travel often. Its perks are mostly travel-focused, so those who don’t venture away from home frequently probably won’t get much value from this card.

Jetsetters who travel regularly for business or pleasure likely won’t have to strategize much to offset the pricey annual fee. But to really maximize your points, you should be comfortable booking travel through the American Express portal, as those purchases earn the highest rewards.

Cardholders who frequently shop at the brands offering credits could also get good value from this card, though it may take more deliberate planning. For example, cardholders that max out the annual credits from Walmart, Uber, Equinox, and the eligible streaming and online media subscriptions would come out ahead.

Platinum Card from American Express pros

Generous welcome offer

Valuable statement credits

High earning rate on qualifying travel bookings

Exclusive hotel benefits

Complimentary lounge access

No foreign transaction fee

Platinum Card from American Express cons

High annual fee

Rewards are mostly travel-focused

Requires good or excellent credit

Where can you use the Platinum Card from American Express?

You can use the Amex Platinum anywhere American Express cards are accepted. Amex is widely accepted in the U.S., though it’s not as commonly accepted globally. It’s also worth noting that you cannot use Amex cards at Costco .

Review your card agreement before traveling abroad if you have questions about acceptance, and consider bringing along a Visa or Mastercard as backup.

How to make an Amex Platinum payment

Online via your Amex credit card account

Through the American Express mobile app

By mail: American Express P.O. Box 96001 Los Angeles, CA 90096 – 8000

By phone: 1-800-472-9297

Platinum Card from American Express customer service info

If you have questions about your card, you can reach the American Express customer service team by calling 1-800-528-4800 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also get help by logging into your Amex Platinum account .

Alternative cards to consider

While the Platinum Card from American Express could be great for frequent travelers, its annual fee can make it cost-prohibitive for occasional travelers who can’t access all its benefits. Here are some alternative travel cards to consider if you feel it isn’t right for your wallet.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Why we like it : The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a slightly lower annual fee of $550, and cardholders can get a $300 annual travel credit. This card offers fewer credits than the Amex Platinum, but it still holds a lot of value.

After spending $4,000 in the first three months, you can earn a 60,000-point welcome bonus. These points are valued at up to $900, depending on your redemption. As a cardholder, you’ll get a free Priority Pass Select membership, which lets you access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Why we like it : The Venture X Rewards Credit Card from Capital One has a $395 annual fee, but you can also get a $300 travel credit when booking through the Capital One portal. Cardmembers can earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months. Between the travel credit and welcome bonus, you could easily offset your annual fee for the first couple of years.

Besides that, you’ll also get complimentary access to Capital One airport lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and Plaza Premium lounges.

American Express® Gold Card

Why we like it : If you only travel occasionally and prefer to earn rewards elsewhere, the American Express Gold Card could be a good option. This card offers 4x points at restaurants, 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 a year), 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and 1x points on everything else.

You can also earn 60,000 Amex Membership Rewards points if you spend $6,000 within three months of card opening. This card has a $250 annual fee. (See rates and fees .)

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers.

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American express platinum card review: the travel card with luxury perks, select breaks down the rewards, benefits and fees associated with the amex platinum card to help you decide if it's right for you..

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit  americanexpress.com  to learn more.

If you prefer to travel in style, a luxury travel card , such as The Platinum Card® from American Express , offers cardholders a host of high-end perks — but at a high cost.

Cardholders can benefit from top-notch benefits, like airport lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit , annual airline fee credits , hotel credits and Uber credits that help offset the card's $695 annual fee ( see rates and fees ).

When CNBC Select crunched the numbers and analyzed over 200 cards, we found that consumers can earn competitive rewards with The Platinum Card® over a five-year period. (See our methodology for more information.)

Below, we break down the rewards, benefits and fees associated with The Platinum Card® to help you decide if it's the right card for you.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

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, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Balance transfer fee

Foreign transaction fee, credit needed.

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees , terms apply.

Read our The Platinum Card® from American Express review .

• Up to $200 in annual airline fee credits
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• Get up to $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®.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive a statement credit that covers the full cost each month. $12.95 plus applicable taxes. Plus Up Benefits not eligible.
• $695 annual fee
• No special financing offers on new purchases

The Platinum Card from American Express review

Benefits and perks, how to earn and redeem membership rewards® points, rates and fees, card comparison, bottom line.

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers one of the largest welcome offers available. New cardholders can currently earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of card membership.

American Express Membership Rewards points are worth  between 0.5 cents and 2 cents apiece. You'll generally get the most value when transferring your points to Amex's airline and hotel partners, meaning the 80,000 bonus points could be worth around $1,600 in travel.

Although the $8,000 spending threshold is high, you'll have six months to meet that requirement, so you can think of it as spending around $1,333 per month for six months. The average American spends around $2,000 per month according to Esri , making this requirement more feasible than it initially seems.

The Platinum Card® from American Express has over a dozen premium perks that can allow you to travel in luxury and benefit from insurance and protection. Here are the most notable benefits.

Statement credits

• Up to $200 Uber credit: Receive Uber VIP status and a $15 credit each month for U.S. rides and Uber Eats, plus a bonus of $20 in December. Benefits renew annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms apply.
• $200 airline fee credit: Receive up to $200 in statement credits annually for incidentals, such as checked bags, in-flight refreshments, and other fees after you select an eligible airline.
• $200 hotel credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which require a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $100 Saks credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or Saks.com. Enrollment required.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $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. Perks include free shipping with no order minimums and a free Paramount+ subscription. The cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups are excluded. Subject to auto-renewal.
• Up to $100 for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry: Receive a statement credit for Global Entry ($100 every 4 years,) or TSA PreCheck , (up to $85 every 4.5 years, through a TSA official enrollment provider) for expedited airport security and expedited U.S. customs screening when charged to your Platinum Card®. Because TSA PreCheck is included with Global Entry , it is advantageous to apply for Global Entry and maximize the credit. (Read how to apply for Global Entry .)
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your Card and get up to $189 back per year in statement credit to apply for CLEAR® Plus, a biometric security program located at airports and stadiums across the U.S. Subject to auto-renewal.

These credits alone can be worth over $1,500 when fully maximized, helping offset the card's annual fee.

Additional cardmember benefits

• American Express Global Lounge Collection: Access to over 1,400 airport lounges in more than 140 countries around the world, including access to Amex Centurion Lounges , Delta SkyClubs when flying Delta Air Lines, Plaza Premium Lounges and more.
• Cell phone insurance: Pay for your wireless bill with your card and be covered for the repair or replacement costs of your cell phone after damage or theft occurs, up to $800 per claim with a limit of two approved claims per year — note that each claim will also incur a $50 deductible charge.
• Complimentary elite status in select travel programs: Cardholders can upgrade to gold status in the Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors programs, as well as automatic status with Avis, Hertz and National. The elite statuses can help you score upgrades, late check-out, bonus points, preferential treatment and more.
• Fine Hotels + Resorts: Book hotel stays with the Fine Hotels + Resorts program to get benefits such as room upgrades, late check-out, early check-in, complimentary breakfast for two and a $100 hotel credit (based on availability).
• The Hotel Collection: Book hotel stays with The Hotel Collection to receive complimentary benefits, including room upgrades, free breakfast for two, late check-out, early check-in and up to a $100 hotel credit, when available. Minimum stay of two consecutive nights is required.
• Amex International Airline Program: Get discounts on premium cabin international flights booked through American Express Travel.
• Premium Private Jet Program: A 20% discount on Wheels Up Connect and a 40% discount on Wheels Up Core memberships, plus a credit of $500 or $2,000 to put toward your first flight.
• Comprehensive protections: Access to a variety of shopping and travel protections, including purchase protection, extended warranty coverage trip cancellation and interruption coverage, trip delay and baggage insurance and car rental loss and damage insurance.
• Amex Offers: Receive exclusive shopping discounts at select retailers through Amex Offers . These offers typically give you a set dollar amount of cash back, credited to your account within 90 days after you meet the requirements.
• Global Dining Access by Resy: Get special access to reservations and experiences at popular restaurants, and the opportunity to meet the chefs at exclusive events.
• Entertainment access: Receive access to exclusive entertainment events , presales and preferred seating for concerts, sporting events, and more in select cities. (Check out the best credit cards for entertainment spending .)
• By Invitation Only® events: Enjoy exclusive events from sporting and fashion to fine dining, art and performances.
• American Express Platinum Concierge: Enjoy access to a 24-hour team of experts who can assist with a range of requests, ranging from help making dinner reservations to purchasing tickets to a sought-after event.

Terms apply for all benefits.

Earning Amex Membership Rewards ® points

By spending with The Platinum Card® from American Express , you'll earn:

• 5X points per dollar for flights booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel, up to $500,000 per calendar year
• 5X points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked via American Express Travel
• 1X points per dollar for all other eligible purchases

To earn the most rewards for your travel purchases, you have to book travel with American Express Travel or directly with the airline. If you book airfare and hotels through third-party sites, such as Expedia or Booking.com, or directly with hotel chains, such as Hilton, you'll only earn 1X points.

Redeeming Membership Rewards ® points

Membership Rewards® points can be put toward a wide range of redemption options , including:

• Transferring them to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Redeeming them for travel through Amextravel.com
• Covering charges on your American Express credit card
• Paying with points at checkout with retailers such as Best Buy, Amazon and Dell, among others
• Redeeming them for gift cards, exclusive access to entertainment experiences and using them for Preferred Seating at certain sports and cultural events
• Purchasing merchandise directly through American Express

However, you'll generally get the greatest value by transferring your Membership Rewards® points directly to a partner airline or hotel loyalty program, such as the following airline partners:

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Aeromexico Premier
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
• ANA Mileage Club
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• Delta SkyMiles
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad Guest
• Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Singapore KrisFlyer
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Hotel loyalty program partners include the following:

• Choice Privileges
• Hilton Honors
• Marriott Bonvoy

To transfer your points, all you need to do is connect the loyalty program for your airline or hotel program of choice in the American Express customer portal, then transfer over the number of points needed for your booking. Most programs will show your points transfer immediately, while some may take a few days to process the transaction.

While this may seem like a cumbersome process, it's a great way to score premium travel perks such as luxury hotel suites and first-class flights for free (or almost free) using your points.

For example, you can transfer Membership Rewards points to Air Canada Aeroplan to book short-haul domestic United award flights from just 6,000 points each way in economy or 15,000 points each way in business class.

If you wanted to fly business class from the U.S. to Europe in a luxury Delta One Suite, which typically costs thousands of dollars, you could transfer 50,000 points to Virgin Atlantic since it's one of Delta's partners. So, The Platinum Card® from American Express ' 80,000-point welcome bonus would be enough to book a round-trip business class ticket. Of course, you could also transfer your points directly to Delta SkyMiles, though that program typically charges more for premium cabin award flights.

Meanwhile, British Airways and Etihad are great programs for booking American Airlines flights.

Learn more: Here's the best way to redeem Amex Membership Rewards points

This card has a steep $695 annual fee, but if you take advantage of all the annual statement credits, you can more than offset the cost. It has no foreign transaction fees ( see rates and fees ).

There is no regular purchase APR, you're required to pay your bill in full every month and you can't do balance transfers. However, Amex provides a Pay Over Time feature where eligible purchases over $100 can benefit from payment flexibility, with interest. See rates and fees for the Pay Over Time APR.

The Platinum Card® from American Express vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase sapphire reserve®.

Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025

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 Travel℠.

22.49% - 29.49% variable

5%, minimum $5

Credit needed

Terms apply.

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.

• $300 annual travel credit for travel purchases
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every four years
• Priority Pass™ Select lounge access at 1,000+ VIP lounges in over 500 cities worldwide
• Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Travel℠
• Special benefits at The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
• Complimentary year of Lyft Pink membership
• High annual fee, but it can be offset by taking advantage of all the card’s perks
• No introductory APR
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,469
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $3,346

Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus

If you've been researching The Platinum Card® from American Express , you've probably come across the Chase Sapphire Reserve .

It has a slightly lower $550 annual fee and also comes with a long list of luxury travel benefits, including a $300 travel credit, airport lounge access through Priority Pass, TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry credit, travel insurance , rental car insurance and more. It also provides statement credits with DoorDash and Instacart, but overall, it offers fewer lifestyle benefits than the Platinum Card.

However, the Sapphire Reserve gets a slight edge for offering 3X points on all travel and dining purchases, and not just trips booked directly through the airline or American Express Travel.

American Express Membership Rewards and Ultimate Rewards® both offer a range of airline and hotel transfer partners so you'll want to evaluate how you'll redeem points to decide which program is more useful to you.

The Platinum Card® from American Express vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital one venture x rewards credit card.

Unlimited 2X miles on all eligible purchases, and 5 Miles per dollar on flights and 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booked via Capital One Travel portal

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

Foreign transaction fees

Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review.

• Large welcome bonus
• No foreign transaction fees
• Up to $100 statement credits for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• High annual fee
• No introductory 0% APR period

The  Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees ) is another premium travel card available to consumers.

It has a much lower  $395 annual fee (see rates and fees ), which can be offset by a $300 Capital One Travel annual credit to use toward purchases made through Capital One Travel and 10,000 bonus anniversary miles (worth at least $100 toward travel). Several of the travel benefits overlap with The Platinum Card, including a TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry credit, airport lounge access and automatic Hertz elite status. The card also offer several lifestyle benefits, including cell phone insurance* and access to exclusive dining, entertainment and sports experiences through the Capital One Experiences and Capital One Dining programs.

*Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

Ultimately, one is not necessarily better than the other, as both cards target slightly different audiences.

The Capital One Venture X is a great choice if you're purely after travel benefits and want a lower annual fee. However, the Platinum ultimately has more diverse perks than the Venture X, including better airport lounge access and complimentary hotel elite status with Hilton and Marriott, as well as all of the everyday benefits, such as the Uber and digital entertainment credits.

Most will have an easier time recouping the cost of the annual fee with the Venture X's simple travel credit and anniversary miles, but the  Amex Platinum has the potential to provide more value if fully maximized.

Other options

If you don't want to pay $695 for a card, consider the American Express® Gold Card , which has a lower $250 annual fee ( see rates and fees ). The fee is more manageable, and you can still benefit from many of the same perks, such as Amex Offers, ShopRunner and The Hotel Collection . Terms apply.

American Express® Gold Card

4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Not applicable

Read our American Express® Gold Card review .

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a top-notch travel card that can add comfort and convenience to your travels. In addition to travel perks like lounge access and automatic hotel elite status, it offers many lifestyle benefits like credits towards an Equinox gym membership, Uber credits and cell phone protection. Although the annual fee is steep, cardholders who take advantage of the numerous annual statement credits , travel perks and shopping features can easily offset it and maximize the card's benefits.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every airline credit card   review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card   products .  While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Our methodology

To determine which credit cards offer the best value, CNBC Select analyzed 234 of the most popular credit cards available in the U.S. We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fee and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is for the consumer to redeem points.

CNBC Select teamed up with location intelligence firm Esri . The company's data development team provided the most up-to-date and comprehensive consumer spending data based on the 2019 Consumer Expenditure Surveys from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can read more about their methodology here .

Esri's data team created a sample annual budget of approximately $22,126 in retail spending. The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). General purchases include items such as housekeeping supplies, clothing, personal care products, prescription drugs and vitamins, and other vehicle expenses.

Select used this budget to estimate how much the average consumer would save over the course of a year, two years and five years, assuming they would attempt to maximize their rewards potential by earning all welcome bonuses offered and using the card for all applicable purchases. All rewards total estimations are net the annual fee.

While the five-year estimates we've included are derived from a budget similar to the average American's spending, you may earn a higher or lower return depending on your shopping habits.

Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of  personal finance ,  tech and tools ,  wellness  and more, and follow us on  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

For rates and fees of The Platinum® Card from American Express, click here .

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here .

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply. Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms appl y.

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The Platinum Card® from American Express Review: How I Use It to Upgrade Rooms, Maintain Airline Status, and More

By Sheryl Bond

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Condé Nast Traveler has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Condé Nast Traveler and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. We don't review or include all companies, or all available products. Moreover, the editorial content on this page was not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are entirely those of Condé Nast Traveler's editorial team.

UPDATE: Welcome offers for the cards listed below may be out of date. Confirm the current welcome offers on each card issuer's site

We have been together for 21 years. It was not love at first sight; I thought you were out of my league. You now have my heart and my wallet . When I first discovered American Express , I did not understand the difference between credit and charge cards. After completing a debt management program with Consumer Credit Counseling in 1995, I used cash for six years to pay for all goods and services. In 2001, I finally applied for the American Express Green Card. In 2003, I upgraded to Gold and finally moved up to Platinum in 2006.

It was not until I started carrying The Platinum Card® from American Express that I began traveling, and now that I understand the travel rewards game, I can play. Read on for my review of the card and how I make the most of its many benefits.

Is the American Express Platinum Card worth the $695 annual fee?

Yes—the $600 in airline fee, hotel, and Uber Cash credits (terms apply; enrollment required) alone are worth the annual fee. But also consider splitting the costs: You can add an authorized user to your card for $195. I recruited my sisters to join me and my son in 2021 when the Platinum Card fee increased from $550 to $695. We split the $870 total between the four of us. (See the Platinum Card's rates and fees .)

Thanks to her card, Bond took $200 off her hotel stay at SLS Baha Mar and received a $100 experience credit to use during her stay.

Platinum Card travel benefits and perks

The Platinum Card has more than 20 travel benefits and perks —here is how I use a few of the most valuable ones. (Terms apply to travel benefits and perks; enrollment is required.)

My most used benefit is the $200 annual Uber Cash credit. I take a ride share to and from the airport when a complimentary hotel shuttle is unavailable. The credit breaks down to $15 per month with an extra $20 in December. If I don't spend the credit on transportation, I use it to order food through Uber Eats.

Then there is the annual hotel credit: I took advantage of the $200 credit for my prepaid two-night stay in the Bahamas at SLS Baha Mar . Because SLS is in the American Express Hotel Collection, I received a $100 experience credit to spend at designated restaurants, spas, or resort activities. When I checked in, an upgrade was available to an ocean view room, another benefit of reserving rooms in the Hotel Collection.

To avoid the stress of long lines while going through security screenings, my family takes advantage of the PreCheck credit. When you pay for a Known Traveler Number with your Platinum Card, you will receive an $85 credit. My son and I were both approved for TSA PreCheck and received an adjustment on our cards. Global Entry and Clear credits are available too.

Another major perk of the card is access to the Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion, Escape, and Priority Pass Lounges. For now, two guests can tag along at no additional cost. If the rules change for lounge access, my authorized users can still enter because they have the same lounge benefits as me. On a recent trip to Las Vegas , my guest and I arrived at the Centurion Lounge in time to enjoy breakfast and lunch. The meals and cocktails would have cost more than $100. If your flight is on Delta, you will receive complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club. However, your guests will need to pay the $39 fee.

For those looking to maintain airline status, here is a travel hack that involves using the lounge perk: If it’s close to the end of the year and I’m short on segments, I will find a cheap flight on Southwest, fly early in the morning, hang out in a lounge, and take a flight home later that day. I do not spend money on food or waste points on a hotel, but I earn flights to keep my A-List status .

You can also use this hack to qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass Promotion every September to allow a companion to fly with you for free (taxes and fees apply) for two months starting in January. To take advantage of the promotion, register your Rapid Rewards number, purchase a round-trip or two one-way flights, and travel by the designated date. (To note, you cannot use points to book.) If you are not a Rapid Rewards member, register for free.

Because two checked bags fly free, I use the $200 airline fee credit to purchase alcoholic beverages on Southwest. You can also change your preferred airline every year in the benefits section of your AmEx portal. If you fly Delta, you may want to choose the airline as your preferred carrier and use the airline $39 fee credit to pay for your guest to enter the Sky Club.

Harrison Pierce

María Casbas

CNT Editors

When I checked in at the Marriott for a timeshare vacation package in August, I informed the front desk clerk of my Gold Elite Status. She upgraded my room from the seventh to the 30 th floor, where I watched the sunrise every morning. In addition, you also receive automatic Gold Status with Hilton Honors . However, you must be a member of each hotel reward program and enroll online or call the American Express Platinum Card Service for it to be enabled.

Current welcome offer

As of publication, new cardholders can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases within their first six months of card membership.

How to earn points

Cardholders earn 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, as well as 5x points on hotels booked with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year). While not as steep, you can earn 1x membership rewards points by paying for recurring expenses like cell phone and internet bills with your card. I set up my home security system and mobile accounts for autopay, and my son also uses autopay for streaming services with no added charge. 

For those who are members of a Dining Rewards Program with a specific airline or hotel, know that you can link your Platinum Card to the program, too. You will earn both AmEx Membership Rewards points and points for your specific loyalty program. Lastly, it's worth noting I also earn points on all my authorized users' purchases.

How to spend/redeem points

You can use membership rewards points to pay eligible charges on the card, at check-out with select merchants, buy gift cards, book travel, or transfer points. Stack your benefits! Occasionally, I redeem points for Uber gift cards to add to my Uber account. I saved $354 off the cost of my reservation at SLS Baha Mar when I used the $200 Hotel Credit and applied 22,000 membership rewards points to the booking. Finally, I purchase and share Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy gift cards with my authorized users.

The bottom line

American Express was the first company to offer me a card in 1986 after graduating from college. More than 20 years later, the Platinum Card is my ultimate travel card. On a trip to Washington, D.C., I booked a room at the Waldorf Astoria and walked straight to the Smithsonian Institution Museums. I also reserved a room at Lotte New York Palace and crossed the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade off my bucket list. I “ don't live life without it ,” and my travels have been elevated ever since.

See rates and fees for the Platinum Card here .

Condé Nast Traveler has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Condé Nast Traveler and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.  

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The Platinum Card® from American Express Review: Luxury travel at a justifiable cost

Written by: Emily Sherman

Edited by: Brendan Dyer

Reviewed by: Stephanie Zito

Partner Offer: Terms Apply to the offers on this page

In a Nutshell:

The $695 annual fee might set your head spinning, but the massive list of perks and benefits that come with American Express’s top-of-the-line card offers plenty of value for the luxury traveler.

See if you’re prequalified for The Platinum Card® from American Express with CardMatch™

Learn more about this card

Other Notable Features: Free airport lounge access, $189 Clear Plus credit, $100 Global Entry or $85 TSA Precheck credit, no foreign transaction fees ( see rates and fees ), up to $200 Uber credit (benefit renews annually), up to $200 hotel credit (requires a minimum two-night stay), up to $240 digital entertainment credits, up to $300 Equinox credit per calendar year on eligible memberships, Hilton Honors gold status, Uber VIP status, platinum concierge service, car rental insurance, car rental perks and discounts, luxury hotel perks and discounts, exclusive events and services, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay insurance, purchase protections, up to $100 Sake Fifth Avenue credit

Depending on your spending habits and travel goals, the Amex Platinum card can easily be one of the best travel rewards credit cards out there. It boasts an impressive list of premium lifestyle and travel benefits that will appeal to people who enjoy traveling in style and comfort. On top of its generous annual credits, the card is one of the best available when it comes to complimentary lounge access .

But these perks don’t come cheap: The Amex Platinum Card’s annual fee is a steep $695. Plus, some of the credits that come with the card will only be useful to people – potentially a limited number of people – interested in offers like fitness club and Walmart+ memberships. If you can’t take advantage of all the premium perks, you might be better off with a travel card with a smaller price tag.

• Carries thousands of dollars worth of travel and lifestyle credits, which gives users plenty of chances to offset the annual fee
• Complimentary access to the largest number of airport lounges of any travel credit card
• Automatic elite status with two of the largest hotel networks, giving travelers the freedom to stay in more places—and enjoy upgraded perks
• Flexibility: Redeem points for gift cards, shopping, travel, entertainment, merchandise or charity
• Versatility: Transfer points to a host of airline partners to find the best value
• High annual fee: If the majority of discounts and upgrades that come with the card don’t fit your lifestyle, it will be difficult to offset the annual fee
• Low rewards rates: Other premium travel cards with smaller annual fees offer higher travel rewards in select areas and include non-travel categories like dining, which can make it easier to earn rewards quicker
• Not all of the credits will have broad appeal, which will decrease the card’s value for a lot of users

Why you might want the Platinum Card from American Express

While it’s hard to justify a nearly $700 annual fee, American Express provides plenty of value with added perks that more than make up for the cost of the card. From generous travel credits to elite status with two of the largest hotel brands, the Platinum card is designed to take the stress out of vacationing, and it could be exactly what you need to make your dream trip a reality in 2022. Additionally, the card retains decent value with rewards rates for travel purchases and a welcome bonus.

Generous welcome offer

The  introductory offer on the Platinum card is among the best available among rewards cards in its class – 80,000 points if you spend $8,000 in the first six months. While that’s down 20,000 points from the card’s previous offer, it’s still very valuable. If you redeem your points for airfare through American Express Travel you can easily get multiple round-trip flights out of the bonus (points are worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed through American Express Travel, so the welcome bonus would be worth $800 if used in this way).

Although the bonus spending requirement is on the higher side at an $8,000 minimum spend, you’ll still enjoy a full six months to earn the bonus, which is double the timeframe typically offered on rewards cards.

Luxury Lounge access

One of the plushest benefits of the Amex Platinum card is access to the entire American Express Global Lounge collection, covering more than 1,000 airports around the world. This includes Priority Pass, Delta Sky Club and Airspace lounges, as well as Amex-exclusive Centurion Lounges. Both the primary cardholder and authorized users get access to these lounges, along with two guests apiece (keep in mind that you’ll have to pay a $195 fee to add authorized users; see rates and fees ).

A prized perk on travel cards, airport lounges can help take the stress out of travel and often feature benefits like complimentary food and beverages, Wi-Fi access, quiet workspaces and sometimes even individual rooms or shower facilities.

The Platinum card includes one of the most extensive offerings of any travel credit card, so the card is certainly worth a look for frequent travelers who put a premium on this benefit.

Plenty of transfer partners for airfare

American Express also offers an extensive list of travel partners for Amex Platinum cardholders. This includes major airline and hotel programs, making it easy to apply rewards toward travel to any destination. Frequent flyers of Delta Airlines may be particularly interested in the Platinum card because, as a special partner of Delta, Amex offers point transfer to Delta as well as Delta Sky Club access for all Platinum cardholders.

Most transfers happen at a 1:1 rate, but it’s possible to get twice as much value out of your points. Depending on the airline transfer partner, Amex’s Membership Rewards can be worth an average of 2 cents apiece, according to the latest valuations by The Points Guy . Frequent flyers who can take advantage of that rate will get far more value out of the Platinum card’s rewards program.

American Express transfer partners

Top-of-the-line luxury perks.

Although the Platinum card doesn’t have a very impressive rewards program, the card more than makes up for its annual fee with upfront perks for all cardholders. Some of the most valuable benefits include:

• Up to $200 airline fee credit – Incidental travel fees with one airline are eligible for a credit of up to $200 when you pay using your Platinum card.
• $189 Clear Plus credit and $100 Global Entry or $85 TSA Precheck credit – Receive credits for the Clear Plus  biometric screening program and for Global Entry or TSA Precheck  as long as you charge the application fee to your Platinum card. Any of these could save you significant time while traveling.
• Up to $200 in Uber cash credits – Each month, you can receive up to $15 in Uber credits (U.S. rides only). In December, you’ll get a bonus $20 in addition to your usual $15 – for up to $200 in credits yearly (on U.S rides and eats). Plus, you’ll receive automatic Uber VIP status with the service’s loyalty program. Benefit renews annually.
• Up to $200 hotel credit  – Use your Platinum card and you can receive $200 back as a statement credit each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings when you pay with your card (requires a minimum two-night stay).
• Elite hotel status – Platinum cardholders are automatically granted Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, which comes with enhanced room upgrades when available. You also get Gold status with Hilton Honors , which comes with benefits such as free Wi-Fi, late checkout and room upgrades (upon availability, enrollment required).
• Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit  – Frequent shoppers of Saks Fifth Avenue will enjoy savings, thanks to up to $100 in statement credits for Saks Fifth Avenue purchases. Platinum cardholders are eligible for one $50 credit from January through June and another $50 credit from July through December (enrollment required).
• Up to $240 digital entertainment credit –You’ll get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you use your card to pay for purchases with Peacock, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, and The New York Times (enrollment required).
• Up to $300 Equinox statement credit per calendar year – On eligible Equinox memberships, you can choose from a digital or in-club membership with this ultra-posh fitness club and you’ll get up to $300 back per year when you use your Platinum card to pay for the service (enrollment required, subject to auto-renewal, see offer terms for details).
• $155 Walmart+ credit – The cost of your monthly subscription to Walmart+ is reimbursed as a statement credit when you use the Platinum card to pay (credit does not apply if you pay annually). Subscription is subject to auto-renewal and Plus Up benefits are excluded.

This extensive list of perks is by far the most intriguing feature of the Amex Platinum card – as it includes some of the most generous credits and protections among any travel card. If you’re wondering whether the Amex Platinum card is worth its annual fee , consider the full value of all the perks combined:

As you can see, if you take advantage of most of these benefits you can easily justify the annual fee. Even if you ignore perks explicitly related to flying, you should come close to covering the annual fee.

Additional benefits

On top of the luxury perks, the Platinum card comes with a number of travel and consumer features that can help save you money and make your life easier.

• No foreign transaction fees – Unlike many credit cards, the Amex Platinum doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee. Just keep in mind American Express cards are not accepted as widely abroad as they are in the U.S.
• Cardholder referral bonuses : American Express offers a fair bonus for referring your friends and family for an Amex Platinum card. Cardholders who refer friends and family (who are approved then for and open a card account) can earn up to 15,000 points for each approval (with a maximum of 225,000 points per year).
• Car rental insurance – If you use your Platinum card to pay for your rental car, you can receive secondary coverage for loss and damage.
• Purchase protection – If you charge an eligible purchase to your Platinum card, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per claim (up to $50,000 per calendar year) in the case of accidental damage or theft.
• Return protection – Any eligible purchases charged entirely to your Platinum card include return coverage to 90 days ($300 max per item, $1,000 max per year).
• Baggage insurance – For trips paid entirely with your Platinum card, American Express provides secondary coverage for baggage insurance in case of loss by the carrier.
• Cellphone insurance – Pay your monthly cellphone bill with the Amex Platinum and you’ll enjoy $800 of cellphone protection per claim ($1,600 per 12-month period) should your phone be stolen or damaged (subject to a $50 deductible).

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company and Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

See related : American Express card benefits

Excellent customer experience

Cardholders can expect the highest level of service with the Amex Platinum card. American Express has one of the best reputations among credit card issuers for customer experience, scoring an 838 on J.D. Power’s 2021 customer satisfaction survey (first place among 11 major issuers). The American Express mobile app is also highly rated – 4.1 out of 5 in the Google Play Store and 4.9 out of 5 in the Apple App Store.

In addition, American Express offers 24/7 customer service, including a chat feature on its website. This makes it easy to quickly find the answers to simple questions.

See if you’re preapproved before applying

Luckily,  American Express offers preapproval  on many of its cards, including the Amex Platinum. It’s also worth checking the CreditCards.com  CardMatch  tool to see if you have a prequalified offer on the Amex Platinum, as this won’t have any impact on your credit score and should give you a better idea of where you stand before you apply.

The Amex Platinum card is designed for users with excellent credit (above 670), so you will want to ensure you meet those qualifications before you apply. Since the Platinum card has a high annual fee, you are more likely to be approved if you’ve demonstrated a history of on-time payments and responsible credit card use.

Why you might want a different rewards card

For all it offers with perks, benefits and airline and hotel transfers, the Platinum card from American Express fails to offer competitive rewards rates on purchases. Its lack of bonus categories stands out in a cards landscape full of generous offerings from competing issuers, and on top of that, the card’s base point value and flexibility just don’t measure up to other card offerings.

Low rewards earning potential

The earning rates on the Amex Platinum card are not as impressive as those on other Amex cards or competing rewards cards from other issuers. You’ll still earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year) as well as 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. That doesn’t top the rewards offered by other premium travel cards.

For a slightly smaller $550 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve also offers 5X points on flights, but goes further by offering 10X points on hotels and car rentals—all when booked through the Chase Travel℠ portal.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card also matches the 5X miles on flights when booked through Capital One Travel. And like the Sapphire Reserve, it offers 10X miles on hotels and rental cars. But the Venture X tops both cards by offering a flat rate of 2X miles on all other purchases and only charging an annual fee of $395.

Even for frequent travelers, the Platinum card’s bonus categories don’t make it easy to rake in the rewards. And if you’re not taking advantage of the credits offered by the Platinum, you may get better value with a card like the Sapphire Reserve or Venture X, which let you rack up bonus points quickly.

See related: How to earn and use Membership Rewards points

Comparatively poor point value

American Express Membership Rewards are worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed through American Express Travel. That alone isn’t all that impressive compared to other rewards cards. But to make matters worse, some redemption options are worth even less than 1 cent.

Amex Platinum redemption options

See related : What credit score is required for Amex cards?

While some other travel cards offer a 1 cent per point value for statement credits, the Platinum only earns 0.6 cents – making it difficult to use your points for anything other than booking flights. Other luxury travel cards – like the Chase Sapphire Reserve – even offer a higher than 1 cent point value when you redeem for travel purchases through its rewards portal.

High annual fee

The annual fee for this card is at the top of the list for most expensive cards to hold. It’s possible to easily offset this fee by the value of perks provided by American Express, but if you don’t plan to take advantage of the luxury perks and other benefits provided, then the value of this card is not nearly as justified as it is on cards with more diverse rewards programs and lower annual fees.

How does the Amex Platinum compare with other premium rewards cards?

Our team of  credit card experts researched over 130 rewards cards to see where the Amex Platinum ranks among cards in its category. As you might expect, though the Amex Platinum offers some of the most generous travel credits and plush benefits of any luxury rewards card, it carries a much higher annual fee than other luxury credit cards.

The card’s average earning rate is also on the lower side for a rewards cards based on the average person’s spending, which could make it difficult to rack up a significant points balance if you aren’t a frequent traveler. That said, the card stands head-and-shoulders above the majority of rewards cards when it comes to both its welcome bonus and annual bonus (factoring in the value of perks like Uber credits and Priority Pass membership).

If you are looking forward to more travel this year and beyond and feel confident you’ll take advantage of the luxury perks that come with the Amex Platinum, the annual fee should not deter you, as the value of these perks and the rewards you’ll earn on travel can easily cover the cost. But if you’d rather maximize points than enjoy perks like Centurion lounge access or the Delta Sky Club, you might be better off with another travel card. Here are some of our favorite alternatives.

The Platinum Card from American Express vs. The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the most popular luxury travel cards thanks to a number of features, including its flexible $300 annual travel credit – which can be applied to any travel purchase.

It also has a competitive rewards rate on dining purchases in addition to its elevated rewards for travel purchases, making it easier to rack up points compared to the Platinum card. The Sapphire Reserve’s points are also more valuable: When you are ready to redeem your points, they have a 1.5 cent value when redeemed for travel through the Chase Chase Travel℠ portal.

Like the Platinum card, the Sapphire Reserve offers Priority Pass lounge access and a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck. Both cards also come with hefty annual fees. So deciding between the two will come down to which features matter most to you.

See related : Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Platinum\

The Platinum Card from American Express vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Card

The Venture X has a much smaller annual fee of $395 but still manages to pack in plenty of luxury features. On paper, these perks fall short of those found on the Amex Platinum card, but may be more than enough for some travelers.

To start, cardmembers should have an easier time racking up miles since the Venture X lets you earn rewards at double the Amex Platinum card’s rate on hotels, rental cars and general purchases. That earning potential, along with the Venture X card’s annual travel credit and annual anniversary bonus miles can easily  offset the card’s annual fee.

The Venture X also comes with unlimited complimentary lounge access for you and your guests at over 1,300 Priority Pass lounges and for you and two guests at the Capital One Lounge (currently only open at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, with other locations expected to open later this year). You also get elite car rental status with Hertz and Visa Infinite benefits , which include numerous protections like lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, cellphone protection, complimentary concierge service, as well as purchase, extended warranty, and return protections.

As added incentive, Capital One also provides free Venture X cards for additional members. That’s an incredible savings compared to the Platinum Card’s $195 fee for additional members, which increases the amount of effort needed to offset all the fees you’ll pay if you want to add on cardmembers.

All told, the Venture X is a great option for people looking for a premium travel rewards credit card. It provides plenty of value at a lower cost, compared to the Platinum card and does a good job of providing a broad range of popular travel and consumer benefits. Frequent travelers would be wise to compare the benefits offered by both cards to see which one has the right amount of features to fit their needs.

The Platinum Card from American Express vs. The American Express Gold Card

The American Express Gold card has a significantly lower fee than the Platinum and it offers many of the same perks – including car rental insurance, purchase protection and Hotel Collection benefits. The annual credits are slightly lower, however.

Despite that one shortcoming, the Amex Gold card’s rewards rate makes it much easier to stockpile Membership Rewards points. Cardholders earn 4X points at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 a year in U.S. supermarket purchases, then 1X). Users also earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com and 1X points on general purchases. If you spend a significant amount on groceries or dining out, you might be able to rack up rewards faster with the Gold card over the Platinum card.

See related : American Express® Gold Card vs. Platinum Card® from American Express

How to use the Platinum Card from American Express

• Take advantage of as many of the credits and features as possible to help offset the annual fee.
• Make sure to enroll to get Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.
• You can add an authorized user for $195 ( see rates and fees ), to give them access to the card’s benefits.
• Review additional benefits like purchase protection and baggage insurance to make sure you don’t miss out on these perks.
• Link the card to your Uber account to receive up to $200 in Uber Cash credits per year (benefit renews annually).
• If you don’t have enough Membership Rewards points for airfare, you can use a smaller number of points for an  airline upgrade  (though you’ll get less value for your points with this option).

Is the Platinum Card from American Express right for you?

While it doesn’t have the best rewards rate among travel cards, the Amex Platinum card is a great choice for frequent travelers who will make use of its numerous travel credits and protections. Even considering the card’s recent annual fee increase, if you use the card for all your travel purchases and take full advantage of these benefits, it can be more than worth it.

But if you don’t spend heavily on travel or don’t think you need amenities like airport lounge access or credits for airline incidental fees or expedited security screening, you may be better off with a lower-cost rewards card that earns more generously on purchases you make.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card from American Express, please click here

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

All reviews are prepared by CreditCards.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the bank’s website for the most current information.

Responses to comments in the discussion section below are not provided, reviewed, approved, endorsed or commissioned by our financial partners. It is not our partner’s responsibility to ensure all posts or questions are answered.

CreditCards.com is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditCards.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and the likelihood of applicants' credit approval also impact how and where products appear on this site. CreditCards.com does not include the entire universe of available financial or credit offers. CCDC has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.

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• American Express

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card

American Express is globally known for its range of premium credit cards, and the air mile benefits they offer. In India, American Express has only one offering in the travel category- The American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card, which is among the most premium AmEx Credit Cards.

It comes with attractive welcome benefits and plenty of milestone benefits in the form of Membership Rewards Points, which can be redeemed not just for travel-related expenses like booking air tickets, hotels, and cars on the Amex Travel Online portal but also for shopping vouchers at online shopping sites, and e-vouchers on American Express’s online shopping portal. You can even make credit card bill payments under Amex’s Cash + Points scheme. However, under the Cash + Points scheme, 1000 Membership Rewards Points are equivalent to Rs. 250. Apart from the welcome and milestone benefits, you also earn 1 Membership Rewards Points for every Rs. 50 spent using the card (with a few exceptions).

Joining Fee

Renewal fee, best suited for, reward type.

Reward Points

Welcome Benefits

Movie & dining.

Up to 20% discount at select restaurants.

Rewards Rate

1 Membership Rewards Points for every Rs. 50 spent

Reward Redemption

Membership Rewards Points can be redeemed for online shopping vouchers, INSTA rewards for offline purchases, transfer to various flight and hotel loyalty programmes and for making credit card bill payments under the Cash + Points scheme.

Complimentary domestic airport lounge access per year and Priority Pass membership for international lounge access.

Domestic Lounge Access

2 Domestic Lounge Access Every Quarter (8 Each Year)

International Lounge Access

Priority Pass Membership (lounge access program) with USD 99 annual fee waived off.

Insurance Benefits

Zero liability protection.

No liability on cardholder for fraudulent use provided the loss of card is reported within 3 days. Liability limited to Rs. 1000 if loss of card reported after 3 days.

Spend Based Waiver

Rewards redemption fee, foreign currency markup.

3.5% of the transaction amount

Interest Rates

3.5% per month

Fuel Surcharge

No fuel surcharge at HPCL fuel stations for transactions of up to Rs. 5,000, 1% surcharge on transactions above Rs. 5,000

Cash Advance Charges

3.5% of the transaction amount subject to a minimum charge of Rs. 250.

Add-on Card Fee

Nil up to 2 add-on cards, Rs. 1500/card thereafter.

• Welcome Gift of 10,000 Membership Rewards Points.
• 1 Membership Rewards Points for every Rs. 50 spent.
• Rewards Points-based Milestone benefits on reaching milestones like expenditure of Rs. 1.9 lakh / 4 lakh in a membership year.
• Complimentary Taj Stay voucher on expenditure of Rs. 4 lakh in a membership year.
• 8 domestic airport lounge access every year (max 2 per quarter).
• 0% convenience fee at all HPCL fuel stations across India.

American Express Platinum Travel Card Features and Benefits

Being one of the premium credit cards issued by American Express, the Platinum Travel Card offers some great privileges across different categories, especially travel. To understand all the features and benefits of this card in detail, refer to the detailed information provided further in the article:

You get 10,000 American Express Membership Rewards Points as a welcome benefit, which can be redeemed on e-commerce websites like Flipkart for shopping e-vouchers from Amex’s store and for payment towards your card’s statement balance under the Cash + Points scheme. You get this welcome benefit only if you spend at least Rs 5,000 in the first 3 months of the card’s issuance.

Milestone Benefits

• If you spend Rs. 1.9 lakh in a year, you are entitled to 15,000 Membership Rewards Points worth up to Rs. 4,500 (for redemption against Flipkart voucher or Pay with Points on AmEx Travel Online).
• Expenditure of Rs. 4 lakh entitles you to 25,000 Membership Rewards Points worth up to Rs. 7,500 (for redemption against Flipkart voucher or Pay with Points on AmEx Travel Online) and an additional Taj Stay Voucher worth Rs. 10,000.

Travel Benefits

• It’s a travel card, so it comes with plenty of travel benefits like 8 domestic lounge access (2 per quarter) and complimentary membership of Priority Pass, with USD 99 waived off (however, a usage fee of USD 35 is payable for every lounge visit under the Priority Pass benefit) for the international lounge.
• The Membership Rewards Points can be spent for hotel/flight/car bookings on the Amex Travel Online portal.
• Expenditure of Rs 4 lakh also entitles you to a Taj Stay voucher worth Rs. 10,000, which can be used at the Taj, SeleQtions, and Vivanta hotels.

Movie and Dining Benefits

You get up to a 20% discount on your dining bills at select partner restaurants on payment via the Platinum Travel Card. Apart from this, American Express frequently comes up with attractive offers on food delivery portals like Swiggy and Qmin.

Fuel Surcharge Waiver

You need not pay any fuel surcharge at any HPCL fuel stations across India for transactions up to Rs. 5000. However, a surcharge of 1% is payable for all transactions greater than Rs. 5000.

AmEx Platinum Travel Credit Card Rewards

• Every Rs. 50 spent using the AmEx Platinum Travel Credit Card earns you 1 Membership Rewards Points.

Rewards Redemption

• The Membership Rewards Points can be redeemed on popular e-commerce websites (like Flipkart) by purchasing e-vouchers from Amex’s online shopping portal, INSTA purchases at offline stores, and making credit card bill payments under the Cash + Points scheme.
• Amex’s Membership Rewards Points can also be transferred to other air miles and hotel loyalty programs like Asia Miles, British Airways Executive Club, Club Vistara, Emirates, Skywards, Etihad Guest, Finnair Plus, InterMiles, Qatar Privilege Club, Singapore KrisFlyer, Virgin Points, Marriott Bonovoy and Hilton Honors.

AmEx Platinum Travel Credit Card Fees and Charges

• Annual Fee: The annual renewal fee of the AmEx Platinum Travel Card is Rs. 5,000 per annum; however, the first year’s annual fee (joining fee) is just Rs. 3,500, while the renewal fee is applicable second year onwards.
• Interest Rate: If you are not able to pay off your American Express Platinum Credit Card bill on time, an interest rate of 3.5% per month is applicable on the due amount.
• Foreign Currency Mark-up Charge: A mark-up fee of 3.5% of the transaction amount is applicable on all foreign currency transactions made with this Credit Card.

Advantages of AmEx Platinum Travel Card

• Attractive Milestone Benefits: The AmEx Platinum Travel Card provides very attractive milestone benefits to cardholders- 15,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points on an annual expenditure of Rs. 1.9 lacs and 25,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points on the expenditure of Rs. 4 lacs in a year. Apart from the Bonus Membership Rewards Points, you get 3700 Regular Membership Points. You also get complimentary Taj Stay vouchers worth Rs. 10,000 with the card.
• Complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge Access: This Credit Card offers 8 complimentary lounge access per annum (max 2 per quarter) at domestic airports across India- which is a decent number of lounge visits for a sub-premium travel credit card.
• Movie and Dining Discounts: Although this Credit Card is a travel credit card, you also get a discount of up to 20% at partner restaurants across the country.

Drawbacks of AmEx Platinum Travel Card

• Reward Rate: AmEx Platinum Travel Card earns you 2 Membership Rewards Points per Rs. 100 spent with the card. Since the maximum monetary value of 1 Membership Rewards Point is Rs. 0.5, the maximum reward rate that you can get with an AmEx Platinum Travel Card is 1%. However, you get a 3x reward rate on purchases made via the American Express Reward Multiplier Portal .
• No Complimentary International Airport Lounge Access: Regarding international airport lounge access, the Platinum Travel Credit Card offers no complimentary lounge access at international airports. However, the card does provide a complimentary membership of the Priority Pass lounge access program (worth USD 99) for international airport lounge access. Lounge access under the Priority Pass membership that you get with the Platinum Travel Card is chargeable- USD 27 per visit per guest.
• No Insurance Benefits: While most travel credit cards offer a complimentary comprehensive insurance cover with travel-related insurance benefits like personal air accident cover, insurance against loss/delay of check-in luggage, loss of travel documents, etc., you do not get any insurance benefit with this Card.

Who Should Apply for American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card?

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card is the right credit card for you if-

• You do not want to compromise your travel experience as the AmEx Platinum Travel Card offers complimentary Taj Stay Vouchers to the cardholders on achieving certain stipulated spend milestones.
• You are a frequent domestic traveller as the card entitles you to 8 complimentary airport lounge access at domestic airports across India.

You should look for a better option if-

• A direct reward rate is more important than add-on privileges like complimentary hotel vouchers.
• You are a frequent international flyer as American Express Platinum Credit Card entitles you to Priority Pass membership. You do not get any complimentary international airport lounge access with the card.
• You want a travel credit card with a lower markup fee on foreign currency transactions.

Credit Cards Similar to AmEx Express Platinum Travel

Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card is a credit card similar to the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card in terms of the benefits that it offers. The following table gives a comparison between the two credit cards-

AmEx Platinum Travel Card Eligibility and Documentation

The income and age-based eligibility criteria for the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card are as per below-

• Must be a resident of India.
• Applicant should be above the age of 18.
• Both salaried and self-employed individuals should have an annual income of Rs. 6 lakh or more.
• For self-employed individuals, the company should have been trading for the past 12 years.

Documents Required

You need to submit the following documents to American Express for your application for the Platinum Travel Credit Card to be processed-

• Identity Proof: Aadhaar Card, Voter ID Card, PAN Card, driver’s license, passport, etc.
• Address Proof: Aadhaar Card, Voter ID Card, electricity/telephone bills, passport, etc.
• Proof of Income: Salary slips or ITR acknowledgements.

How to Apply for AmEx Platinum Travel Credit Card

You can apply for an American Express Platinum Travel credit card online. The application procedure is effortless. Just click on the Apply Now button to get started. You need to provide a few documents, including identity proof (like an Aadhaar card), PAN card, and income proof, and submit your application online. The American Express officials will contact you in case any additional documents are required. If your application is successful, you’ll receive your card within 15 days.

Amex Platinum Travel Credit Card Review

Although the annual fee of the American Express Platinum Travel credit card is slightly on the higher side (Rs. 5,000 after the first year), it is a decent credit card for people with wanderlust and for those frequent fliers who travel on business trips. Apart from the travel benefits, the card also offers some shopping benefits, so it might also fit the needs of someone who loves to shop online.

What do you think about this card? Do let us know in the comments if you’re an existing user or have used this credit card. Feel free to comment and let us know about your experience with the card.

For places outside India, If I use the Amex Platinum, is the lounge access free or not? Can you please also confirm Whether Infinia and Magnus provides free access for priority pass lounges outside india?

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• Amex Platinum Card

Full List of Travel Insurance Benefits for the Amex Platinum Card [2024]

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Amex Platinum Card Overview

Standard car rental coverage, premium car rental protection coverage, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage insurance, emergency medical transport and evacuation — complimentary coverages, additional medical assistance, other hotline services, filing a claim, final thoughts.

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Frequent travelers who are interested in premium travel benefits and solid reward-earning opportunities gravitate to The Platinum Card ® from American Express . The card, as well as The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express , has been the go-to card for meeting travelers’ earning, redemption, and benefits needs.

We frequently cover Membership Rewards points-earning opportunities , as well as a multitude of ways to maximize the redemption options . We’ve even done a deep dive into getting the most from statement credits offered by Amex cards.

Next up in our collection of articles focusing on the valuable perks that come with the Amex Platinum card is the card’s travel insurance benefits. Insurance can be inherently confusing in general and the insurance coverages that come with credit cards can be equally so.

Fortunately, even a quick overview will give you some insight as to the insurance coverages you can expect on the Amex Platinum card. So, right here and now, we’re stepping up to deliver just that.

Let’s take a look at exactly which insurances come with the card, how these benefits can provide a level of peace of mind, and find out what situations might trigger the coverage to provide economic value.

It’s important to have a little background on the card to put its coverage into context. Here are important card details, including the current welcome bonus and annual fee.

The Platinum Card ® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment ( airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit )
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
• Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
• Access to Amex International Airline Program
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates and fees )
• $695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card ® , Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• 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.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts ® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card ® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card ® . Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card ® . Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck ® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card ® . An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

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Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

The Amex Platinum card comes with complimentary standard car rental insurance that provides secondary coverage when using your card to reserve and pay for your entire rental car contract. You also have the option to purchase premium primary car rental coverage .

For either coverage to be valid, you must decline the rental car agency’s LDW (loss damage waiver) or CDW (collision damage waiver) coverage when renting the vehicle.

Here’s an overview of how both of these coverages work:

Secondary (standard) coverage means that you must first file a claim with any other applicable insurance you might have before the card coverage applies.

You can expect to receive excess secondary coverage for these losses:

• Damage to and theft of the vehicle
• Personal property up to $1,000 per person/$2,000 per accident
• Accidental injury up to $5,000 per claimant
• Accidental death/dismemberment up to $300,000

This is just a snapshot of the standard secondary car rental coverage; several terms and conditions apply. You should access the official guide to benefits or call your benefits administrator for specific information.

One of the real car rental insurance perks of holding the Amex Platinum card is having access to Premium Car Rental Protection coverage for just 1 low fee that covers the entire rental period, not a per-day charge like the rental agency charges.

Although there are some credit cards with primary rental car insurance , the American Express Premium Car Rental Protection coverage, in some circumstances, can provide equal or better coverage and elevated peace of mind. Terms and conditions apply.

Bottom Line: Consider Amex Premium Car Rental Protection if you don’t have a credit card that provides primary car rental insurance. Additionally, if you are renting an expensive vehicle that exceeds your card’s limit of coverage or the maximum length of the rental period on your other card is limited to less than 42 days, the Amex Premium Car Rental Protection could also be a prudent choice. 

Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance are designed to cover unexpected, unforeseen events that may cause you to have to cancel your trip or that cause a disruption in a trip you’re already started.

To be eligible for coverage, purchase your entire round-trip common carrier ticket with your Amex Platinum card.

American Express has a broad definition of who is covered under this benefit. Eligible travelers can include the cardholder, traveling companion, family member of the eligible traveler, or family member of the traveling companion.

Examples of events that could be covered include the following:

• Bodily Injury or Illness — If you, a traveling companion, or a family member of either, experience an accidental injury or become ill, causing you to cancel your trip, you may have coverage
• Bad Weather — If extreme weather causes your trip to be canceled or disrupted, there could be coverage
• Change in Military Orders —Applies to cardmember and/or spouse (spouse definition includes domestic partner)
• Terrorist action or hijacking
• Jury duty or other qualifying legal obligation
• Uninhabitable dwelling of either the cardmember or traveling companion
• Quarantine imposed by a physician for health reasons

You can expect coverage of up to $10,000 per trip , and a maximum limit of $20,000 per card per 12-month period.

Terms and conditions apply.

Bottom Line: While the trip cancellation/trip interruption benefit covers specifically stated reasons for trip cancellation/interruption, there is no coverage for voluntary cancellations, disruptions due to known events, or for preexisting conditions. Additional terms and conditions can be found in your guide to benefits or call the benefits administrator prior to your trip.

Experiencing a trip delay is inevitable so having coverage for added expenses as a result of that delay could be a welcome economic benefit. To qualify for trip delay coverage, just pay for the full amount of your common carrier round-trip transportation ticket with your Amex Platinum card.

The delay must be for more than 6 hours for you to be eligible for reimbursement for necessary incidentals, meals, and lodging.

Coverage limits are $500 per covered trip and a maximum of up to 2 covered trips in each consecutive 12-month period. Coverage is secondary to other coverage that applies and does not include expenses that are reimbursed by the airline or other entities. Additional terms and conditions also apply.

Losing a checked bag used to be a very common occurrence. With new technology and tracking mechanisms, however, incidents have declined, but they still happen. If you do happen to experience lost bags, however, you can count on the baggage insurance found on the Amex Platinum card.

To activate the coverage , simply pay for your common-carrier fare with your card and/or Membership Rewards points.

Here’s the coverage you can expect for lost luggage:

• Checked Bags — Up to $2,000 per covered person, per trip
• Carry-on Bags — Up to $3,000 per covered person, per trip
• Specialty High-value Items — Up to $1,000 per person, per covered trip ($2,000 for New York residents, maximum $10,000 per trip)
• Combined Limit — The limit for all baggage, including high-risk items, is $3,000 per covered person, per single trip

Checked baggage is covered only while traveling on a common carrier . Carry-on baggage is additionally covered while traveling to , from , and when waiting at the carrier terminal.

Note that the coverage on the card is secondary to any other insurance or reimbursement you might receive from the airline. There is no coverage for delayed baggage , but several other credit cards do offer this coverage .

Premium Global Assist Hotline

While technically not insurance coverage, having access to help when you’re traveling, 24/7, is sure to provide additional peace of mind. The Amex Platinum card offers a premium version of a dedicated helpline that serves as a welcome resource should things go wrong during your travels.

Here are the types of assistance you can expect from the service:

One of the premium services offered on the card is complimentary emergency medical transport or evacuation . If you or a covered family member becomes injured or ill during your travels, you could receive emergency medical transportation or evacuation , if necessary.

You can expect to receive the following services without charge when arranged via the hotline:

• Emergency Transport or Evacuation — Transport to the nearest medical facility or transport from an inadequate medical facility
• Transport of Family Member — Transport may be covered for an adult member to be by the bedside of the cardmember or for the cardmember’s minor child (who had been traveling alone with the cardmember) to be transported back to the U.S.
• Transport of Remains — Amex will pay for the transport of remains back to the U.S.
• Post-Evacuation Assistance — If you’re evacuated and your return ticket back to the U.S. has become invalid, Amex will arrange and pay for transportation back to the U.S.

Please note that the Premium Global Assist Hotline does not cover any medical expenses or emergency transportation services arranged outside of the hotline. Several terms and conditions apply to these coverages.

In addition to the complimentary coverages offered by the hotline, you’ll find these additional medical services:

• Medical Referrals — Receive help finding an English-speaking doctor, a hospital, or other needed medical services
• Prescription Replacement Assistance — Get help with replacing lost or forgotten medications

There is no charge for the referral service but cardmembers are responsible for actual services received from the provider.

• Passport/Visa Assistance — Whether you need help replacing a passport or have a need to contact the U.S. consulate, the hotline can assist
• Emergency Translation Services — Receive over-the-phone services or written language translation assistance
• Legal Referrals — Should you need legal services during your trip, the hotline can help you find local bail bond services that accept Amex or refer you to other legal personnel
• Financial Assistance — The hotline can help you arrange cash wire services, help you check out of your hotel remotely, or assist with lost card situations
• Emergency Message Relay — In the event of an emergency, the hotline can send a message to a family member, friend, or another recipient on your behalf
• Lost Items — Should you lose an item, your baggage gets lost, or other missing possession, the hotline can help track it down
• Trip Planning Services — Access information such as weather, currency exchange rates, passport/visa requirements, customs information, travel warnings, and more

Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card comes with complimentary emergency transportation and evacuation services with no stated limit. Additional medical, legal, and travel service referrals are also complimentary, but other than the emergency medical transportation and evacuation, services rendered must be paid for by the cardholder. 

As with any insurance claim, you’ll need to report any event as soon as possible, provide supporting documentation, and follow up after the claim has been filed.

You could be expected to submit any, or all, of the following:

• Copies of your common carrier ticket
• Copies of your credit card statement showing the expenses
• Proof of the loss (i.e. a copy of physician’s quarantine order, military orders, etc.)
• Copy of the travel supplier’s cancellation policy
• Any other supporting documentation requested by the claims administrator

Claims must be reported within 60 days but it is best to do it as soon as possible. Once you report the claim, you’ll receive instructions for completing the next steps in the process.

Hot Tip: Be sure to take photos and videos, keep receipts, secure any applicable police report, and hold on to other documentation that might be needed to support your claim. Keep in mind that supporting information can be difficult to obtain after the fact but may be readily secured at the time of the claim. 

While the insurance that comes with the Amex Platinum card won’t take the place of a comprehensive travel insurance policy , you’ll find value in several of the benefits.

Utilizing Premium Car Rental Protection, trip cancellation/interruption, trip delay, and complimentary emergency medical transport or evacuation could save you more than you could imagine in certain circumstances.

Additionally, knowing the coverages you have in advance has tremendous value. You’ll be armed with information to make educated decisions that can protect each aspect of your trip and be better prepared for how you might handle a covered incident during your travels. If you’re looking for other card options, see our article on the best credit cards for travel insurance .

All information and content provided by Upgraded Points is intended as general information and for educational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as medical advice or legal advice. For more information, see our  Medical & Legal Disclaimers .

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car rental loss or damage coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance coverage benefit of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, the maximum benefit amount for trip cancellation and interruption insurance is $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the trip delay insurance benefits of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, up to $500 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for covered persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per covered trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each covered person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all covered persons per covered trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the Premium Global Assist Hotline benefit of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, you can rely on the Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Plus, we may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. 

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the amex platinum card travel insurance any good.

While the insurance that comes on your Amex Platinum card does not replace a comprehensive travel insurance policy, there is value in the coverages that come complimentary on the card.

Benefits such as trip interruption/cancellation/delay insurance and Amex Premium Car Rental Protection can provide economic value by saving you money should something go wrong during your travels.

Having access to the Premium Global Assist Hotline and complimentary emergency medical transport or evacuation could render peace of mind knowing you have the coverage should you need it.

Does the Amex Platinum card cover flight cancellations?

The Amex Platinum card comes with trip cancellation, trip interruption, and trip delay insurance that can cover flight cancellations for only the specific (limited) reasons listed in the terms and conditions.

As with most insurance, the coverage that comes on your card is not meant to cover voluntary flight cancellations.

For these types of cancellations, you would need to purchase Cancel for Any Reason Insurance , which can be added to some comprehensive travel insurance policies.

Does the Amex Platinum card come with primary car rental insurance?

No. The Amex Platinum card comes with complimentary standard secondary car rental insurance, which means you must first file a claim with any other insurance that may apply before the card coverage is valid.

However, the card does offer a unique benefit that allows you to purchase premium primary car rental insurance for 1 low fee that covers the entire rental period.

This coverage is valid for rental periods up to 42 days in length and costs $12.25 to $24.95 per period, depending on the state in which you reside and the coverage limit you select.

Does the Amex Platinum have delayed baggage insurance?

While the Amex Platinum card comes with lost, stolen, or damaged luggage coverage, it does not offer a delayed baggage benefit.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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The Platinum Card from American Express review: premium travel with plenty of perks

Mar 14, 2024 • 17 min read

Use your Platinum Card to access the elite properties of The Hotel Collection; one of the many perks of the card © Mystockimages / Getty

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with  The Points Guy .

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Popular among jetsetters who prefer luxury travel, The Platinum Card® from American Express * is best known for its premium travel perks, lucrative welcome bonus and for offering a variety of points-earning and redemption options, including 21 airline and hotel transfer partners. 

Despite having a high annual fee of $695 (see  rates and fees ), you’ll find that the benefits and statement credits provided to reimburse you for certain memberships and enrollment fees offset it completely, offering a value of up to $1,584 if you take advantage of every available offer. And there are no foreign transaction fees  (see  rates and fees ).

In this review, we’ll explore the card’s most valuable features, how it compares to competing cards and whether or not it’s worth signing up for.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Amex Platinum Card, starting with some highlights:

• Airport lounge access: The Amex Platinum Card  provides members with complimentary entry to The American Express Global Lounge Collection, including the Centurion Network and Delta Sky Club lounges (which will be limited to 10 days per year as of Feb. 1, 2025), Priority Pass lounges and Plaza Premium Lounge partner sites worldwide.
• Generous welcome bonus: New cardholders can earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 within the first six months of account opening, a terrific starting point for their rewards-earning journey .
• Statement credits provided as benefits: Cardmembers receive credits to cover Clear Plus, Equinox and Walmart+ memberships; Global Entry or TSA PreCheck enrollment; select streaming services; Uber rides and food delivery; and Saks Fifth Avenue purchases.
• Flexible redemption options: Redeem Membership Rewards (MR) points for flights, hotels, rental cars and cruises via AmexTravel.com, transfer them to one of 21 travel partners, use them to pay for gift cards or use the nifty Pay With Points feature when shopping online.

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Overview of The Platinum Card® from American Express

Between the robust portfolio of perks, statement credits and travel insurance benefits* and the wide range of redemption options you’ll have when it’s time to exchange your Membership Rewards points, it’s no wonder  The Platinum Card  is one of the most sought-after travel cards on the market.

Designed with luxury-loving travelers in mind, the card provides access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide and an array of credits toward everything from CLEAR Plus membership to a Walmart+ subscription and a generous welcome bonus to get your points-earning journey started right.

While points-earning opportunities are most lucrative when booking flights and hotels via AmexTravel.com (5X points), you’ll still earn 5X points when purchasing flights through the airline for up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year and 1X points for all other spending. 

As for redeeming points, you can transfer them to any of Amex’s 21 airline and hotel partners, book travel elements through AmexTravel.com, exchange them for gift cards or use them to pay for recent charges or merchandise.

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The pros and cons of the Amex Platinum Card®

• Lucrative welcome bonus: The 80,000 bonus points you’ll earn after spending $8,000 within the first six months of account opening are worth $1,600 in travel when redeemed through Membership Rewards.
• 21 travel transfer partners: There are 18 airlines and three hotel brands to choose from if you want to maximize your redemption by transferring your points to a travel partner.
• Lounge access: Cardholders receive access to over 1,400 lounges worldwide through The American Express Global Lounge Collection and its Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Lounge partners.

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• High annual fee: It’s $695 (see  rates and fees ), but that annual fee will pay for itself quickly if you maximize all the included credits, which are worth up to $1,584 in value.
• Limited earning categories: With this card, you’ll earn 5X points by booking flights directly with the airline or by reserving flights and hotels via AmexTravel.com, but just 1X points for all other purchases.
• Lots of travel-related perks: If you aren’t traveling for a while, this card might not be worth it since so many of its benefits are related to flights, hotels, lounges and credits for CLEAR Plus membership. 

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The Platinum Card® from American Express benefits

The Amex Platinum  is a premium rewards-earning credit card designed for those who prefer to relax in the lounge and enjoy the finer things while traveling. Here’s what makes it one of the best.

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Welcome bonus

New applicants can pick up 80,000 bonus points once they spend $8,000 within the first six months of account opening. While that’s worth $1,600 in travel when they’re redeemed through Amex Membership Rewards, you’ll get a better value by transferring points to one of Amex’s 21 travel partners.

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Earning rewards

Cardholders can earn 5X points by booking flights directly with the airline or through AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year) or by reserving prepaid hotels — including The Hotel Collection properties, which have their own perks, like up to a $100 hotel credit, room upgrades and complimentary breakfast — through AmexTravel.com. Otherwise, you’ll pick up just 1X points for all other purchases.

In other words, if you’re a fan of AmexTravel.com, you’ll make out like a bandit. But unlike other travel credit cards , you won’t have the opportunity to earn bonus points for everyday purchases like groceries and dining or travel bookings made outside the Amex Membership Rewards portal.

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Travel perks

This card provides no shortage of premium travel benefits, including a $200 credit for Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection stays reserved via AmexTravel.com and a $200 airline fee credit toward incidentals on a designated airline.

Cardmembers also receive up to a $189 credit toward CLEAR Plus membership, statement credits to cover your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck enrollment, automatic Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and complimentary access to over 1,400 lounges worldwide through The American Express Global Lounge Collection and its Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Lounge partners.

The card comes with baggage insurance, trip interruption and cancellation insurance, trip delay reimbursement, secondary coverage for standard car rentals, evacuation and medical transportation in an emergency and access to a global emergency assistance hotline, just in case.*

You’ll also have access to a network of travel counselors to help you plan out your trip and take care of any issues that may arise. And you’ll never have to worry about paying foreign transaction fees for using the card abroad .

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Other benefits

Besides all the trip-related benefits listed above, the Amex Platinum throws in some great perks to use even if you’re not traveling.

For starters, you’ll receive an annual credit of up to $155 ($12.95 plus tax per month) for a Walmart+ membership, up to $300 in statement credits annually for an Equinox gym membership and $100 worth of credits ($50 per six-month period) for Saks Fifth Avenue purchases. 

Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.

$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.

Additionally, the card offers extended warranty protection (up to one year) as well as purchase protection and return protection (each up to 90 days) and cell phone protection up to $800 per claim (two claims allowed every 12 months, with a $50 deductible)*. You’ll also get exclusive access to dining, cultural, musical and sporting events through American Express.

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Redeeming points

Cardholders have a ton of options when it’s time to redeem Membership Rewards points, though their value ranges between 0.6 cents per point and 1 cent per point, depending on how you do it.

If you won’t be traveling anytime soon, redeem points for gift cards or use them to cover eligible charges or to pay for purchases when shopping online through MembershipRewards.com, Amazon, PayPal, Best Buy, GrubHub, Seamless or Staples, among others.

Get into the habit of checking your account (via the website or app) to see if there are Amex Offers, which you can activate for your card and use to earn even more points with every purchase.

Here’s a look at the most lucrative ways to redeem your Amex MR points:

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Transferring to American Express travel partners

You’ll have 21 travel transfer partners to choose from — 18 airline and three hotel loyalty programs — to get the biggest bang for your buck when redeeming your points. Check the website regularly to see if there are transfer bonuses, which would provide even more value.

Here’s a full list of American Express Membership Rewards travel partners, which each offer redemptions at a transfer ratio of 1:1 except where noted:

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• AeroMexico Rewards (1:1.6)
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
• ANA Mileage Club
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad Guest
• Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue TrueBlue (1:0.8)
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
• Choice Privileges
• Hilton Honors (1:2)
• Marriott Bonvoy

Keep in mind that those loyalty programs are also a gateway to each airline’s alliance partners via Star Alliance, Oneworld or SkyTeam, so you could end up scoring an even better deal by taking advantage of those partnerships. 

For example, you could transfer Amex MR points to Avianca LifeMiles and then use those miles to save on flights to New Zealand via United Airlines or Air New Zealand. Or, you could transfer Amex MR points to ANA Mileage Club and then use those miles to fly to Australia via United Airlines or Air Canada.

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American Express Membership Rewards travel portal

You’ll generally find that redemptions within the American Express Membership Rewards travel portal yield a value of about 1 cent per point, making them slightly less valuable than an outright transfer to a partner but still worth more than if you redeemed them for gift cards or merchandise.

That said, if you’re just starting out with points and miles and aren’t yet ready to deal with transferring points to partner loyalty programs, making a no-nonsense redemption directly through the portal is an easy option.

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How The Amex Platinum compares to other cards

While the Amex Platinum is a fantastic travel rewards credit card, others offer similar premium perks — and for a lower annual fee.

Deciding which card works best for you depends on a number of factors, including your personal travel preferences, the amount of perks, points-earning opportunities and redemption options offered, and whether or not you’d rather transfer your points to loyalty program partners or book flights and hotels directly through the credit card’s travel portal.

Here’s how the Amex Platinum holds up against similar travel credit cards:

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Amex Platinum vs. American Express® Gold Card

While you’ll have some of the same features as the Amex Platinum Card — redemption options, transfer partners and access to The Hotel Collection and exclusive event seating — the  American Express® Gold Card * gives you more chances to earn points on everyday purchases, has a lower annual fee of $250 (see  rates and fees ) and includes dining credits to use whether or not you’re traveling.

Its welcome bonus is lower (60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first six months of account opening), but with the Amex Gold Card, you’ll earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and supermarkets in the US (up to $25,000, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with the airline or via AmexTravel.com and 1X points for all other purchases.

As far as statement credits, The Amex Gold Card provides up to a $120 dining credit ($10 per month) for GrubHub, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, The Cheesecake Factory and Shake Shack purchases, plus up to $120 in Uber cash ($10 per month) to use for rides or food delivery via Uber Eats.

It really comes down to your travel preferences, as the Amex Gold Card offers no lounge access. But if you’re not traveling for a while, it’s a great option for racking up MR points for future trips.

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Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

With a $550 annual fee, similar lounge perks and a hefty welcome bonus (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 Travel℠), the Chase Sapphire Reserve  is a worthy contender. 

It’s greatest assets: a $300 annual travel credit, a $100 credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck enrollment, more points-earning opportunities than the Amex Platinum Card and primary rental car insurance (whereas Amex only offers secondary coverage). Plus, your rewards are worth 1.5 cents per point when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve also offers limited-time benefits like two free years of Lyft Pink membership, one complimentary year of DoorDash/Caviar, $5 monthly DoorDash credits, a free year of Instacart and $15 monthly Instacart credits.

Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

If you prefer to redeem points with one of Chase’s 14 transfer partners, need a lower annual fee and plan to use all the Instacart and Lyft credits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve could be a better pick over the Amex Platinum.

10 amazing US hotels you can book with points

Amex Platinum vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is another worthy opponent, with a lower annual fee of $395 (see  rates and fee ), a generous welcome bonus (75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening) and similar premium perks.

Like the other cards, you’ll get a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck enrollment and access to exclusive cardholder dining and entertainment events. You can also book luxury accommodations via Capital One’s Premier and Lifestyle Collections, each offering its own perks.

Unlike the others, the Capital One Venture X card rewards members with 10,000 bonus miles to celebrate their anniversary. You’ll also get automatic Hertz President’s Circle elite status, primary car insurance for rentals and access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounges and their Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Lounge partner sites.

There aren’t many downsides to this card besides its limitations. While the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s $300 annual travel credit covers all travel purchases, the $300 annual travel credit offered by Capital One Venture X can only be used toward bookings made via Capital One Travel.

While the highest-earning opportunities are limited to Capital One’s ecosystem — 10X miles for hotel and rental cars and 5X for flights booked via Capital One Travel — you’ll earn 2X miles for all other purchases. The card also has cell phone protection and lets you transfer Capital One miles to any of its 18 airline and hotel partners.

So, if you prefer Capital One Travel and its partners over Amex Membership Rewards and its partners but want to enjoy similar perks for a lower annual fee, Venture X could be a better pick.

The best credit cards for Global Entry

Is the Amex Platinum Card worth getting?

For those who prefer luxury travel, The Amex Platinum  makes a great choice thanks to the premium level of perks it provides. From lounge access to extra perks and instant elite status at Hilton and Marriott hotels, there’s a reason this card is constantly topping travel rewards card lists.

Besides the generous welcome bonus, new applicants won’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees or dealing with Chase’s pesky 5/24 rule (which means your application won’t be accepted as long as you’ve already applied for five credit cards within 24 months). 

If, however, your credit card strategy involves adding more Chase cards (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve ), you may want to hold off on this one until you’ve gotten those since adding the Amex Platinum Card would contribute to your list of five new cards in Chase’s eyes.

In general, the Amex Platinum Card is worth signing up for if you plan to maximize all the statement credits, if you prefer to book flights and hotels through AmexTravel.com (or flights directly with the airline) or if you prefer to transfer your points to one of its 21 travel partners.

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Is The Amex Platinum still a good credit card?

If you love airport lounges and swanky hotels, The Amex Platinum  is an excellent choice. It all comes down to your travel style and whether or not you can use all the card’s benefits. If you don’t plan on traveling or maximizing the included statement credits, a different travel credit card might be a better option.

American Express Gold Card® review

What lounges can you get into with the Amex Platinum?

You’ll have access to over 1,400 lounges worldwide, including American Express Centurion® Lounges and Escape Lounges (The Centurion® Studio Partner), Plaza Premium Lounges, Delta Sky Club lounges (limited to 10 days per year as of Feb. 1, 2025), Priority Pass Select lounges, Lufthansa lounges and other Global Lounge Collection partners.

American Express Membership Rewards vs. Chase Ultimate Rewards

How much are American Express Membership Rewards points worth?

Cardholders will get the most value by transferring points to an airline or hotel partner. Membership Rewards points are worth up to 1 cent per point when redeemed for gift cards or 0.6 cents per point when exchanged for statement credits. They’re also worth anywhere from 0.7 to 1 cent per point when used to pay for online purchases or up to 1 cent per point when you use the Pay with Points feature through American Express Travel.

Best credit cards for traveling with kids

Is it hard to qualify for The Platinum Card® from American Express?

You’ll need a good to excellent credit score (670 to 850) to be accepted. Additional factors like your debt-to-income ratio, credit history and current income also come into consideration to determine your creditworthiness. Check your credit report for free on AnnualCreditReport.com to see where you stand with the main credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax).

Traveling to Europe using points and miles

* Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit  americanexpress.com/ benefitsguide  for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit  americanexpress.com  to learn more.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

This article was first published December 2023 and updated March 2024

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American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card Review (India)

If you’re looking for a best travel credit card in India, the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card is a must have in your wallet. The attractive reward rate on the card is too good to believe and it holds intact even after so many years of it’s existence.

It has been holding the “best travel credit card” tag almost every year for about a decade and so it’s undoubtedly an amazing product especially given that you can get the card as “First Year FREE” with the ongoing limited period offer . Here’s the detailed review of the Amex platinum travel credit card,

Table of Contents

Milestone Benefit

Airport lounge access, my experience, other benefits, how to apply, faq’s.

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card has been everyone’s #1 choice when looking for a travel credit card because it comes with an attractive value and a relatively easy to reach spend targets.

Currently, one of the best offer you could get is a  First Year FREE  limited period offer when you apply using a  referral link .

*** Limited Period Offer: First Year FREE ***

Apply through the link on the page & you’ll get it First Year Fee Free *  (Saving INR 3,500) + 2,000 Referral Bonus Membership Rewards ®  points (spend INR 5,000 within 90 days)

While there are no renewal benefit (or) renewal fee waiver condition, you maybe eligible for the retention benefit based on your profile/spends which may include complete waiver of the fee as well.

Do note that the reward rate takes a little hit when you consider the renewal fee. However, there is a right way to go about it, we’ll discuss that later in the article.

Note: This is platinum travel card and not platinum charge card , which some get confused often, as multiple Amex cards carries the “platinum” tag.

While I’m not a great fan of the Platinum Travel Credit Card’s design, it’s subtle and you wouldn’t be disappointed to have it in hand.

Platinum Travel and Platinum Reserve cards looks similar except a black line running along the right side of the card on Reserve.

• Excluded spends : Insurance, Utilities, Fuel
• Rewards don’t expire.

The reward points earned on American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card are ideally meant for Marriott transfers (or) Taj voucher redemptions (according to me), as other options are not attractive enough.

Also note that the MR points earned on plat travel can’t be pooled with other Amex cards, so you can’t redeem for Gold (or) Platinum rewards collection.

While the reward rate on regular spends is not that attractive as seen above, its all about the milestone benefits that makes this card really click!

• Note: You’ll unlock 2 benefits on hitting 4L milestone spend, as above.

Note that the above calculation is done by considering “1 MR = 0.50 INR ” as we easily get that value by transferring to Marriott or redeem for Taj voucher redemptions.

With Amex Platinum travel card, you may also redeem your MR points for Flipkart vouchers at the rate of “1MR = 0.30 INR” but that’s not a wise option in my opinion.

So, if we consider regular rewards along with milestone benefits, we get a good ~8.5% return on spend post reaching 4L milestone.

What else one can ask for?!

Note : On reaching milestones, you’ll only get 7,500 and 10,000 “bonus” MR points, you’ll then need to call support and ask them to credit remaining points into your account. Gets done in a minute.

Note that you’re eligible only for regular domestic lounge access (for primary cardholders only) but not to the American Express Lounges located in Delhi & Mumbai .

To access Amex proprietary lounges you would need Amex Platinum Charge Card .

While you get complimentary “membership” to Priority Pass for international lounge access, you do-not get any complimentary “access” with it, unfortunately.

I’ve been using American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card since past 6 years and it has been an amazing time with the card so far.

I’ve used the Taj vouchers received through amex platinum travel card and other Amex offers to explore some of the beautiful Taj properties (among others) across the country. Here are some of the nice ones that I’ve explored,

• Taj Santacruz, Mumbai
• Taj Fisherman’s Cove, Chennai
• Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
• Vivanta, Guwahati
• Vivanta, Coimbatore
• Taj Lands End, Mumbai
• Taj Bengal, Kolkata
• Taj Connemara, Chennai
• Taj West End, Bangalore & few more

Which one is your most-loved or aspirational Taj property? Maybe I can cover the review of it if that interests you.

• Foreign Exchange Markup fee: 3.5% + Service Tax
• Amex health insurance benefits (with ICICI Lombard)
• Amex Festive Offers

Applying online is the quickest way to get American Express Cards in India.

Currently, one of the best offer you could get is a  First Year Free  Limited period offer when you apply using a  referral link .

To sweeten this, you can also get another  2K Bonus Points  by spending Rs.5000 within 90 days of membership.

Note : It’s better to apply using your Aadhaar address, otherwise the application might get rejected (or) delayed. If CIBIL is very good it will not ask for income documents.

1. Is Amex Plat Travel still good in 2023?

Very much it is, as it has the reward rate that is one of the best in industry.

2. What other travel cards can I hold along with Amex Platinum Travel?

Generally most travellers I know have Amex platinum Travel + Axis Magnus + Axis Vistara Infinite (First Year FREE for a limited period). That’s a brilliant combo to fetch overall average reward rate of >10% easily.

3. My address proof is not in serviceable area, what to do?

Amex is strict on that for now (as they know what happens when they don’t follow RBI rules) and so can apply only with valid address proof. Changing Aadhaar address is pretty quick and that works for most.

4. I don’t need a travel card, what other Amex card can I have for rewards?

You should then probably explore the MRCC card which is also issued as First Year Free. The same can be applied via this  referral link .

5. How fast does Amex process the application?

Usually within ~2 days for approval status and another ~3 days for delivery. They’re generally super fast. If it’s your first AMEX Card, it might take additional 1 week depending on various factors.

6. How to get renewal fee waived?

Spending >7L a year usually helps in renewal fee waiver, perhaps you can make use of the spend linked offers post hitting 4L.

• CardExpert Rating:  5/5

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card with ~8.5% reward rate is one of the highest rewarding Credit Card in India and its a must have in your wallet if you love travel benefits.

That said, the only issue with the card might be the acceptance, but it’s understandable that those who get this card are most likely to use it only at premium hotels and restaurants where the acceptance is generally not an issue.

What’s your take on the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

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106 thoughts on “ American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card Review (India) ”

I’ve explored.. 1.Taj Krishna , Hyderabad 2. Vivanta by Taj , Hyderabad

Ah yes, I’ve missed adding Taj Krishna to the list. It was a decent one.

I’m new to Amex. By any chance, do you have a referral link for their entry-level SmartEarn card? And does Amex often offer Life Time Free cards as promotions or should I just go ahead now and get the entry-level card? Thanks!

LTF is rare. You shall use the same link and click on “View our other cards” to apply for other card variants.

Thanks! I used your referral link to get the SmartEarn card. Though I’m new to Amex, it got approved within 24 hrs!

Plz explain how to optimise Taj voucher for stay cation for family of 4, 2 adults and 2 children Or any other great way redeem Taj voucher

Yes this would be a great topic to elaborate on. Sid, please do consider.

This article and the comments may help: Taj Hotels: Tips on booking, upgrades and more

I have started using an Amex Plat Travel card with a limit of ₹150k, since the last month. I have another credit card with a limit of ₹260k. How many months of usage would it take for an enhancement of credit limit, considering my last month’s usage was about ₹90k and general usage will always be above ₹25-30k?

I have a good CIBIL score but a not very high net ITR of about ₹550k as I am a professional and take advantage of presumptive taxation at 50% of gross income and thereafter deductions of around ₹200k.

Hi Sid, appreciate your effort for reviewing this card. Do we need to call customer care to get the annual fee waived off?

Yes, they may have few options for you based on the spend.

Hi Sid, As always, a nice review, I’ve used this card for five years and it’s still among the finest for travel. I also have MRCC, and they once transferred my MRCC points to my platinum card when I asked them to and they said its one time offer:), which I transferred into Bonvoy and used for 4+1 free night in Thailand.

I have been using the MRCC for nearly 2 years now. Recently, Amex offered an upgrade to the Platinum Travel card FYF. Didn’t go for it, as my travels aren’t that extensive to make use of the benefits of the card that doesn’t offer a fee waver or can effectively be used offline. MRCC, with the monthly bonus rewards can offer up to a 6 percent reward on a spend of 20000, and that will also take care of the card fees too. Think Amex in general, will have to do better in terms of lounge access. The MRCC, with a very high yearly fee unless applied on referral, doesn’t offer any. Even the Platinum Travel card, despite being travel specific, doesn’t offer international lounge. Think the Axis Magnus, despite not being a travel specific card, can give the Platinum Travel a proper run for money for the number 1 travel card in the country as of now!

I just realized that I only got 7,500 MR points last year when I hit the Rs.1.9L threshold. This is why I make sure to read your articles. Always learn something new and I’ll make sure to call the support team and request for the full 15,000 MR points benefit. Won’t make that mistake again!!

Glad you got something useful!

Hey thanks for that Note to call customer care for remaining points. I used to see that i have been using the card and not getting equivalent points, but never gave it a thought to contact customer care. I think i missed my points of the previous years but at least managed to get them this year. Its really strange why i need to call them though.

Are they accepting utility bills or lease agreements or government flat allotment letters as address proof? I have an existing MRCC which was issued in Delhi basis lease agreement. But, now they are saying that they accept only aadhar, passport and election id. When I escalated, received a call back saying it can be worked out as I am an existing customer and will receive a call back in 48 hours. But, no response so far and it’s been 2 weeks. I got a Magnus approved and already have a LTF DCB. So, confused whether this is worth the trouble. But, milestone benefits looks enticing 😂. Any way out except changing aadhar address?

Unfortunately changing aadhar address is the only solution for now.

Hi Siddharth, great review. You’ve clearly done a lot of research which is evident from the article. You have earned yourself a new fan. I’ve got a question, if I may ask. Between this card and Amex MRCC (or some other card from Amex), which one would you recommend for me? A little background about me: I’m a 30 year old male living in Mumbai with a salary of 30 lakhs per annum. My annual spends are about 3-4 lakhs per year. I plan to do international trips one each year next year onwards. I’m mostly interested in AirMiles.

I look forward to your response. Thanks in advance.

If you can reach 4 Lakhs spends in an year, this card is better. MRCC is good for spends upto 20k per month.

Thanks for the review. I have been using it for past 4 years. Need to add an important info. Once the renewal fees are charged, you can just call their helpline. I did it this year. They just asked me to spend 35 k in 2 months which i did it easily and my renewal fee was reversed in the next billing cycle. I was also able to use this card twice at Amex lounge in Mumbai domestic terminal T1.

Sure? Mumbai T1 does not have any amex lounge.

Hi Siddharth, how does this fare against the HDFC Diners Club Black credit card? Given that both cards have the same fee structure.

I am a regular user of Amex reserve card, it’s no more that beneficial card this days, lot of other cards are with good benefits. In my City Surat, many of the shops, garments shops, Resturants doesn’t accept the card. When ever make travel bookings, doesn’t get any benefits, earlier there was benefits on MMT but no more now. Yes need priority pass to access the airport lounge out of India, this card won’t do. Only three discount cards for Taj hotels is given, that too is just to say.

Does Amex gives Card on Card basis? I am not fulfilling income criteria of amex

Hi Sid. Another good article. Have you ever booked Taj Stays under discount rates running on Taj website and faced any issue using Taj Vouchers against that stay? I recently booked a stay during Freedom sale offer on taj website but at the time of checkin, they refused to use Taj vouchers for the same. They showed me terms where it says these can be used only on “Public rates” and not for any already discounted booking, not even member rates (one becomes a member just be enrolling to Tata Neu). Took a lot of convincing to finally use them.

Hi Siddarth, I am holding a Amex Gold Charge Card for the past 8 years. I have recently used all points only for Marriott transfer. One deterrent was that 24K and 18K collection won’t be available anymore. Having said that, is it beneficial to move to Platinum Travel Card? Thanks, Vamsi

Sir, what do you mean by 24k, 18k collection wont be available anymore? source of this info? MRCC card exists on this 24k,18k collection. I will be discontinuing the card if this info is correct

What I meant was if I move from Gold card to Platinum Travel as my main card then the points from MRCC will need to move in to 1 account led by Platinum travel and then 24K and 18k might not be available.

If you want to get rid of this then go for Gold Card instead. The combination of Gold and MRCC and give 24k points every year if you simply spend 1.44 Lakhs for monthly spends with some discipline.

Sid, Awaiting your feedback pls. Thanks, Vamsi

Me: Hi Vamsi, I enjoyed driving Maruti Alto last few years. Shall I now upgrade to Baleno or maybe Ciaz? 🙂

It’s quite tough to answer just with little inputs, so I skip such queries.

That’s why I have the credit card consultation service. It ideally takes about 30 mins to 1hr for beginners to understand the game and arrive at a sweet strategy that they can really make use of.

I understand that not everyone may afford the fee, in which case, I suggest to go through each reviews and comments which will help you find the answer easily. So many lovely contributors have shared advices generously that you can make use of.

using this card for three years now cool points- just above 7 % rewards if annual fee taken into consideration not so cool points – 1.obligation to spend 4 Lakhs on a not so acceptable card 2.rewards of 34000rs Taj vouchers make you think and spend more on a lavish vacation = more expenses I am planning to get rid of this card when it approches renewal

Amex is back with the same old trick now !

Please mention this very clearly, those who are using the referral links, ensure that, they need to provide the same address as that of Aadhar. They pull out the address from Digi Locker.

If different address, then they take this as an opportunity to reject it, and advise the user to re-apply again.

Funny thing is, when they again apply, it will state ” After careful consideration, we are sorry to let you know that we will not be able to approve your application ”

This is the exact wordings they will get.

Then, after a cooling period of 30-45 days, Amex’s different sourcing team would contact these people and approve the card

This was those agents get their internal referral benefits, then fees , and then avoid giving refferal bonus to us (8000 points) .

I know that you (even me) a bug fan of Amex, but this is the bitter truth on how Amex India behave unprofessionally in India. They will find a small mistake to reject the application and contact those rejected ones later and approve the same application with same documents which was submitted earlier! Shame on Amex India.

I have experienced this for 6 friends earlier and even today same thing happened with another friend, will wait for another 3 months and see if they will contact him and approve the application, then I will sue them up 🙂

Thanks for sharing it Arun. Will update accordingly.

I’m aware that they were using this follow up system excessively in the past but now without the proof I doubt if they can still do it. But yes, very useful info for those who need smooth & fast approval apart from the additional rewards.

Hey Sid, i have been using CC from last 3 years and my highest limit is 5L. Credit score is good having no negative remarks. But the problem is I have started working 3 months ago and my package is 4LPA😅. Can I apply for this card?

Hey Siddharth, You are amazing! Thank you for such amazing reviews and offers that you bring about. I have 2 questions- 1. Does AMEX allow us to hold multiple cards of AMEX? As in, if I take travel card now, tomorrow AMEX MRCC offers Lifetime free, I can opt for that as well while holding Travel card? 2. I am a HNI based on my income as of now for HDFC(not a salary account though). I have recently opened bank account with them. I don’t have any cards with them, how do I get LTF offers on cards with them?

1 – Yes. With Amex, you can hold multiple cards and lower variant will be free for you. So if you have plat travel and MRCC both, MRCC will be free. 2- Chase your RM .

My RM doesn’t try at all. All he does is goes by bank policy. He says I cannot get offer on DCB as LTF, I cannot have 2 credit cards with HDFC in future as there is no policy. He’s not ready to believe that people have gotten these things. I am not sure what to do really, seems my RM is worthless

Change your account to different hdfc branch.

State reason “not happy with RM or particular Branch services, so moving a/c to other Branch” (another area/town/city)

I have done this, but not for credit cards. (Got enough sorry calls from RM and BM and got things done)

I don’t want different branch RM to also do the same. How do we make sure that my new branch and RM do have powers to make it happen?

I have got an offer for upgrade but no renewal fee waiver and with my 2-3lakh a year spend on MRCC, i don’t think upgrade is good for me. Since I use IDFC first select card more now because of it’s straight forward rewards and generous lounge access, and Amazon pay card for amazon purchases, even MRCC 1.5lakh spend to waive renewal fee is sometimes hard to come by. Amex really need to add more benefits than removing them to keep their cards trendy.

Hi Sid, no post from u for long time now even when many new cards has been come out from different bank, Ur post and guidance was helpful all the time so request you to share ur views info abt new cards and/or other useful things abt existing cards. #flywithsid

Thanks Sid. Glad that I read your article. Got 60k points credited for past 3 years as well, thanks to you.

Keep sending great stuff!

Hi Sid, Are you sure we can transfer milestone rewards to a transfer partner like Marriott? The signup page mentions the following: 1. Spend Rs. 1.90 lacs in a Card membership year and get 15,000 Membership Rewards points redeemable for Flipkart vouchers or Pay With points option in Amex Travel Online worth Rs. 4,500

2. Spend Rs. 4 lacs in a Card membership year and additionally get 25,000 Membership Rewards points redeemable for Flipkart vouchers or Pay With Points option in Amex Travel Online worth Rs. 7,500.

Thanks, Pankaj

Very much doable.

I just logged into my account and have the following offer:

“Upgrade and unlock benefits worth ₹45,000. Get a ₹1,000* Amazon voucher and 10,000* Membership Rewards® Points as a special offer to upgrade. Additionally, enjoy benefits of ₹45,000* and more on your upgraded Card.”

Full fee of Rs.3500+GST to be paid and spends of 15000/- within 90 days of issuance

Which is better – your referral or the above

FYF (or) Pay fee & get equivalent benefits. It’s a personal choice I would say!

Please clarify how you get 0.5 and 1.0 on Cash Credit and Taj Vouchers, respectively. I think the rate has been revised downwards as cash credit seems to have been revised to 0.25 now. Even Amazon and Flipkart vouchers are at 0.25.

Dear @Siddhart and @Arun Murugan,

I think I have become a victim of their bait and switch tactic as well. 😐

I applied for Amex MRCC card using Siddharth’s link on 25th Nov 2022. The VKYC was done on the same day.

The girl who did my VKYC told me that, “the address that you have mentioned on the application form, is slightly different than the one that is there on your Aadhaar card”. I informed her that, “that is the case because the layout of the fields to input address is weird on the application form”. She asked me, “If you wanna use the address that is mentioned on the Aadhaar card?” I told her yes.

For Employment Verification, on the application form, they required my Work Email Address. I didnt provide that coz my company’s policy is very strict. We are not allowed to provide that. The VKYC girl told me that, i would have to upload my Salary Slips using the link that i received on my Email. I did that on 25th Nov itself, plus on 26th Nov, i uploaded my bank statement as well as a rep from customer service told me that i would have to do that as well, that the VKYC girl didnt mention.

Today is 4th Dec, its been almost 9 days and they havent completed my Employment Verification yet, even though i have provided all the documents that they asked for. Whenever i call them, they give me different email addresses. I have sent an Email asking for an update but i am yet to receive a response.

What should i do?

Any help would be highly appreciated.

Could you explain what you meant by “Note: On reaching milestones, you’ll only get 7,500 and 10,000 “bonus” MR points, you’ll then need to call support and ask them to credit remaining points into your account. Gets done in a minute.”

I already have MRCC applied from Sid’s referral link in Jan 2020 Am enjoying subsequent year reduced fee due to referral Am interested in Plat travel. My query is how can I get plat travel as FYF (as I have existing MRCC card). Can I call and apply directly or use fresh application from referral link ? Please advise .

Yes, Plat travel FYF is possible via above links. MRCC doesn’t affect this app.

do supplementary card holders het lounge access?

Sid, Will I get the Taj Experiences E-Gift Card worth Rs. 10,000 if I apply with your referral link. As I understand its a welcome offer and usually not given on FYF cards. Please clarify.

You’re right.

Is the 10k Taj Experiences E-Gift Card on 4 lakh spends every year or first year only?

Taj vouchers can be earned on 4L spends every year

Which card you recommend in terms of rewards MRCC or Travel Platinum?

Travel plat for spending of 4lac+ Mrcc for 1-2l spends

Sid, so on spending 4 lakhs on this card, we get in total 30,000 INR Taj vouchers (including the 10k milestone benefit one)?

Also, is there a limitation on number of Taj vouchers that can be used during a stay?

– Yes

– Not known to me but it’s better to stick to ~5 or less at a time whenever possible.

Hi Anirban, Thr is no limit on the number og vouchers that can be redeemed in one go. Once i have used 11 vouchers amounting to rupees 110000 in total.

It’s not a 8.5% return Siddharth, you’ve got to factor in the annual charges also.

Although a great card earlier i think it’s lost its Sheen in recent past

Still a great card I would say!

Most do get at least 50% off on renewal when one hits 4L spend, also there maybe spend challenges to get 100% waived off.

Ideally we’ve to look at only one fee at a time. But even in worst case we get a healthy ~7% which is great!

i JUST APPLIED FROM YOUR REFERRAL LINK BUT I GOT THIS MESSAGE. CAN YOU FIND OUT THE REASON ?

Thank you NILESH! for applying for the American Express® Platinum Travel Credit Card. Application Reference No. ***** After careful consideration, we are sorry to let you know that we will not be able to approve your application.

Nilesh, You’re trying to apply for a 3rd “credit Card” Amex issues only 2 Credit Cards & 1 Charge Card per person.

Before applying, I had already cancelled one card. Then I applied using your link. Now they are saying you have to wait 90 days before applying. They did not mention anything like this before I cancelled the card.

Hi Siddharth, I recently purchased health insurance via Amex and did get reward points for it. I guess no reward points are awarded for buying insurance from any other portals or vendor. Cheers!

As a supplementary card holder of the platinum reserve, can I apply for this in my own name without closing the reserve?

Insurance offer is rolled out today on my Travel card, 5 membership rewards per 100 spend, up to 10000 rewards.

But why would anyone go for it? 🙂

Even I received offer 5 MR for every 100 spent on insurance. Unfortunately I have paid all my insurance from other card. Too late.

Hey since how long is the system of Calling Up for Bonus rewards going on? As I have not called for the same at all.

Can I request them to credit the bonus rewards for last 3 years?

Hi Siddharth,

I am new to the credit card world and have to say it was an amazing review. To give you a background, I’m 30 and have an annual salary of 24LPA. My annual spending is around 2-4L, and on an avg, my monthly spending is ~20K. I wish to generate Reward points that can help me with free/cheap airline tickets or gift vouchers on Flipkart/Amazon.

I request you to tell me which card would be suitable for me, Amex MRCC/ Platinum Travel/Axis Magnus/ Axis Vistara Infinite/ Axis Atlas. Your recommendation would be much appreciated

The spends vis-a-vis your salary is quite low though that is a personal thing but you may want to look into it to optimise your usage of cards. Given the information AMEX MRCC should be your best bet !

Applied for Amex Plat Travel card via Apply Now link of this post on 21 Dec. Digilocker Aadhar verification done instantly. VKYC done within minutes. Received mail regarding approval of card on 22 Dec. Received card via Bluedart today on 25 Dec. This is some speed ! Thanks for the referral link Sid !

Has anyone with an AMEX Indian card been able to apply for an AMEX US card? would be interested to know if yes , how can it be done

You have an option in netbanking to transfer your card to another country although I haven’t tried it. Else, you can call Cc.

I received AMEX card in UK based on my Indian Platinum Travel card.

I got Amex card in Canada based on my Amex card in India.

Hey Sid. I’ve been using this card for 4 years now. Two quick points: 1) Reward after hitting 4L is not attractive. So, I use HDFC regalia after hitting 4L. But regalia has been downgraded so much in recent years that I’m thinking about getting some other secondary card. 2) I’ve never been offered Annual fee waiver despite high spends. Do you contact customer service and request for it?

I currently hold an MRCC card and upgraded to a platinum travel card. Do I have to pay the annual fee for both cards considering if not reaching the spending threshold?

Wondering if AMEX would come up with 22 rewards point offer around republic day time…

Mostly the taj hotel rates on thier website is inflated by 30 percent so actual value of 10k voucher is 7k only.

One trivial question, are emi transactions also considered in milestone. Ex., (30k – split as 10k for 3 months) will this be added as 30k in the milestone ?

Thanks Sid. Glad that I read your article. Got 90k points credited for past 4 years as well, thanks to you.

Great article thanks. Had a quick question. You’ve said that Fuel, insurance and utilities are excluded spends. I’m assuming these are just for base reward points. Or do they no count towards the 1.9L and 4 L milestones as well.

It will be counted for milestone targets.

Has anybody noticed that amazon on its app have stopped taking amex card , I tried booking flight and railway tickets and it didn’t showed my amex card and when manually put the cards details and it’s says this type of card is not accepted. Strange

better way is to buy Amazon voucher from amex gyftr

I have a smart earn cc and the platinum travel cc. I have earned reward points on both. Its not making sense to keep the smart earn card, if I close it, will I lost on points? is it worth keeping smart earn if I already have the platinum travel cc?

Which Rent payment app accepting this card..?

Does rent get covered in utilities? Also are rental spends counted towards milestone benefits?

Hi Mukund, You cannot use Amex card for making rental payments. Even if you make the payment through any rental payments app, you wont get any RP’s as it gets counted under utilities.

Where do you guys spend on Amex cards to reach milestone… Now that Cred Education fee payment thru Amex is stopped

Is the 0.5 conversion on marriot and taj still there? Don’t see it anymore. They have changed it to 0.25? Can you confirm?

Hi Siddharth, I currently hold this card – Amex Platinum Travel. I have been getting upgrade intimation to the Platinum Reserve. Should i upgrade to the reserve or stick to the travel? On a separate note, I have chosen not to upgrade to Platinum Metal Charge as of now, maybe later.

Hi Sid, I transferred 60k points to marriot and then to UnitedMilage. Currently there is offer going on for every 60k points transfer we will get 10k miles extra. Current transfer ratio is 3:1. So total I got 30k miles. Is it good transfer or bad one?

Essentially that’s 2:1 and it’s indeed good value with United.

Hi brother, I have a question related to amex platinum travel supplementary card.

will the supplementary card holder get separate login details and can see the transactions made by him/her and be able to pay outstanding on his/her card? Or only primary card holder can see the transactions made by supplementary card and only primary card holder has option to pay the outstanding?

Will the supplementary card holder get separate login details and can see the transactions made by him/her and be able to pay outstanding on his/her card? – Yes

has anyone got the complete fee waiver on amex platinum, i got complete waiver on MRCC

if we don’t get the complete waiver, then the card is too costly and no point in upgrading

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The Platinum Card® from American Express Review 2023: Is It Worth It?

• Credit Cards

card_name is one of the best “premium” travel rewards credit cards on the market in 2023.

It comes with top-shelf perks for travelers that include airport lounge access and discounts on airline flights and hotel stays, but that comes with a cost.

With a $695 annual fee attached, it’s one of the most expensive consumer credit cards to carry in your wallet ( see rates and fees ).

“It seems nuts to say that a card that costs almost $700 per year would make any sense at all,” money expert Clark Howard says. “But it actually pays off for someone who is travel-oriented, travels a lot and charges a lot.”

Are you one of those frequent travelers Clark is talking about? Will the perks be worth the trade-off of a hefty annual fee? And how do you know if you’re one of the people who charges enough to benefit from this card?

I’ll answer these questions and more in this card review.

This article was updated in August 2023 and I review it every 12 months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here . 

Table of Contents

• What Is the Platinum Card® from American Express?
• Card Specs and Perks

Who Is This Card For?

Can you cover the annual fee with perks alone.

• Platinum Card vs. Popular Travel Card Alternatives
• Pros and Cons

Team Clark has spent time evaluating the credit card market in several categories including the  best travel credit cards . I’ve compared the Platinum Card from American Express to the best cards in this segment of the market. And I’ve determined that it’s one of the top choices for high-volume travelers thanks to its rewards program and cardholder perks.

As you’re making your decision on whether this card is a fit for you, please use this review in conjunction with  Clark Howard’s 7 Rules for Using Credit Cards .

What Is The Platinum Card® from American Express?

card_name is a travel credit card that offers valuable perks and rewards in exchange for a hefty annual fee.

At $695 per year for access to the card, it is one of the most costly consumer credit cards available on the market ( see rates and fees ). It competes with the Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  and Capital One® Venture X® for frequent travelers who are looking for premier perks.

The annual consumer perks are advertised by American Express to be worth more than $1,500 per year. And that’s before you get your enhanced rewards points on spending categories such as hotel and airline purchases.

The Platinum Card® from American Express: Specs and Perks

Let’s take a look at the fine print to examine some of the card’s perks and drawbacks.

Rewards Program

The rewards program for this card is built on the Amex Membership Rewards® Points system. These can be redeemed for a number of items, including travel or statement credits.

You’ll earn the following multipliers for each type of purchase that you make with the card:

• 5x Membership Rewards® Points on every dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through the Amex travel portal (capped at $500,000 in spending per year)
• 5x Membership Rewards® Points on every dollar spent on hotels booked through the AmexTravel.com
• 1x Membership Rewards® Points on every dollar spent on everything else
• Terms apply.

As you can see, it’s travel or bust when it comes to spending rewards for this one. The 1x points on all non-travel purchases could very likely beaten by a card with no annual fee .

Clark often recommends unlimited 2% cash back credit cards for steady returns on non-category-specific spending.

Cardholder Benefits

This card has one of the longest lists of cardholder benefits on the market. There truly are many different ways you could get value from having this card in your wallet.

I’ll highlight some of the top ones, but you may want to take a deeper dive into the card’s website to get a full view of what Amex is offering.

• Welcome Offer: American Express offers the opportunity to earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership.
• Airport Lounge Access: This card provides access to The Centurion® Network, which includes 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide.
• Premium Status: Card membership comes with automatic “gold status” with both the Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors hotel rewards programs. You’ll also get complimentary premium status with major car rental companies, including Hertz and Avis.
• Complimentary Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Get either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Purchase Coverages : Purchases made with this card qualify for car rental insurance, cell phone protection and extended warranties.
• More than $1,500 in Potential Annual Credits : You can cover the cost of your annual fee with this card by taking advantage of annual statement credit opportunities in the hotel, airline, streaming and ride-sharing spending categories. I’ll look at these in more detail later in the article .
• Terms apply .

Cardholder Fees

Here’s a quick look at some of the fees you may encounter with the Platinum card:

• Annual Fee: $695
• Balance Transfer Fee: Not offered
• Cash Advance Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Late Payment Fee:  Up to $40
• See rates and fees

Though it’s not one of the cards that we talk about in his wallet , Clark has been a Platinum cardholder for years. He typically reserves it for business expenses rather than day-to-day personal activity.

But don’t mistake his ownership of the card as an endorsement for everyone to join him in paying that $695 annual fee.

Clark believes this card will most consistently benefit just a specific sliver of the population:

• Small business owners who charge company expenses with a credit card
• Business travelers who run up large hotel and airline tabs
• Financially well-off individuals who charge at least $20,000 per month

He says if you don’t fall into one of those three categories, you may want to pause and consider whether you should be committing to this type of card.

The welcome bonus is nice, and I’ll talk a little later about how you could use some of the perks to offset the costs of the annual fee each year, but Clark still says that could be a losing battle for “aspirational” travelers who think this card will help them.

“Think about it this way, after three years you’re going to have paid American Express $2,085 in fees,” Clark says. “You could do some meaningful travel with that $2,085. It really has to be the right person to have this card.”

In order for this card’s annual fee to make sense for most consumers, you’ll need to have a high confidence level in your ability to get full value from the perks offered to cardholders.

American Express advertises that it provides more than $1,500 in annual value in the perks it makes available to its Platinum cardholders.

Here’s a rough sketch of how Amex is doing this math:

• $300: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment is required.
• $240: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $200: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $200: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card.
• $200: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms apply.
• $189: Breeze through security with CLEAR® Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card.
• $155: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $100: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Terms apply

If you use everything in the list above, it adds up to $1,584 in annual value.

It seems unrealistic to expect to check the box on each of these rewards at their full capacity each year, but how close you can come to doing so may be a determining factor in whether this card is right for you.

If you can comfortably get more than $695 worth of value out of those perks each year, then you’re at least covering the cost of the annual fee and unlocking the card’s rewards on your spending as profit.

What Are Some Travel Card Alternatives?

If the $695 annual fee for this card is simply more than you want to pay, there still are some travel credit cards that could be a better fit for your wallet.

Clark says that he considers the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card a good “starter travel card” for people who are trying to dip their toes into the proverbial travel card pool. This card carries a $95 annual fee, but it can easily be recouped by taking advantage of the Chase travel benefits associated.

If you’re looking for a card that behaves a bit more like the Platinum Card, Chase also offers the Sapphire Reserve ® Card at a $550 annual fee. You’ll get a $300 annual travel statement credit with this one, as well as some of the benefits we outlined above for the Platinum card like airport lounge access and complimentary Global Entry or TSA Precheck memberships.

Another alternative worth considering is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Card . Clark added this card to his wallet in 2022 thanks to a lucrative welcome bonus offer and some travel perks that he thought were well worth the $395 annual fee.

“It was one that I really noodled and noodled before deciding I was going to get it,” Clark says. “The sign-up bonus was just so compelling that I had to do it.”

So, yes, it’s true that Clark has both the Venture X and Platinum Card in his possession. But he also says he finds himself “in the airport weekly” with ample opportunity to reap the benefits from those cards.

You’ll want to make sure that you travel enough to see the benefits of a travel card, especially if you’re signing up for one with a large annual fee. If you’re not, you may instead want to explore another type of rewards credit card . A cash back credit card is a strong option for many consumers.

The Platinum Card® from American Express: Pros and Cons

Are you considering adding card_name to your wallet? Let’s review some of the major pros and cons of the card before you make your final decision.

Bottom Line: If you are an occasional or aspirational traveler who actually gets only three or four trips in per year, this card probably isn’t the best fit for you.

While you could certainly use some of the perks that come with this card to make your vacation more enjoyable, you really have to weigh the $695 fee that you’ll be charged annually against your long-term travel outlook.

However, if you’re a small business owner or frequent business traveler, you may find that this card brings you value that is in far excess of that hefty annual fee each year.

It may sound counter to Clark’s usually frugal financial advice, but he says “go for it” if you’re in this bucket of consumers.

To see the rates and fees for the American Express cards featured, please visit the following links: Platinum Card® from American Express: See rates and fees .

• August 2023: Updated with new terms on the welcome offer.

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On This Page

• Key takeaways
• Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum Welcome bonus
• Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum Rewards
• Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum Travel perks
• Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum Other card benefits
• Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum Rates and fees
• Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum Eligibility

Should I get the Delta SkyMiles Reserve or Amex Platinum card?

Faq: delta reserve vs. amex platinum.

Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum: Platinum Comes Out Ahead

• When comparing The Platinum Card® from American Express vs. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card , the Platinum Card comes out on top, as it comes with more benefits than the Reserve.
• Both Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Amex Platinum give you access to Delta Sky Clubs, but they have different limits on the number of visits you can make during each program year.
• The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card has an annual fee of $650 ( see rates and fees ).
• If you get the Platinum Card® from American Express, you’ll pay an annual fee of $695 ( see rates and fees ).

When comparing the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to The Platinum Card® from American Express, it’s clear that the Amex Platinum offers more benefits. With extra bonus points on flights and hotels, plus credits for travel and entertainment, the Amex Platinum stands out as a versatile and rewarding choice. On the other hand, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve focuses on Delta purchases and may be better for you if you’re a loyal Delta customer.

Let’s explore the differences between these two American Express cards to help you choose the right one for your needs.

When comparing the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express , the Platinum card is the clear winner . 

It card gives you extra bonus points on eligible flights and prepaid hotels, plus credits designed to defray the cost of travel and entertainment. In contrast, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve only gives you 3 miles per dollar spent on Delta-operated flights.

Here’s a quick overview of how these American Express cards compare. We’ll explore each of these categories in more detail below.

Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum: An overview

Why should I get the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card?

You should get the Amex Delta Reserve card if you’re a loyal Delta customer who wants to earn 3 miles per dollar spent on all Delta purchases. This airline card also comes with a free annual companion certificate, making it one of the best travel credit cards on the market. If you use the companion pass to purchase a first-class ticket, you can easily earn more in benefits than you spend on the annual fee.

Why should I get The Platinum Card® from American Express?

You should get the Amex Platinum card if you’re not loyal to a specific airline. Instead of earning 3 miles per dollar on Delta flights, you’ll earn 5 Membership Rewards Points® on all eligible flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel.

Additionally, the Amex Platinum card gives you 5X points on all eligible prepaid hotels, plus statement credits for airline fees, digital entertainment and Walmart+.

Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum: Welcome bonus

Each card comes with a generous welcome bonus, but which one is better depends on how much you plan to spend.

If you’re interested in the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, American Express is offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 miles if you spend $5,000 within your first six months of membership.

The Amex Platinum has a welcome offer of 80,000 bonus points if you spend $8,000 within six months of opening your account.

Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum: Rewards

When we compared the Delta Reserve card vs. Amex Platinum, we discovered that the Amex Platinum card is better for earning and redeeming awards because it comes with fewer restrictions.

Which is better for earning rewards?

Amex Platinum is the clear winner when it comes to earning rewards. 

Instead of earning miles, you earn Membership Rewards Points at the following rates:

• 5 points per dollar spent on all eligible flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel
• 5 points per dollar spent on all eligible prepaid hotels booked via American Express Travel
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other categories

With the Delta Reserve, you only earn 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases. Otherwise, you earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all other categories.

Which is better for redeeming rewards?

The Amex Platinum is also better for redeeming rewards, as you earn points instead of miles. 

You can redeem these points in the following ways:

• Transfer them to airline or hotel loyalty partners.
• Use them to cover your eligible charges.
• Purchase gift cards.
• Deposit them into your checking account.
• Make reservations with American Express Travel.
• Pay with points at checkout (participating merchants only).

Once you earn miles with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, you have several redemption options:

• Book a trip through Delta Vacations.
• Book Award Travel.
• Use them to purchase seat upgrades, buy premium drinks in the Delta Sky Club or cover certain Delta fees.
• Purchase a Delta Sky Club membership (only available to Medallion members).
• Book hotels and vacation rentals through Delta Stays.
• Place bids on SkyMiles Experiences.
• Purchase magazine subscriptions.
• Transfer them to someone else.
• Donate the miles to your favorite charity.

The SkyMiles Reserve gives you more redemption options, but most of them are specific to Delta purchases. Therefore, the Amex Platinum gives you more flexibility .

Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum: Travel perks

This category has no clear winner, as both cards come with generous travel perks. The right card for you depends on your travel habits.

Airport lounge access

Delta Reserve cardholders get complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a same day Delta flight. Starting February 1, 2025 , access will be limited to 15 days of Sky Club usage per program year (February 1 to January 31). However, you can earn unlimited access if you spend $75,000 per calendar year on your Delta SkyMiles Reserve card.

If you get the Amex Platinum, you’ll receive 10 days of usage per year as a standard benefit, but you can earn unlimited access by spending at least $75,000 per calendar year. To access the Sky Club, you must be traveling on a same-day flight operated by Delta.

Amex Platinum members also have access to Escape Lounges and lounges in the American Express Global Collection®, while Delta Reserve members have access to Escape Lounges and Centurion® Lounges.

In this category, both cards are evenly matched. If you prefer to book with Delta, the Reserve has a slight edge since it gives you five additional days of complimentary Sky Club access each year.

Travel insurance

Both cards come with comprehensive American Express travel insurance benefits. For example, American Express offers coverage for trip cancellations , trip interruptions, lost/damaged baggage and trip delays.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/​benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

TSA PreCheck/Global Entry

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Amex Platinum cards both come with a statement credit for TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry . The TSA PreCheck is worth $85 and the Global Entry credit is for $100. You can use the Global Entry credit every four years or the TSA PreCheck credit every four and a half years.

In-flight benefits

The Delta Reserve entitles you to 20% back on eligible in-flight purchases, such as snacks, beverages and prepurchased meals. You get this benefit in the form of a statement credit. 

With the Amex Platinum, you have the opportunity to earn up to $200 in statement credits per year for incidental airline fees charged to your card. To use this benefit, you must choose a qualifying airline ahead of time.

For this category, the Delta Reserve is better if you always book your flights with Delta. The Amex Platinum is better if you’d rather use another airline.

Annual companion pass

When comparing the Delta SkyMiles Reserve vs. Amex Platinum, the Reserve card comes with a significant benefit that the Amex Platinum doesn’t have: the annual companion pass. Every time your card renews, you’ll receive a companion certificate, which entitles you to one free flight for a travel companion.

The companion certificate is only good for certain fare codes, but you can use it to book a seat in Main Cabin, Comfort+® or First Class. Note that you must choose a destination in the United States, Central America or the Caribbean.

Priority boarding

If you get the Delta Reserve, you’ll be able to board with the Main Cabin 1 group on all Delta-operated flights. The Amex Platinum doesn’t give you access to priority boarding, so the Reserve is the clear winner here.

Checked bags

As a Delta Reserve member, you can check your first bag for free if you book a Delta flight with your eligible card. You don’t get free checked bags with the Amex Platinum.

Hotel credit

In addition to giving you 5 points per dollar spent on eligible hotel stays, the Amex Platinum comes with an annual hotel credit worth up to $200 per calendar year. To earn the credit, simply book a prepaid hotel stay with The Hotel Collection® or Fine Hotels and Resorts®. You must book through American Express travel and use your Platinum Card to cover the charge. (Note: The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay)

Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum: Other card benefits

When comparing the Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve, we also looked at non-travel card benefits. Based on our research, the Amex Platinum is one of the best credit cards on the market, as it gives you multiple ways to earn bonus points and statement credits.

Here’s what you get with each card:

Ridesharing credits:

The Amex Platinum entitles you to $15 per month in Uber Cash. plus a bonus $20 in December (up to $200 per year). If you get the Delta Reserve, you’ll have the opportunity to earn up to $10 in statement credits each month ($120 per year) for Curb, Revel, Alto, Lyft and Uber rides.

Amex Offers:

Both cards give you access to Amex Offers, which give you statement credits and other bonuses when you add offers to your account and redeem them before they expire.

Purchase Protection:

The Delta Reserve and Amex Platinum protect eligible purchases for 90 days from the original purchase date. This benefit reimburses you up to $10,000 per occurrence ($50,000 per calendar year) for lost, stolen or accidentally damaged items.

Warranty protection:

Both cards also come with warranty protection. This benefit gives you an extra year of warranty coverage on eligible items. Note that you can only use this benefit on items that have an original manufacturer’s warranty of no more than five years. You must use your Delta Reserve or Amex Platinum to pay for the purchase.

Digital entertainment:

If you get the Amex Platinum, you have the opportunity to earn up to $20 per month ($240 per year) in statement credits on Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, SiriusXM and The New York Times purchases (Enrollment required). The Delta Reserve card doesn’t have a digital entertainment benefit.

Walmart+ credit:

If you use your Amex Platinum to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership, you’ll earn a monthly statement credit to cover the cost. This benefit is worth approximately $155 per year. The Delta Reserve card doesn’t have a Walmart+ benefit.

Equinox credit:

If you use your Amex Platinum to pay for an Equinox club membership or an Equinox+ subscription, you’ll earn up to $300 per year in statement credit (Enrollment required). The Delta Reserve doesn’t come with an Equinox benefit.

Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum: Rates and fees

Since they’re both American Express cards , the Delta Reserve and Amex Platinum have comparable rates and fees. Once the annual fee for the Delta Reserve increases on May 1, 2024, the Amex Platinum will only cost $45 more per year. 

Both cards have the same cash advance fees, cash advance APR and foreign transaction fees ($0). The Amex Platinum has a slight edge in terms of authorized user fees, and it also has a slightly lower cap on regular APR.

Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum: Eligibility

Both cards are reserved for consumers with good to excellent credit scores . Therefore, one isn’t any harder to get than the other, provided you meet the minimum income and credit requirements.

The Delta Reserve is a good fit for consumers who fly Delta regularly and want to maximize their Delta-related benefits.

The Amex Platinum is a better fit for people who aren’t loyal to Delta and would rather focus on earning points and statement credits based on their typical spending habits. If you get the Amex Platinum, you can easily earn back the fee by using the full Equinox, Walmart+, Uber and digital entertainment credits each year.

Featured offers

Delta skymiles reserve american express card®, the platinum card® from american express, is the delta skymiles reserve card better than platinum.

It depends on your needs. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve is the better choice if you want to maximize your Delta travel benefits. If you use multiple airlines, the Amex Platinum is probably a better fit. Although it has a higher annual fee, the Platinum Card gives you 5X points on all eligible flights and prepaid hotel stays.

When should I use Amex Platinum over Delta Reserve?

You should use the Amex Platinum instead of the Delta Reserve if you don’t spend enough on Delta purchases to justify the annual fee for the Reserve card.

Does Amex Platinum give you Delta lounge access?

Yes, Amex Platinum members qualify for unlimited Sky Club Access through January 31, 2025. Starting on February 1, 2025, you’ll receive 10 visits per year as a standard benefit. You can earn unlimited access if you spend $75,000 or more on your Amex Platinum each calendar year.

Is Delta Reserve or Amex Platinum harder to get?

The Delta Reserve and Amex Platinum are for consumers with good to excellent credit scores, so your chances of approval are about the same for both.

Leigh Morgan is a seasoned personal finance contributor with over 15 years of experience writing on a diverse range of professional legal and financial topics. She specializes in subjects like navigating the complexities of insurance, savings, zero-based budgeting and emergency fund development.

In the last 5 years, she’s authored over 300 articles for credit unions, digital banks, and financial professionals. Morgan is also the author of “77 Tips for Preventing Elder Financial Abuse,” a book focused on helping caregivers protect the elderly from financial scams.

In addition to her writing skills, she brings real-world financial acumen thanks to her previous experience managing rental properties as part of a $34 million real estate portfolio.

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American Express Business Platinum Review: Worth the Fee for Heavy Travelers

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If you travel often for business, the generous rewards and perks on this card could make the big fee seem like a bargain. Don't travel much? This isn't your card.

on American Express' website

Quick Facts

• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
• Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card®, here.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card®.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Pros & Cons

Lounge membership

Transfer partners

Bonus categories

Automatic elite status

Premium travel protections

High annual fee

Complicated rewards

Requires good/excellent credit

Compare to Other Cards

Full review.

If you travel often for your business, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a stellar choice for making trips easier and more rewarding.

Used right, the card can make up for its steep $695 annual fee while providing generous rewards for travel spending and a suite of perks that road warriors will appreciate. It’s an ideal business credit card for those who spend — and expect — a lot.

Key features of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Card type: Small business .

Annual fee: $695 .

Welcome offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com.

1.5 points per dollar on certain business categories (such as electronics and software) and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more for up to $2 million spent per calendar year.

1 point per dollar on all eligible purchases.

Terms apply.

Membership Rewards points are worth about 0.5 cents to 1 cent each depending on how you redeem them. Travel and gift card redemptions are generally the most valuable. Points are also transferable and can be worth even more if redeemed strategically after being transferred to other loyalty programs.

Aer Lingus (1:1 ratio).

AeroMexico (1:1.6 ratio).

Air Canada. (1:1 ratio).

Air France/KLM (1:1 ratio).

ANA (1:1 ratio).

Avianca (1:1 ratio).

British Airways (1:1 ratio).

Cathay Pacific (1:1 ratio)

Delta Air Lines (1:1 ratio).

Emirates (1:1 ratio).

Etihad Airways (1:1 ratio).

Hawaiian Airlines (1:1 ratio).

Iberia Plus (1:1 ratio).

JetBlue Airways (2.5:2 ratio).

Qantas (1:1 ratio).

Qatar Airways (1:1 ratio).

Singapore Airlines (1:1 ratio).

Virgin Atlantic Airways (1:1 ratio).

Choice Hotels (1:1 ratio).

Hilton Hotels & Resorts (1:2 ratio).

Marriott Hotels & Resorts (1:1 ratio).

For details on transfer ratios, see AmEx's website .

Interest rate: Purchases made with The Business Platinum Card® from American Express are classified as either "Pay Over Time" or "Pay In Full":

Pay Over Time: This is an optional feature that allows you to carry a balance from one month to the next, just like purchases on a regular credit card. If you have this option activated, purchases of $100 or more are automatically classified as Pay Over Time. The ongoing APR is 19.49%-28.49% Variable APR . Although The Business Platinum Card® from American Express does not have a preset spending limit, it does impose a limit on your Pay Over Time balance; any purchases above that limit become Pay In Full. Terms apply.

Pay In Full: These purchases must be paid off completely each month, so they do not incur interest. All purchases of less than $100 are Pay In Full, as are any purchases over your Pay Over Time balance limit. If you choose not to use Pay Over Time, then all purchases are Pay In Full. Terms apply.

Foreign transaction fees: None.

Airline fee credit. Up to $200 a year in credit for incidental fees on one airline, such as checked bag fees or in-flight refreshments or entertainment, but not airfare or seat upgrades. Each year, you select an airline to use this credit with.

Airline redemption bonus. When you redeem points for eligible flights through American Express Travel, get back 35% of those points. Eligible flights include all fare classes on your selected qualifying airline or first- or business-class fares on any airline.

Trusted traveler program application fee credit. When applying for the Global Entry or TSA Precheck programs, you'll receive a credit of $100 or $85, respectively, for the application fee when it's charged to the card. Cardholders are eligible every 4.5 years for Precheck or every four years for Global Entry.

Global Lounge Collection. Get access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, including the issuer's own Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta) and Priority Pass lounges, among others.

Hotel status. Automatically qualify for Gold status in the Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors programs, and reap upgrades elsewhere.

Purchasing perks. Purchase protection covers purchases against loss, theft or damage within 90 days. Return protection also lasts 90 days. Extended warranty protection adds up to one extra year to a manufacturer's warranty. Eligibility to earn points in the Neiman Marcus loyalty program, called InCircle.

$400 Dell statement credit: $200 in the first half the year and another $200 in the second half.

Travel protections. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay insurance and baggage insurance.

Minor travel benefits: Potential perks for car rentals (Hertz, Avis, National), cruises, vacation packages and private-jet bookings.

Business tools: American Express Business App, Connect to QuickBooks, employee cards and ability to set employee spending limits .

Experience perks: Preferred seating, ticket presale opportunities, VIP experiences and access to exclusive restaurant reservations and customized experiences.

Why you'd want The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Rich benefits.

The value of some business travel credit cards lies in the points earned for using it. But the value of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is tightly tied to its benefits — almost like it’s a membership card that unlocks a wide range of perks to make your traveling life easier.

Some benefits mitigate direct costs, like up to $200 a year in statement credit for incidental fees on an airline you choose, as well as a fee credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry . And many business owners can find something they need from Dell. The card provides up to $400 in statement credit — $200 in the first half of the year and another $200 in the second half — for purchases directly from Dell.

Other perks are harder to put a dollar figure on, but are clearly valuable — from automatic hotel elite status to travel protections to concierge service.

Lounge access

A welcome perk for road warriors, airport lounges can be a refuge from the loud, teeming gate areas and come with free refreshments. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers access to several types, including the highly respected American Express Centurion Lounges and the more ubiquitous Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta. In addition, you get access to International American Express Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and lounges in the Plaza Premium, Airspace and Escapes networks, when enrolled in each.

All told, that’s access to more than 1,400 lounges across 140 countries. AmEx claims that collection is the largest to be offered by a card, making The Business Platinum Card® from American Express tough to beat when it comes to business credit cards with airport lounge access .

Transferable points

Besides redeeming points for travel through American Express, you can also transfer them to some airline and loyalty programs , many on a 1-to-1 basis. This might provide more value per point. Airline and hotel partners include Delta, JetBlue, British Airways, Air France/KLM, Hilton, Choice and Marriott.

Other redemption options include merchandise, gift cards, Amazon.com purchases and more. But we recommend redeeming points toward travel to get the best value.

» MORE: AmEx Membership Rewards points: How to earn and use them

Potential for big bonus

A new-cardholder bonus offers an impressive haul of points — but earning the full bonus requires spending big bucks soon after receiving the card. Full details: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express isn't designed for the low-spending entrepreneur. If you won't spend enough to earn the bonus but still want a travel-friendly business credit card, try a different option, such as the Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card . Here's what you can get by signing up for this card: Earn 30,000 online bonus points after you make at least $3,000 in net purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening which can be redeemed for a $300 statement credit towards travel or dining purchases.

» MORE: American Express credit cards mobile app review

Why you might want a different card

Narrow bonus spending rewards.

Rewards are rich for travel spending via AmEx — and poor for everything else.

The good. Membership Rewards points are worth an average of 1 cent apiece , so the 5 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotel stays booked through amextravel.com is equivalent to a 5% rewards rate, which is exceptional. Spend $11,900 a year on travel to break even on the annual fee, before factoring in card perks. What’s more, get 35% of your points back when redeeming them for flights with your selected airline through amextravel.com, meaning you could squeeze out an effective rate of 6.75% on travel spending.

The bad. If you won’t book a lot of travel through AmEx, this card loses its allure quickly. It’s simply a poor choice for racking up rewards for other types of spending, which earns just 1 point per dollar spent or 1.5 points on certain business categories or if the purchase is more than $5,000.

For non-AmEx travel, you'd be better off with a cash-back business card like the Capital One Spark Cash Plus . This card offers an unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, and it comes with a good welcome bonus — but it's a charge card, so you can't carry a balance.

Dining rewards, in particular, are a weak spot for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express . Restaurant spending, which typically accompanies travel, earns just 1 point per dollar.

If you make full use of the perks offered by The Business Platinum Card® from American Express , the $695 annual fee is worth it.

Notably, fully using the annual $200 airline fee credit mitigates the fee substantially. And it helps that the annual fee is a deductible business expense .

Use the calculator below to get an idea of whether the card's rewards and most popular credits and benefits make up for your annual fee.

But if like many people you're dead-set against paying that much, consider the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card . It earns 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each year, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. Points are worth 1.25 cents apiece when redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. It has a jumbo welcome bonus and a much lower annual fee.

If you still want some luxury in a business travel card, consider the less pricey Capital One Venture X Business . With an annual fee of $395 , it still has an annual travel credit and complimentary access to more than 1,300 airport lounges, plus the following rewards: Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get the best prices on thousands of options. Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions. (See rates and fees .)

To extract the most value from a high-end travel card, you need patience to learn the card’s perks, figure out bonus rewards and wrestle with redemption processes. If that sounds like too much hassle, consider the Capital One Spark Miles for Business .

The Capital One Spark Miles for Business earns 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus, too. (See rates and fees .) Learn more and apply .

Is The Business Platinum Card® from American Express right for you?

Light-traveling small-business folks who fly coach and pinch pennies will struggle to get their money's worth from this high-end card. After all, it is a luxury travel card. But that’s exactly why hard-core road warriors are likely to extract enough value from the card to make its hefty fee seem like a bargain.

To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page . To view rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card , see this page .

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Methodology

You’ll need at least good credit to qualify for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express .

Generally speaking, “ good credit ” is defined as a score of at least 690. But a credit score alone isn’t enough to qualify for any credit card. Issuers take into account your income, existing debts and other information.

The annual fee is $695 .

Cardholders earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com; 1.5 points per dollar on certain business categories and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (an extra half-point per dollar); and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply.

The card comes with a broad array of benefits. Among the most valuable are access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, a $200 annual airline fee credit, an application fee credit for Global Entry ($100) or TSA Precheck ($85) programs; and elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors hotel loyalty programs.

The Amex Business Platinum is aimed at frequent travelers who want to go in style; Gold is a better choice for rewards on daily spending. See NerdWallet’s comparison .

Getting a business card might not be as hard as you think. You don’t need a formal business structure, like an LLC, partnership or corporation. Sole proprietorships count, too, including those who earn extra income freelancing, contracting or side hustling. Your personal credit factors into whether you will be approved.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers access to several types of lounges, including American Express Centurion Lounges and the more ubiquitous Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta. In addition, you get access to International American Express Lounges, Priority Pass lounges , and lounges in the Plaza Premium, Airspace and Escapes networks, when enrolled in those programs. All told, that’s access to well over 1,400 lounges worldwide. Terms apply.

It works like any other credit card for making business purchases, but to fully use its myriad of benefits and to optimize Membership Rewards points? Yes, there is a learning curve.

This card was originally introduced as a charge card, meaning your full balance was due every month. However, cardholders are now able to carry a balance on certain purchases using the American Express "Pay Over TIme" feature.

You’ll need at least good credit to qualify for

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Generally speaking, “

good credit

” is defined as a score of at least 690. But a credit score alone isn’t enough to qualify for any credit card. Issuers take into account your income, existing debts and other information.

The annual fee is

The card comes with a broad array of benefits. Among the most valuable are access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, a $200 annual airline fee credit, an application fee credit for Global Entry ($100) or TSA Precheck ($85) programs; and elite status in the

Marriott Bonvoy

Hilton Honors

hotel loyalty programs.

The Amex Business Platinum is aimed at frequent travelers who want to go in style; Gold is a better choice for rewards on daily spending. See

NerdWallet’s comparison

Getting a business card

might not be as hard as you think. You don’t need a formal business structure, like an LLC, partnership or corporation. Sole proprietorships count, too, including those who earn extra income freelancing, contracting or side hustling. Your personal credit factors into whether you will be approved.

offers access to several types of lounges, including

American Express Centurion Lounges

and the more ubiquitous

Delta Sky Clubs

when flying Delta. In addition, you get access to International American Express Lounges,

Priority Pass lounges

, and lounges in the Plaza Premium, Airspace and Escapes networks, when enrolled in those programs. All told, that’s access to well over 1,400 lounges worldwide. Terms apply.

This card was originally introduced as a charge card, meaning your full balance was due every month. However, cardholders are now able to carry a balance on certain purchases using the American Express

"Pay Over TIme"

10 things to do when you get the Amex Platinum

The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the best premium rewards cards on the market thanks to its extensive benefits, from lounge access to monthly statement credits. These perks come at a cost, though — the card's annual fee is $695 (see rates and fees ), making it one of the most expensive consumer cards to carry.

If that has you second-guessing whether or not to get the Amex Platinum Card, remember that the potential value of its many benefits can far outweigh that fee if you take full advantage of them.

If you open the Amex Platinum Card or already carry it, here are the 10 best ways to take advantage of all of its perks .

Use the $200 hotel credit

One of the principal benefits of the Amex Platinum is the up-to-$200 annual statement credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings (the latter has a minimum two-night stay, enrollment is required). The FHR program gets you the following perks:

• Room upgrade upon arrival, when available at check-in
• Daily breakfast for two people
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout and noon check-in, when available
• An experience credit that usually consists of a property, dining or spa credit
• You'll receive a daily credit when a property includes Wi-Fi in a mandatory resort fee

The Hotel Collection's perks include a room upgrade at check-in when available, up to a $100 hotel credit for qualifying dining, spa and resort activities, and the ability to use Pay with Points on prepaid bookings.

Register for your annual airline fee credit

You'll get an annual up-to-$200 airline fee statement credit for the airline of your choice. Select your desired airline on the Amex website before making a purchase, and you'll get to use the credit for fees such as lounge passes, seat assignments, onboard snacks and checked bags.

Note that the airline credit won't apply for new reservations or taxes and fees on award bookings. Enrollment is required.

Since you only get to pick one airline annually, we recommend choosing one with which you don't already hold elite status. An airline you often fly — but not enough to have elite status — will be a strong contender.

Apply for your Priority Pass membership card

One of the greatest travel perks of the Amex Platinum is its unparalleled lounge access — the best on any premium card available. Here are the lounges that participate in the Amex Global Lounge Collection (enrollment is required):

• Amex Centurion Lounges
• Priority Pass Lounges (request your membership card here )
• Delta Sky Clubs (when flying on Delta the same day)*
• Airspace Lounges
• Escape Lounges
• Plaza Premium Lounges

*Effective February 1, 2025: Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight.

Add your card to your Uber wallet

Amex Platinum cardholders get up to $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus an additional up to $20 in December. While Uber Cash doesn't roll over month to month, that adds up to $200 in Uber Cash each calendar year (for U.S. services). Enrollment is required.

To get your Uber Cash, you need to link your card(s) to your Uber account. To do this, head to your wallet on the Uber app and add your card as a payment method.

Apply for Global Entry and TSA Precheck

When you enroll in these trusted traveler programs with your Amex Platinum Card , you'll get a statement credit for up to $100 to your account to cover the application cost (and again upon renewal) once every four years for Global Entry and up to $85 every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck.

Sign up for Clear plus

The Amex Platinum also offers a statement credit for a Clear Plus membership , normally costing $189 annually.

Clear Plus has a separate line to handle travelers' identity verification and security screening via a fingerprint or iris scan. Once approved, you're escorted by a Clear Plus employee to the head of the TSA PreCheck line (or regular security line if you don't have PreCheck) to an agent for final approval.

As TSA checkpoint lines continue to lengthen, having both Clear and TSA PreCheck can save you a lot of time at the airport. Enrollment required.

Request hotel elite status

Another perk that comes with being an Amex Platinum cardholder is being eligible for Gold status with both the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programs.

These programs give you perks such as bonus points and potential room upgrades. You can enroll for these on the Amex website .

Sign up for car rental elite status

Elite status can sometimes be the difference between being able to reserve a vehicle or not, depending on where you're trying to rent.

In addition to hotel elite status, carrying the Amex Platinum means you are also eligible for status with the following car rental programs (enrollment is required):

• Avis Preferred Plus
• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle
• National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive

You can enroll for each program on the Amex website .

Sign up for a Walmart+ membership

The Amex Platinum also offers an annual up-to-$155 Walmart+ statement credit , which covers the entire cost of a Walmart+ membership ($12.95 plus applicable sales tax) each month; Plus Ups are excluded.

Just charge the membership fee to your card and you'll receive a statement credit each month (subject to auto-renewal).

If you live near a Walmart store, this membership will get you free delivery from that store as quickly as the same day on orders of $35 or more, plus steep discounts on prescriptions. You can also save 5 cents per gallon at Walmart and Murphy gas stations and access member pricing at Sam's Club fuel centers — a great perk with fuel costs steadily rising .

Even if you're not a frequent in-store Walmart shopper, you'll enjoy free next-day and two-day shipping on eligible items from Walmart.com with no minimum purchase required.

Consider these other small-but-mighty benefits

While we've outlined nine of our favorite benefits from the Amex Platinum, there are plenty of other enticing perks worth looking into:

Scoop up your digital entertainment credits

The Amex Platinum offers an up-to-$240 digital entertainment statement credit , broken down to up to $20 in monthly statement credits when you pay for participating subscription services. They include The New York Times, Peacock, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, the Disney Bundle and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment is required.

Treat yourself with an annual up-to $100 statement credit for Saks Fifth Avenue

This Saks Fifth Avenue benefit is broken down to up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 from July through December. Enrollment is required.

Fitness lovers, grab this annual $300 statement credit for Equinox

This Equinox credit applies to monthly Equinox All Access, Destination and E by Equinox membership fees as well as for the Equinox+ fitness app. Enrollment is required.

Want an at-home fitness bike? Get a $300 SoulCycle statement credit

If you're in the market for an at-home bike, you can get up to a $300 statement credit when you purchase a SoulCycle bike . While it's unlikely that you would ever buy more than one bike, this statement credit is applicable to up to 15 bikes per year.

You must have an Equinox+ membership to purchase a SoulCycle bike. Enrollment is required.

Add up to three authorized users

You can add authorized users to your Platinum Card for a total of $195 each per year (see rates and fees ), which can really help you maximize the value you're already getting from being a cardholder. Authorized users are eligible for many of the same benefits as the main accountholder, including lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck reimbursement, hotel elite status and Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits.

However, authorized users don't get their own Uber credit or separate airline incidental credits. Enrollment required for some benefits.

Not just Amazon: Get free two-day shipping at thousands of stores with ShopRunner

You'll get free two-day shipping and free return shipping when you pay for eligible items with your Amex Platinum at participating online stores through the ShopRunner program. You can enroll for the service here .

Bottom line

Yes, the Amex Platinum is not a cheap card to have. But after you take a deep dive into all of the card's benefits, the annual fee may feel less intimidating.

If you can maximize every statement credit on the Amex Platinum, you're looking at a value of easily more than $1,400 annually. Even if you can't use every credit on the card, accessing the Amex Global Lounge Collection alone is key for frequent travelers.

Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express with 80,000 points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership or check the CardMatch tool to see if you're targeted for an up to 125,000 Platinum Card offer. Offers are subject to change at any time.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here .

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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The Business Platinum Card ®

Annual Fee: $695 ¤

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How You Earn

5x points on flights & prepaid hotels on flights & prepaid hotels, 1.5x points on eligible purchases on eligible purchases, 1x points on other eligible purchases ‡ on other eligible purchases ‡, 5x points on flights & prepaid hotels 5x points on flights & prepaid hotels, 1.5x points on eligible purchases 1.5x points on eligible purchases, 1x points on other eligible purchases ‡ 1x points on other eligible purchases ‡, unlock over $1,000 in business & travel value annually.

Enroll in each of the below and get statement credits of up to:

$200 back semi-annually for U.S. purchases with

See Details

Shop Dell Technologies

Upgrade your tech, enhance your business. Enroll and get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually on U.S. purchases with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card through 12/31/24. That's up to $400 back. ‡

$90 back per quarter for purchases with

Build Your Team with Indeed

Build your team, grow your business. Enroll and get up to $360 in statement credits(up to $90 back per quarter) for purchases with Indeed on the Card through 12/31/24. ‡

$150 back per year for select business subscription purchases with

Adobe Creative Solutions

Get the creative solutions your business needs. Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits for eligible annual prepaid business plan purchases of Adobe Creative Cloud for teams or Adobe Acrobat Pro for teams on the Business Platinum Card through 12/31/24. 1 ‡

1 Annual prepaid business plans automatically renew each year on your annual subscription date until cancelled.

$10 back monthly for select purchases with U.S. wireless phone service providers

Wireless Credit

Enroll and get up to $120 in statement credits per year for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $10 back per month. ‡

$200 back per year for baggage fees and other incidentals with one qualifying airline

$200 Airline Fee Credit

Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Business Platinum Card Account. 1‡

1 American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.

$189 back per year for your CLEAR ® Plus Membership

$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit

CLEAR ® uses unique attributes, such as eyes or fingerprints, to digitally verify identity to help its members move faster through security at select airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership 1 with up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with your Business Platinum Card. ‡

1 Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.

$400 Statement Credit

Up to $400 back (up to $200 semi-annually) on U.S. purchases with Dell Technologies through 12/31/24. Enrollment required. ‡

$360 Statement Credit

Get up to $360 back (up to $90 quarterly) for purchases with Indeed on the Card through 12/31/24. Enrollment required. ‡

$150 Statement Credit

Enroll and get up to $150 back for select auto-renewing annual business subscription purchases with Adobe on the Business Platinum ® Card through 12/31/24. ‡

$120 Statement Credit

Get up to $120 back per year for purchases with U.S. wireless telephone service providers on the Business Platinum Card. Enrollment required. ‡

$200 Statement Credit

Select one qualifying airline and receive up to $200 in credits per year for baggage fees and more. ‡

$189 Statement Credit

Breeze through security with CLEAR ® Plus. CLEAR lanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership when you use the Business Platinum Card. Learn More. ‡

Featured Benefits

The Global Lounge Collection ®

The American Express Global Lounge Collection ® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market ‡ 1 . 1 As of 3/2023

American Express Global Lounge Collection ®

Enjoy complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion ® Lounge, Escape Lounges - The Centurion ® Studio Partner, Delta Sky Club ® when flying Delta, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass ™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges. Lounges may have their own rules, like age restrictions and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express ® App ‡ or visit americanexpress.com/findalounge . ‡

Marriott Bonvoy ® Gold Elite Status

As a Business Platinum Card Member, you can upgrade to Marriott Bonvoy ™ Gold Elite status without meeting any stay requirements. Terms and limitations apply. ‡

Business Platinum Card Members and Additional Business Platinum Card Members may enroll (or upgrade an existing membership) directly into Marriott Bonvoy ® Gold Elite Status, bypassing the usual annual minimum night/stay requirements. Once enrollment is completed, the Card Member may take advantage of the Gold Elite benefits at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy and booked with a Qualifying Rate. ‡ With Gold Elite status, members enjoy: 1. 25% bonus points on eligible hotel purchases 2. A Welcome Gift of Points and Complimentary In-room Wi-Fi Access 3. Enhanced Room Upgrades at select properties (when available) 4. 2pm Late Checkout (when available)

Fine Hotels + Resorts ® Program

For every type of traveler and every type of trip, find your stay with American Express Travel. For hotels that are destinations unto themselves, there’s Fine Hotels + Resorts ® . ‡

Fine Hotels + Resorts Program

When you're ready to relax and need an escape, enjoy an unforgettable experience with Fine Hotels + Resorts ® . When you book through American Express Travel, you'll receive an average total value of $600 1 in perks, like daily breakfast for two, 4pm check-out, and more. Plus, book on AmexTravel.com and you can earn 5X Membership Rewards ® points ® , or use Pay with Points ® , on prepaid stays with a minimum 2-night stay required to be eligible for the benefit. 1 Average value based on Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings in 2022 for stays of two nights. Benefits include daily breakfast for two, room upgrade upon arrival when available, $100 amenity, guaranteed 4PM late checkout, and noon check-in when available. Certain room categories not eligible for upgrade. $100 amenity varies by property. Actual value will vary based on property, room rate, upgrade availability, and use of benefits.

All Benefits & Features

5x membership rewards ® points, the global lounge collection ®, $189 clear plus credit, fine hotels + resorts ® program ‡, fee credit for global entry or tsa precheck ®, no foreign transaction fees ¤, marriott bonvoy ® gold elite status, hilton honors ™ gold status, premium car rental privileges, business platinum travel service, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

• Cash Flow Flexibility
• Expense Management
• Additional Services

Business Platinum Card ®

Annual fee: $695 ¤, get a decision in as little as 30 seconds.

• ♦︎ ‡†Offer & Benefit Terms
• ¤Rates & Fees