Best luxury travel rewards card
The Amex Platinum card is not just a symbol of luxury; this card comes with several travel, entertainment, wellness and retail benefits, making it a versatile card option that boasts more than $1,500 in potential value. (Partner offer)
At a glance
- 5X 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.
- 5X Earn 5X Membership Rewards? Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
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Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards? Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
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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.
At a glance
- 5X 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.
- 5X Earn 5X Membership Rewards? Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
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Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards? Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
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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.
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$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.
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$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.
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The American Express Global Lounge Collection? can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
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$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card? to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
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$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?.
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$200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card? Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card? to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
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$199 CLEAR? Plus Credit: CLEAR? Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
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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.
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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.
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Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card? to your Resy profile.
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$695 annual fee.¤
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Terms Apply.
Why We Chose It
TPG Editor's Rating
Overview
For some, making an investment in a premium travel card is a great way to reap some lucrative benefits. Though you’ll pay a high annual fee as an Amex Platinum cardholder, you’ll unlock access to the American Express Membership Rewards program, which lets you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with lots of lifestyle and travel credits. With a generous welcome offer and travel bonus categories, this card is incredibly rewarding in helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points to book your next award redemption.
Pros
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The current welcome offer on this card is lucrative
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Travel benefits include access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary Gold elite status with Hilton and Marriott and up to $199 in statement credits to cover your Clear Plus annual membership (Enrollment is required for select benefits)
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The Amex Platinum has access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan your next getaway
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Additional valuable card statement credits add up to save you hundreds of dollars every year
Cons
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If you don’t take advantage of the card’s statement credits and lucrative benefits, it may not be worth the high annual fee
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The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to use compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards
Who is this card good for?
If you dedicate a large chunk of your budget to travel and want to take advantage of a generous welcome offer, this is the right card for you. With several airline and hotel transfer partners, the opportunity to enjoy access to thousands of airport lounges with the American Express Global Lounge Collection, an application reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, access to the Platinum Travel Service for trip planning assistance, complimentary Gold status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors and so much more, this premium card is an excellent choice for any travel enthusiast. Plus, once you add up all the perks of the card, you’ll find that these benefits help offset the annual fee.
Enrollment required for select benefits.
Earning Rewards
Earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel.
