The Platinum Card® from American Express packs numerous punch into its metallic shell. That should not come as a lot of a shock, provided that it is among the many heaviest and most costly of the publicly out there premium cards.
Whereas the present welcome provide alone is price as much as $3,500 (primarily based on TPG’s September 2025 valuations) and the posh perks — together with journey credit, elite standing and lounge entry* — can add a number of hundred {dollars} or extra a 12 months to its long-term worth, most individuals contemplating the Amex Platinum will fixate on one quantity: the $895 annual fee (see rates and fees).
It is easy to make the case that the Amex Platinum will pay for itself over time, however that does not essentially imply it is the appropriate card for you. So, let us take a look at who ought to — and should not — get the Amex Platinum.
*Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
Key advantages
Proper now, yow will discover out your provide and see in case you are eligible for as excessive as 175,000 factors after spending $8,000 on purchases on the cardboard in your first six months of card membership. Welcome affords range and you might not bot be eligible for a suggestion.
Based on TPG’s valuations, Membership Rewards factors are price 2 cents every, making that bonus price as much as $3,500. That is a wonderful return in and of itself.
Irrespective of which bonus give you get, all Platinum cardmembers take pleasure in the identical invaluable perks. To offset the annual payment, Amex affords a number of assertion credit, with some notable ones together with (enrollment is required for choose advantages):
- As much as $600 lodge assertion credit score per calendar 12 months on eligible Fantastic Accommodations + Resorts and The Lodge Assortment bookings (as much as $300 semi-annually; minimal two-night keep required for The Lodge Assortment)
- As much as $400 each calendar 12 months (as much as $100 every quarter) for purchases at U.S. Resy eating places. No reservation is required
- As much as $300 per calendar 12 months (as much as $25 month-to-month) in digital entertainment statement credits for eligible subscriptions
- As much as $200 assertion credit score every calendar 12 months for airline incidental fees, comparable to seat project, lounge entry and checked bag charges with a choose qualifying airline
- As much as $200 in Uber Cash every calendar 12 months in increments of as much as $15 per thirty days, plus an as much as $20 bonus in December (for U.S. companies). You can too use these credit to order meals from Uber Eats. Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account if you add the Amex Platinum as a cost methodology and redeem with any Amex card
- As much as a $120 Uber One assertion credit score that absolutely covers an auto-renewing $96 annual or $9.99 month-to-month membership
- As much as $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits (as much as $50 semi-annually)
- As much as $120 for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: Both a $120 assertion credit score out there each 4 years after you apply for International Entry or an as much as $85 assertion credit score out there each 4½ years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck
- As much as $300 every calendar 12 months (as much as $75 quarterly) Lululemon assertion credit score for U.S. shops (excluding retailers) and on-line
The Amex Platinum additionally affords 5 factors per greenback spent (or a ten% return primarily based on TPG’s valuations) on airfare booked straight with the airline, in addition to on airfare booked by means of American Specific Journey® (on as much as $500,000 per 12 months, 1 level per greenback spent thereafter). You may additionally earn 5 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go lodges booked by means of Amex Journey (together with pay as you go Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings).
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That is one of the best return you will get wherever on shopping for airline tickets, in accordance with our valuations.
Frequent vacationers may also recognize that the Platinum affords the most comprehensive lounge access of any card, together with a Priority Pass™ Select membership (enrollment required), Amex’s rising international assortment of Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta (restricted to 10 annual visits, limitless visits could be unlocked by spending $75,000 or extra in your card in a calendar 12 months ), Aspire, Escape and choose Lufthansa lounges. Enrollment could also be required; entry is proscribed to eligible cardmembers.
Rounding out the record of advantages are Gold elite standing with Hilton and Marriott and Leaders Membership Sterling standing (enrollment is required), entry to a premium concierge service, travel protections, car rental insurance*, baggage insurance** and a bunch of different lesser-known perks.
*Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Not all car sorts or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by means of American Specific Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
**Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
Who ought to get the Amex Platinum?
People who find themselves over Chase’s 5/24 rule
When folks come to me on the lookout for starter card recommendations, I will virtually at all times counsel both the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) or the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees).
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are barely extra invaluable than Amex Membership Rewards factors — TPG’s September 2025 valuations peg Final Rewards at 2.05 cents and Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents — and Chase’s “5/24 rule” offers me loads of purpose to advocate getting your Chase playing cards first.
In case you aren’t acquainted with this rule, it implies that candidates who’ve opened 5 or extra playing cards within the final 24 months throughout all issuers will probably be mechanically rejected for many Chase playing cards. That is why you need to often prioritize Chase playing cards as you begin increase your pockets with our best rewards credit cards.
Nonetheless, after you max out your 5 Chase slots, what comes next? The Amex Platinum is an ideal reply, and it could even assist you get extra worth out of your Chase factors.
The opposite advantages of the Amex Platinum may complement a rewards technique that began with Chase. In contrast to the Platinum card, Chase playing cards do not provide Uber Money or as many choices for airport lounge entry.
Associated: 4 different flavors of Amex Platinum — which one is right for you?
Individuals who will use the lounge entry
In case you can absolutely use the assertion credit on the Amex Platinum annually, the out-of-pocket value for the cardboard goes down dramatically.
As an alternative of fascinated by this as an annual payment you pay to Amex for the privilege of spending cash on its hunk of metallic, give it some thought as an annual lounge membership payment.
As a reminder, the Amex Platinum comes with a Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), entry to Amex’s global Centurion Lounges and entry to Delta Sky Clubs (however solely when flying same-day Delta flights; restricted to 10 annual visits, until you spend $75,000 to unlock limitless visits). Lounge entry is proscribed to eligible cardmembers.
Amex presently operates Centurion lounges in more than twenty airports, making the cardboard much more price it if you happen to dwell in or continuously transit by means of a type of areas.
Individuals who keep at Hilton, Marriott or choose luxurious lodges
The Platinum Card offers Gold elite standing with Hilton and Marriott to cardmembers, together with licensed customers (enrollment required).
If you do not have Gold standing or larger with these manufacturers by means of different bank cards or organically by means of stays, Gold standing with these manufacturers offers helpful advantages, together with room upgrades, factors bonuses, and welcome items.
You may additionally obtain Leaders Membership Sterling standing from Main Accommodations of the World, a set of luxurious impartial lodges.
In case you like to remain at luxurious lodges, you will even have entry to the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) program as an Amex Platinum cardholder or licensed person. If you e-book an FHR keep, you will get elitelike benefits, together with assured 4 p.m. late checkout, every day breakfast for 2 and a singular property amenity valued at $100 or extra.
Who should not get the Amex Platinum?
Individuals underneath 5/24
Many individuals simply beginning within the factors world underestimate the stringency of Chase’s 5/24 rule. I bear in mind once I acquired my first bank card, I could not think about opening 5 or extra playing cards in two years — but I ended up opening 17 in that timeframe. I estimate I lost well over $1,000 by not being eligible for an Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card throughout these early years.
Nonetheless, when you recover from 5/24, it could be exhausting to get again underneath, and there is a large alternative value in doing so. Having a plan and sticking to it’ll serve you effectively in the long run.
The data for the Ink Enterprise Most well-liked has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Individuals who e-book airfare by means of on-line journey businesses
The Platinum Card offers 5 Membership Rewards factors per greenback spent on flights booked straight with airways or with American Specific Journey (on as much as $500,000 of spending every calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback spent).
Nonetheless, if you happen to favor to buy airfare by means of on-line journey businesses (OTAs) comparable to Orbitz and Expedia, you will solely earn 1 level per greenback spent with the Platinum Card. Consequently, you will do higher with a card just like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees), which offers bonus earnings on air travel purchases with OTAs.
Individuals who cannot maximize the Platinum’s assertion credit
One of many important arguments in favor of retaining the Amex Platinum long-term is that its numerous assertion credit drastically cut back the out-of-pocket value you are actually paying.
If, for some purpose, you may’t take full benefit of all of those assertion credit, the maths will get a little bit stickier. Uber Money, for instance, can solely be used inside the U.S., so expats like me largely waste it. Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
Possibly you do not want an additional as much as $200 in airline credit every calendar 12 months — when you have elite standing and all of your journey is roofed by factors or your job, that extra cash may be wasted on you, particularly given the restrictions across the credit.
Fastidiously take into account simply how a lot these credit are price to you; if they supply little to no worth, another Amex card may be a greater match.
Individuals who’d be higher off with the Amex Enterprise Platinum Card
A number of variations of the Platinum card exist, together with the private card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Largely, they share the identical perks and advantages, however small variations might lead you to pick one or the other.
For instance, the Enterprise Platinum additionally has an annual payment of $895 (see rates and fees), nevertheless it does not provide the identical as much as $200 Uber Money every calendar 12 months as the private model.
It provides one other bonus class, although — 2 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases in choose enterprise classes and eligible purchases of $5,000 or extra (on as much as $2 million of those purchases per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback).
The Enterprise Platinum additionally offers as much as $1,150 in assertion credit per calendar 12 months for U.S. Dell purchases: as much as $150 every calendar 12 months and a further $1,000 assertion credit score after spending $5,000 on Dell purchases with the identical card every calendar 12 months (enrollment required).
You can too entry the Pay with Points redemption option on the Enterprise Platinum card, which will get you a 35% bonus for eligible flights together with your chosen airline utilizing your Amex factors (as much as 1 million factors again per calendar 12 months). That is notably not out there on the private Amex Platinum.
Backside line
The Amex Platinum Card from American Specific often makes the minimize as one among TPG’s best travel card suggestions due to the outsize worth it could present, from the preliminary welcome provide to the continuing luxurious perks it affords.
Nonetheless, even when a card is efficacious, it may not be your best option. It’s a must to take into account how this software components into your long-term plans, particularly because it pertains to different issuers. You even have to make sure you can maximize the advantages in your life, not less than sufficient to recoup the hefty annual payment.
The Amex Platinum can simply pay for itself by means of its invaluable advantages and redemption choices, however provided that you are in a position to simply and naturally use them.
To study extra, take a look at our full review of the Amex Platinum.
Apply right here: The Platinum Card from American Express
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum Card, click on here.
For charges and charges of the Amex Enterprise Platinum Card, click on here.