American Express Platinum Second Card Benefits and Features Explained

The American Express Platinum second card is a valuable addition to your wallet, offering a range of benefits and features that can enhance your travel experiences and everyday spending.

You can earn 5x Membership Rewards 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.

This card also comes with a $200 airline fee credit, which can be used to offset the cost of checked bags, change fees, or other airline-related expenses.

The American Express Platinum second card also offers a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, which can help speed up your airport security experience.

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Adding an authorized user to your American Express Platinum Card can be a great way to share the benefits with someone special, like a spouse or partner. You can add up to three additional users for an extra fee of $195 per user.

Authorized users get to enjoy many of the travel perks, including lounge access to Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and Delta Sky Clubs. They also get to earn 5x points on airfare booked directly with airlines and hotels booked via Amex Travel, up to $500,000 spent per year combined.

One of the biggest benefits for authorized users is access to instant hotel status with Hilton and Marriott, which unlocks benefits like space-available upgrades and extra points earning. They also get instant status with rental car agencies Hertz, Avis, and National.

Here are some of the benefits that authorized users can enjoy:

Some benefits, like the CLEAR Plus credit, don't pass on to authorized users. But overall, the American Express Platinum Card offers a wide range of benefits that can enhance your travel experience.

To get an American Express Platinum second card, you can add an authorized user over the phone or online. To do it over the phone, call the customer service number and provide the new user's personal information, such as their name, date of birth, and Social Security number.

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If you prefer to do it online, log in to your Amex account and select "Account Services" from the homepage menu. From there, click on "Manage Additional Card Members" and then "Add someone to account." If you have multiple Amex cards, select the Platinum Card.

You'll need to enter the new user's full name, date of birth, email, address, and Social Security number. Make sure to provide the Social Security number and date of birth within 60 days of issuing the card, or the card will be canceled.

Here are the steps to add an authorized user online:

Note that you'll receive the new card in the mail within a week or so, and the new user will have their own distinct account number and online account.

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The Amex Platinum card comes with a hefty annual fee of $695, but it offers numerous travel and shopping perks that make it worthwhile. You can add an authorized user to the card for an extra fee of $195 per cardholder.

Authorized users can enjoy many of the benefits of the Amex Platinum card, including lounge access, a credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, and status with hotels and rental car agencies. They can also earn 5x points on airfare booked directly with airlines and hotels booked via Amex Travel.

Here are some benefits that authorized users can enjoy:

The American Express Platinum card is a premium travel card that offers a wide range of benefits, including lounge access, travel insurance, and hotel status. You can add an authorized user to your account, but be prepared to pay an extra fee of $195 per year.

Authorized users can enjoy many of the same benefits as the primary cardholder, including access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, Priority Pass lounge access, and Delta Sky Club access when flying Delta. They can also get a credit of up to $120 to join TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, which is a unique benefit compared to other premium travel cards.

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One of the benefits of adding an authorized user is that they can help you meet large spending requirements for rewards points. For example, to earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points, you need to spend $8,000 within the first six months of card membership. An authorized user can help you meet this requirement by charging expenses to the card.

Here are some of the benefits that authorized users can enjoy:

It's worth noting that authorized users don't get all the benefits, such as the $200 annual airline fee credit, the $200 annual hotel credit, and the up to $200 in Uber credits. However, they can still enjoy many of the perks that make the Amex Platinum card worth its hefty annual fee.

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You can get a Platinum Supplementary Card with no charge, but if you want to add more, it'll cost £285 per year.

There's a total limit of 5 Supplementary Cards on your account at any time.

You can have up to 5 Supplementary Cards, including 1 Platinum Card and the rest can be either Gold or Green Cards, with no annual fee.

If you want more Platinum Supplementary Cards, you'll be charged £285 per year for each one.

The limit of 5 Supplementary Cards applies to all types, whether they're free or come with a fee.

If you're considering adding a loved one to your Amex Platinum account as an authorized user, you can opt for a Companion Platinum Card instead. This way, you can avoid paying the costly Amex platinum authorized user fee.

Adding an authorized user to your Amex Platinum Card still costs $195 per year, while issuing a Companion Platinum is free. You can give your authorized user a Companion Platinum if you're adding them simply to earn more points or manage expenses.

Being an authorized user also doesn't count towards the Amex once-per-lifetime rule, which impacts welcome bonus eligibility. This means your authorized user can still qualify for their own Amex Platinum bonus down the line.

On a similar theme: Companion Platinum Card Lounge Access

Elite Rental Status is a game-changer for frequent travelers.

By adding an authorized user to your Amex Platinum card, you'll get elite status in rental car programs like Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle, Avis Preferred Plus, and National Emerald Club.

These programs offer special perks, including discounts and car upgrades.

With Avis Preferred, you'll get faster car service, which can save you time and hassle.

You'll also have access to the Executive Area at National Emerald Club, where you can pick any full-size automobile while paying the midsize price.

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The Companion Card is a great alternative to adding an authorized user to your Amex Platinum account. It's free and can be a more cost-effective option, especially if you're adding a teenager to help them build credit history and learn good financial habits.

You can give your Companion Card to anyone over 13 with good credit, and they'll be able to earn Membership points credit and enjoy Global Dining Access by Resy. This way, they can still benefit from the card's perks without incurring the $195 annual authorized user fee.

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One thing to keep in mind is that authorized users don't receive a welcome bonus, but Companion Cardholders can still qualify for their own Amex Platinum bonus down the line. This is because being an authorized user doesn't count towards the Amex once-per-lifetime rule.

Adding a Companion Card can also help you meet the spending requirements for a welcome reward, which can be a great bonus for both you and the cardholder.

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You can use authorized users to help meet spending requirements to earn a bonus, which can pay off big time. This is especially true for the American Express Platinum card, where authorized users can help spend $8,000 within six months to unlock the 80,000-point welcome bonus.

Authorized users can also be beneficial for those who are under 18, as it's their only option to get a Platinum card. Recent high school graduates with limited credit histories may need to be authorized users for several years before getting approved for the card in their own right.

The Amex Platinum's perks extend to authorized users, including access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection and statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, making it a good option for frequent lounge visitors or regular Marriott and Hilton guests.

Spending $8,000 within six months can unlock a big points bonus with the Amex Platinum card.

You can get help from authorized users on your Amex Platinum card, as they can make purchases to quickly reach the spending requirement.

It's essential to ensure the authorized user pays off their charges, or you'll end up with a bigger monthly payment.

The bonus can be up to 175,000 points if you qualify for an even better welcome offer via CardMatch.

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You're probably wondering when to take action on becoming an authorized user or applying for the Amex Platinum card. If you're under 18, this is your only option.

Recent high school graduates with limited credit histories will likely need to be authorized users for several years before considering getting the Amex Platinum in their own right.

If you highly value the perks that extend to additional Platinum cardmembers, like access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, this might be a good choice for you.

You can more than cover the $195 authorized user annual fee with four or more visits to the Amex Centurion Lounge, where guests of the primary Platinum cardmember pay $50 each.

The annual fee for adding an authorized user to your Amex Platinum Card is $195, but the benefits can still be worth it if you take into account the card's perks and savings.

If you're considering adding an authorized user to your Platinum Card, you'll get to extend many of the same benefits to that person, including exclusive access to The American Express Global Lounge Collection and The Hotel Collection.

The $195 fee is still steep, but it's not the only option - you can choose to give your authorized user Companion Platinum instead, without paying a fee, but also without all the Platinum perks.

To determine whether adding an authorized user is worth it, you should run the numbers for yourself and consider whether your potential authorized user would be better off applying for a travel rewards card or other rewards card of their own.

Here are some benefits to consider when deciding whether to add an authorized user:

If neither the Amex Platinum nor the authorized user card makes sense for you, it's time to crunch some numbers.

The value of each year's included benefits should be compared to the $195 annual fee, which is the difference between the two cards.

For customers who previously had the Amex Platinum, the welcome offer may not be available, making the authorized user card a less appealing option.

If you only access an airport lounge a few times a year or use the hotel elite status perks infrequently, the included benefits may not be worth the annual fee.

In such cases, canceling the authorized user card is likely the best decision, as the real-world value of the included benefits is under $195.

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The Amex Platinum Card is a luxury travel rewards credit card that's packed with benefits, but it comes with a hefty price tag.

The annual fee for the Amex Platinum Card is $695, but you can add authorized users to your account for $195 each.

An Amex Platinum authorized user can get many of the same perks as the main cardholder, including exclusive access to The American Express Global Lounge Collection and The Hotel Collection.

The benefits of adding an authorized user to your Amex Platinum Card can easily outweigh the additional $195 fee, depending on your situation and how much you'll get out of the perks.

Here are some key takeaways to consider: