Review: American Express Platinum Card®

Who is the American Express Platinum Card® for?

Quick facts about the Amex Platinum

Review: Amex Platinum card

Let's dig into its features, perks, and whether it's worth carrying in your wallet.

Amex Platinum card benefits

The Platinum Card from American Express is known for providing big benefits. 

In fact, you can unlock up to $3,500+ in annual value  from the card, more than making up for its annual fee.

Here are some key benefits that come with the card include:

• 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(R), over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club(R) 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(R) you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card(R) 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(R) 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(R) at participating partners. Enrollment required.
• More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel(R) using the Platinum Card(R). *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card(R) 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(R). Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
• More Value! $209 CLEAR(R) Plus Credit: CLEAR(R) 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(R). *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(R) 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(R) through American Express Travel(R), 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(R) 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(R). *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(R). 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.
• Terms and conditions apply.

With Delta Sky Club® access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club® access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.

^{*Enrollment required for select benefits. 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. Trip Cancellation and Delay Coverage is underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an IAG Company.}

Earning points on the American Express Platinum Card

• Earn 5X Membership Rewards(R) points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel(R), including Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel(R) on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.

Redeeming Amex points

Like earning points, redeeming points is pretty straightforward and will appeal primarily to frequent travelers. You can redeem in a few different ways, but one of the most valuable uses of your points can be booking travel through transfer partners. In some cases, you can double the value of your points from 1 cent each to 2.

What are the points transfer partners of the American Express Platinum Card?

The best way to use your points is to transfer them to Amex partners. Amex points to 18 airline partners:

• Aer Lingus: 1,000 Points = 1,000 Avios
• AeroMexico: 1,000 Points = 1,600 AeroMexico Rewards Points
• Aeroplan: 1,000 Points = 1,000 Aeroplan® Points
• AIR FRANCE KLM: 1,000 Points = 1,000 Flying Blue® Miles
• ANA Mileage Club: 1,000 Points = 1,000 ANA Mileage Club Miles
• Avianca LifeMiles: 1,000 Points = 1,000 LifeMiles
• British Airways Executive Club: 1,000 Points = 1,000 Avios
• Cathay Pacific: 1,000 Points = 1,000 Asia MilesTM
• Delta Air Lines: 1,000 Points = 1,000 miles
• Emirates Skywards: 1,000 Points = 800 Skywards Miles
• Etihad Guest: 1,000 Points = 1,000 Etihad Guest Miles
• HawaiianMiles®: 1,000 Points = 1,000 HawaiianMiles®
• Iberia Plus: 1,000 Points = 1,000 Avios
• JetBlue TrueBlue®: 250 Points = 200 TrueBlue points
• Qantas Frequent Flyer: 500 Points = 500 Qantas Points
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club: 1,000 Points = 1,000 Avios
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: 1,000 Points = 1,000 KrisFlyer® Miles
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 1,000 Points = 1,000 Virgin Points

In most cases, you can transfer your points to airline points or miles at a ratio of 1:1. Some might be slightly higher or lower. For example, with AeroMexico, you'll get 1,600 for 1,000, and JetBlue offers 200 TrueBlue points for 250 points. 

There are also three hotel partners you can transfer your points to. While most are 1:1, you can earn 2,000 Hilton Honors Points for 1,000 Membership Rewards Points.

Hotel partners:

• Choice Privileges®: 1,000 Points = 1,000 Choice Privileges®
• Hilton Honors: 1,000 Points = 2,000 Hilton Honors Points
• Marriott Bonvoy: 1,000 Points = 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points

Membership Rewards Points are usually transferred right away, but some transfers can take 48 hours. Read more here about how to transfer American Express Membership Rewards Points.

Welcome offer on the Amex Platinum 

What are the drawbacks of the American Express Platinum Card?

The biggest drawback of the Amex Platinum Card is and has always been the luxury-priced annual fee. Combined with the limited opportunities to earn rewards, you'll need to be a super frequent traveler who isn't loyal to a particular airline or hotel brand to get enough from the card to be worth the annual fee. It won't hurt to take a quick tally of the benefits you'll use to determine the potential value to you.