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Is $395 the New Magic Number for a Credit Card’s Annual Fee?

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Andrew Kunesh
Updated: 
Edited by: Jessica Merritt
& Tiffany Eastham
Is $395 the New Magic Number for a Credit Card’s Annual Fee?
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While some premium travel cards now feature annual fees inching ever closer to $1,000, we’ve also seen a new class of rewards cards hit the market with considerably lower yearly charges.

Today, we’ll look closer at the Capital One Venture X Rewards Card, the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® card, the United Quest℠ Card, and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® — all with annual fees under $400.

Let’s talk about what these cards have to offer and why I’m such a big fan of them. Not only that, here’s some insight into why we might see more mid-tier premium credit cards with more reasonable annual fees entering the market.

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Capital One Venture X Card Is the Best Midtier Card

The Capital One Venture X card is the best all-in-one credit card for the semi-frequent traveler or frequent flyer who doesn’t want to pay a hefty price for high-end perks. Sure, it still has a $395 annual fee, but it’s packed with features and credits that are remarkably easy to use.

LIMITED-TIME OFFER
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening - equal to $1,000 in travel.
100,000 miles
$1,800
$395
Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
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.
Excellent (740-840)
Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
Cons
  • $395 annual fee
  • Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening - equal to $1,000 in travel
  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
  • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

To start, the Capital One Venture X card includes an annual $300 Capital One Travel credit that you can use to book airfare, rental cars, and other travel through Capital One Travel. This credit resets every cardmember anniversary and is even applied to your first year. If you book just 1 flight or prepaid hotel stay every year, this credit alone offsets all but $95 of the card’s annual fee.

Even better, the Capital One Venture X card gives you 10,000 bonus Capital One miles every cardmember year, starting with the first time you renew your card (meaning you don’t get it right away, unlike the travel credit).

Even if you redeem these miles at 1 cent per mile to cover travel purchases charged to the card, that is worth $100. But if you transfer to its airline or hotel partners, you should be able to get closer to $180 (or more) in value based on our Capital One miles valuation of 1.8 cents per mile. Capital One has powerful transfer partners, including Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.

Is the Capital One Venture X Card Worth It?

Between bonus miles every year and Capital One Travel credit, you profit by keeping this card open every year — and that’s before looking at the card’s other benefits. These include access to Capital One Lounges, a Priority Pass™ Select airport lounge membership (with enrollment), and top-tier Hertz President’s Circle elite status.

Additionally, the card offers purchase and travel protections, including a primary rental car damage waiver and trip delay coverage that kicks in when you’re delayed by 6 hours or more.

Each of these perks offers real value to frequent and semi-frequent travelers alike, especially those who live near an airport with a Capital One Lounge. Given that it earns 2 miles per $1 spent on all eligible purchases, it’s a great card to spend on, too.

Capital One Lounge Las Vegas
Capital One Lounges are beautiful and comfortable. Image Credit: Katie Corrigan Seemann

This card punches well above its weight compared to premium cards with significantly higher annual fees. It might not have access to as many airport lounges as the Platinum Card® from American Express, but you also don’t have to pay for its $895 annual fee (rates & fees).

With the Capital One Venture X card, you’ll still get access to more than 1,300 Priority Pass lounges and the growing network of Capital One Lounges and Landings could more than suffice, depending on your travel habits.

The Atmos Rewards Summit Card is Niche but Worth Considering

Alaska Airlines acquired Hawaiian Airlines in 2024 and began merging its operations and loyalty programs, including Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles. What resulted is Atmos Rewards, which largely kept everything we liked about the old Mileage Plan program while adding some interesting new features, such as the ability to choose how you earn miles on flights.

Alaska Airlines launched the new Atmos Rewards Summit card alongside Atmos Rewards. This card marks the airline’s first foray into the premium credit card market — and for just $395, I think it’s one of the best values out there for those who either fly Alaska Airlines or enjoy its Atmos Rewards loyalty program.

Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® card
Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® card
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Atmos Rewards Summit card is the perfect companion for Alaska Airlines loyalists.

Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® card
The Atmos Rewards Summit card is the perfect companion for Alaska Airlines loyalists.
Earn 80,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $4,000 in the first 90 days.
80,000 points + 25,000-point Global Companion Award
$1,680
$395
19.99% to 27.99% Variable
Why We Like This Card

The Atmos Rewards Summit card is perfect for any frequent Alaska or Hawaiian flyer who wants a card loaded with great benefits, such as an annual Global Companion Award, Alaska Lounge passes, free checked bags, and a fast-track toward Atmos Rewards elite status.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 3x points on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
  • 3x points on dining and foreign purchases made overseas
  • 1x points on all other purchases
Cons
  • $395 annual fee
  • Points aren’t as flexible as other transferable reward programs
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • Earn 80,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $4,000 in the first 90 days.
  • 3x points on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
  • 3x points on dining and foreign purchases made overseas
  • 1x points on all other purchases
  • Receive 10,000 status points each year and 1 status point for every $2 of card spend
  • 10% rewards bonus on all points earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America account.
  • 25,000-point Global Companion Award annually
  • 100,000-point Global Companion Award (after spending $60,000 or more on purchases in a card anniversary year)
  • $395 annual fee
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 19.99% to 27.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 

On the earning side, it’s standard for an airline co-branded credit card with an interesting twist. In addition to earning 3 points per $1 spent on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases and dining, it earns the same rate on all purchases made outside the U.S. This is my new go-to credit card when traveling internationally, as I know I’ll earn triple points on all my purchases.

Is the Atmos Rewards Summit Card Worth It?

It’s jam-packed with travel benefits, too. The card includes 8 annual Alaska Lounge passes and 2 inflight Wi-Fi coupons per quarter, and an annual 25,000-point Global Companion Award. This voucher lets you apply 25,000 Atmos Rewards points toward a companion’s ticket when you redeem them. This works on Alaska and partner-operated tickets; you just have to pay the taxes and fees with your Atmos Summit card.

For example, if your companion’s ticket costs 55,000 Atmos Rewards points, you’d pay just 30,000 points when you redeem the certificate. As such, this certificate is effectively equivalent to 25,000 miles if you travel with someone else once per year. You can earn a second Global Companion Award worth a whopping 100,000 points when you spend $60,000 on the card in a single calendar year.

The Atmos Summit card can speed up your path to Alaska Airlines elite status. All cardholders receive 10,000 bonus Alaska status points annually. Plus, the card earns 1 additional status point for every $2 spent.

Some other interesting features include a free checked bag and same-day flight changes on Alaska Airlines, as well as travel delay protection. Delay protection gives you an instant $50 voucher for same-day cancellations or delays of 2 or more hours when you travel with Alaska Airlines. You can use this for food and drink at the airport regardless of why your flight was canceled or delayed. The card also waives the $12.50 partner award fee on Atmos bookings.

Bottom Line:

The Atmos Summit card is now one of my absolute favorite credit cards. I use it whenever I’m abroad, and I fly Alaska enough to use some of the included lounge and Wi-Fi passes. Additionally, waived partner booking fees and the annual companion certificate mean you can recoup a significant portion of the yearly cost if you book with Atmos Rewards regularly.

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Airline Credit Cards With $350 Annual Fees

I don’t have the United Quest card or the newly released AAdvantage Globe card in my wallet, but they can be excellent deals if you fly with their respective airlines and take advantage of their included perks.

The United Quest card’s $350 annual fee is largely offset by $200 in annual Travel Bank credits, plus $8 in monthly ride-sharing service credits ($12 in December), $150 in annual Renowned Hotels and Resorts credits, and $150 in statement credits towards JSX semi-private flight bookings.

United Quest℠ Card
United Quest℠ Card
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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.

United Quest℠ Card
The United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.
Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 1,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
70,000 miles + 1,000 PQP
$840
$350
19.99% - 28.49% Variable
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

Enter: the United Quest℠ Card. With it, you can bolster your United MileagePlus miles, thanks to the bonus categories, while enjoying the card’s many perks designed to help save you money on each United flight.

With an annual fee that falls between the United℠ Explorer Card and the United Club℠ Card, the United Quest card makes for a fantastic card option for United frequent flyers.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 5x miles on stays through Renowned Hotels and Resorts
  • 3x miles per $1 on United purchases
  • 2x miles per $1 spent on travel, dining, and select streaming services
Cons
  • Does not earn transferable rewards
  • Does not offer airport lounge access
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 1,000 PQP
  • 3x miles on United® purchases
  • 2x miles on dining, select streaming services, and all other travel
  • 1x mile on all other purchases
  • Get a jump start on earning Premier status with 1,000 Card Bonus PQP each year, awarded within 8 weeks of February 1, starting in the calendar year following your account open date.
  • Free first and second checked bags--a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply)
  • Receive a $200 United® travel credit and 10,000-mile award flight discount on each account anniversary
  • Earn a 10,000-mile eligible award flight discount after spending $20,000 each calendar year
  • Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 19.99% - 28.49% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

However, the real value of the United Quest card lies in its ability to help you progress toward United Premier elite status. Cardholders can earn 1 Premier Qualifying Point (PQP) for every $20 spent on the card, up to 18,000 PQP per year. This could help you make substantial progress toward elite status, depending on how much you spend on the card.

The AAdvantage Globe card launched earlier this year with the same $350 annual fee. It’s also packed with annual statement credits, including a $100 Splurge Credit, $100 back on inflight purchases, and up to $240 back on Turo car rentals. It also includes 4 Admirals Club lounge passes and a companion certificate every year.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®
Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®
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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The AAdvantage Globe card gives you more value on every American Airlines flight and helps you qualify for elite status.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®
The AAdvantage Globe card gives you more value on every American Airlines flight and helps you qualify for elite status.
Eligible new cardmembers can earn 90,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first four months of account opening.    
90,000 miles
$1,260
$350
19.74% to 29.74% Variable
Why We Like This Card

The AAdvantage Globe card is an excellent option for American Airlines frequent flyers who want a card that offers benefits on every American Airlines flight and makes it easier to qualify for American Airlines elite status.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 6x miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings
  • 3x miles on American Airlines purchases
  • 2x miles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
Cons
  • $350 annual fee
  • Doesn’t earn transferable rewards
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • Eligible new cardmembers can earn 90,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first four months of account opening.
  • 6x AAdvantage® miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels™ bookings.
  • 3x AAdvantage® miles on American Airlines purchases.
  • 2x AAdvantage® miles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
  • 2x AAdvantage® miles on Rides and Rails™ purchases, including taxis, ride-shares, and public transit.
  • 1x AAdvantage® mile on all other purchases.
  • 1 Loyalty Point toward AAdvantage status for every 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned from qualifying purchases.
  • No mileage cap, the earning potential is unlimited.
  • Get 4 Admirals Club® Globe™ lounge passes annually, each valid for 24 hours, and enjoy access to nearly 50 Admirals Club® lounges worldwide.
  • Receive an Annual Companion Certificate with every card renewal, redeemable for $99 plus taxes and fees, which is eligible for a single round-trip qualifying domestic flight in Main Cabin.
  • Earn up to $100 inflight purchase credits when using your card on American Airlines flights.
  • First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the primary cardmember and up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation.
  • Enjoy Group 5 boarding on American Airlines flights for the primary cardmember and up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation.
  • Receive up to $120 Global Entry® or TSA PreCheck® credit every four years.
  • Cardmembers receive 5,000 Loyalty Points after every 4 qualifying American Airlines flights, for up to 15,000 additional Loyalty Points each qualification year.
  • Earn up to $100 annual Splurge Credit℠ with a choice of up to two of the following: eligible AAdvantage Hotels™ bookings, 1stDibs, Future Personal Training and Live Nation®.
  • Earn up to $30 in statement credits on each eligible trip with Turo, up to $240 in credits each calendar year.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $350 annual fee
  • Various travel and shopping protections
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 19.74% to 29.74% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Like all American Airlines co-branded credit cards, every $1 spent earns 1 Loyalty Point toward elite status. The AAdvantage Globe card also awards 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points for every 4 qualifying American Airlines flights you take, up to 15,000 Loyalty Points per year.

While not quite as powerful as the Atmos Rewards Summit card, these airline credit cards can offer real value to those chasing elite status with American Airlines and United Airlines. Plus, their annual fees are largely offset by their included credits.

Delta Air Lines also offers the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with a $350 annual fee (rates & fees). However, it has much more limited benefits compared to these other major competitors.

The Future of Midtier Rewards Cards

The midtier travel card market is relatively small, but I believe it will experience rapid growth over the coming years. It’s tough for many travelers to justify paying nearly $1,000 per year for a card like the Amex Platinum card (rates & fees).

However, the mid-tier $395 option is much easier to pay — especially when the perks offset at least part of the cost.

So what could we see next? I don’t think it’s too far-fetched to imagine that Chase could introduce a $395-tier card that sits between the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

Chase Sapphire Lounge LAS Main Seating Area
Chase is opening new lounges every year. Image Credit: Stella Shon

A midtier Chase card may include a limited number of Chase Sapphire Lounge visits per quarter and offer a smaller annual travel credit compared to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

One could say that the American Express® Gold Card fits into this category, given its slightly lower $325 annual fee (rates & fees). However, I think of it as more of a lifestyle card than a travel card.

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American Express® Gold CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
American Express® Gold Card
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

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Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express® Gold Card
This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 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 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.
Up to $2,200
$325
See Pay Over Time APR
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

The American Express® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
  • 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
  • 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
Cons
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 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 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

It offers great earning rates at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x thereafter) and restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x thereafter), as well as foodie-focused statement credits. However, it doesn’t provide any tangible travel perks.

But this could change. Given the hype around the Capital One Venture X card, we could see the Amex Gold card be revamped with a higher annual fee and new travel benefits. This could come in the form of a Priority Pass™ Select membership, with enrollment, or passes to Centurion Lounges, making the card a viable middle-ground alternative to the Amex Platinum card.

It’s possible hotel brands may enter this space, too. World of Hyatt doesn’t yet offer a premium credit card, and introducing a midtier annual fee card could be a good place to start. Some of my wishlist features include annual Hyatt statement credits, Explorist elite status, and the ability to earn elite nights more quickly than you can with The World of Hyatt Credit Card.

» Related: What the 2025 Platinum Card Refresh Tells Us About the Future of American Express

Final Thoughts

In a world where ultra-premium travel credit cards have annual fees approaching $1,000, it’s refreshing to see new travel credit cards with annual fees of $350 to $395 hit the market. This range is a far more approachable price point, and you still get a card jam-packed with travel perks — in some cases, even including airport lounge access.

We can expect to see more midtier premium travel credit cards hit the market as ultra-premium cards continue to rise in price. Likewise, U.S. consumer spending growth has slowed since 2024, with economic headwinds making these ultra-high annual fees too expensive for some would-be applicants. A $350 or $395 annual fee is less of a financial burden than $795 or $895, while still providing travelers with the benefits they want.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points LLC
Andrew Kunesh's image

About Andrew Kunesh

Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs but now lives in Queens, New York.

He’s a lifelong traveler and took his first solo trip to San Francisco at the age of 16. Fast forward a few years, and Andrew now travels just over 100,000 miles a year, with over 40 countries, 20 travel credit cards and 3 airline statuses under his belt. Andrew was formerly a Senior Editor at The Points Guy and CNN Underscored.

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Platinum Card® from American Express

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Platinum Card® from American Express

Welcome Offer: As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • 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.
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  • 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.

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