
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The pinnacle of American Express travel rewards cards, offering 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, extensive statement credits totaling over $1,500 in value, comprehensive lounge access including Centurion Lounges, and elite status with Marriott and Hilton.
Annual Fee
$695
Top Earning Rate
5x pts flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com
Foreign Tx Fee
None
Rating
N/A
Current Welcome Offer
80,000 points
$1,600 estimated value
Spend $8,000 in 180 days
Card Offers
public
80,000 points
$1,600 estimated value
Spend $8,000 in 180 days
Earning Rates
On up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1x
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Industry-leading airport lounge access through the Amex Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, and Delta Sky Clubs
- Strong 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
- Over $1,400 in potential annual statement credits across airline fees, hotels, Uber Cash, digital entertainment, Walmart+, Equinox, and Saks Fifth Avenue
- No foreign transaction fees, making it well-suited for international travel
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit available every 4 to 4.5 years
Cons
- High $695 annual fee that requires active engagement with multiple credits to justify the cost
- Many statement credits are tied to specific merchants or require enrollment, adding complexity to getting full value
- Earns only 1x points on all non-travel purchases, which is low compared to other cards for everyday spending categories like dining and groceries
- The $200 airline fee credit applies only to incidental fees at one selected airline, not to airfare purchases
- Uber Cash credits and some other credits expire monthly if unused, requiring consistent engagement to avoid losing value
Key Takeaways
- The $695 annual fee is one of the highest in the consumer card market, but the card's many credits can offset a significant portion of that cost for the right cardholder
- 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel makes this one of the strongest earning cards for those specific travel categories
- The Amex Global Lounge Collection is among the most expansive lounge access programs available on any personal credit card
- Most of the card's credits are merchant-specific and require active use; cardholders who do not engage with partners like Equinox, Uber, or Saks will see less value
- The welcome offer of 80,000 points after $8,000 in spending within 180 days represents approximately $1,600 in estimated value
Fees
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $695 |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% |
Card Benefits
20 benefits (11 strong or better) including 1 hidden gems
Travel Insurance
Travel Access & Perks
Travel Credits
Elite Status
Purchase Protection
Statement Credits
Coverage Tier Legend
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the annual fee for the Platinum Card® from American Express?
What is the current welcome offer on the Platinum Card®?
How does the $200 airline fee credit work?
What airport lounges can I access with the Platinum Card®?
Does the Platinum Card® charge foreign transaction fees?
How does the $200 hotel credit work?
How is the Uber Cash credit structured?
What credit score do I need to apply for the Platinum Card®?
What is the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit?
How does the $240 digital entertainment credit work?
About This Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express is best for frequent travelers with excellent credit who fly often enough to use lounge access regularly and can realistically take advantage of the card's multiple annual statement credits to offset the $695 annual fee. It suits cardholders who book flights directly with airlines or through Amex Travel and value premium travel protections and elite-level perks.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is American Express's flagship luxury travel rewards card. Cardmembers earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year), and 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com. The card comes with an annual fee of $695 and a rich suite of travel benefits including access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Select lounges, Delta Sky Club access, and more. Statement credits include up to $200 hotel credit, up to $200 airline fee credit, up to $200 Uber Cash, up to $240 digital entertainment credit, up to $155 Walmart+ credit, up to $300 Equinox credit, up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit, up to $189 CLEAR® Plus credit, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit. The card also confers Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status automatically.
The Platinum Card® stands out for its unmatched airport lounge access network, combining proprietary Centurion Lounges with Priority Pass, Delta Sky Clubs, and additional partners in a single card benefit that few luxury travel cards can replicate in breadth.
Ready to Decide?
Apply for the The Platinum Card® from American Express
80,000 points, worth about $1,600 estimated value, with a $695 annual fee.
Spend $8,000 in 180 days
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Sources & Methodology
Sources & Methodology
Card details are collected by automated crawlers from official issuer pages, then verified by editorial review.
Last updated:
Pending editorial review.
- 19 of 20 benefits rated high confidence
- 1 of 1 offer verified
Read our full methodology for how we collect, verify, and rate credit cards.
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