American Express Platinum Card^®: Elite Travel Perks Explained

The American Express Platinum Card^® is one of the most coveted luxury cards among frequent travelers — and for good reason.

This card provides one of the best earning rates on eligible travel purchases, offers an extensive amount of travel and shopping credits and provides several types of travel insurance². It also offers airport lounge access, hotel elite status (enrollment required) and much more, making it a great asset for serious travelers. And while it does have a high $895 annual fee, its benefits — including more than $2,000 worth of credits — can make it more than worth its annual fee each year.

That said, if you don’t travel enough to take advantage of all of the card’s benefits, you may be better off with a low or no annual fee travel card or even a cash back card.

Recommended credit: Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion Good / Excellent

Rewards Rate: 5X points

• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
• Terms apply. 
  

Welcome offer: As high as 175,000 points

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

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Rates

• Intro purchase APR: N/A
• Regular purchase APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Intro balance transfer APR: N/A
• Regular balance transfer APR: N/A
• Regular cash advance APR: 29.24% Variable
• Penalty APR: See Rates & Fees

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Fees

• Annual fee: $895
• Balance transfer fee: N/A
• Cash advance fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
• Foreign exchange fee: None
• Late fee: Up to $40

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Other benefits

• Generous welcome offer

  You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

  If you use those points to book a flight through American Express Travel^®, that’s a $1,750 value — making this one of the most valuable welcome offers currently available among travel cards. Plus, we estimate that you can increase the value of your points from around 1 cent each when redeeming them through American Express Travel^® to around 2.2 cents each by transferring them to travel partners, depending on when and where you redeem them.

• High rewards rate on travel purchases

  The American Express Platinum Card^® lets you earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Terms apply.

• Credits worth more than $2,000

  The American Express Platinum Card^® offers valuable travel credits, which can help you cover the cost of the annual fee, including:

  • Up to a $600 hotel credit
    Get up to $300 back in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through Amex Travel.
  • Up to $400 Resy credit + Platinum Nights by Resy
    Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use your card to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy. Also get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants (enrollment required).
  • Up to a $200 airline fee credit
    Select one qualifying airline at the beginning of the year and receive statement credits for incidental fees, like checked bags and in-flight refreshments.
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^® credit
    Get either a $120 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or a statement credit of up to $85 for TSA PreCheck^® every four and a half years (for a five year membership) when you use your card to pay the application fee.
  • Up to $209 CLEAR^® Plus credit
    Get up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your card for CLEAR^® Plus.
  • Up to $200 Uber Cash and up to $120 Uber One credit
    Get $15 in Uber Cash each month and a bonus of $20 in December for orders and rides in the U.S. after adding your card to your Uber account and selecting it for your transaction. Plus get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year when you use your card to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership.
  • Up to $155 Walmart+ credit
    When you use your card to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership, get up to $12.95 in statement credits (plus applicable taxes) on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month (subject to auto-renewal).
  • Up to $300 digital entertainment credit
    Receive up to $25 back in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express Platinum Card^® at participating partners (enrollment required).
  • Up to $100 Saks credit
    Get up to $50 in statement credits semiannually when you use your card to make purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com (enrollment required).
  • Up to $300 lululemon credit
    Get up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use your card for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores, excluding outlets, and at lululemon.com (enrollment required).
  • Up to $200 Oura Ring credit
    Get up to $200 in statement credits when you use your card to purchase an Oura Ring at Ouraring.com each calendar year (enrollment required).
  • Up to $300 Equinox credit
    Receive up to $300 in statement credits each year at Equinox when you use your card to pay for an Equinox+ digital subscription or an Equinox club membership subject to auto-renewal (enrollment required).

  These credits add up to more than $2,000 — which can cover the high annual fee of the card if you take advantage of them. Just be aware that not all of them are applied automatically, and you may have to jump through a few hoops to use them.

  For example, the airline fee credit requires you to pick a qualifying airline before you can use the credit. In addition, the hotel credit must be used on bookings for American Express’s Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel^® — and it requires a minimum two-night stay.

  Tip: What’s covered by the American Express Platinum Card^®‘s Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection credit can vary by property. So before you make a purchase like room service expecting it to be covered, ask at check-in what types of purchases they cover.

• Flexible redemption options

  There are many ways you can use your American Express Membership Rewards^®. The most valuable way to redeem them is by transferring them to one of American Express’s travel partner loyalty programs:

  • Aer Lingus AerClub
  • Aeromexico Rewards
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • Air France KLM Flying Blue
  • ANA Mileage Club
  • avianca lifemiles
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Delta SkyMiles®
  • Emirates Skywards®
  • Etihad Guest

  • Iberia Plus
  • JetBlue TrueBlue®
  • Qantas Frequent Flyer
  • Qatar Airways Privilege Club
  • Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
  • The British Airways Club
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • Choice Privileges®
  • Hilton Honors
  • Marriott Bonvoy®

  Depending on when and where you transfer points, they could be worth around 2.2 cents each — which is extremely valuable.

  Some other ways you could redeem them include claiming statement credits, booking travel through American Express’s travel portal, using points at checkout in certain stores, selecting gift cards and more.

  → Learn more about redeeming points with the American Express Membership Rewards^® program

• Hotel elite status

  Cardholders qualify for Marriott Bonvoy^® Gold Elite status, which allows you to receive upgrades to enhanced rooms upon check-in at select properties booked with a Qualifying Rate (enrollment required).

  → Learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.

  You’ll also be eligible for Hilton Honors™ Gold status (enrollment required), which lets you earn space-available room upgrades, continental breakfast or daily food and beverage credits and more.

  → Learn more about the Hilton Honors loyalty program.

• Global airport lounge access

  The American Express Platinum Card^® is our pick for the best card with airport lounge access — and it offers eligible card members access to the Global Lounge Collection^®, which includes more than 1,550 lounges worldwide. These includes the Centurion Lounges from American Express, which have plenty of services and amenities, including:

  • Wi-Fi
  • TVs
  • Showers
  • Children’s rooms
  • Premium food

  • Printers and copiers
  • Private rooms
  • Beer and wine
  • Spirits and liquor

  On top of access to Centurion Lounges, the Global Lounge Collection^® offers access to these groups of lounges, which are widely available at airports both in the U.S. and internationally:

  • Priority Pass (enrollment required)
  • Escape Lounges
  • Delta Sky Club® (subject to visit limitations)
  • Plaza Premium
  • Lufthansa (select lounges)

  → Learn more about how to access American Express Centurion Lounges.

  Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees.

• Annual fee

  The American Express Platinum Card^® charges an annual fee of $895. Regardless of the card’s extensive benefits, that is a hefty bill.

  However, the American Express Platinum Card^® annual fee can be worth it if you take advantage of the card’s many benefits and credits. Even if you don’t use every credit, you can make up a good chunk of the cost by redeeming valuable Membership Rewards to transfer partners and using perks like Global Entry/TSA PreCheck^® and airport lounge access.

  If, however, you’re looking for a card that comes with valuable transfer partners and flexible rewards but a lower annual fee, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card could be a better fit. It has similar benefits and protections, albeit with fewer credits.

• You may have to pay your balance in full each month

  Unlike typical cards, the American Express Platinum Card^® only allows you to carry a balance for certain charges — but not all. The card offers a Pay Over Time feature that lets you carry a balance, but limits how much your balance can be. Not all purchases may be eligible for this program.

• Credits can be hard to keep track of

  Although the American Express Platinum Card^® has valuable credits to take advantage of, keeping track of them can be overwhelming. Different credits have different rules for qualification and redemption. Some credits will require enrollment, while others are automatically applied. You don’t have to use every credit to make the card worth it, but it can be a hassle for those trying to redeem many of its credits.

• Low rewards rate on non-travel purchases

  The American Express Platinum Card^® earns 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Terms apply.

  But it doesn’t include other popular categories like dining or groceries, which may make it hard to earn points on everyday purchases outside of travel.

  Depending on your spending habits, you may be able to earn points more quickly with a travel card like the Citi Strata Premier^® Card, which offers high rewards rates on common spending categories as well as travel.

• Lounge experiences can vary

  The card offers access to Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Club lounges when flying eligible Delta flights (subject to visit limitations) — however, lounge users report occasional overcrowding on forums.

  One Reddit user shared their overcrowding experience at a Centurion Lounge at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH): “Flew out of IAH a couple weeks ago in the afternoon. Had to wait for a seat, it was completely full. Line to get in during my whole visit.”

  Delta has tried limiting Sky Club access by raising prices. American Express has also limited lounge access for American Express Platinum Card^® cardholders by excluding Basic Economy flyers from Sky Club. Lounges aren’t always necessarily overcrowded, but your experience may vary depending on the time and airport.

• International acceptance may be limited

  American Express is accepted by 99% of U.S. merchants, according to a 2023 Nilson Report. However, its availability abroad can be limited. If you’re traveling internationally, you should bring a Visa or Mastercard with you, which are more commonly accepted.

  → Learn more about where American Express is accepted.

American Express Platinum Card^® vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

If flexible travel credit is important to you, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® may be a better fit. It charges a slightly lower annual fee ($795) that can be partially offset by the card’s $300 annual travel credit. This credit applies to most travel expenses — including airfare — making it easier to use than most of the credits from the American Express Platinum Card^®.

Additional Chase Sapphire Reserve^® travel benefits include:

• Up to $120 in statement credits for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS applications every 4 years
• Complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership and access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club
• Complimentary IHG® One Rewards Platinum Elite status
• Up to $500 in statement credit for stays with The Edit℠

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

If you’re looking for a lighter annual fee but still want a high rewards rate on travel and access to valuable travel perks, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card could be your best choice. It’s another luxury travel credit card that offers a generous travel rewards rate, travel credits and lounge access. It also has a lower $395 annual fee.

You’ll earn 2X Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10X Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 5X Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel. You’ll also get a generous welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

On the other hand, it doesn’t have as many travel benefits as the American Express Platinum Card^®. It offers a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck^® credit of up to $120 — but the American Express Platinum Card^® has a lot more credits available.

→ Learn more about how the American Express Platinum Card^® compares to other premium travel cards.

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American Express Platinum Card^® vs. Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card

If you mostly fly with Delta, the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card may be a better fit than the American Express Platinum Card^®. Unlike the American Express Platinum Card^®, the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card is a co-branded card that offers Delta-specific rewards and benefits.

The card lets you earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. There’s also a big welcome offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.

Not surprisingly, this card comes with a ton of Delta benefits, including:

• 15% off Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app
• Delta status boost to get you closer to Medallion Status
• Annual companion certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your card. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
• Access to Delta Sky Club and Centurion lounges when you use your card to book your Delta flight
• First checked bag free on Delta flights

However, you can only use most of the card’s benefits with Delta Air Lines, which means it’s only worth it if you fly Delta frequently. If you’re looking for more flexibility, the American Express Platinum Card^® is the better choice.

The American Express Platinum Card^® is worth it if you take advantage of the majority of its benefits and credits. So if you already love utilizing airport lounges, making in-flight purchases and staying in Marriott and Hilton hotels and resorts, this card will likely be a good fit for your lifestyle.

That said, this card isn’t worth it if its offerings aren’t already a part of your spending habits. You won’t save as much money if you get it just to start using Uber Eats more, for example.

But if you’re looking for a premium travel card that offers even more value, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® might be a better option.