23 Best Benefits of the Amex Platinum Card [2024]

If there is one card thought to be one of the most recognizable and luxurious credit cards out there, it is the Platinum Card from American Express. While the Amex Platinum card isn’t as exclusive or difficult to be approved for as many make it out to be, it is still one of the very best credit cards on the market if you’re able to utilize all of the perks and benefits that the card is loaded with.

But what exactly are the best benefits of the Amex Platinum card? This post will break each of them down to help you determine if the Amex Platinum card is a good fit for you.

The 23 Best Benefits of the Amex Platinum Card

With the Amex Platinum card, you’re going to earn 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with airlines, as well as prepaid flight and hotel purchases through American Express Travel. But what else does the card offer in order to make the $695 annual fee worth it?

Here is a look at 23 of the best benefits the Amex Platinum card has to offer:

1. Best Credit Card for Airport Lounge Access

The Amex Platinum card is without a doubt the very best card out there when it comes to airport lounge access. Cardholders have access to Amex Centurion lounges, Escape lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Plaza Premium lounges, Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta, and International American Express lounges — totaling over 1,500 airport lounges worldwide.

If you’re someone who values lounge access when you’re traveling, there simply is no better card than the Amex Platinum.

2. $200 Annual Airline Incidental Credit

Each year, you’ll receive a $200 airline incidental credit to be used with the airline of your choosing. This credit can be applied to items like checked baggage fees, seat selection fees, lounge passes, in-flight items, and more.

3. $200 Annual Uber Credit

Amex Platinum cardholders also receive $200 in annual Uber credits that are dispersed in increments of $15 per month, plus $35 in December. These credits can be used for Uber rides, Uber Eats orders, or any other service provided by Uber.

4. $100 Annual Saks Fifth Avenue Credit

Love shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue? The Amex Platinum card includes a $100 annual statement credit, $50 of which can be used between January and June, with the remaining $50 between July and December.

5. $240 Annual Entertainment Credit

Each month, you’ll receive a $20 credit towards subscriptions to Disney+, ESPN+, Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and/or The New York Times. So if you are paying for any of these services already, or have been planning to, then this lowers the effective annual fee of the Amex Platinum card even further.

6. Hilton Gold and Marriott Gold Elite Status

If you frequently visit Hilton or Marriott hotels then you will love that the Amex Platinum card automatically gives you Gold elite status within each program without requiring you to meet any of the elite night qualifications. Here is a look at some of the benefits you’ll receive at each hotel:

Hilton Gold Elite Status

• 80% bonus points
• Room upgrades (if available, excluding suites)
• Complimentary breakfast
• Welcome amenity

Marriott Gold Elite Status 

• 25% bonus points
• Room upgrades (if available, excluding suites)
• 2 p.m. late checkout (if available)
• Welcome amenity

Ordinarily, Hilton Gold status requires you to spend 40 nights in Hilton hotels each year, and 25 nights to earn Marriott Gold status. So receiving both status levels as a benefit of being an Amex Platinum cardholder is a massive perk.

7. Access to Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts Program

As if the Hilton and Marriott benefits weren’t enough, the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts program grants cardholders elite-style perks at any property they book through the program.

When you book your stay through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts you receive the following benefits:

• Room upgrade (if available)
• Complimentary breakfast for 2 people
• 12 p.m. check-in (if available)
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
• $100 property amenity (usually a dining or spa credit)

One thing to keep in mind when booking through the Amex FH&R program is that you will not earn any hotel points, nor will you receive any elite benefits that you might have with the hotel group. So, if you’re staying at a property that you already have status with you might be better off booking directly. But when staying at properties where you have no elite status, using FH&R is a great option.

8. $200 Annual Prepaid Hotel Credit

Speaking of the Fine Hotels and Resorts program, each year your Amex Platinum card will give you a $200 statement credit valid for prepaid bookings via Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection made on Amex Travel.

Of course, you’re well aware of all of the benefits you get on Fine Hotels and Resorts bookings now. But while bookings through the Hotel Collection don’t get quite as many benefits, but still offer a room upgrade if available, and the $100 experience credit.

9. Rental Car Elite Status

Often rent cars during your travels? Well, the Amex Platinum card gives you elite status with three separate car rental programs — National Emerald Club Executive status, Avis Preferred, and Hertz Gold Plus.

The benefits vary from program to program, but generally, you can expect vehicle upgrades, discounts off base rates, and reduced fees.

10. Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit

Do you hate standing in horribly long security lines? Well with Global Entry/TSAPreCheck you won’t have to! Fortunately, the Amex Platinum card gives you a statement credit for either program so you can apply at no additional cost to you.

If you weren’t already familiar, applying for Global Entry also includes TSA PreCheck, but TSA PreCheck alone does not include Global Entry. Since the application is paid for already, you might as well opt for Global Entry which provides an expedited customs experience in addition to TSA PreCheck.

11. $189 Annual CLEAR Credit

CLEAR is an expedited security program available at 50+ U.S. airports and stadiums. With your Amex Platinum card, you receive an annual statement that covers the full cost of a CLEAR membership.

If you’re wondering why you might need TSA PreCheck and CLEAR, well that are times when the TSA PreCheck lane might not be open due to staffing issues, and having CLEAR still gets you through the general security line in a flash. If CLEAR and TSA PreCheck are both available, then going through CLEAR takes you right to the front of the PreCheck line as well!

12. Access to Amex Offers

Each month, you’ll receive access to dozens of Amex Offers that give you the opportunity to earn additional Amex Membership Rewards points or cash-back for shopping with those merchants. While this benefit is technically offered on all Amex cards, the offers you’ll find on the Amex Platinum card are usually significantly better than what is offered on other cards.

13. Cell Phone Protection

Amex Platinum cardholders can get up to $1,600 in cell phone protection (2 claims per year with up to $800 for each claim) against theft and damage, including cosmetic damage (like a cracked phone screen). Each claim has a $50 deductible and your monthly phone bill should be paid with your Amex Platinum card to receive coverage.

14. Trip Delay Insurance

No one likes when their flight is delayed, but unfortunately, it does happen at times. However, when you pay for your flight with your Amex Platinum card, and your flight is delayed for more than 6 hours, you’ll be covered for up to $500 per trip as reimbursement for any necessary incidentals, meals, and lodging.

15. Baggage Insurance

During your flight, if your luggage is lost or damaged, your Amex Platinum card covers you up to $2,000 for checked bags and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage.

16. Rental Car Insurance

The Amex Platinum card offers secondary rental car insurance when you pay for the car rental with your Amex Platinum card. Coverage includes theft or damage up to $75,000 without increasing the cost of your car rental. However, since the coverage is secondary, it will kick in only after you file a claim with your primary car insurance provider.

17. Purchase Protection

When you purchase a new item with your Amex Platinum card, and it is accidentally damaged or stolen, you’re covered for up to 120 days from the purchase date for up to $10,000 per incident with a maximum of $50,000 per year.

18. Return Protection

If you attempt to return an item you purchased with your Amex Platinum card, and the merchant won’t accept it, you can be refunded for the value of the item, up to $300 per item and a maximum of $1,000 per year.

19. Extended Warranty Protection

If you purchase a product with your Amex Platinum card, and it comes with a standard warranty of 5 years or less, American Express will add a year of coverage on top of the standard warranty that covers up to $10,000 per item with a maximum of $50,000 in claims each year.

20. Amex Platinum Concierge Service

Amex Platinum cardholders receive 24-hour access to assistants for any personal, travel, or card-related needs within reason. This can be especially helpful when you’re in pinch. I’ve personally used the Amex Platinum concierge service to secure reservations at restaurants that were fully booked, and to land 2 tickets to the Anne Frank Museum even though they were completely sold out during the dates we were visiting.

21. Resy Global Dining Access

When you link your Amex Platinum card to your Resy profile, you’ll unlock access to special dining experiences (like access to premium events), exclusive reservations at top restaurants across the globe, and access to benefits like priority notify and VIP status.

22. Walmart+ Credits

Amex Platinum cardholders will receive a $12.95 monthly statement credit for a Walmart+ membership, which comes with a number of benefits, including discounted gas and free shipping.

23. $300 Annual Equinox Credit

This benefit might not be useful to all, but cardholders do receive an annual statement credit (credited as $25 per month) on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your card.

Final Thoughts

While the Amex Platinum card does have one of the highest credit card annual fees out there, the benefits you receive easily outweigh the fee if you travel often enough to get great use out of them. From airport lounge access, to hotel elite and rental car elite status, to discounts on Uber rides, and travel protections to keep covered, the Amex Platinum card helps enhance almost every aspect of your travel experience!

If you want to add the Amex Platinum card to your wallet, and you want to support my work, you can apply for the card through the links on my best travel credit cards page.

Not sure which travel rewards credit card is right for you? Then fill out my credit card consultation form. The service is free and designed to pair you with the travel rewards card that is best suited for your travel goals!