Traveling? Understand Amex Platinum Card’s International Fees.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express doesn’t have a foreign transaction fee (rates & fees) and is an excellent choice for international travel, but you may encounter other fees as you use this card for international purchases.

This guide covers the fees the Amex Platinum card does and doesn’t charge on international purchases, and which fees are from merchants and ATMs rather than Amex.

Quick Overview: Amex Platinum Card International Fees

The Amex Platinum card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees on purchases made in a foreign currency, converting foreign-currency purchases itself without a fee added on top. However, the card does have a cash advance fee, and it can be costly when you make one of these transactions abroad.

Merchants and ATMs may charge dynamic currency conversion fees, but Amex does not, and these fees are avoidable if you ask to have the transaction processed in local currency. The Amex Platinum card is accepted at more than 170 million locations worldwide (Source: American Express), but it’s still a good idea to carry a backup Visa or Mastercard in case Amex isn’t accepted.

Amex Platinum Card Benefits for International Travel

The Amex Platinum card is one of the best travel credit cards, offering rewards and benefits that can make travel more comfortable and save you money.

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

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

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

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

Welcome Offer

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.

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Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

APR

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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, the Platinum Card^® from American Express is a top choice.

The card offers premium perks like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and several annual card credits. The Amex Platinum card is easily worth the annual fee for frequent travelers who use the lounges and travel credits, and hard to justify for those who won’t.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far): Get access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5 points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $895 annual fee (rates & 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 $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 Delta Sky Club visits (subject to visit limitations) when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass™ membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. *As of 01/2026
• $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 pay for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. As a Platinum Card^® Member you have special access to reservations on select nights at participating sought after Resy restaurants in select cities through Platinum Nights™ by Resy. Simply add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to book your reservation.
• $219 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 $219 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 late 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: Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card^®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
• 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.

Financial Snapshot

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

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American Express Membership Rewards

Some of the international travel benefits of the Amex Platinum card include:

• No foreign transaction fee
• Up to $600 annual hotel credit on prepaid bookings with Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection when you reserve through AmexTravel.com using your Amex Platinum card
• Access to the Global Lounge Collection of more than 1,550 airport lounges in 140 countries
• Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck to expedite your security experience
• Travel coverage, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and trip delay insurance
• Premium Global Assist hotline

Some benefits require enrollment through your American Express account.

Amex Platinum Card International Fees at a Glance

Does the Amex Platinum Card Charge Foreign Transaction Fees?

The Amex Platinum card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Foreign transaction fees are paid when you buy something in a foreign currency or when a foreign bank processes your transaction. Usually, foreign transaction fees are 3% of your total transaction (Source: American Express). When you have to pay a 3% foreign transaction fee, spending $500 quickly turns into $515 just for using your card. On a trip when you make $4,000 in foreign purchases, that’s $120.

What Does Amex Charge for Cash Advances Abroad?

The Amex Platinum card has a cash advance fee of $10 or 5%, whichever is greater, and charges a cash advance APR of the prime rate plus 21.99% variable. Interest starts on the transaction date with no grace period.

Cash advances include ATM withdrawals and obtaining foreign currency using your card, and Amex charges the fee and APR on the full withdrawal, which typically includes fees charged by the ATM operator.

For example, if you make a $200 cash withdrawal, you might pay a $5 operator fee for a total cash advance of $205. The 5% Amex cash advance fee would be $10.25, plus interest.

What Exchange Rate Does Amex Use?

Transactions made in a foreign currency are converted by AE Exposure Management Ltd. using a rate that is no more than the highest official rate published by a government agency or the highest interbank rate on the conversion date or the previous business day (Source: American Express).

Dynamic Currency Conversion Fee

Although you can avoid a foreign transaction fee by using the Amex Platinum card, you might be hit with a dynamic currency conversion (DCC) fee when you make an international transaction. Amex doesn’t charge the DCC fee; rather, it’s charged by the ATM or merchant you transact with.

You may encounter a DCC fee if a merchant offers to process your payment in your home currency rather than the local currency, or an ATM in a foreign country may offer to lock in your rate. You might see this on a checkout screen with choices such as “Charge EUR” and “Charge USD,” or “Accept Without Conversion” and “Accept With Conversion.” Paying in your home currency might sound like a good idea, but you’d pay a hefty fee for it. 

Generally, DCC fees range from 2.6% to 12% (Source: European Consumer Organisation). It’s best to decline the offer to use your home currency when you travel internationally. Always pay in the local currency.

Final Thoughts

You can avoid foreign transaction fees when using the Amex Platinum card, but the exchange rate still matters, and DCC fees and ATMs can add costs. Cash advances carry Amex fees and immediate interest.