Learn how to maximize advantages with the Amex Platinum Card

Metro Loud
16 Min Read


The American Specific Platinum Card® is likely one of the finest premium journey rewards playing cards obtainable.


American Specific Platinum Card: Discover out your supply — chances are you’ll be eligible for as excessive as 175,000 Membership Rewards factors after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases in your new card in your first six months of membership. Welcome presents range, and also you might not be eligible for a suggestion.


Its worth comes not simply from an enormous welcome bonus, but additionally from a protracted record of perks. When used strategically, these perks can simply offset its $895 annual charge (see charges and costs) after which some.

This is tips on how to get probably the most out of them.

Welcome supply

New Amex Platinum candidates can discover out their supply and see if they’re eligible to earn as excessive as 175,000 Membership Rewards factors after spending $8,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. (Welcome presents range, and also you might not be eligible for a suggestion.)

That bonus is price as much as $3,500, in line with TPG’s October 2025 valuations.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

To get probably the most out of the bonus, switch factors to airline and lodge companions for high-value redemptions. Brief-haul flights on JetBlue begin at 3,500 factors, and a one-way ticket in Qatar Airways’ Qsuite to Doha may be booked for 70,000 factors. Maintain an eye fixed out for switch bonuses, which might decrease the variety of factors you want.

Associated: Who ought to (and should not) get the American Specific Platinum?

Journey credit

A lot of the cardboard’s worth comes within the type of assertion credit. Strategically utilizing these credit can offset a good portion of the Amex Platinum’s annual charge.

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Resort assertion credit score

The lodge credit score is arguably the only most beneficial credit score on the cardboard. You rise up to $600 in whole annually, cut up into two up-to-$300 credit throughout the primary and second halves of the yr, for pay as you go stays booked via American Specific Journey® at Wonderful Motels + Resorts or The Resort Assortment properties (enrollment required).

St Regis Hong Kong room
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

Wonderful Motels + Resorts bookings embody day by day breakfast for 2, a $100 property credit score, early check-in (when obtainable) and a assured 4 p.m. departure. The Resort Assortment requires a two-night minimal keep, however it may be a great way to ebook upscale properties at a decrease money charge.

To maximise this credit score, give attention to properties the place the extras stretch your keep additional. At occasions, promotions can supply a further free night time at choose motels, which might improve the worth of your credit score.

Uber Money

You will obtain as much as $15 in Uber Money every month — plus an additional as much as $20 in December — legitimate for rides or Uber Eats orders within the U.S. (enrollment required). Hyperlink your Platinum Card within the app so the credit score applies routinely. (Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account if you add the Amex Platinum as a fee technique and redeem with any Amex card.)

In case you are not within the U.S., you need to use it to ship a trip or meal to somebody again residence.

Uber Cash screenshot
UBER

As well as, you possibly can successfully get a complimentary Uber One membership, with an up-to-$120 assertion credit score that totally covers an routinely renewing $96 annual membership or $9.99 month-to-month membership (enrollment required). Perks embody no supply charges on meals orders (minimal quantity applies) and 6% again on rides.

Airline charge assertion credit score

Every year, the cardboard supplies as much as $200 in credit towards incidental charges on one chosen U.S. airline. This works finest for checked bag charges, seat choice charges and onboard purchases (enrollment required).

I exploit mine to purchase United Airways TravelBank Money in $50 increments, which might then be utilized towards future flights.

Clear Plus assertion credit score

The cardboard covers the price of an annual Clear Plus membership (as much as $209 per calendar yr, topic to computerized renewal). This lets you use devoted lanes at airport safety and skip the usual ID verify.

Travelers At LAX Airport As U.S. Airline Daily Traffic Falls
BING GUAN/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES

You’ll be able to maximize this perk by combining it with reductions to scale back the out-of-pocket value of Clear Plus for a number of individuals. For instance, any Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus member can enroll in Clear Plus for $199 (and it is even cheaper for these with elite standing or cobranded bank cards). Then, you possibly can add a member of the family for $125 and produce youngsters below 18 free of charge.

World Entry/TSA PreCheck assertion credit score

Your card reimburses your software charge for World Entry as soon as each 4 years ($120) or TSA PreCheck as soon as each 4 1/2 years (as much as $85). World Entry consists of PreCheck, so it normally presents the higher worth.

Since licensed customers additionally get their very own credit score, enrolling everybody in your family can save time at safety and immigration.

Life-style credit

Totally utilizing the next three credit in your Amex Platinum can prevent tons of of {dollars} a yr on streaming and health purchases.

Digital leisure assertion credit score

You will rise up to $25 in month-to-month assertion credit for eligible subscriptions with the next suppliers:

  • Disney+ and the Disney+ Bundle
  • ESPN+
  • Hulu
  • Paramount+
  • Peacock
  • The New York Instances
  • The Wall Avenue Journal
  • YouTube Premium and YouTube TV
Friends watching tv together at home
FG TRADE/GETTY IMAGES

You’ll be able to stack a number of subscriptions to get the total $25 credit score every month. For instance, you would possibly mix a streaming platform with a information subscription to unlock the complete up-to-$300 annual worth. I personally use mine to cowl my Disney+ Bundle and YouTube Premium subscriptions.

Oura Ring assertion credit score

You obtain as much as $200 yearly towards eligible {hardware} purchases from Oura (enrollment required). As a result of it doesn’t cowl the month-to-month subscription, the credit score is finest used when upgrading or shopping for a brand new Oura Ring for your self or as a present.

Equinox and SoulCycle assertion credit

The cardboard presents as much as $300 per yr towards eligible Equinox memberships or a digital Equinox+ subscription (enrollment required; topic to computerized renewal). Utilizing the credit score for the $39.99 month-to-month digital plan is the best option to seize the total worth.

EQUINOX/FACEBOOK

You will additionally obtain as much as $300 in assertion credit every calendar yr towards a SoulCycle At-Dwelling Bike buy via Equinox+. Be aware that you simply have to be enrolled in an Equinox+ membership to be eligible for this profit.

Procuring credit

The Amex Platinum additionally has its share of buying credit, together with some not too long ago launched within the refresh.

Lululemon assertion credit score

You will obtain as much as $75 in assertion credit per quarter for eligible purchases at U.S. Lululemon shops (excluding shops) and lululemon.com (enrollment required). Any unused quantity doesn’t roll over.

Scuba Hoodie by Lululemon
LULULEMON

To stretch this profit additional, take into account stacking it with the Rakuten buying portal to earn further rewards; look out for no less than 10% money again being provided. You may also discover sturdy worth within the “We Made Too A lot” sale part or discover secondhand choices via the model’s resale program, permitting you to maximise the credit score with out overspending.

Associated: 10 TPG-recommended objects to purchase together with your $75 Amex Platinum Lululemon credit score

Walmart+ assertion credit score

You will obtain as much as $155 in assertion credit yearly if you pay on your month-to-month Walmart+ membership together with your card (enrollment required; topic to computerized renewal). Since the usual value is $12.95 month-to-month (plus tax), the credit score successfully covers the total month-to-month charge (excluding Plus Ups).

Walmart+ presents perks like free grocery supply (on orders of no less than $35), free delivery (no minimal), gas reductions, free residence returns and free tire restore. You may also select between an (ad-supported) Paramount+ Important subscription (separate enrollment required) and a Peacock Premium subscription at no further value, and you may swap between the 2 each 90 days.

Saks Fifth Avenue assertion credit score

This perk is accessible within the type of two up-to-$50 assertion credit annually (enrollment required). Your first assertion credit score can offset purchases from January via June, and the second is accessible from July via December.

a Saks Fifth Avenue store is seen from the parking lot
JOHN GREIM/LIGHTROCKET/GETTY IMAGES

There is no such thing as a minimal buy required to set off these assertion credit, so you might make a purchase order of $50 (or much less) as soon as each six months and never owe something out of pocket as soon as the credit score posts to your Amex Platinum account. Keep away from the $9.95 delivery charge by buying in-store or assembly Saks’ free delivery threshold ($300 on the time of writing).

Associated: Why the brand new Amex Platinum modifications are changing me to a cardmember

Eating assertion credit score

You will obtain as much as $100 in assertion credit every quarter when paying together with your Platinum Card at taking part U.S. eating places affiliated with Resy (enrollment required). No reservation is required; merely pay together with your card at an eligible restaurant.

Some cardholders (together with me) have additionally triggered the credit score by shopping for reward playing cards from Resy-affiliated eating places (although outcomes might range). Useyourcredits.com lists which of them sometimes work for reward card purchases.

Hands reaching into a table of food
MEREDITH JENKS/AMERICAN EXPRESS

Remember that the Platinum Card earns simply 1 level per greenback spent at eating places, so this perk is finest considered as an announcement credit score profit somewhat than a points-earning alternative.

Lounge entry

One of many Platinum Card’s most beneficial perks for eligible cardmembers is entry to the American Specific World Lounge Assortment, which incorporates greater than 1,700 lounges throughout 140-plus international locations. This covers Centurion and Precedence Cross lounges (enrollment required) in addition to Delta Sky Golf equipment (when flying Delta Air Strains; restricted to 10 annual visits), giving vacationers broad protection worldwide.

Delta Sky Club Newark
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Centurion Lounges supply among the finest experiences, with premium meals, drinks, showers and cozy areas, making them splendid for longer layovers. In the event you spend $75,000 or extra on the cardboard in a calendar yr, you may unlock complimentary visitor entry to Centurion Lounges, which might add important worth for frequent vacationers.

To get probably the most worth, you’ll want to enroll in Precedence Cross, verify entry guidelines forward of time and plan your lounge visits strategically. Concentrate on entry limits and time restrictions, particularly at Delta Sky Golf equipment, which implement capability controls and visitor charges.

Elite standing

With the Amex Platinum, you may get computerized elite standing with a mixed six lodge and automotive rental applications (enrollment required). These advantages can improve stays and leases with upgrades, bonus factors and precedence service.

Resort elite standing

You will obtain the next standing ranges:

  • Hilton Honors Gold consists of an 80% factors bonus, day by day breakfast (or an on-property credit score at U.S. motels) and room upgrades (when obtainable).
  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite presents a 25% factors bonus, enhanced room upgrades and premium web.
  • The Main Motels of the World Leaders Membership Sterling presents day by day breakfast for 2 and 5 prearrival upgrades yearly.

Automotive rental elite standing

You will additionally obtain the next standing tiers:

Registering for these applications is a fast win, even when you do not journey usually. Resort elite standing can unlock perks like complimentary breakfast and upgrades, whereas automotive rental standing may also help you skip the counter, safe upgrades and enhance your odds of getting the automobile you need throughout busy journey durations.

Backside line

The Amex Platinum is just not designed for on a regular basis spending.

Relatively, its worth comes from realizing tips on how to maximize its advantages. In the event you align your journey and life-style spending to match the cardboard’s credit and perks, it’s attainable to get way more worth than the annual charge.

The secret is to plan forward, enroll in each profit you qualify for and use the assertion credit strategically all year long.

To study extra concerning the card, learn our full overview of the Amex Platinum.


Apply right here: American Specific Platinum Card


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

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