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The Amex Platinum Card: How To Best Use Your $200 Airline Credit
Andrew Kunesh
Andrew Kunesh
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Andrew’s a lifelong traveler who flies over 100,000 miles a year, with over 40 countries, 20 travel credit cards and 3 airline statuses under his belt. Andrew’s worked at The Points Guy and CNN Unders...
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The Platinum Card® from American Express offers up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees on 1 selected airline. This is a valuable benefit that helps offset the card’s $895 annual fee (rates & fees).
In this post, we’ll cover what does and doesn’t trigger this $200 credit as well as the best ways to use the Amex Platinum card’s airline incidental fee benefit.
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Quick Overview: Amex Platinum $200 Airline Credit
The Amex Platinum card’s airline incidental fee credit offers up to $200 per calendar year for eligible incidental fees, including checked bags, seat selection, and inflight purchases on 1 selected airline. Any charges made before selecting an airline are ineligible; your chosen airline can be changed once per year in January.
The Amex Platinum card’s airline credit does not cover airfare, upgrades, award tickets, or gift cards. This is a use-it-or-lose-it credit that doesn’t roll over from year to year. Reimbursement posts within 6 to 8 weeks after making an eligible purchase.
The credit is one of several that help offset the $895 annual fee on the Amex Platinum card (Source: American Express).
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 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.
As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.
Up to $3,850
$895
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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.
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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
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 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.
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.
$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.
$300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
$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.
$400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. 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.
$209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your 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, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
$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.
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.
Some of the items American Express lists as eligible for reimbursement include inflight refreshments, seat selection fees, and checked bag fees. Airline tickets, gift cards, and purchases of points or miles aren’t eligible for reimbursement.
“Incidental airline fees charged prior to selection of a qualifying airline are not eligible for statement credits. Airline tickets, upgrades, mileage points purchases, mileage points transfer fees, gift cards, duty free purchases, and award tickets are not deemed to be incidental fees. The airline must submit the charge under the appropriate merchant code, industry code, or required service or product identifier for the charge to be recognized as an incidental air travel fee.”
Once you’ve selected your airline, you can charge these expenses to your Amex Platinum card. You’ll automatically be reimbursed in the form of a statement credit within 6 to 8 weeks of the charge posting to your account. (Source: American Express).
If the statement credit has not posted after 8 weeks from the date of purchase, it is best to call the number on the back of the card.
Hot Tip: You receive the airline incidental once per calendar year. The credit is dispersed on January 1st each year and doesn’t roll over.
Selecting an Airline for Your Airline Incidental Credit
Unlike the Chase Sapphire Reserve®‘s $300 travel credit, you’re limited to using your Amex Platinum card’s incidental fee credit on a single airline. You can select your airline when you receive your card and change it once per year in January.
You can pick from the following airlines:
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Delta Air Lines
JetBlue Airways
Southwest Airlines
United Airlines
You must select an airline before you can use the incidental fee credit. Charges made to your account before choosing an airline are not eligible for reimbursement, so select your airline as soon as you receive your Amex Platinum card and before you book a trip.
To select your Amex Platinum card airline, log in to your Amex online account and select your Amex Platinum card.
Click on the Rewards & Benefits tab, and then click on the Benefits tab.
Scroll down the page for a list of benefits included with your Amex Platinum card. Select $200 Airline Fee Credit under the Travel section. Click the Learn More button, then select your airline from the drop-down menu.
You must select an airline first. Image Credit American Express
The most common airlines to select are Delta, United, and Southwest. As of spring 2026, a popular workaround for Delta purchases — paying for airfare partially with a gift card — stopped working. There are still reports of sub-$100 Southwest airfare purchases being reimbursed as of spring 2026. For cardholders who selected United, United TravelBank purchases no longer trigger the Amex Platinum card’s airline credit as of February 2026.
Hot Tip:
Though airline selection can only be changed once per year in January, we at Upgraded Points have been able to change it more than once by chatting (nicely) with an American Express representative.
Best Ways To Use Your $200 Airline Credit
The Amex Platinum card’s airline incidental fee credit cannot be used toward plane tickets, points purchases, or gift cards, but it can be applied to checked bag fees, seat selection fees, and more. Here’s a closer look at official and unofficial ways to redeem the incidental fee credit.
What the Amex Platinum Airline Credit Covers (and What It Doesn’t)
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Triggers the Credit
Does Not Trigger the Credit
Checked bags
Airfare
Seat selection
Upgrades
Inflight food and entertainment (not including Wi-Fi)
Award ticket fees
Pet fees
Gift cards
Priority boarding
Inflight Wi-Fi
Change fees
Duty-free purchases
Airport lounge day passes and memberships
Phone booking fees
Official Ways To Redeem the Amex Incidental Fee Credit
You can use your airline incidental fee credit to purchase day passes to the American Airlines Admirals Club. Image Credit: Katie Corrigan Seemann
You have to select the applicable airline for the lounge charge to be covered. So if you choose Delta as your preferred airline, your charges to the Admirals Club won’t be covered by your incidental fee credit.
Amex Platinum cardmembers do not receive complimentary guest access at Delta Sky Clubs. However, guest access can be purchased for $50. If you purchase Delta Sky Club guest access and Delta is selected as your Amex Platinum card’s airline, you will be reimbursed for the entry fee.
Don’t forget that you must be flying with the airline to use any lounge access passes.
Hot Tip: If you purchase a qualifying annual lounge membership with your Amex Platinum card that costs more than $200, you’ll be credited with the full amount of the incidental fee credit at once. You can think of it as a $200 discount on your chosen lounge membership.
Change Fees
Changing a trip’s date can be expensive, but your Amex Platinum card’s incidental fee credit covers the itinerary change fee. The incidental fee will likely not cover the airfare difference, as it is often charged as a plane ticket.
Checked Baggage Fees
Checked bag fees are common, but the Amex Platinum card’s credit will cover them. Select your airline first and then charge your checked bags to your Amex Platinum card.
Inflight Entertainment Fees
The Amex Platinum card’s incidental fee credit covers inflight entertainment fees, including TV, movies, and tablet rentals charged directly by the airline.
The credit does not cover inflight internet, which is generally billed by a third party. As of July 2026, some cardholders have reported reimbursement of United inflight Wi-Fi, as it is usually charged by United directly. But this isn’t an official eligible use, so there’s no guarantee it will be refunded.
Inflight Amenities
Most other inflight purchases are covered, including headphones, blankets, food, and drinks. The airline almost always charges for these directly, and you’ll be reimbursed for them by your Amex Platinum card’s incidental fee credit as long as the charges come from your selected airline.
Seat Selection Fees
Seat selection fees are another useful way to redeem your airline incidental fee credit. Though seat upgrades aren’t covered, the Amex Platinum card’s credit does cover the cost to choose an extra legroom seat, including:
Alaska Airlines Premium Class
American Airlines Main Cabin Extra
Delta Air Lines Comfort
JetBlue EvenMore
Southwest Extra Legroom
United Airlines Economy Plus
Use the Amex Platinum card credit to purchase an extra legroom seat. Image Credit: Ryan Smith
Pet Flight Fees
If you’re traveling with a pet, use your Amex Platinum card’s incidental credit to cover the pet fee.
Phone Booking Fees
You can usually avoid phone booking fees by booking online, but there may be instances when you need to call to book an award ticket or a flight with special routing. If you can’t get the agent to waive the fee, your Amex Platinum card’s incidental fee credit should cover it.
Priority Boarding
The Amex Platinum card’s incidental fee credit covers priority boarding charges only on your selected airline.
American Airlines Flagship priority boarding. Image Credit: Daniel Ross
Unofficial Ways To Redeem the Incidental Fee Credit
The methods below are ways our team members have either tried or seen work for other travelers. There’s no guarantee that these will work for you, as policies may change.
Admirals Club Food or Drink Purchases
Some American Airlines Admirals Clubs have premium food and drinks available for purchase. As of July 2026, American Express has reimbursed these purchases, as they’re billed directly by American Airlines.
Airfare of $99 or Below on Certain Airlines
As of July 2026, we’ve seen reports of fares below $99 on Delta, Southwest, and JetBlue being reimbursed by the incidental fee credit. Again, this is something to try at your own risk, as the purchase codes as airfare.
Purchases That Do Not Trigger the Airline Incidental Credit
Here’s a quick look at what doesn’t trigger the airline incidental fee credit.
Award Taxes and Fees
Our team has had the $5.60 TSA passenger security fee and other award taxes and fees reimbursed on multiple award tickets in the past. However, as of July 2026, reimbursements for these fees no longer trigger the Amex Platinum card’s airline credit.
Airline Gift Card Purchases
Airline gift card purchases were a longtime favorite for redeeming the airline incidental fee credit. However, our team hasn’t had any luck getting these reimbursed since summer 2025.
Class of Service Upgrades
Cabin upgrades are not eligible for reimbursement.
Delta Airfare Purchased Partially With a Gift Card
Some cardholders reported success by purchasing Delta tickets partially with a gift card, since the purchase was processed and added an “additional collection” to the transaction instead of listing an airline route, as with most airfare purchases.
However, as of the spring 2026, this no longer works.
Inflight Wi-Fi
Inflight Wi-Fi generally does not trigger the incidental fee credit, as a third party like Gogo usually bills it. However, we’ve seen reports that United Airlines reimburses Wi-Fi purchases because it bills Wi-Fi directly.
Filling Your United TravelBank Account
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This used to be the easiest unofficial way to use your Amex incidental fee credit. However, as of February 2026, United TravelBank purchases no longer trigger the credit.
What if My Purchase Isn’t Automatically Reimbursed?
Though American Express states that it provides a statement credit for eligible charges within 6 to 8 weeks, some charges don’t make it through the system. If you don’t receive a statement credit for an eligible charge, you can call the number on the back of your card or use the American Express live chat service to request reimbursement.
Final Thoughts
The Amex Platinum card offers up to $200 in annual airline incidental credit that expires at the end of each calendar year. It’s limited to 1 selected airline, but checked bags, seat selection, inflight purchases, and lounge day passes reliably trigger it. Using this credit helps offset the card’s $895 fee.
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