The Platinum Card® from American Express has a huge list of features that could save you thousands of dollars. You'll get elite status with multiple hotels, great airport lounge access, and all kinds of spending credits. Select enrollment required and terms apply. But all that comes with a steep annual fee (see rates and fees) -- find out if it's worth it for you in this The Platinum Card® from American Express review.
Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. 4.50/5
Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
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The high annual fee is justifiable for frequent travelers who can take full advantage of a deep bench of valuable perks, including the big welcome bonus, robust rewards, and lucrative annual travel credits.
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- Big welcome bonus offer
- Substantial spending credits
- Airport lounge access
- Hotel benefits
- Flexible travel points
- Annual fee
- Limited bonus categories
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- Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- 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.
- Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. And if you fly, you can receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year after you select a qualifying airline and incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups are excluded.
- American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. There are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $25 back each month on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
- $189 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $189 back per year on your CLEAR® membership. CLEAR® is available at select airports and stadiums.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Full Amex Platinum Card review
This card is a good fit for: Luxury travelers who want to save on high-end bookings. If you'd like to upgrade your travels, you'll get value from this card's lengthy list of benefits.
Top perks
You probably won't find a card more feature-packed than The Platinum Card® from American Express.
100,000 bonus points
You'll earn a welcome bonus of 100,000 bonus points for spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of Card Membership. The offer and spending minimum are fairly competitive with popular sign-up bonuses. Terms apply.
Ongoing rewards program
This card earns bonus points in an array of categories:
- 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines and through American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year
- 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
- Terms apply.
High rates on flights and hotels, plus that fantastic welcome offer, all help to maximize your rewards.
$200 annual Uber Cash and Uber VIP status
American Express cardholders get cash toward Uber rides and an automatic bump up to Uber VIP status. Uber Cash is doled out in monthly installments of $15 each (plus an extra $20 in December). The only frustrating part is that any unused cash amount won't roll over to the next month, so you need to use Uber frequently to get the most from this benefit. Terms apply.
$200 annual airline fee credit
After you choose a qualifying airline, you'll automatically get up to $200 in annual statement credits for airline fees. This covers anything an airline classifies as a fee, such as checked luggage charges and in-flight food or beverages. Just keep in mind that the credit won't cover airfare. Terms apply.
Learn more: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
CLEAR® credit
The Platinum Card® from American Express will reimburse your membership fee for the CLEAR® program you are enrolled in, up to $189 per year. Reimbursement is in the form of a statement credit. Terms apply.
Airport lounge access
A card is only as good as its rewards program, and this one doesn't disappoint. Few issuers can rival American Express's list of airline and hotel partners. And all those partners add up to more high-value redemption opportunities for your points. Used w, e to access Delta Sky Club® lounges, International American Express Lounges, and American Express Centurion® lounge and Studio locations worldwide. The latter are known to be more luxurious than the typical airport lounge. For a frequent flyer, airport lounge access is a great way to upgrade your travels. Terms apply.
American Express Membership Rewards points
A card is only as good as its rewards program, and this one doesn't disappoint. Few issuers can rival American Express's list of airline and hotel partners. And all those partners add up to more high-value redemption opportunities for your points. Used wisely, American Express Membership Rewards points can easily be worth $0.02 per point. With some shopping around and a little luck, you could even find a redemption option that gives you $0.05 per point or more. Terms apply.
Complimentary elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton
Being a Card Member entitles you to automatic Marriott Bonvoy™ Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status, so you'll get all the associated benefits. Enrollment required. Terms apply.
Travel and purchase protections
American Express cards generally have robust travel and purchase protections. Here are the complimentary protections that apply to every eligible purchase made with The Platinum Card® from American Express:
- Car rental loss and damage insurance*
- Trip delay insurance**
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance**
- Return protection***
- Purchase protection****
- Extended warranty coverage****
- Terms apply
No foreign transaction fees
Avoiding extra fees is a must, especially when you're a frequent traveler. As you probably expected, American Express won't ding you with a foreign transaction fee when you use this card internationally. (See rates and fees)
Alternatives to consider
If you want easier-to-use benefits: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® charges a high annual fee as well, bit it lets you redeem points through the Chase travel portal at $0.015 per point or transfer points to a long list of airline and hotel partners.
If you want a more affordable American Express card: You can get the American Express® Gold Card for a more reasonable annual fee of $250 (see rates and fees). Despite the lower cost, this card still offers hundreds of dollars in spending credits and an excellent rewards rate. Terms apply.
Related: Read The Ascent's guide to the Best American Express Credit Cards.
As of Aug. 04, 2022
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| The Platinum Card® from American Express | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | American Express® Gold Card |
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. |
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Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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| Rates & Fees | Rates & Fees | |
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Credit Rating Requirement: |
Credit Rating Requirement: |
Credit Rating Requirement: |
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100,000 Membership Rewards® Points |
60,000 points |
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points |
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1x - 5x points |
1x - 10x points |
1x - 4x points |
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Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
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Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR |
Regular APR: 18.49% - 25.49% Variable |
Regular APR: 18.24%-25.24% Variable |
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Annual Fee: $695 |
Annual Fee: $550 |
Annual Fee: $250 |
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Highlights:
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Highlights:
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Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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What could be improved
Even the top card in the American Express lineup has a few drawbacks.
Annual fee
The Platinum Card® from American Express benefits carry a high price tag. With a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), it's one of the most expensive cards. To decide whether that fee is worth paying, you'll need to look at how many of the benefits you can use. You could get thousands of dollars in value every year in spending credits, rewards, and travel and shopping perks. If you don't think those features will fit your lifestyle, you should look for other credit card options.
Find the best credit card for your needs
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
Suggested credit score
A FICO® Score of at least 670 is recommended when applying for The Platinum Card® from American Express, and a score of 720 or higher is even better. Since this is one of the most luxurious cards, it's targeted at consumers with good or preferably excellent credit. Keep in mind that your credit score is just one of many factors American Express will consider, so that alone doesn't guarantee an approval or a denial.
Amex Platinum Card is right for you if:
The Platinum Card® from American Express is designed for frequent travelers who have high monthly spending and prioritize luxury travel experiences. You'll probably love it if most or all of the following describe your lifestyle:
- You spend heavily on travel
- You like to stay in nice hotels or resorts on your trips.
- You fly a half dozen times or more each year.
- You can make the most of the wide array of credits offered.
Read more: Best Rewards Credit Cards
FAQs
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The Platinum Card® from American Express doesn't have a credit limit or a preset spending limit. The amount you can spend is flexible based on factors that include your purchase, payment, and credit history. If you want to see if a large purchase will be approved, American Express offers a tool to check your spending power in your online account and its mobile app.
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The Platinum Card® from American Express is hard to get if you don't have good or excellent credit. Most approved applicants have a FICO® Score in the 700s.
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Yes, you can use The Platinum Card® from American Express internationally, and it doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee.
About the Author
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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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
*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.
**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.
***Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
****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.
American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target and Walmart Inc. The Motley Fool recommends Marriott International and Uber Technologies and recommends the following options: long January 2023 $115 calls on Marriott International. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
For rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card, click here
For rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here
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