The Amex Platinum [Best Card for Lounge Access]

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

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 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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The 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

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

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 1,400 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

• $695 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.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel^® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel^®.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club^® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
• A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your 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.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• $199 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. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card^®.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Our Verdict

The Platinum Card^® from American Express is likely top of mind when you think of a premium credit card.

The Amex Platinum card combines elite travel and lifestyle benefits like access to 6 airport lounge networks (that’s 1,400+ airport lounges worldwide), elite status with 2 hotel chains, plus yearly credits with Uber, Saks Fifth Avenue and many more, making it a perfect option for anyone who wants an elevated credit card experience.

Plus, unlike typical credit cards that have a credit limit, the Amex Platinum card has no preset spending limit — the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.

Where We Find Value

Below, you’ll find our estimated valuation for this card and its benefits. These proprietary valuations consider the benefit usage of an average cardmember with moderate travel, along with our valuation of 2.2 cents per Amex Membership Rewards point. We’ve provided more details on our valuations and benefits below the table.

*The bonus value of the welcome offer as well as the value of benefits are an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
**Some benefits require enrollment through your American Express account.
*** Our valuations are determined by our writers’ analyses for trips they’ve booked, any benefit received, and what a reasonable cash equivalent would be for the benefit received. Note that enrollment is required as well for these benefits.
**** With more than 1,400 airport lounges across, enjoy the benefits when you enroll into Priority Pass Select and visit select lounges: Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges, and Escape Lounges. The Global Lounge Collection also includes access to the Centurion Network and Delta Sky Club, subject to visit limitations.

Benefits Compared to Annual Fee

Don’t Get If

• You don’t travel much or don’t value the card’s benefits

Great Card If

• You travel often enough to take advantage of the cards travel perks
• Worldwide airport lounge access is important to you (this is the best lounge access card)
• You’re able to use a large number of the annual statement credits
• You want expedited hotel elite status at Marriott or Hilton hotels

• Airline Incidental Fee Credit: Up to $200
  • Receive up to $200 in statement credits per year when incidental fees are charged to your card from your selected qualifying airline.
• Prepaid Hotel Credit: Up to $200
  • Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel. Note the Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• Saks Fifth Avenue Credit: Up to $100
  • Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com dispersed as $50 semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Uber Cash Credit: Up to $200
  • Receive $15 in Uber Cash for U.S. rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December; that adds up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Just make sure your card is selected as your payment method on the app, and redeem your Uber Cash.
• Digital Entertainment Credits: Up to $240
  • Get up to $20 back in monthly statement credits on eligible purchases from select providers. Enrollment required.
• CLEAR Plus^® Membership Credit: Up to $199
  • Get up to $199 back per year when you pay for your membership with your card.
• Walmart+ Monthly Membership Credit: Up to $155
  • Use your card to pay for one monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back.
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Fee Credit: Up to $120
  • Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck^® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) when you pay with your card.

Elite Status Details (Up to $400+ in Value)

• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
  • Upon enrollment, receive upgrades at select Marriott properties to enhanced rooms upon check-in when available.
  • Given the benefits of 25% points bonus, a welcome gift at check-in, room upgrades when available, complimentary in-room internet, and priority 2 p.m. late checkout, we believe the average traveler will get $100 value in return per year.
• Hilton Honors Gold Status
  • Upon enrollment, receive complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status
  • For Hilton Gold elite members, they receive 80% points bonus, room upgrades when available, and continental breakfast at most full-service properties. For an average traveler, we value these benefits at $100.
• Car Rental Privileges Upon Enrollment
  • Enjoy complimentary premium status for a number of car rental programs as well as additional benefits and discounts. You have the choice to enroll in Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, and/or National Car Rental Emerald Club.
  • Since benefits vary by car rental provider, the exact value return is hard to say. However, with benefits like special perks, discounted pricing, fee waivers, and upgrades, we safely assume the average traveler would see around $200 in value.

For the extended warranty benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the return protection benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the purchase protection benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the cell phone protection benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.