A couple of years in the past, I made a decision it was lastly time so as to add a premium way of life card to my pockets. After including the American Categorical Platinum Card®, I knew I had made the best alternative.
The Platinum Card has supplied unmatched worth since day one, which makes my life as a spouse, mother and frequent traveler simpler at house and on the highway.
Amex simply overhauled its Platinum Card, including a number of brand-new advantages and rising the worth of many current ones. It hasn’t misplaced any of the advantages I already liked, and now it has much more worth than ever earlier than. When totally utilized, these advantages can unlock greater than $3,500 in annual worth. And I’ll present you the way.
Together with these modifications, Amex elevated the annual price from $695 to $895 (efficient instantly for brand spanking new cardmembers and Jan. 2, 2026, for current cardmembers; see charges and costs).
It has been simply over two months for the reason that Platinum Card launched these new advantages, and I wasted no time benefiting from them. This is how I am already maximizing the refreshed Amex Platinum Card. Phrases apply.
Journey advantages I already use (and love)
I journey lots, for work and for leisure, so I had an opportunity to place the refreshed Platinum Card by its paces straight away.
I simply returned from a go to to Common Orlando Resort with my husband and children. We trip there a number of occasions every year, so I instantly knew the place I needed to remain.
Loews Portofino Bay Lodge is one in every of over 1,800 properties worldwide that take part within the Amex Advantageous Inns + Resorts program.
Whenever you ebook Advantageous Inns + Resorts properties by American Categorical Journey, you possibly can obtain a set of advantages with a median whole worth of $550*. You get advantages like a room improve at check-in (when out there; sure room classes aren’t eligible for improve), a $100 credit score to make use of towards eligible resort fees (which fluctuate by property), complimentary breakfast for 2, assured 4 p.m. checkout and midday check-in when out there.
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*Common worth primarily based on Advantageous Inns + Resorts bookings in 2024 for stays of two nights. Precise worth will fluctuate primarily based on property, room charge, improve availability and use of advantages.
Once we checked in, we have been upgraded to a room overlooking the water, and a welcome amenity of fruit, chocolate and bottled water was ready for us. We mixed the $100 credit score to make use of towards eligible fees with the complimentary breakfast perk to have a sit-down buffet breakfast at one of many resort’s eating places to gasoline up earlier than a busy day driving curler coasters.
And, once we determined on the final minute to spend an additional day within the parks, we used the late-checkout profit to hurry to get on rides within the morning as a substitute of dashing to take a look at of our room. We have been capable of play all morning and pack up once we have been prepared for a day break.
Between the upgraded room and the complimentary breakfast, our trip felt much more stress-free and particular.
Due to the cardboard’s as much as $300 in assertion credit semiannually (as much as $600 whole in assertion credit per calendar 12 months) on pay as you go Advantageous Inns + Resorts or The Lodge Assortment bookings by American Categorical Journey utilizing your Platinum Card (The Lodge Assortment requires a minimal two-night keep), my future visits to Common Orlando will probably be simply as memorable.
Once I visited Orlando later within the month with my husband, we determined to not lease a automotive for our quick keep. Relatively, I used my $200 Uber Money profit to assist cowl the quick experience from our resort to Common. With the Platinum Card, I obtain $15 in Uber Money every month (plus a bonus $20 in December) by including my Platinum Card to my Uber account to make use of on rides and orders within the U.S. after I choose an Amex card for my transaction.
Now that Amex has added an annual $120 Uber One assertion credit score towards an auto-renewing Uber One membership, I earn 6% again in Uber One credit on eligible rides, which I can apply towards future Uber journeys.
I additionally lately visited Zion Nationwide Park with my household and, due to my Platinum Card, we breezed by the airport utilizing Clear Plus. With my Platinum Card, I can obtain as much as $209 in assertion credit per calendar 12 months by enrolling and paying for a Clear Plus Membership (topic to auto-renewal) with my eligible Amex card.
Ready in line is one in every of my youngsters’ least favourite actions, and skipping the usual airport safety line meant extra time to refill on snacks earlier than our flight.
Now that baggage not fly free on Southwest Airways, we utilized the $200 Airline Price Credit score to cowl our checked bag charges. Annually, I choose one qualifying airline and obtain as much as $200 in assertion credit per calendar 12 months towards incidental charges like checked baggage and inflight refreshments when charged by the airline to my Platinum Card.**
Certain, we might have every introduced a carry-on bag by the airport, however checking two bigger baggage made for one much less factor to fret about. And realizing I might be reimbursed by way of assertion credit score made it even higher.
Sadly, our return flight house was delayed by three hours. However being caught on the airport is not so dangerous when you might have entry to greater than 1,500 lounges due to Amex’s International Lounge Assortment. My card unlocks over $850 of annual worth, with entry to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Membership visits when flying on an eligible Delta Air Traces flight, Precedence Go Choose membership (enrollment required), and different choose associate lounges.
**American Categorical depends on airways to submit the right data on airline transactions to determine incidental price purchases. If you don’t see a credit score for a qualifying incidental buy in your eligible card after eight weeks, merely name the quantity on the again of your card. Qualifying airways are topic to alter. See phrases and situations for extra particulars.
We headed straight for the Centurion Lounge and loved complimentary dinner, drinks (for the adults) and too many chocolate chip cookies (for the children) in a quiet, relaxed setting.
However there’s far more to this card’s complete way of life perks.
Utilizing the brand new and expanded way of life advantages
The Platinum Card’s new and current eating, leisure, purchasing and wellness advantages have confirmed to be fairly beneficial at house and through my frequent travels.
1000’s of Resy eating places (greater than 10,000 within the U.S. as of March 2025) are eligible for the Platinum Card’s up-to-$400 Resy Credit score profit. I rise up to $100 in assertion credit every quarter after I use my enrolled Platinum Card to make eligible Resy purchases, together with eating, so it is simple to take pleasure in meals at house or whereas I am touring. Since there may be solely a handful of eligible eating places in my space, I want to make use of this credit score to find new eating spots after I journey.
And you do not even have to make a reservation to obtain the credit score; you simply have to dine at an eligible restaurant and use your Platinum Card to pay the invoice.
For this quarter, I used the Resy credit score on our household journey to Common Orlando. A fast search on the Resy web site confirmed me that a number of Common resort eating places take part within the Resy program. On our arrival day, we had a calming household dinner at Trattoria del Porto at Loews Portofino Bay Lodge.
I exploit the $300 Digital Leisure Credit score to cowl my household’s Disney+ subscription. We are able to watch family-friendly programming at house, and I can obtain my youngsters’ favourite reveals onto their tablets to maintain them busy throughout lengthy flights.
With this profit, you rise up to $25 in assertion credit every month if you use the Platinum Card for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+ streaming companies, Hulu, The New York Instances, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Road Journal, YouTube Premium and YouTube TV if you buy straight from a number of of the suppliers (enrollment required).
I used to be excited to make use of the brand new up-to-$300 lululemon credit score as a result of I all the time want comfy, purposeful gear all year long. This profit comes with as much as $75 in assertion credit every quarter after I use my Platinum Card for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail shops (excluding shops) and lululemon.com (enrollment required).
I discovered the right pair of shorts for a day spent strolling round a theme park with my youngsters, and a brand new water bottle to remain hydrated on the airplane.
Along with these advantages, I exploit the Walmart+ Month-to-month Credit score profit to rise up to a $12.95 assertion credit score every month, plus relevant taxes, after I pay for a month-to-month Walmart+ membership (topic to auto-renewal; Plus Ups excluded) with my enrolled Platinum Card. I exploit this profit for our weekly groceries at house and to have snacks, drinks and different requirements delivered to our resort once we journey.
The Platinum Card additionally will get me as much as $100 yearly for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com (as much as $50 in assertion credit semiannually) after I pay utilizing my enrolled card.
Backside line
It is all the time been simple to get worth from my Platinum Card, nevertheless it’s simpler than ever with the current refresh. I can nonetheless use the entire card’s current advantages, together with a protracted record of recent and expanded advantages which can be helpful at house and after I journey.
It is not simply the financial worth of the cardboard’s lengthy record of advantages; it is the peace of thoughts that comes from being a cardmember and realizing I’ve entry to advantages that assist me breeze by the airport, take pleasure in luxurious resort perks and a lot extra. Whether or not I am purchasing for groceries or reserving a resort keep, I do know the American Categorical Platinum Card has me lined.
For profit phrases, charges and costs of the American Categorical Platinum Card, click on right here.
