While I loved monthly paypal, streaming, wifi and otherstemporary benefitsprovided byLa Platinum Card® de American ExpressDuring the pandemic, it felt a bit like doing push-ups on the living room floor instead of getting a full-body workout at the gym. It all helped, but the Amex Platinum card far outweighs a few random extra monthly credits thrown in here and there.
Thanks to the "pandemic pause," it's been a minute, or actually a whole bunch of months, since my Amex Platinum underwent a full workout to deliver the high-end lifestyle and travel benefits it's truly known and for which it is most appropriate.
But recently we packed our bags, shook out our fancy clothes, andHeaded for Las VegasPolished with platinum and ready to wear on the front of the wallet.
In just one night, the Platinum Card delivered over $200 in very real and valuable benefits and reminded us why we love and keep this card. To see how.
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Save $200 on one night
It's easy to get lost in the myriad of benefits that Amex Platinum offers, and that was true even before that.long list of newly added perks.
I'm not going to list the full rundown of what this card can do (you can find it here on ourAmex Platinum Rating), but instead I want to highlight what he did on the night we spent recently at theBellagio on the Las Vegas Strip.
Application link:Platino Amexcurrently available with an offer of 80,000 pointsafter spending $6,000 in the first six months of card membership. The card has an annual fee of $695 (see fees and rates).
Amex Platinum cardholders can book stays at more than 1,000 hotels worldwide, and in Las Vegas, through thePrograma Amex Fine Hotels and Resort (FHR). While some of these hotels are quite expensive, many are around $200 a night, where paying cash is worth more than points.
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This is not a useless trick or an extra booking step to skip, but it is a benefit that has the potential to add enormous value when booking a hotel in the FHR program.
Reported FCF benefits include:
- Check-in at noon if available
- Room upgrade upon arrival subject to availability
- Daily breakfast for two
- Guaranteed late checkout at 16:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Special amenities unique to each property
Plus, you can earn 5 Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on FHR prepaid reservations through the FHR website. one more ofnew Amex Platinum benefitsis an annual statement credit of up to $200 toward FHR prepaid reservations (also valid onThe properties of the Hotel Collection). We booked just before this new annual benefit was added; otherwise the card would have saved us $400 on this hotel stay.
At the Bellagio, we didn't get a significant room upgrade when booking through FHR, but we did get the guaranteed money-saving benefits.
The "special service" provided to those who book a stay at the Bellagio with Amex Platinum through FHR is a food and beverage credit of up to $100, redeemable at 120 of the MGM Resort's bars, restaurants and lounges.
While we could have used it at a variety of MGM-affiliated resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, we kept things simple.
Aside from the tip, which is specifically not covered by the credit, the $100 F&B credit fully covered our casual lunch of noodles, veggies, and fried rice at the aptly named Noodles at the Bellagio, with plenty of room.
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(Foto de Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
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That evening, after seeing Cirque du Soleil's first performance of O after its nearly 16-month hiatus at the Bellagio, we headed to Yellowtail (also located at the Bellagio) for a post-show luxury dinner of sake, sushi and sashimi.
Although the remaining portion of the $100 credit didn't cover the entire meal, there was still enough lunch credit to get us started on a sushi roll or two.
Related:Vegas is back it seems
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(Foto de Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
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While we had already used the $100 food and beverage credit, booking through the FHR program with our Platinum card also allows for a separate breakfast for two each morning.
At the Bellagio specifically, this comes in the form of two $30 breakfast credits per day per room reserved for use at Sadelle's, Palio, or Cafe Gelato. Like the $100 credit, the tip does not count toward the $60 breakfast credit.
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(Foto de Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
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We were able to order breakfast quite generously, including coffee, juice, etc., and we were still just under the $30 per person credit at Sadelle's.
Except for the extra tips which only made our full service breakfast free thanks to booking the right card with the right card.
Last but not least, queuing for a late (at least reasonable, meaning more than an extra hour) checkout in Las Vegas almost always costs more.
Saved 16:00. A late checkout at the Bellagio for our overnight flight from Las Vegas would probably have cost upwards of $40 if it had been available.
If you take the $100 food and beverage credit we use for lunch and dinner, the $60 breakfast credit, and at least $40 for a late check-out, we would be safe booking this way with a very value $200 actual.
When you consider that the price paid for a hotel night was $262.13 plus the $40 resort fee (reduced from $45 due to booking through FHR), that's a huge increase in value without a major drawback. .
Related:This is how you earn over $7,000 on Amex Platinum in the first year
And it could have been more
Our platinum card could have saved more money on the trip.
If we wanted to, the card could have put my husband and me on theAmex Centurion Loungesin Houston and Las Vegas, saving himself the expense of two more meals in transit. Ultimately, the lounges were in different terminals than the ones we used, so we decided to skip the tour on this trip, but that would have saved at least another $50-$60 on some meals.
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Or American Express Centurion Lounge at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. (THE). (Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)
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And while we didn't choose Spirit Airlines as ourannual airline per year in platinum, we could have.
If we had, then our seat assignmentsSpirit's "big front seats"at $68 per person, it probably could have been refunded as a statement credit thanks to the card's $200 airline fare credit benefit. (Registration required.)
And the next time we book our hotel stay through the FHR program, we'll have a $200 annual credit to use toward our hotel reservation, plus other benefits. This would have resulted in $400 remaining safely in our bank account if combined with the benefits we enjoy.
final result
The Amex Platinum is truly the Swiss army knife ofpremium reward cards.
It kept things interesting amid the pandemic with credits for various types of purchases, but relaunching the card on this trip reminded me how happy I am to have it in my wallet for its key benefits.
If managing all the benefits seems overwhelming, skip some of the extras for now and focus on included meals and guaranteed late check-out when you book through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts with the Platinum Card.
Now that life and movement have returned a bit, the Platinum card is ready to make travel more convenient and help keep a significant amount of money safe in your wallet.
Click here for more information on the current80,000 point offer available for Amex Platinum, That isnew benefitsor to see if it's youspecifically for a possibly even better offerabovematching letters(Open offer).
Click to view Amex Platinum card rates and feesHere.
Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed in this document are those of the author alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any of these entities.
FAQs
How do I use my $200 Amex platinum credit? ›
The $200 CAD Annual Travel Credit can only be redeemed at time of booking through American Express Travel Online at americanexpress.ca/travel or by calling Platinum Card Travel Service. Travel booking must be charged to your Platinum Card. Account must be in good standing.
Can you book a hotel room on Amex Platinum Points? ›The Hotel Collection bookings may be made by eligible U.S. Consumer Basic and Additional Platinum Card Members and Additional Gold Card Members on the Platinum Card Account. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Card Members are not eligible for the benefit.
How do you get 10x points on Amex Platinum? ›With 10Xcelerator by Membership Rewards, earn 10 Membership Rewards® points for every full S$1.60 spent with your Platinum Card®, American Express® Platinum Reserve or Platinum Credit Card.
What is the Amex 2 90 rule? ›Amex is likely to limit approving you for two credit cards every 90 days. If you apply for two credit cards on the same day, data points suggest one of your applications will be put on hold as an automatic fraud prevention mechanism. There are conflicting reports on how charge cards are counted in this two card limit.
Should I use my Amex Platinum everyday? ›Don't use your Amex Platinum for everyday purchases
Other cards can offer much better returns (often 2x, 3x, 4x or more) on various everyday purchase categories.
Salary Needed for Amex Platinum Credit Card
If you make near $100,000 a year and have good credit, you should have no issue getting approved. But, applicants with annual incomes as low as $40,000 have also been approved if they have a low debt-to-income ratio and pay their other credit cards in full every month.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel card that offers benefits commensurate with its $695 fee, at least for frequent travelers. It offers an exceptional 5 points per dollar spent on hotels/airfare when booked through Amex travel on eligible flights and hotel purchases.
How much are Amex points worth for hotels? ›American Express Membership Points are worth exactly 1 cent apiece when booking travel through the issuer's portal. The current AmEx points value is 2 cents when transferred to partners. AmEx has 20 airline and hotel partners.
Does Amex Platinum get 5x on hotels? ›Earn up to 5x points
In addition, prepaid hotel reservations through the AmEx travel portal also earn extra points. These are a few of the cards that offer a bonus when making reservations through AmEx travel: The Platinum Card® from American Express – 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels.
See our Advertiser Disclosure for more details. There's no doubt that the welcome offer of 100,000 Membership Rewards points from The Platinum Card® from American Express is a huge deal. 100,000 points are worth $2,200 per our valuations, and you can use them in a variety of different ways.
How many Amex points is $300? ›
If you redeem 30,000 points at 1 cent per point, that's a welcome gift of $300. Category multipliers. Most Cards offer bonus points for purchases made in certain spending categories like travel, dining, groceries, or gas.
How much is Amex Platinum 150,000 points worth? ›We generally value Membership Rewards points at about 2.2 cents per point, which means that a 100,000-point bonus offer is worth ~$2,200, a 125,000-point bonus is worth ~$2,750, and a 150,000-point bonus is worth $3,300.
Is a platinum Amex worth it? ›The Amex Platinum Card is only worth the annual fee if you'll use enough benefits to recoup the fee. You could easily offset the fee with the statement credits alone, but this card also offers the chance to earn boosted rewards on travel purchases, too.
What is the hardest American Express card to get? ›The hardest Amex card to get is the Centurion® Card from American Express. Also known as the “Black Card,” this Amex card is hard to get because it is available by invitation only, and potential candidates are rumored to need an annual income of at least $1 million.
What is the limit of American Express Platinum credit card? ›| Card Name | Minimum Credit Limit |
|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | $5,000+ |
| Wells Fargo Reflect® Card | $1,000 minimum |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | No Pre-Set Spending Limit |
| American Express® Gold Card | No Pre-Set Spending Limit |
Make no mistake --- the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
What is the average income for Amex Platinum? ›We recommend that your annual income be at least $50,000 or higher before applying for the Amex Platinum.
Can I buy a car with American Express Platinum Card? ›Cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express (another high credit limit card), or any other type of Amex members, can try using the American Express Auto Purchasing Program, which connects you to dealers who accept American Express and let you charge $2,000 or more toward a car purchase on your Amex card.
Does American Express verify income? ›They will request tax returns and bank statements. What they're looking for is to make sure the income you reported on the application is true. The process typically takes 2-3 weeks, and you're assigned a specialist to talk to.
Can you get Amex platinum with no income? ›American Express doesn't publicly disclose any official American Express Platinum card income requirements. But having a steady source of income is a must in order to get this card. And you need to demonstrate the ability to pay the card's $695 annual fee and the entire balance in full, when applicable.
How do I get my American Express Platinum fee waived? ›
Here's how to get the American Express Platinum card annual fee waived: Call the retention line: You can ask Amex to waive the annual fee by calling (800) 452-3945.
How much is 200000 AmEx Platinum points worth? ›While 200K Amex points will typically only give you about $2,000 in value when you shop for flights in the Amex travel portal, you can sometimes find Business or First Class flights — that can normally cost over $10,000 — for only 200K points, when transferred to a frequent flyer program.
How many hotel points do you need for a free night? ›Free nights can be redeemed for as few as 5,000 Points per night and no more than 95,000 Points per night for a standard room. Select properties with specialty accommodations may require up to 120,000 Points per night for a standard room.
How many dollars is 50000 AmEx points worth? ›To get maximum value from your 50,000 Amex points, redeem for certain gift cards or travel packages through Membership Rewards. Depending on the redemption method, the value of 50,000 Amex rewards points ranges from $250 to $500. The average value is $325, as each Amex point is worth an average of about 0.65 cents.
How many Amex points is $500? ›0.5 cents per point for American Express gift cards (a $500 gift card is 100,000 points).
Are Amex Platinum Points worth more than gold? ›Amex Platinum ultimately offers more value, though. For example, its benefits include airport lounge access, while the Amex Gold Card's perks do not. When it comes to ongoing rewards on purchases, Amex Platinum has a higher maximum earning rate and better travel rewards.
How many dollars is 75000 Amex points? ›How much are 75,000 American Express points worth? At a minimum, 75,000 American Express Membership Rewards points are worth $750 when you use them in the Amex Travel portal. If you're looking for even more value, you'll want to transfer them out to an Amex hotel and airline partner.
Do I get TSA PreCheck with Amex Platinum? ›Application Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
Additional Card Members on Consumer and Business Platinum and Centurion accounts also receive the benefit when the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee is charged to their eligible Card.
Simply, present your Priority Pass membership card and boarding pass for access. As a Platinum Cardholder, you are entitled to a complimentary membership in Priority Pass. This allows you to wait for your flight in a relaxed atmosphere in one of the more than 1,200 Priority Pass lounges around the world.
How many guests do you get with a Amex Platinum? ›NOTE: Centurion® Lounge Complimentary Guest Access CHANGES WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON FEBRUARY 1, 2023. SEE ABOVE. Escape Lounges - The Centurion Studio Partner: Platinum Card Members and Centurion Card Members may enter with up to two guests at no additional charge.
What is the 90 day rule for Amex Platinum? ›
If you try to return an eligible item within 90 days from the date of purchase and the merchant won't take it back, American Express may refund the full purchase price, up to $300 per item, excluding shipping and handling charges related to the item purchased, and up to a maximum of $1,000 per Card Member account p er ...
How much is 2 million Amex points? ›The good news is that AR has 2 million MR points which can be cashed out for $20,000 in gift cards through American Express.
How many Amex points equals $1? ›100-200 Amex points equal a dollar, depending on how they're redeemed. For example, you'll need around 167 points for $1 if you redeem for a statement credit, while you'll only need 100 points for $1 when redeeming for flights through American Express Membership Rewards.
How many Amex points is $200? ›Be sure to check all of your American Express cards to see if you're eligible to earn 1,000 Membership Rewards points for spending $200 or more at Amazon. This Amex Offer can make your everyday shopping that much more rewarding! Was this page helpful?
How many Amex points is $4000? ›American Express® Gold Card
Intro OfferEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
How to Use Points for Your Charges When you use points for an eligible charge, the points will be deducted immediately from your program Account, and an accompanying credit will be applied to your Linked Card Account within 48 hours. You may use points only toward the entire amount of an eligible charge.
Do Amex Platinum points expire? ›Membership Rewards® points have no expiration date. However, points may be forfeited as described in the program Terms and Conditions.
Can you carry a balance with Amex Platinum? ›You can carry a balance with interest, up to your Pay Over Time Limit. Make purchases like you normally do.
What cards are better than Amex Platinum? ›1. Chase Sapphire Reserve® The Chase Sapphire Reserve is Chase's version of a luxury credit card, but instead of earning Membership Rewards points — as you do with the Amex Platinum — you're earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
What is special about Amex Platinum? ›The Amex Platinum is a premium credit card that offers a welcome bonus, luxury perks, and other value-added services. Cardholders benefit from Uber credits, airfare discounts, bonus points, cashback and much more. Unlike typical credit cards, this card allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all.
Why is American Express Platinum so good? ›
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual card credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
What's the easiest Amex to get approved for? ›When applying for the Amex Blue Card, try to have a good credit score, which is a FICO® Score of 670 or above. This is one of the easiest Membership Rewards cards to open, and even consumers with average credit scores have a decent chance of approval.
Are Amex card holders rich? ›No,. American Express is not specifically for rich people, even though it does have a high level of status in many people's minds. Applicants need good or excellent credit scores of 700+ to qualify for Amex credit cards, and you don't need to be rich to have a good credit score.
How do I increase my Amex Platinum spending power? ›- Use your Card regularly and, if you don't already pay off your balance in full each month, gradually increase your total monthly payment amount with us over time. ...
- Pay all your accounts on time, including those outside of American Express. ...
- Maintain a good credit profile.
Late Payment
For each following Closing Date that an amount past due remains unpaid, we may charge a fee of the greater of $38 or 2.99% of any past due Pay In Full amounts. Your late fee will not exceed the Amount Due or any limit established by applicable law. Paying late may also result in a penalty APR.
- Book travel through Amex. Log in to your American Express Platinum card account via the Amex travel portal. ...
- Transfer points. ...
- Get gift cards. ...
- Donate. ...
- Amazon Shop with Points. ...
- Statement credit. ...
- Shopping.
Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® Account.[1]‡
How does Amex platinum credit card work? ›The Amex Platinum is a premium credit card that offers a welcome bonus, luxury perks, and other value-added services. Cardholders benefit from Uber credits, airfare discounts, bonus points, cashback and much more. Unlike typical credit cards, this card allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all.
Can I use my Amex Platinum Card right away? ›If your new American Express® Card is eligible for an Instant Card Number, it can be used immediately and instantly added to mobile digital wallets including Apple Pay™, Samsung Pay, Google Pay™, Fitbit Pay™, and PayPal – before you get your card in the mail.
What is a good credit score for Amex Platinum? ›The Platinum Card® from American Express requires good to excellent credit to qualify. This is typically defined as a credit score of 690 or better.
What is $200 statement credit? ›
A $200 statement credit is simply a statement credit for a maximum of $200. This means that if you make a qualifying purchase, you'll get up to $200 back. For example, if your purchase is $250, you'll get $200 back and pay only $50 out of pocket.
Is Amex platinum a hard card to get? ›Yes, it is hard to get the American Express Platinum card because applicants need a 700+ credit score and a high income to qualify for approval. But if you have at least good credit and make a lot of money, you have a decent shot at getting approved.
Is Amex platinum worth it if you dont Travel much? ›If you don't travel often, then you will not be able to make the most of this card's rewards and benefits. You might be better off getting one of Amex's cash back credit cards.
Is Amex platinum a luxury card? ›Our quick take: The Platinum Card® from American Express is the king of luxury rewards travel cards, perfect for demanding travelers who place a high degree of value on perks like lounge access and complimentary elite status.
What happens if you don't pay Amex Platinum in full? ›Late Payment
For each following Closing Date that an amount past due remains unpaid, we may charge a fee of the greater of $38 or 2.99% of any past due Pay In Full amounts. Your late fee will not exceed the Amount Due or any limit established by applicable law. Paying late may also result in a penalty APR.
Membership Rewards® points have no expiration date. However, points may be forfeited as described in the program Terms and Conditions.
What happens if you don't pay off your Amex Platinum every month? ›If you don't pay Amex Platinum in full, you will be charged interest on any purchases added to a Pay Over Time balance. With Pay Over Time, you can add eligible charges to a Pay Over Time balance, up to a limit.