3 Unique Perks of the Amex Platinum Card

Published on Nov. 25, 2024

Lyle Daly

By: Lyle Daly

Writer

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KEY POINTS

  • Many travel cards include airport lounge access, but this is one of the few that can get you into American Express® Centurion Lounges.
  • It includes elite status with two hotel chains, which makes your stays more enjoyable.
  • This American Express card also has a yearly hotel spending credit and special perks at select luxury properties.

The Platinum Card® from American Express has a seemingly endless list of features. You'd hope so, considering the $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). When you're spending that much, it's important to get your money's worth.

You certainly can -- some cardholders say they save $2,000 or more per year. If you're trying to decide if this American Express card is right for you, it helps to know about the unique perks it offers that you can't find with most other cards.

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The Platinum Card® from American Express

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The Platinum Card® from American Express
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Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 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. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.

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Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

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  • This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required), and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome bonus worth $800 in points. Terms apply.

    • 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
    • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
    • 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.
    • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
    • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
    • The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
    • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
    • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
    • $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
    • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
    • Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
    • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
    • Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
    • $695 annual fee.
    • Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
    • Terms Apply.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip delay and cancellation insurance and cell phone protection underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Extended warranty, purchase protection, car rental insurance, and baggage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

1. American Express® Centurion Lounge access

Airport lounge access is a pretty common perk now. Most of the higher-priced travel cards have it, usually via a Priority Pass membership. That's an airport lounge program with over 1,400 lounges.

The Platinum Card® from American Express has that, but it also gets you access to several other types of lounges. Enrollment required, terms apply. The most illustrious of these are the American Express® Centurion Lounges, which are known for being a cut above the competition. Here are a few reasons why:

  • They serve higher quality food and beverages. Offerings from these lounges have included vanilla French toast, avocado bruschetta, wellness shots, and fancy cocktails, to give you a few examples.
  • They're comfortable and well-designed. American Express® Centurion Lounges look and feel more luxurious than a typical airport lounge.
  • They have thoughtful amenities. Examples include showers, complimentary spa service, and pool tables for guests.

Because these lounges are so highly rated, overcrowding can be a problem. But they're still well worth a visit.

Only a select few American Express cards include access to Centurion Lounges. It's a useful benefit that can really improve your airport experience. You can also save money on food compared to what you'd spend dining at an airport restaurant.

2. Elite status with Marriott and Hilton

Normally, getting elite status with a hotel chain involves staying at its properties a lot. You could also find a credit card with complimentary elite status, but in most cases, it will be with a single hotel chain.

The Platinum Card® from American Express is the rare card that gets you elite status in two hotel loyalty programs. As a card member, you're eligible for Marriott Bonvoy™ Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status. Enrollment required, terms apply.

This is another one of those benefits that can make your travel experience more enjoyable. Marriott Bonvoy™ Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status both include complimentary room upgrades when available. Hilton Honors Gold Status also gets you a Daily Food and Breakfast Credit or Continental Breakfast, depending on the brand and the region.

3. A spending credit and premium perks at high-end hotels

The hotel perks don't stop at elite status. You'll also get up to $200 back in statement credits each year toward hotel bookings. It applies to prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel, when you pay with your Amex Platinum Card. This is one of over $1,500 in yearly spending credits this card offers. Terms apply.

The Fine Hotels + Resorts® collection is another way this card raises your travel experience. When you book these properties through American Express Travel, you receive a suite of special benefits with an average total value of $550. These benefits include:

  • Daily breakfast for two
  • Room upgrade upon arrival when available
  • $100 credit toward eligible charges (which vary by property)
  • Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
  • Noon check-in when available
  • Terms apply

Perks like these can make staying at a nice hotel even more enjoyable. You could get a complimentary upgrade just because of your American Express card. You'll be eating breakfast without spending extra, and with the guaranteed late checkout, you won't need to get up early on the last day of your trip.

A high-powered travel card

Remember, those three perks are just a few of the special benefits you get with this American Express card. This is far from an exhaustive list.

If you like the idea of getting into American Express® Centurion Lounges, having elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hiton, and receiving the royal treatment when you visit Fine Hotels + Resorts®, then this card could be a great fit. Check out the rest of its benefits, and that will help you decide if you should apply.

Not sure if this card is right for you? It never hurts to shop around. Click here to see our list of the best travel rewards cards with valuable perks and big bonuses for new cardholders.

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Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly icon-button-linkedin-2x icon-button-twitter-2x

Lyle Daly is a freelance writer who has been covering personal finance since 2016.