15 Benefits of Adding Authorized Users to the Amex Platinum Card

The Platinum Card^® from American Express has long been one of the most powerful and popular travel credit cards on the market. Unlike typical credit cards, it allows you to carry a balance for certain charges but not all.

The card offers a long list of benefits, including access to several major lounge networks and complimentary hotel and rental car statuses, which make traveling the world easier and more luxurious.

While most of the card’s benefits are pretty straightforward, we’re often asked how they work for authorized users or additional card members. Many cardholders are unsure what types of benefits their authorized users will actually receive.

To make things even more confusing, Amex Platinum cardmembers can choose to add additional cardholders as either a Companion Platinum Card or an Additional Platinum Card. Each of these has different costs and benefits, and neither has quite the same set of benefits as the primary cardholder.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t add additional cardholders to your Amex Platinum card. In fact, adding a user can be quite beneficial to you — the primary cardholder — and to any of the additional users you choose to add to your account.

Here’s a walkthrough of all the benefits of adding an additional cardholder to your Amex Platinum card, starting with the limitations of adding Amex Gold card authorized users.

Amex Platinum Card Snapshot

The Amex Platinum card is arguably the most popular metal credit card and well-known travel card available — and for good reason.

It carries a hefty $895 annual fee (rates & fees), but comes with a long list of benefits and travel perks that many card members love to use, which can easily justify the fee.

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

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

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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

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

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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

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 1,550 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), 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

• $895 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection^®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club^® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
• More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card^® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
• More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card^® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
• More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel^® using the Platinum Card^®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card^® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card^®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
• More Value! $209 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card^®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card^® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts^® through American Express Travel^®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
• New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card^®.*Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
• $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card^®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• $895 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Hot Tip: Apply and find out if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of as high as 175,000 points with the Amex Platinum. Welcome offers may vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

What Is an Authorized User or Additional Cardholder?

An authorized user is an additional cardholder added to an individual’s existing credit card account.

In most cases, authorized users are spouses or children. On a business account, authorized users may be employees.

Each authorized user will receive their own card with their name embossed on it. However, all charges will be the responsibility of the main cardholder.

Reasons Not To Add a Companion Platinum Card User

Fees

You can choose to add an additional card member as an Additional Platinum card or Companion Platinum Card. First and foremost, the fees are very different:

• Companion Platinum cards can be added at no charge (rates & fees)
• Additional Platinum cards cost $195 per card (rates & fees).

While adding a Companion Platinum card will save you money in fees, the benefits awarded to that card user are much more limited.

Benefits

Unfortunately, Companion Platinum cardholders receive very few benefits. In short, they can make purchases to the main cardholder’s account, but don’t get travel benefits such as lounge access or their own annual credits.

However, Companion Platinum cards do get a statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee every 5 years.

While the Companion Platinum card is similar to an American Express^® Gold Card, it doesn’t share the same set of benefits as the standard Amex Gold card, and some benefits (like the airline incidental fee credit) may vary.

Rewards

Additional cards will earn the same way the Amex Platinum cardholder does: 5x Membership Rewards points on airfare booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 in charges per calendar year) and 1x points on all other purchases.

Core Benefits of Adding an Additional Cardholder

1. Cheaper Than Applying for a Separate Additional Card

The Amex Platinum card comes with a hefty annual fee, but an additional user can enjoy the desirable benefits for a fraction of that cost.

The primary cardholder’s annual fee is $895, followed by $195 per Additional Platinum card.

2. Build Your Credit History

Having a good credit score and history is extremely valuable.

If the main cardholder pays off the card in full each month and otherwise has responsible spending habits, an additional cardholder will benefit from this history.

Adding a child as an additional cardholder is an easy way to increase their average length of credit as well as their credit-to-debt ratio.

3. Track Spending Habits

Keeping track of family spending can be complicated. But if your spouse and children are additional cardholders, it is easy to see where the money is going.

The main cardholder can easily log in to their account and track who is spending what and where.

4. Share Benefits

The Amex Platinum card has some of the best perks that any travel card offers.

From lounge access to elite status to reimbursed Global Entry and TSA PreCheck application fees, additional cardholders can reap the benefits of a main cardholder for a fraction of the cost.

Earning Benefits of Adding an Additional Cardholder

5. Earn Your Welcome Offer Faster

The Amex Platinum card has a very attractive welcome offer, but it requires a fair amount of spending to earn it.

By having multiple users use their cards for everyday spend, you can hit the minimum spend more quickly and receive those coveted bonus points even sooner!

6. Earn More Bonus Points

The Amex Platinum card is great for building up your Membership Rewards balance.

With 5x points on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year, then 1x), having an additional cardholder spending on the card will help you earn more bonus points faster.

7. Earn Points on Every Purchase

Whenever a purchase is made on an additional cardholder’s card, the primary cardholder will earn the points on the purchase. This can be both a good and a bad thing: it’s good because you’re earning extra points, but it’s bad because if your card falls into the wrong hands, you could be out some serious cash with no recourse.

With this in mind, ensure you only add additional cardholders you trust. Stick with immediate family and other close relatives with whom you may already share finances. Adding people you don’t know well just so that they can use the Amex Platinum card’s benefits can end in disaster.

Your additional users’ purchases will earn points the same way as any other Amex Platinum card. You’ll earn 5x points on airfare booked directly with the airline or AmexTravel.com (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1x), 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com, and 1x points everywhere else.

Redeeming Rewards

8. Transfer Membership Rewards Points to Additional Users’ Loyalty Program Accounts

Generally, transferring points and miles from one member’s airline or hotel loyalty program account to another can be difficult. Either the process is cumbersome or there are expensive transaction fees … or both.

However, if you have additional card members, you can simply transfer your Membership Rewards points directly to their accounts.

This makes the process cheaper, easier, and much faster.

Benefits of Adding Additional Platinum Cardholders

While Companion Platinum cardholders may have lackluster benefits, Additional Platinum cardholders receive a ton of awesome travel benefits.

9. Access to the Centurion Lounge, Delta Sky Club, and Priority Pass Lounges

Additional Platinum cardholders get full access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounges. They receive their own Priority Pass lounge membership once enrolled, as well as 10 visits to Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), with the ability to unlock unlimited visits through spend.

Additionally, Centurion Lounges now charge for guests unless you spend more than $75,000 per calendar year on your card.

10. Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and Leaders Club Status

Additional Platinum cardholders get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Hilton Honors Gold, and Leaders Club Sterling status on their respective accounts. To enroll, the Additional Platinum cardholder will have to call the number on the back of their Amex Platinum card and enroll with a customer support representative. The additional user will need to provide their Marriott, Hilton, or Leaders Club account number to the representative, so make sure to have those on hand before calling.

11. Reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Every 5 Years

Additional Platinum cardholders are reimbursed up to $120 for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck application fees. This makes these airport services effectively free, giving cardholders an easy way to speed through airport security and U.S. border control.

Note that this benefit is also offered to Companion Platinum cards, so this is not limited to Additional Platinum cardholders.

Hot Tip:

Use the Amex Platinum card’s TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit for Global Entry, as this service includes TSA PreCheck. Once approved, just add your Global Entry Known Traveler Number to your airfare reservation, and you should get the TSA PreCheck stamp on your ticket.

12. Help You Use Most Cardholder Credits — But Not Uber

While your Additional Platinum cardholders don’t receive their own statement credits for retailers or travel services, when an eligible charge is posted to any one of your Amex Platinum cards, it will come out of your primary credit.

This is beneficial for cardholders who have trouble spending the credits on their own and would otherwise let a portion go to waste. Note that your additional users cannot access the up to $200 in Uber Cash, as this credit is tied to your personal Uber account.

13. Fine Hotels + Resorts Access

When booking hotel rooms through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, Additional Platinum cardholders are eligible for the following perks:

• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Daily breakfast for 2 people
• Noon check-in (subject to availability)
• Room upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability)
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
• A unique property amenity valued at $100 (i.e. spa, food, ground transfers, and beverage credit)

Note that your Additional Platinum cardholder must pay for the reservation with their card to receive these benefits. This will put the hotel bill on your account.

Hot Tip:

Amex Platinum cardholders get up to $600 in annual prepaid hotel credits annually, applicable on bookings at Fine Hotels + Resorts or stays of 2+ nights at The Hotel Collection. Unfortunately, only the primary account holder is eligible for statement credits to cover these bookings.

14. Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, and National Emerald Club Elite Statuses

As outlined in our complete guide to credit card rental car elite status, the Amex Platinum card has special privileges with 3 rental car companies upon enrollment: Avis, Hertz, and National. Additional users get access to all of the included perks.

Hot Tip:

Explore the Amex Platinum card’s rental car benefits for more in-depth information.

15. Additional Platinum Cardholders Can Take Advantage of Amex Offers

Additional Platinum cardholders can enroll in Amex Offers on the American Express website or app. These offers usually give extra points or cash-back on purchases at select merchants, so make sure to check the Amex Offers section of your additional user’s online account frequently.

Hot Tip:

Take advantage of Amex Offers to use the same offer multiple times. Simply charge a second transaction to the Additional Platinum card. After all, it’s all going on the same bill, right?

What Benefits Do Additional Users Not Receive?

So now that you know the benefits that are available to Additional Platinum cards, it’s only fair that we tell you which features aren’t included.

While additional users can access shopping and travel credits, they will come out of your allowances. Additional users don’t get their own allotment of these credits. So if you add an additional user, make sure to keep an eye on your credits before you make a purchase that you’re expecting a credit to cover. This is to ensure that credit hasn’t already been tapped.

Additional users aren’t given monthly Uber Cash, either. These are reserved for the primary cardholder. But other than that, your additional user’s card is as good as any other Amex Platinum card.

How To Add an Additional User to Your Card

Adding an additional user (Amex refers to them as “additional card members”) to your Amex Platinum card is simple. Just head over to the American Express website, log in, and select your Amex Platinum card using the card selector at the top-left of the screen (if you have more than 1 Amex card).

From here, click on Account Services at the top of the menu.

On the next page, click on Manage Other Users on the left. You may also see an option for Add Someone to Your Account. Both options will take you to the same place.

The next page will have a button for Add Someone to Account. Click on that.

On the next page, you may see options to choose which card you want to add someone to. Make sure to choose the card you want to add an authorized user on, then you’ll arrive at the final page.

You’ll have the option here to add an Additional Platinum card or a Companion Platinum card. Choose the type you want, based on the fees and benefits.

Then, you’ll scroll down to provide the authorized user’s personal details and address, if it’s different from yours.

The form will ask for:

• Full name
• Email address
• Date of birth
• Social Security number (optional when applying, must be provided within 60 days of card issuance)

Read the terms and click the Agree & Submit button at the bottom of the page to order your additional user cards. If you want to add more than 1 user, repeat this process.

Final Thoughts

Adding a trusted friend or family member to your card can be lucrative for both you and the additional user. You’ll earn extra points on their purchases, and they’ll receive amazing travel benefits, including lounge access, Global Entry reimbursement, and complimentary elite status with Marriott, Hilton, and Leaders Club. But remember: Only add someone you trust to your card. In the end, you’re liable for their purchases.

Adding an Amex Platinum card additional user is most beneficial for couples who travel often, especially now that guests are not complimentary at Centurion Lounges. Both partners can earn extra points on airfare, access a variety of lounges when traveling separately, and more.

For further reading, check out our guide on the minimum age for authorized users on a credit card.