Maximize Your $50 Amex Platinum Saks Credit With These 15 Summer Must-Haves

The Platinum Card^® from American Express comes with numerous benefits, from lounge access to complimentary hotel elite status, but one of my favorite perks is the $50 Saks Fifth Avenue shopping credit (upon enrollment).

You might think the retailer has only expensive items, but I often find items under $50 or just slightly over that mark, where the credit helps me get something for free or nearly free. And, every once in a while, I’ll splurge on a big ticket item — the Saks credit makes the pricier cost just a bit easier to swallow.

Let’s take a quick look at the benefits of the Amex Platinum card, and then we’ll jump into some awesome summer items you can buy with the $50 Amex Saks credit.

Amex Platinum Card Benefits

The Amex Platinum card is a popular card, known for its many credits beyond those for Saks Fifth Avenue.

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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

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.

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Up to $3,850

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$695

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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

• 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.
• 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.
• Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club^® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
• 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 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. 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.
• Terms Apply.

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

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

• Up to $200 airline incidental credit (for expenses such as baggage and seat selection fees)
• Up to $200 Uber Cash ($15 per month, plus an additional $20 in December when you select an Amex card for your transaction)
• Up to $240 digital entertainment credit (up to $20 per month)
• Up to $200 prepaid hotel credit on Fine Hotels + Resorts or the Hotel Collection bookings, which may require a minimum 2-night stay, through AmexTravel.com
• Up to $155 Walmart+ credit (up to $12.95 each month, with free same-day delivery and free shipping on orders, excluding most Marketplace items)
• Up to $300 Equinox credit annually
• Up to $199 CLEAR Plus credit

Just know that some of these credits require enrollment ahead of time for you to receive them.

Hot Tip:

I use a handy spreadsheet to track my credit card perks, such as statement credits, and create calendar alerts. This way, I’ll never miss an opportunity to get a credit.

How to Use the $50 Amex Platinum Saks Credit

Finally, I’m getting to more about my favorite perk: the Saks Fifth Avenue credit, which you can get twice per year ($50 from January to June and $50 from July to December).

First, I always double-check that I’m enrolled for the Saks credit each year. If you’re not, just scroll across to the benefits section when you’re logged into your Amex account, then click on the “Shop Saks With Platinum” box. If it says you’re enrolled, you’re good to go. If not, click the enroll button to ensure you end up seeing that $50 credit on your statement after you shop and spend at Saks.

Once you’re enrolled, you’ll likely stay enrolled for the duration of your card membership, but double-checking is never a bad idea.

Why I Love Using My Amex Platinum Saks Credit for Summer Items

Because the Amex Platinum $50 Saks credit runs through June, I usually keep a running list of summer essentials I need (hat, sunglasses, beach towels, etc.) and use the credit in May or June before it expires. Saks has plenty of summer items available, many of which might be on sale if I buy later in June. I’ll then use the second credit around Black Friday for holiday purchases, gifts, or items for myself, which often incur additional discounts or promotions.

Hot Tip:

I always put a note in my calendar in mid-June and mid-November to use my Saks credits, so I don’t forget to use them.

Summer Essentials: $50 or Less at Saks Fifth Avenue

The best things in life are free, and some of the items below you may get entirely for free — or at least close to free. Just remember that if the items are closer to $50, you should factor in sales tax and shipping, so you may not get the entire amount of your purchase back.

Remember that you won’t see any of this credit back if you don’t use it all, so I always prefer to overspend rather than underpend, so I know I’ve gotten the full value.

1. Glasshouse Fragrances The Hamptons Handwash ($30)

I lived in New York City for 2 years as a 20-something and wanted to be that person with the beach house in the Hamptons each summer. But homes in the Hamptons didn’t come cheap (they still don’t), so it was a weekend at the Jersey Shore and this Hamptons-inspired liquid hand soap by Glasshouse Fragrances instead.

Even if I’m not lounging in the Hamptons, I can at least ensure my hands smell of elite sophistication — teak, iris, and petitgrain.

2. Lutava Activate – Charcoal Infused Antimicrobial Fitness Towel ($33)

I try to stop into the hotel gym or do a local yoga class when traveling, and this Lutava towel with charcoal doesn’t take up too much space in my bag. Made from cotton fibers infused with charcoal, the towel balances the natural oils in the skin while wicking away and absorbing moisture, drying 30% faster than a regular towel.

3. Dolce & Gabbana No-Puff Caffeine Eye Patches ($40)

Summer can be hard on the skin, but using these Dolce & Gabbana no-puff caffeine eye patches means I’ll look my best, whether it’s after a late night at the beach club or a red-eye with my toddler. They come in a pack of 5, can easily fit in my suitcase, purse, or beach bag, and instantly depuff, firm, and revitalize my undereye area.

4. Glasshouse Fragrances Lost In Amalfi Interior Fragrance ($40)

Ideally, I’d like to spend all summer, every summer, lost in Amalfi, but since I can’t, this Lost in Amalfi room spray by Glasshouse Fragrances ensures my home and textiles smell like Glasshouse Fragrance’s interpretation of an Italian clifftop village: freesia, lavender, and lime.

5. DIOR Hydra Life Balancing Hydration 2-in-1 Sorbet Water ($47)

My skin tends to dry out in the heat of the summer, especially when doing a lot of air travel or spending time in the sun. This Dior floral toning fluid is enriched with a prebiotic, hydrating my skin, rebalancing its natural oils, and minimizing imperfections.

6. Banwood Kids Helmet ($49)

Summer is bike and scooter season, and protection is key. Michael Y. Park, senior editor and contributor to Upgraded Points, explains how certain products become important after having kids.

“Since becoming a father, I have gone from being generally antimelon to becoming a total melon fan — specifically the big one that rests atop my own child’s shoulders. Making sure that my kid’s melon is protected from bruising, bursting, and other forms of damage during transport via his scooter or bicycle is a priority for me, and bike helmets like the Banwood Kids Helmet are certainly a worthwhile use of my Saks credit,” he said.

This one comes in 11 colors, so your kid can personalize their melon.

7. Gucci Luminous Matte Beauty Blush ($49)

Perhaps because I’m such an avid sunscreen user, my face tends to remain the same tone in summer or winter. To get that coveted summer glow, I like to use this matte blush by Gucci, which makes me look as if I’ve spent a day in the sun, but without the UV damage.

Summer Essentials for $51 to $100 at Saks Fifth Avenue

If you have a little bit extra to spend at Saks, use up every last bit of your credit by purchasing these items that are just over $50.

Hot Tip:

You can also use your Amex Platinum card for these spring break essentials at Saks that can double as summer essentials — think beach towels, bronzer, and passport cases.

8. HUGO Ultra Light Quick Dry Swim Shorts with Logo Print ($55)

The perfect Father’s Day gift, these men’s swim trunks from Hugo are super lightweight and quick-drying with an adjustable drawstring waist, ideal for summer vacation.

9. Printworks Endless Summer Recipe Book ($59)

This recipe book from Printworks has 50 sheets (100 pages) of lined paper to jot down your favorite summer recipes, from fruity sangria to fresh pasta salads. Store the book in a protective case to keep all of your recipes safe and sound.

10. Olaplex Hair Repair 4-Piece Bond Maintenance Treatment Set ($62)

Protect your hair from the sun, salt, and chlorine this summer with this Olaplex hair repair set. The small bottles are travel-friendly (3 out of the 4 products measure under the 3.4-ounce TSA liquids rule), and the set comes complete with shampoo, conditioner, hair perfector, and an intensive bond-building treatment.

11. Boss Cap with Laser-Cut Dot Pattern ($69)

This sporty hat by Boss Menswear comes in dark gray or white, complete with a laser-cut down pattern that keeps the air flowing.

“Having a hat while traveling is essential, especially if visiting a sunny location. I like this particular hat because it’s neutral, meaning it goes with just about anything, and it has an elevated look, so I’m able to dress it up if I happen to stroll into a stylish beach club after spending a few hours in the sand. Plus, I’m protecting my scalp and face from the sun’s powerful and harmful UV rays,” explained Nick Ellis, senior editor and content contributor for Upgraded Points.

12. Ame & Lulu Nantucket Beach Tote ($88)

Summer means beach days, and this chic Ame & Lulu beach tote with scalloped rainbow detailing can fit it all. The canvas bag is lined with nylon and has a snap closure with 3 interior pockets so you can organize your items as needed.

Summer Splurges at Saks Fifth Avenue – $100 to $150

If you’re willing to fork over a little additional cash, using your Amex Saks credits on slightly more expensive items will make them feel more affordable. Here’s what to snap up in the $100 to $150 range.

13. Frances Valentine Rollable Straw Visor ($118)

This Frances Valentine straw visor blocks the sun, and you can pack it in your beach bag or suitcase because you can easily roll it up and tuck it in. It comes lined with a black accent thread, but I recommend snapping it up with a red accent, which feels more summer-ready.

14. Elisa Johnson Jeannie 54MM Cat-Eye Sunglasses ($135)

Cat-eye sunglasses are in for summer 2025, and these tortoiseshell Elisa Johnson shades look great on any face shape and protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. These cool sunglasses come in tortoiseshell (pictured) or black.

15. Birkenstock Arizona Metallic Leather Sandals ($150)

You won’t catch me in a pair of heels this summer. Instead, I’ll dress up casual looks with these comfy Birkenstock Arizona sandals that come in metallic copper or silver. The contoured cork footbed supports the arches, and the suede lining is soft and won’t cause blisters.

Final Thoughts

If you’re an Amex Platinum cardholder, don’t forget to enroll and take advantage of your $50 Saks credits, which come around twice per year. Shop some of these summer-inspired items or put the credit toward a fancy suitcase or pair of sandals. Either way, make sure to use your credit by June 30, 2025, so you don’t lose it.