Platinum Card® by American Express includes many travel and lifestyle benefits and perks, including Priority Pass lounge access, Uber credits, and several statement credits you can use each year. However, not everyone knows how to take advantage of all the benefits offered by the new American Express Platinum card.
The Platinum Card is one of the best American Express cards on the market, but only if you know how to use it. Want to maximize your Amex Platinum welcome bonus? Interested in learning about the shopping benefits you get with the new Amex Platinum Card? Keep reading – we’ll tell you the first things you need to do when you get your new Amex Platinum.
1. Maximize your welcome bonus
What should be done first after receiving a Platinum Card? Start earning your welcome bonus, of course.
The card offers 100,000 Membership Rewards if you spend $6,000 within the first six months of card ownership. With these points worth 1 cent each when booking flights through American Express Travel, your initial offer could be worth $1,000.
If you spread the costs evenly over six months, you will need to make at least $1,000 worth of purchases on Amex Platinum every month to earn a welcome bonus. And of course, you shouldn’t buy more than you can pay off in full at the end of each billing cycle.
If you are unable to pay your bill in full, you can use the Amex Pay Over Time feature to manage and pay off your balance, but be aware that Amex will charge interest ranging from 17.49 to 24.49 percent with variable annual interest. rate for this privilege.
2. Start enjoying the benefits of travel
The Amex Platinum Card is a luxury credit card with an annual fee of $695. However, if you use your Amex Platinum benefits correctly, you can save enough money to cover the cost of the annual fee and then some.
Here’s how to get started with your Amex Platinum travel benefits.
Select Airline Commission Credit
The Amex Platinum Card is one of the best frequent flyer cards, probably because of the airline’s annual credit. This travel benefit gives you up to $200 in calendar year statements after you select an eligible airline, including Delta Airlines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, and more.
Of course, we recommend choosing the airline you prefer to fly with. Once you make your choice, you can earn credits for unexpected airline fees such as baggage fees and flight change fees. These statement credits will be automatically applied to your Platinum card account, so make sure you select your airline as soon as possible to enjoy Amex Platinum travel benefits.
Sign up for Priority Pass for lounge access
Want even more advantages at the airport? The card provides a free Priority Pass Select membership that gives you access to over 1,300 Priority Pass Lounges worldwide. However, you need to register for Priority Pass before you can enjoy this airline benefit.
When you register as a Priority Pass Select member, you will receive a separate Priority Pass card. With your Priority Pass card, you can visit any lounges in the network worldwide, and if the Priority Pass lounge allows guests, you can invite up to two guests for free as part of your membership. Note. You cannot use your American Express Platinum credit card to access Priority Pass Lounges.
Take Advantage of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
Your Amex Platinum travel privileges also give you access to the American Express Global Lounge collection. With over 1,200 airport lounges in 130 countries, American Express’s global lounge collection gives you ample opportunity to unwind before your flight or during a long layover.
The Global Lounge Collection includes the Delta Sky Club, Airspace and the exclusive Platinum Centurion Lounges. Unlike Priority Pass Lounges, you simply need to show your Platinum Card, government-issued ID, and your boarding pass to enter. In addition to yourself, the main cardholder, you can bring two guests for free.
Register for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Clear
Like many popular travel credit cards, Amex Platinum Card offers commission credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership. If you have not yet enrolled in TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, you may receive a credit statement for up to $100 to cover the cost of your application.
If you’re already enrolled in one of these Trusted Traveler programs, you can still use the Statement Credit when it’s time to renew your membership, as Platinum Card members can access a new commission credit every four years (for Global Entry) and every four and a half years (for TSA PreCheck).
The American Express Platinum Card also offers an annual Clear membership credit of $189. Clear is another program, albeit one run by a company rather than a government, that helps frequent travelers clear airport security more quickly using biometric identifiers. Clear works in conjunction with TSA PreCheck, so it makes sense to subscribe to it as well.
Sign up for Uber credits
There is one more step you need to take to start enjoying Amex Platinum travel benefits and that is to add your Platinum card to your Uber account. Once your card is connected to your Uber account, you will receive $15 monthly in Uber Cash (which you can use for rides or food orders), plus an additional $20 in December.
In addition to Uber credits of up to $200 per year, you’ll also become Uber VIP, a status exclusive to American Express Platinum and Centurion cardholders. The VIP program will automatically match you with the highest rated drivers and help you get as many five-star Uber services as possible without overpaying for your ride.
3. Sign up for Amex Platinum hotel benefits
Don’t forget to take advantage of the Amex Platinum Hotel as well. You can sign up for Hilton Honors Gold Membership and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Membership for free with your card. Hilton Honors Gold membership includes room choice, free Wi-Fi, 80% Reward Points on booked stays, and daily food and beverage credit. Gold Elite status at Marriott Bonvoy gives you 25% more points on eligible hotel purchases, room upgrades and late check-outs.
In addition to elite privileges, you can also take advantage of the privileges and credits you get when you book hotels and resorts through Amex Travel. For example, when you book a prepaid stay at Fine Hotels + Resorts through American Express Travel, you can earn an average of $550 in extras including daily breakfast for two, room upgrades if available, and experiences (such as spa treatments). treatment) a loan of at least $100.
For The Hotel Collection, you must book two nights or more to receive a $100 Experience Credit for qualifying activities such as meals or spa treatments, and room upgrades, if available. You’ll also receive up to $200 in statement every year on Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection prepaid bookings with Amex Travel when paying with a Platinum card.
4. Add an authorized user to your Amex Platinum.
Want to share the benefits of your Amex Platinum ride with a family member or trusted friend? Consider adding an authorized user to your Amex Platinum card. Authorized users will not only earn Membership Rewards points for every purchase they make on your Amex Platinum account, but will also be able to enjoy other Amex Platinum travel benefits such as Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership commission credits.
In addition, authorizing a spouse or child under your line of credit is a great way for them to improve their credit score.
It should be noted that American Express charges a total of $175 for up to three authorized user cards, and then $175 per card after that. Choose authorized users carefully – make sure they are prepared to use their card responsibly as you will be responsible for paying for any charges they charge to your account. Authorized users receive their own airport lounge access, Gold Elite status at Hilton and Marriott hotels, and access to Fine Hotels + Resorts and Hotel Collection American Express. However, authorized users do not receive their own annual credits, instead the credits must be shared among all Platinum Card users.
5. Claim the benefits of shopping
Your Amex Platinum Card benefits also include shopping privileges, so make sure you complete all the steps required to receive your shopping benefits. For example, if you sign up for Shop Saks with Platinum, you can earn up to $100 annually in Saks Fifth Avenue purchase statements.
You should also get a free ShopRunner membership, which gives you access to free two-day shipping to dozens of online stores. A ShopRunner membership typically costs $79 per year, so this perk is even more money that goes toward recouping your annual fee.
And don’t forget the recent addition of a credit statement for the full cost of a monthly Walmart+ membership ($12.95 per month plus applicable taxes).
6. Enjoy digital entertainment and Equinox credits
The Platinum Card is known for its many redemptions, which even extend to entertainment and lifestyle. If you enjoy luxury fitness sessions or would like to try improving your gym workouts, you can receive $25 monthly credit toward eligible monthly memberships to Equinox All Access, Destination, E by Equinox, or Equinox+, and Credit for $300 if you use your card to purchase a SoulCycle home bike through Equinox+.
You are also eligible for monthly statement credits for digital entertainment. You can receive up to $20 in credits each month for Peacock, Audible, Disney+, SirusXM, The New York Times, and more. You must register to qualify for Equinox and Digital Entertainment credits, so be sure to do so once you are approved for a Platinum Card.
bottom line
There are many bonus credit cards, but not every card offers the hotel, travel, and lifestyle benefits that come with an American Express Platinum card. Knowing how to enroll in the Amex Platinum program and which ones require enrollment or are automatic is the first step to taking full advantage of your new Platinum card. By making sure you are aware of all the card’s perks and make full use of them, you will also cover the cost of its steep annual fee.
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