lIs there anything better than pulling a super-heavy travel card out of your wallet?
No…the answer is no.
Something about it just makes you feel like the king of the world.
The Platinum Card® from American Express falls under that super-heavy category, and it’s got some pretty freaking awesome perks to match.
Let’s chat about them, shall we:
Pros and Cons
Pros (and there are a lot):
5X per $1 up to $500,000 per calendar year on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel
5X per $1 on eligible prepaid hotels booked including The Hotel Collection
1X per $1 on other purchases, terms and limitations apply
$200 Hotel Credit (in statement credits), Terms Apply
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit, enrollment required
Access to American Express Global Lounge Collection®
$155 Walmart+ Credit, Terms Apply
$200 Airline Fee Credit per calendar year
$200 Uber Cash when you add your Platinum card to your Uber account, and then pay with any Amex card. Terms Apply
$199 CLEAR® Plus Credit
Either up to a $120 statement credit every 4 years for Global Entry or $85 every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck®, Terms Apply
Special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile
And more!
*These perks can get super specific. For more details on benefits, click here.
Cons:
The $695 annual fee (Rates and Fees) 🙃
Why we’ve deemed The Platinum Card® from American Express the best for luxury benefits:
When it comes to traveling in style, this card is king. 👑
You’re talking:
Lounge access: This card offers access to over 1,400 lounges globally. This includes Centurion lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, Priority Pass lounges, and Plaza Premium lounges.
Anyone else freaking out right now???Trusted traveler programs: You’ll get up to $199 in annual statement credits for CLEAR® Plus: CLEAR® lets you skip TSA lines, a cool perk if you don't have Global Entry.
Plus, get up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck reimbursement every four years for Global Entry ($120) or every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck® ($85).
Complimentary elite statuses: With the Amex Platinum, you get automatic Gold status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors (enrollment required), which is dope.
And, you can access Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, exclusive to Platinum and Centurion cardmembers, with benefits like room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, and late check-out.
We could do this all day. If these perks aren’t enough to get you excited, I don’t know how to help you.
Seeking the frequent travelers
Let’s get one thing clear — the Platinum Card is not a beginner card.
With a $695 annual fee, you need to make sure you’re traveling enough for this card to make sense.
Apart from everyday expenses, you’ve got:
Up to $200 in annual airline credits: Select one airline each year to receive credits for incidentals like baggage fees and lounge access. (Participating airlines include Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Spirit, Southwest, and United).
Up to $200 in hotel credits: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
Travel insurance: You’ll get coverage for things like trip delays, interruptions, cancellations, and lost luggage.
In our humble opinion, the Platinum Card’s premium perks offset the annual fee and then some. But again, you’d need to be utilizing said perks.
If you need further explanation as to why this card is geared toward frequent travelers, check out our deep dive.
To wrap things up:
Me personally? I’m still building up my travel card portfolio, so the Platinum Card isn’t quite within my reach.
But, you best bet it’s on the wishlist.
Take it from someone who wants this card and can’t have it yet. If you travel throughout the year, use this card’s statement credits to offset the annual fee, and have the credit score to be approved, please apply for both of us.
You can thank me from the Centurion Lounge.
