The Platinum Card® from American Express Review

I’ve partnered with CardRatings to help recommend my favorite travel credit card products. The Blonde Abroad and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers if you choose to apply through these links. As always, my recommendations, opinions, and reviews are mine alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.

card_name was one of the first “it” cards marketed for big spenders. For many of us, it symbolized success in the business world.

While it’s still one of the best cards on the market, many other cards give this one a run for its money. Despite the competition, this card stands out and is worth looking into.

Unlike typical credit cards, card_name allows you to carry a balance for certain charges but not all. It’s an excellent option for frequent fliers like myself. Plus, you’ll get access to thousands of lounges around the world!

Here is my review for card_name!

Welcome Bonus

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You can easily use that bonus to book a return flight to your dream destination or upgrade flights to Business or First Class!

See Rates and Fees

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How to Earn Points

One of the biggest benefits of card_name is its point system. You can earn 5 points for every dollar you spend when booking directly with airlines or American Express Travel.

Out of all travel cards, that’s the highest-earning point system!

You can also receive 5 points for every dollar made on all AMEX’s Fine Hotel & Resorts hotel bookings through the American Express travel portal for up to $500,000 per calendar year.

How to Redeem Points

If you’re looking to get the best bang for your buck, you’ll want to book your travel through AMEX’s travel portal. While this does mean that your bookings are often nonrefundable, if you don’t change your trips around too much, it’s not too big of a deal.

Another great way to make the most of your points is to book your flights and hotels using one of their 20 airline and hotel partners.

Their partner airlines include:

• Aeromexico, Air Canada (Aeroplan)
• Air France KLM (Flying Blue)
• Alitalia (Millemiglia)
• All Nippon Airways
• Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles)
• British Airways
• Delta Air Lines (SkyMiles)
• El Al Israel Airlines
• Emirates
• Etihad Airways
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue Airways
• Singapore Airlines
• Virgin America
• Virgin Atlantic Airways

Their hotel partners include Choice Privileges Rewards and Hilton Honors.

You’ll get the most bang for your points by transferring to certain partners, too!

You can also transfer to one of AMEX’s travel partners to book with a partner airline. For example, you can transfer your miles to Iberia to book with American Airlines.

Bonus Benefits

While the point system for card_name is one of its biggest highlights, there are a lot of other benefits that make the card worth its steep annual fees.

Airport Lounges: With the Platinum card, you can access the best network of domestic lounges in the US — the Centurion Lounges. Here, you’ll find food from award-winning chefs, delicious cocktails to sip on before you take off, complimentary massages, spa treatments, and more. It’s luxury travel at its finest, and there are only nine so far, with one international branch in Hong Kong.

American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now, there are even more places where your Card can get complimentary entry and exclusive perks.

$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®.

$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®.

AMEX Fine Hotel & Resorts Credit: $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.

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, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.

No Foreign Transaction Fees: While many other travel credit cards have a foreign transaction fee, card_name doesn’t charge you for international purchases.

$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $25 back each month on select Equinox memberships. Enrollment required.

Uber Credit: 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 Members only.

The perks and benefits can change from time to time. See: Perks & Benefits

Annual Fee

This one has one of the steepest annual fees out of all the travel credit cards I use. At a whopping annual_fees per year, the fee puts many travelers off on applying for the card.

But with its many other bonus perks and reward schemes, the fee is worth overlooking if you frequently travel and take advantage of all the perks.

Overall

If you have a lot of travel expenses, card_name is hard to beat. While the annual fee is hefty, it balances out with its Welcome Bonus, the ability to earn 5x points, Gold status at select hotels, and access to thousands of lounges worldwide.

I’ve partnered with CardRatings to help recommend my favorite travel credit card products. The Blonde Abroad and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers if you choose to apply through these links. As always, my recommendations, opinions, and reviews are mine alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.

New to travel reward credit cards?

Check out The Beginner’s Guide to Earning Points and Miles!