The Platinum Card® from American Express is as feature-packed as can be. It offers a longer list of benefits than almost any other card I’ve ever seen, including the best credit cards on the market. All of these features more than justify the $695 annual fee (see rates and fees) if you can take advantage of them.
When you get this card, it’s a good idea to check out all of the benefits. However, some of them are more valuable than others, so it can’t hurt to start with the standout perks that make it special.
1. A welcome offer of 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
This card has a great welcome offer: 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months (terms apply). That’s just over $1,333 in spending per month. Note that the $695 annual fee does not count toward the spending requirement.
How much are 80,000 Membership Rewards® points worth? You can redeem them for airline tickets with American Express Travel at $0.01 per point, terms and conditions apply. At that value, they would be worth $800. That’s not bad, but you could get even more out of them.
American Express has over 20 airline and hotel partners where you can transfer your points. For example, you can transfer your points to an airline to book a business class or first class flight. I have received $0.02 to $0.03 per point this way, sometimes even more. If you use your rewards wisely, 80,000 points could be worth $1,600 to $2,400 or more.
2. Access to airport lounges around the world
Several travel rewards cards include free access to airport lounges, but in my opinion none of them come close to what you get with the Platinum Card® from American Express.
I have never seen a travel card that gives you access to as many lounges as this one. It offers access to more than 1,400 lounges in 650 cities in 140 countries. Terms and conditions apply. While other travel cards may offer access to a single lounge program, this American Express card offers access to:
- The Centurion Lounges
- Priority Pass (registration required)
- Escape Lounges
- Delta Sky Club®
- Lufthansa
- Plaza Premium
This is one of the few cards that offers access to American Express® Centurion Lounges. These are known for being a step above regular airport lounges, with more upscale design and better dining options. They have become popular and therefore sometimes crowded, but if you get the chance, they are well worth a visit.
3. Uber Cash every month
The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a lot of shopping credits. Seriously, it offers over $1,500 in value each year. Terms apply. These credits can be a gamble depending on whether they fit your lifestyle. One of the most useful is the Uber Cash this card offers.
If you add this card as a payment method in the Uber app, you will receive $15 Uber Cash per month plus a $20 bonus every December. That’s a total of up to $200 in Uber Cash every year. Terms apply. You can use it for Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the United States.
If you ever request a car or order food delivery through ride-sharing apps, you can easily take advantage of this benefit. You’ll also become an Uber VIP, where available, which will match you with drivers with the highest ratings. Terms apply.
As I mentioned before, this American Express card has a lot to offer. The benefits listed above are just the tip of the iceberg. If you can take advantage of them, it’s a sign that the Platinum Card® from American Express could be right for you.
