Should you get your own Amex Platinum or be an authorized user on someone else’s account?
Editor's note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
One of the most popular premium cards is The Platinum Card® from American Express. While it has a high annual fee (see rates and fees), it can offer a ton of value for the right kind of traveler.
It costs $195 for each additional Platinum cardmember you add to your account (see rates and fees). Nevertheless, these additional cardmembers may be asking an important question: Should I stay as an authorized user or get a Platinum Card of my own?
Here's some guidance to help you make that decision.
Overview of Amex Platinum fees
The Amex Platinum has an annual fee of $895. If you have an authorized user, you'll pay an additional $195 in annual fees.
It is important to weigh the cost difference between holding your own Amex Platinum and being an authorized user on someone else's account. As a result, you may want to crunch the numbers to see which makes the most sense.
When you should get your own Amex Platinum
There are several arguments in favor of having your own Amex Platinum. Not surprisingly, they start with the welcome offer.
You won't earn your own welcome offer when you're added as an authorized user.
However, if you apply (and are approved) for the Platinum Card as the primary cardmember, you can earn a welcome bonus. Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $12,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. This bonus is worth up to $3,500 based on TPG's January 2025 valuations, thanks to the array of valuable ways to use Amex points.
The welcome offer is a one-time perk only for the first year. Beyond that, there are a few important benefits on the Amex Platinum that are granted once per account. If you can maximize any of the following, you could be a good candidate for getting your own Platinum Card:
- Monthly Uber Cash: Get up to $15 in monthly Uber Cash (plus a $20 bonus in December), when you add your Amex Platinum as a payment method to your Uber account. The credit can be used for Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. Even if you're an occasional Uber customer, this can result in up to $200 in total value each year. Once your Amex Platinum is added to your Uber account, you can redeem Uber Cash with any Amex card at payment.
- Uber One membership: Up to a $120 statement credit that fully covers an auto-renewing $96 annual or $9.99 monthly membership
- Digital entertainment credit: The Amex Platinum gives you up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use the card for subscriptions to select digital entertainment providers, including newcomers Paramount+, YouTube TV and YouTube Premium. If you max out these credits, you'll enjoy up to $300 in value per calendar year.
- Clear+ statement credit: Get up to $209 in annual statement credits when you charge the cost of a Clear+ membership to your Amex Platinum. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Hotel statement credit: As an Amex Platinum cardmember, you can access luxury hotel perks through Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection (the latter of which requires a two-night minimum stay). When you make a prepaid reservation with a participating property in either of these programs, you'll enjoy up to $600 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $300 semi-annually).
- Airline statement credit: The Amex Platinum also comes with up to $200 in annual statement credits for incidental fees charged to your card with an airline you designate per calendar year. This can cover baggage fees, seat assignments, or guest passes to visit an airline lounge.
Enrollment required for select benefits
While your spending as an authorized user can trigger these perks for the primary Platinum Card account, you don't get your own set as an additional Platinum cardmember. If you're regularly using these perks, it might be worth getting your own Platinum card.
Put a concrete dollar amount to these benefits based on your own usage over the next 12 months. If that number is greater than $700, you're a good candidate for getting your own Platinum Card.
Between the welcome offer and these statement credits — including some that allow you to double up in year one — now may be a great time to become a primary cardmember on the Amex Platinum.
Related: 10 things to do when you get the Amex Platinum
When you should be an authorized user
Being an authorized user can still make sense in some situations.
Most obviously, if you're under the age of 18, your only real option is to be an additional Platinum cardmember. And even when you turn 18, the Amex Platinum has some pretty strict requirements to get approved. Recent high school graduates with limited credit histories will likely need to be authorized users for several years (and build up their own credit score) before considering getting the Amex Platinum in their own right.
Beyond that, staying (or becoming) an authorized user likely makes the most sense for those who highly value the perks that extend to additional Platinum cardmembers — but don't care about the above benefits. After all, access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, the statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and complimentary Gold status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors all extend to authorized users. And for frequent lounge visitors or regular Marriott and Hilton guests, paying $195 a year can still be a bargain. Enrollment required; terms apply for select benefits.
If you're still on the fence, crunch the numbers by putting dollar amounts to these benefits. For example, how much would you pay to enter an Amex Centurion Lounge? Guests of the primary Platinum cardmember are $50 (unless they unlock guest privileges by spending $75,000 on the card in a calendar year), so if you agree with that value, you can more than cover the $195 authorized user annual fee with four (or more) visits.
Related: Is the Amex Platinum worth the annual fee?
When neither option makes sense
Of course, for some customers, neither one of these makes sense. Maybe you previously had the Amex Platinum and thus aren't eligible for a welcome offer. Perhaps you only access an airport lounge a few times a year or use the hotel elite status perks infrequently.
Again, crunch the numbers based on the real-world value you get from each year's included benefits. If the value is under $195, you're better off canceling your authorized user card.
Bottom line
The Platinum Card from American Express charges $195 for authorized users, and while some may consider removing additional Platinum cards from their accounts, others may want to consider when it makes sense to become a primary cardmember.
Start by looking at the welcome offer, especially if you're targeted for an elevated offer. Then, identify the value of those additional perks you'd unlock with your own Amex Platinum Card — keeping in mind that some are based on a calendar year. No matter what you choose, make sure you're getting enough value to justify the cost.
To learn more about the card, read our full review of the Amex Platinum.
Apply here: Amex Platinum
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 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.