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Amex Platinum Card at $895: what the fee pays for and who gets the most from it
The card earns 5x points on airfare and opens more than 1,550 lounges, but its everyday earning is weak, so check the details before you apply.
The fee and the headline perks
The Amex Platinum Card has an annual fee of $895, and travelers who weigh whether to apply need to know what that fee buys. [1][2] This piece covers the earning rates, lounge access, credits and fine print, and it answers whether the card suits the way you travel.
The card has no foreign transaction fee. [1] It also provides complimentary Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status. [1]
How the card earns points
The card earns 5x Membership Rewards points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel. [1] That rate applies to up to $500,000 of such purchases per calendar year. [1][2]
The author estimates the 5x airfare rate equals an 8.5% return on airfare spending. [1] Everything else earns 1x points, and the author says the card is not a great choice for everyday earning. [1]
Lounges and travel perks
The card provides access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including Amex Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass lounges. [2] Cardholders get the Global Lounge Collection, described as having over $850 of annual value. [1]
The card includes 10 Delta Sky Club visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight. [1] It also includes Priority Pass membership, which requires enrollment. [1]
Credits and extra costs
The author says the card's statement credits can provide more than $1,000 per year in value. [1] One of them is a $200 annual Uber credit. [1]
The airline credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals such as checked bags. [2] Each authorized user you add costs $195. [1]
Which version of the card
The standard Amex Platinum and the Goldman Sachs Amex Platinum have the same annual fee, Membership Rewards earning rates, statement credits, lounge access, and travel benefits. [2]
What this means for you
If you buy flights directly from airlines or through American Express Travel, the 5x rate is the card's strongest earning feature. [1] If most of your spending is everyday purchases, those earn 1x points, and the author says the card is not a great choice for everyday earning. [1]
If you have held the card before or hold it now, the welcome bonus is not available to you. [1] Because the card is a hybrid card rather than a credit card, it does not count toward Amex's limit of five credit cards per person. [1]
Before you count on the airline credit, remember that it does not cover airfare. [2] Add the $195 per authorized user to the $895 fee if you plan to share the card. [1]
Sources
- Amex Platinum Card Review: Benefits & Credits That Easily Justify The Fee — One Mile at a Time
- Amex Platinum Card vs. Goldman Sachs Amex Platinum Card [Detailed Comparison] — Upgraded Points
Written from the sources above and checked twice before publishing. How we work · Report an error
