September 19, 2024

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An elite travel card with first-class benefits #CashNews.co

An elite travel card with first-class benefits #CashNews.co

Cash News

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

If you’re a frequent traveler who wants to level up your luxury, the Platinum Card® from American Express could help you accomplish this goal. This premium travel card offers a number of travel perks, including annual credits, airport lounge access, and exclusive hotel benefits.

But unfortunately, luxury isn’t cheap and the card comes with a pricey annual fee. Despite this, the Amex Platinum may still be worth it if you can maximize its many benefits.

Here’s everything you need to know about the card’s features, perks, and drawbacks to help you decide if it’s right for your wallet.

  • Rewards rate

    • 5x points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
    • 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
    • 1x points on all other purchases

  • Benefits

    • Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel (requires a minimum two-night stay)
    • Get up to $199 back per calendar year on your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your card (CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues)
    • Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the U.S. annually (you must have the latest version of the Uber App downloaded and your eligible American Express Platinum Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account; Amex benefit may only be used in United States)

More details: Over $1,500 worth of statement credits available, offering added perks for travel, entertainment, and dining purchases

You can earn over $1,500 in credits* at popular brands with the Amex Platinum, including:

  • Up to $240 in annual digital entertainment credits for select streaming services and online media subscriptions ($20 per month)

  • Up to $200 in statement credits for incidental fees on an airline of your choosing

  • Up to $200 in annual Uber Cash credits ($15 per month, plus $20 extra in December)

  • Up to $200 in annual hotel credits at properties in the Fine Hotels + Resorts and Hotel Collection programs (for prepaid bookings made through Amex Travel)

  • Up to $155 in annual Walmart+ credit ($12.95 per month, plus tax)

  • Up to $100 in annual credits for Saks Fifth Avenue purchases ($50 from Jan.-June, $50 from July-Dec.)

  • Up to $100 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits every four years

*Terms apply and enrollment may be required for certain offers and benefits listed above.

With this card, you can also make your airport experience more relaxing. You’ll get free access to over 1,400 American Express Global Lounge locations in over 40 countries.

Get complimentary elite hotel status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. Cardholders can also enroll in Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, or National Car Rental Emerald Club to access exclusive car rental perks.

Special perks are also available when you book with Fine Hotels + Resorts or Hotel Collection properties through Amex Travel. Benefits may include things like free breakfast for two, free room upgrades, guaranteed late checkout, and early check-in (when available).

This card offers several insurance benefits, including trip delay and interruption insurance, car rental damage and loss coverage (secondary), and trip cancellation insurance. You can also access the Premium Global Assist hotline for help if you encounter a medical, legal, or financial emergency while traveling over 100 miles from home.**

Cardmembers also get extended warranty and purchase protection. Your card’s extended warranty coverage will extend eligible manufacturers’ warranties of 5 years or less by a year. Coverage limits are $10,000 per item or $50,000 per calendar year. Likewise, if you make a purchase with your card and that item is damaged, lost, or stolen, you could get reimbursed up to $10,000 per item or $50,000 per calendar year.

**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.

As a card member, you can access special dining experiences and reservations through Global Dining Access by Resy. You’ll also get access to exclusive experiences, including sporting events, art exhibits, and more, through the American Express By Invitation Only program.

The Amex Platinum is a true travel rewards card in the sense that you’ll earn the highest reward rate on qualifying travel purchases. You can maximize your rewards by booking your hotels and flights through the Amex portal or purchasing tickets directly from airlines. These purchases will net you 5x points.

Other qualifying purchases made with your card will earn 1x points. As with other cards, you won’t earn rewards on statement credits, balance transfers, or cash advances.

You can redeem your Membership Rewards points for trips booked through Amex Travel or transfer them to one of over 20 American Express travel partners. Popular partner programs include British Airways Executive Club, Delta SkyMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue, Emirates Skywards, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Besides that, you can also redeem your rewards for gift cards, statement credits, deposits to an eligible American Express checking account, or merchandise.

In general, it only makes sense to apply for the Amex Platinum card if you travel often. Its perks are mostly travel-focused, so those who don’t venture away from home frequently probably won’t get much value from this card.

Jetsetters who travel regularly for business or pleasure likely won’t have to strategize much to offset the pricey annual fee. But to really maximize your points, you should be comfortable booking travel through the American Express portal, as those purchases earn the highest rewards.

Cardholders who frequently shop at the brands offering credits could also get good value from this card, though it may take more deliberate planning. For example, cardholders that max out the annual credits from Walmart, Uber, Saks, and the eligible streaming and online media subscriptions would come out ahead.

  • Generous welcome offer

  • Valuable statement credits

  • High earning rate on qualifying travel bookings

  • Exclusive hotel benefits

  • Complimentary lounge access

  • No foreign transaction fee

You can use the Amex Platinum anywhere American Express cards are accepted. Amex is widely accepted in the U.S., though it’s not as commonly accepted globally. It’s also worth noting that you cannot use Amex cards at Costco.

Review your card agreement before traveling abroad if you have questions about acceptance, and consider bringing along a Visa or Mastercard as backup.

If you have questions about your card, you can reach the American Express customer service team by calling 1-800-528-4800 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also get help by logging into your Amex Platinum account.

While the Platinum Card from American Express could be great for frequent travelers, its annual fee can make it cost-prohibitive for occasional travelers who can’t access all its benefits. Here are some alternative travel cards to consider if you feel it isn’t right for your wallet.

  • Annual fee

    $550

  • Welcome offer

    Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months (that’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠)

  • Card type(s)

    Travel

  • Ongoing Purchases APR

    22.49% – 29.49% Variable

  • Recommended credit score

    Excellent

  • Rewards rate

    • 10x points on hotels and rental cars purchased through Chase Travel*
    • 5x points on flights purchased through Chase Travel*
    • 3x points on dining and other travel purchases
    • 1x points on all other purchases
    • *After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually

  • Benefits

    • Points are worth 50% more when you redeem through Chase Travel
    • Earn up to $300 in annual statement credits for travel purchases
    • Receive up to a $100 statement credit every four years to cover the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS

Why we like it: The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a slightly lower annual fee of $550, and cardholders can get a $300 annual travel credit. This card offers fewer credits than the Amex Platinum, but it still holds a lot of value. As a cardholder, you’ll get a free Priority Pass Select membership, which lets you access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.

  • Rewards rate

    • 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
    • 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
    • 2x miles on all other purchases

  • Benefits

    • $300 annual credit for travel bookings through Capital One Travel
    • 10,000 annual bonus miles (worth $100 in travel spending; starts on your first account anniversary)
    • Unlimited access for you and two guests to Capital One Lounges and 1,300+ more lounges through partner networks

Why we like it: The Venture X Rewards Credit Card from Capital One has a $395 annual fee, but you can also get a $300 travel credit when booking through the Capital One portal. Between the travel credit and generous welcome bonus, you could easily offset your annual fee for the first couple of years. Besides that, you’ll also get complimentary access to Capital One airport lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and Plaza Premium lounges.

  • Annual fee

    $325

  • Welcome offer

    Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months, plus 20% back on restaurant spending worldwide (up to $100 in statement credits) for new cardmembers through November 6, 2024

  • Card type(s)

    Travel, Rewards

  • Ongoing Purchases APR

    See Pay Over Time APR

  • Recommended credit score

    Excellent/Good

  • Rewards rate

    • 4x Membership Rewards Points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x)
    • 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x)
    • 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
    • 2x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com
    • 1x Membership Rewards points on all other eligible purchases

  • Benefits

    • NEW: Five Guys is now eligible for $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month when you pay with your American Express Gold Card at Five Guys, Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Wine.com (enrollment required)
    • NEW: Up to $100 in annual statement credits ($50 semi-annually) when you use your American Express Gold Card on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants on the Resy app or Resy.com
    • NEW: Up to $84 per year ($7/month) in statement credits after using your American Express Gold Card to pay at more than 9,000 Dunkin’® locations nationwide

Why we like it: If you only travel occasionally and prefer to earn rewards elsewhere, the American Express Gold Card could be a good option. This card offers 4x points at restaurants, 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 a year), 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and 1x points on everything else.

This article was edited by Alicia Hahn

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the author(s) and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn’t include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

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