Why It Makes Sense To Apply for an Amex Platinum Card by the End of 2024

The Platinum Card^® from American Express holds a certain level of prestige as one of the most recognizable rewards cards. You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for premium travel perks, such as airport lounge access and an incredibly generous welcome bonus offer.

Snagging the Amex Platinum card is clutch for frequent travelers around this time of year. With just a few months left in 2024, here are some of the most compelling reasons to consider applying for the card right now.

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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 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.

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 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 1,550 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

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 $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.
• 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.
• More Value! 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.
• More Value! $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.
• More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card^® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
• More Value! $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.
• New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card^® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. 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, enrollment required.
• More Value! $209 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. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the 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 upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
• New! $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.
• $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card^®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
• 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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Earn Double the Statement Credits

Some like to say that the Amex Platinum card is really just a shiny metal coupon book. After all, the card comes with a laundry list of statement credits.

All jokes aside, many of these perks are well worth it for the frequent traveler. Even though the $895 annual fee (rates & fees) seems daunting, strategically applying around the end of the year allows you to earn double the number of statement credits that are usually afforded to you.

That’s because several of its statement credits are offered on a calendar-year basis. As such, you can use the annual credits for the time left in 2024, and the credits will reset for the 2025 calendar year. Some credits could help you with gift-giving purposes as we quickly roll into the holiday season. Just keep in mind that some credits might require enrollment. Let’s take a closer look:

• Airline Incidental Fee Credit: Up to $200 annually
• Prepaid Hotel Credit: Up to $600 annually
• Saks Fifth Avenue Credit: Up to $100 annually — $50 can be used from January to June, and $50 can be used from July to December
• Uber Cash Credit: Up to $200 annually — $15 can be used every month, increased to $35 in December
• Walmart+ Membership Credit: Up to $12.95 monthly

Let’s say you were to get the card now toward the end of the calendar year. Even though the $895 annual fee will be charged to your statement by the end of the first billing cycle, that means you have access to the above Amex Platinum card benefits immediately.

1. Airline Incidental Fee Credit

The airline incidental fee credit offers up to $200 in annual reimbursements for fees incurred on an airline of your choice. Designate your airline on your Amex account, and charges such as seat selection fees, lounge passes, or checked bag fees are all eligible for reimbursement.

For instance, let’s say you choose Delta Air Lines as your airline. The up-to-$200 airline incidental fee can be used for annual membership for lounges, inflight amenity fees, and more.

2. Prepaid Hotel Credit

To use the $600 prepaid hotel credit (up to $300 semi-annually), you must book with your card on AmexTravel.com with Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection properties. Bookings through The Hotel Collection require a 2-night stay, while Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings can be for just 1 night.

Personally, I love to book high-end properties through the Amex FHR platform, even if it’s just for 1 night. You’ll get incredible benefits such as complimentary room upgrades (upon availability), breakfast for 2, an on-property credit valued at $100, early check-in, and late check-out.

I recently booked the Westin Anaheim for 1-night through the Amex FHR program. The room rate was only $250, so my out-of-pocket cost was $50. Considering that I got a 12 p.m. early check-in, a complimentary breakfast valued at nearly $100, and a “free” dinner with the $100 on-property credit, I was impressed with how easy it was to maximize this credit.

3. Saks Fifth Avenue Credit

Unless you live near a Saks Fifth Avenue store, you probably won’t get too much use out of this credit. After all, there isn’t much that you can buy with a semi-annual credit of up to $50.

However, I like to maximize my Saks credit by purchasing 1 makeup item, which usually costs about $40. After shipping and taxes, I’m able to use the up to $50 credit to my advantage — every single time.

By getting the Amex Platinum card around this time of year, you can access up to $50 credit for July through December. You can easily use this credit to buy a small holiday gift (or treat yourself!), especially if browsing the makeup and beauty counter.

4. Uber Cash Credit

You’ll receive your monthly Uber Cash credit directly in your Uber account in the form of Uber Cash upon linking your Amex Platinum card to your Uber account as a payment method.

Each month, you’ll receive $15 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides exclusively within the U.S. (plus a $20 bonus in December). However, it’s essential to know that credits don’t roll over month to month. With several months left in the year, you can potentially receive up to $85 in Uber Cash credit with the added bonus in December. An Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.

5. Walmart+ Credit

Walmart and the Amex Platinum card may not seem to belong in the same sentence, but the card offers a complimentary Walmart+ membership. Use the Amex Platinum card to pay for the subscription and receive up to $12.95, plus applicable taxes.

The Walmart+ membership can be useful for the holiday season, especially if you want to gift electronics this year. Other benefits include:

• Free delivery from your local Walmart
• Free shipping for online products with no order minimum
• Save up to 10 cents per gallon at Exxon, Mobil, Walmart, and Murphy stations. (Pro tip: You can access Sam’s Club gas stations with a Walmart+ subscription, even if you’re not a Sam’s Club member!)
• Complimentary Paramount+ Essentials Plan
• Other quirky benefits, such as a free Burger King Whopper every 3 months

You shouldn’t overlook the Walmart+ membership since you can get free shipping for the holidays. There are also a lot of everyday benefits that you can utilize when you’re not traveling.

Score a Targeted Welcome Bonus Offer

We only touched on a few statement credits with the Amex Platinum card, though there are many more meaningful benefits. This includes airport lounge access (upon enrollment), 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per calendar year) and prepaid hotels through AmexTravel.com, and the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit.

Even better, eligible applicants may be able to score an elevated welcome bonus offer beyond what’s publicly available: Apply and find out if you're eligible for as high as 175,000 points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Our staffers have found even higher welcome bonus offers after meeting minimum spending requirements. (These targeted offers are independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

• How To Find the Elevated 125K Amex Platinum Card Welcome Bonus Offer
• Snag the Amex Platinum Card 150K Welcome Bonus Offer
• Earn 175K Points With New Amex Platinum Card Bonus

Final Thoughts

They say timing is everything — and that’s definitely the case for the Amex Platinum card. You’ll want to check to see if you’re eligible for a targeted offer, and if you take the plunge, you can score double the statement credits during the first year of card membership.