Amex Platinum refresh: $895 price, new perks — is it value it?

American Categorical has overhauled its flagship The Platinum Card® from American Categorical boosting the annual price from $695 to $895 (see charges and charges) and including a collection of recent assertion credit and journey and life-style perks.

That is the cardboard’s first price hike in 4 years and its most important refresh since 2021, when Amex first piled on assertion credit to justify a leap from $550 to $695.

Now, it is testing how a lot worth cardmembers can extract from an excellent increased price ticket — one that’s, fortunately, lower than the $1,000-plus price we feared might arrive.

Let’s dive in to resolve whether or not the brand new perks justify holding onto this card for an additional 12 months or making use of for it within the first place.

What’s new within the Amex Platinum refresh?

Amex has added new perks and boosted a number of present ones, whereas leaving incomes charges untouched. Most adjustments are efficient instantly for brand spanking new and present cardmembers, although the upper annual price will not kick in for renewals till Jan. 2, 2026.

Here is how the cardboard stacks up after the refresh:

Annual price

Assertion credit

There are 4 new credit, and enhancements to a few present credit:

*Enrollment required for choose advantages

New resort and eating perks

• Leaders Membership Sterling standing (The Main Lodges of the World); enrollment required
• Platinum Nights by Resy (presently solely in Los Angeles, Miami and New York Metropolis)

Unchanged advantages

These assertion credit are staying the identical (enrollment required):

• Airline (as much as $200 in assertion credit with chosen airline)
• Equinox (as much as $300 in Equinox credit score per calendar 12 months on Equinox health club and Equinox+ app memberships, topic to auto-renewal)
• International Entry/TSA PreCheck ($120 assertion credit score for International Entry each 4 years or an as much as $85 price credit score for TSA PreCheck each 4½ years)
• Saks (as much as a $100 per calendar 12 months)
• Uber Money (as much as $200 per calendar 12 months, legitimate on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S.; Amex Plat should first be added to your Uber account and you may then redeem with any Amex card)
• Walmart+ (as much as a $155 assertion credit score per calendar 12 months on one membership, topic to auto-renewal, Plus Up excluded.)

As are these perks (enrollment required):

• Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Gold standing
• Lounge entry

And there are not any adjustments to incomes charges.

New limited-edition card design

There’s additionally a limited-edition mirrored card design rolling out alongside the refresh.

Present Amex Platinum cardmembers can request it by ordering a alternative card on-line.

How do these adjustments have an effect on present cardmembers?

Regardless that my annual price simply posted earlier this week on the $695 charge, I’m eligible to make use of the brand new credit instantly. The elevated $895 price will not hit till my subsequent renewal after Jan. 2, 2026.

That creates a beneficial window to front-load credit and soften subsequent 12 months’s value hike.

Here is how I might deal with it:

Enroll earlier than you spend

Activate the brand new Lululemon, Oura Ring, Resy and Uber One advantages in your Amex account earlier than making any purchases so your credit set off appropriately.

Use your Q3 credit by the tip of September

These are quarterly, so if you happen to do not use them this month, you lose them:

Revisit your streaming lineup

The $5 improve within the month-to-month digital leisure credit score helps fight rising streaming prices. It is helpful for YouTube Premium or YouTube TV, so replace your billing to your Platinum Card.

Bear in mind, you already get free ad-supported Paramount+ or Peacock (separate enrollment required) by way of your Walmart+ membership, so solely use this credit score if you wish to improve to the ad-free variations of those companies.

Plan two resort stays a 12 months

The as much as $300 biannual resort credit score is beneficiant.

I used the outdated $200 credit score in June in Porto, Portugal and am now planning one other $300-plus keep earlier than the tip of the 12 months.

My suggestion is to make use of the credit both for 2 nights (the required minimal) at a The Lodge Assortment property (extra inexpensive) or a one-night keep at a Positive Lodges & Resorts resort (dearer).

Activate different perks

What’s in it for brand spanking new cardmembers?

With the brand new pricing, Platinum is now clearly positioned as a $895 ultra-premium life-style journey card.

It may well make sense if you happen to:

In case you can reliably use even half of the credit, you may offset the price after which some. However if you happen to do not journey a lot or cannot use the life-style credit, this card will not make sense for you.

This is not a catch-all journey rewards card, although.

The incomes charges stay unchanged — and albeit underwhelming — at 5 factors per greenback on flights booked immediately or by American Categorical Journey® (as much as $500,000 every calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback) and pay as you go American Categorical Journey® resorts and simply 1 level per greenback on all the pieces else. It is clear Amex expects cardmembers to pair it with a card just like the American Categorical® Gold Card for eating and groceries.

Discover out your supply: New cardmembers can see in the event that they’re eligible for a welcome bonus as excessive as 175,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome gives differ, and also you will not be eligible for a suggestion.)

That welcome bonus is value as much as $3,500, in keeping with TPG’s September 2025 valuations. This is likely one of the highest bonuses a brand new cardmember can earn in the event that they’re focused.

My take: Is it nonetheless value it?

As anticipated, this refresh is credits-heavy — and whereas that may be profitable, it additionally provides friction (or “breakage,” in bank card business phrases) if you happen to do not plan for them.

What works?

• I am glad to see no additional lounge entry restrictions, given how a lot crowding has elevated
• The stack of recent and present life-style credit can supply actual worth for cardmembers who will use them
• The resort credit score tripling to $600 is a standout and really usable if you happen to plan two stays per 12 months

What’s lacking?

• A brand new bonus class like gasoline or on-line procuring
• A extra versatile Lululemon credit score (biannual as an alternative of quarterly)
• A better Saks credit score to raised match its $300 free-shipping minimal
• Bonus factors on resorts booked immediately (not simply pay as you go by way of Amex Journey)
• A broader airline credit score to cowl airfare, portal bookings or all journey (just like the Sapphire Reserve’s journey credit score)

This card has additional morphed from an aspirational journey card to a high-maintenance life-style card. It may well nonetheless be value it if you happen to’re prepared to deal with it that means.

Backside line

The refreshed Amex Platinum is richer, extra advanced and dearer than ever.

For frequent vacationers who can really use the stack of credit, it is a powerhouse. For extra occasional vacationers, the $200 price hike makes it a tricky promote.

In case you’re holding the cardboard, enroll after which use your quarterly Lululemon and Resy credit earlier than Sept. 30 and plan a $300-plus resort keep earlier than the tip of the 12 months. That is one of the simplest ways to melt the blow of your subsequent $895 invoice.

Associated: 9 bank cards that may substitute your Amex Platinum

For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum Card, click on right here.