Even although The Platinum Card® from American Express has a steep $695 annual payment (see charges and costs), this premium journey card nonetheless boasts sufficient perks that the annual payment will be price it — should you use them. Plus, the cardboard has a historical past of juicy welcome bonuses, ranging in worth from $1,200-$2,000 in TPG’s valuations.
Related: Is the Amex Platinum definitely worth the annual payment?
The card additionally gives the next perks every year (which require enrollment upfront):
On high of $1,500 in accessible assertion credit every year, the Platinum card gives airport lounge entry, elite standing with Hilton Honors and Marriot Bonvoy and precious Membership Rewards factors that you should utilize for flights, resorts and different hospitality and journey experiences. In addition, you’ll get pleasure from American Express’s Platinum Concierge — a service that may assist safe reservations, plan your flights and safe hard-to-get symphony tickets for that European vacation. You’ll additionally get pleasure from buying protections and journey protections together with your card.
While maximizing the Amex Platinum card can take some effort, it pays off. Here are some methods chances are you’ll be lacking worth together with your Platinum card.
Related: American Express Platinum card evaluate
Take benefit of the welcome provide
New candidates for the Amex Platinum card can earn 80,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of cardmembership. TPG values this bonus at $1,600.
If you utilize the CardMatch software, chances are you’ll be focused for a welcome bonus of 125,000 or 150,000 factors (gives topic to vary at any time).
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The key to maximizing your card’s worth is to succeed in the spending threshold to earn the bonus. By shifting your entire spending (utilities, meals, lease, and many others.) onto this card till you full the spending requirement, you may add additional worth to your card within the first 12 months.
Related: 12 methods to fulfill bank card bonus minimal spending necessities
Understand bonus incomes alternatives
While the Platinum Card is a superb card for journey bills, sadly, it is not your greatest card for on a regular basis purchases.
You’ll earn factors on the Platinum card as follows:
- 5 factors per greenback on flights booked straight with airways or with Amex Travel (on as much as $500,000 of those purchases per 12 months, then 1 level per greenback).
- 5 factors per greenback on pay as you go resorts booked with Amex Travel.
- 1 level per greenback on different purchases.
This makes the Amex Platinum one of many greatest playing cards for reserving flights or paying taxes and costs on award tickets.
Related: 10 issues to do once you get the Amex Platinum
Access unique VIP experiences
The Platinum Card grants entry to VIP experiences and early entry to ticket presales, in addition to By Invitation Only occasions. These might help you get into widespread occasions which might be prone to promote out.
The By Invitation Only program is an unique profit for Platinum and Centurion cardmembers, which gives entry to year-round, custom-made, once-in-a-lifetime occasions plus experiences for eating, wellness, journey, leisure and retail.
Related: The greatest bank cards for live performance tickets and VIP entry
Utilize your journey perks
This card is a superb journey companion and supplies worth on the street or within the skies. The key right here is to make use of all of the companies which might be included.
First, make the most of an as much as $100 credit score for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and as much as $189 to offset your annual Clear membership payment. In addition, you should utilize as much as $200 a 12 months for airline charges together with your most well-liked airline; these credit can cowl bills like inflight meals and drinks, checked-bag charges or inflight Wi-Fi. Cardmembers can also use as much as $200 per 12 months in lodge credit and as much as $200 per 12 months in Uber Cash (legitimate on rides and Uber eats orders within the U.S.). Enrollment is required upfront for some advantages.
You can also calm down in fashion earlier than your flight with entry to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, together with greater than 1,500 airport lounges across the globe. These embody Amex Centurion lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (you have to be on a same-day Delta flight) and Priority Pass lounges (enrollment is required).
Related: Your full information to Amex Centurion Lounges
Once you attain your vacation spot, your Platinum card gives further luxurious journey perks. You can enroll for complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite standing and make the most of the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) program. This program gives room upgrades upon arrival (when accessible), each day breakfast for 2, assured 4 p.m. late checkout and Noon check-in (when accessible), complimentary Wi-Fi and a $100 or extra property, eating or spa credit score.
There’s additionally entry to The Hotel Collection, which gives room upgrades and lodge credit for eating, spa and resort actions once you keep for 2 or extra nights at choose resorts.
Related: A comparability of luxurious lodge packages from bank card issuers: Amex, Chase and Capital One
Don’t assume you obtain perks mechanically
To acquire probably the most worth from the Platinum Card, you should enroll within the gives you have an interest in and need. This is a straightforward course of: log into your Amex account and choose your gives.
You must manually enroll for elite standing with automotive rental companions and lodge elite standing packages and enroll to obtain each the $200 annual Uber assertion credit score and Saks Fifth Avenue $100 retail credit score. Don’t assume you are mechanically enrolled for these advantages once you obtain your card.
The identical applies to utilizing Amex Offers for additional factors or money again (as an announcement credit score). These focused gives can present precious rebates or bonuses in your purchases all year long, however you should add them to your card earlier than making an eligible buy.
Related: The secret to getting extra (and typically higher) Amex Offers in your card
Bottom Line
You want to make use of the advantages to justify the Amex Platinum card’s hefty $695 annual payment. The greatest method is to succeed in your spending requirement to seize the welcome bonus, enroll within the packages that may improve your journey expertise, and clearly perceive the cardboard’s perks. It will not be attainable to make use of all of them, however consider which you should utilize and whether or not they’re sufficient to make the annual payment price it.
Related: Who ought to (and who shouldn’t) get the American Express Platinum?
Some of the Platinum Card’s advantages are apparent, like utilizing it to entry airport lounges. Others will be neglected, and a few advantages require enrollment earlier than utilizing them. If you perceive what your card gives, you should not miss worth from the Amex Platinum card going ahead.
Official software hyperlink: The Platinum Card from American Express
Check the CardMatch software to see should you’re focused for a 125,000 or 150,000-point Platinum card provide (after assembly minimal spending necessities). These gives are topic to vary at any time.
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum card, click on right here.