If you’re a frequent flyer — or just want to make the most of your next big trip — The Platinum Card® from American Express is tough to beat. It’s packed with premium perks, from airport lounge access to nearly $1,300 in annual credits.
And while it comes with a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), you can easily earn that back by making use of the card’s many benefits.
Here’s why the Amex Platinum Card is our pick for one of the best travel cards on the market today.
High earning rates on travel
With the Amex Platinum Card, you’ll earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. That’s one of the highest rewards rates available on travel purchases.
You’ll also earn 1X points on all other purchases — but the value is clearly in how you book travel. And those points are flexible: You can use them to book trips directly, or transfer them to over 20 airline and hotel partners for potentially higher value. Terms apply.
The card also comes with a lucrative welcome offer: 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points points when you spend $8,000 in the first 6 months. That’s worth at least $800 in travel through Amex Travel — or even more if you can leverage Amex’s transfer partners. Terms apply.
Apply for the Amex Platinum Card now (see rates and fees) to take full advantage of its valuable welcome offer and book your next getaway for cheap.
Access to elite airport lounges
One of the biggest perks of the Amex Platinum Card is airport lounge access. Cardholders get entry to:
- The Centurion® Lounge network
- Priority Pass™ Select lounges
- Delta Sky Clubs® (when flying Delta)
- Escape Lounges — The Centurion® Studio Partner
- Terms apply
It’s impossible to place a value on this perk, but it’s easily worth several hundred dollars per year if you use it. And — if you fly even a couple of times a year, these lounges can make a huge difference. Complimentary food, drinks, wifi, and a space to relax can turn a travel day into something actually (gasp) enjoyable.
Nearly $1,300 in statement credits
The Amex Platinum Card also comes with a long list of annual credits. They include:
- $240 in digital entertainment credits for subscriptions like Disney+, Hulu, and The New York Times
- A $200 airline fee credit for things like baggage fees and seat upgrades
- A $200 hotel credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings
- $200 in Uber Cash ($15 per month, plus an additional $20 in December)
- A $199 CLEAR® Plus credit
- Walmart+ credit up to $12.95 each month
- $100 in annual Saks Fifth Avenue credits
- Terms apply; enrollment may be required
In total, that’s $1,294 in potential value, nearly twice the card’s $695 annual fee. If you’re on the hunt for a card that easily justifies its yearly price tag, you’ve found it.
Even if you don’t take full advantage of every single credit, just using a few — like Uber Cash, the airline credit, and the entertainment credit — will quickly add up.
What are you waiting for?
The Amex Platinum Card isn’t for everyone. But if you fly often, enjoy luxury perks, or already use services like Uber, streaming apps, and Walmart+, the value of the card is obvious.
What are you waiting for? Apply for the Amex Platinum Card today (see rates and fees) and earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points points when you spend $8,000 in the first 6 months upon approval.
