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  1. Home
  2. Credit Cards
  3. The Platinum Card® from American Express
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The Platinum Card® from American Express
American ExpressMembership RewardsEditorially reviewed

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.

LuxuryPersonal
American Express
Credit profile: excellent

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

Verifiedissuer page
Apply NowCompare This CardBrowse all cards

Card Offers

public

80,000 points

Verified

$1,600 estimated value

Spend $8,000 in 180 days

issuer page

Earning Rates

Flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com
5xpoints

On up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1x

Prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
5xpoints
All other purchases
1xpoints

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 TypeAmount
Annual Fee$695
Foreign Transaction Fee0%

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

Best in ClassIndustry-leading coverage
StrongAbove average
StandardTypical coverage
LimitedBelow average

Hidden Gems

Premium Car Rental Protection Upgrade

Beyond the standard secondary car rental loss and damage coverage, cardholders can opt into a Premium Protection plan for a flat fee per rental, which can simplify coverage without relying on personal auto insurance. This option is easy to overlook but useful for cardholders who rent frequently.

Delta Sky Club Access Without a Delta Card

The Platinum Card® grants access to Delta Sky Clubs when traveling on a same-day Delta flight, even though it is not a co-branded Delta card. This is a meaningful perk for Delta flyers who do not hold a Delta-specific credit card.

Semi-Annual Saks Credit Structure

The $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit is split into two $50 increments across two semi-annual periods, effectively allowing cardholders to make two separate purchases throughout the year rather than one lump credit. Cardholders who plan purchases around these windows can extract the full $100 in value more easily.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the annual fee for the Platinum Card® from American Express?
The annual fee is $695 per year. This fee is not waived in the first year. The card is best suited for travelers who can offset the fee through its many statement credits and travel benefits.
What is the current welcome offer on the Platinum Card®?
The current public offer is 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $8,000 in the first 180 days of card membership. That bonus is estimated to be worth approximately $1,600 based on published bonus value data.
How does the $200 airline fee credit work?
Cardholders receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental airline fees such as checked bags and in-flight food and beverages. You must select one qualifying airline each year, and the credit does not apply to airfare purchases themselves.
What airport lounges can I access with the Platinum Card®?
The card provides access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection, which includes American Express Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Delta Sky Clubs when traveling on a same-day Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium, and Airspace Lounges. Guest fees may apply at some locations, and access may be restricted during peak periods at select Centurion Lounges.
Does the Platinum Card® charge foreign transaction fees?
No, the Platinum Card® from American Express has no foreign transaction fees, making it a practical option for international travel.
How does the $200 hotel credit work?
Cardholders can receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid hotel bookings made through American Express Travel at Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection properties. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay, and bookings made outside the Amex Travel portal do not qualify.
How is the Uber Cash credit structured?
The Uber Cash credit is added in monthly increments and provides up to $200 in total annual value for Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. Credits expire at the end of each month if unused, and you must link your card to your Uber account to receive them.
What credit score do I need to apply for the Platinum Card®?
American Express generally requires excellent credit for approval of the Platinum Card®. Applicants with strong credit histories and responsible payment track records are most likely to qualify.
What is the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit?
The card covers the application fee for Global Entry (up to $120) or TSA PreCheck® (up to $85) once every four to 4.5 years. The credit applies to the application fee only and does not guarantee program approval.
How does the $240 digital entertainment credit work?
Cardholders receive up to $20 per month, totaling up to $240 per year, in statement credits for eligible digital subscriptions including Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Peacock, and The New York Times. Only those specific providers qualify, and credits do not roll over from month to month.

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

Apply NowCompare Cards

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Reward Program

Membership Rewards

Earns Points

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Card Categories

TravelLuxuryAirport Lounge AccessHotel CreditsAirline CreditsMembership Rewards

Sources & Methodology

Data Collection

Card details are collected by automated crawlers from official issuer pages, then verified by editorial review.

Last updated: Apr 16, 2026

Editorial Review

Pending editorial review.

Data Quality
  • 19 of 20 benefits rated high confidence
  • 1 of 1 offer verified
Learn More

Read our full methodology for how we collect, verify, and rate credit cards.

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