This Lesser-Known Amex Platinum Perk Unlocks International Flight Deals — Here’s How

The Platinum Card^® from American Express is one of the best premium cards available, with impressive travel benefits such as elite hotel status, airline benefits, and car rental perks.

One of the less-talked-about benefits is the International Airline Program. This program can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on premium flights. I’ve used the program several times for business class flights to Europe.

As I’ve slowed down my travel in recent months due to starting graduate school, I’ve taken stock of my credit card lineup: what to keep and what to toss. The Amex Platinum card has a hefty annual fee, and I’ve considered downgrading it despite its perks. Thanks to the benefits I’ve received through the International Airline Program, here’s why I won’t.

Amex Platinum Card Overview

The Amex Platinum card has extensive benefits, some of which can be challenging to keep track of, especially the more niche perks like the Amex International Airline Program. Here’s a look at the Amex Platinum card’s highlights, including its current welcome bonus offer:

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 Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,760

Annual Fee

$695

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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 cardapplication.

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 1,400 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

• $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.
• With American Express Global Lounge Collection^® eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion^® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club^® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express^® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
• A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
• $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 your 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.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• $199 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. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID – this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card^®.
• 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.
• Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
• $695 annual fee.¤
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

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American Express Membership Rewards

Here’s a look at the Amex Platinum card’s travel benefits, specifically for flights:

• 5x points for flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• Access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion Lounge, 10 visits a year to Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta same-day, plus the ability to unlock unlimited access), Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying the Lufthansa Group same day, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass Select Lounges, and additional Global Lounge Collection partner lounges
• Up to $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck

What Is the International Airline Program?

The International Airline Program allows you and your travel companions to book cheaper airfare when booking select first, business, and premium economy tickets directly through AmexTravel.com. International Airline Program fares are available on both refundable and non-refundable tickets.

You’ll need to pay for your ticket in full with an Amex Platinum card or The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express. You will earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar for an International Airline Program booking, as you’ll book your flights through AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year with the Amex Platinum card).

As an Amex Platinum cardholder, you can use Membership Rewards Pay with Points for all or part of your ticket. With the Amex Platinum card, you can redeem points for flights at 1 cent per point. The same applies to the Amex Business Platinum card, but you’ll also earn a 35% rebate after booking your flight.

These airlines participate in the International Airline Program:

How I’ve Saved Thousands of Dollars Using Amex’s International Airline Program

I was overwhelmed by options when I opened my Amex Platinum card in 2019. Would I first take advantage of Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy elite status or my Priority Pass Select membership? Or would I select an airline to use for my $200 yearly airline incidental fee credit? (Enrollment required for these benefits.)

With such fantastic benefits, it’s not surprising that I stumbled across the International Airline Program. It doesn’t get much shine, and so I wasn’t super familiar with it.

In 2019, I had a trip planned to Rome around Christmas. At the time, I booked most of my flights with cash, instead of using points and miles. While searching for flights that fit my travel dates, I encountered a ticket price that I initially thought was a mistake fare.

It was a business class fare of around $1,250 round-trip from my home airport in New York (JFK) to Rome (FCO) on KLM, with a stop in Amsterdam (AMS) each way. For context, even in economy class, holiday flights are expensive. I expected to pay $1,000 or more to fly economy.

Flying business class during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year seemed inconceivable. As I recall, those flights, for the exact dates on Google Flights, were more than $4,000 round-trip. I immediately booked the ticket, not even paying attention to the “International Airline Program” banner at the top of the page. I learned later that the fare was part of the program, offering cheaper fares on premium flights.

Booking through the International Airline Program saved me nearly $3,000 on a business-class flight to Europe, which allowed me to allocate the funds to other activities, such as hotels, dining, and shopping.

While that trip was magical for several reasons — mainly, it was my first time in Italy — it was also special for how I got there. It was my first time flying in the front of a plane, my first time enjoying Champagne on a flight, and my first experience in an airport lounge.

Today, with much of my travel limited due to being a full-time student again, I’ve wondered if the Amex Platinum card fits my lifestyle. I’ve decided to keep it because of the affordable premium fares I’ve found for the few flights I can take.

For instance, during fall break in October, I’ve been eyeing a premium economy flight to Tokyo on Japan Airlines. When I searched through Google Flights, I found that it was priced at $2,100 round-trip.

However, when searching for the same flight on AmexTravel.com, using the International Airline Program, the price drops to just $1,914. That’s a savings of nearly $200, or nearly 9%!

How To Book Flights Using the International Airline Program

Now that you know how the International Airline Program works and how I’ve benefited, you’re probably wondering how to use it yourself. Booking flights through the program is pretty simple:

• Visit the Amex International Airline Program website.
• Search for flights. International Airline Program flights will appear at the top of the search if available. Only first class, business class, or premium economy flights on select airlines to international destinations are eligible.
• Select qualifying flights highlighted by the International Airline Program banner.
• Book directly on AmexTravel.com or call an agent at the number on the back of your card.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Platinum card has been one of my favorite travel cards over the years, but the high annual fee has made me consider closing my account around the renewal date for several years in a row. 

However, the little-known International Airline Program is a primary reason I’ve decided to keep the card open year over year. Through the program, I’ve saved thousands of dollars on premium economy and business class flights.