A few years ago, I decided it was finally time to add a premium lifestyle card to my wallet. After adding the American Express Platinum Card®, I knew I had made the right choice.
The Platinum Card has provided unmatched value since day one, which makes my life as a wife, mom and frequent traveler easier at home and on the road.
Amex just overhauled its Platinum Card, adding several brand-new benefits and increasing the value of many existing ones. It hasn’t lost any of the benefits I already loved, and now it has even more value than ever before. When fully utilized, these benefits can unlock more than $3,500 in annual value. And I will show you how.
Along with these changes, Amex increased the annual fee from $695 to $895 (effective immediately for new cardmembers and Jan. 2, 2026, for existing cardmembers; see rates and fees).
It’s been just over two months since the Platinum Card introduced these new benefits, and I wasted no time taking advantage of them. Here’s how I’m already maximizing the refreshed Amex Platinum Card. Terms apply.
Travel benefits I already use (and love)
I travel a lot, for work and for leisure, so I had a chance to put the refreshed Platinum Card through its paces right away.
I just returned from a visit to Universal Orlando Resort with my husband and kids. We vacation there several times each year, so I immediately knew where I wanted to stay.
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is one of over 1,800 properties worldwide that participate in the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program.
When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts properties through American Express Travel, you can receive a suite of benefits with an average total value of $550*. You get benefits like a room upgrade at check-in (when available; certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade), a $100 credit to use toward eligible hotel charges (which vary by property), complimentary breakfast for two, guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout and noon check-in when available.
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*Average value based on Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings in 2024 for stays of two nights. Actual value will vary based on property, room rate, upgrade availability and use of benefits.
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
When we checked in, we were upgraded to a room overlooking the water, and a welcome amenity of fruit, chocolate and bottled water was waiting for us. We combined the $100 credit to use toward eligible charges with the complimentary breakfast perk to have a sit-down buffet breakfast at one of the hotel’s restaurants to fuel up before a busy day riding roller coasters.
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
And, when we decided at the last minute to spend an extra day in the parks, we used the late-checkout benefit to rush to get on rides in the morning instead of rushing to check out of our room. We were able to play all morning and pack up when we were ready for an afternoon break.
Between the upgraded room and the complimentary breakfast, our vacation felt even more relaxing and special.
Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts welcome amenity. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
Thanks to the card’s up to $300 in statement credits semiannually (up to $600 total in statement credits per calendar year) on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card (The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay), my future visits to Universal Orlando will be just as memorable.
When I visited Orlando later in the month with my husband, we decided not to rent a car for our short stay. Rather, I used my $200 Uber Cash benefit to help cover the short ride from our hotel to Universal. With the Platinum Card, I receive $15 in Uber Cash each month (plus a bonus $20 in December) by adding my Platinum Card to my Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S. when I select an Amex card for my transaction.
Now that Amex has added an annual $120 Uber One statement credit toward an auto-renewing Uber One membership, I earn 6% back in Uber One credits on eligible rides, which I can apply toward future Uber trips.
Clear boarding e-gate. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
I also recently visited Zion National Park with my family and, thanks to my Platinum Card, we breezed through the airport using Clear Plus. With my Platinum Card, I can receive up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year by enrolling and paying for a Clear Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with my eligible Amex card.
Waiting in line is one of my kids’ least favorite activities, and skipping the standard airport security line meant more time to stock up on snacks before our flight.
Using the Amex airline fee credit for checked luggage. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
Now that bags no longer fly free on Southwest Airlines, we utilized the $200 Airline Fee Credit to cover our checked bag fees. Each year, I select one qualifying airline and receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year toward incidental fees like checked bags and inflight refreshments when charged by the airline to my Platinum Card.**
Sure, we could have each brought a carry-on bag through the airport, but checking two larger bags made for one less thing to worry about. And knowing I would be reimbursed via statement credit made it even better.
Unfortunately, our return flight home was delayed by three hours. But being stuck at the airport isn’t so bad when you have access to more than 1,500 lounges thanks to Amex’s Global Lounge Collection. My card unlocks over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club visits when flying on an eligible Delta Air Lines flight, Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.
**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 eight weeks, simply call the number on the back of your card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms and conditions for more details.
Amex Centurion Lounge. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
We headed straight for the Centurion Lounge and enjoyed complimentary dinner, drinks (for the adults) and too many chocolate chip cookies (for the kids) in a quiet, relaxed setting.
But there’s way more to this card’s comprehensive lifestyle perks.
Using the new and expanded lifestyle benefits
The Platinum Card’s new and existing dining, entertainment, shopping and wellness benefits have proven to be quite valuable at home and during my frequent travels.
Dining out using the Amex Platinum Resy credit. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
Thousands of Resy restaurants (more than 10,000 in the U.S. as of March 2025) are eligible for the Platinum Card’s up-to-$400 Resy Credit benefit. I get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when I use my enrolled Platinum Card to make eligible Resy purchases, including dining, so it’s easy to enjoy meals at home or while I’m traveling. Since there is only a handful of eligible restaurants in my area, I prefer to use this credit to discover new dining spots when I travel.
And you don’t even need to make a reservation to receive the credit; you just need to dine at an eligible restaurant and use your Platinum Card to pay the bill.
For this quarter, I used the Resy credit on our family trip to Universal Orlando. A quick search on the Resy website showed me that several Universal hotel restaurants participate in the Resy program. On our arrival day, we had a relaxing family dinner at Trattoria del Porto at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel.
I use the $300 Digital Entertainment Credit to cover my family’s Disney+ subscription. We can watch family-friendly programming at home, and I can download my kids’ favorite shows onto their tablets to keep them busy during long flights.
With this benefit, you get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use the 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).
The lululemon credit helped me get cute and comfortable clothes for the trip. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
I was excited to use the new up-to-$300 lululemon credit because I always need comfortable, functional gear throughout the year. This benefit comes with up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when I use my Platinum Card for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com (enrollment required).
The new lululemon water bottle I bought using my Amex Platinum benefit. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
I found the perfect pair of shorts for a day spent walking around a theme park with my kids, and a new water bottle to stay hydrated on the plane.
In addition to those benefits, I use the Walmart+ Monthly Credit benefit to get up to a $12.95 statement credit each month, plus applicable taxes, when I pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal; Plus Ups excluded) with my enrolled Platinum Card. I use this benefit for our weekly groceries at home and to have snacks, drinks and other necessities delivered to our hotel when we travel.
The Platinum Card also gets me up to $100 annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com (up to $50 in statement credits semiannually) when I pay using my enrolled card.
Bottom line
It’s always been easy to get value from my Platinum Card, but it’s easier than ever with the recent refresh. I can still use all of the card’s existing benefits, along with a long list of new and expanded benefits that are useful at home and when I travel.
It isn’t just the monetary value of the card’s long list of benefits; it’s the peace of mind that comes from being a cardmember and knowing I have access to benefits that help me breeze through the airport, enjoy luxury hotel perks and so much more. Whether I’m shopping for groceries or booking a hotel stay, I know the American Express Platinum Card has me covered.
For benefit terms, rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card, click here.
