American Express has added the new benefit of earning 5x points per $1 on airline purchases with the premium Platinum Membership Rewards card!
Platinum Card® from American Express card holders get 5x points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. And there’s no cap on how many Membership Points you can earn with the new 5x benefit!
Although the high $450 annual fee on The Platinum Card® from American Express may make it seem like a not-worth-it deal, this card can definitely be considered if you can make the most of its 40,000 point sign up bonus and several perks.
The American Express Platinum is counted amongst some of the best premium credit cards available out there, and is primarily targeted at frequent travelers, giving them ample value in the air travels and hotel stays.
Below is a break down of the travel benefits offered on the Amex Platinum card besides the new added 5x points earned on airfare benefit. You can also see our previous review of the American Express Platinum card here.
$ 200 airline fee credit
The Platinum card from American Express provides every cardholder with a $ 200 credit that can be used for various airline expenses every year. Although this credit is lower than the $ 250 annual credit offered by the Citi Prestige card and has comparatively limited terms, there are plenty of ways you can use it effectively and put it to excellent use. Apart from covering your incidental charges such as in-flight purchases and checked-baggage fees, you can also use this $ 200 credit towards purchase of airline lounge passes, gift cards and more.
In order to use this airline fee credit you must sign up for a particular airline through your account (one airline selection per year), and then whenever you spend any money flying with that airline, the incurred charges will get automatically credited up to a maximum limit of $ 200.
Although you may technically find yourself bound to the selected airline for a particular calendar year, you can contact the customer service and change your selection.
Airport lounge access
The American Express Platinum gets you complimentary access to more than 900 airport lounges throughout the world. All cardholders can access American Express’ Centurion lounges where they can enjoy specially crafted cocktails, gourmet food options and relax in peace. Despite being only few in numbers (7 in US), AMEX Centurion lounges have rapidly gained popularity among frequent travelers, for the kind of luxury they provide. The card also provides you easy access to the Airspace lounges (available at San Diego, New York, Cleveland and Baltimore-Washington International airport), Delta Sky Clubs (whenever you’re traveling with Delta) and Priority Pass Select lounges. The access to all these lounges is normally available to both card holders as well as their immediate families (or up to 2 guests). However, do check with the customer service for exact details.
Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre
All American Express Platinum cardholders are compensated for their Global Entry or TSA Pre applications. This compensation comes in the form of a statement credit every 5 years after the application of TSA Pre ($ 85) or Global Entry ($ 100). Once you receive your TSA Pre or Global Entry, you get preferential treatment at select airports, making the screening process a breeze for you!
Global Entry actually works as a fast pass to help you clear immigration in the quickest manner possible, whenever you return to the United States after a foreign trip. You become eligible for pre-check expedited security, provided you add your Known Traveler ID number to all your pertinent frequent flyer accounts. In case you aren’t presently registered with either of these, Global Entry is the one you must definitely look into.
American Express concierge
By far the most difficult American Express Platinum benefit to put a value on, the concierge service gives cardholders access to a certain program which can help them make purchases or make arrangements for all kinds of needs or wants. It’s basically a special phone service which functions as an outsourcing facility for the card holders’ to-do lists, especially with regard to the things that they spend money on. So, you can seek assistance for booking in-demand events, restaurants, delivery services and more.
This concierge service can be particularly helpful in booking tables at many popular fully-booked restaurants or fine dining establishments world over.
Elite Status with Starwood and Hilton
American Express has recently added this new perk for all Platinum cardholders, providing them automatic enrollment into the Hilton HHonors Gold Status. Gaining such an enrollment allows cardmembers to earn 25% Hilton HHonors base points whenever they book stays with any of the Hilton hotels. Furthermore, all such gold status members get their 5th night stays free (in standard room stays of 5 or more nights).
To tell you more about the significance of this benefit, you normally require to stay for a minimum of 40 nights at various Hilton properties OR earn 75,000 HHonors base points (combined with a total of 20 night stays at various Hilton properties), all in a single calendar year, to unlock the Gold status.
American Express Platinum also earns you the Starwood Preferred Guest gold status, entitling you to some amazing on-property benefits like 50% points bonus for stays, late checkouts, free premium internet, complimentary room upgrades and more.
In-flight and airport Internet services
All American Express Platinum credit card holders receive complimentary enrollment into the Boingo’s preferred Internet plan that comprises of unlimited internet access through Wi-fi hotspots at airports throughout the world. Please note, you stand eligible for 10 Gogo in-flight Internet passes apart from the Boingo hotspot access if you hold the American Express’s Business Platinum credit card. Normally costing $ 16 for an all-day pass, it can help you cut down your in-flight internet costs significantly.
Access to American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program
Another important benefit you get with your American Express Platinum card is access to the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) program. AMEX FHR is actually a travel website that gets you competitive rates and complimentary benefits at more than 900 extraordinary properties world over. Some of the complimentary benefits you can enjoy are: noon check-ins, on-site F&B credits, 4 PM checkouts, complimentary room upgrades and more. Some of the AMEX FHR properties even provide you with 3rd or 4th night free stays. Ideally, it is better to work out your length of stay before using the American Express FHR portal for booking your property. As a personal suggestion, you should book your shorter stays with your AMEX Platinum, at eligible properties, as you can enjoy various on property credits (to the tune of around $ 100).
Final thoughts
Actually, there are even more benefits offered by American Express Platinum that are listed here. You can visit The Platinum Card® from American Express on their website for more details. While a good number of these benefits reset with the start of every calendar year, some of them just roll over if you continue holding the Amex Platinum card. All in all they’re all very helpful for anyone who’s a frequent traveler. They easily justify and actually more-than-make-up for the steep $450 annual fee.
And now with the new 5x points on airline purchases perk The Platinum Card® from American Express has never looked better.
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