American Express Platinum Card: The Travel Enthusiast’s Dream

The Platinum Card from American Express

Annual Fee: $695 (See rates and fees)

Welcome Offer: Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first six months

Rewards:

• 5x points on prepaid hotels booked via American Express Travel
• 5x on flights booked through Amex Travel or directly with airlines (up to $500,000 per calendar year)
• 1x on other qualifying purchases

More Details: Over $1,500 Worth of statement credits are available for travel, entertainment, and dining purchases.

APR

The Amex Platinum’s variable APR ranges from 21.24% to 29.24%, depending on your credit and other factors.

Annual Fee

The card has a steep $695 annual fee. While this might seem high, frequent travelers can offset it by taking full advantage of the card’s benefits and welcome offer.

Welcome Offer

New cardholders can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 in the first six months. If used for flights booked via Amex Travel, the welcome offer can be worth $800. Redemption values vary, and transferring points to one of Amex’s 20+ airline or hotel partners can yield even higher value.

Intro Offer

There’s no promotional 0% APR with this card the regular APR applies immediately.

Rewards Rate

• 5x points on prepaid hotels booked via Amex Travel
• 5x on flights booked through Amex Travel or directly with airlines (up to $500,000 per calendar year)
• 1x on other qualifying purchases

How to Earn Rewards

The Amex Platinum is a dedicated travel rewards card offering the highest rates on travel purchases. Booking hotels and flights through Amex Travel or directly from airlines earns 5x points. Other qualifying purchases earn 1x points. Rewards do not apply to statement credits, balance transfers, or cash advances.

How to Redeem Rewards

You can redeem Membership Rewards points for travel booked through Amex Travel or transfer them to one of over 20 American Express travel partners, including British Airways Executive Club, Delta SkyMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue, Emirates Skywards, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy. 

Additional Benefits

Credits

Cardholders can earn over $1,500 in credits* at popular brands, including:

• Up to $240 in annual digital entertainment credits for select streaming services and online media subscriptions ($20 per month)
• Up to $200 in statement credits for incidental fees on an airline of your choice
• Up to $200 in annual Uber Cash credits ($15 per month, plus $20 extra in December)
• Up to $200 in annual hotel credits at Fine Hotels + Resorts and Hotel Collection properties (prepaid bookings through Amex Travel)
• Up to $189 in annual CLEAR Plus credits
• Up to $155 in annual Walmart+ credits ($12.95 per month, plus tax)
• Up to $100 in annual Saks Fifth Avenue credits ($50 from Jan.-June, $50 from July-Dec.)
• Up to $100 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits every four years

Terms apply and enrollment may be required for certain offers and benefits listed above

Airport Lounge Access

Enjoy complimentary access to over 1,400 American Express Global Lounge locations in more than 40 countries.

Hotel and Car Rental Perks

Cardholders receive complimentary elite hotel status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. They can also enroll in Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, or National Car Rental Emerald Club for exclusive car rental perks. Booking through Fine Hotels + Resorts or Hotel Collection properties via Amex Travel can provide benefits like free breakfast for two, room upgrades, guaranteed late checkout, and early check-in (when available).

Insurance and Protections

This card includes several insurance benefits, such as trip delay and interruption insurance, car rental damage and loss coverage (secondary), and trip cancellation insurance. The Premium Global Assist hotline is available for emergencies over 100 miles from home.**

Cardmembers also get extended warranty and purchase protection. The extended warranty coverage extends eligible manufacturers’ warranties by a year, with coverage limits of $10,000 per item or $50,000 per calendar year. Purchase protection covers damage, loss, or theft up to $10,000 per item or $50,000 per calendar year.

**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Dining and Other Perks

Access special dining experiences and reservations through Global Dining Access by Resy. Enjoy exclusive experiences, including sporting events and art exhibits, through the American Express By Invitation Only program.

Who is the Platinum Card from American Express Best For?

This card is perfect for frequent travelers. Its travel-focused perks are most valuable for those who regularly hit the road. Jetsetters will find it easy to offset the annual fee, especially if they often book travel through the American Express portal. Regular shoppers at the brands offering credits can also benefit, although it may require some strategic planning to maximize the value.

Pros

• Generous welcome offer
• Valuable statement credits
• High earning rate on qualifying travel bookings
• Exclusive hotel benefits
• Complimentary lounge access
• No foreign transaction fee

Cons

• High annual fee
• Rewards are mostly travel-focused
• Requires good or excellent credit

Where Can You Use the Platinum Card from American Express?

The Amex Platinum is widely accepted in the U.S. but not as commonly accepted globally. Note that Amex cards Are not accepted at Costco. Review your card agreement before traveling abroad & consider bringing a Visa or Mastercard as a backup.

How to Make an Amex Platinum Payment

• Online via your Amex credit card account
• Through the American Express mobile app
• By mail: American Express P.O. Box 96001 Los Angeles, CA 90096-8000
• By phone: 1-800-472-9297

Platinum Card from American Express Customer Service Info

For Assistance, call the American Express customer service team at 1-800-528-4800, available 24/7. You can also get help by logging into your Amex Platinum account.

Alternative Cards to Consider

If the Amex Platinum’s annual fee is prohibitive, consider these alternatives:

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Why we like it: With a $550 annual fee and a $300 annual travel credit, this card offers substantial value Cardholders earn a 75,000-point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months, worth up to $1,125 through Chase Travel. Priority Pass Select membership provides access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Why we like it: The $395 annual fee is offset by a $300 travel credit when booking through the Capital One portal. Cardholders earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months. Complimentary access to Capital One airport lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and Plaza Premium lounges is included.

American Express® Gold Card

Why we like it: For occasional travelers, the Amex Gold Card offers 4x points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 annually), 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and 1x points on everything else. New cardholders can earn 60,000 points after spending $6,000 within three months. The annual fee is $250. (See rates and fees)

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site does not include all currently available offers.