Earning 80,000 to 100,000 points from a single travel card welcome offer is tough to beat. But we'll do you one better: How does a 175,00-point welcome offer sound?
With the new “as high as” offer on *amex platinum* you might be in luck! Exactly what bonus offer you're eligible for will vary, but you can now earn as high as 175,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first six months. After you submit your application – but before you accept the card (if you are approved) and your credit score is pulled – Amex will let you know the exact welcome offer you are eligible for.
This isn't exactly new: Amex has long offered different bonuses on its cards depending on where you look. You might find an 80,000-point offer directly with Amex … only to see a 175,000-point bonus offer available through CardMatch or personal referral links. But now, Amex is making it easier to earn the best offer when applying for the Platinum Card, no matter where you look.
To date, 175,000 points is the biggest offer we've ever seen on the Platinum Card – and considering that's more than double the standard 80,000-point bonus, it's a big deal. You may be able to get a similar offer through personal referral links or by searching for the card in an incognito browser, but this new offer should be your first stop for finding the best bonus.
At first glance, it may be hard to justify the Platinum Card's $695 annual fee (see rates & fees), but earning a big welcome offer right off the bat certainly takes some of the sting out of it! Not to mention the card comes packed with benefits like Delta Sky Club® and Amex Centurion Lounge access, among countless other perks and credits.
Just know: Not everyone will be targeted for this massive welcome offer, but there's no harm in checking – no hard credit pull is needed to see which welcome offer you qualify for. Keep reading for full card details and more info on this exciting new offer.
Basics of The Platinum Card® from American Express
There's a reason why *amex platinum* comes with such a high price tag … and it's likely going even higher this fall. But with a huge welcome offer bonus and unbeatable travel perks, this card packs a mighty punch.
That's why we urge readers not to rule out even high-fee credit cards. If you play your card(s) right – pun intended – these benefits can easily outweigh the card’s $695 annual fee. But to do that, you need to know exactly what you're getting.
Here's a rundown of everything you get with the Platinum Card.
- Earn as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of card membership.
- Earn 5x points per dollar on airfare purchased directly with any airline or through the American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 spent each year.
- Get the best lounge access from any credit card with complimentary entry to the Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs® (10 visits per year from Feb. 1 – Jan 31, when flying Delta), Plaza Premium Lounges, Priority Pass Lounges, and more.
- Up to $200 in annual airline fee credits to use with one U.S. airline of your choice each year on fees like checked bags, change or cancellation fees, seat assignments, and more.
- Up to $200 in annual Uber Cash that is split into monthly credits of $15, with an extra $20 in December. You can use this on Uber rides or Uber Eats orders in the U.S.
- Up to a $120 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, covering the cost of enrollment in either program.
- Up to $100 in annual credits for Saks Fifth Avenue, split into two semi-annual $50 credits.
- Instant Hilton Honors Gold™ & Marriott Bonvoy™ Gold Elite Status just for holding the Platinum Card (enrollment required).
- Trip delay & cancellation coverage if you pay for your round-trip flight with the Platinum Card (or put the taxes and fees from an award flight on it).
- Up to $199 in annual credit for CLEAR® Plus.
- Up to $240 in annual credits for select entertainment services, split into monthly installments of $20. However, this only applies to purchases or subscriptions with The Wall Street Journal, Peacock, the New York Times, and more.
- Up to a $200 annual credit for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings (The Hotel Collection bookings require a two-night minimum stay).
- Up to a $12.95 credit per month for Walmart+
- Annual Fee: annual_fees (see rates & fees)
Learn more about *amex platinum*.
Key Benefit Breakdown
The Platinum Card from American Express has long been a favorite of the Thrifty Traveler team and travelers across the globe. Beyond the opportunity to earn a welcome offer as high as 175,000 points, premium travel perks are the true reason for holding The Platinum Card.
This isn't an exhaustive list of the card's benefits, but it is meant to highlight the best and most valuable ones.
Airport Lounge Access
No card will get you into more airport lounges than the Platinum Card. This is by far the top reason travelers hold this card.
- You can get into American Express Centurion Lounges, some of the best lounges you'll find in the country (and, increasingly, worldwide).
- So long as you're flying Delta that day, you can also access the Delta Sky Club® 10 times annually between Feb. 1 and January 31 of the next calendar year.
- Your Platinum card will get you into smaller lounge networks like Plaza Premium, Airspace, and Escape Lounges – including our go-to lounge at Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP)
- Last but not least, you get access to more than 1,300 Priority Pass lounges worldwide thanks to a Priority Pass Select membership included with the card.
This is definitely my favorite benefit of the Amex Platinum card. I don't know if I could go back to sitting at the gate and buying overpriced airport food ever again!
Every airport lounge is different – and some are better than others. Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs are certainly the best of the bunch here, with great food, cocktails, seating, and amenities at every outpost.
Read our full review of the JFK Centurion Lounge!
$200 Airline Incidental Fee Credit
Get up to $200 worth credit for airline fees like checked luggage, seat assignments, change fees, in-flight meals, and more on U.S. airlines each year. While it's certainly gotten harder to use up this credit over the years, getting $200 in value each year has proven fairly easy for me. There are even a few slick ways you can cover airfare with these credits!
These credits reset every calendar year, right on Jan. 1. That means you can double dip and get up to $400 in airline credits in your first year with the card. The catch? Like many Amex credits, you have to remember to use it.
Read our full guide on the best ways to maximize Amex airline credits!
$200 Hotel Credit
All cardholders get a $200 annual statement credit for prepaid hotel bookings for Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection properties (two-night minimum stay required with The Hotel Collection) booked through Amex Travel.
Make your booking at an eligible property, pay with your Platinum Card, and the statement credit of up to $200 each year will kick in automatically.
You'll also receive some additional elite-like perks when booking through FHR or The Hotel Collection. In general, you can expect free breakfast, space-available upgrades, early check-in, late check-out, and even an on-property credit to use during your stay.
Read More: How to Use the $200 Amex Platinum Hotel Credit
$200 Annual Uber Cash
With this card, you get up to $200 in Uber Cash split across all 12 months of the year. You get up to $15 every month except December when you get up to $35 to round out the year. It's a use-it-or-lose-it benefit, so make sure to use it up each month!
If you're not booking Uber rides often, you could treat yourself to Uber Eats instead.
I am not sure I value this benefit at a full $200, as I often scramble to use it towards the end of the month by buying overpriced food on Uber Eats. But generally speaking, it's a nice perk and far from worthless.
$199 Credit for CLEAR® Plus
The cost of CLEAR® Plus is going up July 1 … but you can still get if for free with your Amex Platinum Card. Just use your card to pay for your membership and the credit of up to $199 should kick in automatically. This credit will be going up to $209 effective July 1.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit
Cardholders receive up to $240 in annual statement credits ($20 per month) for select entertainment services: Disney+, a Disney+ Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal.
$155 Walmart+ Credit
With the Amex Platinum Card, you'll get up to a $12.95 statement credit back each month after you pay for a Walmart+ membership.
I can hear you laughing: The big box retailer doesn't exactly scream “premium,” I've become a full-blown Walmart+ evangelist in recent years. Think of it as the big box store's version of Amazon Prime, and maybe you'll feel the same way I do.
With free same-day delivery on groceries and in-store items (with a $35 order minimum) and uncapped free shipping on other items, you can get nearly anything you want delivered right to your door for free. Plus, it opens the door to some additional benefits like 24/7 telehealth for your pets, Paramount+, discounted gas, and more.
Earning Points
Earn 5x points on airfare purchased directly with an airline or through the American Express Travel® (amextravel.com) on up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x. You'll also earn 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel and 1x points on all other eligible purchases.
The Best Ways to Maximize Amex Points
There are no shortage of ways to use a stash of 175,000 American Express Membership Rewards points. Below, we'll highlight a couple of our favorites.
Fly to Europe and Back in Business Class for 100K Points
Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) is one of the best airlines in the world and it’s got an underrated mileage program, too. In fact, it might just be one of the best ways to book business class flights … to Europe for just 100,000 miles roundtrip.
Yes, you read that right. Using miles from a Japanese airline to fly business class to Europe is one of the best workarounds in points and miles, as you can do it for roughly half the miles that other airlines charge. Consider this: United would charge 154,000 miles or more for these exact same transatlantic flights.
You’re not flying ANA itself, but merely using its miles to book other partner Star Alliance airlines like United, Air Canada, or SAS that fly nonstop across the pond. And Amex points transfer 1:1 to ANA miles. That means one Amex point is equal to one ANA mile. Membership Rewards are currently the only points currency that transfers to ANA.
It’s an incredible deal, but booking with ANA Mileage Club miles isn’t always straightforward – especially if you’re unfamiliar with its rules and quirks. Check out our full booking guide below for everything you need to know.
Read more: How to Fly Business Class to Europe for 100K Points Roundtrip
Book the World's Best Business Class: Qatar's Qsuites
Thanks to Qatar Airways' adoption of Avios, the floodgates are open to book Qatar's world-leading Qsuite business class seats using Amex points.
Here's the easiest route: You could book a simple nonstop from many cities in the U.S. over to Doha (DOH) for just 70,000 British Airways Avios. That means you'd have more than enough Amex points for a roundtrip to the Middle East.
Check out our full review of Qatar Qsuites
Sadly, both Qatar and British Airways recently raised taxes and fees on these business class redemptions. What was once a $100-or-so charge has increased to roughly $235 – but that's a small price to pay to fly the world's best business class, if you ask us.
We send Thrifty Traveler Premium members award alerts when they can book the world's best business class using their points, plus cheap cash fares too!
If you want to take it next level and connect elsewhere – Dubai (DXB) or Muscat (MCT) in the Middle East, Cairo (CAI), or maybe even the Maldives (MLE) or down to Cape Town (CPT) in South Africa – you'll want to turn to Qatar Airways Avios. And even though Amex isn't offering this bonus on transfers to Qatar, you can easily combine your Avios balances between British Airways and Qatar.
And these multi-segment awards wind up being much cheaper by booking through Qatar itself than British Airways. Booking through Qatar, you could fly in Qsuites to …
- Middle Eastern destinations like Dubai (DXB), Abu Dhabi (AUH) or Muscat (MCT) for 75,000 miles
- Other destinations like Amman (AMM) and Cairo (CAI) as well as major Indian cities go up to 80,000 miles each way
- Getting to the Seychelles (SEZ) or Maldives (MLE) will run you 85,000 miles each way
- Both Southeast Asia and South Africa typically cost 95,000 miles each way
All those flights except the longest routes to Southeast Asia and South Africa are in reach with this monster 175,000-point welcome offer.
Thrifty Tip: Book a flight that connects onward to the Middle East so you can access Qatar's incredible Al Safwa Lounge during your layover. You won't regret it.
Read our full guide on the best ways to book Qsuites!
Bottom Line
Amex just rolled out a new welcome offer on its flagship *amex platinum* where you may be eligible for as high as 175,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first six months. This increased offer is one of the biggest and best bonuses we've seen … but it won't be available to everyone. The way it works, you'll need to apply first and then you have option to accept or decline the offer, with no harm to your credit.
If this card makes sense for you, there are few easier ways to earn a boatload of points to fuel your future travels.
Learn more about *amex platinum*.
