Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The American Express Platinum Card® is packed with benefits and a hefty welcome offer.
Cardholders can take advantage of numerous annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and much more. However, these benefits don't come cheap — the card's annual fee is $895 (see rates and fees).
If you're trying to decide if the Amex Platinum's benefits outweigh the costs for you, CNBC Select has the details on this travel card's rewards, benefits and fees to help you decide.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Is the Amex Platinum worth it?
Known for its prestigious benefits and sleek appearance, the American Express Platinum Card is a card worth bragging about. Between the travel benefits, reputable concierge service and consumer protections.
However, many benefits, such as entertainment and Equinox credits, may require you to spend money on something you normally wouldn't.
Welcome bonus
This card's welcome offer allows new card members to earn up to 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on their new card in the first six months of card membership.
Rewards
American Express Membership Rewards® points are some of the most valuable travel rewards you can earn, making this offer a strong selling point for getting the card. Miles and points experts typically value Amex Membership Rewards points at around 2 cents per point, which makes this welcome bonus potentially worth as much as $3,500.
That makes it easy to justify Amex Platinum's annual fee (see rates and fees) for at least the first year. And as you'll see, the ongoing benefits can provide similar value year after year.
Amex Platinum benefits
The Amex Platinum will overwhelm you with the sheer number of statement credit offers it provides. If you can take full advantage of these deals, you can receive over $3,000 in value per year.
Over $1,300 in annual credits
- $200 airline fee credit: Receive up to $200 in statement credits annually for incidentals after you select an eligible airline (enrollment required).
- $209 CLEAR+ credit: Use your Card and get up to $209 back per year in statement credit to apply for CLEAR+, excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Oura Ring credit: Up to $200 in statement credits each calendar year on eligible Oura Ring purchases made online at the U.S. website ouraring.com (enrollment required).
- $120 Uber One credit: Up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year for an auto-renewing Uber One membership (valid for monthly or annual membership purchases; terms apply).
- $300 Equinox Credit: Up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
- $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike credit: Receive a $300 statement credit when you purchase a SoulCycle At-Home Bike at www.equinoxplus.com/bike (Equinox+ membership required; terms apply). This credit is valid on up to 15 individual SoulCycle At-Home Bike purchases per year.
$300 in semi-annual credits
- $600 hotel credit: Up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$175 in quarterly credits
- $400 in Resy credits: Up to $100 in statement credits quarterly when you make eligible purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants (enrollment required).
- $300 lululemon credit: Up to $75 in statement credits every quarter for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon stores or lululemon.com (excludes outlet stores; enrollment required).
Over $50 in monthly benefits
- $300 digital entertainment credit: Up to $25 in statement credits each month (enrollment required).
- $155 Walmart+ statement credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Plus Ups are excluded. Subject to auto-renewal. Enrollment required.
- $200 Uber Cash: Up to $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December ($35 total) after adding your card to your Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Terms apply. Enrollment is required.
Other benefits
Once you've navigated all of the annual, semi-annual, quarterly and monthly credits, you still have more value to unlock through other travel perks and insurance benefits, including:
- Rental car privileges: Receive elite-status like perks with Avis, National and Hertz
- $120 TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit: Get a statement credit every four years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every four years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®
- Airport lounge access: Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, Plaza Premium Lounges, Priority Pass™ Select lounges and Escape Lounges. Enrollment required for Priority Pass™.
- Hotel elite status: Hilton Honors Gold status, Marriott Bonvoy Gold status. Leaders Club Sterling Status from The Leading Hotels of the World (enrollment required for all hotel status benefits)
- Cell phone protection
- Rental car insurance*
- Return protection*
- Extended warranty*
- Purchase protection*
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance*
- Trip delay insurance*
- Baggage insurance*
- No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
What to know about the Amex Platinum
If you're considering the Amex Platinum, you may want to keep the card for a year and then reevaluate before the second annual fee posts. You could always downgrade your Amex Platinum to a lower-fee card.
Consider your spending habits before applying. If you have travel purchases like flights and hotels coming up, you can take advantage of the 5X points for every dollar spent on travel booked through American Express.
Figure out if you'll be able to use the credits. For example, if you are already paying for an Equinox or New York Times subscription, then those are valuable benefits. But if you're uninterested or unable to access those benefits, consider another credit card. There are other many alternatives without a steep annual fee.
American Express might negotiate. American Express is known for offering retention bonuses to members who are considering closing their cards. It could be a statement credit worth hundreds of dollars or a large number of points.
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.
Should you apply for the Amex Platinum?
The Amex Platinum Card is an excellent card for luxury travelers. Between the welcome offer, a laundry list of benefits, consumer protections and excellent concierge service, this card can unlock a lot of unique experiences that you can't find anywhere else. However, a $895 annual fee (see rates and fees) is an eye-popping figure for many consumers.
Overall, the Amex Platinum is worth it if you can take advantage of the benefits without overextending yourself. At the end of the day, it's not financially savvy to spend more just to take advantage of a few benefits. You have to take the whole picture into account to decide if it's worth it for you.
Alternatives to the Amex Platinum
Whether you're a current Amex Platinum cardholder or are considering applying for it, you should evaluate all your options to find the right card for you.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) is another premium travel card loaded with benefits, including a $300 travel credit and a Priority PassTM Select airport lounge membership. It earns 4X points on flights and hotels booked direct (after the $300 credit) and dining purchases, and it charges a $795 annual fee.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $288 annually
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
For those who don't want to fork over north of $500 for an annual fee, consider the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. With a $395 annual fee, this is one of the least expensive premium credit cards available. Benefits include a $300 annual Capital One Travel credit, airport lounge access and a large welcome bonus. Plus, you'll receive an automatic 10,000-mile bonus every year you keep your card open.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a myriad of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.
- Annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 bonus miles after every card anniversary
- Unlimited complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations
- Long list of valuable travel and shopping protections, including return protection, rental car coverage and trip delay reimbursement (Benefit(s) only available to accounts approved for the Visa Infinite card. Terms apply.)
- Limited bonus spending categories compared to other premium credit cards
- High annual fee
- High credit score requirement (excellent credit)
Highlights
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fees
$0
An even cheaper option includes the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees). It currently offers new cardholders 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. While it does offer significantly fewer premium benefits, like lounge access and upgraded hotel status, the card carries an annual fee of only $95. It also comes with up to $50 in statement credits annually with the Chase Travel Hotel Credit.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
FAQs
Does the American Express Platinum card have a credit limit?
The Amex Platinum Card is a charge card, not a traditional credit card, and typically does not have a fixed credit limit. Instead, it has a "no pre-set spending limit" (NPSL) that changes based on your credit profile, payment history, purchasing habits and other factors.
What income do you need for the Amex Platinum card?
There is no official income requirement to qualify for the Amex Platinum, but you typically need good credit (a FICO Score of 670+) to be approved.
Does Amex Platinum offer Amazon Prime?
No, the American Express Platinum card does not offer a reimbursement or statement credit toward your Amazon Prime subscription. However, American Express frequently has rotating Amex Offers with statement credits or bonus points that can be used for Prime membership renewals.
Can you skip TSA with the Amex Platinum?
The American Express Platinum Card doesn't allow you to bypass TSA security screening, but it does include an application fee credit for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (which includes TSA PreCheck benefits), which can get you through airport security faster. You can receive either a statement credit for Global Entry ($120 every four years) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85 every four years, through an official TSA enrollment provider).
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For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/ benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
*Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
*The American Express Platinum Card® Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $12,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.
