Why I pair the Capital One Enterprise X and Amex Platinum playing cards

Earlier than including the American Categorical Platinum Card® to my pockets, I analyzed my present bank card setup. The Amex Platinum’s $895 annual charge (see charges and charges) was greater than sufficient to immediate a evaluation of my present technique.

On the time, I had just one card in my pockets with an annual charge exceeding $200: the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card. At $395 annually, the Enterprise X is among the many most inexpensive playing cards within the premium market. However was the Enterprise X price retaining as soon as I added the Amex Platinum?

After weighing the professionals and cons, I made a decision to maintain each of those widespread premium journey rewards playing cards. These are the 4 components that influenced my resolution.

I earn two useful currencies

I am all about gathering transferable factors and miles from every of the main issuers. I worth each American Categorical Membership Rewards factors and Capital One miles extremely. Plus, incomes each currencies provides me much more flexibility when making redemptions, as I unlock two units of switch companions.

I prefer to redeem Capital One miles for Delta Air Traces tickets, which I normally ebook via SkyTeam alliance companion Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue. I not too long ago transferred 15,000 miles to Flying Blue to ebook two one-way home Delta flights.

These playing cards provide improbable welcome bonuses:

• Amex Platinum: New cardmembers can discover out their provide and could also be eligible for as excessive as 175,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome presents differ, and also you might not be eligible for a proposal.) Per TPG’s December 2025 valuations, this bonus is price as much as $3,500.
• Enterprise X: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening. TPG’s December 2025 valuations deem this provide price $1,850.

Associated: How (and why) you must earn transferable bank card factors

I pay with the Enterprise X — more often than not

I really like utilizing my Enterprise X. It gives a minimum of 2 miles per greenback spent on every little thing, which is a really strong incomes charge.

Conversely, my Amex Platinum is not your best option for almost all of my spending, because it earns 1 level per greenback spent on most purchases.

Nevertheless, it is available in clutch after I have to ebook flights instantly or make resort reservations via American Categorical Journey®, because it earns 5 factors per greenback spent in these classes (on as much as $500,000 of those purchases per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback spent).

Associated: Why you must get a fixed-rate rewards bank card

I can entry extra airport lounges

I added the Amex Platinum partly for entry to the cardboard’s in depth American Categorical International Lounge Assortment (enrollment required).

I’ve loads of selections at most airports I go to. I really like the Escape Lounge at my native Greenville-Spartanburg Worldwide Airport (GSP) in South Carolina. I anticipate to go to the Centurion Lounges at Charlotte Douglas Worldwide Airport (CLT) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport (ATL), as I steadily join via these airports.

Plus, after I move via ATL on a same-day Delta ticket, I can burn up one among my 10 annual visits to the Delta Sky Membership.*

*Spending $75,000 or extra on my card unlocks limitless Sky Membership visits.

The Enterprise X was my first card with lounge entry, and I’ve had improbable experiences of their issuer-branded lounges.

Since I’ve handed via Las Vegas’ Harry Reid Worldwide Airport (LAS) twice prior to now yr for concert events, and I usually fly via Dallas Fort Value Worldwide Airport (DFW) after I join on American Airways, it is sensible for me to maintain entry to the improbable Capital One lounges in these two airports.

Associated: The do’s and don’ts of visiting an airport lounge

I maximize assertion credit

This is a significant component when deciding whether or not it is price paying an annual charge.

Amex Platinum assertion credit

There’s a lengthy checklist of assertion credit provided by the Amex Platinum. That is how I take advantage of 4 of my favorites:

• Airline charge credit score: I obtain as much as $200 in assertion credit per calendar yr towards incidental charges on my one chosen U.S. airline. I take advantage of this after I have to examine luggage on Delta, since I will often fly with them however do not have one among their cobranded playing cards or SkyMiles elite standing.
• Digital leisure assertion credit score*: I get $25 off my YouTube TV subscription every month, utilizing as much as $300 in assertion credit per calendar yr towards eligible subscriptions.
• Eating assertion credit score*: I spent a $100 quarterly assertion credit score on date evening dinner and cocktails at The 07, a restaurant in my space. I obtain as much as $400 in assertion credit per calendar yr at collaborating U.S. eating places affiliated with Resy (no reservation required; merely pay together with your card at an eligible restaurant).
• Resort assertion credit score: I booked a two-night keep at The Learn Home, a historic resort in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for less than $236 out of pocket due to a biannual $300 credit score. I obtain as much as $600 in assertion credit per calendar yr towards pay as you go stays booked via Amex Journey at Wonderful Accommodations + Resorts or The Resort Assortment properties (break up into two $300 biannual assertion credit; two-night minimal at The Resort Assortment properties).

*Enrollment required

Enterprise X journey credit score

The Enterprise X does not have almost as lengthy a listing of credit, however its $300 annual journey credit score for bookings made via Capital One Journey lowers the efficient annual charge to $95 by itself.

Final yr, I used this credit score to get $300 off a three-night keep on the Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World.

Associated: Bank card perks and advantages you have to be utilizing this month

When it would not make sense

There are a number of situations the place it would not make sense for me to maintain each the Amex Platinum and Enterprise X.

• If I did not have an organized plan to maximise assertion credit throughout each playing cards, or if I did not intend to make assertion credit a precedence.
• If I did not plan to go to an Amex or Capital One lounge within the foreseeable future.
• If I needed to take care of a easy, one-card setup.

If any of those utilized to my scenario, I would downgrade to the $95 annual charge Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card as a substitute of maintaining with the Enterprise X.

Associated: Why the Capital One Enterprise X might be the most suitable choice to your first premium card

Backside line

My pockets is definitely stronger with each the Amex Platinum and Enterprise X.

From elevated incomes charges to expansive lounge entry and high-value assertion credit, the perks on these two playing cards pair exceptionally nicely. Their strengths fill in one another’s gaps, making a well-rounded setup that fits many various kinds of vacationers.

I’m assured these playing cards will meaningfully improve my upcoming journeys — they usually have already got.

To study extra about both card, learn our full evaluations of the Amex Platinum and Enterprise X.

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Apply right here: American Categorical Platinum Card

Be taught extra: Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card

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For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.