My Father's Day Present: An Additional Amex Platinum Card For Dad
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
It seems like it was just Mother's Day, but Father's Day is just a couple of weeks away, and while I can't take my dad on a trip right now like I took my mom to Chile, I did want to get him something special that he'd appreciate for Father's Day.
In my last round of credit card applications, I decided replace my American Express Platinum card with the Mercedes-Benz version of it since the card currently comes with a 50,000-point sign-up bonus (when you spend $3,000 in 3 months) and all the same great benefits of the regular Platinum card, including airline and Priority Pass lounge access and a refund of the $100 Global Entry Fee.
While my Mercedes-Benz Platinum card comes with a hefty $475 annual fee, I can actually get up to three additional cards for $175 total, and each of those cards entitles the cardholder to many of the same benefits including the airport lounge access and the Global Entry fee refund (though not the $200 airline fee rebate- primary and additional cardholders share the same $200 in rebates).
So I figured that instead of a traditional Father's Day gift like a necktie or some cologne, I'd get my dad an additional Mercedes-Benz Platinum card so he could enjoy lounge access on his travels and get Global Entry for free. Since hopefully both he and my mom will be traveling internationally with me more and more, he can get Global Entry for free so we can both zip through TSA PreCheck and customs and immigration without it becoming an awkward airport etiquette question. Though $175 might seem like a lot it's a mere fraction of the value of what I'll be giving my dad and with the two extra additional cardholders, I was able to get my two employees extra cards as well so they can have lounge access when traveling. I swear I'm not the worst boss in the world!
Update: Beginning March 22, 2014, American Express Card Members will no longer have access to American Airlines Admiral Club and US Airways Club airport lounges through Airport Club Access / Airport Lounge Program. This means that Card Members will no longer be able to gain complimentary access to the American Airlines airport lounges (known as Admirals Club lounges) or the US Airways Club airport lounges as a benefit of their Platinum Card Membership. Cardmembers will continue to receive access to participating Delta Sky Club lounges, Priority Pass Select (enrollment is required), and Airspace lounges in JFK, CLE and BWI airports.
As a reminder, the terms of Amex Platinum's airport lounge access are that when you have a valid ticket for same-day travel, the Platinum card will get you access to Delta, American and US Airways lounges – potentially saving you membership fees of up to around $500 each per year if you were to join each separately – and you can even bring two guests or your spouse and any children under 21, so my mom can come with him when they're traveling together. US Airways even allows entry if you are flying on a different carrier. The Card also confers Priority Pass Select access to over 600 airport lounges in 100 countries (guests can also enter for a $27 per person fee). So that's potentially up to a $1,500 value right there, and then as I mentioned, he gets the Global Entry fee refunded, so that's another $100.
All in all, I think he's going to be pretty happy, and I'm thrilled to get him a gift I know he'll love and make his traveling time a lot more comfortable.
What are the rest of you planning to do for dear old dad this Father's Day? Any great gift ideas? Share them below!
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees