American Express Platinum Card®

• Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
• Up to $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
• Up to $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
• Up to $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• Up to $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
• Up to $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• Up to $200 Airline Fee Credit: 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 the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
• Up to $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
• Up to $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• $895 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

When it comes to Membership Rewards points, the best way to maximize your points is to redeem them with travel.

[.dontreco] We don’t recommend: Redeeming your Membership Rewards points for cash back [.dontreco]

While you can use your Membership Rewards points for a statement credit, essentially getting cash back, those points are typically worth just 0.6 cents each. This simply doesn’t provide the best value for your points.

[.sometimesreco] We sometimes recommend: Booking through the Amex travel portal [.sometimesreco]

You can redeem your points for flights, hotel stays, and car rentals through Amex Travel, but this usually gives you a value of 1 cent per point or less, which is at least 50% lower than the normal value of Membership Rewards points. While this is a decent option, it’s still not the best.

[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Using Membership Rewards points to book with transfer partners [.alwaysreco]

The bottom line is — if a flight or hotel room can be bought with cash, you can use your points to book it. Transferring your Amex Membership Rewards points can score you more than 1.25 cents per point by moving rewards to AmE’s super-duper-wonderful airline and hotel partners. Top picks include Delta, Emirates, Qatar, Hilton, Marriott, and so many more. Taking advantage of these transfer partners is one of the best ways to justify your Amex Platinum.

But how can I actually transfer my Membership Rewards points?

Simply log into your Amex account, click on “earn and redeem,” and you’ll see Amex’s long list of transfer partners. From there, make your transfer selection based on your trip and transfer those points. And just like that, you’re on your way! ✈️

Here’s that sweet list of American Express Membership Rewards points transfer partners we were just chatting about:

World of Hyatt Credit Card — Annual Fee: $95

Why? With this combo, you’re simply unlocking two very separate earning categories with two very separate programs. The World of Hyatt Credit Card is a must-have for frequent travelers looking to maximize their Hyatt loyalty. With this card, you’re looking at 9X points per dollar on Hyatt purchases, 2X points on dining, airline tickets, local transit, commuting, and fitness club memberships, and 1X points on everyday purchases. You’ll also get complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open, which provides exclusive benefits during your stays. For each cardmember anniversary, you'll receive a free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort. Plus, if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year, you'll earn an additional free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt property, making it even more rewarding. The card also includes 5 qualifying night credits towards your next tier status every year and an extra 2 qualifying night credits for every $5,000 you spend on the card. Currently, the welcome offer makes it even more attractive by giving you a chance to earn up to 30,000 additional points with a $15,000 spend, along with the usual annual Free Night Certificate. When paired with the AmEx Platinum, you’re covering the map of flights and hotels, making for a more well-rounded trip. Plus, you’ll be adding a very small annual fee to your wallet, which is nice considering the AmEx Platinum’s is pretty steep. (rates and fees)

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Annual Fee: $95

Why? It’s no secret that, here at Daily Drop, we’re pretty much obsessed with the Sapphire Preferred — and can you blame us? First of all, the Sapphire Preferred is just an easy card to keep in your wallet, especially because of its small annual fee. When paired with the AmEx Platinum, you’re covering the map of transfer partners and earning rates pretty well. Pairing the Sapphire Preferred with the AmEx Platinum is a smart move for several reasons. With the Sapphire Preferred, you earn 2x points on travel and dining, while the AmEx Platinum offers 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels, among other perks. By strategically using both cards, you can earn points across various spending categories and access a wide range of transfer partners, enhancing your flexibility. Plus, you'll enjoy superior travel benefits such as lounge access, airline fee credits, and elite hotel status. With comprehensive purchase protections and exclusive deals, this card combination offers exceptional value and convenience for frequent travelers.

Chase Freedom Unlimited® — Annual Fee: $0

Why? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card offers an enticing bonus, allowing you to earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (up to $20,000 in the first year). This can amount to a substantial $300 cash back. But the real magic happens if you have another Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards points, like the Sapphire Preferred, for example. With these cards, you can convert your cash-back rewards into valuable Chase points, opening up opportunities to transfer points to airline and hotel partners for greater value. Besides the Sapphire Preferred for points transfers, consider the Freedom Unlimited for 1.5 points per dollar on miscellaneous purchases, and a Chase Freedom card for the rotating 5% categories. This combo helps you maximize the World of Hyatt points earned via Ultimate Rewards transfers.

1. The Boujee Traveler

By now, you’ve probably guessed the Amex Platinum is not a beginner card — quite the opposite, actually. If you’re trying to climb the credit card ladder, this one sits somewhere near the very, very top. The Amex Platinum is the epitome of luxury, loaded with perks that elevate your travel experience:✨ Travel credits ✨ Hotel elite status ✨ Airport lounge access ✨ Faster airport security ✨ Uber VIP status ✨ Access to The Luxury Collection, a group of world-renowned hotels and resortsLet’s talk about Centurion Lounges for a second. Any airport lounge is a nice escape (most of the time). But if we’re ranking airport lounges based on quality food, atmosphere, space, and service — the Centurion Lounges reign king. This is one of very few cards on the market offering access to those lounges.

1. The Frequent Traveler

The Amex Platinum should live in the wallets of those frequenting the airport. Do you find yourself flying through the air quite often? Our team can certainly relate, which is why we choose to keep this magical piece of metal close by. Most of the credits and perks you’ve seen listed make the most sense for people traveling pretty often.

1. The Credits Lover

The Amex Platinum is loaded with credits. LOADED. People tend to look over the access to Trusted Traveler Programs, but if you’re making your way to the airport more than twice a year, this is a super nice perk to have. Saving all of that time in the security line gives you more time in that Centurion Lounge. 😎 You’ll get an annual airline credit and a hotel credit each year.

The Amex Platinum isn’t just about travel; it also offers benefits for entertainment, wellness, and retail. Not to mention, this card’s travel insurance is something to be excited about. While he used the Canadian version, Mike once had a nightmare-ish medical experience abroad. Thankfully, he had The Platinum Card® handy, which saved him tons of money in a really stressful and scary situation. Read more here about how Mike used the Canadian version of this card. And if you’re in the U.S., read our travel insurance guide here.

Here’s a good rule of thumb: You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) are a non-U.S. resident (for this particular card), and (3) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is low, you'll need to improve it before applying for travel credit cards, as approval for the best ones, like the Amex Platinum, is unlikely.

Be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles and points, but they require responsible use.

An credit score of good to excellent is recommended for the Amex Platinum Card. But again, if you’re in a solid place with your credit and feel you are ready for a new card, don’t let the fear of being rejected keep you from applying. We’ve known several people to be rejected on their first application, use the reconsideration line, and be granted the Amex Platinum. While it’s not considered a beginner card, the worst they can say is “no.”