Amex Platinum Card Options for Travel and Rewards

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The American Express Platinum Card is a premium credit card that offers a wide range of benefits for travelers and rewards enthusiasts. You can earn 5x points on air travel booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel.

With the Platinum Card, you'll get a $200 airline fee credit, which can be used to offset the cost of checked bags, change fees, and other airline-related expenses. This credit can be particularly useful for frequent flyers.

One of the most valuable benefits of the Platinum Card is its airport lounge access. You'll get access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide, including the Centurion Lounge, which offers complimentary food, drinks, and showers.

Card Benefits

The American Express Platinum Card offers a range of benefits that can enhance your travel experience and provide additional value.

You can enjoy hundreds of dollars in annual credits, but keep in mind that enrollment is required for select benefits.

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Elevating your hotel stays is also possible with elite status perks, which can be obtained by enrolling in the program.

Protecting your trips is also a priority with top-notch travel insurance, providing peace of mind when traveling abroad.

Here are some of the key benefits of the American Express Platinum Card:

  • Enjoy hundreds of dollars in annual credits (enrollment required for select benefits)
  • Elevate your hotel stays with elite status perks (enrollment required)
  • Protect your trips with top-notch travel insurance

Contactless Payments

With your American Express Card, you can make purchases quicker and easier using contactless technology.

You can pay for purchases up to INR 5000 with just a tap of your Card.

Simply hold your Card over the contactless reader, wait for the beep, and you're done.

You're covered by the same fraud protection with every contactless transaction.

If you're looking for a card that offers a wide range of benefits, the Platinum Card from American Express is a great option.

This card offers hundreds of dollars in annual credits, which can be a huge perk if you're someone who travels frequently or uses certain services regularly.

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You can also gain access to exclusive airport lounges worldwide, which can be a game-changer if you're a frequent flyer.

To take advantage of these benefits, you'll need to enroll in the respective programs, but it's a small step to take for the rewards you'll receive.

One of the standout features of this card is the ability to earn valuable Membership Rewards points on flights and hotels.

Here are some of the key benefits of the Platinum Card from American Express:

  • Enjoy hundreds of dollars in annual credits (enrollment required for select benefits)
  • Gain access to exclusive airport lounges worldwide (enrollment required)
  • Elevate your hotel stays with elite status perks (enrollment required)
  • Earn valuable Membership Rewards points on flights and hotels
  • Protect your trips with top-notch travel insurance

Membership Rewards Program

The Membership Rewards program is a key benefit of the Amex Platinum card. You can earn 1 Membership Rewards point for every ₹40 spent on your card, except for Fuel, Insurance, and Utilities.

To give you a better idea, here's a breakdown of how the points system works:

The program also offers a feature called Reward Xcelerator, which allows you to earn supercharged rewards on your purchases. With Reward Xcelerator, you can earn up to 20X rewards on your purchases, with no promo code or minimum spend required.

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You can also earn 5X Membership Rewards points on leading online brands, such as Apple, Nykaa, Croma, Dyson, and many more. This is a great way to boost your points earnings and get more value from your purchases.

One of the best things about the Membership Rewards program is that your points never expire. This means you can accumulate points over time and redeem them for rewards whenever you're ready.

If you're a rewards strategist, you'll appreciate that the Amex Platinum card allows you to earn Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to partner programs for even greater value.

Travel Benefits

The Amex Platinum card offers an array of travel benefits that can make your trips more enjoyable and rewarding.

You can earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and prepaid hotels booked on Amextravel.com.

With the Amex Platinum, your travel spending will go further, as you can earn a significant number of points on your bookings.

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You can earn 19,650 points or almost $200 in travel rewards through Amex for a 10-day trip to Sydney from Los Angeles, as calculated in Example 3.

One of the standout features of the Amex Platinum is its Hotel Collection Program, which offers benefits such as noon check-in, late check-out, and room upgrades at participating properties.

To be eligible for the Hotel Collection Program benefits, you need to book two consecutive nights or more through American Express Travel with participating properties.

Here are some key benefits of the Hotel Collection Program:

  • Noon check-in, late check-out, and room upgrades at participating properties
  • $100 credit applied to eligible charges up to $100 per room, per stay
  • Additional amenities vary by property

Additionally, the Amex Platinum offers statement credits toward airline incidental fees, CLEAR Plus, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees, and access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide.

These perks can make a significant difference in your travel experience, especially if you're a frequent traveler.

You can also enjoy trip cancellation and interruption insurance, with a maximum benefit amount of $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

This insurance can provide peace of mind and financial protection in case of unexpected events during your trip.

Hotel and Car Benefits

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The American Express Platinum Card offers impressive hotel and car benefits that can enhance your travel experience. You can earn up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when you book prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection stays through American Express Travel.

To be eligible, you must be a U.S. Consumer Basic Platinum Card Member or Additional Platinum Card Member, and the booking must be made through American Express Travel. The credit will be applied to eligible charges up to $100 and must be charged to your hotel room.

The Platinum Card also provides complimentary status in car rental programs like Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, and National Car Rental Emerald Club. This can qualify you for upgrades and special discounts, and some benefits require enrollment in the programs.

With the Platinum Card, you'll also get secondary car rental loss and damage insurance, which can provide peace of mind during your travels. Additionally, the card extends the manufacturer's warranty on eligible purchases, adding an extra year to warranties of five years or less.

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Here are some of the car rental programs you can enjoy with your Platinum Card:

  • Avis Preferred
  • Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
  • National Car Rental Emerald Club

These benefits can make a significant difference in your travel experience, and it's essential to understand the terms and conditions to get the most out of them.

Global Dining Access

Global Dining Access is a benefit available to eligible Card Members, including those with Platinum Card, Centurion Card, and Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card.

To access this benefit, you'll need to download the Resy iOS App or ensure the latest update is downloaded, or create a Resy account and add your eligible Card to your Resy account.

Some features of Global Dining Access, like Priority Notify, may not be available through Concierge, but you can still access exclusive reservations, events, and experiences through the Resy App and Website.

A badge will be placed on your Resy profile, letting restaurants know that you are a member of the Global Dining Access program.

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Reservations are based on a first-come, first-served basis, and you'll be subject to the restaurant's cancellation policy.

There is no cost to you for booking services through Global Dining Access, although you're responsible for any purchases or fees you authorize to be charged to your Card account.

To be eligible for this benefit, your Card account must not be cancelled.

Fine Hotels + Resorts Program

The Fine Hotels + Resorts Program is a great benefit for Platinum Card Members. It offers exclusive perks and amenities at participating hotels.

To be eligible, you must book a new stay through American Express Travel using your eligible Card. The stay must be prepaid, and you must travel on the itinerary booked. There are no stay requirements to upgrade to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, a perk included with the Platinum Card.

Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits are available for eligible U.S. Consumer, Business, and Corporate Platinum Card Members, as well as Centurion Members. Additional Platinum Card Members on Consumer and Business Platinum and Centurion Card Accounts are also eligible. However, Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card Members are not eligible.

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The average total value of the program benefits is based on prior-year bookings for stays of two nights. The actual value varies, but you can expect to receive valuable credits and amenities.

Here are the benefits you can expect:

  • Noon check-in and room upgrade (subject to availability)
  • Daily breakfast for two (valued at a minimum of $60 per room per day)
  • $100 credit (applied to eligible charges up to $100)
  • Wi-Fi credit (if included in a mandatory property fee)

These benefits are applied per room, per stay, with a three-room limit per stay. Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional benefits.

Car Rentals

Car rentals can be a breeze with the right benefits. If you're a Platinum Card Member, you're eligible for complimentary status in car rental programs like Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, and National Car Rental Emerald Club.

To receive these benefits, you'll need to enroll in each program through your American Express online account and make your payment using the Platinum Card. You'll also need to meet the car rental company's terms and conditions, including age restrictions.

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The Platinum Card offers secondary car rental loss and damage insurance, which can provide peace of mind when renting a car. Additionally, Platinum Card Members receive premium membership to car rental programs, allowing you to qualify for upgrades and special discounts.

You'll need to enroll in these programs to receive the benefits, but it's worth the extra step. With premium membership, you can enjoy perks like member-only discounts and no fees for additional drivers.

Here are the car rental benefits offered by the Platinum Card:

  • Complimentary status in Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, and National Car Rental Emerald Club
  • Secondary car rental loss and damage insurance
  • Premium membership to car rental programs
  • Member-only discounts
  • No fees for additional drivers

These benefits can make a big difference in your car rental experience, especially if you're a frequent traveler. By taking advantage of these perks, you can drive in style and enjoy a more comfortable and convenient rental experience.

Airline Benefits

You can earn 5X Membership Rewards points when you book flights with your Platinum Card, which includes up to $500,000 per calendar year on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel.

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To be eligible for this benefit, you must have a U.S. Consumer, Business, or Corporate Platinum Card, or a Centurion Card, and you must book flights through American Express Travel or directly with airlines.

You can book international flights with participating airlines, but Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card Members are not eligible for the International Airline Program.

Most tickets will originate in and return to a U.S. gateway, although some Canadian gateways may be an option. One-way travel is permitted on some airlines, and you can book for yourself and up to seven passengers traveling on the same itinerary.

You'll need to use an eligible Card in your name to book flights, and discounts are applied to the base airfare. However, discounts are not combinable with other offers unless indicated, and may not apply to codeshare partners.

You can also earn a $200 Airline Fee Credit, which is valid for incidental airline fees charged by your selected airline. To qualify, you must select a qualifying airline, which includes Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.

Incidental airline fees must be separate charges from airline ticket charges, and fees charged prior to selecting a qualifying airline are not eligible for statement credits.

Perks for All

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The Amex Platinum card offers a range of perks that can enhance your travel and everyday experiences. With access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, you can enjoy a more comfortable and luxurious travel experience.

You can also earn up to $200 back in statement credits each year for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings or stays of two nights or more with The Hotel Collection. This can be a significant savings, especially if you travel frequently.

One of the standout features of the Amex Platinum card is its exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy. This allows you to enjoy fine dining at top restaurants and events.

Here are some of the key perks of the Amex Platinum card:

These perks can add significant value to your Amex Platinum card, making it a worthwhile investment for frequent travelers and luxury enthusiasts.

Annual Fees and Offers

The Amex Platinum card's annual fee is a whopping $695, which might be a deal-breaker for some. However, it's essential to consider the perks that come with it.

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The card offers statement credits totaling over $1,000, which can significantly offset the annual fee. If you use these credits to their max, you'll more than double the value, making the fee more manageable.

Adding authorized users to your account comes with additional fees, but you can get up to five free cards with the Amex Gold card, and one complimentary Companion Platinum Card with the Amex Platinum card.

Current Transfer Bonuses

Amex Membership Rewards often offers transfer bonuses to certain programs, which can increase the value of your points.

Virgin Atlantic and British Airways are two recent examples of programs that have received transfer bonuses of 30% or higher.

Points can be transferred to the loyalty accounts of the primary cardholder or any authorized user or employee on the account.

The transfer bonuses are subject to change, but you can check the current offers on the Amex website or through the Membership Rewards platform.

You can transfer your points to airline and hotel partners in order to book high value awards, but it's usually best to wait until you find a great flight or night award before transferring points.

Annual Fees

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If you're considering applying for a credit card, you'll want to take a close look at the annual fees. The American Express Platinum card charges a hefty annual fee of $695, while the Amex Gold card charges $325.

The Amex Gold card lets you add up to five authorized users free of charge, with an additional annual fee of $35 per card thereafter. In contrast, the Amex Platinum card charges a not-so-small annual fee of $695 for authorized users, with an additional fee of $195 per user.

You can offset annual fees through card perks like statement credits. The Amex Platinum card offers statement credits totaling over $1,000, in addition to airport lounge access and elite status benefits worth even more.

Here's a comparison of the annual fees for the Amex Gold and Platinum cards:

Both cards also charge no foreign transaction fee, making them good choices for traveling abroad.

Welcome Offer

The welcome offer is a great way to get rewarded just for signing up for a credit card. Generally, the higher the annual fee, the more lucrative the welcome offer.

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The American Express Gold card has a welcome offer typically around 60,000 points, with a minimum spending requirement around $6,000. Occasionally, this offer can go as high as 90,000 points.

The Amex Platinum card has a welcome offer usually in the range of 80,000 to 100,000 points, with a minimum spending requirement between $6,000 and $8,000.

Redeeming and Transferring

You can redeem Membership Rewards points for merchandise or gift cards, but you'll get more value if you redeem for flights or transfer points to hotel or airline partners.

Membership Rewards points are worth up to 1 cent each when redeemed for merchandise or gift cards, but you can get more value by redeeming for flights or transferring points to partners.

One of the best ways to use Membership Rewards points is to transfer them to airline and hotel loyalty programs, giving you greater flexibility than partner-redemption options.

You can transfer points to one of Amex's 20+ hotel and airline transfer partners, including loyalty schemes like the ANA Mileage Club and Air France/KLM Flying Blue.

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The best time to transfer points is when you find a great flight or night award, or when Amex offers transfer bonuses, which can be as high as 30% or more.

Amex often offers transfer bonuses to certain programs, such as Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, which can increase the value of your points.

Points can be transferred to the loyalty accounts of the primary cardholder or any authorized user or employee on the account.

Fees and Protections

The American Express Platinum card comes with a hefty annual fee of $695, which is significantly higher than the $325 annual fee of the Amex Gold card.

However, the Platinum card offers more perks, such as statement credits and airport lounge access, which can help offset the annual fee.

You can add up to five authorized users to your Amex Gold card for free, with an annual fee of $35 per additional card thereafter.

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In contrast, the Platinum card charges $195 per additional user, but you can also add a complimentary Companion Platinum Card to your account.

Both cards offer purchase protection, covering theft, loss, or accidental damage within 90 days of purchase, with a limit of up to $10,000 per purchase and $50,000 within a calendar year.

There's also no foreign transaction fee on either card, making them good choices for traveling abroad.

Transaction Security Settings

Transaction Security Settings are crucial for protecting your Card from unauthorized transactions. You can manage these settings in 3 easy steps.

Log in to your Online Card Account or Amex App to access your account management options. This is the first step in managing your transaction security settings.

Go to 'Account Management' (Online Account) or 'Account' (App) to access the settings. Once you're there, you can start making changes to your transaction security settings.

To manage and modify your transactions security settings, go to 'Transaction Security Settings'. This is where you can turn on or off specific transaction types.

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You can manage settings for in-store/point of sale (Chip), online Websites and Mobile Apps, and contactless - Tap and Pay transactions. Each of these settings can be turned on or off independently.

Once you've made your changes, save them and the new settings will be effective immediately on your Card. If your Card gets renewed or replaced in the future, some settings will be enabled by default.

Purchase Protections

You'll be protected against theft, loss, or accidental damage for items purchased with these rewards credit cards within 90 days of purchase.

Both cards will cover up to $10,000 per purchase and $50,000 within a calendar year.

This extended protection can give you peace of mind and help you avoid financial losses in case something goes wrong with your purchase.

Fees

The annual fees on the American Express Platinum and Gold cards are a significant consideration. The Amex Gold card charges an annual fee of $325, while the Amex Platinum card charges a whopping $695.

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Adding authorized users to your account can also incur additional fees. With the Gold Card, you can add up to five users for free, but adding six or more will cost $35 per additional card.

The Platinum Card offers a complimentary Companion Platinum Card, which can be a great perk. However, if you want to add additional users at the full Platinum level, it will cost you $195 per additional user.

Neither card charges a foreign transaction fee, making them good choices for traveling abroad.

Comparison and Decision

If you're considering the Amex Platinum card, you have options to choose from, including the Amex Gold card.

You can use both the Amex Gold and Platinum cards simultaneously if you're approved for both, allowing you to optimize your points earnings.

This flexibility is a unique advantage of Amex, as other credit card companies may not offer this option.

Should You Apply?

If you're considering applying for the American Express Platinum card, there are a few things to keep in mind. The card's welcome bonus is usually worth more than the annual fee, so if you can make use of the card's perks and meet the minimum spend requirements, it makes sense to apply.

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You can always cancel the card once the annual fee comes due in year two, so you don't have to worry about paying for a second year. This way, you can enjoy the benefits of the card without breaking the bank.

To be eligible for the welcome offer, you'll need to make sure you've never held the Platinum card, the Morgan Stanley Platinum, or the Schwab Platinum before. This is a one-time offer, so don't worry if you've had one of these cards in the past.

If you're a frequent traveler or enjoy luxury perks and experiences, the Amex Platinum might be the better choice for you.

Keep or Cancel?

If you're considering keeping or canceling a Platinum card, it's worth noting that the welcome bonus is usually worth more than the annual fee, so it makes sense to apply and keep it for at least a year.

You can always cancel the card once the annual fee comes due in the second year to avoid paying for the second year, as long as you've kept the card for at least a year.

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If you're denied a Platinum card, you can call the reconsideration number to try to get approved. For new account holders, the reconsideration number is 877-399-3083, and for current account holders, it's 866-314-0237.

If you're wondering why you're not eligible for a Platinum card, it's because you've held certain other cards in the past, such as the Marriott Bonvoy, Delta, BCP, or green corporate card.

Gold vs. Comparison

The American Express Gold vs. Platinum cards are two of the most popular premium credit cards on the market, but which one is right for you? Let's break down the key differences.

The annual fee for the Platinum card is a whopping $695, while the Gold card comes in at a more manageable $325.

One of the main benefits of the Platinum card is its welcome offer, which can range from 80,000 to 100,000 points, but you'll need to spend a minimum of $6,000 to $8,000 to qualify.

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In contrast, the Gold card's welcome offer is typically between 35,000 and 60,000 points, with a minimum spending requirement of $4,000 to $6,000.

Here's a quick comparison of the two cards' bonus categories:

The Platinum card also offers a range of statement credit perks, including a $100 annual statement credit for Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com, a $240 annual digital entertainment credit, and a $300 annual Equinox credit.

The Gold card, on the other hand, offers a $120 annual Uber Cash credit and a $100 experience credit when you book a minimum stay of two nights with The Hotel Collection through Amex Travel.

Winner:

The Amex Platinum card is a clear winner in terms of its luxury travel benefits and statement credits that easily offset its annual fee of $695. This card offers a wide range of perks, including access to The American Express Global Lounge Collection, which provides access to over 1,400 lounges worldwide.

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The Amex Platinum also comes with a $100 annual statement credit for Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com, a $240 annual digital entertainment credit, and a $300 annual Equinox credit, among others. These credits can add up quickly and help make the annual fee more manageable.

In contrast, the Amex Gold card has a more limited set of statement credits, including a $120 annual Uber Cash credit and a $100 experience credit when booking a minimum stay of two nights with The Hotel Collection through Amex Travel.

Here's a quick comparison of the two cards:

As you can see, the Amex Platinum card offers a much more comprehensive set of statement credits and benefits, making it a better choice for frequent travelers and those who can take advantage of its luxury perks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many different Amex Platinum cards are there?

There are multiple Amex Platinum card options available, each with its own unique benefits and features. To learn more about the different variations and their rates and fees, click here.

What salary do you need for a platinum Amex?

To be eligible for the Amex Platinum card, you typically need an annual income of at least $50,000. However, having a higher income may improve your chances of approval.

What are the downsides of the American Express Platinum card?

One notable downside of the American Express Platinum card is its limited rewards earning potential, capping at 1 point per dollar for most purchases. This may not be ideal for those seeking higher earning rates on their everyday spending.

Can I customize my Amex Platinum card?

Yes, you can choose from three different card designs when applying for the Amex Platinum card, including two Art x Platinum designs and the classic Platinum Card design. Select your preferred design during the application process.

Felicia Koss

Junior Writer

Felicia Koss is a rising star in the world of finance writing, with a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics into accessible, engaging pieces. Her articles have covered a range of topics, from retirement account loans to other financial matters that affect everyday people. With a focus on clarity and concision, Felicia's writing has helped readers make informed decisions about their financial futures.

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