The Platinum Card® from American Express: Benefits, Lounge Access & Rewards

Reviews The Platinum Card^® from American Express: Benefits, Lounge Access & Rewards

Milesopedia recommends this card from American Express

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

Up to 175,000 Membership Rewards Points

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express is one of the most iconic credit cards on the market — and for a good reason. It’s a powerhouse of a credit card, with a slew of travel benefits that can make your journeys more seamless and enjoyable.

For example, you can relax in various airport lounges before your flights and enjoy luxury hotel perks when you book with Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts. Plus, you have access to various hotel and rental car elite status for upgrades and perks.

But the card isn’t cheap. With a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), ensure you can fully utilize the benefits before applying. We’ll show you the ins and outs of the Amex Platinum to help you make an informed decision before you apply — let’s get started.

Amex Platinum welcome offer

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Unlock Unmatched Travel & Lifestyle Perks with The Platinum Card^® from American Express

5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through AmEx Travel, and on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® & The Hotel Collection^® stays
1X point on all other purchases
$200 airline fee credit (up to $200 per calendar year) for baggage fees, in‑flight refreshments and other incidental charges
$200 hotel credit (up to $200 per calendar year) for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection^® bookings
$240 digital entertainment credit ($20 per month) on eligible streaming services
$300 Equinox credit ($25 per month) for Equinox gym or app purchases
$189 CLEAR^® Plus credit (up to $189 per calendar year) for expedited airport security
$100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck^® credit every 4–4.5 years
Complimentary lounge access to The Centurion^® Network, Priority Pass™ Select, Delta Sky Clubs^® (when flying Delta) and more
$695 annual fee

Whether you’re jetting across continents or unwinding at a luxury resort, The Platinum Card^® delivers premium benefits that easily offset its fee—if you use them. Earn accelerated Membership Rewards^® points on travel, then redeem or transfer them to top airline and hotel partners. Enjoy exclusive credits, top‑tier lounge access and white‑glove concierge services, all managed seamlessly in the AmEx app. Terms apply.

Amex Platinum earning rates

As an Amex Platinum cardholder, you earn:

5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline or through AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per calendar year).
5 points per dollar on prepaid flights booked through Amex Travel.
1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Amex Platinum benefits

As mentioned, the Amex Platinum has no shortage of travel benefits, from airport lounge access to statement credits and travel protections. Here’s a look at everything that’s included with the card.

Key annual benefits

Hilton Gold and Marriott Gold status: Enjoy complimentary elite status so long as your Amex Platinum is open and in good standing.
Rental car status: Avis Preferred Plus, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive
International Airline Program: Access lower fares through Amex Travel.
No foreign transaction fees.

Statement credits

Airline fee credit: Up to $200 per year toward airline fees charged by one airline of your choice. This includes things like seat selection fees and checked bags.
Clear Plus: Up to $199 per year toward a Clear Plus membership.
Digital entertainment credit: Up to $20 per month toward Disney+, Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock and The Wall Street Journal subscriptions.
Hotel credit: Up to $200 per year toward Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts or Hotel Collection stays.
Saks Fifth Avenue: Up to two $50 statement credits (one Jan. through June, another July through Dec.) towards Saks purchases.
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry: Covers either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees.
Walmart+ membership: Up to $12.95 per month toward a Walmart+ membership.
Uber Cash: $15 per month in Uber Cash, with $20 awarded in December. This can be used for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders.

Airport lounge access

American Express Centurion: Unlimited access to Amex’s in-house lounge network.
Delta Sky Club: Up to 10 visits per year when accompanied by a same-day Delta ticket. Basic economy tickets are not eligible.
Escape Lounges: Unlimited access with a same-day boarding pass.
Lufthansa: Unlimited access when flying Lufthansa.
Plaza Premium: Unlimited access with a same-day boarding pass.
Priority Pass Select: Enroll in a free Priority Pass membership for unlimited access.

Travel and purchase protections

Baggage insurance plan: Be reimbursed for lost or stolen checked luggage when you pay for your transportation on a common carrier with your Amex Platinum. Limits apply.
Cell phone protection: Be reimbursed up to $800 to replace or repair your cell phone with a $50 deductible. You must pay your phone bill with your Amex Platinum to be eligible.
Extended warranty: Up to one year added to the manufacturer’s warranty on warranties of five years or less.
Purchase protection: Covers new purchases against damage and loss for the first 90 days from the date of purchase. Limits apply.
Return protection: If a seller won’t take a purchase back within 90 days, Amex may refund the full price up to $300 per claim and $1,000 per calendar year.
Rental car coverage: Secondary rental car damage insurance when you decline the rental car company’s damage waiver.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Be reimbursed for up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per 12 consecutive-month period for nonrefundable travel expenses when you book round-trip airfare with your Amex Platinum.
Trip delay insurance: Be reimbursed for up to $500 in expenses when delayed for more than six hours for a covered reason, up to two claims per year. You must book round-trip airfare with your Amex Platinum to be eligible.

Additional Perks

Global Dining Access: Get priority access to restaurant reservations through Resy.
The Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels & Resorts: Get exclusive perks at hotels worldwide when you book through Amex Travel.

American Express Membership Rewards

You can redeem Amex Membership Rewards points for:

Booking travel through Amex Travel.
Transfers to airline and hotel partners.
Redeem for gift cards, cover charges on your bill or shop at Amazon.

Transferring Amex Membership Rewards and sweet spots

You’ll often get the most value from your Amex points when you transfer them to travel partners. Here’s how to book flights with major US airlines using your Amex points and some of our favorite ways to redeem them.

For American Airlines flights:

British Airways Executive Club: Book American and Alaska Airlines flights starting at 12,000 Avios each way.
Etihad Guest: American flights start at 6,000 Eithad miles one-way in economy.

For United Airlines flights:

Air Canada Aeroplan: Book United flights starting at 6,000 points for flights under 500 miles. Longer flights cost more miles.
Avianca LifeMiles: United flights start at 6,500 miles.

For Delta Air Lines flights:

Air France-KLM Flying Blue: Awards are priced dynamically, but there are good deals to be found.
Delta SkyMiles: Also uses dynamic pricing, but awards sometimes start at under 5,000 SkyMiles.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: Flights are priced dynamically and start at 7,500 miles.

But that’s not all. Here are some of our favorite ways to use Membership Rewards by leveraging partner program sweet spots:

Air Canada Aeroplan stopovers: Add a stopover to intercontinental one-way tickets for just 5,000 points.
Air France-KLM Flying Blue for flights to Europe: Book transatlantic business class flights for as low as 50,000 miles in business class.
Iberia Plus to fly to Madrid: Off-peak flights from Boston (BOS), Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) and New York-JFK cost just 34,000 Avios in business class.
Hotel stays with Hilton: Amex points transfer to Hilton at a 1:2 ratio, meaning 10,000 Amex points are worth 20,000 Hilton points. You can leverage this to save big on hotel stays around the world.

Comparable cards to the Amex Platinum

Not sure if the Amex Platinum is right for you? Here’s how it compares to other premium travel credit cards.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Experience Luxury Travel with the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® Credit Card

100,000 bonus points + $500 travel credit after $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
8X points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠; 4X points on direct airline and hotel bookings
3X points on dining and eligible delivery services; 1X point on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit automatically applied to travel purchases
Complimentary lounge access with Priority Pass™ Select and Chase Sapphire Lounges for you +2 guests
Up to $300 in annual credits for dining at Exclusive Tables and stays with The Edit
$120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck^® credit every four years
No foreign transaction fees
$795 annual fee

From premium lounge retreats to robust trip protections—cancellation, interruption, auto rental and baggage insurance—this card lets you travel with confidence. Manage your account seamlessly in the Chase app, tap to pay with contactless security, and let automatic credits offset the annual fee for high‑value perks all year long.

Terms apply. See issuer for complete details and eligibility.

Capital One Venture X Rewards

Elevate Your Travel at a Value: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

10X miles on hotels & rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5X miles on flights & vacation rentals through Capital One Travel
2X miles on all other purchases
$395 annual fee, with up to $300 annual travel credit for portal bookings
10,000 anniversary bonus miles (worth $100) each year
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit up to $100 every four years
Unlimited lounge access at Capital One & Priority Pass lounges
No foreign transaction fees

Perfect for frequent explorers, this card’s robust benefits—from statement credits to lounge access—easily offset its annual fee. Book your next adventure, relax in premium lounges and enjoy seamless digital tools, all while earning unlimited rewards on every dollar spent.

Terms apply. See issuer’s website for rates, fees and complete details.

Is the Amex Platinum worth it?

Frequent travelers who want premium travel benefits are a good fit for this card. Just make sure you can maximize its lounge access benefits and statement credits before you apply.

Bottom line

This iconic travel credit card still offers industry-leading perks that can make a big difference in how you travel. Its airport lounge network is unmatched, and the flexibility of Membership Rewards means it’s easy to redeem your points for high-end travel experiences.

FAQs – The Platinum Card® from American Express

Is the Amex Platinum Card worth the annual fee?

If you can take advantage of the card’s lounge access, statement credits, and elite statuses, the $695 annual fee can be offset easily, especially for frequent travelers.

What travel benefits come with the Amex Platinum Card?

Key travel perks include access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, Fine Hotels & Resorts, and Gold status with Hilton and Marriott, along with a $200 airline fee credit and other travel protections.

What are the Amex Platinum Card’s earning rates?

Cardholders earn 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or via AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year), and 1x on other purchases.

What statement credits does the Amex Platinum offer?

The card includes up to $200 airline fee credit, $200 in hotel credits, $240 in digital entertainment credits, $189 Clear Plus, $100 Saks Fifth Avenue, Walmart+, Uber Cash, and more.

Does the Amex Platinum Card offer lounge access?

Yes. It includes access to Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (with limitations), Plaza Premium, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa lounges, and Priority Pass Select (upon enrollment).

Can I transfer Amex Membership Rewards to travel partners?

Yes. You can transfer points to 18 airline and 3 hotel partners, often at a 1:1 ratio. This is one of the best ways to maximize value from your Membership Rewards points.

What are the best ways to redeem Amex Membership Rewards?

Transfers to travel partners offer the best value. Sweet spots include business class to Europe via Flying Blue, domestic flights via Etihad or Aeroplan, and Hilton hotel stays.

Andrew Kunesh

Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs but now lives in Queens, New York. He’s a lifelong traveler and took his first solo trip to San Francisco at the age of 16. Fast forward a few years, and Andrew now travels just over 100,000 miles a year, with over 40 countries, 20 travel credit cards and 3 airline statuses under his belt. Andrew was formerly a Senior Editor at The Points Guy and CNN Underscored.

All posts by Andrew Kunesh