Priority Pass Select Now an American Express Platinum Card Benefit
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
As I wrote about a couple weeks ago, American Express has added Priority Pass Select as a Platinum cardholder benefit (Registration link - enrollment required). So what does this mean? Cardholders can access Priority Pass select lounges for free and pay $27 per guest. This benefit also applies to additional cardholders, which is an amazing value when you think about it- for $450+$175 for additional for 3 extra card members- 4 people can have Delta, US Airways, American and Priority Pass access every year. Thats not even taking into account the numerous other benefits like free Global Entry, $200 a year in rebates and free Starwood Gold status. Click here for the full list of lounges, but note that after Sept 30, Continental/United lounge access will not be a benefit of Priority Pass Select.
Update: Beginning March 22, 2014, American Express Card Members will no longer have access to American Airlines Admiral Club and US Airways Club airport lounges through Airport Club Access / Airport Lounge Program. This means that Card Members will no longer be able to gain complimentary access to the American Airlines airport lounges (known as Admirals Club lounges) or the US Airways Club airport lounges as a benefit of their Platinum Card Membership. Cardmembers will continue to receive access to participating Delta Sky Club lounges, Priority Pass Select (enrollment is required), and Airspace lounges in JFK, CLE and BWI airports.
Overall, this is a great enhancement because this benefit is in addition to the current Platinum Lounge Access program which includes Delta, American, US Airways and Continental/United until September 30, 2011. I think this is a very generous benefit, because it costs $399 to buy Priority Pass Prestige, which gives similar access, though with a little more flexibility with guests and it will continue to have Continental/United after September 30. The Amex Platinum and Priority Pass Select lounge access programs complement each other nicely because Priority Pass' main gaps (Delta and American) are filled by the Amex Platinum lounge benefits. The big hole will be United lounges, but you can use your $200 yearly fee rebate Platinum benefit on United/Continental and use that towards paying for a Red Carpet Club or President's Club membership.
If you currently pay $400+ for lounge access on just American, Delta or US Airways, you may want to consider just getting an Amex Platinum card so you have a much wider network of lounges to choose from. The annual fee is $450, but in addition to lounge access, you also get:
- 25,000 Membership Rewards points for signing up through this link if you are first time Amex Platinum card holder. If you have another Amex card, you need to log out of your Amex account/clear cookies and apply for the Platinum card as a new application (otherwise you will get an error saying the offer is no longer available). As long as you use a new browser or clear cookies, the application page will load. (Disclosure: I get a commission on applications, but this is the best offer out there for the card and I can vouch it's still active). Those 50,000 Amex points can be transferred to a number of airlines like Delta (at a 50% bonus until May 30, 2011), Continental (Until Sept 30, 2011), British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Airtran, Frontier, JetBlue, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian, Singapore, El Al and ANA.
- No foreign transaction fees (savings of up to 3% of total spend when you travel abroad vs. cards that have these fees)
- $200 in fee rebates on an airline of your choice. You automatically get a rebate for all luggage, lounge membership, on-board food and beverage and other fees coded by the airline. Some people have even gotten award fees and change fees rebated, but technically this benefit isn't for airfare or ticketing fees.
- 25% redemption bonus when redeeming points for "Anytime" airfare. Instead of 1 point = 1 cent, Amex Platinum members get 1.25 cents. So a flight that costs $250, which would normally cost 25,000 points, only costs Platinum members 20,000 points. You earn miles and elite miles on these types of tickets, so sometimes these redemptions make the most sense when award availibility isn't there and you don't want to shell out cash for a flight.
- Complimentary Starwood Gold status. 50% bonus on points, late checkout, room upgrades and overall better customer service.
- 4 hour grace period on Hertz rentals. A 28 hour rental costs the same as a 24 hour- a nice benefit.
- Fine Hotels and Resorts program membership. When you book hotels with your Amex Platinum you get extra benefits, like free meals, upgrades and resort credit.
- And a bunch of other smaller benefits, like targeted promotions and year-end gifts.
Overall, its a solid card made for frequent travelers, but note that it is a charge card, so you have to pay the balance off each month, or else you get hit with some high charges and fees that will probably negate the value of any benefits you receive. As I recommend with all credit cards- only apply if you think it makes sense for you.
TPG featured card
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees