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In terms of features, The Platinum Card® from American Express offers more than just about any other card. You have access to a diverse mix of travel and lifestyle benefits, including over $1,000 per year in spending credits. Terms apply.
Those perks help balance out a hefty $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). But for this card to be a good deal, you need to make the most out of what it offers. Read on to learn about all the The Platinum Card® from American Express benefits.
Amex Platinum Card lifestyle benefits
While The Platinum Card® from American Express has always been known for luxury travel perks, that's not all it offers. It also includes quite a few lifestyle and shopping benefits, from spending credits with popular brands to excellent purchase protections. Terms apply. These features are part of why this is one of the best card offers for big spenders.
Welcome offer
The welcome bonus on this card is 80,000 points earned after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of Card Membership. Terms apply. Given how useful American Express Membership Rewards points are, this deal is competitive with the best sign-up bonus offers.
Purchase rewards
The The Platinum Card® from American Express earns:
- 5 points per dollar on flights you book either directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (up to a spending cap of $500,000 in purchases per calendar year)
- 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels you book through AmexTravel.com
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
Terms apply.
Amex Offers
The Amex Offers & Benefits portal is one of the underrated perks of American Express cards, as it's home to all kinds of retailer deals and discounts. It includes offers for bonus points, discounts, and statement credits.
$300 annual Equinox credit
The Platinum Card® from American Express offers an annual statement credit of up to $300 for Equinox, the luxury fitness company. You get a statement credit when using your card to pay for monthly Equinox All Access, Destination Access, or E by Equinox membership fees, or for the Equinox+ app. Enrollment required. Terms apply.
$240 annual digital entertainment credit
You earn up to $20 in statement credits per month when you use your card to pay for one or more of:
- Peacock
- Disney+, Hulu, ESPN, and/or the Disney Bundle
- The New York Times
- Audible
Enrollment required. Terms apply.
$100 in annual Saks Fifth Avenue credits
This card offers up to $100 in statement credits per year for purchases made at Saks Fifth Avenue and on saks.com. It's a two-part credit, offering $50 from January through June and another $50 from July through December every year. Enrollment required. Terms apply.
Platinum Card® Concierge
As a cardmember, you'll get access to a concierge who can assist you with everything from making dinner arrangements, purchasing tickets to events, and selecting a gift. Terms apply.
Global Dining Access by Resy
When you add this card to your Resy profile, you can unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences. Terms apply.
Purchase protection
Eligible items purchased with your card are covered in the event they're lost, stolen, or damaged within 90 days of the purchase date. The purchase protection* limits for this card are up to $10,000 per covered purchase and up to $50,000 per card per calendar year (and $500 per event in the event of a covered natural disaster). Terms apply.
Return protection
If you try to return an eligible item within 90 days of the purchase date and the seller won't take it back, American Express may refund the full purchase price up to $300, excluding shipping and handling. In addition to the $300 per item limit, return protection** also covers a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account. The purchase must be made entirely with your eligible American Express card in the U.S. or in certain territories. Terms apply.
Extended warranty coverage
This card's extended warranty*** coverage adds up to one year on covered purchases with original manufacturer's warranties of five years or less. It covers up to the amount charged to your card for the purchase, with a maximum of $10,000 per item and $50,000 per card per calendar year. Terms apply.
Cellphone protection
When you pay your cellphone bill with The Platinum Card® from American Express, you get complimentary cellphone protection for covered damage or theft****. There's a limit of $800 per claim with a $50 deductible, as well as a maximum of two claims per 12-month period. Terms apply.
ShopRunner membership
Card benefits include free shipping for online purchases made with more than 100 eligible ShopRunner retailers. Purchases must be made with The Platinum Card® from American Express to qualify. Enrollment required. Terms apply.
InCircle®
By enrolling The Platinum Card® from American Express into InCircle®, you'll receive 1 InCircle point per $1 spent on eligible purchases at Neiman Marcus®, Bergdorf Goodman®, Last Call®, Horchow®, and CUSP®. For every 10,000 points, you'll receive a $100 InCircle gift card to use with any of those merchants. Terms apply.
By Invitation Only® access
American Express offers specially curated experiences for eligible The Platinum Card® from American Express Members. Events range from sporting and fashion to fine dining, art, and performances. Terms apply.
Preferred Seating
Get access to premium seats for eligible events (based on availability). Tickets can be purchased online, through an app, or by phone. Terms apply.
American Express Auto Purchasing Program
Through a partnership with TrueCar, qualifying Platinum Card® Members can receive a Guaranteed Savings Certificate good at participating dealerships. You can also use your Amex card to pay for at least $2,000 of the purchase amount (and potentially up to the full amount). Terms apply.
Amex Platinum Card travel benefits
When comparing cards by travel benefits, there aren't many that come close to The Platinum Card® from American Express. It offers flexible points, top-notch airport lounge access, elite status with multiple hotels, and much more. Terms apply.
American Express Membership Rewards points
One of the best benefits of The Platinum Card® from American Express for travelers is its transferable points. You can turn your points into frequent flyer miles or hotel rewards with any of these travel partners (terms apply):
- Aer Lingus
- Aeromexico
- Air Canada
- Air France/KLM
- Alitalia
- All Nippon Airways
- Avianca
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Delta Air Lines
- Emirates
- Etihad Airways
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Iberia
- JetBlue Airways
- Qantas
- Singapore Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic Airways
- Choice Hotels
- Hilton Honors
- Marriott Bonvoy
Points can also be redeemed at a fixed rate toward travel purchases through American Express Travel. You can get up to $0.01 per point this way, with the value depending on the type of travel purchase. Terms apply.
It's usually better to transfer American Express Membership Rewards points, because you can get much more value. Using them through American Express Travel is a solid alternative if transferring them isn't an option for what you want to book.
No foreign transaction fees
When you use this card internationally, you won't incur any extra fees. (See rates and fees.)
Upgrade with points
Seats on select flights booked with participating airlines may be eligible to be upgraded using your Membership Rewards points. Terms apply.
Airport lounge access
The Platinum Card® from American Express offers unrivaled airport lounge access. It provides complimentary access to over 1,300 lounges across 140 countries. Terms apply and select enrollment required. Here are some of the types of lounges you'll be able to access:
- The Centurion Lounge
- The International American Express Lounges
- Priority Pass
- Escape Lounges
- Delta Sky Club®
- Plaza Premium
- Air Space
- Lufthansa (at select airports)
Other travel cards provide airport lounge access, but none get you into so many different lounges. American Express also has some of the most luxurious lounges. The Centurion Lounges, in particular, are extremely popular among frequent flyers.
Hilton and Marriott elite status
This card gets you complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status. Enrollment required. Terms apply. Elite hotel status can unlock perks like extra rewards, room upgrades, and a late checkout.
$200 in annual Uber Cash and Uber VIP status
After you add The Platinum Card® from American Express to your enrolled Uber account, you get up to $200 in annual Uber statement credits ($15 per month, plus an extra $20 in December). You'll also become an Uber VIP where available. Terms apply.
$200 annual hotel credit
You get $200 back in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel. You must pay with your The Platinum Card® from American Express and book for at least two nights. Terms apply.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
You receive a statement credit every four years for the Global Entry membership fee ($100) or every four and a half years for the TSA PreCheck membership fee ($85). Terms apply. These expedited security programs help you get through airport security more quickly.
Global Entry is the better option because it also gets you a TSA PreCheck membership.
CLEAR® credit
This card provides a statement credit of up to $189 per calendar year to cover the cost of a CLEAR® membership you're enrolled in. Terms apply. CLEAR® is an expedited security program that gets you to the front of airport security lines.
Avis, Hertz, and National Car Rental elite status
You're eligible to enroll in the Avis Preferred®, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards®, and National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive programs through your The Platinum Card® from American Express account. Membership can unlock benefits like discounts, car upgrades, and priority service. Terms apply.
Car rental loss and damage insurance
When you use The Platinum Card® from American Express to reserve and pay for an eligible car rental, you'll get secondary rental car insurance coverage for damage or theft*****. Just make sure to decline the rental agency's insurance. Vehicle type restrictions and coverage limits apply. Terms apply.
Trip delay insurance
If a round-trip paid for entirely with your eligible Card is delayed by a covered reason for more than six hours, trip delay insurance****** can help reimburse eligible additional expenses you incur. Purchases must be made with the same eligible Card to qualify. Coverage limits are up to $500 per trip and a maximum of two claims per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
If a round-trip paid for entirely with your eligible Card is canceled or interrupted by a covered reason, trip cancellation and interruption insurance******* can help reimburse nonrefundable expenses purchased with the same eligible Card. Coverage limits are up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Terms apply.
Baggage insurance plan
If your baggage is lost, damaged, or stolen while traveling on a common carrier, this card's baggage insurance plan******** could reimburse you. You must pay the entire fare with your eligible Card for this protection to apply. Coverage limits are up to $2,000 per covered person for checked-in baggage and up to $3,000 per covered person for carried-on baggage. Terms apply.
$200 annual airline fee credit
You can enroll with one eligible airline to receive up to $200 in annual statement credits towards incidental fees. This includes checked bag fees and in-flight purchases paid for with The Platinum Card® from American Express. It doesn't cover airfare. Terms apply.
International Airline Program
This program offers discounted tickets for premium seats (first class, business, and premium economy) with qualifying airlines. You must book through American Express Travel and use The Platinum Card® from American Express to pay for the tickets. The Card Member must be part of the booking, and there's a limit of eight tickets per booking. Terms apply.
Premium Private Jet Program with Wheels Up
With The Platinum Card® from American Express, you receive 20% off a Wheels Up Connect membership or 40% off a Wheels Up Core membership you're enrolled in. Additional benefits include a $500 or $2,000 flight credit, depending on which membership you choose. Terms apply.
Premium Global Assist® Hotline
When you travel more than 100 miles from home, American Express provides a 24/7 hotline for medical, legal, financial, and emergency coordination and assistance. You may be responsible for costs charged by third-party service providers. Emergency medical transportation may be provided at no cost only if approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline*********. Terms apply.
The bottom line on Amex Platinum Card benefits
You could save thousands of dollars every year and upgrade your travels with The Platinum Card® from American Express benefits. That's assuming you can use at least a portion of them.
Since The Platinum Card® from American Express has a hefty annual fee, it's especially important to make sure it's a good fit before applying. Review the benefits and see if you like them. If you can take advantage of its dozens of perks, this card packs substantial value.
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Our Credit Cards Expert
Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
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*Purchase Protection is an embedded benefit of your Card Membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect Covered Purchases made on your Eligible Card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Coverage Limits Apply. 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.
**With Return Protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won't take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
***When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. 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.
****Coverage for a Stolen or damaged Eligible Cellular Wireless Telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per Eligible Card Account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per Eligible Card Account per 12 month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
*****Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. 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.
******Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
*******The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
********Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. 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.
*********You can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Plus, we may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has positions in Delta Air Lines. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends Delta Air Lines and Marriott International. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
For rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here