The Platinum Card® from American Express Review: Lots of New Perks, Bigger Credits, Increased Annual Fee

Updated with new perks, increased credits, and increased annual fee. card_name is the classic premium travel card, with an extended list of luxurious perks along with a hefty annual fee. It’s time for another look again as they have added many new perks and increased their annual fee. Notable, none of the previous credit and features were removed, so all the improvements can be easily compared to see if you feel they offset the annual fee increase.

Here is the sign-up bonus and rewards structure:

• As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards(R) points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• 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.
• 1X MR points on other purchases.

Here are the many statement credits included with the card:

• 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.
• 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.
• Improved: $300 Digital Entertainment Credit (up to $25 per month). 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.
• Improved: $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.
• Improved: $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.
• $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.
• $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.
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R) credit. 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(R) application fee (through a TSA official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card(R). Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• $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.
• $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.
• $300 Equinox credit annually. Up to $300 back in statement credits each calendar year towards an Equinox membership. Enrollment is required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike credit. $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike. Enrollment is required.
• American Express Global Lounge Collection(R). 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.
• $895 annual fee.
• See Rates and Fees

Note the following language:

Welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had this Card. We may also consider the number of American Express Cards you have opened and closed as well as other factors in making a decision on your welcome offer eligibility.

Not sure about your history? The application will tell you if they detect that you are not eligible for the bonus based on their records. Given that you can only get the welcome offer once time per lifetime, it is best to apply during a limited-time offer.

Membership Rewards points can be converted to the following airline and hotel programs (there are more, this is just a selection):

• Delta SkyMiles
• Hawaiian Airlines
• JetBlue
• ANA Mileage Club (partner of United Airlines)
• Air Canada (partner of United Airlines)
• British Airways (partner of American Airlines)
• FlyingBlue (Air France/KLM)
• Singapore Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic
• Choice Privileges
• Hilton Honors
• Marriott Rewards (Starwood)

They also run limited-time 25% to 40% bonuses on points transfers. You can also transfer to gift cards many retailers at varying rates, but many available at the rate of 10,000 MR points = $100 gift card. My most recent redemption was a $100 Home Depot card for 10,000 points, sometimes less when they run special discount. However, don’t expect the cash-equivalent prepaid credit cards at that rate, it’s usually closer to a 0.6 cent/point ratio.

American Express Global Lounge Collection. With American Express Global Lounge Collection(R), eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including:

• The Centurion® Lounges
• Delta Sky Club(R) Access when flying an eligible Delta flight
• Escape Lounges
• Priority Pass(TM) Select Lounges.
• Lufthansa Lounges, when flying Lufthansa Group
• Plaza Premium Lounges

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(R) App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.

Adding together all the many credits, you can easily see that the perks can easily add up to much more than the $895 annual fee. The question is whether you can take advantage of those perks and how much value you personally get out of them. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Bottom line. card_name has added an impressively large list of new perks while also adding a generous welcome offer. You’ll have to see if your lifestyle matches up to the perks that this card offers.

I will be adding this improved offer on my list of Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers.

(See Rates and Fees)