The Amex Platinum Card – How To Use the Annual $300 Equinox Credit [2023]

One of the most popular travel credit cards is The Platinum Card^® from American Express. With great perks like airline credits, Uber credits, and access to the famous Amex Centurion Lounges, many travelers swear by having an Amex Platinum card in their wallets.

A little over a year ago, American Express shook things up by adding hundreds of dollars worth of perks to the card, but it also increased the annual fee. Part of those new perks was the addition of new partners, including Equinox, a luxury fitness company. Upon enrollment in the benefit, Amex Platinum cardholders now have up to $300 in statement credits with Equinox that can be used on select Equinox memberships.

While not everyone will be able to maximize this credit, we will show you how to enroll and use it, even if you don’t have an Equinox gym near you.

Let’s take a look at the Amex Equinox credit to see how valuable of an addition it can be to your Amex Platinum card.

How Does the Amex Equinox Credit Work?

Equinox has over 100 clubs across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. With luxurious in-club amenities, personal trainers, and popular group classes, members love this high-end gym … but these fancy gyms come at a price, with monthly memberships ranging from $200 to $500 per month, not including initiation fees!

The good news is, Amex Platinum cardholders have access to up to $300 a year in statement credits when they use their card on the Equinox+ digital fitness app or eligible Equinox club memberships.

Before you go and sign up for Equinox, be sure to enroll in the $300 Equinox credit in your American Express account:

Once you have enrolled, visit the Equinox website and choose the membership that works for you.

Equinox All Access

With multiple Equinox locations in major cities and across the country, an Equinox All-Access membership is a good option for someone who likes to check out different gyms in their hometown or while on the road.

Rates vary based on the location of your home gym, but in New York, for example, an All-Access membership currently costs $290 per month with a 12-month commitment for access to 80 clubs across the U.S.

Destination

If you find yourself visiting Equinox locations while outside of the U.S., the Equinox Destination membership might be a better fit for you. In addition to what is included with the All-Access membership, Destination members have exclusive access to all Equinox Fitness, Destination, and Sports Clubs locations worldwide. E Clubs are not included (yes, there are different levels of Equinox clubs).

Rates vary based on the location of your home gym, but in New York, a Destination membership currently costs $330 per month with a 12-month commitment for access to almost all of the clubs worldwide.

E by Equinox

If you are looking for the best of the best, E by Equinox is for you. In addition to what you will find in the other memberships, E by Equinox members have access to exclusive E Clubs in London and New York as well as Training Studios in New York, Connecticut, and San Francisco. These clubs offer bespoke service, elite personal training sessions, and exclusive amenities in a stunning and intimate setting.

While rates are by request only, we have seen New York members pay $550 per month with a 12-month commitment.

Hot Tip: These 3 Equinox memberships all include complimentary access to the Equinox+ app as part of membership.

Equinox+

If there are no Equinox locations near you, you might be interested in Equinox+, the company’s health and fitness app.

Similar to Peloton, this app is full of remote workouts, live and on-demand fitness classes, and programs from partners like SoulCycle, Pure Yoga, and TB12.

Subscriptions cost $39.99 per month and can be canceled anytime. If you wanted to add the SoulCycle bike, you can finance it for an additional $48.72 per month.

Bottom Line: For cardholders who were already paying Equinox gym memberships, they will now be able to save $300 yearly by paying with their Amex Platinum card. You also have the option of signing up for Equinox+ with a 62.5% discount. 

Securing the Amex Platinum Card

If you can take advantage of all of the perks and credits, the card can be very much worth having, especially with the current welcome bonus offer.

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

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The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

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Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck^® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck^® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Final Thoughts

The Amex Platinum card made big news in 2021 when the annual fee increased, but that annual fee hike came with hundreds of dollars worth of new benefits and credits. Will everyone be able to maximize all of those new credits? No. Can you? Absolutely.

Even with the expensive annual fee, the Amex Platinum card continues to be a favorite around here. With credits and perks to use annually and the ability to earn a lot of Membership Rewards points through an awesome welcome bonus and spending bonuses, we think it’s worth a spot in the wallet.

Do the math and see if the Amex Platinum card is a good fit for you.