It’s hard to enjoy a vacation when you’re stuck at the gate next to a kid kicking your carry-on.
That’s one reason why so many frequent travelers swear by the American Express Platinum Card®. It’s not cheap at $895 per year (see rates and fees), but it is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market.
I’ve personally held this card and used it to get into lounges, earn hotel upgrades, and claw back hundreds in statement credits.
Here’s why I call it the GOAT for luxury travel.
Get into 1,550+ airport lounges
One of the Platinum Card®’s biggest draws is the unmatched airport lounge access.
Cardholders can get into these lounge networks:
- Centurion Lounges (Amex’s swanky lounges with gourmet food, cocktails, and comfy seating. The pic at the top of this article I took in a Centurion lounge in Dallas Fort Worth)
- Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta same-day)
- Priority Pass lounges (1,400+ locations worldwide)
- Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium, Lufthansa Lounges, and more
- Terms apply; enrollment may be required
All added up, you get access to 1,550+ lounges in 140+ countries. It makes delays, long layovers, or early check-ins way more tolerable.
In many lounges, you can bring at least one guest or person you’re traveling with. That’s saved me and my wife so many times.
Save $600+ per year on luxury hotel stays
With the recent refresh to the Platinum Card® benefits, the hotel benefits just got more generous.
Here are the main hotel perks:
- $600 annual hotel credit (up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.)
- Automatic Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status
- Room upgrades when available, daily breakfast, and late checkout at many properties
- Terms apply; enrollment may be required
I used the hotel credit once for my brother’s wedding in San Diego — and it basically turned the whole trip into a luxury (and more romantic) experience for me and wifey.
More travel perks beyond the lounge
The Platinum Card® doesn’t just get you into lounges and fancy hotels — it’s packed with travel perks that make every trip smoother, faster, and more fun.
Here are some other handy perks for travelers:
- $200 airline fee credit per year for things like checked bags, seat selection, or in-flight snacks
- CLEAR® Plus credit (up to $209/year) to speed through airport security lanes
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry credit every 4-5 years (up to $120)
- $200 in Uber Cash each year — doled out as $15/month plus a $20 bonus in December (U.S. rides and Uber Eats only)
- $120 Uber One credit, which gets you even more savings and $0 delivery fees on eligible orders
- 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year
- Terms apply; enrollment may be required
If you travel even semi-regularly, these all stack up fast. I mostly used the Uber credits for Uber Eats orders instead of rides. CLEAR and Global Entry are seriously underrated too if you hate waiting at the airport (who doesn’t!).
While the $895 annual fee isn’t small, the total value of benefits and credits tops $3,500+ per year if you use them.
If you’re a frequent flyer, the Platinum Card® can easily pay for itself (and then some) with all the luxury perks packed inside.
That said, it’s not the only premium travel card out there.
Explore more luxury travel cards and compare your top options here.
