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American Express Platinum Card Test

Adam Seper
Written by: Adam Seper
Jason Foley
Reviewed by: Jason Foley
Amex Platinum Apply Now

The Amex Platinum is the most luxurious personal travel card on the market, packed with elite perks, statement credits, and access to the most extensive lounge network available.

Amex Platinum Apply Now

Amex Platinum Credit Card Review

Key Takeaways


When it comes to premium travel cards, the American Express Platinum has no true rival — but that level of luxury comes with a hefty $895 annual fee. The standard sign-up bonus is 175,000 points, which we value at 1.5 cents each. Points can be transferred to any of 18 airline partners or 3 hotel partners. The Platinum Card also offers one of the most extensive lists of statement credits and travel benefits, but long-term value depends on whether those perks align with your lifestyle and travel habits.

Why This Card Could Be Right For You

This is Amex’s flagship personal travel card — and it's packed with benefits designed for frequent travelers and lifestyle spenders. While the $895 annual fee is significant, the sign-up bonus can offset it in the first year.

  • Welcome bonus: 175,000 points with $8,000 spend in 6 months (sometimes as high as 200,000)
  • Travel perks:
    • $200 airline incidental credit
    • $600 hotel credit (on Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection* bookings via Amex Travel) - $300 every six months
    • Access to the Global Lounge Collection for cardholder and 2 guests when you enroll in Priority Pass Select
    • Centurion Club access (guests must pay $50/adult and $30/child)
    • 10 Delta Sky Club visit-days per year
  • Lifestyle credits:
    • $400 Resy dining credit ($100 each quarter)
    • $200 in Uber Cash ($15/month + $20 in December)
    • $120 Uber One credit
    • $300 digital entertainment credit ($25/month) toward services like Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, NYT, Paramount+, YouTube Premium and YouTube TV, and Peacock
    • $300 LuLulemon credit ($75 each quarter)
    • $155 annual Walmart+ membership
    • $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit ($50, 2x per year)
    • $209 CLEAR Plus credit for faster airport security
    • $300 Equinox credit
    • $300 SoulCycle credit (must join Equinox first)
    • $200 Oura credit (enrollment required)
  • Other benefits:
    • Premium purchase protection
    • Extended warranties
    • Exclusive Amex Offers

If you’re someone who can take full advantage of these credits, they more than offset the annual fee.

*The Hotel Collection requires a 2 night minimum stay

When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply

This card may not be the best fit if:

  • You can’t find a targeted or elevated welcome offer of at least 100,000 points
  • You don’t use the credits or perks frequently enough to justify the $895 fee
  • You want better point multipliers for everyday spending — Amex Platinum only offers 5x on flights and hotel bookings through Amex Travel
  • You haven’t yet earned sign up bonuses from the Amex Green or Gold cards — Amex’s once-per-lifetime bonus rule means getting the Platinum first can lock you out of those other bonuses
Amex Membership Rewards

What to Know About Amex Membership Rewards

Amex points are great in theory. We just find them harder to collect and more expensive to hold than Chase points.

  • If you’re in the points game long enough, you’ll dabble in both main systems (Chase & Amex).
  • Amex has a one card bonus every 7 years rule, so ultimately, there will be more of a limit to how many you can collect via sign-up bonuses.
  • There is only one no-fee card that allows you to earn and keep Membership Rewards points - the Blue Business Plus card.
  • Delta and Hilton are solid transfer values and having Amex points gives you top-off flexibility if you are invested in either of those systems.
  • We do find Amex travel a higher quality of service over the Chase travel portal.

How The Amex Platinum Credit Card Fits In The Amex Membership Rewards Ecosystem

Before applying for any personal American Express card, be aware of two specific rules:

  1. You can only receive the sign-up bonus on each Amex card once every 10 years.
  2. To be eligible for all potential bonuses, you must apply in this order: Green --> Gold --> Platinum. (If you start with the Platinum, you cannot later receive the bonuses for the Green or Gold).

All Amex personal cards count toward your 5/24 status, so keep that in mind.

  • The Green Card is the entry-level personal card, though it still has a $150 annual fee. It often has a 40,000-point sign-up bonus, and its standout benefit is a $199 Clear credit, which can more than cover its annual fee. Whether it’s worth getting depends on your 5/24 status and how you value the bonus and benefits.
  • The Gold Card is the next step, with a $325 annual fee and a 100,000-point welcome bonus. It also provides several credits and perks related to dining and groceries.

Amex does not currently impose the same “card order” rule on its business cards, making them a good option if you are close to 5/24. The annual fees, welcome bonuses, and other benefits on these business cards are similar to their personal counterparts, allowing you to start collecting American Express Membership Rewards without affecting your 5/24 count. However, the once-per-lifetime bonus rule still applies to business cards, so keep that in mind as well.

My Experience, No Filter

I enjoyed the Amex Platinum and got solid value from the welcome offer and the credits. The Uber and airline perks were helpful, and I appreciated the Centurion Lounge experience. But as time went on, I found the Chase Sapphire Reserve was simply a better fit for how I personally travel and redeem points.

The Chase portal’s simplicity, the 1.5x redemption boost, and the ability to pool points from multiple no-annual-fee cards gave me more flexibility. While Amex Platinum delivers luxury, the Sapphire Reserve delivers more consistent value for my day-to-day and travel lifestyle—so after the first year, I moved on.

Card Information

Bonus Points Minimum Spend Point Value Annual Value Annual Fee
1st Year Value
175,000 $12,000 1.6 ¢ {{ totalAnnualValue }} $1448 $895
{{ firstYearValue }} $3212
Differentiating Perks Rules
Premier Airport Lounges, Hilton & Marriott Gold Status, $800 in Hotel Credits Amex Family , No 5/24 , Amex 1/7 , Amex Popup Jail

Award System

Bank

Reconsideration Phone 800.528.4800

Most Recent Special Offer

100,000 Bonus Points for
$6,000 spend ended Nov 2022

Card Extras

Card Benefits

Travel Credits

Travel Credits »
Up to $600 per calendar year in statement credits for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection stays booked through Amex Travel. The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.

Lounge Access

Lounge Access »
Access to Centurion Lounge and Priority Pass Select lounges. Up to 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club visits per calendar year when flying on an eligible Delta flight.

Cell Phone Protection

Cell Phone Protection »
Coverage for theft or damage to eligible cell phones when the monthly bill is paid with the card. Coverage up to $800 per claim with a $50 deductible and up to $1,000 per 12-month period.

TSA Pre Check

TSA Pre Check »
Up to $120 in statement credits every four years for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck application fees when charged to the card.

Airline Incidentals

Airline Incidentals »
Up to $200 per calendar year in statement credits for eligible airline incidental fees after selecting one U.S. airline. Applies to charges billed separately from airfare.

Car Rental Insurance

Car Rental Insurance »
Secondary rental car collision damage waiver coverage when the rental is paid with the card. Coverage up to $75,000 per incident for collision damage or theft.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance »
Lost luggage, trip delay, and trip cancellation insurance when travel is purchased with the card. Coverage up to $3,000 per person for lost luggage, $500 for trip delay, and $10,000 per trip for trip cancellation.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

No Foreign Transaction Fees »
No foreign transaction fees.

Concierge

Concierge »
Access to Amex Platinum Concierge services for travel planning, dining reservations, entertainment tickets, and gift assistance.

Roadside Assistance

Roadside Assistance »
24-hour roadside assistance dispatch service for emergency towing, locksmith, and related services. Cardholder is responsible for the cost of services provided.

Statement Credits

Statement Credits »
Annual statement credits including CLEAR ($209), Uber ($200), Uber One ($120), Oura ($200), Digital Entertainment ($300), Equinox ($300), Lululemon ($300), Resy ($400), Walmart+ ($155), and Saks ($100).

Hotel Perks

Hotel Perks »
Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status. Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits include a $100 property credit, daily breakfast for two, guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout, and room upgrade when available.

Purchase Protection

Purchase Protection »
Coverage for damage or theft of eligible purchases within 90 days of purchase. Coverage up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per calendar year.

Extended Warranty

Extended Warranty »
Extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by one additional year on eligible warranties of five years or less.
Apply Now »

Spend Categories

Airlines None »

5X points
7.8¢ Per Dollar Spent

All Other None »

1X points
1.6¢ Per Dollar Spent

Hotels & Resorts Portal »

5X points
7.8¢ Per Dollar Spent

Apply Now »

Amex Platinum Application Rules

Amex Family

If you have received a signup bonus from a higher tiered card, you are ineligible to receive a bonus from a lower tiered card in that same card family

No 5/24

Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule

Amex 1/7

Amex allows only 1 bonus per specific card every 7 years (yours or that version of the card)

Amex Popup Jail

After you apply, Amex may show a pop-up saying you're ineligible for the welcome bonus

Point Transfer Options

Sharing No

Travel Partner Transfers

Amex Membership Rewards Outside Point System

Transfers Out To
Point Transfer Options
Aer Lingus AerClub

1:1 97% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Aeromexico Club Premier

1:1.6 83% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Air Canada Aeroplan

1:1 90% value retained

Point Transfer Options
All Nippon Airways (ANA)

1:1 90% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Avianca Lifemiles

1:1 84% value retained

Point Transfer Options
British Airways Avios

1:1 71% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Cash in Cents

1:1 65% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Cathay Pacific

1:1 71% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Choice Privileges

1:1 45% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Delta SkyMiles

1:1 77% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Emirates Skywards

1:0.8 46% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Etihad Guest

1:1 71% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Flying Blue (Air France-KLM)

1:1 84% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Hilton Honors

1:2 65% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Iberia Plus

1:1 77% value retained

Point Transfer Options
JetBlue TrueBlue

2.5:2 67% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Marriott Bonvoy

1:1 45% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Qantas Frequent Flyer

1:1 77% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Qatar Airways' Privilege Club

1:1 77% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Singapore KrisFlyer

1:1 84% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

1:1 90% value retained

View All Point Transfer Options »

Best for Series

Below is a snapshot of where this card performs best compared to the other cards in our database:

Rank 4th
Best Card for Hotel Stays »
Rank 3rd
Best Cards For Flights To Africa »
Rank 1st
Best Cards For International Flights »
Rank 1st
Best Cards For Flights To Asia »
Rank 1st
Best Card For Hotels In Asia »
Rank 1st
Best Card For International Business Class »
Rank 3rd
Best Cards For Cruises »
Rank 4th
Best Cards For Resort Stays »
Rank 1st
Best Cards For Flights To Australia »
Rank 3rd
Best Cards For Hotels In USA »
Rank 2nd
Best Cards For Hotels In Europe »
Rank 4th
Best Card For Australia & New Zealand Hotels »
Rank 2nd
Best Cards For South America Flights »
Rank 1st
Best Cards For Airfare Within Europe »
Rank 4th
Best Card For Airfare Within Australia & NZ »
Rank 1st
Best Cards For Airfare Within Asia »
Rank 2nd
Best Cards for Europe Flights »

Ranking of Cards Offering Amex Membership Rewards

#1
Amex Platinum
Amex Platinum »
#2
Amex Blue Business Plus
Amex Blue Business Plus »
#3
Amex Business Platinum
Amex Business Platinum »
#4
Amex Gold
Amex Gold »
#5
Amex Business Gold
Amex Business Gold »
#6
Amex Green
Amex Green »
#7
Amex Business Green
Amex Business Green »