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

Updated: March 14, 2024, 10:45am CDT

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

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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 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)

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.

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 OfferEarn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on 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

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

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
Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue 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
Access to Amex International Airline Program
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

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

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card^®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
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 with American Express Travel when you pay with 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.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card^®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
$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: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
$189 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card^®. Learn more.
$100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 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.
$300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card^®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. 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

Card Categories

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

Enroll Priority Pass — Image Credit: American Express

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 3 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

Amex Qualifying Airline Enroll — Image Credit: American Express

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 credits. Each month you’ll receive up to $15 in credits deposited into your Uber Cash account. In December, your credit is up to $35.

You can use your credits 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 Credit banner.

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)

Hilton La Romana, an All Inclusive Adult Only Resort. Image Credit: Hilton

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 $100 in a statement credit 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

Amex Offers 2022 — Image Credit: American Express

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

Amex Equinox Credit Enroll — Image Credit: American Express

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.

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 $189 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 $179, a savings of $10.

17. Get a Walmart+ Membership

Amex Walmart Enroll — Image Credit: American Express

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.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points

Frequently Asked Questions

How do the benefits on the Amex Platinum card work?

Some benefits, like bonus spending, work automatically. Other benefits require registration, such as Priority Pass lounge access, which requires a separate membership card for access.

You need to also sign up for elite status offerings as those benefits are administered by the specific hotel or rental car program.

Statement credit benefits might require you to select your preferred airline (to receive airline fee credits) or link your card to programs such as Uber for payment purposes.

Fortunately, accessing your online Amex Platinum card account allows you to enroll or register for nearly all the benefits that come with the card.

Do authorized users get their own card?

When you add an authorized user to your Amex Platinum card, they’ll receive a separate card issued in their name.

The charges made to the card by the authorized users, however, will be billed to your account and you’ll be responsible for the balance.

The good news is that you earn Membership Rewards Points on their purchases.

How do Amex Offers work?

Amex Offers can be found on your online Amex Platinum card home page when you log in to your account.

Scroll down the page and you’ll find a section titled Amex Offers and Benefits. There may be offers for bonus Membership Rewards or for statement credits after a certain purchase amount is made with the merchant.

You must add the offer to your card by clicking the Add to Card button.

Then all you need to do is make the required purchase with your card and the extra points or credit will be applied to your account.

How do I use the Uber credits on my Amex Platinum card?

After you’ve selected your destination on the Uber app, you can select the payment method you want to use.

Since the monthly Uber credits from your Amex Platinum card are deposited each month into your Uber Cash account, you’ll want to select this payment method when making your ride reservation or ordering Uber Eats.

If there are not enough credits in your Uber Cash account to cover the ride or Uber Eats order, you can either add more funds into the account or pay for the overage with your credit card.

How many points will I receive as a welcome bonus?

The number of points for the Amex Platinum welcome bonus offer does change. In recent years, it has varied from 60k all the way up to 150k points.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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