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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Reviews
Is the Amex Platinum worth it for a points and miles newbie? I booked a trip to find out
As a senior writer for TPG, Tarah Chieffi helps readers travel better, more often and within their budget.
February 17, 2025 • 10 min read
TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
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Quick summary
A first-time premium rewards cardholder details using travel benefits and credits for a New Orleans trip.
Booking through the card's travel portal unlocked perks like a hotel credit, room upgrade and complimentary breakfast.
Hotel bookings via select programs also qualified for hotel loyalty points and elite status credit.
Additional benefits included expedited airport security and credits for on-site hotel purchases.
What to consider
Some hotel perks require booking a minimum two-night stay through the card's travel portal.
Certain benefits, such as hotel credits and expedited security, require enrollment and may be subject to renewal terms.
Not all perks are available at every property or airport; check eligibility and availability before booking.
What you'll miss from the article
A step-by-step account of maximizing premium card travel benefits, including how to combine hotel, dining and security perks for a more valuable trip.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Welcome to the first installment of a series where Tarah Chieffi, TPG’s family travel reporter, shares her experience using various points, benefits, credits and access from her first-ever premium rewards card, The Platinum Card® from American Express.
A few years ago, when my husband suggested we apply for a premium travel rewards card like or the (see rates and fees), I immediately scoffed at the idea.
Why in the world would we need a card with an annual fee of nearly $700?
After digging deeper into the world of points and miles (a common side effect of writing for TPG) and reading about the room upgrades, airport lounge access and free breakfasts that I could enjoy with a premium travel card, I decided to swallow my pride and tell my husband he was right. We should try out a premium rewards card after all.
I didn’t take the decision to apply for a premium card lightly. I researched each card and its benefits to ensure I would get back at least the full amount of the card’s annual fee using the various perks (travel and otherwise) that came along with the card itself.
After hours of reading TPG articles on the subject, we decided to go with the Amex Platinum with its hefty annual fee of $895 (see rates and fees).
My husband and I had been planning a visit to New Orleans, and with my shiny new card in hand, it was time to test its capabilities by finally booking that trip.
I started by searching all New Orleans hotels in the American Express Travel® portal that were available on the dates we planned to visit. We did need to pay in advance via the Amex Travel portal, but we earned 5 points per dollar spent in the process.
During my search, I noticed that certain properties were flagged as part of the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts collection or The Hotel Collection, both of which come with additional perks when you book through Amex Travel. (Keep in mind that The Hotel Collection benefits are only available when you book a stay lasting two or more nights.)
With only two days to explore the city, we wouldn’t spend enough time at the hotel to justify the higher-priced hotels in the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts collection, which helped me narrow my search.
After analyzing potential properties, I chose The Eliza Jane, part of Hyatt's Unbound Collection.
The location was walkable to the French Quarter yet far enough away to quiet the raucous noise of Bourbon Street. The historical building’s industrial-chic style won me over at first glance.
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I knew I’d receive a $100 credit to spend on qualifying on-site expenses like drinks and dining and a room upgrade at check-in (if available), but I was surprised to receive an email from Amex Travel almost immediately after booking with a discount code for various local tours and experiences.
I didn’t have time to use any on this trip, but the discount code in the email can be used anytime before the end of the year.
One of the perks of the is an up to $600 annual hotel statement credit (distributed as up to $300 biannually) on select prepaid bookings booked through Amex Travel using the card (minimum two-night stay required for The Hotel Collection).
At the time, by booking my reservation at The Eliza Jane through the Amex Travel portal, I was eligible to receive this as an up to $200 statement credit (it would now qualify for an up to $300 biannual statement credit).
For a two-night trip, this essentially lowered the rate by $100 per night — not too shabby when you take into account the other perks I was hoping to enjoy upon arrival.
Normally, when booking through third parties, you don’t earn hotel points or elite qualifying nights. However, Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection reservations usually do qualify. And sure enough, my stay did.
That’s a huge bonus for those who are chasing elite status. I earned 4,423 World of Hyatt points (2,401 base points plus 2,022 through the Bonus Journeys promotion, which is no longer available).
I’ll admit, I am pretty shy about asking for upgrades or freebies, so I was relieved to be greeted as an cardmember at check-in and told that I had received a complimentary upgrade to a one-bedroom suite.
That upgrade gave us about 150 additional square feet, which included a separate living area and a much better view than the standard room I had booked.
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The friendly front desk agent handed me a letter that detailed the perks available to us. I was prepared for the $100 amenity credit and a room upgrade, but I was surprised to find out that breakfast for the two of us would be included as well.
When I asked how I could use the amenity credit, the agent told me that I could apply it toward purchases at the lobby bar or in the hotel gift shop. My husband and I love a good IPA, but I had my doubts we’d work our way through a $100 bar tab over the course of 48 hours, so the gift shop was a nice backup plan.
We headed straight upstairs to see our suite. It was spacious and retained so much of the building’s original charm, as The Eliza Jane has served as a warehouse for distributing liquor, gunpowder and a local daily newspaper over the years. It leans into soft colors, rich fabrics and fluffy pillows to offset the harshness of the exposed brick walls and ceiling beams.
My husband joked that I was the only person in New Orleans who’d rather stay in than go out, but I was never disappointed when it was time to head back to the room and snuggle into my cozy bed at the end of the night.
When we got up each morning, we enjoyed an impressive complimentary breakfast served buffet-style in the hotel’s restaurant. There were classic breakfast buffet items like eggs, bacon, sausage and pastries, plus Southern staples like grits and an assortment of hot sauces available for seasoning.
We had been scouting New Orleans breakfast spots prior to our trip, but it was nice to save that money and spend it elsewhere.
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Thanks to New Orleans’ convenient lack of an open container law, we were able to stop by the lobby bar a few times for to-go beers to be consumed on our walk to the French Quarter. As expected, we were left with an on-site credit surplus, which we took care of prior to checking out by purchasing a T-shirt from the gift shop.
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We visited hot spots like Cochon, Cafe du Monde and Pat O’Brien’s, as well as local favorites like the Napoleon House and Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar.
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We used our cards (I added my husband as an additional cardmember; see rates and fees; during the enrollment process, as certain perks extend to other authorized users) all over New Orleans in an attempt to work toward meeting the minimum spending threshold I needed to reach in the first six months of card membership to earn the welcome offer American Express Membership Rewards points.
Taking advantage of one last Amex Platinum perk for the trip home: Clear+ membership
I’ve had TSA PreCheck for a couple of years and will never go back to my days of standing in the regular TSA line. That’s especially true now that I can receive a statement credit when it’s time to renew that membership with my Amex Platinum Card (up to $85 every 4½ years).
I’ve been a bit more hesitant to pony up the additional $219 annual fee for Clear+ expedited security clearance, but as luck would have it, my new card covers that, too. I can receive up to $219 each calendar year for a Clear+ membership (subject to auto-renewal). Enrollment is required for select benefits.
CAROLINE TANNER/THE POINTS GUY
Clear+ isn’t available at my home airport, but I had access to it at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). We stopped at a Clear+ agent before heading to security. She walked us through the initial sign-up process, showed us how to use the biometrics kiosks and escorted us to the baggage screening area.
The entire process took less than 10 minutes, and on subsequent trips using TSA PreCheck and Clear+, I’ve gotten through security screening shockingly fast.
It’s safe to say that after one trip, I’m a premium travel rewards card convert.
On this trip alone, I saved $200 on my hotel room, got upgraded to a suite, received complimentary breakfast and drinks and breezed through airport security with my new Clear+ membership. With all that and a free T-shirt from the hotel gift shop to commemorate my first trip as an Amex Platinum Card member, what more could I ask for?
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
