The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the most iconic rewards cards out there, offering several benefits for travelers, including lounge memberships, a long list of transfer partners, various credits, insurance protections and so much more. On July 1, 2021, the annual fee for the card increased from $550 to $695 for new applicants (Jan. 1, 2022, for existing cardholders) to align with many new benefits offered by the card.

In addition to the perks, Membership Rewards points earned on the card are extremely versatile — they can be transferred to 19 airlines and three hotel partners, offering plenty of interesting award redemptions.

Here’s what you need to know about the most important benefits, key transfer partners and strategies for extracting the most value from the card.

Table of contents

Welcome offer overview

July 2021 new credits and benefits

Key transfer partners

Various statement credits

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit

5x Membership Rewards points

Fine Hotels + Resorts program

The Global Lounge Collection

Hilton and Marriott Gold elite status

Car rental elite status

The best of the rest

An overview

The card has the following welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

The introductory offer on The Platinum Card® from American Express fluctuates often, and can be as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points. Terms apply. Keep this in mind when applying so you can time your application to coincide with a high offer.

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BROWSE CARDS

July 2021 new credits and benefits on The Platinum Card® from American Express

American Express is introducing many new perks to coincide with the increased annual fee. Those who apply for The Platinum Card® from American Express on July 1, 2021, or later will pay an increased annual fee of $695. Existing cardholders will have their annual fee increased on Jan. 1, 2022. Here are the new benefits included with the card.

$200 hotel credit

Holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express will receive $200 in statement credits on prepaid hotel bookings made with AmEx Travel at Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection properties (note: stays at The Hotel Collection must be two nights minimum). With over 1,700 hotels to choose from, if you value stays at these high-end properties, these credits will come in handy. The value provided is in addition to the other statement credits and perks offered for staying at these hotels. Terms apply.

$300 Equinox gym credit

Equinox gyms are well-known for being luxurious and expensive, offering new machines, group fitness classes, personal training, spa treatments and more. When you use The Platinum Card® from American Express to pay for your membership or for the Equinox+ app, you will receive $300 of annual statement credits ($25 per month). Terms apply.

$240 digital entertainment credit

Cardholders can get up to $20 per month as a statement credit when using The Platinum Card® from American Express to pay for eligible digital purchases from:

Audible (through Oct. 1, 2023).

Disney+.

The Disney Bundle.

ESPN+.

Hulu.

Peacock.

SiriusXM.

The New York Times.

The Wall Street Journal.

If you use these services already, a monthly $20 statement credit is a great benefit. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

$189 Clear credit

Clear provides members a touchless ID service by scanning their face and eyes, allowing them to bypass parts of airport security lanes and go through stadium verification checks faster. An annual membership costs $189, and The Platinum Card® from American Express will offer an annual credit to offset the cost of the membership when it is charged on the card. Terms apply.

Centurion Network expansion

The Centurion Network has been expanded, with over 40 Centurion Lounge and Studio locations globally. Increased access is a welcome development, especially since the Priority Pass lounge membership through American Express doesn’t include restaurants. Enrollment required for Priority Pass. Terms apply.

Wheels Up: A premium private jet program

Wheels Up provides access to private jet rentals. There are several membership levels, and reservations can be made through the Wheels Up app. Holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Centurion Card are eligible for discounts, flight credits and capped hourly rates on reservations and memberships to the program. Terms apply.

Global dining access by Resy

Cardmembers can take advantage of elevated dining experiences, including access to tables at exclusive restaurants, curated experiences and presales to dining events. Terms apply.

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How to make the most of The Platinum Card® from American Express

Know the key Membership Rewards transfer partners

As a holder of The Platinum Card® from American Express, you earn Membership Rewards points anytime you use your card. These points are valuable because they can be transferred to the following 22 airline and hotel partners:

Partners

Aer Lingus — AerClub Avios.

Aeromexico — Club Premier.

Air Canada — Aeroplan.

Air France-KLM — Flying Blue.

Alitalia — MilleMiglia.

ANA — Mileage Club Miles.

Avianca — LifeMiles.

British Airways — Executive Club Avios.

Cathay Pacific — Asia Miles.

Delta Air Lines — SkyMiles.

El Al Israel Airlines — Matmid Points.

Emirates — Skywards Miles.

Etihad Airways — Etihad Guest.

Hawaiian Airlines — HawaiianMiles.

Iberia — Iberia Plus Avios.

JetBlue — TrueBlue.

Qantas — Qantas Frequent Flyer.

Singapore Airlines — KrisFlyer.

Virgin Atlantic — Flying Club.

Choice — Choice Privileges.

Hilton — Hilton Honors.

Marriott — Bonvoy.

With this many options, it can get confusing to figure out which partner it makes sense to transfer to. As a general rule, you will fare better with airlines than hotels because airline points can result in stronger redemptions, especially if you’re flying in premium cabins.

Some airline partners are better than others, and you’ll want to familiarize yourself with which ones you should generally avoid. You can also extract decent value if you redeem your points to book travel through the AmEx Travel portal.

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Take advantage of all the other statement credits

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers several cash-back credits in a variety of categories. Examine each so you can figure out the best way to maximize them.

$200 airline fee credit

This $200 airline fee credit is provided each calendar year and can be used on purchases with the following airlines: Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Spirit, Southwest or United. Terms apply.

Unlike the $300 travel statement credit on the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, this $200 credit is not as straightforward. First, you’ll need to select an airline online or by calling the number on the back of your card. Second, only “incidental air travel fees” are eligible for reimbursement. AmEx specifically states that plane tickets, upgrades, points purchases, gift cards, award tickets and more are not considered incidental charges.

So what qualifies? While there is no official policy, users report that baggage charges, change fees, pet flight fees, seat choices and in-flight food purchases have triggered the credit. If you have a specific airline charge you’re wondering about, it's best to call AmEx to confirm.

You are allowed to change your airline selection each January, so make sure you know your designated airline and use your card for charges accordingly. This is a use-it-or-lose-it annual credit. Terms apply.