The Platinum Card® from American Express packs a number of punch into its metallic shell. That should not come as a lot of a shock, provided that it is among the many heaviest and most costly of the publicly out there premium cards.
Whereas the present welcome supply alone is price as much as $3,500 (primarily based on TPG’s September 2025 valuations) and the posh perks — together with journey credit, elite standing and lounge entry* — can add a number of hundred {dollars} or extra a 12 months to its long-term worth, most individuals contemplating the Amex Platinum will fixate on one quantity: the $895 annual fee (see rates and fees).
It is simple to make the case that the Amex Platinum will pay for itself over time, however that does not essentially imply it is the precise card for you. So, let us take a look at who ought to — and should not — get the Amex Platinum.
*Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
Key advantages
Proper now, you’ll find out your supply and see if you’re eligible for as excessive as 175,000 factors after spending $8,000 on purchases on the cardboard in your first six months of card membership. Welcome gives differ and it’s possible you’ll not bot be eligible for a proposal.
In keeping with TPG’s valuations, Membership Rewards factors are price 2 cents every, making that bonus price as much as $3,500. That is a superb return in and of itself.
Regardless of which bonus give you get, all Platinum cardmembers get pleasure from the identical worthwhile perks. To offset the annual charge, Amex gives a number of assertion credit, with some notable ones together with (enrollment is required for choose advantages):
- As much as $600 lodge assertion credit score per calendar 12 months on eligible High quality Motels + Resorts and The Resort Assortment bookings (as much as $300 semi-annually; minimal two-night keep required for The Resort Assortment)
- As much as $400 each calendar 12 months (as much as $100 every quarter) for purchases at U.S. Resy eating places. No reservation is required
- As much as $300 per calendar 12 months (as much as $25 month-to-month) in digital entertainment statement credits for eligible subscriptions
- As much as $200 assertion credit score every calendar 12 months for airline incidental fees, akin to seat project, lounge entry and checked bag charges with a choose qualifying airline
- As much as $200 in Uber Cash every calendar 12 months in increments of as much as $15 per thirty days, plus an as much as $20 bonus in December (for U.S. providers). It’s also possible to use these credit to order meals from Uber Eats. Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account once you add the Amex Platinum as a cost technique and redeem with any Amex card
- As much as a $120 Uber One assertion credit score that absolutely covers an auto-renewing $96 annual or $9.99 month-to-month membership
- As much as $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits (as much as $50 semi-annually)
- As much as $120 for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: Both a $120 assertion credit score out there each 4 years after you apply for World Entry or an as much as $85 assertion credit score out there each 4½ years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck
- As much as $300 every calendar 12 months (as much as $75 quarterly) Lululemon assertion credit score for U.S. shops (excluding shops) and on-line
The Amex Platinum additionally gives 5 factors per greenback spent (or a ten% return primarily based on TPG’s valuations) on airfare booked straight with the airline, in addition to on airfare booked by means of American Specific Journey® (on as much as $500,000 per 12 months, 1 level per greenback spent thereafter). You may additionally earn 5 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go accommodations booked by means of Amex Journey (together with pay as you go Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings).
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That is the very best return you will get anyplace on shopping for airline tickets, based on our valuations.
Frequent vacationers will even recognize that the Platinum gives the most comprehensive lounge access of any card, together with a Priority Pass™ Select membership (enrollment required), Amex’s rising international assortment of Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta (restricted to 10 annual visits, limitless visits could be unlocked by spending $75,000 or extra in your card in a calendar 12 months ), Aspire, Escape and choose Lufthansa lounges. Enrollment could also be required; entry is proscribed to eligible cardmembers.
Rounding out the checklist of advantages are Gold elite standing with Hilton and Marriott and Leaders Membership Sterling standing (enrollment is required), entry to a premium concierge service, travel protections, car rental insurance*, baggage insurance** and a bunch of different lesser-known perks.
*Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Not all automobile sorts or leases are coated, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by means of American Specific Journey Associated Providers Firm, Inc.
**Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
Who ought to get the Amex Platinum?
People who find themselves over Chase’s 5/24 rule
When individuals come to me searching for starter card recommendations, I will nearly all the time recommend both the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) or the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees).
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are barely extra worthwhile than Amex Membership Rewards factors — TPG’s September 2025 valuations peg Final Rewards at 2.05 cents and Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents — and Chase’s “5/24 rule” offers me loads of purpose to suggest getting your Chase playing cards first.
Should you aren’t acquainted with this rule, it signifies that candidates who’ve opened 5 or extra playing cards within the final 24 months throughout all issuers will likely be routinely rejected for many Chase playing cards. This is the reason you must often prioritize Chase playing cards as you begin increase your pockets with our best rewards credit cards.
Nevertheless, after you max out your 5 Chase slots, what comes next? The Amex Platinum is an ideal reply, and it could possibly even assist you get extra worth out of your Chase factors.
The opposite advantages of the Amex Platinum can even complement a rewards technique that began with Chase. Not like the Platinum card, Chase playing cards do not supply Uber Money or as many choices for airport lounge entry.
Associated: 4 different flavors of Amex Platinum — which one is right for you?
Individuals who will use the lounge entry
Should you can absolutely use the assertion credit on the Amex Platinum annually, the out-of-pocket value for the cardboard goes down dramatically.
As an alternative of fascinated by this as an annual charge you pay to Amex for the privilege of spending cash on its hunk of metallic, give it some thought as an annual lounge membership charge.
As a reminder, the Amex Platinum comes with a Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), entry to Amex’s global Centurion Lounges and entry to Delta Sky Clubs (however solely when flying same-day Delta flights; restricted to 10 annual visits, except you spend $75,000 to unlock limitless visits). Lounge entry is proscribed to eligible cardmembers.
Amex at the moment operates Centurion lounges in more than twenty airports, making the cardboard much more price it should you stay in or steadily transit by means of a type of places.
Individuals who keep at Hilton, Marriott or choose luxurious accommodations
The Platinum Card supplies Gold elite standing with Hilton and Marriott to cardmembers, together with licensed customers (enrollment required).
If you do not have Gold standing or increased with these manufacturers by means of different bank cards or organically by means of stays, Gold standing with these manufacturers supplies helpful advantages, together with room upgrades, factors bonuses, and welcome presents.
You may additionally obtain Leaders Membership Sterling standing from Main Motels of the World, a group of luxurious impartial accommodations.
Should you like to remain at luxurious accommodations, you will even have entry to the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) program as an Amex Platinum cardholder or licensed person. Once you e book an FHR keep, you will get elitelike benefits, together with assured 4 p.m. late checkout, each day breakfast for 2 and a novel property amenity valued at $100 or extra.
Who should not get the Amex Platinum?
Folks below 5/24
Many individuals simply beginning within the factors world underestimate the stringency of Chase’s 5/24 rule. I keep in mind after I bought my first bank card, I could not think about opening 5 or extra playing cards in two years — but I ended up opening 17 in that timeframe. I estimate I lost well over $1,000 by not being eligible for an Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card throughout these early years.
Nevertheless, when you recover from 5/24, it might be arduous to get again below, and there is a huge alternative value in doing so. Having a plan and sticking to it can serve you effectively in the long run.
The data for the Ink Enterprise Most popular 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.
Individuals who e book airfare by means of on-line journey companies
The Platinum Card supplies 5 Membership Rewards factors per greenback spent on flights booked straight with airways or with American Specific Journey (on as much as $500,000 of spending every calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback spent).
Nevertheless, should you choose to buy airfare by means of on-line journey companies (OTAs) akin to Orbitz and Expedia, you will solely earn 1 level per greenback spent with the Platinum Card. Because of this, you will do higher with a card just like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees), which supplies bonus earnings on air travel purchases with OTAs.
Individuals who cannot maximize the Platinum’s assertion credit
One of many major arguments in favor of retaining the Amex Platinum long-term is that its varied assertion credit drastically scale back the out-of-pocket value you are actually paying.
If, for some purpose, you’ll be able to’t take full benefit of all of those assertion credit, the maths will get just a little stickier. Uber Money, for instance, can solely be used throughout the U.S., so expats like me principally waste it. Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
Perhaps you do not want an additional as much as $200 in airline credit every calendar 12 months — if in case you have elite standing and all of your journey is roofed by factors or your job, that extra cash could be wasted on you, particularly given the restrictions across the credit.
Fastidiously think about simply how a lot these credit are price to you; if they supply little to no worth, another Amex card could be a greater match.
Individuals who’d be higher off with the Amex Enterprise Platinum Card
A number of variations of the Platinum card exist, together with the non-public card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Largely, they share the identical perks and advantages, however small variations might lead you to pick one or the other.
For instance, the Enterprise Platinum additionally has an annual charge of $895 (see rates and fees), but it surely would not supply the identical as much as $200 Uber Money every calendar 12 months as the non-public model.
It provides one other bonus class, although — 2 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases in choose enterprise classes and eligible purchases of $5,000 or extra (on as much as $2 million of those purchases per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback).
The Enterprise Platinum additionally supplies as much as $1,150 in assertion credit per calendar 12 months for U.S. Dell purchases: as much as $150 every calendar 12 months and a further $1,000 assertion credit score after spending $5,000 on Dell purchases with the identical card every calendar 12 months (enrollment required).
It’s also possible to entry the Pay with Points redemption option on the Enterprise Platinum card, which will get you a 35% bonus for eligible flights along with your chosen airline utilizing your Amex factors (as much as 1 million factors again per calendar 12 months). That is notably not out there on the non-public Amex Platinum.
Backside line
The Amex Platinum Card from American Specific commonly makes the reduce as one in every of TPG’s best travel card suggestions due to the outsize worth it could possibly present, from the preliminary welcome supply to the continued luxurious perks it gives.
Nevertheless, even when a card is effective, it may not be your most suitable option. You need to think about how this software elements into your long-term plans, particularly because it pertains to different issuers. You even have to make sure you can maximize the advantages in your life, a minimum of sufficient to recoup the hefty annual charge.
The Amex Platinum can simply pay for itself by means of its worthwhile advantages and redemption choices, however provided that you are capable of simply and naturally use them.
To study extra, try our full review of the Amex Platinum.
Apply right here: The Platinum Card from American Express
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum Card, click on here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Enterprise Platinum Card, click on here.
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