How To Upgrade or Downgrade the Amex Platinum Card [2026]

The Platinum Card^® from American Express is one of the top cards on the market, but it may not be the right fit for everyone. It has a high annual fee, and it takes effort and attention to ensure you’re maximizing the perks and obtaining value.

The good news? You can downgrade the Amex Platinum card to the American Express^® Gold Card or the American Express Green Card^®* after 12 months of card membership. Or, if you receive an invitation, you could upgrade to the Centurion^®** Card from American Express.

This guide compares the benefits of the major Amex flexible rewards cards and shows you how you can downgrade or upgrade your Amex Platinum card to another product.

*The information regarding the American Express Green Card^® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

**The information regarding the Centurion^® Card from American Express was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Amex Platinum Card: Overview

The Amex Platinum card offers numerous benefits, such as access to over 1,550 lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection, elite status and benefits with National, Avis, and Hertz (upon enrollment), and elite status with various hotels: Hilton Honors Gold status, Leaders Club Sterling status, and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status (upon enrollment).

Cardholders also get many annual statement credits (many of which require enrollment): up to $200 in airline incidental credit, up to $400 in Resy credit, up to $200 in Uber Cash, up to $300 in digital entertainment credit, up to $600 in prepaid hotel credit, up to $155 in Walmart+ credit, and credits for Equinox, Oura Ring, CLEAR+ membership, lululemon, and more (just read the fine print, as some credits are divided up into monthly, quarterly, or biannual credits). The card also offers travel insurance, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay insurance, and other perks and benefits.

BEST LOUNGE CARD

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

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.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

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 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's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

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
• Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash and Uber One, Resy, lululemon 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 and Amex International Airline Program
• Access to Amex transfer partners
• No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

 

Cons

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

 

 

Read Full Review

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 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.
• $895 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

 

 

Amex Membership Rewards Cards

From most premium to least premium, here are the cards in the personal Membership Rewards family:

• Centurion card (by invitation only)
• Amex Platinum card
• Amex Gold card
• Amexpress Green card

You should be able to downgrade your Amex Platinum card to the Amex Gold card or Amex Green card without issue, as long as your card has been open for at least 12 months. But you can only upgrade your Amex Platinum card to the Centurion card if you get invited.

Benefits Comparison

Below you can compare the benefits of each card side by side (some of these benefits require enrollment):

How To Downgrade Your Amex Platinum Card

If you’re looking to downgrade, the top cards are the Amex Gold card or the Amex Green card. Here’s a step-by-step guide to downgrading your card.

Amex Gold Card

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

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.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 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.

As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $2,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

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

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points per dollar on prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App
• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 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.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• Pay It^® lets you tap in the American Express^® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It^® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
• Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express^® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• New! As an American Express^® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star^® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
• Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
• Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express^® service and support. Only for American Express^® Card Members.
• 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.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Amex Green Card

American Express Green Card^®

U.P. Rating 

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.

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.

All information about American Express Green Card^® has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express Green Card^®

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.

Welcome Offer

Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express Green Card^® within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

40,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $880

Annual Fee

$150

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

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 (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express Green Card^® is an excellent all-around travel rewards card thanks to earning 3x Membership Rewards^® points on eligible travel and transit purchases and at restaurants, access to American Express transfer partners, and a reasonable annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide, on all eligible travel purchases, and transit purchases
• Up to $209 per calendar year in statement credits after you pay for a CLEAR^® Plus membership with the Card.
• Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

• $150 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express Green Card^® within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on travel, including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® Points on transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
• $209 CLEAR Plus Credit: Receive up to $209 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the American Express Green Card^®.
• Payment Flexibility: When it comes to paying your bill, you have options. You can always pay in full. You also have the flexibility to carry a balance with interest or use Plan It^® to split up large purchases into monthly payments with a fixed fee, up to your Pay Over Time Limit. You may be able to keep spending beyond your limit – you’ll just need to pay for any new purchases in full when your bill is due.
• Trip Delay Insurance: If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per eligible account per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: No matter where you’re traveling, when you use your American Express Green Card^® there are no foreign transaction fees.
• $150 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Step 1: Check Your Account History Length

Make sure your account has been open for at least 12 months. You can do this by logging in to your online account and checking your statements.

Step 2: Ask for a Retention Offer

Check whether a retention offer is available before downgrading. You can do this by calling the number on the back of the card or chatting with a representative by logging in to your Amex online account.

Step 3: Request a Downgrade

Do this by calling or via online chat — make sure you know which card you’d like to downgrade to. You can always ask the representative questions about card benefits, if you wish.

Step 4: See if a Prorated Refund Is Available

You may qualify for a prorated annual fee refund. Make sure to ask the representative when you downgrade the card.

4 Reasons To Downgrade Your Amex Platinum Card

These are some reasons why you might consider downgrading your Amex Platinum card to either the Amex Gold card or the Amex Green card.

1. You Don’t Travel Much Anymore

The Amex Platinum card is first and foremost a travel card, which means its benefits help frequent travelers the most. It comes with a $895 annual fee, but also a bevy of travel perks.

If you’re able to use most of these benefits, particularly the statement credits, then their value easily outweighs the annual fee — but that’s only if you can actually use them.

2. You Don’t Want To Pay a High Annual Fee

If you’re tight on cash and don’t want to pay a large $895 annual fee, there’s a strong case to downgrade your Amex Platinum card, even though you’d lose all of its benefits.

3. You Can’t Keep Track of or Use the Statement Credits

The Amex Platinum card’s most recent refresh brought many new perks (Source: American Express). Many of them require you to shop quarterly or biannually, meaning you have to head to lululemon a few times a year, get an Oura Ring, dine out, and generally shop and spend in an organized fashion to ensure you get all the value the card is offering. If you don’t have the bandwidth for this, the Amex Platinum card may no longer be the right fit.

4. You Want More Rewards on Everyday Spending Categories

Getting the right card for you depends greatly on what you like to spend money on. For example, if you spend a lot of money at restaurants or supermarkets, the Amex Gold card is an excellent choice, with strong points-earning bonus categories.

For example, you can earn 4 points per $1 spent on dining with the Amex Gold card (up to $50,000 per year, then 1 point per $1; Source: American Express). If you spent $3,000 per month eating out, you’d earn 144,000 Membership Rewards points per year, worth $3,168, according to our valuations. In contrast, if you spent all that money on the Amex Platinum card, you’d only earn 36,000 Membership Rewards points a year, which are worth $792, based on our valuations.

The Amex Platinum card isn’t ideal for everyday spending, whereas the Amex Gold card and Amex Green card offer better rewards in everyday categories like dining, groceries, travel, transit, and more.

How To Upgrade Your Amex Platinum Card

Upgrading your Amex Platinum card is very different from upgrading a lower-tier Amex card, because the Amex Platinum card can’t be upgraded to any other card besides the Centurion card. However, you can’t upgrade to the Centurion card unless you’re invited.

The Centurion card, also known commonly as the Amex Black Card, offers luxury benefits. However, it also charges an eye-popping annual fee of $5,000 per year plus a one-time joining fee of $10,000 (for U.S. users). In the past, you could request an invitation to the Centurion card, but American Express rescinded that option. Now, the only way to get invited to the Centurion card is to be a loyal American Express customer and spend a lot of money on your Amex cards.

Anecdotally, the minimum spending requirement you likely need on your Amex Platinum card to even be considered for an invite to the Centurion card is $250,000 per year. However, some say you have to spend closer to $1 million.

It’s also important to have a long, perfect payment history and relationship with American Express to be considered for the Centurion card.

Reasons To Upgrade Your Amex Platinum Card

Now that we’ve compiled all of the reasons to downgrade your Amex Platinum card, let’s take a look at all of the reasons why you might consider upgrading your Amex Platinum card to the Centurion card.

1. You Get Invited to the Centurion Card

If you’ve been invited to upgrade your Amex Platinum card to the Centurion card, you get a package with the invitation. This package may include a phone number to call and an invite code to provide to the Centurion service agent.

If you’re willing to pay thousands of dollars in annual fees and initiation fees, then you should absolutely accept an upgrade offer if you’re invited.

2. You Want Ultrapremium Benefits

Maybe you liked the Amex Platinum card’s travel benefits but want even more luxurious perks.

While it’s difficult to decline the invitation, you should still evaluate whether you can get enough value from the card to justify the $5,000 per year plus a one-time joining fee of $10,000 (for U.S. users) annual fee (as well as a $5,000 annual fee for each additional cardholder, up to 2).

Here’s the short list of the Centurion card’s notable perks (terms and conditions apply for all benefits):

• Access to the Centurion concierge service
• Access to Centurion New York, a luxury space on the 55th floor of One Vanderbilt in the heart of Midtown Manhattan
• Complimentary Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion status
• Access to the Centurion Hotel Program (includes a room upgrade at the time of booking, when available, and an additional property credit of around $200 per stay) at properties like Aman, Belmond, Mandarin Oriental, Oetker Collection, Peninsula Hotels, Rosewood, St. Regis, and Waldorf Astoria
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, and IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
• Access to Centurion International Arrival Services (meet-and-greet service)
• Complimentary PS membership (private airport lounge) and an annual complimentary visit 
• Complimentary Equinox All-Access membership (up to $3,600 in credits annually)

There are many more benefits associated with this card, so this is just a taste of what you could expect.

Hot Tip:

For the right person, the Centurion card could actually save money. If you use your Centurion card to get a complimentary Equinox membership, you’d be saving upward of $3,600 per year from this perk alone.

Final Thoughts

Downgrading or upgrading your Amex Platinum card is a big decision. Downgrading is available to the Amex Gold or Amex Green after 12 months via phone or chat, while upgrading to the Centurion card requires an invitation and reportedly carries a $10,000 initiation fee and a $5,000 annual fee.

Remember to check for a retention offer or prorated fee refund before downgrading, and if you upgrade, start taking advantage of the Centurion’s benefits as soon as possible to make its hefty fees well worth it.