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    The Value of 100,000 Amex Points & How To Maximize Them [September 2023]

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    The Value of 100k Amex Points

    We value Amex points at 2.2 cents each which means 100,000 points equals $2,200 in value.

    However – they can be worth a lot more if you transfer your Amex points to one of Amex’s airline or hotel transfer partners.

    How Can I Get 80k, 100k or even 120k Amex Points?

    One way is to consider The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

    Both of these products are some of the most prestigious cards on the market. They are the best cards for airport lounge access and boast an endless number of benefits and perks.

    Here’s a quick look at the two card’s:

    The Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

    The Platinum Card® from American Express

    U.P. Rating
    The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

    This card is undoubtedly the #1 card for luxury travel benefits. From the best lounge access (of any card) to statement credits, to complimentary elite status, you can’t go wrong.

    Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

    The Platinum Card® from American Express

    This card is undoubtedly the #1 card for luxury travel benefits. From the best lounge access (of any card) to statement credits, to complimentary elite status, you can’t go wrong.
    Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
    80,000 points
    $1,760
    $695
    See Pay Over Time APR
    Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
    Good to Excellent (670-850)

    When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.

    Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

    Pros

    • The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
    • 5x points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
    • 5x points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
    • Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
    • TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
    • Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
    • Access to Amex International Airline Program
    • No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

    Cons

    • $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
    • Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
    • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
    • 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 with American Express Travel when you pay with 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, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
    • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
    • $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: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
    • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
    • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
    • $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 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.
    • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. 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.
    • Terms Apply.

    Financial Snapshot

    • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
    • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

    Card Categories

    Rewards Center

    American Express Membership Rewards

    Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

    OUR BEST OFFER
    The Business Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

    The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

    U.P. Rating
    The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

    This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

    Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

    The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

    This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
    Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
    120,000 points
    $2,640
    $695
    19.49% - 27.49% Variable
    Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
    Good to Excellent (670-850)

    The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

    When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

    Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 120,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

    Pros

    • 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
    • Up to $200 annual airline fee credit on your selected qualifying airline
    • Statement credits on select purchases with your card
    • 35% airline bonus when using Pay With Points (up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year)
    • Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
    • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
    • Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)
    • Access to Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts program

    Cons

    • High annual fee of $695 (rates and fees)
    • Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags
    • Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
    • 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
    • Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
    • Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
    • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
    • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Business Platinum Card®.
    • The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
    • $695 Annual Fee.
    • Terms Apply.

    Financial Snapshot

    • APR: 19.49% - 27.49% Variable
    • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

    Card Categories

    Rewards Center

    American Express Membership Rewards

    10 Best Ways To Spend 100k Amex Points

    1. ANA Business Class to Tokyo

    Hop across the Pacific in ANA’s latest business-class product, dubbed “The Room.” Image Credit: All Nippon Airways

    Is Tokyo on your bucket list? Cross it off by booking ANA business class with Membership Rewards transfer partner Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

    Virgin Atlantic Flying Club provides amazing sweet spots between the U.S. and Japan on its partner airline ANA. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

    Virgin Atlantic and ANA have a non-alliance partnership that lets Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members redeem their miles on ANA flights to Tokyo from the U.S., Europe, and beyond.

    One of the best deals on the award chart is 90,000-mile flights from the U.S. West Coast to Japan and 95,000-mile flights from the U.S. Midwest and East Coast to Japan, all in business class. Oh, and did we mention that’s round-trip pricing!?

    That’s right — for less than 100,000 points, you can book a ticket from Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), or another ANA U.S. gateway to the airline’s hub in Tokyo (HND/NRT). Plus, you’ll pay less than $300 in taxes and fees round-trip — not bad for a ticket that usually costs over $6,000!

    Booking the award takes a few extra steps, though. You can’t book ANA flights on the Virgin Atlantic website, so you’ll need to find Saver Award space on United’s site before you book.

    Use United.com to find ANA award seats. Make sure the flights you find have Saver Award space and are operated by ANA. Image Credit: United

    Simply search for the dates you’d like to fly on the United website and look for tickets with Saver Award space that are operated wholly by ANA — unfortunately, connecting legs on United and other Star Alliance carriers cannot be booked with Virgin Points.

    Once you’ve found the flights you want to book, give Virgin Atlantic Flying Club a call (800-862-8621) and have the phone representative put the flights you found on hold. Then, transfer your Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and have the representative book the ticket for you.

    This is by far the best way to get to Japan on miles and points and is one of the best Membership Rewards redemptions out there. We highly recommend using this option if you’re headed to Japan!

    2. Fly Singapore Suites to Europe

    Fly Singapore Airlines’ famous Suites first class product from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) for less than 100,000 Membership Rewards points! Image Credit: Alex Miller / Upgraded Points

    No first-class product is more famous than Singapore Suites — and for good reason. This product offers a true single bed in the sky and includes stellar food, drink, and in-flight entertainment along the way. All of these awesome amenities have made the product a favorite amongst the miles and points community.

    While 100,000 Membership Rewards isn’t quite enough to book you from the U.S. to Singapore (SIN) in Suites, it’s more than enough to book you to fly the airline’s fifth-freedom route from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA). While it’s a shorter flight than continuing all the way to Singapore, it still gives you more than enough time to enjoy the product and costs just 97,000 Singapore Airlines miles one-way.

    Booking is simple, too. Just search for award space on the Singapore Airlines website. Once you’ve found a ticket you’d like to book, call Singapore Airlines (312-843-5333) and ask them to place a hold on the ticket for you. Then, transfer the Membership Rewards points needed to Singapore Airlines and call the airliner to finalize the ticket.

    Hot Tip: Membership Rewards transfers to Singapore Airlines take 24 to 48 hours to process, so always make sure that you get the ticket on hold first. 

    3. Or, Give Lufthansa First Class a Shot

    UP contributor Cherag Dubash loves Lufthansa first class — and he’s sure you will too! Image Credit: Cherag Dubash

    Alternatively, you can fly from the U.S. to Europe in Lufthansa first class one-way for just 87,000 Membership Rewards points transferred to Avianca LifeMiles.

    The airline flies its first-class product from many of its U.S. gateways to hubs at Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC). You can expect top-notch service on all of these flights, with proper Champagne and caviar service. Plus, the seat is pretty excellent, too.

    Take a Porsche to your plane if you fly Lufthansa’s first-class product from Frankfurt! Image Credit: Andrew Kunesh

    If you fly out of FRA, you’ll have access to the airline’s dedicated first-class terminal. Here, you’ll find an upgraded lounge experience, private security lines, and a private car transfer to your plane. These cars are usually Porsches or other high-end German cars, so it’s definitely a fun experience!

    Booking Lufthansa first class with Avianca LifeMiles is pretty simple, too. Just search for the ticket on the LifeMiles website and you can book as soon as you find award space and transfer the miles needed. These transfers are usually instant, too, so there’s no need to wait.

    Hot Tip: Lufthansa’s first class award space usually opens to partner bookings (like Avianca LifeMiles) 2 weeks before departure, so it’s perfect for last-minute bookings.

    Oh, and you’re not limited to Frankfurt or Munich either — you can book connecting flights in business class to other destinations in Europe, too. Oddly enough, a first-class flight from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) to Prague (PRG) actually prices 3,480 LifeMiles lower than if you booked just the JFK to FRA segment.

    4. Book Delta’s New Business Class Suites

    Delta’s new Delta One Suites are an excellent way to fly from the U.S. to Asia and Europe! Image Credit: Stephen Au

    In 2017, Delta Air Lines unveiled an awesome new business-class product on its A350 and A330-900 aircraft. Dubbed the Delta One Suites, these lie-flat seats have a door for privacy and an excellent selection of in-flight entertainment. Plus, according to Upgraded Points contributor Stephen Au’s review, the food and in-flight service are excellent, too.

    Hot Tip: Not all of Delta’s international flights offer the new Suites product. Make sure to check which plane operates your route of choice on Delta’s website before you book your flight.

    The best way to book Delta One with Membership Rewards points is to transfer your points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Delta One award tickets to Asia and Europe cost 60,000 and 50,000 miles respectively, making it much cheaper to book with Flying Club than Delta Sky Miles (which have dynamic pricing).

    You can book most Delta tickets by searching for them on the Virgin Atlantic website, however, not all routes are searchable. Simply put: the Virgin Atlantic website won’t let you search for certain routes even if there’s award space (for reasons unknown).

    If you find that your route of choice isn’t searchable on the Virgin Atlantic website, send Virgin Atlantic a text. You can text Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club team from the U.S. using phone number 97634. Ask the text message team to search for Delta award space for you on a flight of your choice and you should hear back shortly.

    If the text message representative finds award space for you, give Virgin Atlantic a call (800-862-8621) and ask them to put the Delta ticket on hold. Then, transfer the Membership Rewards points needed to Virgin Atlantic and finalize your award ticket over the phone.

    On the other hand, if award space is available online, you can book on the spot without a phone call.

    Bottom Line: Delta One Suites are some of the best business class seats in the sky. If you want to book them for your next trip, we highly recommend doing so by transferring your Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Virgin Points. 

    5. Enjoy a Lie-Flat Seat From New York to California

    Cross the U.S. in United Airline’s 787-10 aircraft for just a fraction of your 100,000 points. Image Credit: Stephen Au

    New Yorkers, Bostonians, Angelenos, and San Franciscans know the pain of flying coast-to-coast.

    It’s a long flight, and unless you’re in business class, it can be a pretty uncomfortable flight, too — especially if you’re unlucky enough to fly on a red-eye from the West Coast to the East Coast.

    But fear not: you can transfer 25,000 Membership Rewards points to Air Canada’s Aeroplan loyalty program and fly on a United transcontinental route in lie-flat business class for close to free. Just search for the flights on the Aeroplan website, transfer the miles, and complete your booking online.

    These flights are operated by a combination of Boeing 777-200, 757, and 787-10 aircraft, but we highly recommend booking the 787-10 route if possible. This is United’s newest plane, and it features the airline’s new Polaris business class seats. This product has direct aisle access from all seats, along with posh bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue.

    But no matter which plane you fly, you’ll arrive at your destination rested after a luxurious jump from coast-to-coast.

    6. Fly to Hawaii in Style

    Escape from reality by taking a quick (or not so quick) trip to Hawaii. Image Credit: Katie Seemann

    Hawaii is a beautiful state, but it can be incredibly expensive to travel to during peak holiday travel months. Armed with 100,000 Membership Rewards points, you can fly from several mainland U.S. cities to Hawaii on the cheap.

    The best way to use your Membership Rewards points to fly to Hawaii is by transferring your Membership Rewards points to Singapore Airlines, and then using them to book United Airlines award tickets.

    You’ll pay just 17,500 Singapore miles for a one-way ticket to Hawaii in economy class, or 34,500 miles one-way in business class. Even cooler, this redemption is far cheaper than using United’s own miles to book the same tickets.

    Look for award space that’s operated by United and has Saver availability. Image Credit: United

    Booking this ticket is similar to booking the ANA business class ticket we discussed earlier. You’ll have to find award space on United.com, and then call Singapore Airlines (312-843-5333) to book the ticket. Look for flights that have Saver availability and are operated by United Airlines when searching on the United website.

    7. Comfortably (and Cheaply) Fly From Asia to Europe

    Pay just 25,610 Membership Rewards points to fly this Czech Airlines business class product from Seoul (ICN) to Prague (PRG). Image Credit: Czech Airlines

    If you’re piecing together a round-the-world trip and need a jaunt from Asia to Europe, consider transferring your Membership Rewards points to Etihad Guest to book Czech Airlines from Seoul (ICN) to Prague (PRG).

    This flight costs 25,610 Etihad Guest miles in business class with roughly $200 in taxes and fees. This is an incredible deal considering the ticket usually costs over $1,850 one-way in business class, giving you over 7.2 cents per point in value for your Membership Rewards points.

    Even cooler, the plane Czech Airlines flies between the 2 cities is leased from Korean Airlines, so it has a lie-flat seat that will make the long trip as comfortable as can be. Plus, you can also expect great service, food, and in-flight entertainment on your flight.

    Booking this ticket can be tricky, though. You’ll have to use ExpertFlyer’s award search tool to find Czech Airlines award space in Z class first — check out our full guide to ExpertFlyer for a how-to. Once you find this award space, call Etihad Guest (877-690-0767) to book the ticket and you’ll be ready to fly!

    Alternatively, you can call Etihad Guest and ask them to find award space on your behalf. Just note that this may take longer than if you were to find the award space on your own beforehand.

    Make sure to process your transfer after you’ve found the award space that you plan to book so that you’re not left with miles you can’t use.

    8. Take 10 Domestic Trips on American Airlines

    Fly around the U.S. for free when you transfer your Membership Rewards points to British Airways Avios. Image Credit: Kunertus via Shutterstock

    Have family and friends scattered around the U.S.? You can visit them on the cheap when you transfer your Membership Rewards points to British Airways Avios.

    British Airways and American Airlines are both in the Oneworld alliance, so you can use your Avios to book tickets on any American Airlines flight with award space. In many cases, it’s a better deal to book these tickets with Avios than American AAdvantage miles, too, since British Airways employs a distance-based award chart.

    This means that your American Airlines award tickets will be priced based on the length of the flight. In the case of domestic U.S. awards, flights under 1,151 miles cost 9,000 Avios while flights between 1,152 and 2,000 miles cost 11,000 Avios. All domestic awards charge just $5.60 in taxes and fees.

    This means that you can book a flight from Minneapolis (MSP) to New York (LGA) for just 9,000 Membership Rewards points and minimal taxes. This flight can be well over $300 one-way when booking at the last minute, giving you over 3.3 cents per point in value.

    You can find American Airlines award tickets by searching on British Airways’ website, so there’s no need to call in to book.

    9. Take Advantage of Flying Blue and Delta Award Sales

    Get excellent deals on domestic and international award tickets with Flying Blue Promo Rewards and Delta SkyMiles Deals. Image Credit: Stephen Au

    American Express transfer partners Air France/KLM Flying Blue and Delta Air Lines both run limited-time sales on their respective loyalty programs each month. These sales offer flights at a fraction of their usual cost — think 40,000 point redemptions to Europe in business class or 40,000 point redemptions to Asia round-trip in economy.

    On the Flying Blue side of things, we see deals in international business class, premium economy, and economy awards every month. For example, last year we were able to book Toronto (YYZ) to Prague (PRG) via Amsterdam (AMS) for just 39,750 Flying Blue points one-way in business class.

    Check out the Flying Blue Promo Rewards website for an up-to-date list of sales. Each award has a specific booking and flying window, with each award usually expiring at the end of the month the award was announced. New awards are released at the beginning of each month.

    On the Delta side of things, the airline refers to its sales as SkyMiles Flash Deals. These are a mixed bag of domestic and international awards but are almost always in economy class. Some interesting deals we’ve seen in the past include 5,000-mile domestic rewards, 22,000-mile tickets to Europe, and 40,000-mile round-trips to Asia.

    Keep an eye on the Delta SkyMiles Deals website for more info. We usually see new Deals released a few times per month with very limited booking windows, so act fast if you see something you like.

    10. Book Expensive Hotel Rooms During Events

    Book high-cost hotel rooms during special events for excellent redemption value. Image Credit: Hilton

    Dying to see the Super Bowl in person? Or maybe you want to head to New York City for a New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square? Regardless of the special event, hotel rooms can get insanely expensive during sporting events, large trade shows, party holidays, and other major events — especially at nicer properties.

    Thankfully, though, you can transfer your Membership Rewards points to Choice Rewards, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy at varying rates. While this usually isn’t the best use of your miles, it can be a solid deal when hotel rooms are extremely expensive.

    For example, at the time of writing this article, a night at the Hilton Times Square is $1,621 per room on New Year’s Eve 2021. Alternatively, you can transfer 40,000 Membership Rewards points to 80,000 Hilton points, and book the night for just a $30 resort fee. This gives you an incredible 4 cents per point in value, almost twice our Membership Rewards valuation of 2.2 cents per point.

    So, if you’re traveling when hotels are expensive, make sure to check your points options. It could save you thousands of dollars in the process.

    The Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

    The Platinum Card® from American Express

    U.P. Rating
    The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

    This card is undoubtedly the #1 card for luxury travel benefits. From the best lounge access (of any card) to statement credits, to complimentary elite status, you can’t go wrong.

    Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

    The Platinum Card® from American Express

    This card is undoubtedly the #1 card for luxury travel benefits. From the best lounge access (of any card) to statement credits, to complimentary elite status, you can’t go wrong.
    Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
    80,000 points
    $1,760
    $695
    See Pay Over Time APR
    Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
    Good to Excellent (670-850)

    When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.

    Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

    Pros

    • The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
    • 5x points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
    • 5x points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
    • Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
    • TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
    • Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
    • Access to Amex International Airline Program
    • No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

    Cons

    • $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
    • Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
    • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
    • 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 with American Express Travel when you pay with 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, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
    • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
    • $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: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
    • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
    • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
    • $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 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.
    • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. 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.
    • Terms Apply.

    Financial Snapshot

    • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
    • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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    American Express Membership Rewards

    Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

    Final Thoughts

    As you can see, there is no shortage of awesome ways to redeem 100,000 Amex Platinum card points. You have the choice of flying around the U.S., flying to Europe, or even taking an awesome business class excursion to Asia.

    But no matter which redemption you run with, you’ll have the ability to see the world in comfort at a fraction of the price of a paid ticket. And if you combine the welcome offers with our other methods of earning Membership Rewards points, you can take a friend or family member with you, too!

    For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
    For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

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