Big changes just hit *amex platinum*. And whether you're just opening the Platinum Card today or have had it in your wallet for years, you can take advantage of a slew of new credits … even before paying the card's (now even pricier) annual fee.
You can double dip on an even more generous hotel credit. You can go out for a nice dinner or buy some workout gear on Amex's dime thanks to your Platinum Card.
But time is of the essence! To set yourself up to make the most, here are a few things you should move on soon – like, right now.
Get caught up via podcast – listen to our latest episode all about these big Amex Platinum changes!
Don't Worry About Your Annual Fee (Yet)
On paper, American Express just hiked the annual fee on its flagship card by another $200. In practice, you probably won't feel the pain of that price hike just yet.
As of Sept. 18, brand-new applicants will pay the higher, $895 annual fee (see rates & fees). But if you've had the card for a while, you might get a good break.
Any longtime cardholders whose account renews between now and Jan. 1, 2026, will pay the current $695 rate for one more year. Any renewal after that date will put you on the hook for the higher annual fee.
For example, my Amex Platinum Card renews every June, so I've already paid $695. That means I won't see this painful new $895 annual fee on my account until June 2026. That gives me plenty of time to decide whether it's worth the higher price tag … and use a ton of new benefits in the meantime.
Activate Your New Credits
The laundry list of credits on your Platinum Card is officially longer than ever. And in classic Amex fashion, it's not enough to simply slap down your Platinum Card to pay and take advantage of them all.
With few exceptions, you have to actually activate and enroll online for these credits ahead of time in order for them to work properly. Do yourself a favor and do it all right now.
To do so, just log into your American Express account and head for “Benefits.” You might even see the prompt to “Enroll in Benefits” right after logging in.
From there, just scroll down and watch for any benefits marked with “Enrollment Required” and click each one for more details. If you keep scrolling, Amex specifically breaks out any credits that require enrollment in its own container.
The process of activating each one is often as simple as simply clicking “Enroll Now” – but, again, that's critical to make sure these new credits trigger properly.
The big additions to watch for here are:
- $400 Resy credit
- $300 Lululemon credt
- $200 Oura ring credit
Personally, I just went in and activated the lot of them whether I plan to use them (Resy, Lululemon) … or not (I don't want 50% off an Oura ring).
Get Organized: Download Our New Tracking Tool!
There are now more than a dozen different money-saving credits on the Platinum Card. Some expire monthly … or once every three months … or twice annually … or just once a year.
It's a ton to keep track of. We're here to help.
We put built a handy spreadsheet to track all things on your Amex Platinum Card in one place. Best of all, it's completely free to download and use!
Get started with this Amex Platinum Credit Tracker on Google Sheets – or download it as an Excel file!
Mark any credits you've already used and the sheet will automatically tally up the total value – and whether you've recouped your annual fee or not! Plus, it's color-coded to highlight any unused credits that are set to expire within the next 30 days (in orange) or in just two weeks' time (in red).
That'll quickly tell you that you've got any credits that will disappear soon – including some new additions…
Go Out for a Nice Dinner Soon
One of the biggest (and arguably best) additions to your Platinum Card could get you a fancy dinner before the end of the month.
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. The first of those quarterly credits is already available … but it'll expire Sept. 30. That gives you less than two weeks to put it to use before it lapses!
First things first, follow our earlier advice and activate your Resy credits in your Amex. From there, find a participating Resy restaurant nearby before October gets underway, pick up the tab with your Platinum Card, and up to $100 will automatically be credited back to you.
And that's it. You don't even need to book your reservation through Resy or jump through any additional hoops in order to put this credit to use.
Again: Use your first $100 credit by Sept. 30 before it disappears!
Grab Some Gear from Lululemon, Too
Up to $300 in credits for shopping at Lululemon was a delightful surprise, if you ask me.
Much like the Resy credit, these credits for Lululemon gear are doled out in quarterly installments – in this case, $75 a pop. And because the current quarter ends Sept. 30, you've got under two weeks to put the first one to use!
First things first: Activate your new Lululemon credit in your Amex account. From there, use your Platinum Card to pay at U.S. Lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) or online at lululemon.com and up to $75 in credits will kick in automatically.
Lululemon gear is pricey, so these new credits may not cover much more than a t-shirt or a few pairs of socks or underwear. Still, it's useful to offset the cost of the shopping you might already be doing. Personally, I'll be making a beeline for the clearance rack at my nearest store.
Thrifty Tip: While the terms and conditions say otherwise, it's possible this credit will still work to buy gift cards – especially if you purchase in store. If it works, that means you could buy a few gift cards over time and put them towards a larger purchase.
Plan a Fancy Hotel Stay
You've got more time for this one, but it pays to plan ahead when $300 is on the line.
The days of getting just $200 a year toward luxury hotel stays are over: American Express replaced that once-a-year credit with up to $600 a year for prepaid bookings at Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection properties booked through American Express Travel®. The Hotel Collection booking require a two-night minimum stay.
This credit is split into two chunks: $300 from January through June and another $300 from July through December.
Since we're already (sigh…) well past the halfway mark of 2025, you've got just one $300 credit to burn. But keep in mind: You don't have to actually stay before that deadline – you just have to book before the end of the year, even for a future stay as far out as late 2026.
I can hear your questions now, longtime Platinum cardholders: You can – and absolutely should! – use this new $300 credit before the end of the year even if you already used the card's previous, $200-once-a-year credit.
As always, a one-night FHR stay will trigger the $300 credit. The Hotel Collection properties require at least a two-night stay.
Even with just a one-night stay, finding eligible properties that cost close to $300 can be a challenge. Here in the states, I've had great luck in Denver, Chicago, and Las Vegas, among other U.S. cities. Australia and New Zealand, Turkey, Southeast Asia, and South America are also sweet spots to book an FHR or The Hotel Collection property at lower rates.
Thrifty Tip: Use the handy tool MaxFHR to pinpoint cheaper properties!
Sign Up for Uber One
Sure, this benefit won't move mountains. But I appreciate that, unlike almost every other credit on the list, this one is a recurring payment you can set once and forget.
In addition to the longstanding up to $15 (or more) in Uber Cash that you get monthly, American Express added up to $120 back each year when you use your Platinum Card to pay for Uber One. That covers the entire cost of a membership, unlocking perks like discounted rides and $0 delivery fees on Uber Eats.
Better yet, this one is easy to stack: You can use your Uber One membership to waive delivery fees or get a rebate on your rides, then pay for those rides or meals with your monthly Uber Cash.
To get started, just fire up your Uber app, go to your account, and select “Uber One, then charge the annual subscription to your Platinum Card. According to the terms and conditions, both monthly and annual subscriptions will trigger the credit – but you can't use Uber Cash to pay for it. Be sure to toggle off “Uber balances” while selecting your Platinum Card as the payment method.
Request Your Mirrored Platinum Card (If You Want)
In tandem with all these changes, Amex released a new, limited-edition design of its Platinum Card with a mirror finish.
… because the heavy metal card isn't ostentatious enough, right? Anyways, this one's sure to be popular. Case in point: Amex warned a handful of Thrifty Traveler team members that their extra special mirror cards wouldn't arrive until Oct. 2.
New applicants and longtime cardholders alike can easily request this new design. Existing cardholders can simply request a replacement card, just as you would if your card was lost or stolen. From there, just select “I want to change my card's design” and pick the new mirror card from the list of options.
Best of all: Your card number stays the same and you can continue using it as normal until the new one arrives!
But if you want it, you might want to act fast. Amex has said this'll only be available for a limited time.
Read more: How to Swap Your Amex Platinum for the Shiny New Mirror Design
Bottom Line
Get moving, Amex Platinum cardholders.
Major changes unveiled Thursday could be a big win, as you can already take advantage of a slew of new benefits – even if you don't pay the higher annual fee for many months. But you'd be wise to spring into action ASAP.
