To the point
American Express has just launched a new offer for the Platinum Card! Find out why this is the best time to get this card!
A new offer for the Platinum Card
After the presentation of this new offer, find out more about the main benefits of the Platinum Card AND why it is the best card for frequent travellers.
American Express Membership Rewards points value
60,000 Membership Rewards points have a $600 value if used for travel purchases charged to your Card. That’s a value of 1 cent per point.
But, in our opinion, the value may be much more significant by converting your points to partner loyalty programs like Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club or Marriott Bonvoy!
In my case, I convert my Membership Rewards points into Aeroplan miles to book:
- business or first class flights:here I get about 4 cents per point (so a value of $2,400 for 60,000 points).
- multi-destination flights in North America:here, I often get at least 2 to 3 cents per point (so a value of $1,200 to $1,800 for 60,000 points).
Or I use my Membership Rewards points through American Express’ fixed point travel program for some North American destinations:2 cents per point (so a value of $1,200 for 60,000 points).
Everyday life benefits
Improved earning rates for some purchases
The earning rate of the Platinum Card is adapted to the Cardmembers lifestyle: travel and gastronomy!
For example, with the Platinum Card, you can earn:
- 3 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible dining in Canada
- 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel
- 1 point for every $1 in all other Card purchases
Membership Rewards points can be transferred to:
- Airline loyalty programs such as Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Delta Skymiles
- Hotel programs such as Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors.
A metal card
As a high-end card, the Platinum Card is a metal card!
The Platinum Card is one of the only cards in Canada to be made of metal: the Platinum Card has no competition there!
And this card is stunning with only your name on the front: all the other information is on the back (on the other hand, your wallet will weigh a little heavier)!
Benefits for your travels
Access to Airport Lounges
Platinum Cardmembers have access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection.
Here are the conditions of access for each type of lounge:
| Lounge | Details |
| Priority Pass | Complimentary and unlimited access for the Cardmember AND a guest in 1200 airport lounges around the world |
| Executive Lounges by Swissport | Complimentary access for the Cardmember and his spouse 2 children under the age of 21 by presenting the Platinum Card Ex: National Bank Lounge in Montreal, Aspire in Amsterdam, Gatwick… |
| V.I.P. International Airport Lounge Jean-Lesage from Quebec City |
Complimentary access for the Cardmember and a travel companion 2 children under the age of 18 by presenting the Platinum Card |
| Plaza Premium Lounges | Complimentary access for the Cardmember and his spouse by presenting the Platinum Card Ex: Plaza Premium lounges in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg |
| Delta Sky Club | Complimentary access for the Cardmember by showing the Platinum Card and a Delta Airlines boarding pass |
| Airspace Lounges | Complimentary access for the Cardmember and his spouse 2 children under the age of 21 or 2 travel companions by presenting the Platinum Card San Diego and Cleveland Airports |
| Escape Lounges | Complimentary access for the Cardmember and two travel companions by presenting the Platinum Card Oakland Airports, Minneapolis… |
| The Centurion Lounge | Complimentary access for the Cardmember and two travel companions by presenting the Platinum Card Miami, Las Vegas, La Guardia, San Francisco, Hong Kong… |
| International American Express Lounges American Express |
Complimentary access for the Cardmember |
$200 annual travel credit
American Express Canada offers a $200 annual travel credit for trips booked through the American Express Travel website with the Platinum Card.
This may be:
- A flight
- A hotel
- A car rental
- A travel package
This credit is renewed each year based on Cardmembership anniversary date.
Status in hotel programs
The Platinum Card also offers status in several hotel loyalty programs, which entitles you to many benefits:
| Program | Status | Key benefits |
 |
Elite Gold | Room upgrade 2 p.m Late departure 10 points for every eligible U.S. dollar and 25% more points than base members Premium Internet access |
 |
Gold | Complimentary Breakfast Room Upgrade 80% more points than base-level members Premium Internet access 2 free bottles of water per stay |
 |
Gold | Room Upgrade Early Arrival and Late Checkout 25 Points per U.S. Dollar spent and 15% off food and drink 2 free bottles of water per stay |
Indeed, you only have to make 3 flights on Singapore Airlines or SilkAir in 4 months to get this precious sesame … which will be recognized throughout the Star Alliance network, including Air Canada!
If you are already a Jade level member in the Golden Circle program thanks to the Platinum Card, you will need to register for the status match with Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer here.
We will have the opportunity, in a later article, to go back in detail on all the status accessible directly or indirectly with the Platinum Card.
The car rentals benefits
The Platinum Card offers some benefits with 2 major car rental agencies:
| Car rental agency | Benefits |
 |
Five Star Level Priority service at the counter Upgrade of a one-car category Discounts on standard rates Special rates on the Prestige collection Grace period of up to 4 hours to return the car One free additional driver Read our review here on booking a rental car with Hertz and the Platinum Card |
 |
Avis Preferred Priority service at the counter Upgrade of a one-car category Special discounts |
The Fine Hotels and Resorts program
Platinum Cardmembers have access to the Fine Hotels and Resorts program, which provides significant benefits in high-end hotels such as:
- Complimentary Breakfast
- Room upgrade
- 4 p.m.guaranteed Late departure
- A $100 hotel service credit
Preferred Golf membership
Here, an advantage that will surely interest golfers! The Platinum Card offers a free Preferred Golf membership, which includes:
- a free upgrade to a superior room on arrival
- Late check-out
- a free round of golf for each stay,
- With the Stay Plus package, you can get discounts on golf games for two people per evening of the stay
High-end travel insurance
Platinum Card travel insurances are particularly worthwhile with very high reimbursement levels, whether for flight delays, luggage delays, overseas assistance, high-end car rentals.
Here is a summary of insurance coverages (this information is informational. Refer to your Platinum Card documents).
| Insurance | Coverage |
| Emergency Medical Insurance Out of Province/Country |
Can provide coverage of up to a maximum of $5,000,000 for eligible emergency medical expenses incurred by an insured person under age 65 while travelling outside your Canadian province or territory of residence for the first 15 consecutive days of a covered trip. |
| Trip Cancellation Insurance | You can be reimbursed for the non-refundable and non-transferable portion of your travel arrangements when charged to your Card before your departure date should you cancel your trip for a covered reason.You can be covered for up to $2,500 per insured person, per trip, up to a maximum of $5,000 for all insured persons combined. |
| Trip Interruption Insurance | When you fully charge your travel arrangements to your Card, this insurance can cover the non-refundable and non-transferable unused portion of your travel arrangements purchased before your departure date, should your trip be interrupted or delayed for a covered reason.You can be covered for up to $2,500 per insured person, per trip, up to a maximum of $6,000 for all insured persons combined. |
| Flight Delay Insurance | Fully charge your airline ticket to your Card and receive up to $1,000 in coverage (aggregate maximum with Baggage Delay Insurance) for necessary and reasonable accommodations, restaurant expenses and sundry items purchased within 48 hours when delayed or denied boarding for 4 hours or more and no alternate transportation is made available. |
| Baggage Delay Insurance | When you fully charge your airline ticket to your Card, you can receive up to $1,000 in coverage (aggregate maximum with Flight Delay Insurance) for reasonable and necessary emergency purchases for essential clothing and sundry items purchased within four days of arrival at your destination if your checked-in baggage on your outbound trip is delayed for 6 or more hours when you fully charge your airline ticket to your Card. |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance | You can be covered for loss or damage to your checked-in or carry-on baggage and personal effects while in transit for up to a maximum of $1,000 per trip for all insured person(s) combined when you fully charge your airline tickets to your Card. |
| Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance | Save when you travel with flight and damage insurance for rental cars included with your Platinum card. You can be covered for theft, loss and damage of your rental car with an MSRP of up to $85,000 for rentals of 48 days or less. To take advantage of this protection, simply decline the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or similar option offered by the car rental agency and fully charge your rental to your Platinum Card. This insurance is available at no extra cost and you do not have to pay the insurance charged by the car rental company (usually costing between $16 and $23 per day). |
| Hotel Burglary Insurance | You can receive up to $1,000 in coverage against the loss of most personal items (excluding cash) if your accommodation is burglarized when you fully charge your accommodations to your Card. |
| $500,000 Travel Accident Insurance | You can be covered up to $500,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance when you fully charge your common carrier (plane, train, ship or bus) tickets to your Card. Additional cardmember, their spouse and dependent children under the age of 23 are also covered. |
| Purchase Protection® Plan | You can be insured for eligible items charged to your Card for 120 days from the date of purchase in the event of accidental physical damage or theft for up to $1,000 per occurrence (for all purchased items combined). No registration required. You can be reimbursed for eligible events not covered by any other insurance. |
| Purchase Protection® Plan | Your coverage can automatically extend the manufacturer’s original warranty up to one additional year when you fully charge eligible items to your Card. This protection applies to card items around the world, if the manufacturer’s warranty is valid in Canada and the United States and does not exceed five years. Jewelry, motor vehicles and parts are not covered. Before you have an item repaired, you must get permission. Replacement and repair costs for each eligible item may not exceed $10,000, up to a maximum of $25,000 per Cardmember, per year, for all claims. |
A Membership Rewards Card
Redeeming points to book flights with American Express
American Express has two flight charts:
- Flexible Points: Here you redeem your points at a value of 1,000 Membership Rewards points = $10
- Fixed: the fare will be depend on the destination
And this is how we will be able to get the most value out of our Membership Rewards points!
Up to 1,000 Membership Rewards points = $20. That’s 60,000 points = $1,200!
Redeem your points for travel expenses
Another way to use your Membership Rewards points is to get a credit for travel expenses. The rate is 1,000 Membership Rewards points = $10.
That’s 60,000 Membership Rewards points = $600!
Membership Rewards Transfer Partners
Here are all the transfer partners for American Express Membership Rewards program:
| Partners | Conversion rate |
 |
1,000 Membership Rewards points = 1,000 Aeroplan miles |
 |
1,000 Membership Rewards points = 750 miles |
 |
1,000 Membership Rewards points = 750 miles Asia Miles |
 |
1,000 Membership Rewards points = 1,000 Avios miles |
 |
1,000 Membership Rewards points = 750 Delta Skymiles |
 |
1,000 Membership Rewards points = 750 Etihad Guest miles |
|
1,000 Membership Rewards points = 1,000 Hilton Honors Points |
|
1,000 Membership Rewards points = 1,200 Marriott Bonvoy points |
Aeroplan / Air Canada: a confirmed partner for years to come
Air Canada recently announced that the airline’s frequent flyer program will be a transfer partner for American Express Membership Rewards program, as Aeroplan is today.
So you can earn membership rewards points without fear: the points can be transferred to Aeroplan until mid-2020 and into the new Air Canada program later!
Annual fee and welcome bonus
You will find below some details of the current offer for the Platinum Card.
Remember:
- all the benefits offered by this Card
- the excellent welcome bonus, mainly covering the costs of the first year
- $200 annual travel credit, renewed each year on Cardmembership anniversary date
Conclusion
There is no card with benefits comparable to the Platinum Card, justifying its annual fee.
For a frequent traveller, all the benefits of the card far exceed the actual cost of $499 (since each year you get a $200 credit on your travel bookings):
- access to more than 1 200 airport lounges around the world
- the benefits of hotel status, some of which offer complimentary breakfasts
- the flexibility offered by both the transfer of Membership Rewards points and the fixed flight chart of American Express
- high-end insurances
To this, American Express adds an improved earning rate of:
- 3 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible dining in Canada
- 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel
And you, will you apply for this limited offer of 60,000 points for the Platinum Card?
Come and discuss it on the milesopedia’s facebook group!
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