The Platinum Card® from American Categorical packs a variety of punch into its metallic shell. That should not come as a lot of a shock, provided that it is among the many heaviest and costliest of the publicly accessible premium playing cards.
Whereas the present welcome provide alone is price as much as $3,500 (primarily based on TPG’s September 2025 valuations) and the luxurious 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 price (see charges and charges).
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 best 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, you’ll find 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 fluctuate and it’s possible you’ll not bot be eligible for a suggestion.
In keeping with TPG’s valuations, Membership Rewards factors are price 2 cents every, making that bonus price as much as $3,500. That is a superb return in and of itself.
Irrespective of which bonus give you get, all Platinum cardmembers take pleasure in the identical beneficial perks. To offset the annual price, Amex affords a number of assertion credit, with some notable ones together with (enrollment is required for choose advantages):
- As much as $600 resort assertion credit score per calendar 12 months on eligible Superb Lodges + Resorts and The Resort Assortment bookings (as much as $300 semi-annually; minimal two-night keep required for The Resort 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 leisure assertion credit for eligible subscriptions
- As much as $200 assertion credit score every calendar 12 months for airline incidental costs, resembling seat project, lounge entry and checked bag charges with a choose qualifying airline
- As much as $200 in Uber Money every calendar 12 months in increments of as much as $15 monthly, plus an as much as $20 bonus in December (for U.S. providers). You may as well use these credit to order meals from Uber Eats. Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account once 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 totally covers an auto-renewing $96 annual or $9.99 month-to-month membership
- As much as $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credit (as much as $50 semi-annually)
- As much as $120 for World Entry/TSA PreCheck: Both a $120 assertion credit score accessible each 4 years after you apply for World Entry or an as much as $85 assertion credit score accessible 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 shops) 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 instantly with the airline, in addition to on airfare booked by way of American Categorical Journey® (on as much as $500,000 per 12 months, 1 level per greenback spent thereafter). You will additionally earn 5 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go resorts booked by way of Amex Journey (together with pay as you go Amex Superb Lodges + Resorts bookings).
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That is one of the best return you will get wherever on shopping for airline tickets, based on our valuations.
Frequent vacationers may also respect that the Platinum affords the most complete lounge entry of any card, together with a Precedence Go™ Choose membership (enrollment required), Amex’s rising international assortment of Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Golf equipment when flying Delta (restricted to 10 annual visits, limitless visits might 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 restricted to eligible cardmembers.
Rounding out the listing of advantages are Gold elite standing with Hilton and Marriott and Leaders Membership Sterling standing (enrollment is required), entry to a premium concierge service, journey protections, automotive rental insurance coverage*, baggage insurance coverage** and a bunch of different lesser-known perks.
*Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Not all car sorts or leases are coated, 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 way of American Categorical 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 in search of starter card suggestions, I will nearly at all times recommend both the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and charges) or the Chase Freedom Limitless® (see charges and charges).
Chase Final Rewards factors are barely extra beneficial 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” provides me loads of cause to advocate getting your Chase playing cards first.
Should you aren’t conversant in this rule, it signifies that candidates who’ve opened 5 or extra playing cards within the final 24 months throughout all issuers will probably be robotically rejected for many Chase playing cards. Because of this it is best to normally prioritize Chase playing cards as you begin build up your pockets with our finest rewards bank cards.
Nonetheless, after you max out your 5 Chase slots, what comes subsequent? The Amex Platinum is an ideal reply, and it might even assist you to get extra worth out of your Chase factors.
The opposite advantages of the Amex Platinum can even complement a rewards technique that began with Chase. Not like the Platinum card, Chase playing cards do not provide Uber Money or as many choices for airport lounge entry.
Associated: 4 totally different flavors of Amex Platinum — which one is best for you?
Individuals who will use the lounge entry
Should you can totally use the assertion credit on the Amex Platinum every year, the out-of-pocket value for the cardboard goes down dramatically.
As a substitute of interested by this as an annual price you pay to Amex for the privilege of spending cash on its hunk of metallic, give it some thought as an annual lounge membership price.
As a reminder, the Amex Platinum comes with a Precedence Go Choose membership (enrollment required), entry to Amex’s international Centurion Lounges and entry to Delta Sky Golf equipment (however solely when flying same-day Delta flights; restricted to 10 annual visits, except you spend $75,000 to unlock limitless visits). Lounge entry is restricted to eligible cardmembers.
Amex at the moment operates Centurion lounges in greater than twenty airports, making the cardboard much more price it when you reside in or regularly transit by way of a type of areas.
Individuals who keep at Hilton, Marriott or choose luxurious resorts
The Platinum Card gives Gold elite standing with Hilton and Marriott to cardmembers, together with approved customers (enrollment required).
If you do not have Gold standing or larger with these manufacturers by way of different bank cards or organically by way of stays, Gold standing with these manufacturers gives helpful advantages, together with room upgrades, factors bonuses, and welcome presents.
You will additionally obtain Leaders Membership Sterling standing from Main Lodges of the World, a set of luxurious impartial resorts.
Should you like to remain at luxurious resorts, you will even have entry to the Amex Superb Lodges + Resorts (FHR) program as an Amex Platinum cardholder or approved consumer. Whenever you ebook an FHR keep, you will get elitelike advantages, together with assured 4 p.m. late checkout, each day breakfast for 2 and a singular property amenity valued at $100 or extra.
Who should not get the Amex Platinum?
Folks underneath 5/24
Many individuals simply beginning within the factors world underestimate the stringency of Chase’s 5/24 rule. I keep in mind once I obtained 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 misplaced nicely over $1,000 by not being eligible for an Ink Enterprise Most popular® Credit score Card throughout these early years.
Nonetheless, when you recover from 5/24, it might be laborious to get again underneath, and there is a large alternative value in doing so. Having a plan and sticking to it’ll serve you nic
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