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Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in o...
With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in ...
Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...
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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.
4.59
80,000 points
$695
See Pay Over Time APR
Good to Excellent (670-850)
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.
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.
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.
Card Details
Card Snapshot
Welcome Bonus & Info
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.
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
You aren’t interested in the perks and annual credits
You prefer a card with more bonus categories
Amex Platinum Card — Is It Worth It for the Yearly Fee?
The Amex Platinum card is well worth it for frequent travelers who want luxury travel and lifestyle perks, and who can regularly take advantage of the card’s premium benefits.
When you combine best-in-class airport lounge access with 5x earnings on airfare and prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel, Gold elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, and access to Amex’s Fine Hotel & Resorts program, you’ve got a package that makes for one of the best travel cards in the industry.
While it’s true that the annual fee might initially give you pause, when you consider the bevy of credits that come with the card, the math starts to come out in your favor.
Virtually every benefit offered with the card is tailored toward enhancing your travel experiences, and it shows, making it a perfect complement to any traveler looking to upgrade their travels.
If this sounds like the ideal card for you then take a look at this fantastic Amex platinum 150k referral offer.
One of the easiest ways to determine how worthwhile the Amex Platinum card will be to you is to consider how much value you’ll get out of the card’s annual credits, and whether or not that figure exceeds the annual fee you pay. These credits include:
Up to $200 airline incidental credit (good towards items like baggage fees, seat selection fees, etc.)
Up to $200 prepaid hotel credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel
Up to $155 Walmart+ credit (offers free same-day delivery and free shipping on orders)
This means that no matter what airport you find yourself in, you’ll almost always have a lounge that you can kick back and relax in thanks to your Amex Platinum card, making it one of the best credit cards with lounge access.
Perks from each company include, but aren’t limited to, vehicle upgrades, discounts, expedited pickup lanes, and convenient dropoff locations.
Travel Protections
If anything goes wrong during your travels, your Amex Platinum card keeps you covered with the following travel insurance benefits:
Trip Delay Insurance — Get reimbursed for up to $500 per ticket in covered expenses if your flight is delayed by 6 hours or requires an overnight stay. This includes items like lodging, food, etc.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance — If you need to cancel a trip due to a covered cause, like severe weather, you’ll receive a reimbursement of up to $10,000 per trip, and $20,000 per year, towards non-refundable travel expenses if you need to cancel your trip or end it early.
Rental Car Insurance — Your card gives you secondary rental car insurance, which covers up to $75,000 towards accidental damage or theft of the vehicle.
Baggage Insurance — If your baggage is lost or damaged while in transit with the carrier, you’re covered for up to $2,000 towards checked baggage and $3,000 towards carry-on baggage.
Consumer Protections
The doesn’t just offer travel protections though. You’re also covered with the following consumer protections:
Cell Phone Insurance — Receive coverage for accidental damage caused to your cell phone, with up to $800 in coverage, up to 2 times per year, with a $50 deductible.
Purchase Protection — If an item you’ve purchased gets stolen, accidentally damaged, or lost within 90 days of purchase, you’re covered for up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 per year.
Return Protection — If you try to return an item within 90 days of purchase, and the merchant won’t accept it, you can be refunded by Amex for up to $300 per item, and up to $1,000 per year.
Extended Warranty Coverage — This protection adds 1 year of extended warranty coverage to standard warranties that are 5 years or less.
Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Your Amex Points
Naturally, aside from using your card for your daily purchases, you’ll want to learn how you can earn as many Amex points as possible. Fortunately, we have a comprehensive guide covering all the best ways to earn Amex Membership Rewards points.
From there, you’ll want to learn about all the best ways to redeem your Amex points. This will help you start traveling like a pro while getting huge value out of your hard-earned points.
Some of our favorite ways to redeem our Amex Membership Rewards points include utilizing select Amex travel transfer partners to book business and first class tickets for a mere fraction of the typical cash price!
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.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
Pros
10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
5x points on airfare booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit
Priority Pass airport lounge access
TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
Rental car elite status with National and Avis
Cons
$550 annual fee
Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers 3x points per $1 spent on all travel and dining purchases, with the travel definition being extended to include airfare, hotels, Airbnb, Uber/Lyft, and more.
Combine that with a $300 travel credit and a Priority Pass membership, and it makes for a compelling option.
While the Chase Sapphire Reserve card doesn’t feature nearly the level of elite benefits that the Amex Platinum card does, this could be a good option for you if you’re after a more well-rounded travel card.
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 Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.
Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.
Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.
Pros
10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
Add authorized users for no additional annual fee
No foreign transaction fees
Cons
$395 annual fee
Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more – you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
If you prefer a premium rewards card that offers airport lounge access at a lower annual fee, then the Capital One Venture X card could be a perfect option.
With its $395 annual fee (rates & fees), you’ll get complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network, a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus at your first anniversary, $300 annual travel credit, and much more.
The card earns 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5x miles per $1 on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most travel credit cards require applicants to have good credit in order to be approved. American Express does not publish a required benchmark score, but if you have a strong credit score it’s likely your application will be approved.
However, keep in mind that the annual fee will be due on your first billing statement — so if that isn’t something you can afford, you should consider another card.
While the annual fee is high, the number of benefits received from the card makes it “worth it” to many people.
The card comes with up to $200 in airline incidental credit, up to $200 on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel, up to a $240 digital entertainment credit, up to a $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit, and up to a $300 Equinox credit (among others), all of which effectively cancel out much of the annual fee.
Then add in the 5x earnings on flights and prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel, Gold status with Hilton and Marriott hotels, and access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide.
Given the number of luxury benefits you receive from having the card, it’s definitely worth it if you can afford the annual fee.
See the card summary table listed above for the annual fee. If you wish to add an Amex Platinum authorized user to the account, you can add up to 3 for an additional $175 per year. Each authorized user of the card will receive all of the same benefits as the main cardmember. You also have the option of adding up to 99 Amex Gold cards for no additional annual fee. Keep in mind that while these cards have the same earning rate as the Amex Platinum card, they receive none of the elite benefits (rates and fees).
The card gets you access to all of the American Express Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta the same day), Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, Airspace Lounge, select Lufthansa lounges when flying with Lufthansa Group the same day, select Virgin Clubhouses, and Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner.
This is by far the most extensive list of eligible lounges you can visit offered by any travel credit card on the market.
Note: Priority Pass memberships from U.S.-issued American Express cards no longer include restaurants (“non-lounge airport experiences”).
Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
