Why the Amex Platinum Card Is Still My Favorite Card for Lounge Access

Traveling can be a stressful ordeal, no matter how experienced one is. With security screening, overcrowded airports, and the rush to make it to the gate on time to board your flight, the travel experience has become complicated.

However, there are ways to improve the airport experience significantly. One such way I do this is by accessing airport lounges, which significantly enhance my travel experience by offering a more comfortable space to relax, work, or enjoy complimentary food and drinks. Personally, I like being able to escape noisy and crowded airport terminals.

While many travel cards provide airport lounge access nowadays, one card stands out above the rest: The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Despite its $695 annual fee (rates & fees), the Amex Platinum card is often considered the premier travel rewards card and one of my absolute favorites. No other card rivals the Amex Platinum card in terms of lounge access — here are the reasons why.

Amex Platinum Card Overview

The Amex Platinum card is unmatched for travel perks and benefits. In addition to its comprehensive lounge access, the card provides elite status with the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programs (upon enrollment) and offers top-notch travel protections.

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

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

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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

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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 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.

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

It also earns highly valuable American Express Membership Rewards points. We value American Express Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents each, which is among the highest valuations for any transferable points currency. 

The Amex Platinum card also comes with annual statement credits that help offset the card’s massive fee. Some credits require enrollment, so be sure to enroll to qualify for them.

However, as mentioned, one of the defining features of the Amex Platinum card is its vast lounge network. Here’s a look at why it stands in a league of its own regarding airport lounges.

Amex Platinum Card Lounge Access Options

Nowadays, you don’t need to travel in business or first class to access an airport lounge. Many travel cards offer airport lounge access by holding a valid same-day boarding pass.

The Amex Platinum card stands out for having the most comprehensive lounge network of any card. It offers access to over 1,400 locations across 140 countries worldwide.

You can access any of the many lounge networks within the American Express Global Lounge Collection with the card, including:

• Aspire Lounges
• Centurion Lounges (both in the U.S. and abroad)
• Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta same-day)
• Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner
• Select Lufthansa Lounges (when flying Lufthansa Group airlines same-day)
• Plaza Premium Lounges
• Priority Pass lounges (upon enrollment)

Here’s a more detailed look at the various American Express Global Lounge Collection network lounges that I can access as an Amex Platinum cardholder.

Amex Centurion Lounges

American Express Centurion Lounges are among the most exclusive and luxurious lounges available. They are my favorite lounges because they typically offer amenities such as locally inspired cuisine, premium bars, and high-speed Wi-Fi.

Amex Platinum cardmembers may access a Centurion Lounge within 3 hours of their flight’s departure. To access Centurion Lounges, guests must present their Amex Platinum card, a same-day boarding pass, and a physical, government-issued ID. 

Although my home airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), does not have a Centurion Lounge, I routinely fly to and from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), both of which have them.

Unfortunately, Amex Platinum cardmembers can no longer bring complimentary guests into Centurion Lounges. Guest access is charged a fee — $50 per adult and $30 per child (ages 2-17). Children under 2 can enter Centurion Lounges for free. However, cardmembers who spend $75,000 on their Amex Platinum card in a calendar year can qualify for complimentary guest access for up to 2 guests per visit. 

Hot Tip:

You can add authorized users to the Amex Platinum card for $195 per card (rates & fees), and these cardmembers will receive their own access to Centurion lounges.

Priority Pass Select

Amex Platinum cardholders get access to the Priority Pass lounge network, which has over 1,400 lounges globally. Given the limited number of Centurion Lounges, many users turn to Priority Pass, the largest lounge network in the world.

Amex Platinum cardmembers receive a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. Members must, however, enroll in Priority Pass Select on Amex’s website. The membership does not include Priority Pass restaurant access. Members can typically bring 2 guests for free, with additional guests allowed for a fee, though this policy can vary by lounge.

I have visited over 90 different Priority Pass lounges in more than 75 countries around the world. Just last week, I visited a Priority Pass lounge, The Club MCO, as I flew back to Chicago after a week in Orlando.

Unfortunately, Priority Pass lounges can be extremely hit-or-miss. For example, Chicago O’Hare only has one airport lounge that participates in Priority Pass: the Swissport Lounge. It’s outdated, with cramped seating and limited space. It also has no windows, making it feel even more chaotic. Maybe worst of all, the lounge doesn’t even have a bathroom.

The food selection at the Swissport Lounge is also quite sparse, with packaged snacks and stale crackers. Despite visiting the lounge multiple times over the past decade, I’ve always left feeling disappointed.

Delta Sky Clubs

Although I don’t fly Delta Air Lines much these days, it’s nice to know that I can access Delta Sky Clubs when I fly same-day with the carrier. Fortunately, Chicago O’Hare has a Delta Sky Club as well.

American Express cardmembers can access Delta Sky Club lounges when flying on a Delta-operated flight or a Delta-marketed flight operated by WestJet. However, a Delta basic economy or an equivalent ticket with a partner airline can no longer access Delta Sky Club lounges.

Currently, members can visit Delta Sky Club lounges an unlimited number of times prior to eligible flights. However, effective February 1, 2025, Amex Platinum cardmembers will only receive 10 Delta Sky Club visits annually. Once the 10 visits have been used, Amex Platinum cardmembers may purchase additional visits at a per-visit rate of $50 per person.

However, if Amex Platinum cardmembers spend $75,000 or more on their card during a calendar year, they can unlock unlimited Sky Club access through the end of January of the following year.

Amex Platinum cardmembers don’t get complimentary guests. However, they can purchase guest access for up to 2 traveling companions (or their spouse or domestic partner and children under 21) per visit.

Plaza Premium Lounges

Amex Platinum cardholders can enjoy access to Plaza Premium lounges worldwide. Some of these lounges are also included in the Priority Pass network. Members may bring up to 2 guests at no additional cost.

Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner

American Express cardmembers can get complimentary visits to all Escape Lounges worldwide. Members must present their Amex Platinum card, government-issued identification, and same-day boarding pass on any carrier. Members can arrive up to 3 hours before their flight and may bring up to 2 guests at no additional cost.

Aspire Lounges

Amex Platinum cardmembers have complimentary access to Aspire Lounges worldwide. Members may bring up to 2 guests at no additional cost.

Lufthansa Lounges

Amex Platinum cardmembers can use select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa Group airlines (Lufthansa, Swiss, and Austrian Airlines). Members may enjoy access to Lufthansa Business Lounges regardless of ticket class and Lufthansa Senator Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group business class.

It is worth noting that not all Lufthansa lounges participate. At Lufthansa lounges that do participate, members must present their Amex Platinum card, a government-issued ID and a boarding pass for a same-day Lufthansa Group flight.

No guests are normally included, though some Lufthansa lounges may allow guests for a fee.

Final Thoughts

Airport lounges offer a perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of travel. Relaxing in a peaceful space with snacks and a drink in hand is far more enjoyable than sitting in a packed airport terminal.

When it comes to airport lounge access, the Amex Platinum card is in a league of its own. With the card, you can access the many lounge networks within the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and Delta Sky Club lounges.

There are more than 1,400 different lounges you can access with the Amex Platinum card. With a growing network of lounges, the Amex Platinum card has been (and still is) the best for lounge access.