O Platinum Card® de American Expressit is one of the leading premium travel cards available. It comes with travel credits, elite hotel status, access to an impressive collection of lounges, travel protections and other luxury benefits. Applicable Terms.
Here are some things to understand before applyingO Platinum Card® de American Express.
What to know before gettingO Platinum Card® de American Express
1. AmEx has a “once for life” welcome offer rule
Current and former holders ofO Platinum Card® de American Expressare not eligible for the welcome offer. This is commonly known asAmEx "Once in a Lifetime" Rule.
Not sure if you've had any version of this card before? AmEx will verify your eligibility for the Welcome Offer when you apply for a card, even before checking your credit. If you are not eligible for the welcome offer, AmEx will let you know via a small pop-up window. Upon notification, you have the option to continue with the application or cancel it.
2. OO Platinum Card® de American Expresswelcome offer spending requirements
O Platinum Card® de American Expresscurrently offers a nice welcome bonus:Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases with your new card within the first 6 months of card membership. Terms apply.A spending requirement of $6,000 will not be easy for everyone to meet; so consider when you'll have a lot of spending before you open the new card.
Also think about what expenses you can charge to the potential card in the coming months. If you don't meet the spending requirement, consider putting off your application until a time when you have more substantial spending on the horizon—perhaps on vacation, when you're finally getting ready to renovate your bathroom, or before you book your next trip.
"Know more: AmEx Membership Rewards: How to Earn and Use Them
3. OO Platinum Card® de American Expressannual rate of$ 695is above average
O Platinum Card® de American ExpressIt is an excellent choice for anyone looking for apremium travel card. But it may not be the right card for you. Before committing to a$ 695annual fee, look at the benefits of the card and see which benefits you value most. Then compare your list with other cards, which may be more affordable, to see if they're a better fit. Applicable Terms.
For example, himReserva Chase Sapphire®there is a minor$ 550annual fee and an easy-to-use $300 annual travel credit. Further,Reserva Chase Sapphire®offers a Priority Pass Select membership and TSA PreCheck, NEXUS or Global Entry credit. However, if you're also going to pay for a Clear subscription, it might be worth paying more forO Platinum Card® de American Express, which will reimburse $189 per year for Clear. Applicable Terms.
OCapital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, for its part, has an even lower annual rate in$ 395and also offers TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit. This card also offers complimentary access to Capital One Lounges, more than 100 Plaza Premium lounges (including select Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses) and more than 1,300 Priority Pass lounges worldwide.
"Know more:Is Clear worth the cost?
If you only travel a few times a year, theGold American Express® Cardcould fit better. This card charges much less$ 250annual fee, but offers up to $120 in Uber credits for US rides and food orders ($10 per month) and up to $120 annual food credit. You must add theGold American Express® Cardto your Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit. Plus, you'll earn 4 points per dollar at restaurants and grocery stores and 3 points per dollar on flights. Applicable Terms.
This test can tell ifThe American Express Platinum Card® is worth the annual fee:
4. Your credit score must be strong
Even if this card seems to complement your travels well, you may not be the ideal person for this card. American Express generally requires a good to excellent credit score to qualify forO Platinum Card® de American Express. Applicable Terms.
You want to have at least a 690 credit score before applying for the card. So you may have to workbuild your credit scorebefore applying for the card.
And even then, excellent credit doesn't always guarantee approval. Many factors go into a bank's decision to approve you.
5. You can earn $1,400 a year in statement credits, if you use them
O Platinum Card® de American Expressoffers more than $1,400 in statement credits each year. You will want to maximize these credits to justify paying the$ 695annual quota. Applicable Terms.
Many of the card's statement credits are based on monthly amounts:
Digital Entertainment Credit: Up to $20 per month.
Uber Premium Credit: Up to $15 per month for US rides or Uber Eats orders, with an additional $20 bonus in December.
Walmart+ Monthly Subscription Credit: $12.95 per month plus tax.
Applicable Terms.
The remaining credits are valid only per calendar year:
Free credit: up to $189 per year.
Airline Fare Credit: Up to $200 per year. (Subscription required.)
Hotel credit: up to $200 per year.
SoulCycle Home Bike Credit: up to $300 per year.
Equinox Credit: Up to $300 per calendar year.
Applicable Terms.
Cardholders also receive a Shop With Saks credit, which is applied semi-annually. You'll receive up to $50 in statement credits for purchases between January and June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. Registration is required. Applicable Terms.
🤓go nerd
If you open your card account near the end of the year, make sure you allow enough time to maximize your annual credits and Shop With Saks credit before the end of the year.
But while $1,400 in credits sounds good, understand if it's realistic to use them based on your spending. If you don't get an Uber that month, it's a lost credit. In the meantime, are you really going to buy (and ride) a SoulCycle bike at home? And would you shop at Saks, when you'd be fine with the same kind of stuff that's a fraction of the retail price at, say, Target?
6. You can add different types of authorized users
When applying for this card, you will have the option to add authorized users. You have two options for adding Authorized User cards: an additional Platinum card or an additional Gold card.
AmEx charges $175 to add up to three additional Platinum cards. This may seem excessive, especially at the top of the card.$ 695annual quota. However, this could be a great offer, depending on how the authorized user plans to use their benefits. Applicable Terms.
Additional Platinum Card members get free access toAmerican Express Global Lounge Collection- including AmEx's excellent ownCenturion Halls. Plus, additional Platinum cardholders gain Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status (registration required), Hilton Honors Gold status (registration required) and access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program. Applicable Terms.
And if you add three card members, you'll pay less than $60 per person for those benefits.
Alternatively, you can add an authorized user at the Gold card level for free. Authorized Gold cardholders do not have the same access to lounges or elite status benefits as authorized Platinum cardholders. However, they can earn their own TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit and can help you earn Membership Rewards. Applicable Terms.
"Know more: Adding AmEx Authorized Users
i must getO Platinum Card® de American Express?
O Platinum Card® de American Expressis one of the best known premium travel cards on the market. With over $1,400 in statement credits each year, lounge benefits, elite hotel status andtravel protections, this card offers the complete package for luxury travelers. Applicable Terms.
before committing$ 695annual fee, there are a few things you should know. Consider whether the card is right for you. Check that you are eligible in terms of your credit score and that you are eligible for the welcome offer. Check the calendar to make sure you can maximize yearly credits or time your application accordingly. Finally, consider if any friends or family members would benefit from being added as an authorized user.
To view rates and fees forO Platinum Card® de American Express, verthis page.
To see the rates and rates of theGold American Express® Card, verthis page.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that puts what's important to you first. Here are our picks for thebest credit cards for travel 2023, including the best for:
Flexibility, transfer of points and a great bonus: Tarjeta Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Without annuity: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
Flat Rate Travel Rewards:Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Additional travel rewards and high-level benefits: Reserva Chase Sapphire®
Luxury Benefits: O Platinum Card® de American Express
(Video) How to maximize points when you're not travelingBusiness travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
FAQs
What income do you need for Amex Platinum? ›
Annual income of $100,000 or more. Aged 18 years or over.
Is it hard to get approved for Amex Platinum? ›Yes, it is hard to get the American Express Platinum card because applicants need a 700+ credit score and a high income to qualify for approval. But if you have at least good credit and make a lot of money, you have a decent shot at getting approved.
Is Amex Platinum worth it 2022? ›The Amex Platinum card is well worth it for frequent travelers who want luxury travel and lifestyle perks, and who can regularly take advantage of the card's premium benefits.
Is Amex Platinum worth it for me? ›The Amex Platinum Card is only worth the annual fee if you'll use enough benefits to recoup the fee. You could easily offset the fee with the statement credits alone, but this card also offers the chance to earn boosted rewards on travel purchases, too.
Does American Express verify income? ›They will request tax returns and bank statements. What they're looking for is to make sure the income you reported on the application is true. The process typically takes 2-3 weeks, and you're assigned a specialist to talk to.
How do I get my American Express Platinum fee waived? ›Here's how to get the American Express Platinum card annual fee waived: Call the retention line: You can ask Amex to waive the annual fee by calling (800) 452-3945.
How exclusive is Amex Platinum? ›Why It's One of the Most Exclusive Cards: The Business Platinum Amex Card's annual fee alone makes it exclusive, as your average small business owner probably won't want to shell out hundreds of dollars per year just for the privilege of having a particular card.
What is the easiest Amex card to get approved for? ›When applying for the Amex Blue Card, try to have a good credit score, which is a FICO® Score of 670 or above. This is one of the easiest Membership Rewards cards to open, and even consumers with average credit scores have a decent chance of approval.
Is Amex Platinum a metal card? ›Yes, The Platinum Card® from American Express is a metal card. The American Express Platinum card is made of stainless steel and weighs around 18 grams, compared to 5 grams for a traditional card made of plastic.
Is Amex platinum a luxury card? ›Our quick take: The Platinum Card® from American Express is the king of luxury rewards travel cards, perfect for demanding travelers who place a high degree of value on perks like lounge access and complimentary elite status.
What cards are better than Amex Platinum? ›
1. Chase Sapphire Reserve® The Chase Sapphire Reserve is Chase's version of a luxury credit card, but instead of earning Membership Rewards points — as you do with the Amex Platinum — you're earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Do I get TSA PreCheck with Amex Platinum? ›Application Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
Additional Card Members on Consumer and Business Platinum and Centurion accounts also receive the benefit when the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee is charged to their eligible Card.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a high-end card that is packed with benefits and a hefty welcome offer. Cardholders can take advantage of numerous annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and much more.
Why Amex Gold is better than platinum? ›Is Gold Card Higher Than Platinum? Both Amex Gold and Platinum offer a range of benefits, with the Gold card catering more to everyday spending and the Platinum card designed more for travelers. The Platinum card has more benefits, but it's annual $695 fee is higher than the Gold card's $250 fee.
Is Amex Platinum better than black? ›Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card has better earning potential than the Mastercard Black card. Membership Rewards points earned on the Amex Platinum card also offer greater potential value at redemption time when transferred to airline and hotel partners.
Does Amex report to IRS? ›A: Federal Tax law requires that American Express begin Federal backup withholding on 24% of the gross dollar amount of payment card transactions. The law also requires that American Express send the withheld funds directly to the IRS.
Does Amex approve everyone? ›Although American Express doesn't specify any minimum credit score requirements, you'll need good credit (or better) to qualify, which means a FICO score of at least 670. A premium Amex card — say, the American Express Gold Card — likely requires a “very good” FICO score, somewhere in the range of 740 and above.
What is Amex annual income? ›American Express revenue for the twelve months ending December 31, 2022 was $55.625B, a 27.4% increase year-over-year. American Express annual revenue for 2022 was $55.625B, a 27.4% increase from 2021.
What happens if you don't pay full amount on Amex Platinum? ›If you don't pay Amex Platinum in full, you will be charged interest on any purchases added to a Pay Over Time balance. With Pay Over Time, you can add eligible charges to a Pay Over Time balance, up to a limit.
Can you downgrade Amex platinum to a no annual fee card? ›As an American Express Platinum cardholder, you can only downgrade to the American Express® Gold Card or the American Express® Green Card.
Does closing an Amex Platinum card hurt your credit? ›
Open card accounts can help your credit score in two different ways: credit utilization and length of credit history. Closing a credit card account can negatively affect both of those components of your credit score.
Which is the most prestigious Amex? ›- The American Express Centurion Card is the most exclusive credit card in the world and is commonly known as the “Amex Black Card.” ...
- The Centurion card is so exclusive that American Express won't release the card's full details or say how one can become a cardholder.
The hardest Amex card to get is the Centurion® Card from American Express. Also known as the “Black Card,” this Amex card is hard to get because it is available by invitation only, and potential candidates are rumored to need an annual income of at least $1 million.
What FICO score do you need for Amex? ›According to the score ranges from FICO, that means American Express applicants typically have at least a 670 score: Exceptional. 800 and above.
What FICO score does Amex pull? ›For American Express, the data available currently indicates it pulls from all three bureaus, but primarily uses Experian's reporting in its decision making.
Can I buy a car with my Amex Platinum Card? ›Cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express (another high credit limit card), or any other type of Amex members, can try using the American Express Auto Purchasing Program, which connects you to dealers who accept American Express and let you charge $2,000 or more toward a car purchase on your Amex card.
Why is Amex Platinum Card heavy? ›The Platinum Card® from American Express is made from a combination of materials that includes stainless steel metal and has a heavier weight than the American Express® Gold Card, according to a company spokesperson.
What is the heavy Amex card? ›Most widely available premium rewards cards are 12 grams or heavier. The Platinum Card® from American Express weighs 18.5 grams, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve® weighs 12.6 grams. How much does the AmEx Platinum weigh? The Platinum Card® from American Express weighs 18.5 grams.
Which card is above platinum? ›The providers that offer a Titanium credit card often offer them as a step above the Platinum credit cards. You have to fulfill strict criteria to be eligible for holding these cards. The criteria include the following: A minimum monthly income requirement.
What card is equal to Amex Platinum? ›The Chase Sapphire Reserve always goes head-to-head with the Amex Platinum, and Chase even raised the card's annual fee to $550 in 2020. Now that the Amex Platinum has a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), it makes the Sapphire Reserve the more affordable option.
Is Amex a status symbol? ›
Amex is so popular because it offers high-end credit cards with great rewards and luxury perks, which have become status symbols in popular culture over time.
What airport perks do you get with Amex Platinum? ›As a Platinum Cardholder, you are entitled to a complimentary membership in Priority Pass. This allows you to wait for your flight in a relaxed atmosphere in one of the more than 1,200 Priority Pass lounges around the world. You also can have a guest join you free of charge.
Which Amex card has free TSA PreCheck? ›The benefit is available to (i) Corporate Gold Card Members, (ii) Consumer Platinum Card® Members, Corporate Platinum Card® Members and Business Platinum Card® Members(iii) Centurion® Card Members, and (iv) Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card Members.
How to get TSA Global Entry for free? ›- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express.
- United Explorer Card.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®.
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve.
100,000 points are worth $2,200 per our valuations, and you can use them in a variety of different ways. Think international business class, free domestic airfare, and stays in luxurious hotel suites.
Is it worth upgrading from Amex Gold to Amex Platinum? ›We've seen offers as high as 60,000 Membership Rewards points (valued at $1,320) to upgrade from the Amex Gold card to the Amex Platinum card. So if you've received such an offer, that would be a great reason to upgrade.
Is Centurion or Platinum better? ›Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card offers far better value than the Centurion card with complimentary worldwide lounge access to the same lounge networks in exchange for a far lower annual fee.
Who usually gets approved for Amex Platinum? ›If you have a solid annual income, a good credit score, and a few years' worth of great credit history, you stand a solid chance of being approved for either the Amex Platinum card or the Amex Business Platinum card.
How long does Amex Platinum take to get approved? ›In most cases, an online application will take about 10 minutes to complete and will generate a decision in as little as 30 seconds. If the application requires additional review, a decision may take up to 15 business days.
Is American Express the hardest card to get? ›Centurion® Card from American Express
Why it's one of the hardest credit cards to get: The hardest credit card to get is the American Express Centurion Card. Known simply as the “Black Card,” you need an invitation to get Amex Centurion.
What is the minimum credit score that Amex will approve? ›
The American Express credit score requirement is of at least 700, depending on the card. That means people with good to excellent credit are eligible to get approved for an American Express credit card.
What does Amex look for when approving? ›Although American Express doesn't specify any minimum credit score requirements, you'll need good credit (or better) to qualify, which means a FICO score of at least 670. A premium Amex card — say, the American Express Gold Card — likely requires a “very good” FICO score, somewhere in the range of 740 and above.
Is platinum better than gold Amex? ›Is Gold Card Higher Than Platinum? Both Amex Gold and Platinum offer a range of benefits, with the Gold card catering more to everyday spending and the Platinum card designed more for travelers. The Platinum card has more benefits, but it's annual $695 fee is higher than the Gold card's $250 fee.
Can you buy a car on Amex Platinum? ›Purchasing a Car With Your AMEX Platinum Card Is an Easy Way to Meet the Minimum Spending Requirement and Earn a Big Bonus! The $20,000 minimum spending requirement on the AMEX Business Platinum card is a lot for most folks to spend in 3 months, which is one reason why buying a car with this card makes sense!
Which bureau does Amex pull? ›American Express appears to primarily pull credit reports from Experian, but this doesn't mean it doesn't occasionally pull from one or both of the other major consumer credit bureaus as well.
Are Amex card holders rich? ›No,. American Express is not specifically for rich people, even though it does have a high level of status in many people's minds. Applicants need good or excellent credit scores of 700+ to qualify for Amex credit cards, and you don't need to be rich to have a good credit score.
Which Amex card is most exclusive? ›- The American Express Centurion Card is the most exclusive credit card in the world and is commonly known as the “Amex Black Card.” ...
- The Centurion card is so exclusive that American Express won't release the card's full details or say how one can become a cardholder.
Most widely available premium rewards cards are 12 grams or heavier. The Platinum Card® from American Express weighs 18.5 grams, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve® weighs 12.6 grams. How much does the AmEx Platinum weigh? The Platinum Card® from American Express weighs 18.5 grams.
What FICO score does Amex look at? ›According to the score ranges from FICO, that means American Express applicants typically have at least a 670 score: Exceptional. 800 and above.
Which FICO score does Amex use? ›We believe everyone should know their credit score and have the tools to understand it better. That's why we're giving you VantageScore® 3.0 by TransUnion®, and the key factors that affect your score for free, even if you are not an American Express® Card Member.
Does paying the minimum hurt credit score Amex? ›
Paying your credit card balance in full and on time each month can help you optimize your credit score and avoid certain fees. You'll pay more in interest if you make only the minimum payment each month, and late or missed payments can result in late fees – and may adversely affect your credit score.