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American Express has officially rolled out a major refresh of the American Express Platinum Card® -- and the rumors were right. The card is now more expensive, but it also comes with a new slate of lifestyle and travel perks designed to boost its value.
The big headline: the annual fee has jumped to $895 (see rates and fees), one of the highest of any consumer rewards card I've seen. In return, Amex is layering in thousands of dollars' worth of new credits alongside its already-strong travel benefits.
Let's dig into what's new.
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Rewards Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®. 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$895
Welcome Offer You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
The American Express Platinum Card® isn’t just a credit card — it’s a status symbol. With over $3,500 in annual credits like $400 for dining with Resy, $600 in luxury hotel stays, and $300 in digital entertainment, plus VIP access to 1,550 airport lounges and automatic Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy elite status (enrollment required), it delivers prestige few cards can match. The fee is steep, but for those who want the best, the Platinum Card® can more than pay for itself — starting with a powerful welcome offer. Terms apply.
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We score cards within four primary categories:
Top-rated cards typically combine strong long-term value, attainable bonuses, low fees, and standout protections or perks.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
At Motley Fool Money, every credit card we review is rated on a 5-star scale, scored to a tenth of a point. Our ratings weigh the features that matter most: rewards rates, 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.
We score cards within four primary categories:
Top-rated cards typically combine strong long-term value, attainable bonuses, low fees, and standout protections or perks.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
Here's the honest truth: $895 is a lot of money for a credit card. It's one of the highest annual fees I've seen on a consumer rewards card.
Is it worth it? For some people, absolutely. If you're a frequent traveler who can actually use the $400 Resy credit, the $600 hotel credit, Uber Cash, and CLEAR®, the math works out fast. Toss in the lounge access and hotel status, and you're well past breakeven. Terms apply; enrollment may be required.
But if you're not traveling regularly, the Platinum Card® starts to look less like a powerhouse and more like a very expensive coupon book. You need to be honest with yourself: Will you really use all those perks? If not, $895 is going to feel like a gut punch every time the fee posts.
This refresh makes the card an even tougher sell for casual users. If you don't travel regularly, rarely book upscale hotels, or just prefer a simpler rewards setup, the Platinum Card® won't make sense at $895. For those cardholders, the long list of credits feels less like value and more like homework. In that case, you're better off with a cheaper, easier-to-use alternative like the Amex Gold Card or the Capital One Venture X Card.
The Platinum Card® is still one of the best options for frequent travelers who value premium experiences. Lounge access alone can cover a big chunk of the fee if you're flying often enough, and the refreshed hotel and dining credits add even more for people who lean into luxury. If your lifestyle already lines up with benefits like Resy dining, prepaid luxury hotel bookings, and Uber rides, the new $895 price tag can be justified -- and in many cases, outweighed.
Apply now for the American Express Platinum Card® and unlock premium travel, exclusive perks, and over $3,500 in annual value.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by American Express. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express.
For rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card, click here
For rates and fees for the American Express Platinum Card®, click here
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Amex.