Why Premium Cards Are Worth It in 2026 -- Even With High Annual Fees
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2026 is shaping up to be a massive travel year, with 91% of Americans planning trips according to a recent Marriott survey. That means flights will be packed, airports buzzing, and hotels filling up fast.
If you're planning to travel next year, here's the honest truth: doing it with a premium credit card just makes life easier.
You can skip some of those long TSA lines, relax in an airport lounge, maybe get Gold status at some popular hotel chains. Some luxury cards even come with travel credits that can knock a large chunk off of your booking costs.
Here's why a premium card might be worth it for you in 2026.
Welcome offers can be worth $1,000+
One of the biggest mental roadblocks with premium cards is the annual fee. Paying $500, $700, or even $800+ for a credit card seems crazy.
But to soften the blow, many premium cards come with welcome offers worth $1,000 or more. In some cases, that single bonus can cover the entire annual fee for the first year (and then some).
For example, the American Express Platinum Card® has a huge offer right now: Apply and find out if you are 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.
If redeemed through American Express Travel at a standard rate of $0.01 per point, that bonus alone could be worth up to $1,750 in travel (as estimated by Motley Fool Money) -- more than double the card's $895 annual fee (see rates and fees).
That doesn't mean everyone should run out and apply. But it does mean the fee isn't always the real cost it appears to be on day one.
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Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
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APR
See Pay Over Time APR
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.
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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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- Big welcome offer
- Substantial spending credits
- Airport lounge access
- Hotel benefits
- Flexible travel points
- Annual fee
- Limited bonus categories
- Spending credits can be complicated to manage
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- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 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.
- More Value! 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.
- More Value! $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.
- More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
- More Value! $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.
- New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. 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, enrollment required.
- More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the 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 upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- New! $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.
- $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
- 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.
VIP travel perks and credits
Beyond welcome offers, premium cards earn their keep through ongoing travel perks and credits. They are especially worth it for people who travel a few times per year.
For example, the Platinum Card® includes a long list of travel-focused benefits, such as:
- $600 Hotel Credit via Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection (The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay)
- $400 Resy Credit -- Up to $100 back quarterly on eligible Resy dining purchases (enrollment required).
- $200 Airline Fee Credit
- $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit
- $200 in Uber Cash annually ($15 monthly + a bonus $20 in December) for rides/eats in the U.S., plus up to $120 in annual statement credits for an Uber One membership
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges worldwide
- Terms apply; enrollment may be required.
And that's just scratching the surface of the total $3,500+ potential value of benefits. If someone were able to use every available perk, the total value could exceed several thousand dollars per year.
Realistically, most people won't use them all. And that's okay. Even partial use can make a noticeable dent in the $895 annual fee for the American Express Platinum Card®.
Is a premium card right for you?
Premium cards aren't automatically better -- they're just better for certain travel habits and lifestyles. If you travel a few times a year, value convenience, and don't mind using credits tied to airlines, hotels, or transportation, a premium card could be a great fit. You'll save money and have smoother trips.
That said, there's no pressure to force it. In fact, it's better to choose a card that fits your lifestyle than to change your habits to suit a credit card.
Compare all your options by checking out our full list of top travel credit cards to see how fees, perks, and rewards stack up.
Our Research Expert
Joel O’Leary is a full-time Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, covering credit cards, bank accounts, investing, mortgages, and other personal finance topics. Joel has been writing about personal finance since 2018, previously leading editorial content for the How To Money podcast and serving as a resident writer at Budgets Are Sexy. He bought his first rental property at age 18, funding the down payment with savings from his high school job at McDonald’s -- a testament to his lifelong passion for smart money decisions. His work aims to make personal finance accessible and actionable for everyday readers. When he’s not writing, Joel enjoys surfing and spending time with his family.
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 American Express Platinum Card®, click here