The Platinum Card from American Categorical overview
The Platinum Card® from American Categorical is without doubt one of the high premium journey rewards playing cards in the marketplace. As a cardmember, you will earn invaluable Membership Rewards factors, obtain invaluable annual assertion credit (so long as you may benefit from them, which we are going to focus on later) and achieve entry to an intensive community of airport lounges worldwide. Card score*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
*Card score relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
These days, each financial institution, airline, and resort appears to supply a premium journey rewards card. However for a very long time, the Amex Platinum was the one premium rewards card in the marketplace. With its smooth design and hefty metallic weight, there was a little bit of status hooked up to being an Amex Platinum cardmember.
That also exists, regardless that a couple of rivals within the luxurious card class have emerged in recent times, together with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges) and the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card. If you stack them up towards each other, the Amex Platinum shines in methods the others do not. Then once more, it falls flat in some areas, too.
The Amex Platinum has undergone important modifications in recent times and carries a steep $695 annual charge (see charges and charges) — one of many highest in the marketplace. That is why folks typically ask whether or not the Amex Platinum continues to be well worth the annual charge, even with the perks.
TPG recommends to glorious credit score rating earlier than making use of for this card. It ranks as the most effective journey playing cards, however that does not imply it is proper for each traveler.
Let’s study the main points and advantages to see whether or not having the Amex Platinum in your pockets is smart.
Amex Platinum professionals and cons
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Amex Platinum welcome provide
New Amex Platinum cardmembers can discover out their provide and see in the event that they’re eligible to earn as excessive as 175,000 Membership Rewards Factors after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases in your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership. Welcome presents differ and also you might not be eligible for a proposal.
That is now the usual welcome provide.
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In line with TPG’s July 2025 valuations, Amex Membership Rewards factors are price 2 cents every, making this bonus price as much as $3,500. That is greater than 5 instances the cardboard’s $695 annual charge.
Associated: The way to redeem Membership Rewards factors for max worth
Amex Platinum advantages
What actually units the Amex Platinum aside is that it confers many invaluable perks and journey advantages. Let’s have a look:
- As much as $200 in assertion credit per calendar yr for incidental charges charged by one airline you choose*
- As much as a $200 annual resort credit score per calendar yr, within the type of an announcement credit score, on pay as you go Amex Nice Lodges + Resorts or The Resort Assortment bookings with American Categorical Journey® portal while you pay together with your Amex Platinum (Resort Assortment stays require a two-night minimal)*
- As much as $200 in Uber Money per calendar yr, legitimate on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S. (cut up into month-to-month as much as $15 credit plus an as much as $20 bonus in December).* Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account while you add the Amex Platinum as a fee methodology and redeem with any Amex card.
- As much as $199 in assertion credit per calendar yr to cowl your Clear Plus annual membership*
- As much as $240 per calendar yr in annual digital leisure credit score — disbursed as as much as $20 month-to-month assertion credit while you pay for eligible purchases with the Amex Platinum at eligible companions*
- As much as $300 in Equinox credit score per calendar yr on Equinox health club and Equinox+ app memberships (topic to auto-renewal)*
- As much as $300 in assertion credit per calendar yr towards the acquisition of a SoulCycle bike (as much as 15 bikes per calendar yr); have to be enrolled in an Equinox+ membership to be eligible for this profit.
- As much as a $155 assertion credit score per calendar yr (as much as $12.95 month-to-month, plus relevant taxes) that covers the price of a month-to-month Walmart+ membership when paying with the Amex Platinum (on one membership, topic to auto-renewal); Plus Up excluded.
- A $120 assertion credit score for International Entry each 4 years or an as much as $85 charge credit score for TSA PreCheck each 4½ years (relying on which utility charge is charged to your card first)
- As much as a $100 per calendar yr in Saks Fifth Avenue credit score, cut up into two as much as $50 assertion credit between January and June, then July by means of December*
- Entry to the American Categorical International Lounge Assortment (for eligible cardmembers), together with Centurion Lounges, Precedence Cross lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges, Plaza Premium lounges and Delta Sky Golf equipment (when touring on same-day Delta flights; Eligible Platinum Card Members will obtain 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per yr to the Delta Sky Membership or to Seize and Go when touring on a same-day Delta-operated flight).*
- Complimentary Gold standing with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy*
- Complimentary automotive rental standing: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle, Avis Most well-liked Plus and Nationwide Emerald Membership Government*
- Entry to Amex Nice Lodges + Resorts and The Resort Assortment
- Phrases apply to the advantages listed
The Amex Platinum additionally features a vary of journey and buy protections:
- In case your journey is delayed by greater than six hours due to a coated cause, it’s possible you’ll be eligible to be reimbursed as much as $500 per coated journey for affordable further bills**
- If you could cancel or interrupt your journey due to a coated cause, it’s possible you’ll be eligible for reimbursement of as much as $10,000 per coated journey**
- Prolonged guarantee profit extends eligible producers’ warranties of 5 years or much less by as much as one further yr***
- Buy safety protects current purchases towards theft, unintentional harm or loss for as much as 90 days from the acquisition date***
- Complimentary Shoprunner membership (Enrollment closed March 31, 2025; cardmembers who enrolled by this date will proceed to obtain a complimentary membership by means of their remaining membership yr and two years thereafter)*
- Phrases apply to the advantages listed
*Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply.
**Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.
***Eligibility and profit ranges differ by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
Even when you can solely use only a handful of those perks, it is easy to cowl most (or all) of the Amex Platinum’s annual charge.
This is how TPG senior editorial director Nick Ewen describes it:
“I’ve no use for some advantages of the Amex Platinum, and others (like Walmart+) I take advantage of simply because they’re there. Nonetheless, I at all times max out the digital leisure credit score ($240). I additionally simply use all $200 in Uber credit and all $200 in airline assertion credit yearly. In different phrases, simply three of those perks put $640 again in my pocket yearly. Because of this, I consider it as paying $55 for the entire different advantages on the cardboard — and that makes it a no brainer to maintain in my pocket.”
Your precise state of affairs might differ, however crunch the numbers to see how a lot real-life worth you may get from the cardboard.
Associated: The way to maximize advantages with the Amex Platinum Card
Incomes factors on the Amex Platinum
With the Amex Platinum, you will earn 5 factors per greenback on airfare bought immediately with the airways or by means of the amextravel.com (on as much as $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback). Plus, you will earn 5 factors per greenback on pay as you go inns booked with Amex Journey.
These 5-point classes are a superb strategy to earn numerous Membership Rewards factors. Based mostly on TPG’s July 2025 valuations, incomes 5 factors per greenback offers a ten% return.
All different purchases earn simply 1 level per greenback, however Amex Platinum cardmembers are eligible for focused Amex Presents that might enhance incomes charges at varied retailers (together with Amazon).
Associated: The final word information to saving cash with Amex Presents
Redeeming factors on the Amex Platinum
Membership Rewards factors are among the many most respected and versatile loyalty currencies ever created for redeeming factors. One of the best ways to maximise your factors is to switch them to one in all their loyalty program companions.
You may also use your Membership Rewards factors to ebook journey immediately by means of American Categorical Journey. But when the non-public Amex Platinum is the one Amex card in your stock, utilizing factors for airfare and resort redemptions this fashion will not get you superb worth.
You will get only one cent per level while you redeem the factors immediately for airfare at Amex Journey and fewer than 1 cent per level when redeeming for resort rooms.
From our expertise, 9 out of 10 instances, it is best to by no means redeem Membership Rewards factors for flights or inns by means of American Categorical Journey, as you’re going to get a lot better worth utilizing switch companions.
Nonetheless, suppose you even have The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Categorical. In that case, you will get the most effective direct level redemptions obtainable. At present, Enterprise Platinum cardmembers obtain a 35% factors bonus for first- and business-class flights on any airline, plus economic system flights in your chosen airline (as much as 1 million bonus factors per calendar yr).
Word as of Sept. 18, the 35% factors bonus for airfare booked by means of Amex Journey will solely apply to the airline {that a} cardmember selects for his or her airline charge credit score (enrollment required, phrases apply), no matter fare class.
Associated: Greatest methods to make use of Amex Membership Rewards factors, from business-class flights to Europe to budget-friendly resort stays
Transferring factors on the Amex Platinum
In line with TPG’s July 2025 valuations, every Membership Rewards level is price 2 cents, thanks largely to this system’s airline and resort switch companions. These embrace not less than one useful possibility in every main airline alliance (SkyTeam, Star Alliance and Oneworld).
Notable Membership Rewards companions embrace Air Canada Aeroplan, Delta SkyMiles, ANA Mileage Membership and Hilton Honors.
Transferring your factors to the suitable airline or resort program is often the easiest way to maximise your Membership Rewards factors worth.
This is how TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt likes to switch and redeem his Membership Rewards factors:
“I look out for switch bonuses to maximise my factors to ebook long-haul business-class flights. I typically switch to Iberia Plus for lie-flat seats to Madrid. Typically, I am going to switch to Qantas Frequent Flyer to safe hard-to-find business- or first-class flights again to Australia.”
Which playing cards compete with the Amex Platinum?
Another compelling premium bank cards go head-to-head with the Amex Platinum :
- If you’d like extra focused advantages: Though the Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with a heftier $795 annual charge, it presents a $300 journey credit score, an annual $500 The Edit by Chase Journey℠ credit score (minimal two-night keep required), a $300 eating assertion credit score and among the finest journey protections obtainable. Nonetheless, it may well’t beat the Amex Platinum in terms of perks like lounge entry. To study extra, learn our full assessment of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
- If you’d like a a lot decrease annual charge: Capital One’s premium rewards card, the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card, packs a punch and comes with a extra reasonably priced $395 annual charge. The Enterprise X is doubtlessly extra profitable than the Amex Platinum in terms of incomes, accruing 10 miles per greenback on inns and automotive leases booked through Capital One Journey, 5 miles per greenback on flights and trip leases booked through Capital One Journey and a vast 2 miles per greenback on every little thing else. To study extra, learn our full assessment of the Enterprise X.
- In the event you’d favor a mid-tier journey card: The American Categorical® Inexperienced Card is a superb possibility for younger professionals and people searching for a extra reasonably priced different to the Amex Platinum. Cardmembers earn 3 factors per greenback on eating places worldwide (together with takeout and supply within the U.S.), journey and transit, and 1 level per greenback on every little thing else. This card has a $150 annual charge.
The data for the American Categorical Inexperienced Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
For extra choices, take a look at our picks for the very best playing cards for journey rewards and lounge entry.
Learn extra: One of the best premium bank cards: A side-by-side comparability
Backside line
In the event you can take full benefit of its annual assertion credit (as talked about above), the Amex Platinum is without doubt one of the most compelling rewards playing cards, particularly when you journey sufficient to make the resort statuses and lounge advantages helpful or store sufficient to get substantial worth from the buying protections.
The Amex Platinum’s $695 annual charge is steep, however the varied annual credit can recoup the complete price (and extra), even earlier than contemplating the cardboard’s different perks.
Apply right here: Amex Platinum
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on right here).
