17 Things To Do When You Get the Amex Platinum Card [2024]

It’s an exciting day. The Platinum Card^® from American Express has arrived, and you’re ready to make that first purchase.

You can go ahead and remove the card from its packaging, but then we’re going to ask you to take a deep breath, sit down, and read on.

We’re here to share some important tips on what you should do when you first receive your card.

We want to make sure you don’t miss out on any of your Amex Platinum card benefits, so we’ll walk you through registering your card, enrolling in loyalty programs, and learning more about the benefits that come with your new card.

Let’s get started because you’ve got a lot of perks waiting for you.

Amex Platinum Card Overview

Before we jump into all the details, here’s a quick card overview of the Amex Platinum card:

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

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The 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

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, 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

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.¤
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

1. Activate Your Amex Platinum Card

Step one, of course, will be to activate your card online or by calling the number posted on the sticker attached to the front of your card.

Sign the back of the card, and you’re ready to start using it.

2. Find Your Minimum Spending Requirement

In order to receive your welcome bonus, which is worth hundreds of travel dollars, you must complete a minimum spending requirement within a specified period, normally 3, 6, or 12 months after card approval.

Make a note of the exact date you were approved for the card and of the deadline for completing your purchases. Remember, the annual fee doesn’t count toward this requirement.

You’ll also want to allow enough time for a purchase to post on your statement. If the purchase is still pending on the final day, it won’t count toward your spending total.

You can get an accurate tally of your spending by accessing your account and going to Statements and Activity, then inputting the dates of the period in which you need to complete the minimum spending requirement.

Don’t forget to exclude the annual fee and any merchandise returns from your total.

3. Enroll in Priority Pass Select

Your Amex Platinum card comes with worldwide access to over 1,400 airport lounges in the American Express Global Lounge Collection.

To enroll in Priority Pass Select, access your Amex Platinum card online account. You’ll find the enrollment tab by first clicking on Rewards and Benefits, then under the Benefits tab.

Once you click on Enroll Now, the system will generate a Priority Pass membership number. It can take 10 to 14 business days to receive your physical Priority Pass membership card, but you can normally access a digital version via the Priority Pass app or in your online account.

There are over 1,400 Priority Pass lounges worldwide, and you can bring up to 2 guests for no charge.

4. Add an Authorized User

Authorized users on your Amex Platinum card receive many of the same benefits you enjoy.

You can add up to 99 additional users for just $195 per year (rates & fees). Those users receive the same worldwide lounge access, hotel elite status, and more.

Hot Tip: Worldwide lounge access is one of the most valuable Amex Platinum card benefits. By adding authorized users, an entire family can have complimentary lounge access. The primary cardholder, and each authorized user, can bring in 2 additional guests. 

5. Select Your Airline

With the Amex Platinum card, you can receive up to $200 in statement credits each calendar year for incidental fees paid to an airline.

The caveats: you must pick your airline in advance, and you must charge the purchase to your Amex Platinum card.

To select your airline, log in to your card account and look under Rewards and Benefits, then under Benefits for the $200 Airline Fee Credit box. You’ll then be able to select a qualifying airline from the drop-down menu.

You can change your selected airline in January of each year.

6. Add Your Card to Your Uber Account

With your Amex Platinum card, you receive access to the UberVIP program which qualifies you for special discounts and perks (currently available in Atlanta, Dallas, Harrisburg, Houston, Nashville, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh).

The card also comes with up to $200 in Uber Cash. Each month you’ll receive up to $15 in Uber Cash deposited into your Uber Cash account. In December, your Uber Cash credit is up to $35.

You can use your Uber Cash towards Uber rides and Uber Eats in the U.S.

Log in to your online Amex Platinum card account and under Rewards and Benefits, then under the Benefits tab, select the $200 Uber Cash banner. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.

7. Register for Car Rental Program Elite Statuses (Avis, Hertz, National)

Your Amex Platinum card comes with several elite statuses and preferred benefits when renting through National, Hertz, or Avis car rental agencies, including the following elite statuses:

• Avis Preferred Plus status
• Hertz President’s Circle status
• National Emerald Club Executive status

Benefits can include discounts, car upgrades, priority pick up and return, and accelerated earnings.

To take advantage of these perks, you must register via your online Amex Platinum card account.

Hot Tip: For more information on this specific benefit, check out our guide: The Amex Platinum Card: Maximizing Car Rental Insurance & Benefits.

8. Register for Hotel Elite Statuses (Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy)

You won’t receive your Hilton Honors Gold or Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite hotel program status automatically. However, it’s simple to enroll in both via your online card account. Simply click on the Rewards and Benefits tab, then the Benefits tab and select the Hilton Honors Gold Elite Status and the Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status banners.

With Hilton Honors Gold status, you’ll soon be enjoying free breakfast, upgraded rooms, free Wi-Fi, elevated earnings, and more elite perks.

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite members receive upgraded rooms, elevated points earning, late checkout, free Wi-Fi, and more.

9. Apply for Global Entry or Pay For Your Renewal

You’ll receive up to $120 in a statement credit (as of October 1, 2024) when you pay for Global Entry with your Amex Platinum card. TSA PreCheck is included when you sign up for Global Entry.

If you wish to just sign up for TSA PreCheck instead of Global Entry, your statement credit will be $85.

Statement credits are available once every 4 years. Apply for Global Entry here.

Hot Tip: Have questions about this perk? Don’t miss our piece on the top FAQ for Global Entry, and check out all of the best credit cards for complimentary Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

10. Become Familiar With the $200 Hotel Credit

You’ll want to plan ahead to avoid missing out on the statement credits of up to $200 for either a Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection property booked via AmexTravel.com.

Enjoy benefits such as an upgraded room (when available), breakfast for 2 daily, complimentary Wi-Fi, early check-in/late checkout (when available), a valuable on-site amenity, and more. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum 2-night stay.

Use the credits to cover the cost of the entire room cost or to offset a more expensive stay.

11. Check Out Your Amex Offers

Once you log in to your online account, you’ll scroll down the page until you see Amex Offers and Benefits. You can realize a ton of savings when using Amex Offers.

Just add the offer you want to your card by clicking on the Add to Card button and then use your card for the purchase.

You’ll receive a statement credit or additional Membership Rewards points after the purchases post to your account.

Bottom Line: Amex Offers can offer extreme value. Making a habit of checking these offers on a regular basis can save you hundreds of dollars each year. 

12. Enroll for Digital Entertainment Credits

We all love streaming entertainment media, especially when we can get it for free, or nearly free. Enroll to receive up to $20 each month in statement credits, up to $240 each year for qualifying digital entertainment purchases.

Here’s more information on how to make the most of the Amex $20 monthly digital entertainment credit.

13. Enroll To Receive Equinox Statement Credits

If you enjoy working out and could find value in an Equinox or Equinox+ membership, you’ll be pleased with up to $300 in statement credits each year, for membership purchases. Additionally, you could receive another $300 back when purchasing a SoulCycle at-home bike. Enrollment is required.

14. Enroll in the Saks Fifth Avenue Shopping Credits

To sign up for Saks Fifth Avenue shopping credits, simply enroll online and start shopping.

Use your Amex Platinum card for your purchase and receive up to $50 in statement credits for shopping July through December and up to another $50 in credits January through June.

That’s a $100 shopping benefit you won’t want to ignore. Purchases qualify whether made in-store or online.

15. Sign Up With ShopRunner

Speaking of shopping, you won’t want to miss out on 2-day free shipping and free returns with the premier shopping site ShopRunner.

You can sign up here for your complimentary membership.

16. Apply for CLEAR Plus

Cardholders receive up to $199 in annual credits towards a CLEAR Plus membership for an accelerated security experience at various airports throughout the U.S.

Hot Tip: If you already have CLEAR, consider purchasing a membership for a friend or family member with your card as you’ll still earn the credit. Also, just joining a frequent flyer program such as United MileagePlus or Delta SkyMiles gets you discounted CLEAR at $189, a savings of $10. 

17. Get a Walmart+ Membership

A Walmart+ membership costs $12.95 a month and includes benefits such as free shipping and discounted gas. Cardholders receive a $12.95 statement credit towards Walmart+ membership each month.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Platinum card comes loaded with benefits; perhaps more than any other travel rewards card.

Many of the benefits are not applied automatically, however, so you’ll need to register your card or enroll through a provided link.

Fortunately, logging in to your online Amex Platinum card account and accessing the home page Rewards and Benefits section will provide the access you need to accomplish this.

Now you’re ready to start enjoying all the benefits that come with your Amex Platinum card.