These 5 Amex Platinum Travel Credits Are Worth $1,000+ to Me Each Year

The Platinum Card^® from American Express has earned its reputation as a top-tier travel card, known for its unmistakable platinum look (or, for a limited time, a mirrored finish).

Between the points I’ve accumulated and the card’s wide range of benefits, the Amex Platinum card has helped me book everything from business-class flights to luxury hotel stays across the globe.

However, the Amex Platinum card also has a massive $895 annual fee (rates & fees) to provide this value. Admittedly, I do not take advantage of every single benefit, as some require additional time or money to make feasible.

That said, I make full use of the card’s numerous travel credits, which deliver more than $1,000 in organic value each year.

Amex Platinum Card Overview

The Amex Platinum card is unmatched among travel rewards cards for its premium travel benefits (enrollment required), including the most comprehensive airport lounge access of any card on the market. That benefit alone delivers hundreds of dollars in value for me as a frequent traveler, even if it’s difficult to assign an exact dollar amount.

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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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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 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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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.

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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 1,550 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
• Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash and Uber One, Resy, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, lululemon credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR+ credit, and Equinox credit)
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
• Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts and Amex International Airline Program
• Access to Amex transfer partners
• No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

 

Cons

• $895 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 $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.
• 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.
• $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.
• $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.
• $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. 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.
• $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 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.
• Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts^® through American Express Travel^®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
• $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.
• 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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It also has solid earning rates, earning 5x points for flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per calendar year) and 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com.

These highly valuable travel rewards accumulate as American Express Membership Rewards points. We value American Express Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents apiece, the highest of any transferable points currency. 

1. Prepaid Hotel Credit

The first travel credit I focus on — and the one that provides the most value for me — is the Amex Platinum card’s prepaid hotel credit. This benefit provides up to $300 in prepaid hotel credits from January through June, and another $300 from July through December.

Cardholders can use this credit for bookings made through the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) and The Hotel Collection programs (the latter requires a 2-night minimum stay). These programs also offer additional benefits in their own right, with Amex FHR guests receiving complimentary breakfast, on-site property credits, room upgrades upon availability, and late checkout.

An upcoming trip to Kuala Lumpur made for an excellent opportunity to use the first semi-annual allotment of the prepaid hotel credit. After narrowing my options, I booked a room at the Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur.

Under the hotel’s information, I even noticed a special offer that gives guests a complimentary third night when booking a stay of at least 3 consecutive nights. As such, I booked 3 nights at the Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur for $532.79. After receiving the prepaid hotel credit, my total out-of-pocket cost dropped to ~$230.

2. Airline Incidental Fee Credit

The airline incidental fee credit is another perk I easily take full advantage of (enrollment required).

Every year, cardholders can select a single eligible U.S. airline and use the credit to cover fees and extras charged directly by the airline. This includes (but is not limited to) seat assignment fees, airport lounge passes, in-flight dining and beverages, and checked baggage fees.

According to American Express, airline tickets, mileage point purchases or transfers, gift cards, upgrades, duty–free purchases, and award tickets are not eligible for statement credits.

Each year, I choose United Airlines as my designated airline and easily max out the $200 each year.

3. Uber Cash Credit

The Uber Cash credit is another one I use without thinking each month. With this credit, cardholders receive $15 per month (plus $35 in December) for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats purchases.

To receive this credit, you need to link your Amex Platinum card to the Uber app one time, and you will automatically receive the credit at the beginning of each month. Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay for the remaining balance with an American Express card, too.

For me, this credit is easy to get full value from, as I take an Uber ride to and from the airport almost every month. For the once-in-a-blue-moon month when I do not take an Uber ride, I use the Uber Cash credit to order food delivery from Uber Eats.

4. TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Credit

Another valuable travel perk of the Amex Platinum is its statement credit for TSA PreCheck (every 4.5 years) or Global Entry (every 4 years), which reimburses the application fee for either program.

Years ago, I signed up for Global Entry (which includes TSA PreCheck) and have never looked back. I fly into the U.S. more than 10 times a year and have never spent more than 10 minutes clearing U.S. Immigration when using the dedicated Global Entry lanes.

Although I have numerous travel rewards cards that offer a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit, I still value this benefit a lot, as I have been able to gift Global Entry to my parents and siblings.

5. CLEAR+ Credit

Another valuable travel benefit of the Amex Platinum card is its CLEAR+ statement credit, which covers the cost of the $209 annual membership upon enrollment. CLEAR+ is a program that allows travelers to use dedicated security lanes by using biometric scans to quickly verify their identity.

Although I have TSA PreCheck, I prioritize using my CLEAR+ membership at busier airports to save a bit more time. On a recent trip flying out of Chicago-O’Hare, I saved about 15 minutes by choosing CLEAR+ over TSA PreCheck.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Platinum card is truly unrivaled for its travel perks, making every trip smoother and more enjoyable. Except for the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry credit, which is doled out every 4 or 4.5 years, the other travel credits add up to well over $1,000 in value.

While these 5 credits are purely travel-focused, the card’s value extends well beyond travel with everyday benefits at home — earning it a permanent spot in my wallet for years to come.