• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Plus, you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App, and your eligible American Express Platinum Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex benefit may only be used in the United States. Terms apply.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• Terms Apply.

When it comes to Membership Rewards points, the best way to maximize your points is to redeem them with travel.

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[.dontreco] We don’t recommend: Redeeming your Membership Rewards points for cash back [.dontreco] 

While you can use your Membership Rewards points for a statement credit, essentially getting cash back, those points are typically worth just 0.6 cents each. This simply doesn’t provide the best value for your points.

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[.sometimesreco] We sometimes recommend: Booking through the AmEx travel portal [.sometimesreco]

You can redeem your points for flights, hotel stays, and car rentals through AmEx Travel, but this usually gives you a value of 1 cent per point or less, which is at least 50% lower than the normal value of Membership Rewards points. While this is a decent option, it’s still not the best.

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[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Using Membership Rewards points to book with transfer partners [.alwaysreco]

The bottom line is — if a flight or hotel room can be bought with cash, you can use your points to book it. Transferring your AmEx Membership Rewards points can score you more than 1.25 cents per point by moving rewards to AmE’s super-duper-wonderful airline and hotel partners. Top picks include Delta, Emirates, Qatar, Hilton, Marriott, and so many more. Taking advantage of these transfer partners is one of the best ways to justify your Amex Gold Card.

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But how can I actually transfer my Membership Rewards points?

Simply log into your AmEx account, click on “earn and redeem,” and you’ll see AmEx’s long list of transfer partners. From there, make your transfer selection based on your trip and transfer those points. And just like that, you’re on your way! ✈️

Here’s that sweet list of American Express Membership Rewards points transfer partners we were just chatting about:

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Kara and Nate flew Lufthansa first class, a ticket normally costing around $8,000. But…drumroll please…they booked with miles and points! 🎉Because of that, the price tag was under $100 for one of the most exclusive seats in the sky. We’re talking lie-flat seats, caviar and champagne, and tailor-made service throughout the flight. The first step? Applying for an American Express card! Want to learn more about how to use your AmEx Platinum to book this seat? Check out this video:

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1. The Boujee Traveler

By now, you’ve probably guessed the AmEx Platinum is not a beginner card — quite the opposite, actually. If you’re trying to climb the credit card ladder, this one sits somewhere near the very, very top. The AmEx Platinum is the epitome of luxury, loaded with perks that elevate your travel experience:✨ Travel credits ✨ Hotel elite status ✨ Airport lounge access ✨ Faster airport security ✨ Uber VIP status ✨ Access to The Luxury Collection, a group of world-renowned hotels and resortsLet’s talk about Centurion Lounges for a second. Any airport lounge is a nice escape (most of the time). But if we’re ranking airport lounges based on quality food, atmosphere, space, and service — the Centurion Lounges reign king. This is one of very few cards on the market offering access to those lounges.

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2. The Frequent Traveler

The AmEx Platinum should live in the wallets of those frequenting the airport. Do you find yourself flying through the air quite often? Our team can certainly relate, which is why we choose to keep this magical piece of metal close by. Most of the credits and perks you’ve seen listed make the most sense for people traveling pretty often.

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3. The Credits Lover

The AmEx Platinum is loaded with credits. LOADED. To start, you’re looking at a few major travel credits: up to $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck reimbursement and up to $189 (in statement credits) to use annually for CLEAR® Plus. People tend to look over these, but if you’re making your way to the airport more than twice a year, this is a super nice perk to have. Saving all of that time in the security line gives you more time in that Centurion Lounge. 😎 You’ll get that $200 in annual airline credits that we were talking about earlier, and up to $200 in hotel credits each year. For this credit, you’ll have to book prepaid hotels through AmEx Travel. And, your hotel must be part of AmEx’s propriety hotel collection (Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection).

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Still — we’re at $689 so far. So we’ve already exceeded that annual fee! The Amex Platinum isn’t just about travel; it also offers benefits for entertainment, wellness, and retail. Other statement credits to be excited about include: up to $155 in Walmart+ credits each year, $200 in Uber Cash each year, and up to $240 in digital entertainment credits each year. Not to mention, this card’s travel insurance is something to be excited about. While he used the Canadian version, Mike recently had a nightmare-ish medical experience abroad. Thankfully, he had The Platinum Card® handy, which saved him tons of money in a really stressful and scary situation. Read more here about how Mike used the Canadian version of this card. And if you’re in the U.S., read our travel insurance guide here.

Here’s a good rule of thumb: You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) are a non-U.S. resident (for this particular card), and (3) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is below 700, you'll need to improve it before applying for travel credit cards, as approval for the best ones, like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, is unlikely.

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Be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles and points, but they require responsible use.

An excellent credit score of 670 - 850 is recommended for the AmEx Platinum Card. But again, if you’re in a solid place with your credit and feel you are ready for a new card, don’t let the fear of being rejected keep you from applying. We’ve known several people to be rejected on their first application, use the reconsideration line, and be granted the AmEx Platinum. While it’s not considered a beginner card, the worst they can say is “no.”