The Platinum Card from American Express

Earn rates · how we got this

See how it ranks: best flights cards.

Signup bonus: 175,000 points after $12,000 in 6 months. We never count unearned bonuses in savings math — a bonus you don't clear is worth zero. Amex advertises this as 'as high as' — the offer is targeted and varies by applicant; many see a lower bonus. Check your personal offer before applying. Bonus figure confirmed on the issuer's page 2026-09-14.

Statement credits — $2,994/yr on paper · how we got this

Monthly and quarterly credits expire if unused — that's where most of their printed value quietly disappears.

Non-cash perks

• Global Lounge Collection: Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Select (enrollment required), 10 Delta Sky Club visits per year on eligible Delta flights, Escape/Plaza Premium and partner lounges (1,550+ lounges)
• Global Entry ($120 every 4 years) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85 every 4.5 years) application fee credit
• Fine Hotels + Resorts: daily breakfast for two, room upgrade when available, $100 property credit, 4pm checkout
• The Hotel Collection: $100 property credit on stays of two nights or more
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
• Hilton Honors Gold status
• Leaders Club Sterling status from The Leading Hotels of the World
• Avis Preferred Plus, Hertz Gold Plus President's Circle, National Emerald Club Executive car rental status

Does the fee earn out? · how we got this

The printed statement credits ($2,994/yr) cover the $895 fee on paper — if you'd spend that way anyway. Credits you have to remember, enroll in, or change behavior for are worth less than face value. Our app tracks each one against your actual charges.

Is this $895 fee worth it? See the break-even math →

Check the current offer on the issuer's site → Where a card link will appear once available — no link on this page pays us today.

Who this card is not for

Every point below is a term the issuer prints, read off this card's own row in our database — not an opinion about the card. two things on this card rule out a kind of spender:

• Anyone who won't work the statement credits. The $895 fee is argued for by $2,994 of printed credits, spread across 11 separate credits, 5 of them monthly or quarterly — an unused month is gone, not banked, and 7 that must be enrolled in before they pay. Each one only pays if you were going to spend that way anyway; ignore them and the whole $895 has to come back through earn rates instead.
• A heavy flights spender. The 5x on flights stops after $500,000 of it per year. Past that the same purchases earn its base 1x, so the headline rate describes the first $500,000 only.

Compared head-to-head

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• The Platinum Card from American Express vs The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley — which earns more?
• The Platinum Card from American Express vs Royal ONE Plus Visa Signature — which earns more?
• Capital One Venture X vs Chase Sapphire Reserve vs The Platinum Card from American Express — all three side by side
• The Platinum Card from American Express vs American Express Gold Card vs Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express — all three side by side
• Chase Sapphire Reserve vs The Platinum Card from American Express vs Citi Strata Elite℠ Card — all three side by side
• Capital One Venture X vs Citi Strata Elite℠ Card vs The Platinum Card from American Express — all three side by side

Don't want the fee any more?

The Platinum Card from American Express can normally be product-changed to two lower-fee cards in the American Express Membership Rewards family, though only one of them keeps Amex Membership Rewards instead of being closed — which keeps the account, its age and its credit line.

What does The Platinum Card from American Express downgrade to? →

More from American Express

• The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab $895/yr
• The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley $895/yr
• The Plum Card $250/yr
• Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
• American Express Business Gold Card $375/yr
• American Express Business Green Rewards Card $95/yr

All American Express cards →