American Express Platinum card review

The American Express Platinum card is a highly sought after card due to its extensive list of premium benefits and rewards. From lounge access to travel credits, this card offers a VIP experience to its cardholders. In this blog post, we will take an in-depth look at the American Express Platinum card and everything it has to offer.

Whether you’re a frequent traveler or simply looking for a card that provides exceptional perks, this post will provide you with all the information you need to determine if the American Express Platinum card is the right choice for you.

Sign-up bonus

The American Express Platinum card is a premium card that offers a generous sign-up bonus for new cardmembers. If you sign up for this card and spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership, you will earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points. This is a great way to start earning Membership Rewards points that can be redeemed for various travel and lifestyle experiences.

Annual fee

The American Express Platinum Card has an annual fee of $695. This fee may seem steep at first, but it’s important to consider the value you receive in return. The card offers a wide range of premium benefits and rewards, such as lounge access, travel credits, and more. Additionally, the card provides valuable travel insurance coverage, which can help protect you during your travels. If you take advantage of most of the card’s benefits, you may find that the annual fee is well worth it.

However, it’s important to do the math and make sure that the value you receive from the card offsets the cost of the annual fee. Ultimately, whether the annual fee is worth it will depend on your individual spending habits and the value you place on the card’s benefits.

It’s worth noting that the $695 annual fee is waived for active duty military service members and dependents under the Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA) or the Military Lending Act (MLA).

Earning rate

American Express Platinum Card at a glance

✈️ – 5x points on airfare purchased through amextravel.com or directly with the airline
🏝️ – 5x points on prepaid hotels when you book through amextravel.com
🛒 – 1x for everything else

In addition to the sign-up bonus, the American Express Platinum card offers a generous earning rate that allows cardholders to rack up points quickly. With this card, you can earn rewards on a variety of purchases, including:

• Earn 5x MR Points on Flights and Prepaid Hotels: Enjoy 5x MR points on flights and prepaid hotels when you book through amextravel.com or directly with the airline or hotel. This is an excellent opportunity to accumulate rewards for your future travels.
• 1x for everything else: For all other purchases, you’ll earn 1 point for every dollar spent.

Benefits

Traveling has never been more exciting with the American Express Platinum card benefits. You can enjoy a hassle-free and luxurious travel experience with its range of benefits. Here are the top benefits that come with your American Express Platinum card:

The American Express Global Lounge Collection

With access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide, you can relax and unwind before your flight. Simply enroll in the benefit via your account, and you’re ready to go.

Continue reading our blog post about everything you need to know about the Centurion Lounge, by American Express to learn more.

Semi-annual Saks $50 credit

The American Express Platinum card offers its cardholders a semi-annual credit of $50 to be used at Saks Fifth Avenue. To be eligible for this benefit, you must first enroll through your account.

💡 Good to Know

The credit is valid for two periods of six months each, from January to June and from July to December. It’s important to note that the credit must be used within these periods and any unused credit will be lost.

The credit can be redeemed by making purchases in person at Saks Fifth Avenue stores or through saks.com. You can buy multiple $50 Saks gift cards in-store and combine them to use towards a larger purchase. However, it’s important to note that purchasing a gift card through the website will not trigger the credit.

$240 Digital entertainment credit

Another exciting benefit of the American Express Platinum card is the $240 digital entertainment credit. You must first enroll for this benefit via your account, and you will receive a $20 monthly credit when actively enrolled in eligible subscriptions. Some of these eligible subscriptions include Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and NY Times.

$200 Airline credit

Enjoy a $200 credit for your preferred airline when you enroll in the benefit via your account. This credit can be used towards baggage fees, seat upgrades, and more.

$155 Annual Walmart+ credit

The American Express Platinum card comes with a $155 annual Walmart+ credit. Currently, this covers the entire monthly cost of $12.95, and you will also receive free Paramount+ and six months of free Spotify Premium ($59 value).

$200 Hotel credit

The $200 Hotel Credit offered by American Express Platinum Benefits is available for both Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection. You’ll need to book your hotel through the Amex Travel portal to take advantage of this benefit.

Fine Hotels + Resorts offers luxurious and exclusive properties around the world, allowing you to indulge in your dream vacation while saving money.

In addition, to the $200 Hotel Credit at Fine Hotels + Resorts, you will also receive a $100 Experience Credit that can be used towards dining or spa depending on the hotel.

The Hotel Collection, on the other hand, requires a minimum of a two-night stay but, in return, offers high-end hotels and resorts with premium amenities and services. The Hotel Collection credit doesn’t include a $100 Experience Credit unlike the credit at Fine Hotels + Resorts.

$200 Uber Cash annually

The $200 Uber Cash benefit is a great perk for those who frequently use Uber for rides or for food delivery and takeout through Uber Eats. To take advantage of this benefit, you must first enroll for it via your American Express Platinum account. Each month, you will receive a credit of $15 that can be used for Uber rides and Uber Eats, including both delivery and takeout options. In December, you will receive an additional $20 credit, giving you a total of $35 for that month.

It’s important to note that the monthly credits do not roll over, so be sure to use them before the end of each month

$300 Equinox credit and SoulCycle At-Home Bike credit

Stay fit while on the go with a $25 monthly credit for Equinox and SoulCycle. Enroll in the benefit via your account and access the best fitness facilities and equipment.

$189 CLEAR credit

Get a $189 credit for CLEAR, which provides fast and secure access to airport security. Enroll in the benefit via your account, and experience a seamless airport experience. You can read more about our experience with CLEAR in our post about visiting Alaska with kids.

Elite statuses with hotels and car rental companies

The American Express Platinum card offers cardholders elite statuses with some of the top hotel and car rental brands. With this card, you’ll be able to enjoy enhanced benefits and experiences when traveling. Here are a few of the elite statuses you can receive with this card:

• Hilton Honors Gold: To receive this status, you must enroll through your American Express Platinum account. As a Hilton Honors Gold member, you’ll enjoy perks such as free breakfast, room upgrades, and more.
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite: Similar to Hilton Honors, you must enroll through your American Express Platinum account to receive this status. As a Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite member, you’ll receive benefits such as room upgrades, lounge access, and more.
• Avis Preferred Plus: With this card, you’ll receive Avis Preferred Plus status, which provides benefits such as skip-the-line service and exclusive discounts.
• Hertz Gold Plus: As a Hertz Gold Plus member, you’ll enjoy benefits such as expedited pick-up and drop-off and the ability to earn rewards points with each rental.

The American Express Platinum card’s Hilton Honors Gold status also opens up the opportunity for status matching with National Car Rental. By matching your Hilton Honors Gold status to National’s Emerald Club Executive Elite, you’ll enjoy additional benefits such as expedited pick-up and drop-off, guaranteed vehicle availability, and more.

Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

Get a fee credit for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85) when you enroll in the benefit via your account.

With this benefit, you can enjoy expedited security screenings at airports by enrolling in either the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck program. Global Entry provides expedited processing for travelers returning to the US from international destinations, while TSA PreCheck allows for expedited security screenings for domestic travelers.

Premium Global Assist Hotline

The American Express Platinum card provides a premium global assist hotline that is available 24/7 for medical, legal, financial, or other selected emergency coordination and assistance when traveling more than 100 miles from home.

ShopRunner

ShopRunner is a service offered to American Express Platinum cardholders, which provides them with free 2-day shipping on eligible items from participating online retailers. Enrolling for this benefit is a simple process, just log into your American Express account and add ShopRunner to your benefits. With ShopRunner, you can enjoy the convenience of fast and reliable shipping on a wide range of products without the added expense.

Cell phone protection

Cell phone protection is one of the many valuable benefits offered to American Express Platinum cardholders. If your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month’s bill was paid by an eligible card account, you can be reimbursed for repair or replacement costs up to $800 per claim (with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period in the event of damage or theft).

A $50 deductible will be applied to each approved claim, but this is still a great way to protect your valuable cell phone investment. So, whether you accidentally drop your phone or it gets stolen, you can rest assured that you’ll be covered.

Extended warranty

The American Express Platinum card offers extended warranty protection, which adds up to one extra year of warranty to the original manufacturer’s warranty on covered purchases. This coverage applies to warranties of 5 years or less and is up to the amount charged to your card for the item, with a maximum of $10,000 per claim and a cap of $50,000 per card member account per calendar year.

Premium car rental protection

Another great perk of the American Express Platinum card is the premium car rental protection. When you enroll and use your enrollment card to pay, you pay the same flat rate per rental for up to 42 consecutive days.

Application

Applying for the American Express Platinum card is simple and can be done online. To be eligible for this card, applicants are typically required to have a credit history of at least 6 months and a good to excellent credit score, generally considered to be 700 or higher. In addition to a good credit score, applicants must provide personal and financial information, including their employment and income details. If you are approved, the card will be mailed to you within a couple of days.

It’s important to note that if you have applied for any other flavor of American Express Platinum cards, you must wait at least 90 days before applying for another one, as applying for multiple cards too quickly may result in cancellation of your application.

Bottom line

In conclusion, the American Express Platinum card offers its cardholders a wealth of premium benefits and rewards. The $695 annual fee may seem steep, but the value it provides in terms of benefits and rewards can more than makeup for it. With its extensive list of travel perks, such as lounge access and travel credits, as well as its elite statuses with hotel and car rental brands, this card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers and those who enjoy a VIP experience.

Don’t forget to check your “Offers” tab frequently and enroll in these benefits to make the most out of your card.

You can use our referral link to sign up for the American Express Platinum Card.

Non-affiliate disclosure: all information about the this card have been collected independently by On Points With Kids and has not been reviewed by the issuer.