From Application to First Class: How To Fly to Japan With Amex Platinum in 90 Days

The Platinum Card^® from American Express has long been considered the premier travel rewards card. It comes with a laundry list of benefits and credits that, when enrolled in and utilized effectively, can make the card a no-brainer to carry.

This card also comes with a highly valuable welcome bonus offer that, when redeemed strategically, could be worth thousands of dollars. It’s much easier to do so than most people think.

Here’s an in-depth look at the Amex Platinum card and how I used its massive welcome bonus offer to fly to Japan in first class on one of the best airlines in the world.

Amex Platinum Card Overview

The Amex Platinum card is unrivaled in travel benefits and routinely makes our list of the best travel cards available.

It provides cardholders the most comprehensive airport lounge access (of any card), elite status with major hotel chains, including the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty programs, rental car elite status, and top-notch travel and purchase protections (enrollment is required in some benefits).

The Amex Platinum card also earns highly valuable Amex Membership Rewards points. It earns a whopping 5x points for flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1x) and 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com.

As you’d expect of a premium travel rewards card, the Amex Platinum card has a substantial $895 annual fee (rates & fees) to provide all this value.

However, it also provides numerous annual statement credits (enrollment required) to help offset the annual fee. This includes up to $300 digital entertainment credit, up to $200 Uber Cash credit, and up to $600 prepaid hotel credit (up to $300 semi-annually).

Earning the Amex Platinum Card Welcome Bonus Offer

While the Amex Platinum card offers numerous benefits, its defining factor is its welcome bonus offer: 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.

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

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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 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 card application.

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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American Express Membership Rewards

However, earning a higher Amex Platinum card welcome bonus offer is possible. For example, you can find a targeted welcome offer of 125k or 150k bonus points, all with the same minimum spending requirements.

Please note that these offers are not available to all applicants. Any information related to targeted offers has been collected independently and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

What Are Amex Membership Rewards Points Worth?

We value Amex Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents apiece, the highest value of any rewards currency, making finding elevated welcome bonus offers even more important. Of course, depending on how you redeem these points, you can get much more (or much less) value from them.

Generally speaking, the best way to redeem Amex Membership Rewards points is by transferring them to travel partners. Fortunately, Amex has a long list of hotel and airline partners.

Amex Platinum Card: Application to First Class in 90 Days

Here’s a practical timeline for applying for the Amex Platinum card and having your points ready for an amazing redemption to Japan.

Days 1 to 3: Card Approval and Initial Use

Credit card issuers typically start welcome bonus offer periods from “account opening,” the day your account is approved. Once your account is approved, you can begin spending to meet the minimum spending requirement to get your welcome bonus offer points.

Generally speaking, credit card issuers send out new cards in the mail quickly. Typically, you can expect to have your card in the mail within 3 to 5 business days.

However, many credit card issuers provide priority shipping when requested (sometimes for a fee). For example, you can request priority overnight delivery for more premium cards like the Amex Platinum card.

Days 4 to 10: Card Arrival and Strategic Spending

You can expect to have your card within a few days of approval. Once you have your physical card, you can begin spending on your new Amex Platinum card to attain the welcome bonus offer.

This is generally the best time to charge large purchases to your card, as the initial larger spending tends to make meeting the spending requirements much easier and faster.

One recommendation we have is to prepay bills that accept credit cards. This includes your cell phone, cable, utilities, or internet. By prepaying bills, you can get ahead on meeting the spending requirement for routine expenses.

Some charges, such as balance transfers, cash equivalent transactions (like cash advances), and interest fees, do not count towards the minimum spending requirement total.

Days 11 to 60: Progress Tracking and Ramping Up Spend

The next period is incredibly important as it encompasses most of the time you have to meet the minimum spending requirement. This is where cardholders generally spend the bulk of money to reach the thresholds. Tracking your spending progress is equally as important as it will determine how much you have left to spend.

A smart strategy for meeting spending requirements is to use bill payment services to cover expenses — like rent — even if they charge an additional fee. In most cases, the rewards you earn can make the cost worthwhile and help you hit your spending goal more easily.

Days 61 to 90: Making Final Purchases and Bonus Confirmation

Once you have met the minimum spending requirements, you can pay off your balance and wait for your bonus points to arrive!

While the timeline varies across different banks, in most cases, the bonus points should be in your account about 8 to 12 weeks after you meet the minimum spending requirement. However, it’s often much quicker than this — sometimes immediately after making a minimum payment.

Day 90+: Redeem Your Points

Once your bonus points are posted to your account, you can redeem them for travel. American Express Membership Rewards points for first-class flights to Japan are an excellent way to do so, as illustrated below.

How To Fly to Japan in First Class With Amex Points

There are numerous ways to fly to Japan using points and miles. Some of the best methods involve using Membership Rewards points, and one of the best Amex transfer partners is Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Virgin Atlantic’s loyalty program, Flying Club, provides excellent value, particularly for award redemptions between the U.S. and Japan. Although Virgin Atlantic itself does not offer these flights, it has a non-alliance partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA), one of Japan’s biggest carriers. Thanks to the partnership, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points can be redeemed for travel on ANA.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has a zone-based award chart for flights on ANA. Here is the one-way award pricing for flights between the U.S. and Japan on ANA:

In other words, You can book a round-trip first class flight between the U.S. and Japan using just one welcome offer — starting at 145,000 points from the West Coast. If you’re flying from the Midwest or East Coast, the rate is slightly higher at 170,000 points, though business class tickets are also an option for even fewer points altogether.

In fact, I recently flew ANA First Class from Chicago (ORD) to Tokyo (HND) using this exact redemption strategy. (However, I made the deal even better by taking advantage of a limited-time transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic—an extra boost when moving over your Amex points!).

Unfortunately, you cannot search for Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points redemptions for ANA award flights on Virgin Atlantic’s website. Instead, you must look for award space on ANA’s Star Alliance partners like United Airlines and Air Canada. After finding award space, you can contact Virgin Atlantic over the phone to complete the booking.

Final Thoughts

With a targeted welcome bonus offer on the Amex Platinum card, you can fly round-trip between the U.S. and Japan in first class on one of the best airlines in the world. This is a fantastic redemption as round-trip cash prices routinely exceed $15,000!