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American Express Platinum Card Secrets Revealed
Review of: American Express Platinum
Our Verdict: 



4.8/5 Stars
The American Express Platinum Card has one of the highest annual fees in the credit card industry, and I thought it’s time to clear the air about this card. No doubt that this card is a premium rewards card by American Express for big spenders who like exceptional rewards and one-of-a-kind travel privileges. But are the perks worth the fee?
I’ll tell you in this review why it is such a prestigious card, and whether it’s worth its annual fee. Read on if you are a discerning individual with a taste for luxury and exclusive entertainment access, and want to know if the American Express Platinum Card is the card for you.
Things We Like About This Card
Earn 25,000 Membership Rewards bonus points when you spend at least $2,000 in your first three months of having this card. That means you will have enough points to redeem toward 1 US domestic economy class round-trip air ticket! Important note: Make sure you are enrolled in the Membership Rewards program at the time of purchase.
Receive up to $200 Airline Fee Credit every year which can apply to baggage fees, flight-change fees, in-flight food and drinks and airport lounge day pass when you charge any of these to your enrolled card on a qualifying airline that you choose.
Receive a discounted companion ticket each time you purchase a qualifying Business Class or First Class international ticket with your card.
For every $1 you spend, earn 1 or 2 points. You get 1 point for every $1 you spend on virtually all purchases on your charge card. You will receive 2 points for every $1 you spend when booking trips through the online American Express travel services website.
Earn 20% more points when you redeem your points for travel purchases through Membership Rewards Pay with Points.
Redeem your points to pay for incredible rewards ranging from travel, shopping, dining to entertainment. If you are missing some points and you can’t wait to redeem a certain reward, you can buy extra points or advance them.
There is no point limit and points never expire. This means you can keep on earning as many points as you like, without the pressure of having to use them right away. Accumulate as many points as you like and then redeem for any reward whenever it’s convenient for you.
Airport club access. Wait in style and relax in airport lounges around the world including American Airlines Admirals Club, Delta Crown Room Club, US Airways Clubs, compliments of the Airport Club Access Program. You, your spouse and children under age 21, or up to two traveling companions, may join you as guests in the club room. With this complimentary access, you don’t even need to fly first class in order to enjoy all that an airport club offers – plush sofas, complimentary food and drinks, upscale washrooms, free internet, and more. To enter the US Airways Club, you don’t even need to have an airline ticket. This is the thing I find most valuable about this card.
Exclusive concierge service and Premium Access. You will have a 24-hour concierge service which you can call upon to make reservations at exquisite 5-star restaurants, arrange events or recommend gifts. You also get Premium Access, meaning you can get advanced tickets and preferred seating to theater, concerts, sporting and family events.
Free travel accident insurance. If you travel a lot, you might feel safer knowing that you have up to $500,000 in travel accident insurance for accidental death or dismemberment. You will also enjoy roadside assistance, baggage insurance and more.
Automatic car rental loss and damage insurance. When you charge your car rental to your card, you will be covered with this insurance at no extra charge.
Special benefits at luxury hotels and resorts. When you stay at any of the 600+ boutique, resort and luxury hotels around the world, you will receive special benefits such as free upgrades, late check-out and many more.
No-worries shopping (Purchase Protection, Return Protection, Extended Warranty). When you buy stuff with this card, you will not have to worry at all, for example if you accidentally break something you have bought, this card may pay it for you. If you bought something from the store, then had a change of mind, and the store won’t take it back, American Express may refund you. This card will also extend your warranty to one more year to those purchases that have a 5 year or shorter warranty.
Other advantages. With this Platinum card, you will also receive many more privileges, especially luxury and exclusive advantages such as the Annual Travel Benefit which gives you a statement credit of $100 every year when you book a cruise or vacation of $3,000 or more through the American Express Travel Services website.
Our Least Favorite Things About This Card
One of the highest annual fees. This charge card has one of the highest fees in the market of $450 a year. Yes it’s a very steep annual fee but luxury always comes at a price. The American Express Platinum Card is a luxury travel card and it does come with many exclusive privileges that can pay for itself many times over if you make full use of this card.
Our Verdict: 



4.8/5 Stars
With a hefty annual fee of $450, the American Express Platinum Card is associated with luxury and prestige. This card comes with one-of-a-kind travel privileges such as complimentary access to selected airport clubs around the world, exclusive concierge services, hotel upgrades and benefits when staying at any of the 600+ boutique, resort and luxury hotels around the world, and many more. Plus, you can receive 25,000 points when you spend at least $2,000 during the first 3 months of having the card, which can be redeemed toward 1 US domestic economy class round-trip air ticket!
You may have noticed that this card does not have an APR. That is because this is a charge card, not a credit card, and therefore you pay no interest charges. Since it is a charge card, you have to pay off your balance in full every month, and that is a convenient way to avoid debt.
The American Express Platinum Card has many exclusive benefits and luxury rewards. If you are going to spend a few thousand dollars with it every month and are a frequent traveler, it will be worth getting the card as the privileges will easily outweigh the annual fee. Apply online and get a decision in 60 seconds.
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- 25,000 Membership Rewards® points when you spend $2,000 during your first three months of Card membership.
- Global Travel Benefits: Access over 600 lounges worldwide with Priority Pass Select, no foreign transaction fees, skip U.S. customs lines with Global Entry.
- Enroll and select an airline to receive up to $200 annually in statement credits for incidental fees such as checked bags, in-flight refreshments, and change fees.*
- Receive a companion ticket for discounted travel when you purchase a qualifying First- or Business-Class international ticket. Additional charges/taxes apply.
- 24/7 Platinum Card® Concierge service for assistance with reservations, travel, gifts, and more
- FINE HOTELS & RESORTS Program: exclusive upgrades and amenities at over 700 boutique, resort, and luxury hotels worldwide
- Use Membership Rewards Pay with Points for part or all of your travel and get 20% of those points back every time.
- Additional Perks: 25,000 bonus Membership Rewards(R) points after $2,000 spend in 3 months
- Experience the service, rewards, and world-class benefits that are the hallmarks of the Platinum Card. Apply for a Platinum Card(R)
- Enjoy the benefits of distinction. Apply for a Platinum Card(R)
- N/A
- APR For Purchases: N/A
- Annual Fee: $450 annual fee
Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.
The products and benefits of this card are identical to ones listed on AMEX PLATINUM card Australia. Except for the annual fee. Australia’s annual fee is $900.00. I wonder why?
There is no card that even comes close to the AMEX PLATINUM card.
If you travel, the airline lounge benefit alone is worth $1000, so the cost of the card in comparison is cheap.
Over the years I have questioned charges when I was overcharged, and on top of that didn’t receive acceptable service. The PLATINUM desk stepped right up and made it right by keeping pressure on the company until the charges were acceptable.
And several times I had travel emergencies, and even though the reservations were made by my companies travel agent, the PLATINUM desk stepped right up and took care of me, and once it was my family as well.
If you travel, you get the baggage credit, and since you would have spent that money anyway, you could view this as a reduction of the card cost.
All in All, there is no other card that even comes remotely close.
RR
Looks good to me in UK the annual is £300 pounds which is about $450US and about $900ozzy.
I’m off with the family on hols and the airport lounge and travel insurance is worth around £300 in one trip so good job Amex Platinum. The 40 000 rewards will be a few internal flights or trips to Europe. Awesome-sure beats looting and rioting:)
Is it still true that American Express cards are not widely accepted in restaurants and other places? What about overseas? Japan, particularly? Is it as widely accepted as Visa?
thanks.
@Mary: In the US I find it very widely accepted. It’s pretty rare that I can’t use it. I actually found my first gas station in Alabama that wouldn’t take it so I refused to buy my gas there and went across the street where they did take it.
The best thing about my Gold card (I don’t have the platinum but they keep asking me to upgrade. I just don’t fly enough to really get the value from it, yet…) is the fact that the customer is always right. I have disputed two charges on my card since I got it and Amex took care of all the details with one phone call. My daughter at college had her card on my account stolen twice (once physically, another electronically) and they immediately sent a new card overnight – and in both cases THEY CALLED ME before we even knew the card was stolen.
The points are great. Most of my family’s flying has been entirely on points – flying my wife and daughter back and forth to Hawaii, flying my wife and daughter back and forth to school. All on points.
If I start travelling more for business, I’ll probably upgrade to the Platinum, but the extra $300 a year I just can’t justify yet.
Nothing beats the AMEX Platinum. The benefits outweighs the annual fee. In all my travels, I have used their booking service, lounges and got reimbursed for lost luggage; no questions asked.
When we are talkimg the Elite of cards, not even the Visa Black comes close. The AMEX Plat is as good as the Black since they share the same benefits.
Love AMEX Plat Concierge services, definitely a couples steps above VISA Signature in terms of customer service. And the benefits of the card are amazing.
One thing I’ve found to be pricey is the broker pricing for event tickets. It’s sometimes 5%-10% more than other sites online. They obviously work with someone, anyone know who? Makes me wonder what else we’re getting hit for to offset the great service and benefits…but either way, I’m satisfied overall.
Does anyone know if this card will do price adjustments on purchased airline tickets? Example: If I buy a ticket for CLT-LGA at 129.00 and then a few days later the airfare drops to 89.00 on the same carrier such as USAirways, will the card refund me the difference? I’ve seen where this has been written up other places but not seem very clear…
Thank you
The Platinum Card continues to be an outstanding tool in my families life. After previously traveling coast to coast, twice a month, I am currently no-longer traveling for an employer at the moment. With that said, I have decided not to downgrade to Gold …Just cause you never now what life brings. With my life changing daily (having a 19-month old daughter) I like knowing that the Platinum Card has our backs. Every aspect from Customer Service, Card Benefits, and the Rewards First Program have paid off this past year. In addition, I will be able to take advantage of renewing with points earned to date. I must say, I have been extremely pleased and will be extending Platinum Cards & Perks to my account this holiday season to my family.
A special thanks, to the Platinum Team!
Great card … I do the math every year to ensure I’m breaking even (airline credit, purchase protection, airport clubs, etc) and have for the 5 years I’ve had it.
I think of the fee as insurance – the peace of mind when you lose something or break something valuable that you just bought is awesome. They are also terrific on card disputes – 100% favorable resolution for me; fire and forget.
Have used throughout the world – Europe, Asia, Middle East, etc and it has always been welcomed …
The access to the Delta Crown Room Lounge is no longer a benefit with this card. It is only included on the Delta American Express Reserve card, FYI.
Nothing beats the Amex Platinum card. The concierge is AMAZING and their travel service is second to none. This isn’t just a credit card, it’s a life card. It’s like a member of the family.