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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.
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7 ways you might be missing the value of your Amex Platinum Card
Augusta Stone is a credit cards writer for TPG. She joined the TPG team in 2023 and is excited to take points and miles beginners with her on a journey toward maximizing rewards.
August 4, 2026 • 9 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Quick summary
A premium travel rewards card offers significant value through a wide range of travel and lifestyle benefits, but requires active engagement to maximize its perks.
Key features include airport lounge access, hotel and car rental elite status, annual statement credits for lodging, airline fees, Clear+ membership and digital entertainment services.
Cardholders gain access to exclusive VIP experiences, ticket presales and targeted merchant offers, but many benefits require manual enrollment to activate.
The card is best suited for frequent travelers who can utilize its travel-centric perks and are diligent about enrolling in and tracking available credits.
What to consider
Many benefits, such as hotel and car rental elite status, Clear+ credits and digital entertainment credits, require enrollment before use.
Statement credits for lodging and other perks have specific eligibility criteria, such as minimum stay requirements or merchant restrictions.
Lounge access at certain airport clubs is subject to visit limits unless a high annual spend threshold is met.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed guide to maximizing each benefit, including enrollment steps and real-world examples of how to use statement credits and travel perks effectively.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
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.
The Amex Platinum isn't the kind of card you can let sit in your wallet without giving it a thought. With so many benefits, you have to put in work to get full value.
Here are some ways you may be missing value with your Amex Platinum.
Take advantage of the welcome offer
New Amex Platinum cardmembers can find out their offer and may be eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
TOM WERNER/GETTY IMAGES
According to TPG's August 2026 valuations, this bonus is worth up to $3,500. That's more than three times the Amex Platinum's $895 annual fee.
With that minimum spending requirement of $12,000 in six months, you'll want to be sure you shift your spending patterns to earn the bonus. Consider paying for everything — such as utilities, rent and groceries — with your new Amex Platinum card during that period.
I've used Membership Rewards points to transfer to Hilton Honors (at a 1:2 ratio). I once topped off my Hilton account with 20,000 Membership Rewards points (which converted to 40,000 Hilton points upon transfer) to book two nights at the Graduate by Hilton hotel in Chapel Hill for a UNC Tar Heels basketball weekend.
Once you've met the minimum spending requirement for the Amex Platinum's welcome offer, you'll want to start strategizing when to use it.
The Amex Platinum is one of the best cards for general travel expenses. However, it doesn't get you the best return on everyday purchases.
The card's earning rates are as follows:
5 points per dollar spent on airfare purchased directly with the airlines or through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)
5 points per dollar spent on prepaid lodging booked with Amex Travel
1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
This makes the Amex Platinum one of the best cards for booking flights or paying taxes and fees on award tickets. It's lackluster elsewhere, earning 1 point per dollar spent on most other purchases.
The Amex Platinum is a power card for frequent travelers.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Some of the benefits this card offers include:
Airport lounge access through the American Express Global Lounge Collection for eligible cardmembers
Car rental elite status with Hertz Gold+ Rewards President's Circle, Avis Preferred Plus and National Emerald Club Executive status (enrollment required)
Up to $300 in biannual lodging statement credits (up to $600 per calendar year) for bookings made through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection (a minimum two-night stay is required for The Hotel Collection; beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Fine Hotels + Resorts will require stays of two nights or more to be eligible for the lodging statement credit.)
Up to $200 in airline fee statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by one eligible airline you select (enrollment required)
Statement credit every four years of $120 for Global Entry or up to $85 for for a five-year TSA PreCheck membership
This card is an excellent travel companion and provides value on the road or in the skies. The key is to use all the included services.
I love having access to my local airport's Escape Lounge, the Centurion Lounge in Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Delta SkyClubs when I fly on a same-day Delta flight*.
I've also made good use of my two hotel statement credits this year. In January, I booked a one-night stay at The Ivey's Hotel in Charlotte and came out $1 ahead thanks to Fine Hotels + Resorts perks. For the second half of the year, I booked two nights at The Hiatus Clearwater Beach, Curio Collection by Hilton in Florida. The Hiatus is part of The Hotel Collection, and $300 off brought my two-night cost to $277.
*Eligible Platinum cardmembers will receive 10 visits per eligible Platinum Card, per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go locations when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight (excluding basic economy), unless they spend $75,000 or more on their card to unlock unlimited visits.
Access exclusive VIP experiences and ticket presales
Amex Platinum cardmembers receive access to VIP experiences and early access to ticket presales, as well as events with the Premium Events Collection. These can help you get into popular events that are likely to sell out.
The Premium Events Collection is an exclusive benefit for Platinum and The Centurion Card from American Express cardmembers that offers access to year-round, customized, once-in-a-lifetime events plus experiences for "dining, entertainment, fashion and sports," per the benefit's website.
The information for the Centurion card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The following services are covered with this perk:
Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ — or a Disney+ Bundle (which includes up to all three services)
Paramount+
Peacock (with the exception of bundled subscriptions, add-on subscriptions or subscriptions through a third party)
The New York Times
The Wall Street Journal
YouTube Premium
YouTube TV
I get $25 off my YouTube TV subscription every month thanks to this benefit, and my parents use this statement credit on their Disney+ Bundle.
It's likely you're already using at least one of the services, so if you're not enrolled and using your Amex Platinum here, you are definitely missing out.
The Amex Platinum provides cardmembers with targeted Amex Offers across multiple merchants, including travel companies, retailers, services and more.
To obtain the most value from the Amex Platinum, you must enroll in the offers you want.
This is a simple process: Log in to your Amex account, and pick your offers.
AMERICAN EXPRESS
These targeted offers can provide valuable rebates or bonuses on your purchases throughout the year, but you must add them to your card before making an eligible purchase.
This is key to maximizing your Amex Platinum. You can't assume all of your statement credits or benefits will automatically apply. For many of these benefits, you have to enroll through your account.
You have to manually enroll for elite status with car rental partners and hotel elite status programs, the annual Clear+ statement credit and the monthly digital entertainment statement credit, among others.
It's a huge mistake if you assume you're automatically enrolled for these benefits when you receive your card. Be sure to double-check before you make relevant purchases.
You need to use the benefits to justify the Amex Platinum card's hefty $895 annual fee. The best approach is to reach your spending requirement to earn the welcome offer, enroll in the programs that will enhance your travel experience and clearly understand the card's perks. While it may not be possible to use all of them, try to evaluate which you can use and whether they're enough to make the annual fee worth it.
Some of the Amex Platinum's benefits are obvious, like access to airport lounges. Others are more easily overlooked, and some benefits require enrollment before using them. If you understand what your card offers, you shouldn't miss value from the card going forward.
