The precise number of perks offered by the Amex Platinum card changes, but currently, there are around 4 dozen features and benefits. To help avoid the almost inevitable event of missing out on any of them, today’s article focuses on activating and using each of the top Amex Platinum card features and benefits.

We’ll also include links to more detailed articles about each perk.

Here’s how to activate and use the Amex Platinum card’s top features and benefits.

Getting Started

Before accessing any benefits, the first step when receiving your card is to activate it. You can do this by calling the number on the back of the card or visiting americanexpress.com/confirmcard.

Once completed, the card is immediately ready for use. It’s important to note the card approval date to ensure you meet the minimum spending requirements within the required period to qualify for the generous welcome offer.

Now we’re ready to browse the exciting card offerings, enroll in or register for them, and learn more about how each benefit works.

Accessing the Enrollment Center

Some features and benefits of the Amex Platinum card require enrollment before they are activated. Others are activated by simply making a required purchase.

Starting with the perks that require enrollment can be the most efficient plan of attack. You don’t want to miss out on any perk for failure to enroll or opt-in.

The easiest — and fastest — way to be sure you’re enrolled for all the features and benefits is to access the Enrollment section of your online card account.

Log in to your card account and under Rewards & Benefits, select Benefits. Scrolling down, click on the dropdown box of the Enroll section.

Here you can conveniently find the perks requiring enrollment all in the same place.

Once in the Enroll section, you can sign up for all the key benefits and spend a moment reading the details for each one.

Here’s a breakdown of the items requiring enrollment and how they might be utilized.

How To Enroll and Use Benefits

Enrolling in Amex Platinum card benefits is easy. Once you’re in the Enroll section, you’ll always start by clicking on the Learn More icon. Next, read about the benefit and complete the required action.

Here’s how to activate each offer and some information about each one.

American Express Global Lounge Collection

The Amex Platinum card lounge access benefit is superior to any other credit card. Once enrolled, you’ll have access to over 1,400 properties worldwide. To access most lounges, you can use your Amex Platinum card and a same-day boarding pass.

You’ll need a Priority Pass membership card to access Priority Pass and affiliated lounges. In the Enroll section, click on the Learn More icon, then Enroll Now. Once enrolled, you’ll receive a Priority Pass Select membership number. You can then download the Priority Pass app (iOS, Android) and use a digital version of the card for lounge access. A physical card will also be mailed to you within approximately 10 days.

Here is a list of the lounge networks you can access with the Amex Platinum card and your Priority Pass Select membership card.

• Amex Centurion Lounges (worldwide access)
• Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta same-day)
• Priority Pass Select
• Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner
• Plaza Premium Lounges
• Lufthansa Lounges (when flying Lufthansa same-day)
• Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges
• Select Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses

Access to many lounges also includes 2 guests. Guest access to the Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Club requires spending $75,000 on your card within a calendar year. Fortunately, there’s a tracker in your online card account.

Digital Entertainment Credit

You can receive up to $240 in statement credits for select digital entertainment purchases. These included Hulu, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN, The New York Times, Peacock TV, and The Wall Street Journal.

A maximum monthly statement credit of $20 will be applied to qualifying digital entertainment purchases made with your card.

Enroll in the benefit after clicking on Learn More, then add your Amex Platinum card as the payment method in your qualifying digital entertainment account.

One important element of the enrollment section is that the provided tracker shows how much credit has been used each month:

For example, you can see that my monthly ad-free Hulu subscription of $17.99 resulted in a statement credit of $18.

Airline Fee Credit

Before receiving airline fee statement credits, you must select a qualifying airline. Once again, click on the Learn More icon and complete the selection. After choosing your airline, wait a day or 2 before purchasing to ensure the selection is active.

While the credit is meant to reimburse you for airline incidental fees such as checked bags and inflight refreshments, other purchases are known to trigger the credit.

An example would be the United Travel Bank, one reason I selected United Airlines as my qualifying airline.

For more tips on utilizing the Amex Platinum card’s airline fee credit, our article on the topic can help.

Uber Cash

You won’t want to miss the $15 in Uber Cash added to your account each month and VIP recognition. Plus, in December, you’ll receive a bonus of $20, for a total of $35. That’s $200 in Uber Cash each year.

Once clicking on the Learn More icon, then Enroll, you’ll want to add the Amex Platinum card as the payment option in your Uber account.

You can then make the required purchase using the Uber Cash in your account. Any amount charged more than your Uber Cash balance will be charged to your card.

Uber Cash can be used for Uber rides and Uber Eats in the U.S.

Here’s more information on maximizing the Uber Cash credit on the Amex Platinum card.

Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status

While the Amex Platinum card comes with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status, it doesn’t happen automatically. To receive these benefits, you must enroll in the benefit with your hotel loyalty program membership number.

Click on the Learn More icon and type in your loyalty program number for Hilton Honors (for example), then repeat the process for Marriott Bonvoy.

Learn more about Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status and the related benefits in our informative article.

$200 Prepaid Hotel Credit

While enrollment is not required, booking via AmexTravel.com is a prerequisite to receiving the $200 prepaid hotel stay credit.

When you book at least a 1-night stay with Fine Hotels + Resorts, or a 2-night stay with The Hotel Collection, you’ll receive $200 in statement credits shortly after charging the prepaid stay to your card.

The benefits beyond the $200 are many and include on-site perks valued at more than $600. You’ll also be earning 5x Membership Rewards points.

ShopRunner

Enroll in the ShopRunner benefit to receive free 2-day shipping, complimentary returns, plus deals from over 100 select retailers.

Enroll in ShopRunner by clicking on the link and registering with your card.

Saks Fifth Avenue Credit

Shopping at Saks is more fun when you receive up to $50 in statement credits for your purchase. The credit is available once from January through June, and again from July through December. That’s up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year.

To enroll, click on the Enroll Now icon under the Shop Saks with Platinum section, then use your Amex Platinum card for your purchase.

Here are some great ideas for using your credit at Saks.

CLEAR Plus Membership Credit

CLEAR Plus membership can speed up your airport security experience. While you do not need to enroll your card specifically, to receive the statement credit, you can enroll in CLEAR and pay your application fee (or renewal fee) with your Amex Platinum card. A link is provided in the Enroll section to sign up for a CLEAR Plus membership.

Once you’ve used your credit, it will show on the tracker in your card account.

Monthly Walmart+ Membership Credit

The Amex Platinum card comes with a monthly Walmart+ membership credit of $12.95 plus the applicable taxes.

To receive the Walmart+ membership credit, you must first enroll in a Walmart+ membership. You’ll then add your Amex Platinum card as payment to that account. Click the Get Started button to be taken to the Walmart+ enrollment page.

The key benefits of Walmart+ membership are free delivery with a minimum purchase of $35, free shipping (no minimum order), 10 cents per gallon fuel savings, and a complimentary Paramount+ subscription.

Equinox and SoulCycle Credit

Use your Amex Platinum card to purchase an Equinox+ digital subscription or Equinox Club membership and receive up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Or, buy a SoulCycle At-home bike with your card and receive a credit of up to $300.

Here’s more information on how to maximize the Equinox credit.

Activity Tracker

Under the Benefits tab in your online card account, you’ll find the activity tracker for all the benefits that have requirements or provide a statement credit. You’ll be able to view the status of all the credits and your progress toward any spending requirements.

Accessing this section periodically will ensure you don’t miss out on any monthly perks or spending deadlines.

Additional Benefits

Here are additional Amex Platinum card benefits you’ll want to consider, some of which have requirements before use.

• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Fee Reimbursement — Use your card to pay your application or renewal fee and receive reimbursement as a statement credit, up to $100.
• Cell Phone Protection — Pay your monthly wireless bill with your card and receive coverage for damage or theft, up to $800 per claim. There is a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period and a $50 deductible per claim. Terms apply.
• Premium Car Rental Protection — For 1 low price covering the entire rental period you’ll receive premium primary car rental protection. Enroll your card before renting to activate coverage effective whenever you use your card for a rental.
• Global Dining Access by Resy — Receive exclusive reservations, priority for open tables, and access to special experiences. Download the app and add your Amex Platinum card as the payment option.
• Amex Offers — Log into your online card account and select from up to 100 offers with merchants and service providers. Add the offer to your card and complete the required purchase to earn additional rewards or receive statement credits.
• Auto Purchasing Program — Shop with one of the certified dealers and receive upfront pricing for a new or used car. You may be able to charge up to $2,000 (or more) on your Amex Platinum card when purchasing a new vehicle.

Final Thoughts

The number of Amex Platinum card benefits may seem daunting.

However, with the Enroll section and trackers within your online card account, you can manage the perks and ensure you’re on track to receive the most value possible. Plus, maximizing these benefits can help offset the card’s annual fee of (rates & fees).

It’s also worth the time to read the requirements and descriptions of each benefit so you don’t miss out.

This article provides further information for a comprehensive overview of Amex Platinum card benefits.

For the cell phone protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. 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.

I want to share a bit about how I determine how much value I get from the Amex Platinum card — and what I have learned in the process.

Let’s jump into some Amex Platinum card details, then I’ll share my favorite perk on the card (it’s not what you think it would be) and how I evaluate a card’s value.

Amex Platinum Card Benefits

If you ask Amex Platinum cardholders what their favorite perk on the card would be, you’ll hear answers like Centurion Lounge access, a prepaid hotel credit of up to $200, a CLEAR Plus credit of up to $189, or excellent travel insurance coverage. While I enjoy all of those things, those aren’t the reason I keep the Amex Platinum card in my wallet.

The Amex Platinum card is popular for good reason. It has an extensive list of perks and benefits that can offer more value than the cost of the annual fee.

Evaluating the Amex Platinum Card’s Value

However, even if a card is overflowing with benefits, it’s smart to evaluate each benefit’s value for you.

To do this, I keep a detailed spreadsheet of the value I get out of each high annual fee card I have to ensure it makes sense to keep them long-term. Over the years, the value I calculated for the Amex Platinum card has been pretty close to the annual fee cost, making it hard to decide whether or not to keep it. I use low valuations in my calculations to ensure that I am looking at a card’s value realistically.

For example, I value some benefits, like the Saks Fifth Avenue credit and the airline incidental fee credit at about 50% to 75% of their total value, because I wouldn’t prepay full price for those things. I assign no value to things like the Walmart+ credit and the Equinox credit because I don’t use them at all. Keep in mind that some benefits might require enrollment.

For lounge access, I usually input a small dollar amount into my spreadsheet value column (~$5 to $10) since I often have more than 1 option from various credit cards.

Pay Attention to the Card Benefits You Value the Most

My home airport, John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH), got its first lounge in 2022. When The Escape Lounge at CMH opened, I knew the value proposition of the Amex Platinum card would change for me.

The only way to access Escape Lounges, outside of buying an overpriced day pass, is by holding the Amex Platinum card or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

I value lounge access quite a bit when I am traveling because a quiet area with free food and drinks can turn a stressful travel day into an enjoyable journey.

Of course, the Amex Platinum card is known for offering access to Centurion Lounges, and that’s the lounge network most would cite as one of their favorite benefits of the Amex Platinum card. I get it — Centurion Lounges, while a bit overcrowded, are fantastic. However, more often than not, there are other lounges I can access instead of Centurion Lounges. On top of that, complimentary guest access was taken away in February of 2023, so I can’t bring my husband and daughter into the lounge. That dulled the lure of Centurion Lounges quite a bit for me.

On the other hand, Escape Lounges are usually found in smaller airports that often don’t have another lounge option. Since that’s the case at my home airport, Escape Lounge access is the most valuable perk on the Amex Platinum card for me, despite Centurion Lounges being much nicer than Escape Lounges.

While my Amex Platinum card only technically saves me the $5 to $10 I would have spent on a cup of coffee and perhaps something to eat at Starbucks, the value I get is much more than $5 or $10.

What I realized is that sometimes the value you can get from a credit card doesn’t just come down to dollars and cents. Sometimes, the value you get is higher than the dollar amount saved by holding that card.

For me, enjoying some coffee and maybe a snack in a quiet lounge before every flight from my home airport makes each travel day more enjoyable — and that’s something that will keep me paying the Amex Platinum card annual fee each year.

Final Thoughts

I’ve had a hot/cold relationship with the Amex Platinum card for years. Sure, it usually has an excellent welcome bonus offer and includes some top-notch perks, but the high annual fee has always made me wonder whether it should be in my wallet long-term. However, that changed when my home airport got an Escape Lounge (its only lounge), and my Amex Platinum card was what I needed to access it.

What I learned is that you need to look at what cards to keep long-term in a very personal way, which can sometimes mean ignoring the dollars and cents or what others deem valuable. Yes, it’s smart to evaluate the annual fees you pay each year, but sometimes, a card’s value doesn’t fully come across on a spreadsheet.

Today’s card comparison features 2 cards that earn rewards differently, serve dissimilar goals at redemption time, and also vary widely in the benefits offered.

The Platinum Card® from American Express and Apple Card, while very different products, do serve to illustrate the importance of selecting a card that most closely fits your objectives. Our comparison also illustrates that, in some cases, 2 cards may be better than 1.

Here’s how the cards compare.

Amex Platinum Card vs. Apple Card — Overview

Before we review the features and benefits of the Amex Platinum card and Apple Card, a quick snapshot of how the cards compare overall can be helpful.

Here’s how the cards compare side-by-side:

The Value of a Welcome Offer

Most rewards cards offer the opportunity to earn a welcome bonus by meeting minimum spending requirements in the period immediately following card approval.

The Amex Platinum card comes with a generous welcome offer that can be worth hundreds, even thousands, of dollars when redeemed for travel. The Apple Card does not come with a welcome offer.

Here are the most recent snapshots of the 2 cards that include any current welcome offers available:

Earning Potential

A rewards-earning card adds the most value when its bonus-earning categories match your highest purchases. The Amex Platinum card and Apple Card each earn bonus rewards in different categories.

The Amex Platinum card earns flexible Membership Rewards points, while the Apple Card earns cash-back in the form of Daily Cash rewards. We’ll discuss your options for redeeming rewards, up next.

First, let’s look at how you’ll earn rewards on each of our featured cards:

Amex Platinum Card

The Amex Platinum card shines with earnings on flight purchases directly with the airlines or via AmexTravel.com. Prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com also receive bonus earnings. Other than those purchases, the card will earn 1x points.

Apple Card

The Apple Card earns well on anything Apple and with partner merchants including Uber/Uber Eats, Nike, Panera, T-Mobile, Walgreens, ACE Hardware, Exxon/Mobil, and more. If you need to purchase with a merchant that doesn’t accept Apple Pay, you’ll receive just 1% back in Apple Cash by using your physical Apple Card.

Redemption Options

When it’s time to redeem the rewards you’ve earned, it’s important to receive goods or services for which you find value. Both the Amex Platinum card and Apple Card deliver good value — just in different ways.

Here are the options you’ll have at redemption time for Membership Rewards points earned on the Amex Platinum card and the Daily Cash earned on the Apple Card.

Amex Platinum Card

Membership Rewards points earned on the Amex Platinum card are better suited, and most valuable, for travel redemptions. We value Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents each, having the best potential value when transferring to airline or hotel partners.

For example, you could transfer Membership Reward points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and book Air France or KLM for an off-peak business class flight to Europe for just 48,000 miles.

Apple Card

Apple Cash Daily Cash rewards, earned from purchases made on the Apple Card, work just like cash. Plus, the rewards show up quickly in your account — hence the term “daily” cash.

You can transfer Daily Cash into your Apple Cash wallet, redeem it for a statement credit, for Apple products/services, for person-to-person transfers from Apple Cash, or transfer to a bank account.

Perhaps you’re looking for a new MacBook. You could transfer Daily Cash rewards to Apple Cash and apply that amount to your purchase. The Apple Card also allows you to finance any remaining balance with no interest! Terms apply.

Travel Protections and Benefits

Travel protections are complimentary benefits that can provide economic relief should something happen during your travels.

To save money on select travel-related purchases or to make your travel more comfortable, you’ll want to take advantage of any travel benefits that come with a card.

The Amex Platinum card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees (rates & fees), and neither does the Apple Card, which makes these 2 cards great travel companions.

While the Apple Card does not come with any additional travel protections or benefits, the Amex Platinum card comes with several more.

Amex Platinum Card

Here is a list of travel protections and benefits you’ll find on the Amex Platinum card:

• Secondary car rental insurance with access to Premium Protection
• Trip cancellation, trip interruption, and trip delay insurance
• Baggage insurance
• Premium Global Assist helpline that includes emergency transportation and evacuation coverage
• Worldwide lounge access to over 1,400 lounge properties
• $200 airline incidentals fee reimbursement
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement
• Annual CLEAR Plus fee reimbursement
• Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy hotel program Gold Elite status (enrollment required)
• $200 annual prepaid hotel statement credit
• Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection elite-style benefits
• Hertz Presidents Circle, National Executive, and Avis Preferred Plus status and benefits (enrollment required)
• Up to $200 Uber Cash per calendar year, $15 monthly from January to November and $35 in December. Add the card to your Uber account. Uber Cash can be used for Uber rides and Uber Eats in the U.S.
• Platinum Concierge Services can assist with travel arrangements, dining reservations, event tickets, shopping, and more.

Please note that we have abbreviated benefit descriptions and not included all of the applicable terms and conditions that may apply. The card’s Guide to Benefits will be the source for full information.

For more details on each of the travel insurance benefits on the Amex Platinum card, this article goes in-depth.

Shopping Protections and Benefits

Shopping protections can provide economic relief if something should go wrong with an eligible purchase you made with your card.

You may be able to save money on specific purchases when you utilize a card’s shopping benefits.

Here are the shopping protections and benefits you’ll find on the Apple Card and the Amex Platinum card:

Amex Platinum Card

• Purchase protection, extended warranty, return protection
• Cell phone protection, up to $800 per claim, 2 claims per 12-month period, $50 deductible per claim
• Up to $100 annually in Saks Fifth Avenue statement credits; up to $50 January through June, up to $50 July through December (enrollment required)
• Up to $240 each year in digital entertainment credits (up to $20 monthly, enrollment required)
• Up to $300 Equinox credit (enrollment required)
• Up to $155 Walmart+ credit
• Amex Offers

Apple Card

• Interest-Free Financing for Select Apple Products — If you want the latest iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, or Macbook, you can upgrade and pay for those products interest-free with this benefit.

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

The cost of being a card member is an important consideration. Fees can add up and erode the value of earning rewards. For this reason, it’s important to consider fees when selecting a card.

The Amex Platinum card charges a fee of . Authorized Amex Platinum card users can be added for a fee of $195 each. Additional basic Gold card users can be added without a fee.

Authorized users, when added to the Amex Platinum card, receive several benefits, including worldwide lounge access. Added Gold card members do not. Purchases made by all authorized users help the primary cardholder earn rewards faster.

The Apple Card does not charge an annual fee, nor does it charge a fee to share your Apple Card account with additional users.

Final Thoughts

If you’re not an Apple product user or live in an area with merchants that accept Apple Pay, the Apple Card is not for you. Additionally, the Apple Card will not be a match if you’re looking for a travel rewards card. If you have an Apple device, purchase Apple products/services, and like to have the newest Apple devices, the card could be an appropriate choice.

The Amex Platinum card is arguably the best premium travel rewards card. With a generous welcome offer, unmatched worldwide lounge access, cell phone protection, travel insurance benefits, and flexible redemption options, the card delivers a lot of value. If you can use these benefits, the higher annual fee could be offset by thousands of dollars worth of potential value.

If you’re an avid traveler and an Apple enthusiast, you might consider both cards.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, 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.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, 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.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the premium global assist hotline benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, you can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Plus, we may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by premium global assist hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For the purchase protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the extended warranty benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the return protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the cell phone protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. 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.

The Amex Platinum card comes with a fantastic welcome offer, great bonuses on travel purchases, and offers some of the best purchase and travel protections of any card in the market. The Amex Platinum card also earns American Express Membership Rewards points, which we consider to be among the most valuable points currencies available.

However, with all the premium benefits comes an exorbitant annual fee of (rates & fees). While that may be hard to stomach for many, the card does come with numerous statement credits that help offset the hefty annual fee.

Let’s take a look at the many benefits and occasional drawbacks of the Amex Platinum card and some of the best cards to pair with it to maximize your rewards.

Amex Platinum Card Snapshot

Benefits of the Amex Platinum card

Once considered the premium travel card, The Amex Platinum card offers tons of top-notch benefits and lifestyle perks that its competitors don’t. Although the card has undergone significant changes over the years, it is still considered one of the best travel cards available.

As for earning rewards, the Amex Platinum card earns 5x Membership Rewards points for flights booked directly with airlines or with AmexTravel.com — up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year (then 1x). If you purchase a lot of airfare, it may be worth carrying the Amex Platinum card for that reason alone. It also earns 5x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com.

For those looking for exclusive experiences when traveling, the Amex Platinum card has the most comprehensive airport lounge access out of any card and also offers hotel and rental car elite status (upon enrollment).

Lastly, the Amex Platinum card also includes purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty, along with car rental loss and damage insurance and trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

All these benefits of the Amex Platinum card come at a cost: that substantial annual fee. However, to help offset the annual fee, the Amex Platinum card comes with plenty of credits (with enrollment), including credits for prepaid hotels, digital entertainment, Walmart+, airline fees, Uber Cash, Equinox, CLEAR Plus, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Where the Amex Platinum Card Is Weakest

When it comes to card options, no one card has everything to offer and that includes the Amex Platinum card. Although the Amex Platinum card offers a ton of value, the card is not all that great for everyday spending.

The Amex Platinum card severely lacks bonus categories. The card earns a low 1x points on many everyday spending categories, including restaurants, supermarkets, and gas.

If you spend a lot on airfare, it may be worth having the Amex Platinum card in your wallet. However, if airfare is not where you spend the most money, the card becomes a lot less useful, as it earns 1x on nearly everything else.

This is reason enough to carry another card in your wallet.

The 3 Best Personal Cards To Pair With the Amex Platinum Card

When it comes to pairing credit cards, you want to maximize the rewards you earn. This is best done by having a credit card that has higher rewards earning potential for specific categories. When you know what your largest spending categories are, it becomes quite easier to determine which cards to pair.

Let’s say you spend a lot on airfare and going out to eat with your friends and family. Many cards may offer higher earnings potential for one of those categories but not for the other. When it comes to this situation, carrying 2 different credit cards can help you maximize your spending.

Now that we’ve covered the numerous benefits of the Amex Platinum card and where the card is weakest, let’s take a look at some of the best cards you can pair with the Amex Platinum card to maximize your spending.

American Express^® Gold Card

When it comes to the best cards for everyday spending, arguably no card is more valuable than the Amex Gold card. This card consistently ranks as one of Upgraded Points’ top rewards cards.

When it comes to earning valuable Membership Rewards points, no card even comes close to some common spending categories.

With the Amex Gold card, you can earn 4x points at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., on up to $50,000 per calendar year (1x thereafter), and U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases (1x thereafter). This elevated earnings potential is fantastic, as both restaurants and supermarkets are common spending categories.

The Amex Gold card does have a annual fee (rates & fees). However, the card comes with a few different statement credits each year that effectively offset its annual fee. These include:

• Up to $120 in Annual Dining Credits: These are broken into monthly statement credits of up to $10 when you use your Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys (enrollment required).
• Up to $120 in Annual Uber Cash: This is issued as $10 monthly credits in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Amex Gold card to your Uber account.
• Up to $100 in Annual Resy Credits: This is distributed as $50 semi-annually, and redeemable at any U.S. Resy restaurant and other eligible Resy purchases.
• Up to $84 in Annual Dunkin’ Credits: This benefit is distributed as $7 per month and is redeemable at Dunkin’ locations.
• A $100 experience credit with a 2-night minimum stay when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com. The experience credit varies by property.

Why This Card Pairs Well With the Amex Platinum Card

Unlike the Amex Platinum card, the Amex Gold card serves as both a travel rewards card and an everyday spending card. The higher earning rates on certain day-to-day spending categories make this card a no-brainer.

Carrying both the Amex Platinum card and the Amex Gold card is a great way to earn American Express Membership Rewards points by maximizing your spend. According to our valuations, Amex Membership Rewards are the most valuable points available from a card loyalty program.

For travel purchases, you could use the Amex Platinum card to earn 5x points for all flights purchased directly with an airline or AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year, then 1x) and for all prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com.

You could then use the Amex Gold card to earn 4x points at restaurants for up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1x), and 4x points at U.S. supermarkets for up to $25,000 per calendar year (then 1x). It is worth noting that the Amex Gold card has no foreign transaction fees and you will still earn 4x points when spending at restaurants abroad (rates & fees).

Pairing these 2 cards together is a great way to maximize your earning potential.

American Express^® Green Card

If the Amex Gold card’s annual fee seems too high to add to the Amex Platinum card’s annual fee, there is another option, especially for those who eat out but also commute often.

The Amex Green card is a great all-around Membership Rewards-earning card that offers great earning potential. The Amex Green card earns 3x points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), on all eligible travel purchases, and on transit purchases.

Travel purchases include airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals. Transit purchases include trains, taxicabs, ride-share services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.

The Amex Green card also comes with credits that help offset its annual fee. These credits include:

• Up to $189 CLEAR Plus Credit: You receive up to $189 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for a CLEAR Plus membership.
• Up to $100 LoungeBuddy Credit: You can receive up to $100 in statement credits annually for lounge access purchases.

Why This Card Pairs Well With the Amex Platinum Card

The Amex Green card is another great card to pair with the Amex Platinum Card, thanks to its higher earning potential on some common spending categories. Although the Amex Platinum card is a more premium card, the Amex Green card has a very broad definition of travel. Per American Express, travel includes airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, and more.

While we would recommend using the Amex Platinum card for booking flights directly with an airline or through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Green card could be used to cover everything else in the travel category, including car rentals and non-prepaid hotels. If you plan on doing a lot of your travel bookings outside of AmexTravel.com, you’re better off spending on a card like the Amex Green card.

The Amex Green card is especially great for those who prefer booking hotels directly, whether for elite benefits or hotel spending requirements for status, as the card earns 3x points compared to the Amex Platinum card’s earning of just 1x points on hotels (hotels that are not prepaid and booked through AmexTravel.com).

If you eat out a lot, the Amex Green card would also be worth carrying, as it earns 3x points at restaurants worldwide, compared to just 1x points on the Amex Platinum card.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Although the Amex Platinum card generally pairs best with other Membership Rewards-earning cards, let’s also take a look at a great card offered by a competing issuer. Since the Amex Platinum card is not a good option as an everyday credit card, you should ideally pair it with something better for everyday spending.

The Capital One Venture card is a popular option for an all-around card. With the Capital One Venture card, you can earn an unlimited 2x miles on every purchase. This makes it a simple option for earning a bit more on everyday spending. You can also earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. This provides an alternative to AmexTravel.com when it comes to booking hotels.

In addition, the Capital One Venture card also features other benefits, including purchase protection and insurance, including rental cars and travel insurance. The card also comes with a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application credit of up to $100 every 4 years.

Similar to Amex Membership Rewards, when you earn Capital One miles, you have access to Capital One’s airline and hotel partners. The Capital One Venture card has an annual fee of (rates & fees) and does not charge any foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).

Why This Card Pairs Well With the Amex Platinum Card

Unlike the Amex Platinum card, the Capital One Venture card is an excellent card for everyday spending for a low annual fee.

With this combination, you could use the Amex Platinum card for all flights and prepaid hotels with AmexTravel.com and then use the Capital One Venture card for all other purchases. You could also use the Capital One Venture card for hotels booked through Capital One Travel, as you would also earn 5x miles. It would be best to compare rates between the 2 travel portals.

Although you wouldn’t be earning American Express Membership Rewards points with it, carrying the Capital One Venture card in your wallet allows you to earn Capital One miles. Better yet, both American Express and Capital One have common transfer partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan and British Airways Executive Club. This allows you to pool points together, earning them more quickly for award travel.

The Best Business Card To Pair With the Amex Platinum Card

Now that we have looked at some of the best personal cards to pair with the Amex Platinum card, we thought it would be worth mentioning a business credit card for small business owners.

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

The Amex Blue Business Plus card is arguably the single best card for small business owners looking for a simplified earning structure for business spending.

The card earns 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases up to $50,000 per year. After you reach that threshold, the card earns 1x points. The 2x points are a great way to earn Membership Rewards points on spending that generally does not have any bonus.

In addition to the simplified earnings, the Amex Blue Business Plus card also offers other perks. For example, the Amex Blue Business Plus card allows you to add employee cards for no additional fee (rates & fees), which is a welcome addition for businesses with multiple employees.

The Amex Blue Business Plus card also comes with purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and car rental insurance.

The card provides all this value with a annual fee (rates & fees).

Why This Card Pairs Well With the Amex Platinum Card

The Amex Blue Business Plus card pairs nicely with the Amex Platinum card for 1 main reason. Although the card does not offer any bonus categories, the 2x Membership Rewards points earned on everyday purchases are already better than what the Amex Platinum card offers in many everyday spending categories.

To make the most of this combination, you could use the Amex Platinum card for all your airfare purchases directly with the airline or through AmexTravel.com and all prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com to earn 5x points.

You could then use the Amex Blue Business Plus card for all other business expenses to earn 2x points. With this combination of cards, you earn at least 2x Membership Rewards points for all your business spending, up to $50,000 per year.

It is worth noting that the Amex Blue Business Plus card charges foreign transaction fees (rates & fees). For purchases abroad, the Amex Platinum card is a better choice.

Card Comparison

Comparing Cards by Bonus Category Earnings

Now that we have looked at some cards to pair with the Amex Platinum card, let’s review the earning rates on common spending categories and see which card is best to use.

Comparing Cards by Welcome Offer and Annual Fee

One of the best reasons to apply for a new credit card is a generous welcome bonus, as you can earn thousands of extra points and miles by meeting a minimum spending requirement.

Now that we have covered what cards are best for everyday spending categories, let’s also take a look at the current welcome offers and annual fees for each card discussed in this article.

Final Thoughts

Pairing the right cards is the best way to speed up your rewards-earning potential by maximizing a specific card for a specific bonus category. Because credit cards offer different benefits and earning potential, it makes sense to carry more than 1 card.

No single credit card is best for everyone, and that includes an ultra-premium card like the Amex Platinum card. Although it has so much to offer in terms of luxury travel perks and lifestyle benefits, the card is severely lacking in everyday spending categories.

Pairing the Amex Platinum card with any of the cards mentioned in this article is a great way to maximize your travel rewards. It’s important to know what your highest spending categories are, as that simplifies deciding which card to pair with your current card.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

For the purchase protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the return protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the extended warranty benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, 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.

For the purchase protection benefit of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the extended warranty benefit of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Maximizing all of the benefits of this card is essential when it comes to offsetting the annual fee, and it does take a little organization. Evaluating card membership each year is always a solid idea, so I’m about to ask the big question: Should I keep my Amex Platinum card?

Follow along to see my card analysis and find out the answer.

A Must: Annual Credit Card Evaluations

Keeping or canceling a credit card is a largely personal decision. This is why understanding how others utilize perks and reap card benefits may make it easier to assess your unique personal and financial situation. Plus, many credit cards on the market are also getting refreshes, and it may not make sense to keep a card that offers a specific perk if other cards you possess also offer that same perk (or the offered benefits don’t fit your lifestyle).

Even though the cards in my wallet renew at different times of the year, I prefer to do an annual evaluation each December, with a general spending plan and idea of what cards I’ll keep, cancel, and apply for in the coming year. As 2023 ends, I encourage you to do similar evaluations of each and every card in your wallet so you have a solid spend and credit card plan in place for 2024.

Amex Platinum Card Overview

My Amex Platinum Card Evaluation

Read on to understand more about the Amex Platinum card benefits I find the most and least useful, how I maximize the card’s points currency (American Express Membership Rewards), some important things to consider when deciding to keep the card, and my final decision on whether I’m keeping, canceling, or downgrading the card.

My Credit Card Situation

Follow along as I analyze my own personal situation before digging into keeping Amex Platinum card.

Location

Since I live in Spain, I don’t benefit from certain card perks useful to many U.S.-based cardholders, such as the card’s monthly Uber Cash credits or the Walmart+ credit. Although I’m in the U.S. once or twice yearly, those benefits aren’t worthwhile for me.

Membership Length

I originally signed up for the Amex Platinum card about 5 years ago, and I’ve been a cardmember ever since. Amex lured me in with a hefty welcome bonus offer, the flexibility to transfer points to many partners, and the hotel elite status for both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors upon enrollment.

Several years ago, fewer cards offered lounge access as a perk (the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card didn’t exist yet), and the annual fee was slightly more reasonable.

Since Amex raised the annual fee in 2021, I’ve taken an even closer look each year to confirm I’m still gaining enough value from the Amex Platinum card to keep it. I’ve also called each year to see if there were any retention offers available, and have either managed to get a reduced annual fee or a points bonus each year, which has enticed me to stick with the card despite its sky-high annual cost.

Upcoming Spend in 2024

I bought an apartment in Spain this year, which I’ve entirely gutted. Very few cards offer bonus points for purchases like furniture, construction costs, or decoration, especially at home improvement or home goods stores outside of the U.S.

I put some of this renovation spend on a new card I applied for in 2023, The World of Hyatt Credit Card. I may use Amex Platinum card at big box home stores or shops like Zara Home and IKEA, just to name a few, for other home purchases. Christmas shopping is another expense; I’ll do most of that at department stores, toy stores, and clothing stores.

Besides that timely cost, I often order from Uber Eats/food delivery services, spend at restaurants, and purchase travel — especially on hotels not part of points programs or flights when I don’t pay with points. Because I live in Europe, my airfare spending isn’t quite as cut-and-dried as a flyer in the U.S. loyal to a particular U.S.-based airline. Although I often fly with Iberia, British Airways, or Qatar Airways as a Oneworld flyer, I also end up on airlines like Air Europa, Lufthansa, TAP, and Air France, as well as more obscure or low-cost airlines like Vueling, Binter Canarias, Transavia, easyJet, or Ryanair.

I don’t love that the Amex Platinum card doesn’t have much in the way of bonus categories relevant to my lifestyle, so I’ll carefully consider whether the lack of bonus categories can outweigh the card’s perks during my evaluation.

My Credit Score

I checked my credit score to make sure it wouldn’t be too affected if I were to cancel this card. Luckily, I have a very good credit/excellent score, which makes the possibility of canceling a card and the impending ding on my credit score, albeit temporary, less stressful.

Cards in My Wallet

Evaluating cards means comparing them to other cards — this is what I have in my wallet today:

• Amex Platinum card
• Capital One Venture X card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express® Card
• World of Hyatt card

My husband, a Spanish citizen, also has two main cards he uses: the Iberia Plus Icon Visa that earns Iberia Avios, where he can earn Iberia Silver status (Oneworld Ruby) for meeting a spend threshold of €9,000 ($9,500) annually, and a Tarjeta Gold American Express (the American Express® Gold Card in Spain, but with different benefits than the U.S. version), where points also transfer to Iberia. I’m an authorized user of both, but they’re only for Spanish citizens and residents.

The Amex Platinum Card Benefits I Value the Most

These are some of the top reasons to keep an Amex Platinum card — the benefits I value and use most often. I’ll weigh them primarily against the annual fee to see if keeping the Amex Platinum card is worth it next year.

Up to $200 Prepaid Hotel Credit and Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts

The Amex Platinum card offers a $200 prepaid hotel statement credit for Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection (these require a 2-night stay) bookings.

The benefits of American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts are much more robust than those of The Hotel Collection. When you book a FHR property, expect perks like:

• Room upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability)
• Daily breakfast for 2 people
• Noon check-in (subject to availability)
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• A unique property amenity valued at $100 (spa or food and beverage credit)

While the credit is only $200 (and these hotels can often have expensive nightly rates), when you consider the additional advantages of booking a Fine Hotels + Resorts property, which apply even on just a 1-night stay, you can get an immense amount of value out of it, especially if you’re able to get a room upgrade. As someone who also takes a lot of red-eye flights, I also highly value the guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout, which allows me to enjoy the room as long as possible before heading to the airport.

Up to $200 Airline Credit

Cardholders can charge any airline incidental fees to the Amex Platinum card and receive up to $200 in airline incidental statement credits per calendar year (on 1 qualifying airline, which you must enroll in and select within your cardholder profile).

While I only fly U.S. airlines selectively since I’m based in Europe, I find this benefit enormously helpful, especially since I’m not sure I’ll be able to maintain AAdvantage elite status for 2024. If I can’t swing it, I’ll need to pay for my family of 3 to check bags during a trip I have planned around the U.S. next summer. I may also use it to buy day passes to certain lounges like the American Airlines Admirals Club.

You can also use the credit for change fees, inflight amenities fees, seat selection fees, and phone booking fees.

Up to $240 Digital Entertainment Credit

Get up to $20 in digital entertainment statement credits each month when you use your Amex Platinum card for eligible purchases on Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal, upon enrollment.

As an avid NYT reader who’s subscribed for years and has a toddler who’s just starting to enjoy Disney+, I can fully take advantage of this yearly credit. Additionally, I would make these purchases even if this credit didn’t exist, making it even more valuable. Although I think it would be nice if the credit included more options (especially when it comes to streaming, like Netflix or HBO), I still think it’s a valuable benefit.

I love that Amex makes it easy to keep track of using your credits, so you don’t forget to use them. To see your annual breakout, navigate to your Rewards and Benefits tab, then scroll down to Track Your Progress, and click Show All:

Up to $100 Saks Credit

Upon enrollment, get 2 credits of up to $50 each year for shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue. I actually love this credit because, as a working mom, I often forget to shop for myself as I’m always buying items for my kid. When I realize I need to use the credit, I can sit down and decide what I’d like to spend it on, allowing me to shop for myself.

While many things at Saks are high-priced, the store has excellent sales, and I love putting the credit towards a larger purchase. In past years, I’ve used it for some UGG slippers, swimsuits, and a S’Well water bottle, and I’ve got my eye on some earrings for my remaining 2023 credit.

Global Lounge Collection

Cardmembers get access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes more than 1,400 airport lounges in 140 countries worldwide. Lounges include the Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Club, Lufthansa Lounge, Plaza Premium Lounge, and Priority Pass Select (upon enrollment).

While I value Priority Pass Select membership as my home airport (Madrid Barajas, MAD) and other airports in Spain and around Europe have some comfortable lounges that are part of this program, I get access via other credit cards in my wallet. However, as there are Centurion Lounges in U.S. cities I frequently travel through, I think this is a useful benefit.

Unfortunately, it’s true that Centurion Lounges no longer allow cardholders to bring in guests for free (yet are still often overcrowded). Still, I enjoy taking advantage of these lounges when I’m traveling solo — the food is usually fresh and delicious, and the spaces are modern and comfortable for resting or working.

5x Points on Airfare Booked Directly Through Airlines

Cardholders can earn 5x points on airfare purchased directly through the airline, up to $500,000 per year (then 1x points).

The Amex Platinum card doesn’t offer many bonus categories, but I find the 5x points on airfare booked directly through airlines an easy way to bulk up on points when paying for plane tickets in cash. I often use the card to pay for cash tickets I purchase on airlines like Iberia or even quick flights around Europe on Ryanair.

Easy Transfer to High-Value Transfer Partners

Amex Platinum cardmembers can transfer Membership Rewards points to 20+ airline and hotel partners. While the card doesn’t partner with Hyatt, one of my preferred loyalty programs, it does offer transfers to Marriott and Iberia, two partners I frequently utilize.

Even better? Amex often offers 20% or 30% transfer bonuses when transferring to these particular partners and others. While Upgraded Points values Amex Membership Rewards points at about 2.2 cents per point, I’m able to consistently gain more value from them, mainly due to transferring these points to Iberia Avios during the 30% bonus periods and redeeming them on off-peak dates for business class or economy class travel.

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status

You can get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status if you have the Amex Platinum card (upon enrollment), which includes benefits such as:

• 25% more points on hotel stays and incidentals
• Priority late checkout at 2 p.m.
• Enhanced room upgrades
• Welcome gift of points
• Free Wi-Fi

Although I also get this benefit through my Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card, I think I’ll get rid of that particular card this year as I’m slowly moving away from Marriott and more toward Hyatt. However, if I stick with the Amex Platinum card, I’ll still benefit from the status. While Gold Elite status doesn’t always offer excessive benefits, I tend to find value in this status, as a few of my favorite hotels in Europe happen to be part of Marriott.

While I’m not the biggest fan of the Sheraton brand in the U.S., one of my most preferred hotels in Spain is the Sheraton Fuerteventura Beach, Golf & Spa Resort, a beachfront property in the Canary Islands where the staff tends to treat Gold Elite members very well. It was designed by Melvin Villaroel, the same architect as the Ritz-Carlton Abama in Tenerife (another of my favorite Marriott properties in Spain). The hotels have a similar style and feel, but the Sheraton boasts a more affordable price point in both points and cash.

Hilton Honors Gold Elite Status

The Amex Platinum card offers all its cardmembers complimentary Hilton Honors Gold elite status (upon enrollment). Hilton Gold elite status includes perks such as:

• Discounted rates
• 80% bonus points earned on stays
• Space-available room upgrades
• Daily food and beverage credit or continental breakfast (varies by brand and region)

Before COVID-19, I frequented Hilton properties more often, but now, they seem to have increased quite a bit in price (both cash and points). That said, I still find that Gold status offers value, especially regarding the food and beverage credit or breakfast, and I hope to utilize this benefit more in 2024 and onward if I hang onto the card.

Travel and Purchase Protections

The Amex Platinum card offers a slew of travel and purchase protections, insurance, and benefits. Here are some of them:

• Car rental loss and damage insurance
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty
• Return protection
• Baggage insurance plan
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance

While I haven’t needed to use these protections (and I hope I won’t need to), having them offers me additional peace of mind, especially when it comes to travel. I also find the purchase, warranty, and return protection useful, as this type of coverage doesn’t come with just any card.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

The Amex Platinum card has no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees). Living abroad, I don’t have any cards with foreign transaction fees — I only have cards I can use everywhere.

Amex Offers

Amex Platinum cardholders can access statement credits and discounts called Amex Offers (upon enrollment). I find Amex Offers valuable, especially ones valid for online purchases for subscriptions like Kindle Unlimited or Dropbox. While they don’t save me endless amounts of money, I think the small returns I get from them are worthwhile, so I frequently check these offers and attempt to use them whenever possible.

Global Entry and PreCheck Credit

Amex Platinum card members get 1 application fee credit for Global Entry (every 4 years) or TSA PreCheck (every 4.5 years).

While I have a few other cards that offer this perk, I enjoy utilizing it to get Global Entry memberships for friends and family. I used this credit a few years ago to get Global Entry for my best friend, and I look forward to being able to renew her membership in another year or 2, assuming I stick with the card.

The Amex Platinum Card Benefits I Value the Least

Living abroad, there are a few benefits that I can’t utilize. While most readers probably live in the U.S., it’s still important to carefully examine which benefits you don’t value or know you won’t use when doing card analysis.

Car Rental Privileges: Avis, Hertz, National

Amex Platinum cardholders get complimentary premium status for car rental programs and additional benefits and discounts with Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, and National Car Rental Emerald Club (upon enrollment).

I live in Madrid and don’t drive frequently. When I do, I usually rent with local European car companies. If I need to rent a car while on vacation, my partner, who drives more often, is part of Hertz’s top-tier President Circle, so I don’t utilize this benefit at all.

Other Bonus Categories

Besides earning 5x points on airline purchases bought directly from airlines or through AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year), Amex Platinum cardholders also get:

• 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
• 1x points on all other purchases

I cannot get as much value out of these categories. I usually purchase clothing, accessories, and furniture using my Amex Platinum card, mainly thanks to the purchase protection and the fact that most other cards don’t offer bonuses on those services. I try to split these purchases between this particular card and my Capital One Venture X card, which gives me 2x Capital One miles on all eligible purchases.

However, I don’t get as much value out of Capital One’s travel partners. Hyatt isn’t a partner, nor is Iberia (although British Airways is, and there are transfer options between the 2 Oneworld carrier loyalty programs), so I have to think carefully about which points currency gives me the most bang for my buck when shopping.

I also only make purchases using AmexTravel.com if it’s through the Fine Hotels + Resorts program, as I prefer to book most airfare and hotels directly.

Platinum Travel Service

Amex Platinum card’s travel consultants specialize in providing custom itineraries and tailored recommendations.

Travel writing is my job, and as an avid organizer, I thrive on booking my own trips, getting recommendations from friends and family, discovering local restaurants and cultural activities, and getting off the beaten path when I travel. While these travel consultants may be able to help me further, it’s not something I see myself using anytime soon, as I find way too much joy in doing it all myself.

Up to $200 Uber Cash

Amex Platinum cardmembers receive $15 in Uber Cash to use on eligible orders with Uber Eats and rides with Uber in the U.S. every month, plus a bonus of $20 in December (upon enrollment). You’ll also become an Uber VIP (where available) without meeting minimum ride requirements, and be matched with top-rated drivers.

The fact that I can’t take advantage of this benefit makes me a little salty. I wish Amex would remove the “only in the U.S.” clause. If so, I could take advantage of $200 worth of additional credits each year, as I frequently ride with Uber and order from Uber Eats — but not within the U.S.

Extraneous Statement Credits (Equinox, CLEAR Plus, Walmart+, SoulCycle)

Amex Platinum cardholders have additional opportunities for statement credits (upon enrollment):

• $12.95 monthly statement credit monthly for a Walmart+ membership
• Up to $300 statement credit for a SoulCycle at-home bike
• Up to $300 in statement credits each year on a digital subscription or club membership at Equinox
• $189 CLEAR Plus credit

While I technically could sign up for a digital Equinox subscription or consider joining CLEAR, I don’t feel like I need either one — I also have a local gym membership and an annual subscription to Glo.com, as well as Global Entry and TSA PreCheck.

Cell Phone Protection

When you use your Amex Platinum card to pay your cell phone bill, you’ll be reimbursed for replacing or repairing your damaged or stolen phone (a maximum of $800 per claim with a limit of 2 claims in a 12-month period).

Since I’m unable to pay for my Spain cell phone with my Amex Platinum card, I can’t use this benefit, though I would find it a very valuable benefit if I were able to.

Limitations of Using American Express Abroad

While it seems like I can use my Amex Platinum card in Spain and the rest of Europe at more and more businesses each year, the main grocery store I shop at (Mercadona) and several smaller businesses I frequent don’t accept American Express cards.

This is limiting. Even if you don’t live outside of the U.S., frequent travelers will likely face this issue when traveling abroad — while Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, Amex is not. I’ve had local vendors tell me it’s simply too expensive on their end to accept American Express cards, which is frustrating for myself — and other cardholders, I’m sure.

Should I Cancel My Amex Platinum Card or Keep It?

There are many good reasons to keep this card and also several reasons another card may better serve me. But in the end, I can offset the annual fee by just using the card’s main statement credits, so I’ll probably keep the Amex Platinum card in my wallet for at least 1 more year.

I’ll be honest — although I’ve offset the annual fee and will still obtain value from the card by transferring Membership Rewards points to Iberia, I don’t think I’ll be able to earn lots and lots of points using this card as it’s not as widely accepted in Spain. I get better category bonuses on things like dining and most travel (besides direct airline ticket purchases) on other cards, so I won’t be putting too much spend on the card. However, I can use it at IKEA for home purchases and for upcoming Christmas shopping at local and online department stores.

The deciding factor in my decision to keep the card will probably be a retention offer.

The Deciding Factor: Retention Offers

As my renewal date approaches, I’ll call American Express to see if any retention offers are available. In the past, I’ve been offered a statement credit for a portion of the annual fee and additional points, which I’d prefer.

Depending on what they offer, I’ll make my final choice — but right now, I’m leaning toward keeping the card, especially if I’m offered additional points to stick with the card for another year.

How To Evaluate Your Credit Cards Annually

I highly recommend annual evaluations of every card you have in your wallet. While you can do this sporadically as the renewal dates approach, I prefer to look at the bigger picture and evaluate all my cards at once to consider overlapping benefits and ensure my credit and financial situation are squared away as I enter each new year.

Canceling a card can be detrimental to your credit score — at least temporarily. In order to avoid these dings, consider a downgrade to a no-annual-fee card. By doing so, your credit score won’t be affected, and you won’t have to stick with a credit card you don’t use that incurs a hefty annual fee. Don’t forget to look into what happens to any rewards you may have accrued with the card.

Follow these steps when conducting your evaluation:

1. Take out all of your credit cards and decide which ones to start evaluating.
2. Note exactly what you plan to spend money on in the next year — things like big purchases, a new baby or pet, a wedding, a home renovation, college or childcare, or even a family vacation. If you plan to take out a loan or mortgage, keeping your score in the excellent or good range is key, so it may not be the right moment for card cancellations.
3. Think about the advantages and disadvantages of each card, taking the annual fees into consideration.
4. Compare your chosen card to the other cards you hold to see if you have any overlapping benefits.
5. Note all renewals in your calendar. If you have a renewal coming up, call the issuer and ask for a retention offer.
6. The final decision looms: It’s time to decide whether to keep, cancel, or downgrade your credit card.

How To Downgrade Your Amex Platinum Card

If you’ve decided to cancel your Amex Platinum card, you might want to opt to downgrade the card instead, as canceling a credit card can have negative implications for your credit score. In contrast, if you decide to downgrade, there shouldn’t be any change to your credit score.

We suggest downgrading your card to either the Amex Gold card or American Express^® Green Card. However, we recommend keeping your Amex Platinum card for at least 12 months before downgrading.

Call the number on the back of your card to downgrade, cancel, or see if there’s an available retention offer. You can also downgrade via the chat in your online Amex account.

If you decide to cancel the card, we recommend transferring your Membership Reward points beforehand so you don’t lose them.

Which Card Should You Get If You Cancel Your Amex Platinum Card?

If you’ve decided that the Amex Platinum card’s hefty renewal fee isn’t worth it and want to cancel it, we get it. But you may want to get another card instead.

Card Comparisons: See How the Amex Platinum Card Measures Up Against Its Competitors

We’ve done the heavy lifting comparing the Amex Platinum card to several other popular cards so you don’t have to:

• Amex Platinum card vs. Amex Gold card
• Amex Platinum card vs. Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express
• Amex Platinum card vs. The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express
• Amex Platinum card vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Amex Platinum card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card
• Amex Platinum card vs. Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card
• Amex Platinum card vs. Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card
• Amex Platinum card vs. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card
• The Best Credit Card Combinations

If you currently own the Amex Gold card but are interested in the Amex Platinum card, we recommend you take a look at this Amex Platinum card upgrade offer.

Should You Keep Both the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card and the Amex Platinum Card?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the Amex Platinum card are 2 of the most premium cards out there. But should you keep both? Is one better than the other?

The answer largely depends on your personal, travel, and financial situation. But these 2 articles can help — and don’t forget to do those annual card evaluations.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve card vs. Amex Platinum card
• Should I Keep or Cancel My Chase Sapphire Reserve? The $550 Question

Final Thoughts

This year, I’m fairly certain I’ll be hanging on to my Amex Platinum card, as I can easily offset the annual fee by maximizing statement credits and will definitely benefit from Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status. However, a retention offer would likely solidify my decision, whether that be an annual fee reduction or additional bonus points.

I’ll continue evaluating each year to see if I find this card worth its high annual fee and if it’s still a fit for my lifestyle and financial situation. For now, though, I’ll happily enjoy this card’s benefits as I head over to Saks.com to finish my holiday shopping and then book a Fine Hotels + Resorts property for an upcoming trip to Dublin.

For the cell phone protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, 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.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the purchase protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the extended warranty benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the return protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, 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.

For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, 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.

Elite status in a hotel loyalty program expands the list of benefits even further but normally requires staying frequently at a specific hotel brand.

Fortunately, you can secure complimentary hotel program elite status with The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

Both cards come with complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status.

Today we’re going to focus on Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and what you can expect with this card benefit.

Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card Overview

How Does the Amex Platinum Card Marriott Elite Status Benefit Work?

When you hold either the Amex Platinum card or the Amex Business Platinum card, you can receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.

Having Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status comes with several benefits:

• 25% More Bonus Points — Gold Elite members receive 25% more points for staying at Marriott properties than base members.
• Complimentary Enhanced Wi-Fi — You will not be charged for fast Wi-Fi.
• A Welcome Gift of Points — The number of welcome points varies by brand, but you will receive between 250 and 500 points.
• Enhanced Room Upgrades — When available, you’ll receive an upgraded room with a better view, higher floor, or larger space.
• Late Checkout — Request a checkout as late as 2 p.m. and, when available, enjoy those additional hours in your room.

Both primary and additional Amex Platinum card and Amex Business Platinum card authorized users are also eligible for the elite status benefit.

You will need to register each card to receive the benefit, whether for the primary cardholder or authorized user.

To earn Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, you would normally need to stay 25 nights in a calendar year.

How To Activate the Benefit

You will not receive the Marriott Bonvoy elite status benefit automatically. You must enroll via your online card account.

Log in to your online Amex card account and select Benefits under the Rewards and Benefits section. Scroll down the page until you see the Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status benefit section, as shown below. Click on Enroll Now.

Once you’ve added your Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program number and enrolled, you can expect to see the status reflected in your account within 3 to 5 days. If, after 10 days, you have not received a confirmation of your elite status, you should call the number on the back of your card.

If you do not have a Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program number, you can leave the box empty, click on Enroll Now, and you will be prompted to enroll in the program.

Once enrolled, you’ll continue to receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, with no further stay requirements, as long as your associated American Express card is active.

Combine Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status With Fine Hotels + Resorts Program Benefits

While not all Marriott-branded properties participate in American Express’ Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) program, those that do can allow you to receive both programs’ benefits.

Expressly stated in the terms and conditions of complimentary Marriott Bonvoy elite status is this statement: “Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status benefits may be combined with the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts program.”

Let’s look at the benefits you can expect when booking FHR properties via American Express for a stay of just 1 night or more.

Fine Hotels + Resorts Benefits

The Amex Platinum card and the Amex Business Platinum card offer these elite-style benefits at FHR properties booked using your card and/or associated Membership Rewards points for a prepaid stay:

• Room Upgrade — Receive a room upgrade on arrival, when available.
• Early Check-In — Check in as early as noon, when available.
• Daily Breakfast — Receive complimentary daily breakfast for 2 people, a minimum value of at least $60.
• Experience Credit — During each stay, you’ll receive a credit for an experience unique to that property, which could include spa services, dining, on-site activities, and more. This benefit is guaranteed to be worth at least $100.
• Complimentary Wi-Fi — Enjoy free Wi-Fi throughout the property.
• Late Checkout — Your checkout can be extended to 4 p.m. and is guaranteed.

Additionally, you’ll be earning 5x Membership Rewards points on either card when your prepaid hotel stay is booked via AmexTravel.com.

Take Advantage of the $200 Statement Credit

The Amex Platinum card comes with another valuable FHR benefit. You can receive a $200 prepaid hotel statement credit each calendar year. Pay for your stay in full with your card, use Membership Rewards points, or a combination of the 2, to receive the credit shortly after booking.

A stay of just 1 night or more qualifies for the statement credit.

How To Find Marriott FHR Properties

When booking a Fine Hotel + Resort property within your Amex Platinum card or Amex Business Platinum card account, you can filter properties by brand.

On the FHR booking page, select Explore More Properties by Region, Collection, or Brand. The Brand section sorts properties by brand and then by region. Participating Marriott Bonvoy brands include Autograph Collection, Design Hotels, EDITION, JW Marriott, The Luxury Collection, Marriott, Renaissance, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W Hotels, and Westin.

Provide your Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program number when booking the FHR property to receive elite night credits and earn Marriott Bonvoy points for qualifying on-site purchases.

The Amex Platinum card and the Amex Business Platinum card also include hotel program benefits with The Hotel Collection. While it may be possible to receive Marriott Bonvoy elite benefits when booking Marriott-branded hotels in this program, such benefits are not guaranteed in the terms and conditions. The Hotel Collection also requires a stay of 2 nights or more to receive benefits.

Additional Cards With Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status

While the Amex Platinum card and the Amex Business Platinum card are some of the best cards available that come with Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, there are additional cards to consider as a Marriott loyalist.

Elite status levels with Marriott Bonvoy from entry-level to the highest level are Silver Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador Elite. You’ll find Marriott Bonvoy elite status on these popular cards:

Read on to understand the details of purchase protection on the Amex Platinum card, including how it works, what’s covered, and what’s not. You’ll also see how to make a claim if you need to use your coverage.

What Is Purchase Protection?

Purchase protection is a benefit that covers purchases made with your card for loss, damage, or theft. You can file a purchase protection claim to get reimbursed for replacing or repairing covered items.

The Amex Platinum card has one of the best purchase protection benefits available.

Amex Platinum Card Overview

The Amex Platinum card is one of the best cards you can get, offering world-class benefits worth thousands annually.

You can earn up to 5x Membership Rewards points per dollar on purchases:

• 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 in purchases annually)
• 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
• 1x points on all other purchases

But the Amex Platinum card’s rewards pale in comparison to the incredible list of cardholder benefits, offering purchase protection and much more:

• Extensive annual credits, including up to $200 airline incidental credit, up to $200 Uber Cash credit, up to $240 digital entertainment credit, up to $200 prepaid hotel credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, up to $155 Walmart+ credit, up to $300 Equinox credit, up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit, and up to $189 CLEAR Plus credit (note some credits require enrollment)
• American Express Global Lounge Collection, which provides access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide
• Hotel elite status with Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite upon enrollment
• Rental car elite status with National Emerald Club Executive, Avis Preferred Plus, and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Gold benefits upon enrollment
• Travel insurance benefits, including trip delay insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, rental car insurance, and baggage insurance
• Consumer protections, including cell phone insurance, purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty coverage

How the Amex Platinum Card Purchase Protection Benefit Works

The Amex Platinum card purchase protection benefit offers up to $10,000 back if a covered item you purchased with your card is damaged, lost, or stolen. You can claim up to $50,000 per eligible card annually. Natural disaster losses are covered up to $500 per purchase protection covered event.

All eligible purchases are covered for the first 90 days from the date of purchase. You should file a claim within 30 days of loss or as soon as possible.

The Amex Platinum card offers higher purchase protection than most American Express cards, which typically provide up to $1,000 per incident. That’s much lower than the $10,000 you can get with the Amex Platinum card — though you’re still capped at a $50,000 annual limit for claims.

Purchase protection with the Amex Platinum card is nearly the best you can get. Only the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers better purchase protection coverage than the Amex Platinum card. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card matches the Amex Platinum card’s $10,000 per item and $50,000 per year limit but offers 120 days to file a claim — 30 days more than you get with the Amex Platinum card.

What’s Covered by Amex Platinum Card Purchase Protection?

Amex Platinum card purchase protection covers the replacement cost of covered items. If your claim is successful, you’ll receive the cost, including sales tax, to repair or replace the item or get reimbursed for your covered purchase.

Items are covered if you use your Amex Platinum card to purchase a tangible item for personal or business use or as a gift. You’re covered if you use American Express loyalty programs such as Membership Rewards points or Pay with Points. However, other loyalty programs, such as points transferred to AmexTravel.com rewards partners, do not count as covered purchases.

Only the covered purchase amount charged to your card qualifies for purchase protection benefits. So if, for example, you paid partially with a gift card and the rest with your Amex Platinum card, you’ll just get the portion charged to your card back under a qualifying claim.

Limits of the Amex Platinum Card Purchase Protection Benefit

There are extensive limitations to the Amex Platinum card purchase protection benefit. Reviewing the limitations before you count on this benefit to cover an upcoming purchase is a good idea. 

Amex Platinum card purchase protection is secondary coverage. That means your benefit will only reimburse you for amounts not covered by any other insurance or agreement.

For example, purchase protection does not cover amounts reimbursable by your homeowner’s insurance or reimbursements from a retailer, wholesaler, or manufacturer. However, purchase protection will pay deductibles of other applicable coverage unless it would result in an overpayment of the claim.

Items Not Covered by Amex Platinum Card Purchase Protection

Items that aren’t covered by Amex Platinum card purchase protection include:

• Altered or modified items
• Animals or plants
• Consumable purchases such as batteries or food
• Discarded items
• Downloadable services or programs
• Financial items such as gift certificates or cash equivalents
• Inventory purchased for resale
• Land or buildings
• Medical or dental equipment
• More than 1 article in a pair or set
• Motorized devices or parts, except permanent fixtures that can be removed without damaging the structure
• One-of-a-kind items such as antiques and artwork
• Permanent fixtures that can’t be removed without damaging the structure
• Professional or commercial use items such as professional competition, education, or training items
• Rented, leased, or borrowed items

Notably, items covered by an unconditional satisfaction guarantee aren’t covered by Amex Platinum card purchase protection. In that case, you should take advantage of the guarantee instead of making a claim with your card.

Even on covered items, there are limitations to how much you can claim. There is, of course, the $10,000 per incident cap on claims. Also, keep in mind you’re limited to claiming the replacement cost only. You can’t claim charges for shipping, handling, installation, warranties, or other costs associated with the covered item. 

Additionally, Amex Platinum card purchase protection doesn’t extend to any rebates, discounts, or lowest-price programs and doesn’t cover any legal defense costs or expenses.

Situations Not Covered by Amex Platinum Card Purchase Protection

In addition to non-covered items are events that Amex Platinum Card purchase protection doesn’t cover. These include:

• Baggage not carried by or under the control of an eligible beneficiary or traveling companion
• Confiscation by authorities
• Damage to sports and recreational equipment or remote control items other than drones
• Fraud, dishonesty, or criminal acts
• Loss while the item is under the temporary care of a third party, including a common carrier
• Normal wear and tear or defects
• Participation in a felony, riot, civil disturbance, protest, or insurrection
• War or acts of war, military service

How To Make an Amex Platinum Card Purchase Protection Claim

You can make a purchase protection claim on your Amex Platinum card by visiting the American Express online claim page. You must log in to your Amex account to enter the claims center. You then initiate the claim by clicking the File a Claim button.

You’ll select your card and enter the purchase date of the item you need to claim. On the next page, you’ll choose the claim type. In this case, you’ll select Purchase Protection.

Once you select Purchase Protection, you’ll be asked to review the terms and conditions of the benefit and be reminded of the information you’ll need to submit the claim:

• Your personal information, including your email address
• Purchase information, including your original itemized store receipt indicating the date, amount, and place of purchase
• Item information, including the manufacturer name and model number
• Supporting documentation to explain a theft or vandalism claim, such as a police report for stolen items

You’ll need to provide proof of loss within 60 days, which may require a copy of an insurance declaration page or agreement and/or a repair estimate.

Next, you’ll describe what happened, detailing the date of loss, the circumstances, and where it happened.

Then, you’ll add information for up to 25 items per claim. You’ll enter the item name, purchase date, item type, description, merchant, and manufacturer for each item. You can also enter the model and serial number if applicable. Finally, you’ll enter the item cost with taxes excluding shipping.

Once you’ve added an item or items, you’ll go to the personal information page. Since you must log in to submit a claim, most of your personal information should already be there. But you should confirm the information and fill in any blanks, such as your preferred phone number and email address, which AMEX Assurance Company will use to contact you about your claim.

Before you submit your claim, Amex will ask you to review additional information, including fraud disclosures. You must also agree to authorize AMEX Assurance Company to obtain reports needed to process your claim, such as a police report. 

You’ll need to check the box indicating you have reviewed, understand, and agree to the information, then hit submit.

After you’ve submitted your claim, AMEX Assurance Company (the underwriter for American Express’ purchase protection) will investigate your claim and contact you. The company may request additional information, such as a police report. If the item was damaged, you might need to send it to Amex to complete your claim.

AMEX Assurance Company will pay your benefit within 30 days after receiving satisfactory proof of loss and determining that the claim is payable.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Platinum card comes with purchase protection, which can save the day by reimbursing your costs if a new purchase is lost, stolen, or damaged. While some cards offer relatively low claim limits of around $1,000 per item, Amex Platinum cardholders can claim up to $10,000 per item, up to a total of $50,000 annually. Using the right card — like the Amex Platinum card — to make large purchases can give you an edge when it comes to shopping protections.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the cell phone protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, 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.

For the extended warranty benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the premium global assist hotline benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by premium global assist hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, card members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For the purchase protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the return protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit of the [card name], 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.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, 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.

But there’s good news if you’re a cardholder of The Platinum Card® from American Express: this card doesn’t have a foreign transaction fee (rates & fees) and is an excellent choice for international travel.

Still, it pays to be aware of all the fees you may encounter as you use this card at home or abroad and understand how the Amex Platinum card can be helpful for international travel. Read on to understand international transaction fees with the Amex Platinum card and what you need to know about using your Amex abroad.

Why We Like the Amex Platinum Card for International Travel

You can use your Amex Platinum card overseas, with global Amex acceptance reaching more than 80 million locations. 

In fact, the Amex Platinum card is one of the best travel credit cards, offering rewards and benefits that can make travel more comfortable and save you money. These rewards and benefits can easily offset the card’s annual fee, particularly if you travel often (rates & fees).

Some of the international travel benefits of the Amex Platinum card include:

• No foreign transaction fee
• Membership Rewards points that transfer to major airline and hotel partners
• Up to $200 annual hotel credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings when you book through AmexTravel.com using your Amex Platinum card
• Access to the Global Lounge Collection of more than 1,400 airport lounges in 140 countries
• Up to $200 annual airline fee credit 
• Up to $200 annually in Uber Cash
• Up to $189 CLEAR Plus credit, which can help you get through domestic airport security quickly
• International airline program offering lower fares for international seats on up to 8 tickets per booking
• Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck to expedite your security experience
• Platinum Travel Service offering custom itineraries and recommendations for travel
• Elite status including Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Hilton Honors Gold, Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus, and National Car Rental Emerald Club
• Car rental loss and damage insurance
• Travel coverage, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance and trip delay insurance
• Global Assist hotline

Note that some benefits require enrollment through your American Express account.

Whether you’re amassing points to redeem with airline or hotel partners, using travel credits, visiting lounges, taking advantage of elite status, using travel insurance coverage, or making foreign transactions, the Amex Platinum card can come in clutch on your next international trip.

International Transaction Fees

When you travel internationally, there’s always a possibility you’ll have to pay international transaction fees. These can include foreign transaction fees charged by your credit card or dynamic currency conversion fees charged by merchants or ATMs. And if you need to get cash using your credit card, you’ll pay a cash advance fee and APR.

The Amex Platinum card doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee, but it does have a cash advance fee and APR. Although dynamic currency conversion fees don’t originate from the Amex Platinum card, you should also understand how to avoid them.

Foreign Transaction Fees

Many travel rewards cards, including the Amex Platinum card, don’t charge a foreign transaction fee. 

Foreign transaction fees are paid when you buy something in a foreign currency or when a foreign bank processes your transaction. Usually, foreign transaction fees are 3% of your total transaction. When you have to pay a 3% foreign transaction fee, spending $500 quickly turns into $515 just for using your card.

Using an Amex Platinum card with no foreign transaction fees can save you money when you travel internationally.

Dynamic Currency Conversion Fee

Although you can avoid a foreign transaction fee by using the Amex Platinum card, you might be hit with a dynamic currency conversion (DCC) fee when you make an international transaction. Amex doesn’t charge the DCC fee; rather, it’s charged by the ATM or merchant you transact with.

You may encounter a DCC fee if a merchant offers to process your payment in your home currency rather than the local currency, or an ATM in a foreign country may offer to lock in your rate. This might sound like a good idea, but you’ll pay a hefty fee for it. 

Generally, DCC fees range from 2.6% to 18%. It’s best to decline the offer to use your home currency when you travel internationally. Always choose to pay in the local currency.

Cash Advance Fee

You’ll be charged for a cash advance if you use an ATM with your Amex Platinum card.

The Amex Platinum card charges either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater. Cash advances carry a 29.99% APR, which starts accruing the day you make a transaction (rates & fees).

Final Thoughts

Not having a foreign transaction fee is one of the many ways the Amex Platinum card can enhance your international travel plans. With no foreign transaction fee and a long list of travel benefits, you can find savings and travel better with this card. 

But while you can avoid the foreign transaction fee with the Amex Platinum card, beware of cash advances and ATMs and vendors that offer to process your transaction in your home currency — you’ll pay hefty fees for convenience.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, 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.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, 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.

In fact, one of the main reasons I still keep my Amex Platinum card, even though I live abroad, is because of these rewards. Even though I often miss out on some of the card’s benefits, like the monthly Uber credits (which can only be used in the U.S.) or the Equinox credit, I still keep the card year after year because Amex Membership Rewards points are so flexible.

With a number of transfer partners, it’s easy to find ways to utilize them for maximum value. However, I utilize my Amex Membership Rewards points for 1 sole program: Iberia Plus.

Why I Value Iberia Avios

One of the reasons I value Iberia Plus Avios so much is because I live in Madrid, Spain, and frequently fly the airline, both around Europe and to/from the U.S. But you don’t have to live in Spain to get a lot of value out of Avios.

Those living in the U.S. can use Iberia Avios to travel between the U.S. and Europe for next to nothing — and at much more affordable rates than many airlines that have switched to dynamic award pricing (read: U.S. airlines like Delta, United, and American).

You can also transfer Avios between a few different Oneworld airlines (under a few conditions), which gives them some added flexibility.

Iberia’s award chart is distance-based, has affordable rates in many instances (especially off-peak), and offers some impressive sweet spots, which I’ll discuss below. So, if you’re the only one who didn’t get to Europe this summer, there’s still time for that fall or spring travel adventure using your Iberia Avios.

How To Use Iberia Avios and Get Maximum Value

Many people shy away from booking award tickets using foreign airlines, and it’s true — it’s not always as cut and dry as booking or flying with a U.S. air carrier. But these tips can help you figure out how to book tickets and get the most out of your Avios.

Book Direct Through Iberia

Iberia’s website is notoriously complicated for booking award travel. But with a little patience and persistence, you can power through the hassle. Although there are a few ways to search for flights using Avios, the best way is to make sure you’re logged into your Iberia Plus account, then use the Fly With Avios search tool.

Follow the directions on the screen, and you’ll eventually get to a screen where you’ll see your options for booking a ticket. I highly recommend keeping the “My Dates are Flexible” boxes checked so you can easily toggle between dates to see availability and Avios cost.

Iberia’s Off-Peak Calendar Can Benefit U.S.-Based Travelers

The Spanish airline’s off-peak calendar aligns with the Spanish work and school holiday schedule. This means that U.S. travelers may be able to find off-peak deals during months like May, June, October, or November — even around Thanksgiving, which obviously isn’t a holiday in Spain.

Taking advantage of these off-peak moments, like traveling in June when U.S. kids are already out of school but Spanish schools are still in session, or taking a fall break around Thanksgiving, can make visiting Europe way more affordable.

Know Iberia’s Sweet Spots

Iberia has both off-peak and peak award redemption dates based on the distance you’re traveling. One of the most valuable is the Band 5 distance group, where you can fly long-haul in business class one-way for just 34,000 Avios.

Although many bloggers love to mention this sweet spot as the flight between New York (JFK) and Madrid (MAD), I find it most valuable that the flight between Chicago (ORD) and Madrid (MAD) is included in this distance band, as Chicago is significantly further away, but isn’t more expensive.

Combine Sweet Spots With Off-Peak Dates

This particular sweet spot allows Midwesterners to fly nonstop, one-way to Europe for some of the lowest award rates out there — even on dates that may be peak in the U.S., such as Thanksgiving, when U.S. airlines’ dynamic pricing award rates may be double, triple, or even 4 times that amount.

Since I grew up in Chicago, I find this redemption particularly useful, as I’m able to bank my Avios and fly my family between Spain and the Windy City at least once per year. If, for some reason, I don’t have enough Avios to fly all of us in business both ways, I opt to fly economy to the U.S. and business on the way back to Spain, where having a lie-flat bed for an overnight flight really makes a difference.

With a difference of just 3,000 Avios for off-peak versus peak travel dates to book an economy Blue award (17,000 vs. 20,000), flying economy during peak dates using Avios doesn’t cost all that much more.

However, you don’t have to be from Chicago or have your final destination be Madrid to take advantage of these award rates. Travelers can stay a night or day in Madrid, then either use Avios or cash to buy an affordable flight to another European hub like Rome, Paris, Vienna, or otherwise.

Understand Iberia’s Strengths and Weaknesses

You can book Iberia Avios award tickets and get ready to fly with the airline by being aware of the benefits and drawbacks of the airline’s loyalty program.

Iberia’s Strengths

• Affordable Award Rates: Fly between the U.S. and Europe with budget award rates, in many cases.
• Upgraded Aircraft and Dining: Iberia has recently renovated some of its business class cabins, including redoing the menus and all the cuisine. The airline claims it uses fresh, seasonal products in its meals, with menus inspired by Spanish flavors.
• Sleep in Lie-Flat Beds in Business on Larger Aircraft: The A330 and A350 aircraft feature comfortable and functional lie-flat beds in business class.

Iberia’s Weaknesses

• Customer Service: You can often get a great deal on Iberia flights using Avios, but don’t expect the same treatment as you may get on other airlines, even in business class or if you have Oneworld elite status. Calling Iberia can be complicated, and customer service isn’t a strong point of the airline. Flight attendants and check-in staff usually don’t go above and beyond, so don’t expect exceptional service.
• Business Class Isn’t Worth It on Short-Haul Aircraft: If you decide to fly the airline in and around Europe on an aircraft like the A321 or A320, business class has slightly more legroom and upgraded dining, but the seats are the same in economy, with the middle seat blocked.

Consider Getting the Amex Platinum Card — And Aim for a Higher Bonus

If you don’t currently hold the Amex Platinum card and you want to build a solid stash of Iberia Avios, consider getting this premium card — and strive for the highest welcome bonus possible.

Regardless of the current public offer, it is highly recommended that you take a few minutes to check if you are eligible for a higher offer. You can look for a higher welcome offer if you follow our key tips, which include using the CardMatch tool, checking the website, or looking for targeted emails.

Once you get your Amex Platinum card, you can start bulking up those rewards and then transfer them to Iberia or other Amex transfer partners.

A Step-by-Step Guide on How To Transfer American Express Membership Rewards to Iberia Plus

For anyone who holds a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards, it’s easy to earn points on every purchase. However, since Amex points transfer 1:1 to Iberia, the more points you can earn, the better, so trying to spend in conjunction with your specific card’s bonus categories just means you’ll end up with more Iberia Avios.

Once you have a stash of points you want to transfer, complete the following steps:

1. Login to your Amex account and head to Rewards and Benefits.
2. Click on Earn and Redeem.
3. Select Transfer Points from the drop-down menu (note that you’ll already need to have an Iberia Plus account set up through Iberia).
4. Link your Iberia Plus account by inputting your loyalty membership number and name (it must match on both accounts).
5. Enter the amount of points you want to transfer (in increments of 1,000).

Transfers can be as low as 1,000 points and as high as 999,000 points. Amex says transfers can take up to 48 hours, but in my experience, points usually transfer much faster. You should get an email confirmation that you’ve initiated this transfer.

Finally, log into Iberia and confirm your Avios are there. Seeing the new Avios in your account may be instantaneous or take between 12 and 36 hours.

When To Transfer American Express Membership Rewards to Iberia Plus

You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Iberia Plus Avios anytime you want at a 1:1 ratio. However, I prefer to bulk up a stash of points, and then transfer them when American Express and Iberia offer a 30% transfer bonus (which occurs 1 to a few times per year). This means for every 1,000 Amex Membership Rewards points you transfer, you’ll earn 1,300 Iberia Avios under the offer at the time of writing.

This is a significant way to gain more value from your Amex points, especially if you’ve managed to build up a solid pile over a period of time. At this time, we aren’t sure when the next bonus period may be, so my plan is to spend and build through the holiday period and hopefully transfer points with a bonus in 2024.

Other Ways To Earn More Iberia Avios

While transferring Amex Membership Rewards is an easy and effective way to get Iberia Avios, U.S. residents also have several other options to earn Iberia Avios:

Transfer Iberia Avios From British Airways Avios (And Other Select Airlines)

It may be worth transferring Avios from British Airways to Iberia, as Iberia often charges fewer taxes and fees than British Airways. Avios can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio between Avios accounts. You can also transfer Avios from Aer Lingus and Qatar Airways to Iberia, and Finnair will adopt Avios in 2024.

Do read all the fine print before transferring because there are specific rules in place, such as needing to have both accounts open for at least 90 days before transferring, as well as other requirements.

Transfer From Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy

Cards such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are excellent credit cards to get if you want to rack up Ultimate Rewards points and transfer them to Iberia. In fact, if you hold either of these cards right now and have a stash of points, Chase is running a transfer bonus where you can currently get 30% more Avios if you transfer before September 22, 2023.

Iberia Plus is also a transfer partner of Bilt Rewards (at a 1:1 ratio) and Marriott Bonvoy (at a 3:1 ratio).

Get the Iberia Visa Signature® Card

For those really dedicated to flying Iberia or who frequently travel between Spain and the U.S., consider getting the Iberia Visa Signature card. The card doesn’t have an extensive list of benefits, but you’ll earn 3 Avios for every dollar spent on Iberia, BA, and Aer Lingus purchases and a 10% discount on airfare booked through iberia.com/Chase10, along with a welcome offer when meeting the minimum spending requirement.

Fly Iberia

We’re going to state the obvious here: Earn more Iberia Avios by flying Iberia. Don’t forget to make sure your Iberia Plus loyalty program number is on your ticket. Always double-check your account a few days after flying to see if your Avios banked. If not, save your boarding pass in order to claim.

Credit Oneworld Partner Flights To Iberia

You can credit Oneworld partner flights, including American Airlines flights, to Iberia by adding your Iberia Plus number to your ticket. Save your boarding pass in case you don’t see the Avios so that you can claim them afterward.

Final Thoughts

American Express Membership Rewards is a valuable points currency with a number of transfer partners. But, I find transferring them to Iberia Plus one of the best ways to use them for maximum value. My preferred way to eventually spend them is to fly Iberia in business class between Europe and the U.S. for as few as 34,000 Avios.

If you’re looking for other ways to stock up on Iberia Avios besides transferring Amex Membership Rewards points earned from a card like the Amex Platinum card, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy points also transfer to Iberia Plus, and there are plenty of other ways to earn this lucrative points currency. Finally, make sure to keep an eye out for transfer bonuses so you can get as many points as possible on your transfers.

If this card is on your radar, you’ll want to apply for the card when the bonus is as high as possible. That’s because American Express only allows you to earn the bonus on a credit card once in your lifetime.

If you’ve been around the world of points and miles for a while, you’ve likely heard of the coveted 100,000- to 150,000-point welcome offer after meeting spending requirements. Earning a big welcome bonus offer on this card is ideal, but it isn’t available to everyone every day.

In this post, you’ll find all the information you need to apply for the Amex Platinum card with a welcome bonus offer of 100,000, 125,000, or 150,000 Membership Rewards points.

Targeted offers are discussed in the article below. Please note that these offers are not available to all applicants. Any information related to targeted offers has been collected independently and not reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Amex Platinum Card Snapshot

Depending on your personal information, you may see one of several different welcome offers for the Amex Platinum card.

The current public offer is:

No matter the current public offer, you should definitely take a few minutes to see if you’re targeted for an elevated offer.

How To Find the Amex Platinum 100K, 125K, or 150K Welcome Bonus Offer

Historically, the welcome bonus offer for the Amex Platinum card usually ranges between 40,000 to 80,000 Membership Rewards points.

Keep in mind that welcome offers come with a spending requirement. Ensure you can meet any minimum spending requirement before applying for any offer.

Step 1: Check Amex’s Website Directly (Try This First)

We recommend checking the American Express website directly as a first step.

As previously highlighted, the current public offer for the Amex Platinum card is:

However, our team has noticed that American Express has offered a targeted and elevated welcome offer to select applicants. As with all targeted offers, these offers won’t be available to everyone, but here’s an example of a targeted offer we’ve found by applying directly through American Express. This was seen on April 1, 2024.

Our team members have also recently seen offers for 125,000 Membership Rewards points, as shown below. This was captured on April 7, 2024.

Step 2: CardMatch Tool

If you strike out on the American Express website, your next option would be CardMatch.

CardMatch is a web-based form that allows you to see your best credit card offers from partner banks in seconds.

The site completes a soft credit check to see if you’re eligible for any elevated offers. Since it’s not a hard pull, this won’t count against your credit.

Remember that the CardMatch tool only shows you offers from affiliated banks; you won’t see every credit card offer available. It currently has affiliations with the following banks:

• American Express
• Bank of America
• Capital One
• Chase
• First PREMIER Bank

Targeted Email Offers

If you’re lucky, you might find an elevated offer for the Amex Platinum card in your mailbox. Just ensure you have opted-in to receive New Card and Credit Offers in your Amex account’s General Marketing Email Preferences.

Reasons You May Not Get a Targeted Bonus Offer

Bad, Poor, or Limited Credit: First, ensure your credit score is as high as possible. You should be using your current credit responsibly and paying off your bill in full and on time each month.

You Already Have an American Express Card: According to crowdsourced data, you may be less likely to get a targeted offer like this if you already have an American Express credit card.

Maximizing the Amex Platinum 100K, 125K, or 150K Welcome Offer

To put the value of Membership Rewards points into perspective, we’ve rounded up some of the best ways to use Membership Rewards points below. These are some of the most lucrative Membership Rewards redemptions that show how far 100,000 Membership Rewards points can go.

Singapore Suites From New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA)

Ever wanted your own bed in the sky? Well, now you can have it: just transfer your Membership Rewards points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and book the famous Singapore Suites first class.

Singapore Airlines flies this product on its A380 fifth-freedom route between New York (JFK) and Frankfurt (FRA), making it the most fashionable way to fly between the U.S. and Europe.

To book, find dates with Saver award space on the Singapore Airlines website and transfer 86,000 Membership Rewards points to Singapore Airlines. Check out our complete guide to booking Singapore Airlines award tickets.

Once on board, you’ll be treated to some of the best service in the sky, with top-notch Champagne, complimentary caviar, and all the other bells and whistles you’d expect from one of the world’s best first class products. And if you depart from Frankfurt, you can enjoy Lufthansa’s top-notch Senator Lounge before your flight.

Cathay Pacific Business Class Awards to Asia

Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles loyalty program lets you book reasonably priced Cathay Pacific business class awards to Asia.

For example, you can book business class flights from the U.S. East Coast to Hong Kong and beyond for just 85,000 Membership Rewards points transferred to Asia Miles, giving you a chance to try one of the best business class products in the sky.

Hot Tip: Enjoy a free stopover on all Asia Miles award tickets — just perform a multi-city search and enter the city you’d like to stop in. There are no additional points required to take advantage of this benefit.

Even better, you’ll pay minimal award taxes and fees when you book through Asia Miles so that you won’t break the bank in the process. You can also use Asia Miles to book tickets on other Oneworld carriers such as American Airlines, British Airways, Qatar Airways, and more. Check out our guide to the best Asia Miles redemptions for more information.

Fly ANA Business Class From the U.S. to Tokyo

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is one of the more overlooked Amex transfer partners, but it has an interesting partnership with Tokyo-based ANA.

Despite not being in the same airline alliance, the 2 airlines have joined forces to let Flying Club members redeem points on ANA flights for an insanely low points cost.

Currently, you can book a round-trip business class award ticket from the U.S. to Tokyo for 90,000 miles from the U.S. West Coast or 95,000 miles from the U.S. Midwest or East Coast.

13 Short-Haul Trips in the U.S.

Transfer your Membership Rewards points to Avianca LifeMiles, and you can book short-haul United Airlines tickets starting at just 7,500 miles one-way.

Mileage costs vary by route as Avianca splits the U.S. into 3 different award regions. In short, Region 1 is the East Coast, 2 is the Midwest, and 3 is the West Coast.

Hot Tip: Domestic U.S. award tickets booked with Avianca LifeMiles are operated by United Airlines, as both carriers are in the Star Alliance.

Flights within a single region cost 7,500 miles in economy class, moving 1 region over costs 10,000 miles, and a trip spanning 3 regions costs 12,500 miles.

You can book a flight from Chicago (ORD) to Austin (AUS) for 7,500 miles since they’re in the same region. This is by far the cheapest way to book short-haul domestic U.S. award tickets with Amex points.

If you’re someone who likes to travel around the U.S., definitely give LifeMiles transfers a shot. Your 100,000 Membership Reward welcome bonus is enough for 13 short-haul trips within the U.S.!

Amex Platinum Card 100K Upgrade Offer

Another route toward getting 100,000 points or more on the Amex Platinum card is via an upgrade offer. For those currently holding the American Express® Gold Card, Amex has been known to send out targeted offers to entice those cardholders to upgrade to the Amex Platinum card.

In the past, these targeted offers have included a wide variety of points, including 25,000, 40,000, 60,000, and even 100,000 points.

However, if you’ve never had the Amex Platinum card before, we highly recommend applying for the card outright your first time, as these welcome bonuses can reach upwards of 150,000 points.

Plus, those who get the bonus on the Amex Platinum card are still eligible for upgrade offers on their Amex Gold card at a later date, but those who take an upgrade offer to the Amex Platinum card will not be able to apply and receive the bonus on the card later on.

What Is the Highest-ever Amex Platinum Card Welcome Bonus Offer?

The highest welcome bonus we’ve ever seen for the Amex Platinum card was 175,000 points. While other bonuses, like the 100,000 point bonus and 125,000 points bonus, are excellent, we highly recommend taking advantage if you find the 175,000 point bonus.

We value 175,000 Amex points at a whopping $3,850 (based on our valuations), which would easily make it one of the best credit card welcome bonus offers you can receive.

How To Track Amex Welcome Bonus Progress

American Express does not offer a tracking tool to easily view how close you are to completing your minimum spend requirement.

That said, you can still find out how much more you need to spend by asking an Amex representative via that chat feature on the American Express website or by calling the number on the back of your card.

Another option is to head to the membership tab for your Amex Platinum card, click View All Benefits, and then scroll down to Centurion Lounge Complimentary Guest Access.

While this tracker tracks your progress toward receiving Centurion Lounge guess access by spending $75,000 on the card in a calendar year, you could use it to track your progress toward the welcome bonus offer.

What Is the Amex 1-Bonus-per-Lifetime Rule?

Put simply, the Amex once-per-lifetime rule prevents you from receiving the welcome bonus on a card if you have received it or its family of cards in the past.

For instance, if you had the Amex Platinum card 5 years ago and have since canceled it, it is unlikely that you could receive the welcome bonus again. Alternatively, you would not be able to receive the welcome bonus on another version of the Amex Platinum card like the American Express Platinum Card® for Schwab or The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley.

Note that this does not apply to cards outside the card family like The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, etc. Additionally, if the stated terms of the welcome offer you are applying for do not include the “once-per-lifetime” language, you may be eligible to receive the welcome bonus offer, even if you have had the card before.

How Do I Know If I Qualify for an Amex Welcome Offer?

If you have forgotten whether or not you’ve had a card or aren’t sure you are eligible to receive the welcome bonus offer on a card, American Express will let you know during the application process.

Those ineligible for any reason will receive a pop-up after they click to submit their application. If you receive the pop-up that states that you are not eligible to receive the welcome bonus offer on the card you are applying for, don’t fret as your application has not been fully submitted yet.

From there, Amex will give you the option of whether you’d like to proceed with the application even though you will not receive the welcome bonus offer or cancel your application. If you decide to cancel your application, no credit inquiry will be made, and there will be no adverse impact to your credit score.

This feature is available on every card that American Express offers, so you’ll always know for sure whether you are eligible for the welcome bonus offer before officially submitting your application.

Final Thoughts

An offer for 100,000 to 175,000 bonus points on an Amex Platinum card is like a 4-leaf clover; it exists but can be hard to find.

If you are lucky enough to get an elevated welcome offer, analyze if the Amex Platinum card is worth the annual fee before you apply for the card. We also recommend you look at this fantastic Amex Platinum referral 150k offer.

After you’ve earned your stash of bonus points, let the fun begin by figuring out the best way to use those Amex Membership Rewards.

The financial challenges that many military families face came to the forefront years ago, resulting in the government passing key legislation. These laws were designed to help alleviate and restrict burdensome lending practices affecting military members.

The laws applied to financial transactions such as vehicle leases, payday loans, mortgages, and housing rights. They also affected credit card practices, including fees and interest rates.

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003, or SCRA, applies to accounts opened prior to active military service, while the subsequent Military Lending Act, or MLA, governs the limiting of fees and interest rates on debt acquired by active military members, their spouses, domestic partners, and child dependents (as defined in 38 USC 101(4)).

While credit card issuers must follow the law as written, they are also free to go above and beyond to offer additional concessions.

American Express is one of the credit card issuers embracing the purpose of the laws and extending benefits beyond what is required by the legislation. The issuer does this by setting annual fees to $0 for qualifying active-duty military members.

The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the best examples of a value-added card that offers active military members an opportunity to enjoy hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in complimentary benefits.

Here’s how to take advantage of this annual fee benefit and the potential value you could receive.

Amex Platinum Card Overview

If you decide to apply, we advise reviewing the credit score requirements of the Amex Platinum card before you apply and let them pull your credit.

How the MLA and SCRA Work

MLA and SCRA in Brief

Put simply, the Military Lending Act provides benefits that apply to credit accounts opened by a service member (or another covered borrower) during that service member’s active-duty military service.

The Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act covers eligible products opened by a service member prior to their active-duty military service.

The MLA provides coverage for debt like automobile loans, consumer credit, and payday loans, while the SCRA includes transactions such as home mortgages, debts, auto leases, life insurance, and more.

Who Qualifies for the American Express Fee Waiver?

According to its printed guidelines, American Express provides annual fee of $0 benefit under the MLA (cards obtained during active duty) for the following individuals:

• Regular or reserve service members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard under a call or order not specified as 30 days or less
• Active-duty or Reserve Guard members under that same term as defined in 10 U.S.C. 101(d)(6)
• American Express also grants military benefits for spouses and eligible dependents of the above individuals (as defined in 38 USC 101(4)).

American Express lists the following qualified individuals as eligible for benefits under SCRA (cards obtained before active duty):

• A member of the U.S. Armed Forces (any military branch) serving on active duty
• Reserves called to active duty
• National Guard member on active duty for more than 30 consecutive days
• Commissioned officers with the Public Health Service or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• U.S. citizens serving with U.S. allied forces in war or military action
• Spouses and children of an active-duty members of the armed forces as defined in 38 USC 101(4)

You can contact American Express directly to ask any questions regarding qualifications at 800-253-1720.

Why We Like the Amex Platinum for Active-Duty Military

The Amex Platinum card comes with several benefits a military traveler can utilize. Complimentary access to airport lounges worldwide, hotel elite status, and car rental privileges, can make travel more comfortable. A generous welcome offer, an annual fee reduction benefit, and statement credits for airline incidentals all result in extraordinary value for the active-duty military member.

The Amex Platinum card, without a doubt, is one of the best credit cards for military members. Here’s a review of the benefits offered by the Amex Platinum card and an estimate of the value, where possible, that you receive by having the card.

Amex Platinum Card Military Fee Benefit

Usually, the Amex Platinum card charges an annual fee of (rates and fees). In our view, the benefits of the Amex Platinum card easily outweigh the annual fee, but the fact remains that the fee is quite a bit higher than most other travel rewards cards.

Fortunately, qualifying military service members can have the annual fee on the Amex Platinum card reduced to $0. This benefit allows access to all of the fantastic perks of the card, including airport lounge access and hotel elite status, without you needing to pay the card’s fee.

Amex Platinum Card for Military Spouses

While the annual fee of the Amex Platinum card is rather high, the annual fee is also $0 for spouses and domestic partners. This includes adding your spouse as an authorized user on your card and if your spouse has their own Amex Platinum card.

Amex Platinum Card for Reservists, National Guard, and Additional Active-Duty Service Members

Reserve service members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard under a call or order not specified as 30 days or less, and their spouses and dependents, also qualify for the fee reduction.

Under the SCRA (cards acquired prior to active duty) American Express will extend fee-reduction benefits to active-duty commissioned officers of the Public Health Service and U.S. citizens serving with U.S. allied forces in war or military action.

Commissioned officers with the Public Health Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration may also qualify to have an existing Amex Platinum card fee reduced under the SCRA.

The Value of the Amex Platinum Card’s Benefits

Welcome Bonus Offer — Value Varies

Welcome offers vary, but you can count on a value of at least 1 cent per Membership Reward point when redeeming those bonus points for travel. For example, this translates to at least $600 in travel if the welcome offer is 60,000 points or $1,000 if the offer would be 100,000 points.

You may receive additional value by transferring your Membership Rewards to Amex airline partners, but you should earn at least 1 cent per point in redemptions.

Annual Fee is $0 for Active Military — Value of $695 per Year

The annual fee of is waived for active military members, spouses, domestic partners, and child dependents (as defined in 38 USC 101(4)). This is a huge savings that American Express offers to military members as a thank you for their service.

Other Fee Reductions for Active Military — Value Varies

In addition to the annual fee, American Express doesn’t charge late and returned payment fees, over-limit fees, and statement copy request fees for active-duty military.

Worldwide Airport Lounge Access — Value Varies

One of the most valuable benefits of having the Amex Platinum card is worldwide lounge access to more than 1,400 lounges. For travelers, including active military, this translates to having a comfortable place to relax, grab a beverage, and have a bite to eat — all for simply being a cardmember.

The cardholder can enjoy complimentary access to the following lounge networks:

If we value a single lounge visit at $50 (the approximate cost of bringing a guest), you’d simply need to visit an airport lounge 14 times a year to get $700 in value in our estimation. That’s 7 round-trip journeys, assuming you’re visiting the lounge on both legs.

*(Effective February 1, 2025, Amex Platinum cardholders will only receive 10 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club. To earn an unlimited number of visits, you need to spend at least $75,000 on your Amex Platinum card between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, and each calendar year thereafter.)

Authorized Users — Value of $195

Adding an authorized user to your Amex Platinum card normally costs $195 (rates and fees). For active-duty military members, this fee is $0.

While authorized users, including spouses, do not receive any statement credit benefits or Uber Cash, they receive full airport lounge access privileges, hotel elite benefits, and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement.

Read about all the benefits of adding an authorized user to your Amex Platinum card for even more information.

Hotel Elite Status — Value Varies

It can be challenging to set a value on hotel elite status, as it depends on how frequently you stay at the associated hotel brand’s properties.

Receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold elite status. Elite status instantly qualifies you for perks such as upgraded rooms, late checkout, free Wi-Fi, and bonus earnings. Make sure to enroll in this benefit through your American Express account to get the most out of your card.

Car Rental Benefits and Elite Status — Value Varies

Receive complimentary National Emerald Club Executive status, Avis Preferred Plus status, and Hertz President’s Circle status just for having the Amex Platinum card and enrolling in the benefit through your American Express account. Benefits include vehicle upgrades, discounted rental rates, return-time grace periods, no second-driver fees, and more.

To ensure you receive the most from this benefit, dive into our guide on the Amex Platinum card’s car rental benefits.

Airline Incidental Credits — Value of Up to $200

Use your card to purchase seat upgrades, baggage fees, and other airline incidentals and receive a statement credit, up to a maximum of $200 per year. Here’s a guide to maximizing the airline incidental credit to ensure you maximize the credit fully.

Uber Cash — Value of Up to $200

You receive $15 in Uber Cash monthly, plus a $20 bonus in December, for up to $200 in Uber Cash per year. You can use this Uber Cash for U.S. Uber rides or U.S. Uber Eats orders for that month. You can even use this Uber Cash for multiple purchases, although any balance does not roll over from month to month.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit — Value of Up to $100

Travel becomes so much easier when you breeze through immigration and customs. Pay for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee with your Amex Platinum card and receive a statement credit reimbursement of up to $100 once every 4 years for Global Entry or up to $85 every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck. We suggest applying for Global Entry, as it comes with TSA PreCheck.

Saks Fifth Avenue Statement Credit — Value of Up to $100

Even if you don’t normally shop at Saks, it’s fun to splurge once or twice a year and use your shopping credit. Enroll via your online Amex Platinum card account and receive up to $100 in statement credits each year. You can receive up to $50 in statement credits between January and June and up to $50 between July and December.

Entertainment Streaming Credit — Value of Up to $240

Receive up to $20 monthly in statement credits after charging select streaming services to your card. Enrollment is required.

Equinox Credit — Value of Up to $300

Get up to $300 back each year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your card after enrollment.

Walmart+ Credit — Value of $155

Get $12.95 per month toward a Walmart+ membership, with benefits including free shipping and discounted gas prices.

Prepaid Hotel Credit — Value of Up to $200

Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which require a minimum 2-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your card.

SoulCycle Credit — Value of $300

Get $300 in statement credits each time you buy a SoulCycle at-home bike. Just note that a 12-month Equinox+ membership is required to purchase a SoulCycle bike.

CLEAR Plus Credit — Value of Up to $189

CLEAR is an airport security program similar to TSA PreCheck. Charge the membership to your card and receive a statement credit of up to $189 each year.

The Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels & Resorts — Value Varies

Splurge a little at The Hotel Collection and receive hotel credit of up to $100 for qualifying purchases when staying 2 consecutive nights. You also receive an upgraded room at check-in.

Fine Hotels + Resorts steps it up a notch with even more benefits. A stay of 1 night or more qualifies.

• Complimentary daily breakfast for 2
• 4 p.m. checkout
• Noon check-in
• Room upgrade at check-in, when available
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Unique amenity worth $100

Hot Tip: Learn more about these 2 hotel programs and the benefits provided in our comparison of the Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels + Resorts.

Additional Benefits of the Amex Platinum Card

The Amex Platinum card offers several additional benefits that could save you money.

• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Pay for your rental car with your Amex Platinum card, refuse the car rental agency’s collision damage waiver, and have secondary car rental coverage for damage or theft. Secondary means you must first file a claim with any applicable insurance.
• American Express Auto Purchasing Program: The program could help you save thousands on your next new vehicle purchase.
• Extended Warranty: Eligible items with manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less have coverage extended for 1 additional year.
• Purchase Protection: 120 days of protection (90 days for New York residents) is provided for damage, loss, or theft of qualifying items.
• Cell Phone Protection: Pay your monthly bill with your card and receive up to $1,600 in cell phone protection (2 claims per year with up to $800 for each claim) for theft and damage. There is a $50 deductible per claim.

This is not a complete list of additional card benefits, and descriptions have been abbreviated. Full terms and conditions may be found in the Amex Platinum card guide to benefits.

Qualification and Requesting Benefits

Here’s how to complete the Amex Platinum card application as a military member, and tips for applying for associated American Express benefits.

How To Apply for the Amex Platinum Card as a Military Member

Applying for the Amex Platinum card is simple: Click on the link in the card snapshot at the beginning of this article. Add your name as it appears on your military ID, date of birth, address, telephone number, Social Security number, and income.

Under Income Source, select Military. American Express will then attempt to match your Social Security number to the DoD database and apply the benefits automatically. If, for any reason, this does not happen automatically, you can request benefits after card approval.

How Do I Apply for Amex MLA Benefits?

American Express makes it very easy for active-duty military members. Any MLA relief for which you are eligible is automatically applied to your account at account opening.

If MLA benefits are not applied, contact American Express for assistance at 800-253-1720.

How To Apply for Benefits on an Existing Card

Applying to receive SCRA benefits, which includes waiving the annual fee on your current Amex Platinum card, is simple. Just log in to your Amex Platinum card account online and select Account Services at the top of the page. Then select Credit Management and choose SCRA Benefits.

You can upload any requested information after answering a few questions.

Additionally, you can request benefits via the following methods:

• Phone: Call 800-253-1720 from the U.S. or call 336-393-1111 (collect) from outside of the U.S.
• Fax: Fax the required documents to 623-444-3000 and include your American Express account numbers.
• Mail: Mail documents with your account numbers to American Express, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, P.O. Box 981535, El Paso, TX 79998-1535.

American Express will verify your information and then process the benefit, which can take several weeks.

You can also check your eligibility before you apply for the card.

When Do Amex’s Military Relief Provisions Expire?

The benefits of the SCRA and MLA only apply to those serving on active duty. American Express will send you a notification letter at least 45 days before the date relief ends on your account. This gives you time to provide additional documentation should you still be on active duty.

After the fee waiver expires, American Express begins charging you any applicable fees previously waived on your account.

Everything Else You Need To Know

No set credit score guarantees approval for the Amex Platinum card. Additionally, your credit score is just 1 factor in the approval decision. American Express also considers factors like your income, years of credit history, history with American Express, and the amount of credit already extended to you.

That said, most applicants with a credit score of 670 or higher usually have high approval odds.

You earn the welcome bonus offer on the Amex Platinum card after meeting minimum spending requirements within the specified period after card approval.

You can find a list of ideas on meeting these minimum spending requirements in our article on the topic.

Many Amex Platinum card benefits, such as Priority Pass Select membership, car rental privileges, and hotel elite status, require registration. Register online by signing into your Amex Platinum card account and accessing the Benefits section.

Hot Tip: American Express issues over 60 cards with waived annual fees for active-duty military members.

Additional Recommended American Express Cards for Active Military

While American Express has several cards that do not charge an annual fee, active military members receive the most value from those cards that do.

You’ll find greater earning potential, flexible redemption options, luxury travel benefits, shopping and travel protections, and more on cards with higher annual fees.

Here are a few of the additional American Express cards we recommend for active-duty military:

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Why We Like This Card for Active Military

• 5x earnings on prepaid hotels and flights booked via AmexTravel.com
• 1.5x earnings on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else (up to $2 million in purchases per calendar year)
• Up to $200 airline incidental fee reimbursement each year
• Up to $400 in Dell Technology purchase statement credit each year (enrollment required)
• Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• Hotel and car rental program elite status and benefits upon enrollment
• Annual fee of $0 for active military members (rates and fees)

If you have a small business, even a side hustle that brings in a modest amount of extra income, the Amex Business Platinum card could add tremendous value. Learn more about how the Amex Business Platinum card compares to the personal Amex Platinum card.

American Express® Gold Card

Why We Like This Card for Active Military

• 4x points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x)
• 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x)
• 3x earnings on flights booked directly with airlines and AmexTravel.com
• Up to $120 in Uber Cash annualy, which is good for rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. (up to $10 per month)
• Up to $120 dining credits annually, which is good at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys (up to $10 per month)
• Up to $100 Resy credits annually, redeemable at any U.S. Resy restaurant and other eligible Resy purchases (distributed as $50 semi-annually)
• Up to $84 Dunkin’ credits annually, redeemable at Dunkin’ locations (distributed as $7 per month)
• Annual fee of $0 for active military members (rates and fees)

Note that enrollment is required for some benefits, so make sure you’re enrolled to get the most out of your card’s benefits.

Dive into all the card benefits and benefits for the military of the Amex Gold card if this card sounds right for your spending habits.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Why We Like This Card for Active Military

• 14x earnings at Hilton properties
• Complimentary top Hilton Honors Diamond elite status
• Annual free hotel night certificate
• Up to $400 Hilton Resort Credit dispersed as up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually
• Up to $200 airline incidentals statement credit each year dispersed as up to $50 in statement credits each quarter
• Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access worldwide (enrollment required)
• Annual fee of $0 for active military members (rates and fees)

For even more details about this card, explore the top benefits of the Hilton Aspire card.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Why We Like This Card for Active Military

• Complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club
  • Effective February 1, 2025, Reserve cardmembers will receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of visits each year starting on February 1, 2025, the total eligible purchases on the card must equal $75,000 or more between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, and each calendar year thereafter.
• Annual companion ticket certificate
• Free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
• 20% statement credit for inflight food and beverage purchases
• 3x earnings on Delta purchases
• Ability to earn Medallion elite qualifying miles through spending on the card
• Annual fee of $0 for active military members (rates and fees)

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Why We Like This Card for Active Military

• Free Night Award at card anniversary (worth up to 85,000 points)
• Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status
• 6x earnings at participating Marriott properties
• 3x earnings at restaurants worldwide
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement
• Annual fee of $0 for active military members (rates and fees)

Final Thoughts

American Express benefits for active military members can be worth thousands of dollars annually. If you’re anticipating entering active duty, currently on active duty, or know someone who is, consider sharing this information or taking advantage personally.

Other credit card issuers also offer active-duty military credit card benefits. To learn more about the best credit cards for active-duty military, start with our article that lists our favorites, including cards from other issuers.

For the cell phone protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. 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.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the extended warranty benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, when an American Express® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the purchase protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

While credit card return protection is an incredibly useful perk, it’s also becoming increasingly hard to find cards that offer it. Fortunately, American Express is one of the only issuers to offer this handy benefit across several of its cards, including one of our favorite luxury heavyweights, The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Recently, I found myself unable to return a pair of shoes and tapped into my Amex Platinum card to get reimbursed instead. Upon filing a claim through Amex Assurance Company, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was approved and my purchase was reimbursed within 24 hours. Keep reading to learn more about return protection and how it may end up rescuing the day for you, too.

Amex Platinum Card — Overview

Return Protection on the Amex Platinum Card

With return protection on the Amex Platinum card, you may be able to file a claim if the merchant won’t take back the item for an eligible item within 90 days from the date of purchase. Here are several details you should know before filing a claim:

• There are many items ineligible for reimbursement, including (but not limited to): animals and living plants, jewelry, watches, memberships, books, medical equipment, personal hygiene items, seasonal items, and more.
• If approved, Amex may refund the full purchase price (excluding shipping and handling) up to $300 per item, with a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card member account if you purchased it entirely with your eligible Amex card.
• Be prepared to send over an original store receipt, a record of the charge on your Amex statement credit, and any other supporting documentation.

Once you verify that your merchant will not accept the eligible item and it meets the issuer’s terms above, call Amex Assurance Company at 800-228-6855 to begin the claims process.

My Experience Filing a Return Protection Claim

If you’re an avid runner you know that buying new sneakers is a common occurrence. Every 3 to 6 months, I end up buying a new pair of running shoes.

I have a few pairs of HOKA shoes, but in April, I decided to try a different style compared to what I normally purchase. For weeks, I kept trying to convince myself that I would break in my new kicks. But after a dozen or so runs, reality sunk in. The soles were downright uncomfortable and I wished I stuck to my classic pairs.

While HOKA has a 30-day return guarantee that allows you to receive a refund or exchange your shoes, I was well outside this window. Luckily, I remembered that I had paid with my Amex Platinum card, which comes with some of the most generous purchase protection perks of any rewards card on the market. Not only does the card offer return protection, but you’ll also receive purchase protection (for accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost items within 90 days of purchase) and extended warranty benefits (adds up to an additional year of coverage for the original manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less).

Of course, if you’re looking to file a claim, it can take some effort to call in and gather the right documentation. But for shoes that cost me nearly $175, I was willing to put this benefit to the test.

Before I started my claim, I gathered the necessary information. First, I took a screenshot of the charge on my Amex Platinum card and Hoka’s 30-day guarantee policy. However, to be extra certain, I got a statement in writing from a Hoka customer service agent to confirm that I was no longer eligible for a return.

On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, I called Amex Assurance Company (800-228-6855), which seemed to be a general line covering all of Amex’s travel and purchase protections. It took a few minutes to connect with an agent, to whom I informed that I’d like to start a return protection claim.

He asked me for background for my claim, noting the item type, purchase date, and return limitations from the manufacturer. Afterward, he discussed the necessary disclosures and let me know that I would hear back from a claims agent within 7 to 10 business days for more information.

I thought this was a reasonable turnaround time, but to my surprise, I received an email from Amex Assurance just 24 hours later. The document stated, “Your claim has been reviewed and has been approved for payment as detailed below. Your claim is now considered closed.” Best of all, I didn’t even have to send over the screenshots I had prepared.

It really was as easy as that. I checked my statement and found that I was refunded the full amount — $172.77 — that same day.

In some cases, the claims company may request that you send the item back to them. If so, you’ll also be reimbursed for the shipping cost. However, in this case, no such action was required of me.

Best Credit Cards With Return Protection

Below, we’ve detailed some of our top cards that offer return protection across various issuers. Before filing a claim, you’ll want to double-check the coverage limits and eligibility for each return protection benefit.

While return protection isn’t offered by many cards, it’s certainly a valuable benefit that can put real money back in your pocket.

Final Thoughts

Before this experience, I had never filed a claim with my credit card issuer, whether that be for trip insurance or cell phone protection. I always felt that the process was cumbersome, but filing for return protection with Amex was surprisingly easy and saved me nearly $200 in the process.

In my opinion, lesser-known perks on the Amex Platinum card like return protection are just as important as airport lounge access or no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees). Since my claim was approved within 24 hours, I can now go buy the right pair of shoes that work best for me!

If you don’t currently own the card, i’d recommend checking out this fantastic Amex Platinum upgrade 100k offer.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

For the return protection benefit of the Amex Platinum card, with return protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the extended warranty benefit of the Amex Platinum card, when an American Express® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the purchase protection benefit of the Amex Platinum card, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the Amex Platinum card, 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.

For the return protection benefit of the Delta Reserve card, with return protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the return protection benefit of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, with return protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

But let’s say you gave this card a shot and found that it’s not the right fit — maybe you’re looking to make a change and swap out your card for something else.

In this guide, we’ll compare the benefits of the major types of cards in the same family as the Amex Platinum card and show you how you can downgrade or upgrade your Amex Platinum card to another product.

Amex Platinum Card — Overview

Before we dive into how to downgrade or upgrade your Amex Platinum card, let’s take a quick moment to review the card and the benefits you receive as a cardholder.

Some of our favorite perks include:

• 5x points on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 spent per year, then 1x points), and on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• Access to over 1,400 lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Access to American Express’ Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection
• Elite status and benefits with National, Avis, and Hertz (upon enrollment)
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status (upon enrollment)
• Up to $200 airline incidental credit (upon enrollment)
• Up to $200 prepaid hotel credit towards eligible stays
• Up to $200 Uber Cash credit per year
• Up to $189 CLEAR Plus credit
• Up to $100 Global Entry or up to $85 TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
• Impressive travel insurance, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay insurance, and more

Downgrading Your Amex Platinum Card

It’s recommended that your Amex Platinum card is at least 1 year old before you can downgrade your card to the American Express® Gold Card or the American Express® Green Card.

Amex Gold Card

Amex Green Card

Downgrades can take place in 2 ways:

1. Call the number on the back of your card and request a downgrade of your Amex Platinum card.
2. Start a chat conversation after logging into your Amex online account to request a downgrade of your Amex Platinum card.

Reasons To Downgrade Your Amex Platinum Card

Below, we’ll focus on reasons why you might consider downgrading your Amex Platinum card to either the Amex Gold card or Amex Green card.

You Don’t Travel Much Anymore

The Amex Platinum card is first and foremost a travel card, which means its benefits will help frequent travelers the most. It comes with a annual fee (rates & fees), but also a bevy of travel perks.

If you’re able to use most of these benefits, particularly the statement credits, then their value easily outweighs the annual fee in spades — but that’s if you can actually use them.

If you’re truly cutting down on travel, the Amex Platinum card probably isn’t going to be a good fit for you moving forward. Instead, you can downgrade your Amex Platinum card to the Amex Gold card or Amex Green card, both of which offer mild travel benefits but strong rewards for popular spending categories.

You Don’t Want To Pay a High Annual Fee

If you’re looking to cut down your spending in general, one of the easier ways to do that is to cancel a high annual fee card — and the Amex Platinum card is definitely one you’ll turn your attention to for this reason.

So if you’re tight on cash and don’t want to pay a large annual fee, there’s a strong case to downgrade your Amex Platinum card, even though you’ll lose all of its travel benefits.

You Want More Rewards on Everyday Spending Categories

A common realization for many with a travel card is that the value of the rewards you earn for spending is more than the benefits you enjoy on the card.

For example, if you travel only once or twice per year, you might get some value from the Amex Platinum card, but not as much value as a road warrior that travels every other week.

Meanwhile, if you spend a lot of money at restaurants or supermarkets, the Amex Gold card is almost a dream come true with its strong points-earning bonus categories.

For example, if you spend $3,000 per month on eating out, you could earn 4x points on those points with the Amex Gold card, which is 144,000 Membership Rewards points per year, worth $3,168 by our valuations. In contrast, if you spend all that money on the Amex Platinum card, you’d only earn 36,000 Membership Rewards points, which are worth $792 based on our estimations.

The Amex Platinum card isn’t an ideal card for everyday spending, whereas the Amex Gold card and Amex Green card offer multiple times better rewards on everyday categories like dining, groceries, travel, transit, and more.

Upgrading Your Amex Platinum Card

Upgrading your Amex Platinum card is a lot different from upgrading a lower-tier Amex card, simply because the Amex Platinum card can’t be upgraded to any other card besides the Centurion® Card from American Express. However, you can’t upgrade to the Centurion card unless you’re invited.

The Centurion card is informally known as the Amex Black card and comes loaded with luxury benefits, however, it also charges an eye-popping $5,000 annual fee and $10,000 initiation fee. In the past, you were allowed to request an invite to the Centurion card, but American Express has recently rescinded the ability to do so — now, the only way to get invited to the Centurion card is to be a loyal American Express customer and spend a lot on your Amex cards.

Anecdotally, the minimum spending requirement you’ll likely need to have on your Amex Platinum card to even get considered for an invite to the Centurion card is $250,000 per year.

In practice, the minimum figure is probably closer to $500,000 per year — however, in our experience, it’s actually more important to have a long, perfect payment history and relationship with American Express to be considered for the Centurion card.

We’ve seen people with spending that exceeds far beyond that figure who continue to wait for an invite, while those who spend near the minimum requirement but have a long (20+ year) history with American Express get invited to become a Centurion cardholder.

All information about the Centurion® Card from American Express has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Reasons To Upgrade Your Amex Platinum Card

Now that we’ve compiled all of the reasons to downgrade your Amex Platinum card, let’s take a look at all of the reasons why you might consider upgrading your Amex Platinum card to the Centurion card.

Admittedly, if you’ve been invited to upgrade to the Centurion card and are considering doing so, you’re likely in the 1% of the 1%.

You Get Invited to the Centurion Card

If you’ve been invited to upgrade your Amex Platinum card to the Centurion card, you’ve essentially been invited by American Express into one of the most exclusive clubs in the world.

Typically, you will get a package in the mail inviting you to upgrade to the Centurion card. This package may contain a phone number to call, as well as an invite code to provide to the Centurion service agent.

If one of your life goals has been to get entry to this club and you’re willing to pay thousands of dollars in annual fees and initiation fees, then you should absolutely accept an upgrade offer if you’re invited.

You’re Looking for Super High-end Benefits

Maybe you liked the Amex Platinum card’s travel benefits, but you were left wanting for even more luxurious perks from your card.

While it’s difficult to decline an invitation to one of the most hyped-up financial products out there, you should still evaluate whether or not you can get enough value from the card to justify the $10,000 initiation fee and $5,000 annual fee (as well as a $5,000 annual fee for each additional cardholder, up to 2 additional cardholders).

Here’s the shortlist of the Centurion card’s notable perks (terms and conditions apply for all benefits):

• Access to the Centurion concierge service
• Access to Centurion New York, a new luxury space located on the 55th floor of One Vanderbilt in the heart of Midtown Manhattan delivering luxury hospitality and dining
• Complimentary Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion status
• Access to the Centurion Hotel Program (includes a room upgrade at the time of booking when available and an additional property credit of around ~$200 per stay) at properties like Aman, Belmond, Mandarin Oriental, Oetker Collection, Peninsula Hotels, Rosewood, St. Regis, and Waldorf Astoria
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, and IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
• Access to Centurion International Arrival Services (meet and greet service)
• Complimentary PS membership (private airport lounge) and an annual complimentary visit 
• Complimentary Equinox Destination Access membership
• Up to $250 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits per quarter

There are a ton more benefits associated with this card, but this is just a taste of what you can expect when you hold this card. These perks are all quite valuable if you can use them, and even if you take advantage of just a few, you may be able to justify the annual fee.

For the right person, the Centurion card could actually end up saving money. For example, the Equinox Destination Access membership can cost typically around $290 per month. If you use your Centurion card to get a complimentary Equinox membership, you’d be saving upwards of $3,480 per year from this 1 perk alone.

Amex Membership Rewards Cards

Now, in this next section, we’ll walk you through each of the major products in the same family as the Amex Platinum card. From most premium to least premium, here are the cards in the personal Membership Rewards family:

• Centurion card (invite-only)
• Amex Platinum card
• Amex Gold card
• Amex Green card

You should be able to downgrade your Amex Platinum card to the Amex Gold card or Amex Green card without issue as long as your card has been open for at least 12 months.

But you can only upgrade your Amex Platinum card to the Centurion card if you get invited.

Benefits Comparison

Below you can compare the benefits of each card side-by-side:

Final Thoughts

Downgrading or upgrading your Amex Platinum card is a big decision. You probably opened this card to take advantage of the travel benefits and to earn Amex Membership Rewards points (and maybe even for the card’s prestige).

Your favorite travel companion could potentially be no more — if you upgrade your Amex Platinum card, you’ll join the likes of the ultra-wealthy with the Centurion card.

If you downgrade your Amex Platinum card to the Amex Gold card or Amex Green card, you’ll still have a fantastic card, though it’ll mostly be a machine for earning lots of Amex points.

For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit of the Amex Platinum card, 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.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of the Amex Platinum card, 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.

Let’s talk about The Platinum Card® from American Express and other card options to consider, as well as when you’re entitled to take advantage of the benefits offered by the MLA and SCRA.

Are Military Members Charged Credit Card Fees?

This is probably your biggest question — and for a good reason. If you’ve been in the military for a while, you’ve probably heard a thing or two about the Military Lending Act (MLA) and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). These 2 laws dictate how card issuers manage military member accounts, including what types of interest rates they can charge and the fees they can assess.

American Express is one of the more generous card issuers regarding how it applies these laws. This means that it will do quite a lot for you, including not charging annual fees, late payment fees, over-limit fees, and returned payment fees.

Amex will also cap the interest rate of your card at different levels depending on when you acquired it:

• 6% cap if the card is acquired before becoming active duty
• 36% cap if the card is acquired after becoming active duty

So, what happens if you’re in the National Guard or a member of the Reserve and want to take advantage of these benefits? The bad news is that you won’t be able to do so without becoming active duty.

However, if your unit gets activated or you otherwise acquire orders to become active duty, you qualify for the Military Lending Act (MLA) advantages.

You’ll be an active-duty service member when you get orders to deploy or complete annual training. Note that for Amex to apply this, you must have orders lasting at least 30 days.

Our Favorite Benefits of the Amex Platinum Card

The Amex Platinum card has various benefits for its cardholders upon enrollment, including statement credits, airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and more. As a top-tier travel card, the Amex Platinum card usually charges a annual fee (see rates & fees). That’s steep for anyone, especially if you can’t take advantage of the benefits.

However, eligible active duty military members won’t be charged the annual fee. And if you’re active in the Reserve or the National Guard, that includes you.

So, what do you get with such a large annual fee?

Card Earnings

• 5x points on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• 1x points on all other purchases

Statement Credits

• Up to $200 airline incidental credit (good towards items like baggage fees, seat selection fees, etc., upon enrollment)
• Up to $200 Uber Cash credit ($15 per month and $20 bonus in December)
• Up to $240 digital entertainment credit ($20 per month)
• Up to $200 prepaid hotel credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through AmexTravel.com, which requires a minimum 2-night stay
• Up to $155 Walmart+ credit (offers same-day delivery and complimentary shipping on orders)
• Up to $300 Equinox credit annually
• Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit ($50 from January to June and $50 from July to December)
• Up to $189 CLEAR Plus credit
• Either up to $100 Global Entry credit or up to $85 TSA PreCheck credit

Travel Benefits

• Hilton Honors Gold elite status (including complimentary room upgrades, food and beverage credits, late checkout, and more) upon enrollment
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status (including complimentary internet, upgrades, late checkout, and more) upon enrollment
• National Emerald Club Executive status upon enrollment
• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle elite status upon enrollment
• Avis Preferred Plus elite status upon enrollment
• Access to Amex International Airline Program
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates & fees)
• The most robust airport lounge access out of any card (by far) (with access to 1,400+ worldwide lounges, including Centurion Lounges (both in the U.S. and abroad), Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta same-day), Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner, select Lufthansa Lounges (when flying Lufthansa same-day), Plaza Premium Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (upon enrollment), and select Virgin Clubhouses

When To Get an Amex Platinum Card

Are you already in the Reserve or National Guard but have orders to go active?

Since Amex won’t charge the annual fee if you’re on active duty, it may make sense to open the card once you’ve been activated. This is especially true if your orders are for a longer period of time, as the rule applies as long as you’re actively serving. However, when you return to the Reserve or standard National Guard duty, you’ll no longer be entitled to these benefits.

Getting Your Annual Fee Removed

First, you’ll need to contact Amex to not charge the fee.

There are 2 ways this can be done. The first is if you’re opening a new card while on active orders. During the application, you can select your employment from a drop-down box. Choose Military and Amex will auto-apply it if it can match your information to the DoD database.

If you already have an Amex Platinum card and have received orders to activate, you’ll request your benefits from within your American Express account. This can be done after you’ve logged in and under the Account Services tab.

Who Else Doesn’t Get Annual Fees Charged?

Under the Military Lending Act (MLA), additional cardholders of eligible military members won’t be charged the annual fees. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), those that are eligible for rights under the MLA include:

• The active-duty service member
• Their spouse
• Their dependents

This means that if you’re married, your significant other is also apply to apply for relief with the MLA. All late, returned payment, and over-limit fees will be removed, as will their annual fee. And since the Amex Platinum card rings in at an astounding per year, doubling that can result in huge benefits for you and your family.

Enrolling in Amex Platinum Card Benefits

Once you’ve been approved for the Amex Platinum card, you’ll want to jump right on its benefits. Some of these, such as the statement credits, will apply automatically when you make a purchase. Others require you to enroll before you’ll be able to take advantage. To do so, you’ll first want to log in to your American Express account. At the top of your account, you’ll see the Rewards and Benefits tab for your card.

Click Rewards and Benefits, then click Benefits at the far right of the page, which will take you to the dashboard for all your cards’ benefits. Here you’ll be able to see all the things the card provides. You’ll also see where you can enroll in each benefit.

You must do this before making any purchases. If you don’t, you won’t receive the benefits you’re entitled to. For example, here’s what it looks like when enrolling in the Equinox credit offered by the Amex Platinum card:

In addition to many of the previously mentioned statement credits and travel benefits, many of the Amex Platinum card’s perks are offered upon enrollment, including ShopRunner membership, Wheels Up Connect and Core membership discounts, and the American Express MyCredit Guide.

Other Cards To Consider

We’ve thoroughly covered the Amex Platinum card and how it works for those in the Reserve and National Guard, but what about other cards? After all, American Express has a huge lineup of credit cards for its members, including co-branded credit cards from top hotels and airlines. And American Express isn’t the only card issuer that won’t charge the annual fee for military members: Both Chase and Citi do as well.

With that in mind, here are some top options for active National Guard or active Reserve members to consider acquiring.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

How often do you stay in hotels? If the answer is “at least once per year,” the Hilton Aspire card is worth grabbing, especially while the annual fee isn’t charged. Normally charging per year, the card comes with a host of premium benefits for its cardholders, including:

• Complimentary Hilton Diamond status
• Up to $400 annual Hilton Resort statement credit
• $200 annual airline credit
• 1 Free Night Award every year after renewal
• $100 credit at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties

If you’re unfamiliar with hotel elite status, it can provide high-end benefits such as complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, and more. This is true at Hilton, where Diamond elite status grants you rooms up to 1-bedroom suites. The card can easily get you thousands of dollars in value each year.

For example, the Free Night Award you’ll receive each year is valid at almost all Hilton properties, even the most expensive. This includes ultra-luxurious options such as the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, where a standard room sprawls out over 3,000 square feet and costs more than $2,000 per night:

The Hilton resort statement credit is also highly valuable since it can be used for room rates at qualifying resorts. Combine this with a stay using your Free Night Award, and you’ll have a great weekend on your hands!

Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

The Amex Platinum card comes with great lounge access options, especially if you’re flying internationally, but it can fall a little short for domestic travel. This is especially true if you’re not often on a Delta flight (since the Amex Platinum card grants you access to Delta Sky Clubs if you fly on a same-day Delta ticket).

However, you can keep all your bases covered with the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card, which includes complimentary Admirals Club access whenever you fly with American Airlines. You’ll also receive:

• Priority boarding
• Complimentary checked bag for you and up to 8 traveling companions
• Priority check-in and priority airport screening
• 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Citi does not charge the annual fee for those who are on active duty, so by getting this card, you’ll snag yourself a complimentary lounge membership!

United Club℠ Infinite Card

The high-end card for United flyers, the United Club Infinite card functions much like the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card, providing a complimentary United Club lounge membership to cardholders. This can be great for those situated in United hubs such as Newark (EWR) and Chicago (ORD). Other benefits include:

• Complimentary first and second checked bag for you and 1 traveling companion
• 25% back on United inflight purchases
• Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United-operated award tickets (when available)
• Expanded award availability
• Up to 3,000 Premier Qualifying Points
• Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit
• $70 discount on CLEAR membership, plus 10,000 bonus miles
• IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status and a $75 annual credit
• Avis Preferred President’s Club elite status
• 10% discount on United Economy Saver Awards within the continental U.S. and Canada

As you can see, this card is highly rewarding to its cardholders and even includes complimentary elite status with both IHG (hotels) and Avis (rental cars). Chase waives the annual fee for active duty military — including folks with active orders.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Our last recommendation on the list is a favorite for most travelers, whether or not they’re in the military. That’s because the Chase Sapphire Reserve card provides an excellent opportunity to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards and an annual travel credit that helps cut down on the annual fee. Here are some of the best Chase Sapphire Reserve card military benefits that you can expect to find:

• 10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2023
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
• 5x points on airfare booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit
• Priority Pass airport lounge access
• TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
• Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
• Rental car elite status with National and Avis

The annual travel credit applies to a wide variety of purchases, including hotels, airfare, transit, rental cars, cruises, and more.

Final Thoughts

Those who serve deserve a few extra benefits, and it’s nice to see card issuers giving back. While it’s only possible to receive annual fee exemptions for those on active orders, National Guard and Reserve members qualify for the same Military Lending Act (MLA) benefits as their peers while actively serving. This is true for all card issuers, including American Express, Chase, and Citi, and can lead to huge savings each year.

If you’re in the National Guard or the Reserve and you’re considering an Amex Platinum card, make sure to consider it carefully when you apply. If you have upcoming orders, it may be worth pausing your application until your unit becomes active. After that, feel free to apply — and enjoy!

It is also no secret that American Express and Delta Air Lines have a strong partnership. Not only does American Express issue all of the co-branded Delta credit cards, but holding the Amex Platinum card even grants you access to Delta Sky Clubs when you’re traveling with Delta.

Given this partnership, readers often wonder whether their Amex Platinum card grants them any status benefits with Delta — and this article answers just that!

Does the Amex Platinum Card Give You Delta Air Lines Status?

To get straight to the point, the answer is no. The Amex Platinum card does not give you automatic Delta Air Lines status, nor does it give you a pathway to earn status with Delta.

There are really only 2 Delta-related benefits on the Amex Platinum card. The first is access to Delta Sky Clubs while traveling on a Delta Air Lines flight. The second is, if you select Delta as your designated airline for the up to $200 annual airline fee credit, you can use those credits to offset incidental purchases made with Delta like checked bags, seat selection, and more.

What Status Does the Amex Platinum Card Offer?

While the Amex Platinum card doesn’t offer any type of airline elite status, the good news is it does offer status in multiple hotel and rental car elite programs.

Amex Platinum cardholders receive automatic Hilton Honors Gold status upon enrollment, which offers perks like 80% bonus points, room upgrades, a food and dining credit, and more. You’ll also receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status upon enrollment, which includes 25% bonus points, room upgrades, a welcome gift, 2 p.m. late checkout, and more.

On the rental car front, you’ll receive National Emerald Club Executive status, Avis Preferred status, and Hertz President’s Circle status. Each of these status levels can offer discounts, car upgrades, no additional fees, and more (enrollment required).

Hot Tip: Learn more about all of the best benefits of the Amex Platinum card, including airport lounge access, monthly Uber credits, annual CLEAR Plus credit, and more. 

What Credit Cards Help You Earn Delta Status?

Both the personal and business version of the Delta Platinum card, as well as both versions of the Delta Reserve card, allow you to earn MQDs via your card spend to help you achieve higher levels of Delta elite status.

Hot Tip: If you want to learn which Delta card is best for you, read through our complete guide on the best Delta credit cards.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Platinum card doesn’t offer elite status with Delta, or any other airline for that matter, but it easily offers the most perks and benefits of nearly all travel rewards credit cards.

That said, if you’re looking for a card to help you earn Delta elite status, you’d be better off opting for one of the co-branded Delta Air Lines cards.

Over the years, the team at American Express has reimagined the Amex Platinum card to lead in lifestyle and travel.

And with COVID-19 wreaking havoc on commercial aviation, well-heeled individuals and business owners have turned to private aviation.

One of the secrets of the Amex Platinum card is that you can enjoy some unique benefits and discounts while flying private. In this guide, we’ll walk you through Amex’s exclusive partnership with Wheels Up to show you how you can make the most of this benefit.

Overview of the Amex Platinum Card

The Amex Platinum card is the market leader in luxury travel and lifestyle perks. Right now, you can earn up to 5x Membership Rewards points on your purchases:

• 5x points on airfare purchased directly through the airline or through AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per calendar year)
• 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
• 1x points on other purchases

Here’s a glimpse at some of the travel benefits you’re entitled to when you hold the Amex Platinum card:

• Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection (includes Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs when flying on same-day Delta flights, and Priority Pass lounges upon enrollment)
• Access to Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection
• Complimentary Hilton Honors (Gold) and Marriott Bonvoy (Gold Elite) status upon enrollment
• Car rental benefits and elite status at Avis, Hertz, and National
• Up to $200 in airline fee credits every year
• Up to $200 in prepaid hotel credits every year
• Up to $189 in CLEAR Plus credits every year
• Up to $100 in Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credits every 4 years
• Up to $200 in Uber Cash every year
• Top-shelf travel coverages, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, and baggage insurance
• Premium Private Jet Program by Wheels Up

This card also excels in lifestyle perks:

• Up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits annually
• Up to $240 in digital entertainment credits annually
• Up to $155 in Walmart+ membership credits annually
• Up to $300 in Equinox credits annually
• Up to $300 in statement credits every time you purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike
• Access to exclusive dining benefits through Global Dining Access by Resy

Of course, the Amex Platinum card also comes with exceptional purchase protection, cell phone protection insurance, extended warranty, and no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).

What Is Wheels Up?

Wheels Up is a publicly-traded, private jet charter company centered around the ability to book “on-demand” through a mobile app from either the Wheels Up fleet or a variety of operators.

Founded in 2013 by Kenny Dichter, Wheels Up offers a membership-based business model to access a unique fleet of aircraft at an attractive price.

In fact, one of the major value propositions is the ability for members to book short- and medium-range private charter flights at a capped all-inclusive hourly rate.

Today, Wheels Up is one of the largest private jet charter companies, having made some recent acquisitions including Delta Private Jets and Mountain Aviation. Its fleet of aircraft started out with just King Air 350i planes but has since expanded to include all jet categories from Cessna Citation aircraft to large jets.

Let’s take a look at what exclusive benefits you get at Wheels Up!

Premium Private Jet Program by Wheels Up

Amex labels its partnership with Wheels Up as the Premium Private Jet Program. At a high level, here are some of the benefits you’re entitled to when you sign up for Wheels Up using your Amex Platinum card:

• Initiation fee discount
• Annual fee discount
• Flight credits toward your first flight
• Waived transaction fees for your first Wheels Up booking made through the app

There are 3 main tiers an Amex Platinum cardholder can maximize through Wheels Up:

• Marketplace access (non-member benefits)
• Connect membership (entry-level membership)
• Core membership (premium membership)

Wheels Up Marketplace Access Benefits

Marketplace access allows you to take advantage of the Wheels Up fleet and ecosystem without paying for a membership. With the Amex Platinum card, you will get:

• Waived booking transaction fee (normally $495) when you book your first Wheels Up flight through the mobile app
• Guaranteed capped hourly rates on 1 round-trip or one-way flight on a Wheels Up King Air 350i within the continental U.S. (subject to availability)

The Wheels Up marketplace allows you to sign up for a Wheels Up account, download the mobile app, and book aircraft that meet your needs. You can choose from a fleet of more than 1,500 private aircraft, though most of these aircraft are managed by Wheels Up and not operated by Wheels Up.

In a sense, it’s a lot like Expedia for private aircraft. Best of all, you don’t need to pay any hefty membership fees before taking advantage of the benefits here.

Wheels Up Connect Membership Benefits

Wheels Up Connect Membership is the entry-level membership available to Wheels Up users, which enables access to more features and benefits than marketplace access.

If you use your Amex Platinum card to pay for your Connect membership, you’ll enjoy a discounted one-time initiation fee of $2,396 instead of $2,995.

After the first year, annual fees (starting from year 2) will be $2,495. There are no booking transaction fees, and you’ll get these additional benefits:

• The ability to nominate 2 authorized lead passengers (including yourself)
• $500 flight credit toward your first flight
• The ability to book King Air 350i flights at a guaranteed capped hourly rate for 275 days or more per year
• Access to a 24/7 member services team and dedicated account manager
• The ability to book shared flights, shuttle flights, and up to 4 Hot Flights (empty legs) per year
• Access to signature events, bespoke experiences, and a complimentary 3-month Inspirato Club membership

Hot Tip: One of the biggest reasons you’d want to subscribe to Connect would be to access Hot Flights for as little as $320 one-way for an entire aircraft!

Wheels Up Core Membership Benefits

If you’re looking for an all-encompassing membership, paying for a Wheels Up Core membership might be the right fit for you.

When you use your Amex Platinum card to pay for a Wheels Up Core membership, your first-year initiation fee is discounted by 40% from $17,500 to $10,500. Starting from year 2, your annual fee is $8,500. You’ll get these benefits:

• The ability to nominate 4 authorized lead passengers (including yourself)
• $2,000 flight credit toward your first flight
• The ability to book flights on the entire Wheels Up fleet at a guaranteed capped hourly rate for 275 days or more per year
• Guaranteed availability up to 365 days per year with at least 48 hours’ notice on 5 aircraft categories
• Access to the Wheels Down Concierge for lifestyle benefits
• The ability to book shared flights, shuttle flights, and unlimited Hot Flights (empty legs)
• Access to signature events, bespoke experiences, and a complimentary 12-month Inspirato Club membership

Also, you can receive additional flight credits after joining Wheels Up Core:

• $1,000 when you purchase a $50K fund program (2% bonus)
• $2,000 when you purchase a $100K fund program (2% bonus)
• $4,500 when you purchase a $200K fund program (2.25% bonus)

Hot Tip: If you deposit $100,000 or less, you’ll need to wait 90 days to book a private charter as a new Wheels Up Connect or Core member. If you’re flying more than 90 days out, though, you can book your charters immediately after joining.

Is Wheels Up Safe?

One of the biggest concerns that private jet clients have is surrounding safety. Whenever you fly on a commercial airline such as United or Delta, you can rest assured that the crew is highly trained and certified.

Wheels Up’s safety standards far exceed the requirements set out by the FAA, and all flights are guaranteed to have 2 pilots with captains averaging at least 7,000 flight hours and first officers averaging at least 4,000 flight hours.

In addition, every pilot is required to hold these certificates:

• FAA Airline Transport Pilot
• First-Class Medical Certificate
• FAA Pilot-in-Command Type-Rating (for each aircraft they fly)

Furthermore, Wheels Up pilots undergo a mandatory series of ground and flight training in full-motion simulators, first aid, emergency drills, survival techniques, and more.

Wheels Up aircraft are rigorously assessed and approved by its in-house safety team or vetted third-party contractors that specialize in safety systems, technology, FAA regulations, and aircraft maintenance.

So for these reasons, flying with Wheels Up is very safe.

Amex Cards With Wheels Up Benefits

If you have an Amex Platinum card or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you have access to the Premium Private Jet Program fulfilled by Wheels Up.

How To Use Wheels Up Benefits from Amex

It’s incredibly easy to use your Wheels Up benefits from your eligible Amex card:

1. Visit the Wheels Up – American Express partnership page.
2. Enter your card number to verify eligibility.
3. Use your Amex card to pay for any eligible memberships.
4. Download the Wheels Up mobile app (iOS, Android) or create an online account.
5. Start using the app or website to plan your private jet travel.

Everything Else You Need To Know About Wheels Up

Now that we’ve given you the 30,000-foot view of Wheels Up’s partnership with Amex, we’d like to highlight some of the other features of Wheels Up that are helpful to know.

If you’re looking to charter a private jet, you must deposit at least $400,000 to book and fly immediately on peak days; if you want to fly immediately without waiting 90 days after joining, but aren’t flying on peak days, you can deposit $200,000 or more.

If you’re a Core member, your Wheels Up fleet is capped at the following rates based on the aircraft type:

• King Air 350i — $5,395 per hour
• Light jet (Hawker 400XP or similar) — $6,995 per hour
• Midsize jet (Cessna Citation Excel or similar) — $8,295 per hour
• Super-mid jet (Citation X or similar) — $9,295 per hour
• Large-cabin jet (Gulfstream G450 or similar) — $12,995 per hour

These costs are before hourly fuel surcharges, carbon offset fees, and a 7.5% federal excise tax. Any repositioning fees are included.

One of the most overlooked features of Wheels Up Core is the Wheels Down benefits:

• Automated Hertz President’s Circle status
• Membership to PS at LAX
• Inspirato Club membership
• Dedicated concierge (through Four Hundred, a lifestyle management and travel firm)
• FoundersCard membership
• Exclusive events including meet-and-greets with celebrities and concert tickets

Also, Wheels Up offers a Business membership tier, which is best suited for companies that book private travel. You can nominate up to 6 lead passengers including yourself, and it has a first-year initiation fee of $29,500 with an annual fee (starting from year 2) of $14,500. The Business membership is similar to the Core membership, but you can nominate more authorized passengers.

Delta SkyMiles Partnership

Currently, Wheels Up is partnered with Delta, which makes sense given its acquisition of Delta Private Jets to offer Delta benefits and the ability to even earn Delta SkyMiles on Wheels Up bookings.

Right now, if you deposit as little as $50,000 in the Wheels Up Fund Program, you can enjoy Delta SkyMiles Medallion status:

• $50,000 — Gold Medallion
• $100,000 — Platinum Medallion
• $150,000 — Diamond Medallion
• $200,000 — Diamond Medallion and Gold Medallion
• $300,000 — 2 Diamond Medallions

You can even earn Delta SkyMiles when you initiate or renew a new Wheels Up membership:

• Initiate a Connect membership — 10,000 SkyMiles
• Renew a Connect membership — 5,000 SkyMiles
• Initiate a Core membership — 35,000 SkyMiles
• Renew a Core membership — 15,000 SkyMiles
• Initiate a Business membership — 50,000 SkyMiles
• Renew a Business membership — 25,0000 SkyMiles

If you also purchase a UP For Business Enterprise Solution, you’ll earn 5 SkyBonus points (Delta’s corporate rewards program) per dollar spent.

There are lots of areas where you can get additional value with this membership, but soon, you’ll even be able to redeem Delta SkyMiles for Wheels Up flights, though the consensus is that you’ll get only around 1 cent per mile of value. That’s a lot of SkyMiles needed for a single private jet flight.

Final Thoughts

There’s a lot to be said about private jet membership programs like Wheels Up. Because the private aviation industry is incredibly opaque, going deep into membership programs can seem overwhelming with minimum deposit amounts, initiation fees, guaranteed hourly rates, and so on.

But if you have an appetite to book private jet travel and have the Amex Platinum card, you can get added value from your card by using the Premium Private Jet Program benefit, which is fulfilled by Wheels Up, a publicly-traded private jet charter company.

Using the Wheels Up mobile app, you can enjoy benefits such as waived booking fees, membership discounts, and guaranteed aircraft availability if you use your Amex Platinum card to pay for these purchases.

You can leverage Wheels Up’s wide fleet of over 1,500 planes ranging from King Air 350i aircraft to enormous large-cabin jets such as the Gulfstream G450.

The Amex Platinum card offers an easy way to save thousands of dollars on private jet charters (plus access to deeply discounted empty legs known as Hot Flights) through Wheels Up.

For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance and trip delay insurance benefits of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the extended warranty and purchase protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the cell phone protection benefit of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

One way in which Amex made the great pivot to travel and lifestyle was through its acquisition of Resy, an online restaurant reservation platform.

Since Amex acquired Resy in 2019, it has woven in exclusive Resy benefits for specific cardholders. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what Resy benefits you get if you have an Amex Platinum card.

Let’s get into it!

Overview of the Amex Platinum Card

The Amex Platinum card offers fantastic benefits and huge rewards but comes with a hefty price tag. Still, one of the ways you can get some exceptional value from the Amex Platinum card right off the bat is to take advantage of the welcome bonus and ability to earn up to 5x Membership Rewards points:

• 5x points on airfare purchased directly with the airline or through AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per calendar year)
• 5x points on prepaid hotels purchased through AmexTravel.com
• 1x points on other purchases

This card offers some incredible luxury travel benefits. Note that some benefits require enrollment through your American Express account, so don’t miss out on your benefits.

• Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (upon enrollment), Delta Sky Clubs (when traveling on same-day Delta flights), and more
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
• Complimentary elite status and benefits at Avis, Hertz, and National
• The ability to book Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection
• Exceptional travel insurance
• Up to $200 airline fee credit annually
• Up to $200 prepaid hotel credit annually
• Up to $200 in Uber Cash every year
• Up to $189 in CLEAR Plus credits every year
• Up to $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit every 4 years

But we also love this card because it focuses immensely on lifestyle benefits:

• Up to $240 in digital entertainment credits every year
• Up to $155 in Walmart+ membership credits every year
• Up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits every year
• Up to $300 in Equinox credits every year
• $300 in credits each time you purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike
• Access to exclusive and tailored events through By Invitation Only
• Global Dining Access by Resy

What Is Resy?

Resy is an online restaurant reservation platform similar to OpenTable that allows its users to make reservations online or through a mobile app. In fact, Resy is the market leader in large metropolitan cities like New York City, so if you’re looking to make a reservation at a restaurant, you’ll probably end up using Resy.

Global Dining Access by Resy

If you have an eligible Amex card, you’ll get Global Dining Access by Resy, which is an exclusive program designed to allow members to access some of the most sought-after restaurants and enjoy other benefits like:

• Exclusive reservation availability at restaurants around the world
• Priority notifications for reservation slots at over 9,000 restaurants
• Access to member-only events
• VIP Diner badge

Using your benefits is super easy:

1. Download the Resy app or go to Resy.com and create an account
2. Add your Amex Platinum card to your Resy wallet. After doing that, you’ll unlock your Global Dining Access benefits.
3. Browse and use the Resy app or website as usual.

Some of the most popular restaurants include Carbone (NYC), Le Bernardin (NYC), Jon & Vinny’s (LA), and COTE Miami.

Cards With Global Dining Access by Resy

In addition to the Amex Platinum card, several other U.S. Amex cards are eligible for Global Dining Access by Resy:

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Final Thoughts

If you’re a foodie, having Resy benefits will add a ton of value to your life.

With the Amex Platinum card in your wallet, you’ll get Global Dining Access by Resy, which entitles you to exclusive reservations, priority notifications when tables open up, access to special experiences, and a VIP diner badge.

Best of all, it’s super easy to use your benefits — just add your Amex Platinum card to your Resy wallet and start using the app or website!

One thing that has stayed constant, however, is the appeal of Amex Membership Rewards points, which are among the most valuable types of points. They can be used for statement credits, gift cards, charitable donations, online shopping, and, most importantly, luxury travel. In fact, the best way to get tremendous value from those Amex points is by transferring them to airline and hotel partners.

The Platinum Card® from American Express is an undeniably impressive card. With one of the largest welcome bonus offers in the business and seemingly endless value offered to its members, it’s probably not a surprise that it’s so popular.

In this guide, we’ll focus on how exactly you can maximize 150,000 Amex points! Let’s dive right in.

Amex Platinum Card Welcome Bonus Offer

Card Snapshot

The Amex Platinum card earns up to 5x Membership Rewards points:

• 5x Membership Rewards points per dollar earned on flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year)
• 5x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
• 1x Membership Rewards points per dollar on all other purchases

Keep in mind that earning 5x points is equivalent to a return on spending of more than 11%, which is a huge bonus multiplier.

It gets better — the Amex Platinum card gets you access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, Gold elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment is required), rental car perks with Avis, Hertz, and National, and access to Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection.

Also, you can expect to get more than $1,600 worth of value from the Amex Platinum card’s statement credits (enrollment is required on some benefits):

• Up to $200 in airline fee credits every year
• Up to $200 in prepaid hotel credits every year
• Up to $240 in digital entertainment credits every year
• Up to $155 in Walmart+ credits every year
• Up to $200 in Uber Cash every year
• Up to $300 in Equinox credits every year
• Up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits every year
• Up to $189 in CLEAR Plus credits every year
• Up to $100 in Global Entry and TSA PreCheck application fee credits every 4 to 4.5 years

Even better, the Amex Platinum card comes with amazing travel insurance, no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees), purchase protection, extended warranty, return protection, cell phone protection insurance, and no preset spending limit.

No Preset Spending Limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.

13 Best Ways To Use 150,000 Amex Platinum Card Points

These days, the Amex Platinum card’s welcome bonus offer seems to be getting larger periodically. So what if you happen to find yourself earning a bonus of 150,000 Amex points from the Amex Platinum card?

Let’s take a look at some of our favorite ways to use 150,000 Amex points!

1. Book Singapore Airlines First Class Suites From New York to Singapore

Flying on Singapore Airlines Suites, especially on the A380, is perhaps the pinnacle of commercial aviation.

If sipping Dom or Krug Champagne while 35,000 feet in the air and enjoying your double bed in first class is your style, it could be worth booking this product using points.

Luckily, American Express partners with Singapore Airlines’ frequent flyer program, KrisFlyer, which can help you access these first class flights for free (almost).

One fantastic sweet spot with 150,000 Amex points is to transfer 149,000 Amex points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer to book the coveted Suites product from New York (JFK) to Singapore (SIN) with a layover in Frankfurt (FRA).

148,500 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles are required for this flight, but Amex requires transfer increments of 1,000 points, which is why you need to transfer 149,000 points.

Here’s the exact route we’re talking about:

• New York (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Singapore (SIN) one-way in Singapore Airlines A380 Suites for 149,000 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles plus around $28 in taxes and fees

Stopovers are not allowed on these tickets because the price above is strictly for Saver-level tickets (only higher-priced Advantage tickets are eligible for stopovers on one-way tickets).

These tickets routinely sell for $11,000 one-way, which would net you a return of nearly 8 cents per point!

2. Fly ANA First Class Round-Trip From the U.S. to Japan

Our second favorite way to get incredible value from your Amex points is to book ANA first class round-trip between the U.S. and Japan by transferring points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

This is a classic sweet spot in the world of award travel that still rates among the best: If you can find award availability on ANA first class between the U.S. and Japan, you can book a one-way flight for as few as 85,000 points.

From the West Coast, you must redeem 72,500 points, and from the Central U.S. or East Coast, you redeem 60,000 points one-way. Since a round-trip costs twice as much as a one-way ticket, a round-trip ticket from and to the West Coast can be booked for as few as 145,000 points.

Hot Tip: Since Virgin Atlantic Flying Club prices ANA flights by segment, you can only fly to and from Tokyo at this price.

It’s easier said than done since ANA doesn’t release award availability often, but here are some fantastic routes to consider booking:

• Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo (HND, NRT) round-trip in ANA first class for 170,000 Virgin points plus about $761 in taxes and fees
• Houston (IAH) – Tokyo (HND, NRT) round-trip in ANA first class for 170,000 Virgin points plus $761 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo (HND, NRT) round-trip in ANA first class for 145,000 Virgin points plus $761 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Tokyo (HND, NRT) round-trip in ANA first class for 170,000 Virgin points plus $761 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo (HND, NRT) round-trip in ANA first class for 145,000 Virgin points plus $761 in taxes and fees

These tickets usually retail for $22,000 to nearly $27,400. At the latter price, you’d net a redemption value of 16+ cents per point and up to 28 hours in a top-notch first class product!

3. Book 3 One-Way Business Class Tickets in Delta One to Europe

Another amazing way to redeem 150,000 Amex points is to book 3 one-way business class flights in Delta One between the U.S. and Europe.

In short, Virgin Atlantic boasts an awesome partnership with Delta Air Lines. As long as you’re not flying to or from the United Kingdom, you can redeem 50,000 points for a one-way Delta One business class ticket between the U.S. and Europe.

Also, Virgin Atlantic doesn’t make passengers pay any fuel surcharges that Delta may levy, which saves you around $700 per one-way ticket!

That said, finding partner-level award availability on Delta business class flights to Europe is pretty challenging, so searching for flights will likely involve more work.

Here are some great example flights to consider booking:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Delta One business class for 50,000 Virgin Points plus about $6 in taxes and fees
• Boston (BOS) – Amsterdam (AMS) one-way in Delta One business class for 50,000 Virgin Points plus $6 in taxes and fees
• Cincinnati (CVG) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Delta One business class for 50,000 Virgin Points plus $6 in taxes and fees
• Detroit (DTW) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Delta One business class for 50,000 Virgin Points plus $6 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Prague (PRG) one-way in Delta One business class for 50,000 Virgin Points plus $6 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Venice (VCE) one-way in Delta One business class for 50,000 Virgin Points plus $6 in taxes and fees

4. Book 6 One-Way Economy Tickets on Singapore Airlines to Europe

Not everyone minds hobnobbing with the hoi polloi, so let’s pivot to economy tickets.

More specifically, if you don’t have the desire to fly in business or first class but still want to get to Europe while flying on an acclaimed airline, this redemption method could be for you.

Simply put, Singapore Airlines charges 25,000 KrisFlyer miles for one-way flights between the central and eastern U.S. and Europe.

Luckily, Singapore Airlines operates 2 fifth-freedom flights, enabling you to get around $3,000 of value by booking 6 one-way tickets in economy using 150,000 Amex points.

Here are the 2 redemptions we’re talking about:

• Houston (IAH) – Manchester (MAN) one-way in Singapore Airlines economy class for 25,000 KrisFlyer miles plus around $6 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Singapore Airlines economy class for 25,000 KrisFlyer miles plus about $6 in taxes and fees

Instead of spending $3,000 for 6 one-way tickets, doesn’t it sound much better to spend less than $35?

5. Book 4 One-Way Business Class Tickets on Iberia to Spain

You can do a lot with 150,000 Amex points — in fact, one of the best ways to use these points would be to transfer a total of 136,000 points to Iberia Plus for 4 one-way business class tickets to Spain.

There’s a little-known sweet spot that honestly seems like a typo: during off-peak dates, you can redeem 34,000 Iberia Avios plus about $125 in taxes and fees for a one-way business class flight to Spain.

Best of all, award availability isn’t too hard to find, especially if you plan further in advance.

Almost all of Iberia’s flights involve Madrid (MAD), so you’d probably fly there. To take advantage of the 34,000 Avios price, you need to keep your flight between 3,001 and 4,000 miles in flight distance.

Here are flights we recommend:

• Boston (BOS) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 34,000 Iberia Avios and around $125 in taxes and fees
• Chicago (ORD) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 34,000 Iberia Avios plus $125 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 34,000 Iberia Avios plus $125 in taxes and fees
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 34,000 Iberia Avios plus $125 in taxes and fees

With 150,000 Amex points, you can comfortably book 4 of these one-way tickets (or 2 round-trip tickets), which nets you at least $10,000. More realistically, though, 4 of these flights can retail for up to around $20,000.

6. Book Round-Trip Business Class to the Middle East on Qatar Airways Qsuites

Qatar Airways Qsuites is one of the best business class products in the world. And if you’re traveling to the Middle East or Africa, you definitely want to consider flying Qsuites.

With Qsuites, your vacation starts a bit earlier, and you can access convenient schedules onward to your final destination.

We like Qatar Airways Qsuites, though, because award availability is pretty generous far in advance, and you can transfer Amex points to British Airways Executive Club to book these flights at an attractive rate.

British Airways Executive Club charges 70,000 points each way in business class from the U.S. to Qatar Airways’s hub in Doha (DOH).

That means you can comfortably book a round-trip business class ticket with less than 150,000 Amex points!

Here are some example redemptions we recommend:

• Boston (BOS) – Doha (DOH) round-trip in Qatar Airways Qsuites business class for 140,000 British Airways Avios plus around $245 in taxes and fees per person
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Doha (DOH) round-trip in Qatar Airways Qsuites business class for 140,000 British Airways Avios plus $245 in taxes and fees per person
• Philadelphia (PHL)  – Doha (DOH) round-trip in Qatar Airways Qsuites business class for 140,000 British Airways Avios plus $245 in taxes and fees per person
• San Francisco (SFO)  – Doha (DOH) round-trip in Qatar Airways Qsuites business class for 140,000 British Airways Avios plus $245 in taxes and fees per person

Round-trip business class flights usually retail for $10,000 to $15,000, making it an absolutely killer redemption. You can always split this up into 2 one-way tickets, as well.

7. Book Emirates First Class One-Way to the Middle East

Emirates first class is about as good as it gets when it comes to luxury aviation. If you ever have a chance to book Emirates first class, we recommend booking the tickets first and asking questions later. It’s that good.

In any case, Emirates operates a handful of first class routes between the U.S. and Dubai, and these tickets can be booked for as few as 138,000 Emirates Skywards miles one-way.

These tickets can retail for over $20,000 each, so the value proposition here is incredible. The only drawback is that Emirates levies heavy fuel surcharges of $817 each way.

Here are some of the routes you can book:

• Boston (BOS) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates first class for 138,000 Emirates Skywards miles plus $817 in taxes and fees
• Chicago (ORD) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates first class for 138,000 Emirates Skywards miles plus $817 in taxes and fees
• Miami (MIA) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates first class for 138,000 Emirates Skywards miles plus $817 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates first class for 138,000 Emirates Skywards miles plus $817 in taxes and fees
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates first class for 138,000 Emirates Skywards miles plus $817 in taxes and fees

8. Book an Epic Round-the-World SkyTeam Trip in Economy Class

Are you interested in traveling the world on an epic, complex itinerary using 150,000 Amex points? You can easily make this happen thanks to Amex’s transfer partnership with Aeromexico!

Amex maintains an enhanced transfer ratio of 1:1.6 with Aeromexico’s Rewards frequent flyer program.

And since Aeromexico only charges 224,000 points for a SkyTeam round-the-world award trip in economy, you can transfer 140,000 Amex points to earn enough points for one of these trips!

This is an insane deal because you’re allowed up to 15 stopovers. The only significant restriction is your travel can only be in 1 direction — no backtracking is allowed.

Here is an epic sample itinerary you can book with 140,000 Amex points transferred to Aeromexico Rewards:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Mexico City (MEX) in Aeromexico economy class
• Mexico City (MEX) – Santiago (SCL) in Aeromexico economy class
• Santiago (SCL) – Buenos Aires (EZE) in KLM economy class
• Buenos Aires (EZE) – Rio de Janeiro (GIG) in Aerolineas Argentinas economy class
• Rio de Janeiro (GIG) – Paris (CDG) in Air France economy class
• Paris (CDG) – Amsterdam (AMS) in Air France economy class
• Amsterdam (AMS) – Cape Town (CPT) in KLM economy class
• Cape Town (CPT) – Victoria Falls (VFA) in Kenya Airways economy class
• Victoria Falls (VFA) – Nairobi (NBO) in Kenya Airways economy class
• Nairobi (NBO) – Jeddah (JED) in Kenya Airways economy class
• Jeddah (JED) – Bangkok (BKK) in Saudia economy class
• Bangkok (BKK) – Jakarta (CGK) in Garuda Indonesia economy class
• Jakarta (CGK) – Hanoi (HAN) in Vietnam Airlines economy class
• Hanoi (HAN) – Seoul (ICN) in Korean Air economy class
• Seoul (ICN) – Los Angeles (LAX) in Korean Air economy class

We’re not even going to go into how much this itinerary would cost if you purchased it — the value proposition is incredible!

9. Book 4 Transcontinental One-Way Tickets in Air Canada Signature Class

Interested in flying to Canada? On specific flights, you can access an excellent lie-flat product on select North American transcontinental flights.

Air Canada Aeroplan employs a variable award pricing structure, and business class tickets can be had for as few as 25,000 points each way.

With 140,000 Amex points, you have enough to book 4 one-way Air Canada Signature class tickets at the lowest possible rate. It’ll take some digging to find these flights, but it’s oh-so worth it.

Expect to get excellent redemption values. Taxes and fees total around $60 or more per ticket.

Here are some good routes to book:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Toronto (YYZ) one-way in Air Canada Signature Class from 25,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus about $60 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) – Toronto (YYZ) one-way in Air Canada Signature Class from 25,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus $40 in taxes and fees
• Vancouver (YVR) – Montréal (YUL) one-way in Air Canada Signature Class from 35,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus $40 in taxes and fees
• Vancouver (YVR) – Toronto (YYZ) one-way in Air Canada Signature Class from 25,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus $40 in taxes and fees

Hot Tip: Because many of these routes have multiple daily frequencies, be sure to check if your flight is operated by an A330, 787, or 777. All of these flights have lie-flat business class seats, which are far superior to the standard recliner seats.

10. Book Etihad First Class One-Way to the Middle East

If you’re looking for an incredible way to visit the Middle East in first class without worrying about Emirates’ lack of availability (particularly if you’re traveling with a companion), Etihad first class can be extremely helpful.

Etihad first class is a lavish experience comparable to Emirates first class, and its first class seats aren’t difficult to find. Also, thanks to a handy partnership between Air Canada and Etihad, you can redeem fewer than 150,000 Amex points for a one-way flight to the Middle East.

Even though Etihad has a smaller network of routes than Emirates, there’s still 1 route equipped with a first class cabin to or from the U.S.:

• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) one-way in Etihad first class for 120,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus $30 or so in taxes and fees

Etihad first class retails for around $12,500 each way, giving you a redemption value of 10.41 cents per point!

11. Fly LATAM Business Class Round-Trip From the U.S. to South America

One of the best ways to use Amex points for business class flights to South America is on LATAM.

This airline offers an excellent business class experience, complete with lie-flat seats and reasonable redemption rates.

Transferring your points to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles allows you to book round-trip business class flights on LATAM’s long-haul routes for as few as 122,000 Amex points.

From there, expect to pay minimal taxes and fees.

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Lima (LIM) round-trip in LATAM business class for 126,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles plus about $80 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Santiago (SCL) round-trip in LATAM business class for 170,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles plus around $90 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Lima (LIM) round-trip in LATAM business class for 178,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles plus about $110 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – São Paulo (GRU) round-trip in LATAM business class for 126,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles plus $80 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Santiago (SCL) round-trip in LATAM business class for 170,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles plus $90 in taxes and fees

12. Fly Lufthansa First Class From the U.S. to South Africa With a Stopover in Frankfurt

If you’re looking to aim high for a fantastic, aspirational redemption to Africa, Lufthansa first class is an incredibly difficult flight to book to South Africa.

If you’re lucky enough, you can even book a stopover in Frankfurt (FRA) before continuing to Johannesburg (JNB) by redeeming an extra 5,000 Amex points.

Expect to transfer 135,000 Amex points to Air Canada Aeroplan to book one of these flights. Here are some great redemption ideas:

• Boston (BOS) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class with a stopover in Frankfurt for 135,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus around $40 in taxes and fees
• Houston (IAH) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class with a stopover in Frankfurt for 135,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus about $40 in taxes and fees
• Miami (MIA) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class with a stopover in Frankfurt for 135,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus about $40 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class with a stopover in Frankfurt for 135,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus about $40 in taxes and fees

Just keep in mind that finding 2 segments of Lufthansa first class availability is one of the tallest orders in all of award travel!

13. Book 3 Nights at a High-End Hilton Property

The last redemption we’ll discuss is transferring Amex points at a 1:2 ratio to Hilton Honors.

At select properties worldwide, getting more than 1 cent per value from each Hilton Honors point is possible. That equals a redemption value of 2 cents per Amex point, which could be worth it. (We generally value Amex Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents per point.)

So, with 150,000 Amex points, you can earn 300,000 Hilton Honors points.

In general, Hilton prices standard rooms at one of these rates:

• 150,000 points per night
• 110,000 points per night
• 95,000 points per night
• 80,000 points per night

And so on.

We’ve found that the sweet spot is to book 3 nights at a property charging 95,000 points per night with 150,000 Amex points, as it allows you to transfer 143,000 Amex points for 3 nights.

This is in contrast to only being able to book 2 nights at a property charging 110,000 points per night since 3 nights would require 165,000 Amex points.

Here are some of our favorite ways to redeem 150,000 Amex points for Hilton stays:

• 3 nights at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach for 143,000 Amex points
• 3 nights at Conrad Koh Samui for 143,000 Amex points
• 3 nights at Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, for 120,000 Amex points
• 3 nights at Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa for 135,000 Amex points
• 3 nights at Hilton Lake Como for 135,000 Amex points

Final Thoughts

You have plenty of ways to maximize 150,000 Amex points earned with the targeted welcome bonus offer on the Amex Platinum card. Most of Amex’s transfer partners maintain a 1:1 ratio, although some exceptions apply, including Aeromexico (1:1.6) and Hilton Honors (1:2).

Whether booking first class or coach, you can get incredible value from your Amex points.

In this guide, we showed you how to book some of the most aspirational flights using points, including Lufthansa first class, Emirates first class, Singapore Airlines first class, Etihad first class, and Qatar Airways Qsuites.

You can even redeem Amex points for excellent value at certain luxury properties in Hilton’s portfolio!

How will you redeem 150,000 Amex points?

For the extended warranty and purchase protection benefits of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the return protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the cell phone protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the purchase protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

And even though the value proposition for frequent travelers makes it a no-brainer, there’s a question that remains for those interested in cash-back: is the Amex Platinum card still worth it if you want cash-back?

Let’s take a look at this question in detail!

Card Snapshot

The perfect customer for the Amex Platinum card is the enthusiastic traveler who values being able to access luxury travel benefits.

Even if you only travel once per year, you can get tons of value beyond the cost of the annual fee if you use the benefits effectively.

To start, expect to earn up to 5x Membership Rewards points (worth an 11% return on spending by our valuations):

• 5x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent (up to $500,000 per calendar year) for flights booked directly with the airlines or with AmexTravel.com
• 5x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• 1x Membership Rewards points on all other purchases

You’ll get a ton of statement credits with the Amex Platinum card that really makes the card worth it in light of the annual fee — also, make use of the incredible airport lounge access, access to Amex Offers and American Express Fine Hotels & Reports, and the Amex Platinum Card Concierge Service.

Why You Shouldn’t Get Cash-back From the Amex Platinum Card

Whenever you make a purchase on the Amex Platinum card, the rewards you earn are called Membership Rewards points. For example, if you book a $1,000 plane ticket with Delta through AmexTravel.com, you should earn around 5,000 Membership Rewards points.

It’s not currently possible to have American Express redeem your points for a check or ACH transfer. You can, however, redeem Membership Rewards points specifically to cover charges on your card via statement credits. But you should not redeem your points in this way if you want to maximize your points.

Using your points as a statement credit is not ideal since you’re not getting maximum value. And once it’s done, your points are gone forever! You’ll get a flat redemption value of 0.6 cents per point if you choose to use your hard-earned points in this way. That means if you redeem 10,000 points, you’ll get a statement credit of $60.

How To Get Cash-back From the Amex Platinum Card

To get cash-back from your Amex Platinum card, you need to first have charges on your card to redeem statement credits against.

Follow these instructions to get cash-back from your Amex Platinum card:

1. Visit American Express’s Membership Rewards website.
2. Log into your American Express account.
3. After logging in, you’ll be redirected to the Membership Rewards dashboard. Hover over the button near the top of the page that says Earn and Redeem and click Cover your Card Charges.
4. You’ll see a list of recent charges on your Amex Platinum card.
5. Select all of the charges you want to use points for and click Redeem Now at the bottom of the page.
6. It might take up to 48 hours for the request to show up online.

Other Ways To Redeem Your Amex Platinum Card’s Rewards

So now that we’ve discussed how to redeem your points for cash-back (and did our best to convince you why you shouldn’t redeem your points for cash-back with the Amex Platinum card), let’s talk about some other ways to use your Amex Platinum card’s points.

Transfer to Travel Partners (Recommended)

Without a shadow of a doubt, the best, singular way to redeem the points from your Amex Platinum card is to use the Amex transfer partners, which include select airlines and hotels.

For example, you can transfer Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio. That means if you transfer 100,000 points to Delta, you’ll get 100,000 Delta SkyMiles. You can then redeem 100,000 Delta SkyMiles for a couple of round-trip economy tickets to Hawaii or even a one-way business class flight to Europe!

Either way, you’re getting way more value with your points by transferring to travel partners. Round-trip economy tickets to Hawaii can exceed $1,000 each, and a one-way business class flight to Europe is usually around $2,000 to $5,000! The value you’ll get by using your frequent flyer miles to book a ticket is way better than using 100,000 Membership Rewards points for a $600 credit.

You can also transfer your Membership Rewards points to hotels — we recommend Hilton Honors due to the 1:2 transfer ratio. With 200,000 Hilton Honors points from 100,000 Membership Rewards points, you could get 2 or 3 hotel nights on points in Hawaii, which is worth anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000!

Bottom Line: Don’t redeem your points for cash-back! Transfer them to airlines and hotels to book travel and get much more value!

Book Travel Using Pay With Points

Another way you can use your points is through Pay With Points, a program that allows you to redeem points towards paid travel.

If you book your travel through AmexTravel.com and choose to redeem points, you’ll get a better redemption value than if you booked it directly through the airline or hotel and got statement credits.

Covering your card charges would get you a value of 0.6 cents per point, while using Pay With Points would get you:

• 1 cent per point on flights and hotels through Fine Hotels & Resorts
• 0.7 cents per point on all other hotels, car rentals, and travel booked via AmexTravel.com

Hot Tip: In general, you’ll want to use Pay With Points if you don’t see any availability for the flight or hotel you want to from transfer partners. Although the value you’ll get is lower than from transfer partners, it’s a much simpler process to use your points.

Get Gift Cards

With the Amex Platinum card, you can also get gift cards using your Membership Rewards points — unfortunately, the value you’ll get is anywhere from 0.5 to 1 cent per point.

We don’t recommend this method.

Spend at Amazon

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably shop at Amazon at least occasionally.

With your Membership Rewards points, you can spend at Amazon for a value of 0.7 cents per point. That will get you around $70 of value with 10,000 points.

We don’t recommend this method, either.

Donate to Charity

American Express offers the ability to redeem your points for charitable donations through JustGiving.

You’ll get a redemption value of 1 cent per point, which means that you’ll donate $100 for every 10,000 points you redeem.

You can donate to thousands of charities of your choice, and there’s a maximum of 500,000 points donated per calendar year to get a 1-cent-per-point value.

Beyond the 500,000-point maximum, the redemption value is 0.5 cents per point — 1,000 points will cover a donation of $5.

This could be a great way to donate to a cause you support, but from a redemption perspective, it’s still limited in value.

Buy Merchandise

The last way to redeem your points is through the Membership Rewards shopping website.

You can pretty much buy whatever is on your mind, including furniture, jewelry, games, beauty products, and more.

Unfortunately, your points are only worth 0.5 cents each, making it an even worse way to redeem points than covering charges with points.

Final Thoughts

Having the Amex Platinum card can be one of the greatest additions to your wallet. Being able to enjoy up to 5x points earned, the best airport lounge access in the world, lots of statement credits, and high-end travel options are what you should expect when you hold this card.

Unfortunately, while it is possible to use your Membership Rewards points from the Amex Platinum card for cash-back by covering charges with points, it is a terrible idea to do so.

It’s a much better idea to redeem your points for luxury travel through transfer partnerships with airlines and hotels!

Even spending at Amazon, getting certain gift cards, and donating to charity will get you better value than the 0.6 cents per point afforded by the cash-back redemption option. If cash-back is important to you, consider a cash back credit card where some offer up to 5% in certain categories of spend.

There’s no doubt that Amazon and its Prime service was the pioneer in the online shopping space, but now the proliferation of online shopping has its competitors wanting in on the action.

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, has a delivery subscription service of its own dubbed Walmart+, and it’s complimentary for those who have The Platinum Card® from American Express.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to sign up for the Walmart+ membership that’s included in your Amex Platinum card’s benefits, break down the benefits of the service, and analyze how it stacks up against Amazon Prime.

Overview of the Amex Platinum Card

Key Benefits of Amex Platinum Card

A complimentary Walmart+ membership is an exclusive benefit of the Amex Platinum card, but the card offers numerous other benefits that make it a worthwhile addition to your wallet. Despite its rather hefty annual fee, you’ll get a ton in statement credits to help offset it, including perks like a $240 digital entertainment credit, a $200 Uber Cash credit, and a $200 prepaid hotel credit.

Plus, for those who are frequent travelers, the card offers some of the best travel benefits of any card on the market, including access to over 1,400+ airport lounges worldwide, not to mention complimentary Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status upon enrollment, fee credits for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck and CLEAR, along with rental car elite status and a bevy of other benefits.

Not only does the card offer great perks, but it also earns American Express Membership Rewards points, which are some of our favorite points to have thanks to their flexibility and ability to be transferred to the Amex transfer partners to book top-notch business and first class airline tickets.

Walmart+ is the retailer’s take on expedited delivery service and typically costs $12.95 per month.

Members receive the following benefits and services:

• Free shipping on items with no minimum purchase requirement (excluding items not shipped by Walmart)
• Free grocery delivery with a $35 order minimum
• Rx for less: get select prescriptions for as little as $0 and save up to 85% on thousands more at Walmart pharmacies
• Save 10¢ per gallon on fuel at Walmart, Murphy, Exxon, and Mobil stations
• “Scan & go” contact-free checkout
• Early access to special promotions and events, including online Black Friday deals, product releases, and more

If you’re someone who shops at Walmart fairly often, then these benefits would likely be pretty useful. In fact, the retailer claims that Walmart+ members save $816 per year on average, thanks to their benefits.

Of course, the utility of the membership is location-dependent because — as surprising as this may be — not all areas have a Walmart nearby. If you live in such an area, you wouldn’t be able to benefit from the grocery delivery or the discounts on prescriptions and gas. However, you’d still be able to receive free 2-day delivery for online shopping done through Walmart.com.

The Amex Platinum card’s Walmart+ credit covers the monthly cost of the standard $12.95 monthly fee, so even if you’re someone who only orders from Walmart once in a while, you’ll be able to keep the benefits of the membership in your back pocket for no added expense.

Hot Tip: Use your Amex Platinum card for the complimentary Walmart+ membership, then consider one of our best credit cards for shopping at Walmart when making your purchases!

How the Walmart+ Statement Credit Works

Activating your Walmart+ membership as an Amex Platinum cardmember is quite simple. All you need to do is follow these steps:

Step 1: Head to the Walmart+ and Amex Platinum card landing page.

Step 2: Click Get Started.

Step 3: Next, sign in to your Walmart account, or create one if you don’t already have an account.

Step 4: From here, all you need to do is enter the payment details of your Amex Platinum card, and then click Join Walmart+ with Platinum Card.

After you’ve done that, you’re all set! Your Walmart+ account will be active, and you can start taking advantage of all of its benefits.

Where Is Walmart+ Available?

Technically speaking, Walmart+ is available to anyone who is able to create a Walmart account. That said, many of the benefits will not be useful to you if you don’t live in an area with a Walmart nearby, as you won’t be able to use the food delivery benefit, nor will you be able to receive the gas and pharmacy discounts.

However, you do not need to live near a physical Walmart to benefit from the free same- or 2-day shipping for online purchases you make through the Walmart website.

Walmart+ vs Amazon Prime

For those of you wondering how Walmart+ stacks up against Amazon Prime, here’s a full comparison chart:

As you can see, Amazon Prime does offer significantly more benefits than Walmart+ for a relatively small premium — it’ll cost you just $2 more per month or $41 more per year.

That said, whether or not that added expense is worth it to you depends on what benefits you actually value. You might not have any use for many of the Amazon Prime benefits and instead prefer the gas station savings that Walmart+ can offer you. Alternatively, you might love Amazon Prime for its added streaming and digital benefits, like Prime Video, Prime Music, and Amazon Photos.

However, suppose you’re an Amex Platinum cardholder who currently only uses your Amazon Prime subscription for access to free 2-day delivery. In that case, you may want to see if the types of products you order through Amazon are available at Walmart. If they are, you may be able to save some cash by canceling your Prime subscription and activating your complimentary Walmart+ membership.

Depending on where you live, having both an Amazon Prime and Walmart+ subscription could be advantageous, as you can switch back and forth between whichever program offers the best discount or deal for a given item.

Final Thoughts

Walmart+ is one of the few genuine competitors to Amazon Prime when it comes to delivery options and the breadth of available items, and you can get a complimentary membership just for being an Amex Platinum cardmember.

Again, its utility will depend on how close a Walmart is to where you live and how often you shop online with the retailer, but most would agree that it’s always better to have multiple options.