5 Ways I Used Amex Platinum Card Benefits for 2025 Holiday Gifts

The Platinum Card^® from American Express is more than my go-to travel card. Following its major refresh in September 2025, the new credits and benefits (some of which require enrollment) have transformed it into my everyday lifestyle card.

For example, I redeemed my Membership Rewards points for flights and hotels (and enjoyed airport lounge access during a chaotic travel season). However, a handful of ongoing perks have been perfect for Christmas presents.

Here’s how I tapped into these benefits, in case you’re still hunting for thoughtful last-minute gifts, too.

1. Up to $75 lululemon Credit

One of the new credits on the Amex Platinum card is the annual, up to $300 lululemon credit (enrollment required). You can get back up to $75 in statement credits per quarter when you use the Amex Platinum card to pay for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon stores or lululemon.com (excluding outlets).

These statement credits do not roll over from quarter to quarter. Cardholders have until December 31 to redeem their Q4 allotment.

I used this credit to buy my sister a comfy pair of sweatpants as a Christmas gift, which cost $98 before tax. I received my $75 statement credit within a couple of days of the charge posting to my account, which translated into near-immediate savings for me.

2. Up to $200 Oura Ring Credit

The Amex Platinum card is evolving into a true lifestyle card, and that extends into the wellness space. One of the statement credits added during the card’s recent refresh is an up to $200 annual Oura Ring credit.

After enrolling in the benefit, the credit is only valid for purchases made through ouraring.com. Like the other credits, it doesn’t roll over year to year.

The base model, the Oura Ring 4, retails for $349. I’m not in the market for one (my Garmin smartwatch is still my go-to fitness tracker), so this new credit didn’t sway me into buying one for myself.

But this credit immediately stood out as a perfect Christmas gift for my mom, who’s been wanting to understand her sleep score and track other wellness metrics.

3. Additional Platinum Cards

My brother moved to Austin, Texas, this year, and has been traveling more often for work. He’s always asking me about airport lounge access, but he doesn’t want to pay the Amex Platinum card’s $895 annual fee (rates & fees) — fair enough.

He usually flies once per quarter, so lounge access is more of a nice-to-have benefit rather than a necessity. That’s why, for Christmas this year, I added him as an Additional Platinum Card member to my Amex Platinum card account for $195 per year (rates & fees).

It’s a fraction of the regular annual fee, and best of all, he’ll get his own airport lounge access with the card. This is important, as the Amex Platinum card no longer offers guest access on its own, although we rarely travel together in the first place.

Additional Amex Platinum Card members receive access to Amex Centurion Lounges, 10 annual visits to Delta Sky Clubs (when flying on the same day with Delta), and more, as well as their own Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit. He won’t get his own benefits like lululemon credits or Oura Ring credits, but that’s of less importance to him.

Adding someone as an Additional Platinum Card member can be a valuable gift in itself. American Express occasionally offers targeted bonus promotions to the primary cardholder.

For example, I was offered 20,000 points for adding an additional card member who then spends $2,000 on eligible purchases within their first six months.

4. Up to $50 Saks Credit

The Amex Platinum card’s Saks credit (enrollment required) also saves me money every year for holiday shopping. You can receive up to $100 annually at Saks Fifth Avenue, with $50 available from January to June and an additional $50 from July to December.

I often forget to use this credit, but I always remember to do so before the year ends. That’s because you can buy a lot of makeup and beauty products on Saks’ website, allowing me to save easily up to $50 for gifts semi-annually.

5. Peace of Mind With Purchase Protection Benefits

While the Amex Platinum card only earns 1x points on my holiday shopping purchases, I often put large expenses on it this time of year. Last year, my siblings and I bought my mom a new dishwasher for Christmas, and we charged it to my Amex Platinum card to take advantage of the purchase insurance benefits.

The Amex Platinum card offers key purchase protections that are super helpful:

• Return protection: You can return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase and receive up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account.
• Purchase protection: You can receive up to $10,000 per occurrence, or up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year, for covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date.
• Extended warranty: You can receive an additional year of coverage on eligible purchases added to the original manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less. The maximum reimbursement amount is up to $10,000 per item or $50,000 per card member account per calendar year.

If you anticipate a lot of expenses for holiday gifts (or travel), it can be a smart idea to put those purchases on a new card. The Amex Platinum card offers a huge bonus offer upon meeting minimum spend requirements:

+ NEW BENEFITS

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 spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

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

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 $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.
• 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.
• More Value! 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.
• More Value! $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.
• More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card^® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
• More Value! $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.
• New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card^® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. 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, enrollment required.
• More Value! $209 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the 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 upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
• New! $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.
• $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card^®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
• 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

On top of all of the great benefits mentioned in this article, the Amex Platinum card allows you to redeem points within the Membership Rewards program. As I look toward my 2026 travels, the ability to earn and redeem thousands of points toward flights and hotels is another huge reason to keep the card long-term.

Final Thoughts

If you have the Amex Platinum card, be sure to take advantage of its numerous benefits, as they can go a long way toward making your holiday shopping easier this year. Even if you don’t regularly use all the perks yourself, many of the credits and benefits can often make great gifts for others.

For the return protection benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, with return protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express^® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the purchase protection benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the extended warranty benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, when an American Express^® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.