Amex Platinum Card Refresh: $895 Annual Fee, New Benefits (September 2025)

American Express has unveiled its most significant overhaul of the Platinum Card since 2021, increasing the annual fee from $695 to $895 while introducing several valuable new benefits. The refresh, which took effect on September 18, 2025, brings substantial enhancements to the card’s already extensive portfolio of credits and perks, potentially offering even more value despite the higher fee.

While the $200 fee increase might initially seem steep, the new benefits—including tripled hotel credits and substantial new dining, shopping, and lifestyle perks—could make this refresh a net positive for cardholders who can maximize these offerings. Let’s break down all the changes and assess whether the refreshed Platinum Card is worth the higher price tag.

Amex Platinum: Before and After Comparison

Here’s a comprehensive comparison of the Amex Platinum Card benefits before and after the September 2025 refresh:

Feature	Before (Pre-September 2025)	Now (Post-Refresh)
Annual Fee	$695	$895 (+$200)
Hotel Credit	$200 annually	$600 annually ($300 semi-annually)
Digital Entertainment Credit	$240 annually ($20/month)	$300 annually ($25/month)
Eligible Streaming Services	Disney+, Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal	All previous services plus Paramount+, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV
Resy Dining Credit	Not offered	$400 annually ($100/quarter)
Lululemon Credit	Not offered	$300 annually ($75/quarter)
Oura Ring Credit	Not offered	$200 annually
Uber One Credit	Not offered	$120 annually
CLEAR Plus Credit	$189	$209 (+$20)
Hotel Elite Status	Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold	Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Leaders Club Sterling
Uber Cash	$200 annually ($15/month + $20 in December)	Unchanged
Airline Fee Credit	$200 annually	Unchanged
Saks Fifth Avenue Credit	$100 annually ($50 semi-annually)	Unchanged
Equinox Credit	$300 annually	Unchanged
Walmart+ Credit	$155 annually	Unchanged
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck	Up to $100 every 4-4.5 years	Unchanged
Lounge Access	Centurion, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta), etc.	Unchanged
Points Earning	5X on flights (up to $500K/year) and prepaid hotels via Amex Travel; 1X on everything else	Unchanged
Card Design Options	Standard metal design	Standard metal, new mirror finish, or plastic
Total Annual Credits Value	~$1,584	~$3,084 (+$1,500)

As the table shows, the refresh adds approximately $1,500 in potential annual value through new and enhanced credits, significantly outweighing the $200 annual fee increase for cardholders who can maximize these benefits.

Annual Fee Increase and Implementation Timeline

The Platinum Card’s annual fee has increased from $695 to $895, representing a $200 (29%) jump. This makes it the most expensive mainstream premium credit card, surpassing the recently refreshed Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795).

The fee increase implementation follows this timeline:

New applicants: $895 annual fee applies immediately
Existing personal Platinum cardmembers: Higher fee applies at first renewal on or after January 2, 2026
Existing business Platinum cardmembers: Higher fee applies at first renewal on or after December 2, 2025

This creates a valuable opportunity for existing cardholders to enjoy all the new benefits immediately while still paying the lower annual fee until their next renewal date. For many, this means 12+ months of enhanced benefits at the old fee.

New and Enhanced Benefits

The refreshed Platinum Card introduces several new credits and enhances some existing ones. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown:

Hotel Credit: Increased from $200 to $600 Annually

The hotel credit has been substantially enhanced:

Before: Up to $200 annually for prepaid Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings
Now: Up to $600 annually, structured as $300 semi-annually (January-June and July-December)
Requirements: Still limited to prepaid bookings through Amex Travel for Fine Hotels & Resorts (minimum 1 night) or The Hotel Collection (minimum 2 nights)
Immediate availability: Existing cardholders can use the $300 credit for July-December 2025 immediately, even if they already used the previous $200 credit earlier this year

New $400 Resy Dining Credit

A completely new benefit leveraging Amex’s 2019 acquisition of Resy:

Amount: Up to $400 annually, structured as $100 per quarter
Eligible purchases: Dining at over 10,000 U.S. restaurants on the Resy platform
Usage flexibility: No reservation required through Resy—simply pay with your Platinum Card at any Resy-affiliated restaurant
Enrollment: Required

New $300 Lululemon Credit

A new shopping credit for the popular athletic apparel brand:

Amount: Up to $300 annually, structured as $75 per quarter
Eligible purchases: In-store or online at lululemon.com in the U.S. (excludes outlet locations)
Optimization tip: Can be stacked with Rakuten cashback and “We Made Too Much” sale sections
Enrollment: Required

Digital Entertainment Credit: Increased from $240 to $300

An enhancement to the existing streaming service credit:

Before: Up to $20 per month ($240 annually)
Now: Up to $25 per month ($300 annually)
New eligible services added: Paramount+, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV
Existing eligible services: Disney+, Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal
Enrollment: Required

New $200 Oura Ring Credit

A health and wellness credit for the popular smart ring:

Amount: Up to $200 annually
Eligible purchases: Oura Ring hardware purchased through ouraring.com
Note: Does not cover the Oura membership subscription
Enrollment: Required

New $120 Uber One Credit

A supplement to the existing Uber Cash benefit:

Amount: Up to $120 annually
Coverage: Auto-renewing Uber One membership ($9.99/month or $96/year)
Requirement: Must be charged to the Platinum Card
Note: This is separate from and in addition to the existing $200 annual Uber Cash benefit

New Hotel Elite Status: Leaders Club Sterling

A new hotel status benefit from The Leading Hotels of the World:

Status level: Leaders Club Sterling (normally requires $5,000 annual spending)
Key benefits: Five pre-arrival room upgrades per year, continental breakfast, early/late checkout when available
Additional perk: Sixt Platinum car rental status
Enrollment: Required

CLEAR Plus Credit: Increased from $189 to $209

A minor adjustment to match CLEAR’s recent price increase:

Before: Up to $189 annually
Now: Up to $209 annually
Requirement: Auto-renewal subscription charged to the Platinum Card

New Limited-Edition Mirror Card Design

Alongside the refresh, Amex has introduced a new limited-edition mirrored card design. Existing cardmembers can request this design by ordering a replacement card through their online account. Interestingly, Amex is also offering a plastic version of the Platinum Card again for those who prefer a lighter alternative to the metal card.

Unchanged Benefits

All existing Platinum Card benefits remain unchanged, including:

Lounge access: Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), Priority Pass Select, Plaza Premium, Escape, and more
Airline fee credit: Up to $200 annually with one selected airline
Saks Fifth Avenue credit: Up to $100 annually ($50 semi-annually)
Equinox credit: Up to $300 annually for gym memberships
Walmart+ membership: Up to $155 annually for subscription
Hotel status: Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite (enrollment required)
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: Up to $100 credit every 4-4.5 years

Earning Structure Remains the Same

There are no changes to the card’s rewards earning structure:

5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year)
5X points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
1X points on all other purchases

Maximizing the New Benefits

For existing cardholders, here’s a strategic approach to maximize value from the refreshed Platinum Card:

Enroll in all new benefits immediately through your Amex account
Use Q3 credits before September 30: $75 Lululemon credit and $100 Resy credit will expire at the end of this month
Plan two hotel stays: One using the $300 credit for the second half of 2025, even if you already used your $200 credit earlier this year
Update streaming subscriptions: Adjust your billing to take advantage of the increased $25/month entertainment credit
Sign up for Uber One: The $120 credit fully covers the $96 annual membership with some leftover
Activate Leaders Club Sterling status: First sign up for the free Leaders Club membership, then enroll for the Sterling tier

Is the Refreshed Platinum Card Worth It?

With the annual fee now at $895, the value proposition of the Platinum Card depends heavily on your ability to maximize its extensive credits and benefits. Here’s a breakdown of the potential annual value from the refreshed card:

Benefit	Annual Value	Ease of Use
Hotel Credit	$600	Medium (requires specific bookings)
Resy Dining Credit	$400	High (many eligible restaurants)
Digital Entertainment Credit	$300	High (popular streaming services)
Lululemon Credit	$300	Medium (quarterly use required)
Airline Fee Credit	$200	Medium (limited to one airline)
Uber Cash	$200	High (rides and Uber Eats)
Oura Ring Credit	$200	Low (one-time hardware purchase)
CLEAR Plus Credit	$209	High (for frequent travelers)
Uber One Credit	$120	High (subscription coverage)
Saks Fifth Avenue Credit	$100	Medium (semi-annual use)
Walmart+ Membership	$155	High (subscription coverage)
Equinox Credit	$300	Low (limited gym locations)
Total Potential Value	$3,084

The card makes sense for those who:

Travel frequently enough to use lounge access, hotel elite status, and expedited security benefits
Dine out regularly at restaurants that use the Resy platform
Shop at Lululemon or want an Oura Ring
Stay at luxury hotels at least twice per year
Can manage multiple credits with different redemption periods (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually)

However, the card may not be worth it if you:

Travel infrequently
Find it difficult to keep track of and maximize multiple credits
Are primarily looking for a card with strong earning rates on everyday spending
Cannot use the lifestyle credits (Lululemon, Equinox, etc.)

Bottom Line

The refreshed Amex Platinum Card has evolved further into a high-maintenance lifestyle card with an impressive array of credits and benefits. While the $895 annual fee represents a significant investment, the potential value from the new and enhanced benefits can far exceed this cost for cardholders who can maximize them.

For existing cardholders, the opportunity to enjoy all new benefits immediately while paying the higher annual fee only upon renewal creates an excellent window to test these perks and determine if the refreshed card aligns with your spending habits and lifestyle.

The most universally valuable new benefits appear to be the tripled hotel credit ($600) and the new Resy dining credit ($400), which together could easily justify the $200 annual fee increase for many users. However, the continued proliferation of credits with different redemption periods adds complexity that some cardholders may find burdensome.

Ultimately, the refreshed Platinum Card remains a premium product for those who value luxury travel perks and are willing to put in the effort to maximize its extensive benefits portfolio. For the right user, it can deliver exceptional value despite—or perhaps because of—its higher annual fee.

Compare

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

American Express American Express Membership Rewards

Annual fee: $895
Our valuation: $3,500Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$3,500Total$3,500Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer: 175,000 points

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I be charged the higher $895 annual fee if I’m an existing cardholder?

If you’re an existing personal Platinum Card member, you won’t be charged the higher $895 annual fee until your first renewal date on or after January 2, 2026. For Business Platinum cardholders, the higher fee applies at the first renewal on or after December 2, 2025. This means if your card renews in November 2025, you won’t see the $895 fee until November 2026, but you’ll get all the new benefits immediately.

Can I use the new $300 hotel credit for July-December 2025 if I already used my $200 hotel credit earlier this year?

Yes, you can. The new hotel credit structure gives you $300 semi-annually (January-June and July-December), replacing the previous $200 annual credit. Even if you already used your $200 credit earlier in 2025, you can still use the new $300 credit for the second half of 2025 immediately. This effectively gives existing cardholders $500 in hotel credits for 2025 ($200 from the old benefit plus $300 from the new semi-annual structure).

Do I need to make Resy reservations to use the new $100 quarterly dining credit?

No, you don’t need to make reservations through Resy to use the credit. You simply need to pay with your Platinum Card at any of the 10,000+ U.S. restaurants that use the Resy platform. The credit will automatically apply to eligible purchases, making it one of the more flexible and easy-to-use benefits in the refreshed card portfolio. Remember to enroll in this benefit through your Amex account before making purchases.

How do I get the new mirror-finish Platinum Card design?

Existing cardholders can request the new limited-edition mirror-finish Platinum Card by ordering a replacement card through their online Amex account. Navigate to the “Account Services” section and select “Replace a Card.” This will not change your card number or affect any automatic payments. Amex is also offering a plastic version of the Platinum Card again for those who prefer a lighter alternative to the metal card.

What is Leaders Club Sterling status and what benefits does it provide?

Leaders Club Sterling is the top tier of The Leading Hotels of the World’s loyalty program, normally requiring $5,000 in annual spending to qualify. Key benefits include five pre-arrival room upgrades per year (subject to availability), continental breakfast for two daily, early check-in and late check-out when available, and welcome amenities. To activate this benefit, you first need to sign up for the free Leaders Club membership and then enroll for Sterling status through your Amex benefits portal.

Has anything been removed or reduced with this Platinum Card refresh?

No, nothing has been removed or reduced with this refresh. All existing benefits remain intact, and several have been enhanced or added. The only negative change is the $200 increase in the annual fee, from $695 to $895. The earning structure also remains unchanged, with the card still earning 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 annually) and on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, and 1X points on all other purchases.