American Express Platinum review: Full details

The Platinum Card® from American Express is likely one of the high premium journey rewards playing cards in the marketplace. As a cardmember, you may earn invaluable Membership Rewards factors, obtain invaluable annual assertion credit (so long as you’ll be able to make the most of them, which we are going to talk about later) and achieve entry to an intensive community of airport lounges worldwide. Card ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

*Card rating is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

These days, each financial institution, airline, and lodge 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 modern design and hefty metal 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 rates and fees) and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Once you stack them up in opposition to 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 vital adjustments in recent times and carries a steep $695 annual charge (see rates and fees) — one of many highest in the marketplace. That is why individuals typically ask whether or not the Amex Platinum is still worth the annual fee, even with the perks.

TPG recommends an excellent to wonderful credit score earlier than making use of for this card. It ranks as one of many best travel cards, however that does not imply it is proper for each traveler.

Let’s study the small print and advantages to see whether or not having the Amex Platinum in your pockets is sensible.

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 gives range and also you will not be eligible for a proposal.

That is now the standard welcome offer.

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In accordance 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 occasions the cardboard’s $695 annual charge.

Associated: How to redeem Membership Rewards points for maximum value

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 statement credits per calendar yr for incidental charges charged by one airline you choose*
• As much as a $200 annual hotel credit per calendar yr, within the type of a press release credit score, on pay as you go Amex Effective Accommodations + Resorts or The Lodge Assortment bookings with American Express Travel® portal once you pay along with your Amex Platinum (Lodge Assortment stays require a two-night minimal)*
• As much as $200 in Uber Cash per calendar yr, legitimate on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S. (break 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 once you add the Amex Platinum as a fee technique 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 entertainment credit — disbursed as as much as $20 month-to-month assertion credit once you pay for eligible purchases with the Amex Platinum at eligible companions*

• As much as $300 in Equinox credit per calendar yr on Equinox gymnasium 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 statement credit for International Entry each 4 years or an as much as $85 charge credit score for TSA PreCheck each 4½ years (relying on which software charge is charged to your card first)
• As much as a $100 per calendar yr in Saks Fifth Avenue credit, break up into two as much as $50 assertion credit between January and June, then July via December*
• Entry to the American Express Global Lounge Collection (for eligible cardmembers), together with Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges, Plaza Premium lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (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 car rental status: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle, Avis Most well-liked Plus and Nationwide Emerald Membership Govt*
• Entry to Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection
• Phrases apply to the advantages listed

The Amex Platinum additionally features a vary of journey and buy protections:

• In case your trip is delayed by greater than six hours due to a lined cause, you might be eligible to be reimbursed as much as $500 per lined journey for cheap further bills**
• If that you must cancel or interrupt your journey due to a lined cause, you might be eligible for reimbursement of as much as $10,000 per lined journey**
• Extended warranty profit extends eligible producers’ warranties of 5 years or much less by as much as one further yr***
• Purchase protection protects current purchases in opposition to theft, unintentional injury 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 via 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, circumstances 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 range by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.

Even for those who can solely use only a handful of those perks, it is simple to cowl most (or all) of the Amex Platinum’s annual charge.

Here 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. Consequently, I consider it as paying $55 for all the different advantages on the cardboard — and that makes it a no brainer to maintain in my pocket.”

Your actual scenario could range, however crunch the numbers to see how a lot real-life worth you will get from the cardboard.

Associated: How to maximize benefits with the Amex Platinum Card

With the Amex Platinum, you may earn 5 factors per greenback on airfare bought straight with the airways or via the amextravel.com (on as much as $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback). Plus, you may earn 5 factors per greenback on pay as you go lodges booked with Amex Journey.

These 5-point classes are a superb approach to earn numerous Membership Rewards factors. Primarily based 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 Gives that would increase incomes charges at varied retailers (together with Amazon).

Associated: The ultimate guide to saving money with Amex Offers

You may also use your Membership Rewards factors to ebook journey straight via American Categorical Journey. But when the non-public Amex Platinum is the one Amex card in your stock, utilizing factors for airfare and lodge redemptions this manner will not get you superb worth.

You may get just one cent per level once you redeem the factors straight for airfare at Amex Journey and fewer than 1 cent per level when redeeming for lodge rooms.

From our expertise, 9 out of 10 occasions, it’s best to by no means redeem Membership Rewards factors for flights or lodges via American Categorical Journey, as you’ll get a lot better worth utilizing transfer partners.

Nonetheless, suppose you even have The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. In that case, you may get one of many best direct point redemptions available. At the moment, Enterprise Platinum cardmembers obtain a 35% factors bonus for first- and business-class flights on any airline, plus financial 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 via Amex Journey will solely apply to the airline {that a} cardmember selects for his or her airline charge credit score (enrollment required, phrases apply), regardless of fare class.

Associated: Best ways to use Amex Membership Rewards points, from business-class flights to Europe to budget-friendly hotel stays

In accordance with TPG’s July 2025 valuations, every Membership Rewards level is price 2 cents, thanks largely to this system’s airline and hotel transfer partners. These embody at the very least one useful choice in every main airline alliance (SkyTeam, Star Alliance and Oneworld).

Notable Membership Rewards companions embody Air Canada Aeroplan, Delta SkyMiles, ANA Mileage Club and Hilton Honors.

Transferring your factors to the correct airline or lodge program is often the easiest way to maximise your Membership Rewards factors worth.

Here 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 will switch to Qantas Frequent Flyer to safe hard-to-find business- or first-class flights again to Australia.”

Another compelling premium bank cards go head-to-head with the Amex Platinum :

• If you need extra focused advantages: Though the Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with a heftier $795 annual charge, it gives a $300 travel credit, an annual $500 The Edit by Chase Travel℠ credit score (minimal two-night keep required), a $300 eating assertion credit score and a few of the best travel protections available. Nonetheless, it may’t beat the Amex Platinum in the case of perks like lounge entry. To study extra, learn our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
• If you need a a lot decrease annual charge: Capital One’s premium rewards card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, packs a punch and comes with a more affordable $395 annual fee. The Enterprise X is doubtlessly extra profitable than the Amex Platinum in the case of incomes, accruing 10 miles per greenback on lodges and automotive leases booked through Capital One Journey, 5 miles per greenback on flights and trip leases booked through Capital One Journey and an infinite 2 miles per greenback on every thing else. To study extra, learn our full review of the Venture X.
• In the event you’d favor a mid-tier journey card: The American Express® Green Card is a good choice for younger professionals and people on the lookout 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 thing else. This card has a $150 annual charge.

The knowledge 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 best cards for travel rewards and lounge access.

Learn extra: The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison

In the event you can take full benefit of its annual assertion credit (as talked about above), the Amex Platinum is likely one of the most compelling rewards playing cards, particularly for those who journey sufficient to make the lodge statuses and lounge advantages helpful or store sufficient to get substantial worth from the shopping protections.

The Amex Platinum’s $695 annual charge is steep, however the varied annual credit can recoup the whole price (and extra), even earlier than contemplating the cardboard’s different perks.

Apply right here: Amex Platinum

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