My Amex Platinum US Open Experience
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
I love watching tennis, especially the US Open in New York every summer, and this year I was able to go several times thanks to Starwood and The Platinum Card from American Express.
First, I redeemed 50,000 Starwood points to book the Starwood Suite, which is Suite 110, located at center court in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Another time, I used my Amex Platinum to purchase By Invitation Only tickets.
By Invitation Only (BIO) events are exclusive to Platinum and Centurion cardholders. To find them, log in to your Amex account and search for By Invitation Only or call 1-800-321-RSVP (7787). By Invitation Only can also get you into sold-out events at cheaper prices than what many ticket brokers charge. American Express generally has staff onsite at many events so you're taken care of and don't have to worry about buying scalped tickets that could potentially be fake.
The last time I used this was for the Kentucky Derby in May, and the access I had was incredible. For the US Open this year, Amex pulled out all the stops. My tickets were originally for September 10, but because of rain we went on September 11 instead. We saw Serena Williams' stunning upset to Roberta Vinci, her first US Open loss since 2011.
The Member Suite is open for Amex Platinum and Centurion card holders; however, at $2,625 each with a minimum of two per purchase, the tickets aren't cheap. But you're basically buying a share of a private suite that normally goes for $25,000+.
Amex's Suite 105 is twice as big as Starwood's Suite 110, and its corner location gave us an interesting vantage point. The indoor part of the suite is blessedly air-conditioned and full of amenities, including several televisions showing the match. Outside, there's assigned seating on tall chairs.
The experience was amazing right from the beginning, when I walked into the suite to find Monica Seles and Rennae Stubbs having informal conversations with attendees. They were so lovely and approachable, and happy to sign tennis balls for everyone.
The next cool surprise was the swag bag, which included a backpack and a Wilson tennis racket. The food was gorgeous and plentiful, with lobster rolls, grilled skewers, fried chicken and biscuits and more – including an open bar.
There were several Amex staff members in the suite the entire time to make sure everything was perfect. Big props to Amex Platinum — you've made me a By Invitation Only fan for life! If you've got money to spend and want exclusive access, By Invitation Only can get you into sold-out events, so take a look and see what events are coming up here or call 1-800-321-RSVP (7787).
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 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 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- 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.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.