Expanded: Amex offering $200 travel credit to Platinum cardholders
Editor's Note
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Editor's note: This post has been updated to reflect the expansion of this offer.
Most major card issuers have announced new benefits to help customers find value in their travel cards amid the coronavirus pandemic. For American Express, that meant adding wireless and streaming benefits to some cards, offering elevated earning rates, giving more time for welcome offer spending and more. But it's not done yet.
In May, we reported that American Express would be offering select cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express up to $200 in statement credits toward Amex Travel purchases. Doctor of Credit writes that this offer has now been expanded.
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Benefit overview
The up to $200 Amex Travel credit is available to personal cardholders who renew their card between April 2020 and March 2021. Originally, this was only available for renewals through December.
The credit is valid between August 2020 and December 2021 and can be used for eligible travel purchases through the American Express Travel Portal. Best of all, this credit is in addition to the card's up to $200 annual airline fee credit. The card comes with a $550 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Amex Travel doesn't always offer the lowest price, but it does provide flexibility in how you can use your credit. You can use the portal to book flights, hotels, car rentals and cruises.
Both prepaid and postpaid bookings will trigger the credit. Additionally, an Amex spokesperson has confirmed to TPG that both Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts and International Airline Program bookings are eligible. You can find a bar that shows your progress toward using the credit on the main page of your online account.
Related reading: 6 Amex Platinum benefits you can use from home
Bottom line
Between the already-existing perks that can be used from home, such as the Uber and Saks credits and Amex’s recent coronavirus-related additions, there's already plenty of reason to hold on to the Amex Platinum for at least another year — the travel credit is just the cherry on top. Hopefully, the travel credit will be added as a permanent feature in the future, similar to the Chase Sapphire Reserve and its $300 annual travel credit.
Related reading: Why I’m keeping my Amex Platinum even though I’m not traveling
Although the credit will only be offered to personal cardholders, Amex has previously announced several other limited-time credits exclusively for cardholders of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. These include an additional up to $200 in Dell credits for U.S. purchases and up to $320 in shipping and wireless credits from U.S. service providers, as well as an up to $200 "appreciation credit" for select cardholders.
Related reading: Amex Platinum 100k, American Express® Gold Card 60k & 75k offers available via CardMatch (offers subject to change at anytime)
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 3X | Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets |
| 3X | Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels |
| 1X | Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The Citi Premier’s 3 points per dollar spent across a wide range of popular categories is one of the more lucrative offerings in the world of points and miles. The Citi Premier comes with a $95 annual fee and is currently offering a solid sign up bonus of 80,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months. It also has some valuable transfer partners to make the most of your rewards. Add in access to Citi Entertainment plus a $100 hotel credit for any single-stay hotel booking that exceeds $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through the Citi travel website, there are few reasons why the Citi Premier should not be in every traveler’s wallet.Pros
- Earns 3x points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels.
- $100 annual hotel savings benefit (on single hotel stay bookings of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through thankyou.com)
- Points transfer to 16 airline programs, from JetBlue to Virgin Atlantic.
- World Elite Mastercard benefits, extended warranty, damage and theft protection.
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Lacks travel protections that other travel rewards cards come with
- For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
- 80,000 Points are redeemable for $800 in gift cards when redeemed at thankyou.com
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets |
| 3X | Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels |
| 1X | Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
Intro Offer
For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account openingEarn 80,000 ThankYou® points60,000 pointsAnnual Fee
$95Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent, Good
Why We Chose It
The Citi Premier’s 3 points per dollar spent across a wide range of popular categories is one of the more lucrative offerings in the world of points and miles. The Citi Premier comes with a $95 annual fee and is currently offering a solid sign up bonus of 80,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months. It also has some valuable transfer partners to make the most of your rewards. Add in access to Citi Entertainment plus a $100 hotel credit for any single-stay hotel booking that exceeds $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through the Citi travel website, there are few reasons why the Citi Premier should not be in every traveler’s wallet.Pros
- Earns 3x points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels.
- $100 annual hotel savings benefit (on single hotel stay bookings of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through thankyou.com)
- Points transfer to 16 airline programs, from JetBlue to Virgin Atlantic.
- World Elite Mastercard benefits, extended warranty, damage and theft protection.
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Lacks travel protections that other travel rewards cards come with
- For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
- 80,000 Points are redeemable for $800 in gift cards when redeemed at thankyou.com
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases