Amex Platinum Card – How To Use the Complimentary $209 CLEAR^® Plus Credit [2025]

Travel rewards credit cards that offer a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit have become relatively commonplace in the world of points and miles. The Platinum Card^® from American Express, which seeks to stand out from its competitors as the most premium travel and lifestyle card, has a unique credit for travelers — complimentary CLEAR access.

You may be wondering, though, “What exactly is CLEAR, and how useful it is?” This guide will answer all of your questions and more, including how you use your Amex Platinum card to get signed up.

With that, let’s jump in!

Overview of the Amex Platinum Card

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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 card application.

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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Key Benefits of Amex Platinum Card

As mentioned, the Amex Platinum card is regarded as one of the best rewards cards on the market — and for good reason. Put simply, the card is jam-packed with perks and benefits that offer a lot of value to cardholders.

For starters, the card offers a bevy of statement credits and benefits that offset its annual fee. Plus, frequent travelers will love that the card is best in class when it comes to airport lounge access, gaining you entry to over 1,550+ airport lounges worldwide. This is in addition to complimentary elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and multiple rental car programs upon enrollment.

Further, the Amex Platinum card offers great travel and purchase protections, access to American Express transfer partners, and access to the very best Amex Offers to help you save cash and earn more points.

Hot Tip: A statement credit for an annual complimentary CLEAR Plus membership is also a benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express.

What Is CLEAR?

CLEAR is a program that utilizes biometrics to provide a faster security experience at various airports and stadiums throughout the U.S. This is done through accelerated screening for members, often just needing to scan your eye and then your boarding pass when going through airport security lines.

After performing your CLEAR scans, which usually takes less than 2 minutes, you’ll be led right to the front of the security line by one of the CLEAR staff members.

How to Enroll and Use the CLEAR Plus Statement Credit

CLEAR sounds like a welcome benefit for frequent travelers, right? After all, who doesn’t want an expedited security experience? The cost of an annual CLEAR Plus membership will set you back $209. However, an annual CLEAR Plus membership is complimentary with the up to $209 in statement credits that cardholders of the Amex Platinum card or Amex Business Platinum card receive.

However, you can’t simply flash your card at a CLEAR checkpoint, you’ll need to enroll first. With that, here is how you can get signed up to start taking advantage of CLEAR.

Step 1: Log in to your account on the American Express website, then click on the Rewards & Benefits tab.

Step 2: On the next page, click on Benefits on the top right navigation panel.

Step 3: Once on the benefits page, scroll down until you see the CLEAR Plus benefit listed. Then select Learn More.

Step 4: Afterwards, you’ll be directed to the CLEAR homepage, where you should select ENROLL IN CLEAR+ from the top right navigation bar or middle of the screen.

Step 5: This will prompt you to enter your account details, including your name, email address, zip code, and date of birth.

Step 6: Finally, you’ll confirm that you’re getting the annual standard membership, enter your payment details (make certain you use your Amex Platinum card or Amex Business Platinum card as your payment method), agree to the terms and conditions, and click GET CLEAR.

Once you’ve done that, you’re all set! The $209 fee should be charged to your card, but you’ll receive the statement credit within 2 to 4 weeks, though it often posts much quicker than that.

From there, you’re free to start using CLEAR at all available locations, though keep in mind that on your first visit to a CLEAR station you will need to finalize your account setup by scanning your eyes and fingertips — but afterward, you’ll be able to breeze right through!

Where Is CLEAR Available?

Our map above details every airport that offers a CLEAR checkpoint. Keep in mind that there are also quite a few stadiums that offer CLEAR access as well, which you can view in our complete guide to CLEAR.

Do I Need CLEAR if I Have TSA PreCheck?

If you’re an Amex Platinum card or Amex Business Platinum cardholder, you likely already have TSA PreCheck, so you might be wondering, “Why do I need CLEAR if I already have PreCheck?” Well, these are actually 2 very different services!

TSA PreCheck gets you expedited security screening so that you can keep your laptop and liquids in your bag, keep your shoes on, and of course, the lines are much shorter than standard security.

However, with TSA PreCheck, you still have to wait in line in order for your identity to be verified. This is where CLEAR Plus comes in handy.

With CLEAR Plus, your identity is verified in a matter of seconds, and you’re then escorted by a CLEAR team member directly to the front of the TSA PreCheck line. Given that, there is no faster way to get through airport security than a combination of both CLEAR and TSA PreCheck.

Also, consider that at very busy airports the TSA PreCheck line can be quite long, and at other airports, they might not have the TSA PreCheck line open at all. In both cases, having CLEAR Plus (assuming it is offered at the airport) gives you another way to get yourself through security much faster.

Final Thoughts

Adding an annual CLEAR Plus membership to both versions of the Amex Platinum card was a great way to differentiate the card from other premium rewards cards, and deliver more value to cardholders.

As you can see, a CLEAR Plus membership is a welcome addition to those who value an expedited security experience at both airports and stadiums, and combined there are over 50 locations where you can use your CLEAR benefits.

For the purchase protection benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.