How to Get the Most Out of Your Amex Platinum Card Benefits

*amex platinum* is one of the most popular cards for frequent travelers. But after a massive update earlier this month, there's much more to this card than a big welcome offer bonus and earning points when you book flights.

There's a laundry list of travel perks like lounge access and, increasingly, non-travel benefits that can save you money on everything from restaurants to fitness gear and even a Walmart+ subscription. As Amex has steadily added to that list, it's come at a cost: The annual fee now clocks in at a hefty annual_fees a year (see rates & fees).

Despite that steep cost, you can still come out ahead – all these perks are one reason why we urge readers to do the math and not to rule out even high-fee cards like this one. It requires some (OK, a lot of) work, but by maximizing those travel benefits and statement credits, you can recoup that annual fee … and then some. 

Here's our latest rundown of the ever-growing list of Amex Platinum benefits and how you can put them to use. 

Sick of letting credits on your Platinum Card go to waste? Use our new (and free!) tracking tool to keep tabs on everything!

 

 

Learn more about *amex platinum*.

 

Getting Started with Your Amex Platinum Card

First things first, you need the Platinum Card in your wallet to get all these benefits. 

And now could be a great time to apply. Exactly what welcome offer you're eligible for will vary, but you can currently earn a welcome bonus 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 is pulled – Amex will let you know the exact welcome offer you are eligible for.

Read more: Amex's New ‘As High As' Bonuses Are Bad News

But no matter how you slice it, spending $8,000 requires financial responsibility. Credit cards – and hybrid cards like the Amex Platinum – are serious business. No matter the points or the benefits, it never makes sense to open a new card if you can't afford to immediately pay off every dime you spend. 

The next step is arguably the most important: Many of the most valuable benefits of the Platinum Card require you to enroll online beforehand! So before you go swipe your card anywhere, log into your account online or via the Amex app and head to the “Rewards & Benefits” section.

 

 

Scroll down and click “View all Benefits” to see the entire list. From there, you can scroll down and click the option “Enroll” to see the entire list of a dozen benefits that require enrollment before you can use them. With a few exceptions, you can activate each one with just a few clicks. As you can see, I've taken care of all of them already. 

 

 

Travel Benefits

Airport Lounge Access

No card will get you into more airport lounges than the Platinum Card. American Express calls it the Amex Global Lounge Collection.

For starters, you can get into American Express Centurion® Lounges: some of the best lounges you'll find in the country … though they've become popular to a fault. From Seattle (SEA) to Denver (DEN) to Las Vegas (LAS) and New York City (JFK), you'll find them in more than a dozen U.S. airports and a few abroad, with even more on the way.

 

 

So long as you're flying Delta that day, you can also access the Delta Sky Club® – though you're limited to just 10 visits per year from Feb. 1 to Jan. 31 of the next calendar year … though you lean on another benefit on this card to get another four annual visits for 14 total.

Your Platinum card will also get you into smaller lounge networks like Plaza Premium, Airspace, and Escape Lounges. And last but not least, you get access to thousands of Priority Pass lounges worldwide. Plus, even with this top-tier Amex Card, you can visit one Chase Sapphire Lounge a year using Priority Pass!

But while you only need to flash your Platinum card to get into many of these lounges, you'll actually need to activate your complimentary Priority Pass™ Select Membership to get into Priority Pass lounges. You can do so underneath your Benefits tab in your Amex account. Click “American Express Global Lounge Collection” to enroll in your Priority Pass account.

 

 

You should get your card in the mail within a week or so, but be sure to save the materials to register your account online. Once you’re logged into the Priority Pass app, you can simply pull up your digital card on the app at lounge entrances rather than carry it in your wallet.

For all but Delta Sky Clubs and Amex Centurion Lounges, two guests can accompany you into any lounge for free. Nowadays, bringing a guest into Delta Sky Clubs or Amex Centurion Lounges will cost you an extra $50 apiece (or just $30 for children at Centurion Lounges).

Thrifty Tip: Add your Platinum card to your Delta wallet, and you can get into Sky Clubs just by scanning your mobile boarding pass!

Sadly, the Priority Pass membership from the Platinum Card took a hit a while back. As of August 2019, Priority Pass members with American Express cards can no longer receive credits to eat at select airport restaurants.

 

Maximize Your $200 Airline Credits

The American Express Platinum card also offers up to $200 in credits every year toward incidental airline fees. Like many other credits on this list, you need to activate this one first.

And unfortunately, this credit isn’t as expansive as the $300 annual travel credit offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve … nor are they as simple to use. But it’s still an easy way to offset the card’s annual fee: It can cover the cost of checked luggage, seat assignments, change fees, in-flight meals, and more on U.S. airlines. There are even a few crafty ways to put these credits toward airfare.

Read our full guide on the best ways to maximize Amex airline credits!

You’ll need to log in and manually select an airline each year, choosing from: Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, and United. And while you’re generally locked into that airline for the year, you may be able to switch it up by calling (or chatting online with) American Express. 

You can easily track how much of your credit you have used throughout the year in your Benefits portal.

 

 

These credits reset every calendar year, expiring on Dec. 31 and resetting right away on Jan. 1. So even if you just used your credit at the end of last year, you've got another $200 to spend. This also means you can get up to $400 in airline credits in your first full year with the card, allowing you to double-dip on this benefit while paying a single annual fee.

 

Get Uber Rides (or Uber Eats) + Free UberOne Membership

The American Express Platinum card gives you up to $200 in Uber Cash, split up across all 12 months of the year.

You get up to $15 every month except for December, when you get $35 to finish out the year. But getting these credits isn’t automatic, either. You’ll have to punch in your card details into your Uber account as a form of payment through the app. Once your card is in the system, the app will track how many credits you have available.

 

 

These credits reset every month, and any unused portion will not roll over to the next month. It's a use-it-or-lose-it benefit, so make sure to use them up each month. American Express now requires that you charge any additional balance to your Platinum Card in order to use these credits.

Need a way to use up your remaining credits? They work for Uber Eats, Uber's food delivery service, too! I set myself a reminder late each month to make sure I've used these credits up. If not, I'll order some takeout via Uber Eats to ensure it doesn't go to waste. 

As part of the latest update, you also now get a credit of up to $120 each year for an Uber One membership. This unlocks a rebate on Uber rides, $0 delivery fees on Uber Eats orders, and a few other perks. Just charge the monthly or annual membership fee to your Platinum Card, and a credit will kick in to cover the whole sum. 

The terms and conditions warn that using any available Uber Cash to pay for Uber One will make it ineligible for your credit, so you'll want to be sure to toggle that option off when you pay for your membership.

 

Cover the Cost of Getting Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

For any frequent traveler, Global Entry and TSA PreCheck are a must. PreCheck is your ticket to skip the long lines and speed through airport security, while Global Entry can get you through immigration faster. And the American Express Platinum Card can get you both.

The card offers up to a $120 credit to sign up for either one of these five-year memberships. You'll receive the benefit every 4 1/2 years for the application fee for TSA PreCheck® and every four years for Global Entry. Either way, you're set to keep your membership active just with your Platinum Card.

 

 

Weighing TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry? We recommend opting for Global Entry, as your membership comes with PreCheck, too.

Read our in-depth guide on how to get signed up for Global Entry!

To get this benefit, you must pay your application fee with your new American Express Platinum card. The expense should be reimbursed within a few days.

Thrifty Tip: Already signed up for one of these great trusted traveler programs? Use your card to pay for a friend or family member’s application!

 

Sign Up for CLEAR Plus, Too

The Platinum Card from American Express now offers up to $209 in credit annually to sign up for CLEAR® Plus, the privately run airport security program. That covers the entire cost of the $209 CLEAR® Plus membership.

But you can do even better. While CLEAR starts at $209 a year, you can drop the cost to just $199 with a free Delta SkyMiles or United MileagePlus account number – or down to $169 if you've got status or a co-branded credit card with either airline.

After a recent hike, adding adults to your CLEAR Plus Family Plan costs another $125 a year, though minors can come with you for free.

 

 

While they may seem duplicative, CLEAR and TSA PreCheck (or better yet, Global Entry) can form a powerful duo. You use CLEAR to cut to the front of the PreCheck, then PreCheck itself gets you through faster by saving you the trouble of removing shoes, a belt, a light jacket, liquids, or electronics.

Read more: Is CLEAR Plus Worth It? A Review of the Security Fastpass Program

Just charge your CLEAR Plus enrollment to your Platinum Card and voila – you're set. A statement credit for the full amount should kick in automatically within a few days.

 

Instant Hotel Status with Hilton, Marriott & More

The American Express Platinum Card is a quick ticket to hotel status. You can instantly enroll for Gold-level status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy. Here’s a quick breakdown of what each is worth.

Hilton Honors™ Gold Status gets you 25% bonus points on paid stays, free upgrades when space is available, a fifth night free when staying with points, and free breakfast for you and a guest – but only when staying abroad. Unfortunately, Hilton has replaced this perk with a less valuable (but more flexible) daily food and beverage credit at U.S. Hilton properties.

 

 

Meanwhile, your Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status allows you to earn a 25% points bonus on paid stays, upgraded internet access, space-available room upgrades, and priority late checkout.

American Express recently added another instant status option to the list: Leading Hotels of the World,  a relatively small chain of 400 luxury properties worldwide. With the chain's top-tier Leaders Club Sterling Status, you can get daily breakfast for two, exclusive upgrades, and pre-arrival upgrade opportunities. 

You must enroll individually for each status upgrade with your loyalty account number for each of these hotel brands. The registration generally takes a day or two to process. To start the process with each hotel chain, head to your benefits tab in your Amex account or fire up the online chat function and ask an Amex representative to do it for you.

 

Up to a $600 Credit for Fine Hotels + Resorts® & The Hotel Collection

The value of the Platinum Card at hotels goes beyond status. After the latest updates, this one might be the biggest and best benefit on the whole list.

It also opens the door to Amex's Fine Hotels + Resorts® (FHR) Program, a collection of luxury properties across the world that also comes with a handful of special perks. Think of FHR as hotel status on steroids. And your Platinum Card gets you up to $600 per year in credit to use at Fine Hotels + Resorts – split into two, semi-annual credits of $300 each. 

Those FHR perks include free room upgrades when available, complimentary daily breakfast for two, an experience credit of $100 or more for dining or spa services, noon check-in when available, and guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout.

For instance, I previously used my credits to book Hotel Las Islas Baru, a stunning property on the coast of Colombia. That credit covered all but a fraction of the nightly charge for this spacious pool villa. And in lieu of a dining credit, the property gave us free roundtrip transfers from the Cartagena (CTG) airport.

 

 

These credits also work with the slightly-less-luxurious-but-still-excellent The Hotel Collection. One small hitch: The Hotel Collection properties require a two-night minimum stay to trigger the credit. At FHR locations, you can book a one-night stay. 

Either way, it's available to Platinum Cardholders who book through American Express Travel®, Amex's travel portal. Just log in with your Platinum Card and start searching to see what FHR or Hotel Collection properties you can find.

Finding properties that cost around or below $300 a night can be a challenge, especially in U.S. cities like New York City and Los Angeles or in Europe. That said, we've had great luck using these credits toward stays in Denver and Chicago, as well as Eastern Europe, Australia and New Zealand, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and South America.

Thrifty Tip: Use MaxFHR to pinpoint cheaper eligible stays where you can use your credits without spending hundreds extra.

 

Car Rental Insurance: Rental Car Benefits with Hertz, Avis & National

Renting a car is easier and more comfortable when you carry the American Express Platinum card. Just as with hotel chains, the Amex Platinum gets you rental car benefits with instant status at several car rental companies. 

Our favorite among the bunch is Emerald Club Executive status with National. That’s because you get access to the special Executive Section, where you can choose any full-size car or higher when paying a midsize car rate. That means that you can make a reservation for any full-size car and skip the National check-in desk entirely. Instead, head straight for the Emerald Aisle and take your pick.

It also gets you free upgrades and extra points when you book. 

 

 

Read more about why we love National Car status and the Emerald Aisle!

Hertz President's Club is great, too. You can skip the line and grab any car on the lot at one of the 50-plus airport locations across the country that offer Hertz Ultimate Choice. Other perks include complimentary upgrades, earning bonus points, free additional drivers on each rental, and more.

With Avis Preferred Status, you can skip the line and pick a car, or get 25% off your rental and a one-class car upgrade. Hertz Gold Plus Status means you can head straight for the Gold counter at check-in, where it's available. It also gives you lower rates and a one-class car upgrade.

No matter which company you choose, you have to enroll through your benefits page to get status with all three rental car companies. Those upgrades generally take a few days to process, so you may want to plan ahead. 

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. 

• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. 
• Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. 
• Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

 

Other Benefits & Credits

In addition to the travel benefits that might have additionally drawn you to the Platinum Card, there are a bevy of other money-saving credits you can use to chip away at that annual fee. 

 

Up to a $400 Resy Credit

Amex is giving you a reason to whip out your Platinum Card at dinner.

Platinum cardholders now get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter (for up to $400 each year) for dining purchases at more than 10,000 U.S. Resy-partner restaurants.

 

 

Thrifty Tip: You've got less than a week (as of publication) to use the first $100 dining credit before it expires at the end of September when the quarter ends! 

You'll need to enroll online in your Amex account before dining at one of these restaurants. And like most Amex credits, this is a use-it-or-lose-it benefit. If you don't spend the full $100 in each quarter, it won't roll over to the next.

Once you're enrolled, it's easy to use. Just head to Resy.com, find an eligible restaurant nearby, and charge the tab to your Platinum Card. You don't need to actually make a reservation through Resy in order to trigger the credit … and in many cases, you can buy a gift card from a participating restaurant and put it to use!

Read more: How to Use Your Amex Resy Credits

 

Up to a $300 Lululemon Credit

Need some workout clothes or athleisure wear? Charge it to your Platinum Card.

Cardholders can now get up to $75 back each quarter (up to $300 a year) on purchases at U.S. Lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) or online at lululemon.com. Lululemon gear is pricey, so these new credits may not cover much more than a t-shirt, a few pairs of socks, or underwear. Still, it's useful to offset the cost of the shopping you might already be doing.

Thrifty Tip: While the terms and conditions say otherwise, this credit will still work to buy gift cards so long as you buy them in-store or ship a physical gift card to your house – at least for now: This could change over time. That means you could buy a few gift cards over time and put them towards a larger purchase.

Like many of these new benefits, enrollment is required before you can take advantage. Head to your online Amex account and enroll in this new benefit before you use it. 

 

Up to $25 a Month in Entertainment Credits

Another perk added to the Platinum Card a few years back is up to $20 in monthly entertainment credits … and that recently increased to $25-a-month. And you've got more options than ever to put it to use.

This $25 monthly credit can currently be used for Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, Paramount+, YouTube TV, and YouTube Premium. 

If you're already using one of these platforms – and many of us are – it adds up to another $300 over the course of the year. Just charge your subscription for these services to the Platinum Card and it will kick in to cover up to $25 a month.

 

Get up to $100 in Annual Credits at Saks Fifth Ave

You can buy some fancy goods with your Platinum Card … just don't expect much. 

A few years back, the American Express Platinum card rolled out $100 in credits on Saks Fifth Avenue purchases each calendar year. It’s divvied up into two, $50 credits.

The first credit is available through June, while the second becomes available in July through the end of the year. After activating the credit through your account, the credit should automatically apply when you make a purchase at Saks. Unused credits don’t roll over, so remember to use them or lose them.

Sadly, Saks nuked this benefit last year by eliminating free shipping unless you spend $300 or more. While $50 won't go very far, it's still worth trying to put this one to use.

Check out some of the best ways to use your $50 Saks Fifth Ave credits!

 

Free Walmart+ (Yes, Really)

It sounds like a joke, doesn't it? A free Walmart subscription … from a nearly $700 travel card? 

But it's true. Using your Platinum Card to sign up, it'll cover the full monthly cost of Walmart+. It normally costs $12.95 per month (or $98 per year).

Think of Walmart+ as the big box store's answer to Amazon Prime. You get free next-day and two-day shipping with no order minimum, including items sold by third-party retailers through Walmart.com. You'll also get free same-day delivery for groceries and other in-store items with a $35 minimum order. 

 

 

Plus, you can get a 10-cent per gallon discount on gas at over 13,000 stations nationwide

But your Walmart+ account also opens the door to a few other worthwhile (and even more questionable) perks, including: 

• A free Paramount+ Essential subscription, which normally costs $4.99
• A 25% discount (and four free Whoppers a year) at Burger King
• 24/7 complimentary telehealth for your pets via Pawp

Read More: Walmart+ is Low-Key One of the Amex Platinum Card's Best Perks

 

$200 Oura Ring Credit

Platinum cardmembers can now get up to $200 back each year toward a purchase at Ouraring.com, including the sleek Oura Ring wearable that’s become a favorite for fitness and wellness tracking.

Oura's latest tracking ring – the Oura Ring 4 – starts at $349, so this new credit covers just over half that cost. Older generation models price out just under $200. But while using an Oura ring also requires a membership that costs $5.99 a month (or $69.99 per year), Amex has confirmed to Thrifty Traveler that this new credit can only be used for the ring hardware – not the subscription. 

Like others, enrollment is required to use this benefit, so make sure you enroll before heading to Oura's website. 

 

An Equinox Gym Membership … Kind Of

We've reached the bottom of the barrel. 

Back when it got a facelift in 2021, Amex added a credit of up to $300 for Equinox, the incredibly pricey luxury fitness clubs found primarily in New York and California. Most Equinox locations cost at least $200 a month – if not twice that or more – so this credit won't get you very far.

But there's one other option: You can sign up for Equinox+, the gym's app with on-demand fitness courses and tracking. The credit will kick in to cover the entire $300 annual fee.

 

Authorized Users Get (Some) Benefits Too

You're not the only one who can benefit.

American Express allows you to add authorized users to your account, and they'll share many of these perks. At $195 per year apiece after a recent hike, it's not exactly cheap.

So what do these users get?

• American Express Centurion Lounge Access: Yes.
• Priority Pass™ Select Lounge Membership: Yes.
• Delta Sky Club Access (When Flying Delta): Yes.
• Up to $120 Credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry: Yes.
• Earn 5x Points on Airfare Booked Directly with Airlines and Hotels Booked Through Amextravel.com on up to $500,000 spent in this category each year: Yes.
• Instant Hotel Status with Marriott and Hilton: Yes.
• Access to Fine Hotels + Resorts®: Yes.
• Instant Rental Car Agency Status with Hertz, Avis, and National: Yes.

That's a lot of perks that you can pass on to your friends and family members. Only the monetary credits – for hotels, airlines, Uber, Saks Fifth Avenue, gym, and entertainment credits – don't pass down, with one exception: Authorized users do get their own Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit!

The Amex Platinum's lounge access alone can make it worth. For example, if you try to get a spouse into the Delta Sky Club or Amex Centurion Lounge, you'd have to pay $50 for each visit. Add them as an authorized user to your account, and they can get in for free – with their own allotment of 10 visits a year to Sky Clubs, to boot!

Another bonus: American Express allows you to transfer Membership Rewards points directly to an authorized user's frequent flyer account. Unfortunately, Amex has added some restrictions to these transfers. But it can still make it much easier to book that trip together.

 

Bottom Line

There's more than ever to keep track of, yet here's no doubt about it: The Amex Platinum's long list of perks and benefits can add up. In fact, for the right traveler, they can outweigh the card's annual fee … and then some.

From your trip to the airport to renting a car to clearing immigration on your way back, there's a lot at your fingertips. Make sure you do all of the above to make your travels more comfortable.

 

 

Learn more about *amex platinum*.