These 2 Benefits Are Why I Keep My Amex Platinum Card

The Platinum Card^® from American Express is loaded with useful benefits that can provide extraordinary value to cardholders (some of which require enrollment). However, benefits are only valuable if you can actually use them.

At each card renewal, I tally the value of the benefits I’ve actually used to decide whether to keep the card. The Amex Platinum card always ends up being a keeper, primarily because of 2 specific benefits.

Here are the key benefits I use most, along with the economic and experiential value they provide.

Card Overview

I’ll expand on my favorite benefits next, but for context, here’s a quick snapshot of the card’s key features, current welcome offer, and more pertinent information.

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

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

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

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

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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, the Platinum Card^® from American Express is a top choice.

The card offers premium perks like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and several annual card credits. The Amex Platinum card is easily worth the annual fee for frequent travelers who use the lounges and travel credits, and hard to justify for those who won’t.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far): Get access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5 points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

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

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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.
• $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. Effective January 1, 2027, Fine Hotels + Resorts^® bookings will require a minimum two-night stay to be eligible for the $600 Hotel Credit.
• 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 Delta Sky Club visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. *As of 08/2026.
• $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.
• $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights™ by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. As a Platinum Card^® Member you have special access to reservations on select nights at participating sought after Resy restaurants through Platinum Nights™ by Resy. Simply add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to book your reservation.
• $219 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 60+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $219 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.
• Whatever the occasion, choose from our two signature collections of premium hotels, curated to inspire and excite you when you book through Amex Travel™: Fine Hotels + Resorts^® is a collection of over 1,900 luxury hotels that are destinations unto themselves and the Hotel Collection includes over 1,400 upscale hotels in desirable destinations.
• $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: Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card^®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
• 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

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Annual Hotel Credits: $600 in Value

One of my favorite Amex Platinum card benefits is the annual statement credits for Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) and The Hotel Collection.

How the Credits Work

When I use my Amex Platinum card to make a prepaid reservation of 1 night or longer at a Fine Hotels + Resorts property, I receive a statement credit of up to $300. The minimum stay for The Hotel Collection properties is 2 nights.

The statement credit of up to $300 is available once from January through June and again from July through December, for a total of up to $600 annually.

Not only do I receive up to $300 in statement credits twice a year, but I also receive on-site FHR benefits. These include daily breakfast for 2 guests, an upgraded room upon arrival (subject to availability), early check-in and late checkout (subject to availability), a $100 food-and-beverage credit, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Additionally, I receive any associated hotel loyalty program benefits for which I qualify (Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, etc.).

This triple dip means I receive an affordable hotel stay, premium on-site benefits, and loyalty program benefits.

How I Use the Credits

The $300 FHR statement credit allows me to stay at properties I would otherwise not book. For example, I could book the luxurious Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City, Canada, and pay just $57 out of pocket. Plus, I’d be treated well thanks to the additional on-site FHR benefits.

Some less expensive properties I can book with The Hotel Collection for 2 nights and still spend very little cash after the $300 statement credit. The Hilton Bogota Corferias, for example, could cost me just $5.86 out of pocket for the entire stay.

I’ve used the FHR and The Hotel Collection benefits at several properties, including The Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Madrid, the W Bogota, the Casa de las Artes Meliá Collection in Madrid, and the Hotel Victoria Gran Meliá in Palma, Mallorca.

Annual Resy Credits: $400 in Value

The annual Resy credits are among the easiest-to-use benefits on my card, and they offer real value.

How the Credits Work

Resy is a restaurant reservation website and app that lets you book tables at participating restaurants. Tock is part of Resy and includes venues beyond restaurants, such as wineries, events, and experiences. Both Resy and designated Tock purchases are eligible for Resy statement credits (Source: American Express). If a venue is eligible, it will be noted on the Resy page.

Once I’ve enrolled my card in the benefits section of my card account, I can use it to make purchases at eligible Resy and Tock establishments and receive a statement credit.

I can receive up to $100 per quarter, up to $400 per calendar year in statement credits for eligible purchases made with my card.

How I Use the Credits

Even in my small town of less than 20,000 residents, we have more than 2 dozen Resy and Tock restaurants and wineries. I purchase a $100 gift card each quarter and save them up to use for special occasions. As long as the restaurant’s website uses Toast for online orders and purchases, buying the restaurant’s gift card earns me the statement credit. I have also purchased gift cards in person and received the credit.

And now Tock venues have joined the list of eligible establishments.

The Resy statement credits deliver more than just economic value. It brings me joy to treat a companion (or myself) to a special dining experience. Whether for a friend’s birthday, a visiting family member, or a girls night out, $400 in Resy statement credits go a long way.

I can use the Resy statement credits not only close to home but also while traveling. I recently used my Amex Platinum card at a group dinner in Los Angeles and received the Resy credit.

Additional Amex Platinum Card Benefits That Provide Value

In addition to the hotel statement credits and Resy credits, I find value in these Amex Platinum card benefits (some require prior enrollment):

• Up to $200 annually in Uber Cash: I have added my Amex Platinum card to my Uber account and receive up to $15 per month in Uber Cash from January through November and $35 in December. I use Uber Cash for rides and Uber Eats in the U.S. (Note that you must pay with an Amex card to use the Uber Cash.)
• Up to $300 annually in digital entertainment: I’ve enrolled my card and receive up to $25 per month in statement credits for eligible streaming services.
• Up to $300 annually for lululemon purchases: Each quarter, I can receive up to $75 in statement credits for lululemon purchases.
• Up to $200 annually for airline incidentals: Knowing I can pay for seat selection fees, lounge access, or other airline incidentals and receive a statement credit is a valuable benefit.

These additional benefits provide me with up to $1,000 in value each year. Together, with the hotel and Resy credits, that’s $2,000 annually.

Final Thoughts

I keep my Amex Platinum card largely for the hotel statement credits and Resy credits, but it offers value beyond those 2 benefits.

I can easily derive $2,000 in annual value from the card.

With the card’s annual fee of $895 (rates & fees), it’s important to take inventory of the utilized benefits at each card renewal. Fortunately, the card still has a place in my wallet because of the total value I receive from it.