The Platinum Card® from American Express: Complete Guide
The Platinum Card® from American Express is renowned for its premium travel perks, luxury benefits, and exclusive access that caters to frequent travelers and those seeking elevated experiences. While the $695 annual fee might seem steep, Membership Rewards® points are valuable and the array of travel credits, lounge access, and elite statuses can provide significant value when utilized effectively.
The Platinum Card from American Express Contents:
Amex Platinum Application Tips
- Should you apply?
- Are you eligible?
- How to apply
- Reconsideration
- Annual Fee
Amex Platinum Perks
- Travel Benefits
- Travel Protections
- Purchase Protections
- Rideshare Benefits
- Perks for all Platinum cards
- Additional Consumer Platinum Perks
Amex Platinum Earn Points
- Welcome Offer
- Offer Spend
- Premium Membership Rewards
Amex Platinum Redeem Points
- Cash Back
- Travel
- Transfer Points
- Other Ways to Redeem Points
Amex Platinum Manage Points
- Combine Points Across Cards
- Share Points Across Cardholders
- How to Keep Points Alive
- Keep, Cancel, or Product Change?
Related Cards
- Membership Rewards Consumer Cards
- Membership Rewards Business Cards
An ultra-premium card loaded with benefits and perks, especially for the frequent traveler. Terms apply.
Amex Platinum Application Tips
Should you apply?
The Platinum Card® comes with a welcome offer that easily outweighs the cost of the annual fee in year one. If you’re able to hit the minimum spend and take advantage of some of the premium perks, it’s a no-brainer to grab the card and enjoy the benefits.
When the second year rolls around and that hefty annual fee comes due again, you should definitely evaluate whether you’d be getting enough value out of the perks of the card for another year to warrant keeping it open. You can always cancel or downgrade to a lower-tier card like the American Express® Gold Card or American Express® Green Card. Simple as that! Note that you won’t receive a welcome offer on a card through downgrading, so that’s something important to consider when deciding. (IMPORTANT: Doctor of Credit has reported that cancelling an Amex card within 12 months may lead to them clawing back your initial welcome offer! To avoid this, let the annual fee hit your statement. Then, you have 30 days to call in and cancel and the annual fee will be refunded.)
Amex has one of the safest application processes out there. With their new “As High As” offer structure for the Amex Platinum card, you can apply and know whether you are eligible for the card and its top offers without a hard inquiry on your credit report.
Are you eligible?
You’re only eligible for a welcome offer on the Platinum card if you’ve never earned a welcome offer on the Platinum card before nor held it, the Morgan Stanley Platinum, or the Schwab Platinum previously. You must also be eligible according to the rules outlined below.
NOTE: Due to the family rules below, if you are considering applying for both the American Express® Gold Card and the Amex Platinum, we advise applying for the Amex Gold card first and then the Amex Platinum.
General Application Rules for American Express
- “Once in a Lifetime” Rule: You can earn the offer on a card only once. Data suggests that Amex considers a “lifetime” to be 7 years. Note: If you opened the card previously but did not earn the offer, you’re still not eligible to earn the offer.
- Card Limits: Amex usually won’t approve applications for new credit cards if you already have 5 or more Amex credit cards or 10 or more Pay Over Time (charge) cards. Both personal and business cards count towards the respective 5 and 10 card limits.
- 1/5 Rule: You can get at most 1 credit card within every 5 days. This rule does not apply to Pay Over Time (charge) cards, which include the Amex Membership Rewards consumer and business cards (Green, Gold, and Platinum, Plum).
- 2/90 Rule: You can open a maximum of 2 Amex credit cards in a rolling 90 day period. This rule usually does not apply to Pay Over Time (charge) cards.
- Family Rule: In addition to the Lifetime Rule, Amex now applies additional “family” rules to several groups of consumer cards including the Amex Membership Rewards cards (Green, Gold, Platinum). This rule states that you can get the welcome offer on any of the Amex Membership Rewards cards if you’ve never had a more expensive card than the one you are applying for. So, for example, you’re eligible for a welcome offer on the Amex Platinum if you’ve had the American Express® Gold Card, but you’re not eligible for a welcome offer on the Amex Gold if you’ve previously had the Platinum. There is a “?” here because the terms of these rules include the phrase, “you may not be eligible.” So this may not be a rule that applies to every applicant. Our advice is — if you want to make sure to get the welcome offers on both cards, you could get the Gold first and then the Platinum eventually. The good news is that Amex will let you know if you are NOT eligible before running the application. Note: These rules don’t apply to business cards.
How to Apply
You can find out your welcome offer when you click on the link below. (Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.) Click here for our walkthrough guide on “As High As” Offers and how they work.
An ultra-premium card loaded with benefits and perks, especially for the frequent traveler. Terms apply.
Reconsideration
If your application is denied, you can call the reconsideration line to ask that your application be reconsidered: 877-239-3491 (application status); 800-567-1083 (to review application decision). We have a great article on Strategy for Denied or Pending Credit Card Applications here.
Annual Fee
Primary cardholder: $695 per year
Optional Authorized Users: $195 per year for Platinum authorized users. Platinum authorized users get lounge access and elite benefits.
Amex Platinum Perks
Access to high end perks is the reason to hold an Amex Platinum card.
Travel Benefits
- $200 Hotel Credit: Up to $200 back in statement credits per year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection, which requires a minimum two-night stay
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Up to $200 a year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline (enrollment required)
- Airport lounge benefits, including American Express Centurion® lounges (access available to eligible card members) and Priority Pass lounges
- Up to $120 fee reimbursement for Global Entry or up to $85 fee reimbursement for TSA PreCheck®
- Up to $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Up to $209 back per year on your CLEAR® Plus Credit membership when you use your card
- Rental car elite status
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors™ Gold status (enrollment required)
- No foreign transaction fees
Travel Protections
While points and perks get all the attention, the Platinum Card® from American Express also includes some valuable travel protections that can save the day when plans go sideways. Whether you’re facing delays, cancellations, or lost bags, these built-in benefits can add serious peace of mind—just be sure to use your Platinum Card to pay for your travel.
Here’s a quick look at the travel protections that come with the Platinum Card from Amex:
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance: If your trip is canceled or interrupted due to a covered reason—like illness, bad weather, or jury duty—you may be reimbursed up to $10,000 per trip (and up to $20,000 per 12-month period) for non-refundable travel expenses like flights, hotels, and tours.
- Trip Delay Insurance: If your flight is delayed more than 6 hours (or requires an overnight stay), you could be reimbursed up to $500 per covered trip for expenses like meals, lodging, and transportation.
- Baggage Insurance Plan: Lost, damaged, or stolen luggage? You’re covered. Get up to $2,000 for checked bags and $3,000 total for carry-on and checked combined per person, per trip.
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: When you decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver (CDW) and pay with your Platinum Card, you’re covered for damage or theft of eligible rental cars. Coverage is secondary in the U.S. and primary internationally.
- Premium Global Assist® Hotline: Traveling more than 100 miles from home? This 24/7 service can help with emergency coordination, medical referrals, legal assistance, and even emergency medical evacuation (costs may be covered in certain situations).
One thing to note: These protections only apply when the full cost of the trip or rental is paid with your Platinum Card. Be sure to read the terms and conditions or your card’s Guide to Benefits for all exclusions and requirements.
**Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations Apply. · Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. · Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
While the Platinum Card’s travel protections aren’t quite as extensive as some premium travel cards (like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®), they’re still solid—and far better than going it alone.
Purchase Protections
- Purchase Protection & Extended Warranty: Covers new purchases against damage or theft for 90 days (up to $10,000 per item, $50,000/year) and adds 1 extra year to eligible warranties of 5 years or less.
- Cell Phone Protection: Get up to $800 per claim (max 2 per year) for stolen or damaged phones when you pay your monthly bill with the Amex Platinum; $50 deductible applies.
- Extended Return Protection: If a merchant won’t accept a return within 90 days, Amex may refund up to $300 per item (max $1,000/year) on eligible purchases made with your card.
Rideshare Benefits
The Platinum Card offers up to $200 in annual Uber Cash, distributed as $15 each month plus an extra $20 in December (totaling $35 in Dec.). This credit can be used for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders within the U.S. To activate the benefit, simply add your Platinum Card to your Uber account. Credits don’t roll over, so any unused balance expires at the end of each month.
Perks for all Platinum cards
| Benefit | How to Access/Enroll | Available to Platinum Authorized users? |
|---|---|---|
| 5X points at amextravel.com: Earn 5X points for prepaid hotel and airline bookings at Amextravel.com | This benefit is automatic. | Yes. Points and bonus points are added to the primary card holder's account. |
| $200 airline fee credit: Amex will automatically reimburse up to $200 per calendar year for airline fees for your selected airline only. Eligible fees include: baggage fees, flight-change fees, in-flight food and beverage purchases, and airport lounge day passes. | Log in and go to Benefit page and click “Select a Qualifying Airline”. | No. Spend on authorized user cards does count, but only $200 per year will be reimbursed altogether. |
| Airport Lounge Access - Centurion Lounges, Airspace Lounges, Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges: Cardholder is allowed free in Centurion Lounges. In most cases guests will be charged $50 each. Cardholder plus two guests are allowed free in Escape, Airspace, and Plaza Premium Lounges. | No need to enroll. Simply show your Platinum card when visiting a Centurion Lounge. | Yes |
| Airport Lounge Access - Delta Sky Clubs®: Cardholder is allowed 10 Sky Club visit-days per year (unless cardmember has spent $75K in a calendar year). | No need to enroll. Simply show your Platinum card and same day boarding pass when visiting a Delta Sky Club. For eligible cardmembers only. | Yes |
| Airport Lounge Access - Priority Pass Select Lounges: Priority Pass Select member plus two guests are allowed free entrance. Unfortunately, this membership does not include Priority Pass restaurants. | You must sign up for Priority Pass Select. Go to benefit page and click “Enroll in Priority Pass”. You will receive a membership card by mail. Present Priority Pass card and boarding pass at lounge entrance. | Yes. Each authorized user must sign up for Priority Pass Select. |
| Airport Lounge Access - select Lufthansa Lounges | Free access to Lufthansa Business Lounges (with confirmed ticket) or to Senator Lounges (with Business Class ticket) in the satellite building of Terminal 2 at Munich Airport and in Terminal 1, Departure Area B, at Frankfurt Airport. Valid only when flying Lufthansa, SWISS or Austrian Airlines. | Yes |
| Cell Phone Protection: Max $800 per claim, $50 deductible. | No need to enroll. Pay your cell phone bill with your Platinum card. | Yes |
| CLEAR credit: Get up to $199 per year reimbursed for CLEAR subscriptions. | No need to enroll. Pay for CLEAR with your Platinum card. | No. Spend on authorized user cards does count, but only $199 per year will be reimbursed altogether. |
| Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® fee credit: Full reimbursement for signup fee once every 5 years, per card. Note: signup for Global Entry since that includes TSA Pre. | Sign up for Global Entry and pay with your Platinum card. Reimbursement should happen automatically. | Yes. Pay with the authorized user card in order to get reimbursed. Terms state “Additional Cards on eligible Consumer and Business accounts are also eligible for the $120 statement credit”. |
| Emergency Medical Transportation Assistance | Call the Premium Global Assist Hotline: 1-800-333-Amex (toll free), or 1-715-343-7977 (direct-dial collect) | Yes |
| Hilton Honors™ Gold Status: Hilton Gold members receive free breakfast, room upgrades when available, and other perks at Hilton hotels. | Go to benefit page, find the Hilton Honors Gold benefit, and click “Enroll Now”. | Yes. Authorized users may have to call Amex to enroll. |
| Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Status: Marriott Gold members receive a points welcome gift with each stay, room upgrades when available, 2pm late checkout, and other perks. | Go to benefit page, find the Marriott Gold benefit, and click “Enroll in Marriott Gold”. | Yes. Authorized users may have to call Amex to enroll. |
| International Airline Program: Save money when booking premium cabin international flights originating in the US or Canada. | Book your flight on amextravel.com. Make sure to log into your Amex account to see flight discounts. | Yes |
| Fine Hotels & Resorts®: Book high-end hotels through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and get: room upgrade, daily breakfast for 2, 4pm late checkout, noon check-in, free wifi, and unique property amenity. Also: Earn 5X Membership Rewards for prepaid bookings. | Browse to www.americanexpressfhr.com and log into your Platinum account. | Yes |
| National Car Rental Executive status: Book midsize cars and select any car from the Executive Aisle for no extra charge. | Enrollment required. | Yes |
| Hertz Rental Car Privileges: President's Circle Status, discounts, plus four hour grace period for rental car returns. | Enrollment required. | Yes |
| Avis Preferred status: Priority service at the counter | Enrollment required. | Yes |
| Cruise Benefits: Pay for your cruise with your Platinum card and receive $100 to $300 per stateroom shipboard credit plus additional amenities unique to each cruise line | Enrollment required. | Yes |
| ShopRunner: Free shipping at a number of merchants. | Enrollment required. | Yes |
Additional Consumer Platinum Perks
| Benefit | How to Access/Enroll | Available to Platinum Authorized users? |
|---|---|---|
| $200 in Uber / Uber Eats Credits: Amex will reimburse $15 per month ($35 in December) for Uber charges. You will also get Uber VIP status. | Add your Platinum card number to your Uber account as a payment method. You do not have to pay with the Platinum card in order to get this benefit. Important: when requesting a ride, select Uber Cash for payment in order to use your credits. | No. Authorized user cards do not receive their own $200 in Uber credits or VIP status. |
| $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back per calendar year towards prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings | No need to enroll. Book through Amex Travel and pay with your Platinum card. Hotel Collection bookings require a minimum two-night stay. | No. Spend on Authorized user cards does count, but only $200 per year will be reimbursed altogether. |
| $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Up to $20 per month rebate for select digital entertainment services (Disney+, a Disney+ Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal) | Enrollment required. Enroll in any of the listed services and pay with your Platinum card. | No. Spend on Authorized user cards does count, but only $20 per month will be reimbursed altogether. |
| $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue Credits: Up to $50 in credits each year from January through June; and another $50 July through December. | Enrollment required. Pay with your consumer Platinum card at Saks Fifth Avenue online or at locations in the US and US Territories. | No. Spend on Authorized user cards does count, but only $50 per 6 months will be reimbursed altogether. |
| Free Walmart+ Subscription: Get back the full cost, including taxes, for a Walmart+ monthly subscription. | No need to enroll. Use your Platinum card to pay for a monthly Walmart+ subscription. | No. You can use an Authorized user card to pay, but you won't get more than one credit per month. |
| $300 Equinox Credit: Get $300 back per year in statement credits for a digital or club membership at Equinox. There is a yearly option for Equinox+ (the app) membership that is $300 annually. | Enrollment required. Use your Platinum card to pay for a digital or club membership at Equinox. | No. Spend on Authorized user cards does count, but only $300 will be reimbursed altogether. |
| $300 SoulCycle Rebate: Charge the full price of a SoulCycle at-home bike and get $300 back in statement credits. | Must join Equinox first (see above). | Sort of: Each Platinum account can get $300 back on each of 15 bikes purchased per year. |
| 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines. With business cards you must book through Amex Travel to get 5X. | Automatic benefit | Yes. Points and bonus points are added to the primary card holder's account. |
Amex Platinum Earn Points
Welcome Offer
This card earns super-valuable Membership Rewards points.
An ultra-premium card loaded with benefits and perks, especially for the frequent traveler. Terms apply.
Welcome Offer Spend
All cardholders:
- 5x points for flights booked with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 per year
- 5x points for prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
Premium Membership Rewards
As a Platinum Card member, you earn Membership Rewards points, which are versatile and valuable for various redemptions, especially travel. See our Amex Membership Rewards Guide for more details.
Amex Platinum Redeem Points
Redeem Points
In general, Membership Rewards points are worth up to 1 cent each when redeemed for travel in the American Express Travel portal, merchandise, or gift cards. Note that redeeming for merchandise or gift cards is not recommended as it usually offers poor value. Fortunately, there is a way to get more value out of your points: transfer the points to over 20 airline and hotel partners.
Cash Back
Redeem points for statement credits or gift cards, though this typically offers less value compared to travel redemptions.
Note: This article was inspired by Frequent Miler – any content used with permission.
