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The American Express Platinum Card is a premium credit card that offers an array of benefits and rewards that can greatly enhance your travel and lifestyle experiences.
With the card, you can earn 5x points on air travel booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, which can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, or other travel-related expenses.
One of the standout features of the card is its airport lounge access, which includes membership in the Global Lounge Collection, offering access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide.
This card also offers a $200 airline fee credit, which can be used to offset fees associated with checked bags, in-flight meals, and other airline services.
Rewards and Benefits
The Amex Platinum card offers a wide range of rewards and benefits that can be incredibly valuable.
You can earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, and 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel. This can add up quickly, especially if you're a frequent traveler.
Here are some of the statement credits you can receive: up to $200 Uber Cash per year, up to $200 airline fee statement credits per year, up to $200 hotel credit for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings per year, up to $100 Saks credit per year, up to $240 digital entertainment credits per year, up to $300 Equinox statement credit per calendar year, up to $155 Walmart+ statement credit, and up to $120 for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
The Amex Platinum also offers complimentary elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, Avis Preferred, National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive, and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. This can include perks like free upgrades, late check-out, early check-in, and complimentary breakfast.
Big Travel Rewards
The Platinum Card from American Express offers some amazing travel rewards. You can earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
You can also earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel. This is a great option for those who plan to book hotels in advance. I've taken advantage of this perk to earn a significant number of points.
In addition to these high-earning categories, you'll earn 2 points per dollar on other eligible travel expenses booked through American Express Travel. This includes things like car rentals and vacation packages. It's a good idea to book these types of expenses through American Express Travel to maximize your earnings.
Finally, you'll earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. This may not be as exciting as the other earning categories, but it's still a good way to earn points on your everyday spending.
Here's a breakdown of the earning rates:
- 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel
- 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
- 2 points per dollar on other eligible travel expenses booked through American Express Travel
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
$300 SoulCycle Statement
You can receive up to $300 in statement credits when you use your Amex Platinum to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike.
This credit is only available for bike purchases made through a specific link, so make sure to use that link to get the credit.
You can use this credit for up to 15 bike purchases per calendar year, which is a pretty generous limit.
If you purchase the bike in a store or through the Equinox mobile app, you won't receive the $300 statement credit.
This credit won't offset any accessories you may purchase for the bike, so keep that in mind when making your purchase.
Welcome Offer and Perks
The Amex Platinum card offers a generous welcome offer. You can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.
To put this in perspective, that's a significant amount of rewards points that can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, or other rewards. The terms do apply, so be sure to review them carefully.
One of the benefits of being an Amex Platinum cardholder is access to exclusive offers through AmEx Offers. These offers can provide additional rewards or rebates in the form of statement credits when you shop with specific merchants and activate the offer.
As of our last update, the current welcome offer for new cardholders is the same: 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
If you frequently use Uber or Uber Eats, the Amex Platinum card has a great perk for you: up to $200 in Uber Cash per year. This is broken down into $15 monthly increments, except in December when you'll get a $35 credit.
Travel and Shopping Protections
The American Express Platinum Card offers a range of travel and shopping protections to give you peace of mind when making purchases or traveling.
You can be reimbursed up to $500 per covered trip for reasonable additional expenses if your trip is delayed by more than six hours for a covered reason. This is part of the trip delay protection benefit.
If you need to cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason, you may be eligible for reimbursement of up to $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per card per consecutive 12-month period. This is part of the trip cancellation and interruption protection benefit.
The card also offers extended warranty protection, which extends eligible manufacturer's warranties of five years or less by up to one additional year.
Here are some key details about the travel and shopping protections offered by the American Express Platinum Card:
Low Fares Through the Airline Program
You can earn savings on International First, Business and Premium Economy Class tickets on over 20 participating airlines when you book through American Express Travel. This benefit is exclusive to cardholders who book through American Express Travel.
To take advantage of this perk, you'll need to book your flights through American Express Travel. This is a great way to save money on international flights, especially if you're traveling in style.
The participating airlines offer discounts on International First, Business and Premium Economy Class tickets. This means you can enjoy upgraded amenities and services while saving money on your flights.
Here are some participating airlines:
* List of participating airlines not provided, but over 20 airlines are included in the program.
Keep in mind that this benefit is only available when booking through American Express Travel. Be sure to take advantage of this perk to save money on your international flights.
Travel & Shopping Protections
Travel and shopping protections are a great benefit of using an American Express card. Eligible purchases made with your card can be protected against theft, accidental damage, or loss for up to 90 days from the purchase date.
You can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account per calendar year. This protection is embedded in your card membership and requires no enrollment.
If you try to return an eligible item within 90 days from the date of purchase and the merchant won't take it back, American Express may refund the full purchase price. This refund is limited to up to $300 per item and up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account.
Some cards may have varying eligibility and benefit levels, so it's essential to check your specific card details. You can find more information on American Express's website.
Here's a summary of the travel and shopping protections offered by American Express:
- Trip delay protection: Reimbursement of up to $500 per covered trip for reasonable additional expenses
- Trip cancellation and interruption protection: Reimbursement of up to $10,000 per covered trip
- Extended warranty: 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
- Return protection: Refund of the full purchase price (up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account)
Insurance and Protection
The American Express Platinum Card offers a range of insurance and protection benefits that can provide peace of mind when traveling or making purchases.
With purchase protection, you're covered for up to $10,000 per incident for up to a maximum of $50,000 per year, in case your items are accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost within 90 days of purchase.
Return protection allows you to return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won't take them back, and you may be refunded the full purchase price, excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account.
Here are some key details about the insurance and protection benefits:
- Purchase protection: Up to $10,000 per incident, up to $50,000 per year
- Return protection: Up to $300 per item, up to $1,000 per calendar year per card account
- Baggage insurance plan: Up to $2,000 for checked bags, up to $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage
- Trip delay insurance: Up to $500 per covered trip, up to two claims per eligible card per 12-month period
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Up to $10,000 per trip, up to $20,000 per eligible card per 12-month period
Baggage Insurance Plan
If your luggage is lost, damaged, or stolen, the Baggage Insurance Plan has got you covered. You can be reimbursed up to $2,000 for checked bags and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage.
To be eligible for this coverage, you need to pay for the entire fare with your card. This is a crucial detail to keep in mind when making travel arrangements.
The Baggage Insurance Plan provides a safety net for unexpected luggage-related issues, giving you peace of mind as you travel.
Car Rental Insurance
Car Rental Insurance is a great benefit that can save you from financial headaches. 43. Car rental loss and damage insurance offers secondary coverage for a rental car that is damaged or stolen.
To qualify for this benefit, you must pay for the rental car with your card and decline the collision damage waiver. Exclusions and terms apply.
You'll need to learn more about rental car coverage provided via cards to understand all the details.
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance is a valuable benefit offered by American Express. It reimburses non-refundable expenses made with the card when a trip is interrupted or canceled for a qualifying reason.
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. This means you can rest assured that you'll be covered in case of unexpected trip cancellations or interruptions.
Eligibility and benefit level vary by card, so it's essential to check the specific terms and conditions of your card. You can find more details on the American Express website.
Here's a quick rundown of the key details:
Purchase Protection
Purchase protection is a valuable benefit offered by American Express, and it's essential to understand how it works.
You don't need to enroll in purchase protection, as it's an embedded benefit of your card membership. This means you can rely on it to protect your purchases without any extra steps.
Eligible purchases made with your American Express card are protected against accidental damage, theft, or loss for up to 90 days from the purchase date. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per occurrence, up to a maximum of $50,000 per card member account per calendar year.
Here's a breakdown of the key details:
Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card, so it's essential to check your specific card details for more information.
Fees and Limitations
The Amex Platinum card has its fair share of fees and limitations, but it's essential to understand them to maximize your benefits. You're limited to choosing one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 per calendar year in statement credit for incidental fees.
You can't use the credit for airfare, but it can cover expenses like luggage fees, seat selection, and lounge access. Amex doesn't explicitly list eligible charges, so it's best to stick within the parameters to avoid any issues.
You're also limited to using the $200 airline fee credit with the selected airline for the entire calendar year, but reports indicate you might be able to change your selection by contacting customer service.
Up to $240 in Digital Entertainment
You can get up to $240 in digital entertainment credit each year with the American Express Platinum card. This credit can be applied at $20 per month when using the card to pay for select services.
To qualify, you need to enroll in the program and use your card to pay for one of the eligible services, such as Peacock, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, or The Wall Street Journal.
You can stack multiple subscriptions to get the most value, like pairing a Peacock subscription ($7.99 per month) with a Disney Bundle Basic subscription ($16.99 per month) to use the full $240 in statement credits each year.
Here are the eligible services that can be used to earn the digital entertainment credit:
- Disney+
- The Disney Bundle
- ESPN+
- Hulu
- Peacock
- The New York Times
- Wall Street Journal
No Foreign Transaction Fees
The Platinum Card from American Express doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, but you may experience limited merchant acceptance abroad.
American Express cards aren't as widely accepted internationally as Visa and Mastercard products.
The annual fee for this card is $195, and you'll also pay $195 for every additional card you add to your account.
Card Features and Benefits
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The Amex Platinum card offers a range of benefits that can enhance your travel experience.
You can earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, and 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. This can add up quickly, especially if you're a frequent traveler.
The card also comes with a welcome offer of 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months, which is worth around $1,600 in travel rewards. This can be used to book luxury stays or flights with Amex's airline partners.
Here are some of the key benefits of the Amex Platinum card:
- Room upgrade (when available)
- Daily breakfast for two
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Amenity credit valued at $100
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Up to $200 back in statement credits each calendar year on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings
These benefits can be used to enhance your travel experience, from upgrading your room to enjoying complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi.
Rewards on Spending
The Amex Platinum card offers some amazing rewards on spending. You can earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
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The card also offers 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel. This can be a great way to earn points on your hotel stays, especially if you book through Amex Travel.
You'll earn 2 points per dollar on other eligible travel expenses booked through American Express Travel, which can include things like car rentals, trains, and more. And, of course, you'll earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Here's a breakdown of the rewards rates:
- 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel
- 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
- 2 points per dollar on other eligible travel expenses booked through American Express Travel
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
These rewards rates can add up quickly, especially if you use your card for all of your travel purchases. And, as a bonus, you'll also get one extra Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on an eligible vacation package booked through the Platinum Travel Service.
No Preset Spending Limit
The Platinum Card from American Express has a unique feature - it doesn't have a preset spending limit. You'll still have a general limit, though, that fluctuates with changing factors such as your purchases and credit history.
This means you can make as many purchases as you want, but you'll have to pay them off in full every month.
Other Benefits and Offers
The Amex Platinum card comes with a variety of benefits and offers that can enhance your travel and shopping experiences. The card offers rental car privileges with Avis, National, and Hertz, as well as access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection.
You can also enjoy hotel status with Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold, which can provide you with perks like room upgrades and free breakfast. Additionally, the card offers various insurance benefits, including return protection, extended warranty, and purchase protection.
Here are some of the key benefits and offers of the Amex Platinum card:
- Rental car privileges with Avis, National, and Hertz
- Access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection: Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, Plaza Premium Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and Escape Lounges
- Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment required)
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold status (enrollment required)
- No foreign transaction fees
These benefits can add significant value to your card, making it a worthwhile investment for frequent travelers and shoppers.
Saks Fifth Avenue Discount
The Saks Fifth Avenue Discount is a fantastic benefit that comes with the Amex Platinum card. You can receive up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases made in-store or online with your card.
To be eligible, you must register your Amex Platinum card through your Amex online account before making a purchase. This benefit is divvied up into two $50 increments, one from January through June and the other from July through December.
There's no minimum purchase required to trigger this credit, so you could make a purchase of $50 (or less) once every six months and not owe anything out of pocket once the credit posts to your Amex Platinum account. This is a great opportunity to save some money on your Saks Fifth Avenue purchases.
Clear Plus Membership
The Clear Plus Membership is a fantastic benefit that comes with the Amex Platinum card. You can get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Clear Plus membership, which essentially lets you skip the long TSA security lines at airports.
This benefit gives you access to Clear's own lane, where you can input biometrics like fingerprints or an iris scan instead of waiting in line to hand your ID and boarding pass to a TSA officer. It's a huge time-saver, especially during peak travel periods.
To maximize this perk, consider combining it with other discounts to get your family members on board. For example, if you're a general member of Delta SkyMiles or United MileagePlus, you can enroll in Clear Plus for $189, which is even cheaper with elite status or cobranded credit cards.
Here are the costs to add family members to your Clear Plus account:
If you sign up through Delta or United, add your spouse or partner, and bring your child(ren) through the Clear Plus lane with you, you'll only pay $99 for the entire family's membership after your Amex credit. It's a great way to save money and make the most of this benefit.
The Bottom Line
The Amex Platinum card is a great option for frequent travelers. It offers a range of benefits that can help you recoup the annual fee.
One of the key benefits is the 80,000-point welcome bonus. This can be a huge incentive for those who are new to the card.
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If you spend a lot on travel, especially business travel, you may be able to come out even further ahead. The card's array of perks can help you save money on flights, hotels, and other travel expenses.
Just remember to read the terms of each benefit carefully, including which ones require enrollment. This will help you make the most of the card each year.
The Amex Platinum card is ideal for road warriors and those who commit to regular travel. It offers complimentary Gold status with Hilton and Marriott, as well as included status with Avis, Hertz, and National on the rental car front.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an AE Platinum card?
To qualify for The Platinum Card from American Express, you'll typically need a good to excellent credit score of at least 690. Building a strong credit history may be necessary before applying for this premium card.
Is American Express Platinum a luxury card?
Yes, the American Express Platinum Card is considered a luxury card, recognized for its high-end benefits and exclusive perks. It offers premium features like lounge access, a luxury hotel collection, and more, making it a top choice for those seeking a high-end credit card experience.
What does it mean if someone has an American Express Platinum card?
Having an American Express Platinum card indicates that the individual holds a premium credit card offering exclusive benefits, rewards, and perks. This card provides a range of luxurious advantages, making it a desirable choice for those seeking high-end financial services.
What is the point of a platinum card?
The Platinum Card offers luxury perks, such as concierge service and travel protections, designed to enhance your travel and lifestyle experience. It's ideal for those seeking premium rewards and exclusive benefits.
What is special about a platinum credit card?
A platinum credit card offers higher credit limits and exclusive perks, but typically comes with a higher interest rate and annual fee. It's designed for those with good credit scores who want premium benefits.
Sources
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/benefits-american-express-platinum
- https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/cnn-underscored/reviews/american-express-platinum-card
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/is-the-amex-platinum-worth-it/
- https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/maximizing-amex-platinum/
- https://www.cntraveler.com/story/american-express-platinum-card-review
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