American Categorical Platinum overview: Full particulars

The Platinum Card from American Categorical overview

The Platinum Card® from American Categorical is likely one of the high premium journey rewards playing cards in the marketplace. As a cardmember, you will earn useful Membership Rewards factors, obtain useful annual assertion credit (so long as you may make the most of them, which we are going to focus on later) and acquire entry to an intensive community of airport lounges worldwide. Card score*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

*Card score is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

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These days, each financial institution, airline, and lodge appears to supply a premium journey rewards card. However for a very long time, the Amex Platinum was the one premium rewards card in the marketplace. With its smooth design and hefty metallic weight, there was a little bit of status connected to being an Amex Platinum cardmember.

That also exists, regardless that a couple of rivals within the luxurious card class have emerged lately, together with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) and the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card. If you stack them up towards each other, the Amex Platinum shines in methods the others do not. Then once more, it falls flat in some areas, too.

The Amex Platinum has undergone important modifications lately and carries a steep $695 annual price (see charges and costs) — one of many highest in the marketplace. That is why individuals usually ask whether or not the Amex Platinum continues to be well worth the annual price, even with the perks.

TPG recommends to glorious credit score rating earlier than making use of for this card. It ranks as among the best journey playing cards, however that does not imply it is proper for each traveler.

Let’s study the main points and advantages to see whether or not having the Amex Platinum in your pockets is sensible.

Amex Platinum professionals and cons

Amex Platinum welcome supply

New Amex Platinum cardmembers can discover out their supply and see in the event that they’re eligible to earn as excessive as 175,000 Membership Rewards Factors after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases in your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership. Welcome gives differ and also you will not be eligible for a proposal.

That is now the usual welcome supply.

Based on TPG’s July 2025 valuations, Amex Membership Rewards factors are price 2 cents every, making this bonus price as much as $3,500. That is greater than 5 instances the cardboard’s $695 annual price.

Associated: The way to redeem Membership Rewards factors for max worth

Amex Platinum advantages

What really units the Amex Platinum aside is that it confers many useful perks and journey advantages. Let’s have a look:

• As much as $200 in assertion credit per calendar yr for incidental charges charged by one airline you choose*
• As much as a $200 annual lodge credit score per calendar yr, within the type of an announcement credit score, on pay as you go Amex Advantageous Inns + Resorts or The Lodge Assortment bookings with American Categorical Journey® portal whenever you pay along with your Amex Platinum (Lodge Assortment stays require a two-night minimal)*
• As much as $200 in Uber Money per calendar yr, legitimate on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S. (cut up into month-to-month as much as $15 credit plus an as much as $20 bonus in December).* Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account whenever you add the Amex Platinum as a cost methodology and redeem with any Amex card.
• As much as $199 in assertion credit per calendar yr to cowl your Clear Plus annual membership*
• As much as $240 per calendar yr in annual digital leisure credit score — disbursed as as much as $20 month-to-month assertion credit whenever you pay for eligible purchases with the Amex Platinum at eligible companions*

• As much as $300 in Equinox credit score per calendar yr on Equinox gymnasium and Equinox+ app memberships (topic to auto-renewal)*
• As much as $300 in assertion credit per calendar yr towards the acquisition of a SoulCycle bike (as much as 15 bikes per calendar yr); have to be enrolled in an Equinox+ membership to be eligible for this profit.
• As much as a $155 assertion credit score per calendar yr (as much as $12.95 month-to-month, plus relevant taxes) that covers the price of a month-to-month Walmart+ membership when paying with the Amex Platinum (on one membership, topic to auto-renewal); Plus Up excluded.
• A $120 assertion credit score for International Entry each 4 years or an as much as $85 price credit score for TSA PreCheck each 4½ years (relying on which software price is charged to your card first)
• As much as a $100 per calendar yr in Saks Fifth Avenue credit score, cut up into two as much as $50 assertion credit between January and June, then July via December*
• Entry to the American Categorical International Lounge Assortment (for eligible cardmembers), together with Centurion Lounges, Precedence Move lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges, Plaza Premium lounges and Delta Sky Golf equipment (when touring on same-day Delta flights; Eligible Platinum Card Members will obtain 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per yr to the Delta Sky Membership or to Seize and Go when touring on a same-day Delta-operated flight).*
• Complimentary Gold standing with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy*
• Complimentary automobile rental standing: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle, Avis Most popular Plus and Nationwide Emerald Membership Government*
• Entry to Amex Advantageous Inns + Resorts and The Lodge Assortment
• Phrases apply to the advantages listed

The Amex Platinum additionally features a vary of journey and buy protections:

• In case your journey is delayed by greater than six hours due to a lined purpose, you might be eligible to be reimbursed as much as $500 per lined journey for affordable further bills**
• If you want to cancel or interrupt your journey due to a lined purpose, you might be eligible for reimbursement of as much as $10,000 per lined journey**
• Prolonged guarantee profit extends eligible producers’ warranties of 5 years or much less by as much as one further yr***
• Buy safety protects current purchases towards theft, unintended harm or loss for as much as 90 days from the acquisition date***
• Complimentary Shoprunner membership (Enrollment closed March 31, 2025; cardmembers who enrolled by this date will proceed to obtain a complimentary membership via their remaining membership yr and two years thereafter)*
• Phrases apply to the advantages listed

*Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply.

**Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.

***Eligibility and profit ranges differ by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.

Even in the event you can solely use only a handful of those perks, it is simple to cowl most (or all) of the Amex Platinum’s annual price.

This is how TPG senior editorial director Nick Ewen describes it:

“I’ve no use for some advantages of the Amex Platinum, and others (like Walmart+) I exploit simply because they’re there. Nonetheless, I all the time max out the digital leisure credit score ($240). I additionally simply use all $200 in Uber credit and all $200 in airline assertion credit yearly. In different phrases, simply three of those perks put $640 again in my pocket yearly. Because of this, I consider it as paying $55 for all the different advantages on the cardboard — and that makes it a no brainer to maintain in my pocket.”

Your actual state of affairs could differ, however crunch the numbers to see how a lot real-life worth you may get from the cardboard.

Associated: The way to maximize advantages with the Amex Platinum Card

Incomes factors on the Amex Platinum

With the Amex Platinum, you will earn 5 factors per greenback on airfare bought straight with the airways or via the amextravel.com (on as much as $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback). Plus, you will earn 5 factors per greenback on pay as you go accommodations booked with Amex Journey.

These 5-point classes are a superb solution to earn a number of Membership Rewards factors. Based mostly on TPG’s July 2025 valuations, incomes 5 factors per greenback gives a ten% return.

All different purchases earn simply 1 level per greenback, however Amex Platinum cardmembers are eligible for focused Amex Presents that might increase incomes charges at numerous retailers (together with Amazon).

Associated: The final word information to saving cash with Amex Presents

Redeeming factors on the Amex Platinum

Membership Rewards factors are among the many most dear and versatile loyalty currencies ever created for redeeming factors. One of the simplest ways to maximise your factors is to switch them to certainly one of their loyalty program companions.

You can even use your Membership Rewards factors to e book journey straight via American Categorical Journey. But when the private Amex Platinum is the one Amex card in your stock, utilizing factors for airfare and lodge redemptions this fashion will not get you wonderful worth.

You may get just one cent per level whenever you redeem the factors straight for airfare at Amex Journey and fewer than 1 cent per level when redeeming for lodge rooms.

From our expertise, 9 out of 10 instances, you must by no means redeem Membership Rewards factors for flights or accommodations via American Categorical Journey, as you’ll get a lot better worth utilizing switch companions.

Nonetheless, suppose you even have The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Categorical. In that case, you will get among the best direct level redemptions out there. At the moment, Enterprise Platinum cardmembers obtain a 35% factors bonus for first- and business-class flights on any airline, plus financial system flights in your chosen airline (as much as 1 million bonus factors per calendar yr).

Word as of Sept. 18, the 35% factors bonus for airfare booked via Amex Journey will solely apply to the airline {that a} cardmember selects for his or her airline price credit score (enrollment required, phrases apply), no matter fare class.

Associated: Finest methods to make use of Amex Membership Rewards factors, from business-class flights to Europe to budget-friendly lodge stays

Transferring factors on the Amex Platinum

Based on TPG’s July 2025 valuations, every Membership Rewards level is price 2 cents, thanks largely to this system’s airline and lodge switch companions. These embrace not less than one useful possibility in every main airline alliance (SkyTeam, Star Alliance and Oneworld).

Notable Membership Rewards companions embrace Air Canada Aeroplan, Delta SkyMiles, ANA Mileage Membership and Hilton Honors.

Transferring your factors to the proper airline or lodge program is often one of the simplest ways to maximise your Membership Rewards factors worth.

This is how TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt likes to switch and redeem his Membership Rewards factors:

“I look out for switch bonuses to maximise my factors to e book long-haul business-class flights. I usually switch to Iberia Plus for lie-flat seats to Madrid. Generally, I will switch to Qantas Frequent Flyer to safe hard-to-find business- or first-class flights again to Australia.”

Which playing cards compete with the Amex Platinum?

Another compelling premium bank cards go head-to-head with the Amex Platinum :

• If you need extra focused advantages: Though the Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with a heftier $795 annual price, it gives a $300 journey credit score, an annual $500 The Edit by Chase Journey℠ credit score (minimal two-night keep required), a $300 eating assertion credit score and a few of the greatest journey protections out there. Nonetheless, it could possibly’t beat the Amex Platinum relating to perks like lounge entry. To study extra, learn our full overview of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
• If you need a a lot decrease annual price: Capital One’s premium rewards card, the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card, packs a punch and comes with a extra inexpensive $395 annual price. The Enterprise X is doubtlessly extra profitable than the Amex Platinum relating to incomes, accruing 10 miles per greenback on accommodations and automobile leases booked through Capital One Journey, 5 miles per greenback on flights and trip leases booked through Capital One Journey and a vast 2 miles per greenback on the whole lot else. To study extra, learn our full overview of the Enterprise X.
• In case you’d want a mid-tier journey card: The American Categorical® Inexperienced Card is a good possibility for younger professionals and people searching for a extra inexpensive different to the Amex Platinum. Cardmembers earn 3 factors per greenback on eating places worldwide (together with takeout and supply within the U.S.), journey and transit, and 1 level per greenback on the whole lot else. This card has a $150 annual price.

The data for the American Categorical Inexperienced Card 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.

For added choices, take a look at our picks for one of the best playing cards for journey rewards and lounge entry.

Learn extra: The very best premium bank cards: A side-by-side comparability

Backside line

In case you can take full benefit of its annual assertion credit (as talked about above), the Amex Platinum is likely one of the most compelling rewards playing cards, particularly in the event you journey sufficient to make the lodge statuses and lounge advantages helpful or store sufficient to get substantial worth from the buying protections.

The Amex Platinum’s $695 annual price is steep, however the numerous annual credit can recoup all the price (and extra), even earlier than contemplating the cardboard’s different perks.

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Apply right here: Amex Platinum

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For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here).