How to Get Over $2,000 in Value From the Amex Platinum in Your First Year

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KEY POINTS

  • Right now, the Amex Platinum Card is offering 80,000 after you spend $8,000 in your first 6 months.
  • The card also comes with over $1,000 in annual credits for travel, entertainment, and shopping.
  • Perks like airport lounge access and elite status with hotel partners add even more hidden value, more than justifying its $695 annual fee.

The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the most valuable travel cards on the market -- and with a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), it better be. If you take full advantage of the card's many perks in your first year, you can get over $2,000 in value. That's a lot of bang for your buck.

Let's break it down and see if this card is a fit for you.

Ratings Methodology

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score:Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees

Credit ScoreCircle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

RewardsCircle 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.

1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points

Annual Fee

$695

Welcome OfferCircle 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.

80,000

  • 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.

    Read Full Review
    • 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.
    • With American Express Global Lounge Collection® you can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. 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.
    • $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 ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
    • $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. A welcome offer easily worth $800 in travel

Let's start with the big one: With the Amex Platinum Card's current welcome offer, new cardholders can earn 80,000 after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months. Terms apply. You may be eligible for a targeted offer that's higher than the standard. Check the card's website to find out.

Points can be worth $0.01 each when you book travel through Amex Travel, and even more if you transfer them to airline or hotel partners. That means the standard welcome offer is easily worth $800 in travel rewards, and even more if you take full advantage of Amex's transfer partners.

For more on how this offer compares, check out our full list of the best travel cards.

2. A $200 hotel credit

The Amex Platinum Card offers up to $200 back annually when you book a prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection stay through Amex Travel. Terms apply; enrollment may be required.

Even if you only travel once a year, this is an easy way to save on a high-end hotel for your big trip. It also stacks with other Amex perks like early check-in and room upgrades.

3. A $240 digital entertainment credit

With the Amex Platinum Card, Amex will cover up to $20 per month in eligible digital entertainment services. That includes platforms like Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Peacock, and The New York Times, among others. Terms apply; enrollment is required.

Not everyone uses all of these services, but if you're already subscribed to any of them, you might as well get reimbursed.

4. A $155 Walmart+ credit

Walmart's premium membership service, Walmart+, costs $12.95 per month, and your Amex Platinum Card will fully cover it -- providing a value of up to $155 a year. Not bad if you're a regular Walmart customer. Terms apply; enrollment is required.

The service includes free shipping, free grocery delivery (where available), gas discounts, and even streaming with Paramount+.

5. A $200 airline fee credit

The Platinum perks continue with up to $200 in statement credits for incidental airline fees like seat selection, baggage fees, and in-flight snacks when you choose a qualifying airline. Terms apply.

While it's not for use with airfare itself, this perk can add value quickly if you fly even once or twice a year.

6. $200 Uber Cash

When you add your Amex Platinum Card to your Uber account, you'll get $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus an additional $20 in December, for a total value of $200 per year on Uber rides or Uber Eats orders in the U.S. Terms apply; enrollment may be required.

As you can tell, most of these perks are aimed at frequent travelers and luxury spenders -- but almost anyone enjoying a night on the town can take advantage of some Uber Cash.

7. $100 Saks Fifth Avenue Credit

Twice a year, you'll get up to $50 back on Saks Fifth Avenue purchases -- once from January to June, and again from July to December. No minimum purchase is required, and online shopping counts, too. Terms apply.

8. CLEAR® Plus Credit

CLEAR® Plus is a service that uses biometrics (like your eyes or fingerprints) to speed you through airport security. Amex will cover up to $199 in annual statement credits to pay for this service in full, making your next airport trip a breeze. Terms apply; enrollment may be required.

Total first-year value: Over $2,000

Here's how the Amex Platinum Card perks listed here add up:

Benefit Value
Welcome offer ~$800
Hotel credit $200
Digital entertainment credit $240
Walmart+ credit $155
Airline fee credit $200
Uber cash $200
Saks credit $100
CLEAR® Plus credit $199
Total ~$2,095
Data source: American Express.

Even after subtracting the $695 annual fee, you're still looking at nearly $1,400 in net value -- not bad.

Is the Amex Platinum Card worth It?

If you travel at all or already use services like Uber, streaming apps, or Walmart+, the value of the Amex Platinum Card adds up fast. And that's before you get into other fancy perks that are harder to quantify, like hotel elite status and lounge access.

It's definitely got its fair share of bells and whistles -- but if you play it right, the Amex Platinum Card can pay you back on your $695 investment and then some.

Ready to go Platinum? Apply for The Platinum Card® from American Express today.

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