How Amex Points Can Make a Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Trip to Paris Possible

If you’re sitting on a large stash of Membership Rewards points, a short-notice Valentine’s Day trip to Paris may be closer in reach than you think.

The City of Light is known as one of the most romantic destinations in the world, with its picturesque streets, intimate cafes, and charming buildings. And since February is in Paris’ off-season, it’s easy to find a good deal on a close-in booking for a couple’s trip.

Today, we’ll be focusing on the Platinum Card^® from American Express, which earns Membership Rewards points and offers a bevy of travel credits (some require enrollment). Here, we’ll demonstrate how to book a Valentine’s Day trip to Paris with the Amex Platinum card’s welcome offer and included benefits.

Amex Platinum Card Overview

The Amex Platinum card is packed with benefits for frequent travelers, like extensive airport lounge access, access to preferred hotel booking programs, and lucrative travel- and lifestyle-focused statement credits (some require prior enrollment) that can balance the card’s hefty $895 annual fee (rates & fees).

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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 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

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

The card also earns Membership Rewards points on every purchase, and new cardmembers are eligible for a welcome bonus offer worth up to up to $3,850, depending on your targeted offer. This welcome offer alone could cover the cost of round-trip flights from the U.S. to Paris when you leverage Amex transfer partners.

Booking Flights to Paris with Membership Rewards

While you can redeem Membership Rewards points for flights through AmexTravel.com (the card’s included travel booking portal), you’ll only get a fixed rate of 0.7 cents per point towards most bookings.

Instead, your best bet is to leverage the 17 airline transfer partners, most of which transfer at a 1:1 transfer ratio. Here are some of the best ways to book flights to Paris for much less.

Book Economy Flights on Air France with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

One of the best ways to book flights to Paris is by transferring points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and booking flights operated by Air France. You can book Air France with Virgin Atlantic miles because both airlines are members of the SkyTeam alliance.

If you’re coming from New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), or other East Coast hubs, you can book one-way tickets to Paris (CDG) for just 12,000 Virgin Atlantic points plus roughly $165.50 in taxes and fees per person.

As of the time of writing, there are still plenty of award seats available for 2+ passengers the week before Valentine’s Day, departing from major U.S. cities such as Boston (BOS), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), and New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG). Using an award search tool like Seats.aero can help you find flights that work for you.

That said, it’s worth comparing the cost of economy award tickets with a cash ticket before you book, especially if you don’t mind flying a budget airline. If flights are cheap enough, you might consider saving your Membership Rewards points for a future trip and paying cash for your flights to Paris.

Book Premium Economy Tickets with Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Air France’s own loyalty program (Flying Blue) is an excellent choice for booking premium economy tickets to Paris.

At the time of writing, you can book one-way premium economy flights from the U.S. to Paris for 40,000 points per person plus roughly $170 per person in taxes and fees. Awards are available from cities like Miami (MIA) and Washington, D.C. (IAD), among others.

This requires more points than a standard economy booking but offers a considerably more comfortable experience in the air. In Air France premium economy, expect a domestic first-class style seat with upgraded dining and amenities, all while spending less than a business-class ticket during Valentine’s Day week.

Booking Hotels in Paris Through AmexTravel.com

The Amex Platinum card includes access to American Express’s Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) and The Hotel Collection preferred booking programs.

When you book an FHR or The Hotel Collection stay through Amex Travel, you’ll enjoy exclusive benefits like property credits and room upgrades upon availability. Plus, you’ll earn 5 points per $1 spent on your prepaid stays through AmexTravel.com.

Even better, the Amex Platinum card includes up to $600 per year in prepaid hotel credits. These are split into 2, up to $300 credits: 1 is valid from January through June, and the other from July through December.

The credit is valid on any FHR stay (no minimum) or any Hotel Collection stay of 2 or more nights. A Valentine’s Day trip to Paris could be a great way to use your first credit and secure a discount on your stay.

For example, you can book a 3-night long weekend at the Hilton Paris Opera for $1,174.85 after taxes and fees. Subtracting $300 in prepaid hotel credits, you’d pay just $874.85 for your stay.

This historic hotel, originally the Grand Hôtel Terminus, opened in 1889 and underwent significant renovations in 2015. Rooms are well-appointed, albeit relatively small, and much of the lobby retains its historic charm.

The hotel is located in the heart of Paris’ posh Opéra & Haussmann district, known for its luxury boutiques and cafés like the historic Café de la Paix. Plus, it is within walking distance of the iconic Place de la Concorde and just a quick metro ride away from the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and the Champs-Élysées.

The Hilton Paris Opera is part of The Hotel Collection, making you and yours eligible for a space-available room upgrade, early check-in, late checkout, and a $100 credit for food, drink, spa treatments, or other on-property purchases.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Platinum card can make booking a last-minute Valentine’s Day trip to Paris significantly more affordable. From using Membership Rewards points for flights to the City of Light to leveraging your prepaid hotel credit for a discounted stay, you can book a couple’s trip for less than $1,500.