Amex Platinum Hotel & Car Rental Elite Status Benefits [2024]

Normally you’d need to be a dedicated patron of a specific hotel or car rental loyalty program to achieve their coveted elite status levels and reap the corresponding benefits. There are a lot of reasons to do so, of course, including room upgrades and bonus earnings with hotel programs and VIP check-in and checkout, even vehicle upgrades, from the rental car companies.

But there is another way to enjoy the benefits of elite status without the hassle of counting stays or car rentals when you carry a credit card that comes with complimentary elite status.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express, with its collection of premium travel benefits, has a known reputation for being one of the best metal credit cards and one of the best travel rewards cards out there. However, unlike typical credit cards, it allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all. Its long list of benefits includes complimentary hotel and car rental program elite status.

We’ll expand on this specific perk as knowing and utilizing the benefits you have on your card can simplify your life, provide economic benefit, and make your travel more comfortable.

Stay with us as we provide you with all you need to know about the Amex Platinum card’s hotel and rental car program elite status benefits.

Hot Tip: The hotel and car rental elite status benefits mentioned in this article also apply to The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Amex Platinum Card – Quick Overview

Before we discuss the valuable hotel and car rental program elite benefits you can expect from the Amex Platinum card, here’s an important overview of the card’s core benefits and a link you can use to access a list of any pertinent fees and interest rates, plus a breakdown of any terms and conditions that apply.

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and 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.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

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)

Why We Like This Card

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 & Cons

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 dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• 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.
• 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.
• $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 get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $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.¤
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

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 card. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Hotel Program Elite Status

Primary cardmembers of the Amex Platinum card and authorized users can enjoy hotel program elite status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors loyalty rewards programs.

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status

The Amex Platinum comes with complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status which would normally require 25 nights stayed at Marriott properties within a calendar year.

Benefits of Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status

What will Gold Elite status get you? Here’s a summary of everything you can expect to receive.

• Free premium Wi-Fi
• Enhanced room upgrades when available
• Receive the fifth consecutive award night fee
• 2 p.m. late checkout
• 25% additional bonus points
• No blackout dates
• A dedicated reservation line
• Reservation guarantee
• Up to 500 welcome bonus points each stay
• Access to PointSavers discounted award nights
• Use a combo of points and cash to pay for your reservation
• Use points for on-site expenses
• Member-only room rates and no blackout dates

To learn more about Marriott Bonvoy elite status, how to achieve it, and the benefits of each level, you’re sure to be an expert after digesting all the information in our comprehensive overview.

Hilton Honors Gold Status

Cardmembers also receive complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status. Normally you must have completed 20 stays or 40 total nights within a calendar year to reach this level. You could also achieve Gold status by earning 75,000 Hilton Honors base points in a calendar year.

The Benefits of Hilton Honors Gold Status

Here are benefits you can expect with complimentary Gold Elite Status:

• Room upgrades to executive level when available
• Complimentary breakfast
• Late checkout
• Free Wi-Fi
• Waived resort fees on award stays
• Fifth standard award night free
• 2 free bottles of water
• 80% additional bonus points
• Elite rollover nights
• Milestone bonuses

Hot Tip: Please note that hotel elite status does not happen automatically. When you receive your card, you must register to start receiving benefits. We don’t want you to miss out on any benefits of the Amex Platinum card so we’ve put together this checklist of everything you should do when you receive your new Amex Platinum. 

Additional Hotel Program Benefits

While technically not complimentary elite status, you can’t dismiss the elite-style benefits cardmembers do enjoy at these unique hotel property collections worldwide.

American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts

Your hotel experience will be positively enhanced when using your Amex Platinum card to stay at Fine Hotels + Resorts properties.

• Room upgrades, based on availability
• Breakfast for 2 each day of your stay
• Early check-in, late checkout
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• A special amenity unique to the property location with a value of at least $100

The Hotel Collection

Stay for 2 days or more at Hotel Collection properties and receive these valuable benefits.

• Upgraded room, if available
• $100 room credit that can be used for on-site amenities such as dining, spa, etc.
• 5x earnings when booking prepaid hotel nights through AmexTravel.com

Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card comes with complimentary Gold level elite status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors loyalty programs. Cardmembers enjoy additional benefits including a $200 credit for prepaid stays at American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts and on 2-night stays at The Hotel Collection properties. 

Car Rental Program Elite Status

Using your Amex Platinum card to reserve and pay for your rental car reservation can result in vehicle upgrades, discounted rates, VIP pick up and return, and other Amex Platinum perks that make your rental car experience better.

Let’s look at some of the benefits provided for cardholders by 3 of the major rental car companies.

National Emerald Club Executive Status

Your Amex Platinum card offers complimentary Emerald Club Executive status with National Car Rental that includes the following benefits:

• Guaranteed vehicle upgrades
• 1 free rental day after 6 rentals
• Convenient pick-up and drop-off with e-receipts
• 20% discount using code
• Dedicated reservation line

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards offers several base benefits and is free for anyone to join. However, when signing up via the Platinum Hertz Gold Plus Rewards site and adding code #211762 to your profile, you’ll unlock several complimentary Amex Platinum card benefits.

Be sure to reserve and pay for your Hertz rental car with your card, then expect to enjoy this combination of benefits via Hertz Gold Plus Rewards and the Amex Platinum card:

• Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status
• Bypass the counter and go straight to your rental car
• Complimentary 1-class car upgrade when available
• Free additional driver — spouse or domestic partner
• Receive special savings or best available rates
• Rent luxury cars from the Hertz Prestige Collection and receive special discounted weekend rates
• 10% Hertz Gold Plus Rewards bonus earnings
• 4-hour grace period for returns
• Terms and conditions apply

Avis Preferred Plus

While anyone can enroll in the Avis Preferred car rental program, linking your Amex Platinum card will allow you to save your preferences, your personal information, and your preferred payment options, which can facilitate making your future rental reservations easier.

Using your Amex Platinum card as an Avis Preferred member, you can expect to receive these benefits:

• Complimentary Avis Preferred Plus Status
• Go right to your car with worldwide expedited service
• Discounts on published rates, up to 25% (use code #7569000)
• 1-car upgrade when available (use code #UUNA007)
• Use the Avis app to select your car, extend your rental, or make changes
• Earn Avis Preferred Points for every dollar you spend

Hot Tip: In addition to several rental car program perks, the Amex Platinum card comes with secondary car rental insurance. Cardholders also have access to Premium Car Rental Protection for 1 low fee that covers the entire rental period up to 42 days. Prices range from $12.25 to $24.95 for the entire period depending on location and level of coverage selected. Learn more about Amex Platinum’s car rental insurance and benefits.

Additional Benefits of the Amex Platinum Card

While the complimentary hotel and rental program elite statuses are great, those are just a few of the premium travel benefits that come with the Amex Platinum card.

You’ll also enjoy these additional value-added perks that can add comfort to your travels, provide value-added redemption options, and even save you money.

Worldwide Airline Lounge Access

The Amex Platinum card is a rock star and second to none when it comes to providing worldwide airline lounge access. Relax, grab a drink, and savor a bite to eat at any of these lounge network properties:

• Airspace
• American Express International Lounges
• Centurion Lounges
• Delta Sky Club
• Escape Lounges
• Plaza Premium
• Priority Pass (upon enrollment)

Most lounges (not including Centurion Lounges) allow the cardmember to bring 2 additional guests. Authorized users on the card also enjoy lounge network privileges.

If lounge access is important to you during your travels, you’ll want to know about all the best credit cards for complimentary access.

Earning and Redemption Options

Membership Rewards points earned on the Amex Platinum card are some of the most valuable flexible rewards currencies.

• Generous welcome bonus offer (up to 150k points for those that are eligble)
• 5x earnings on flights booked directly with the airline and through AmexTravel.com
• Transfer Membership Rewards points to Amex transfer partners for potentially greater value

Statement Credits

Statement credits are important because they provide economic value that can offset the cost of an annual fee. You can expect to receive statement credits upon enrollment for the following purchases made with your card:

• $200 in total Uber Cash each calendar year
• $200 statement credits for airline incidental fees
• $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits
• As of October 1, 2024, up to $120 reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees

Alternative Card for Business Owners

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

ELEVATED OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and 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!

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

150,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$3,300

Annual Fee

$695

APR

18.74% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

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)

Why We Like This Card

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.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• 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)

Cons

• High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the 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, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card^®, here.
• $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 the Card.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the 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: 18.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 250k points with the Amex Business Platinum card. The current public offer is 150,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

If you’re a business owner, you may want to consider the Amex Business Platinum card instead of the personal Amex Platinum card. You’ll find the same hotel and rental car program elite status perks and additional benefits that cater directly to the business owner who travels.

Our article offers a complete comparison of the 2 cards and some insight as to which card would be a better match for your situation.

Final Thoughts

Selecting a credit card based solely on its hotel and rental car program elite status offerings is probably not a prudent idea. It is prudent, however, to understand all of the benefits that come with your card and how they can be utilized to offset the annual expense of having a premium travel rewards card.

If you’re spending a lot on flights, value worldwide lounge access, and can take advantage of statement credits for specific purchases, you’ll find tremendous value with the Amex Platinum card.

Receiving complimentary hotel and rental car program elite status and additional benefits are just icing on the cake of other premium travel benefits that come with the card.