AMEX Offer: Up to 100,000 points with the Platinum Card® from American Express

Fact checked by
Marie-Ève Leclerc
Marie-Ève Leclerc Marie-Ève Leclerc
Marie-Ève, Web Director at Milesopedia, is an expert in budget travel and a slow travel enthusiast. Specializing in Aeroplan, Scene+, and Marriott Bonvoy programs, she spends nearly six months a year abroad, making travel her way of life. Constantly seeking the best waves to surf, excellent coffee, and strategies to extend her travels, she is often found in coworking spaces with fellow digital nomads or by the sea, watching the sunset.
All posts by Marie-Ève Leclerc
American Express Platinum Card
To the point Earn up to 100,000 points with Canada's best premium card for travelers: the Platinum Card® from American Express.

Welcome Offer

The Platinum Card® is the best Premium Card in Canada for travellers.

With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points:

  • 70,000 points when you charge $10,000 in net purchases to your Card in the first 3 months after joining;
  • 30,000 points if you make a purchase between 15 to 17 months after signing up.

With this Card, you get:

  • 2 points per dollar for dining purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on travel purchases
  • 1 point per dollar for other purchases

You can use your Membership Rewards points in many ways:

  • Transfer points to airline partners: Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways / Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Delta Skymiles, etc.
  • Transfer your points to hotel programs (Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy)
  • Redeem points for statement credits to offset any travel purchase charged to your Card (1,000 points = $10)
  • Redeem points for statement credits towards other purchases (1,000 points = $10)
  • And more!

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to :

  • 100,000 Aeroplan points
  • 100,000 Avios
  • 100,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this card, you also have advantages for your travels:

  • $200 Annual Travel Credit
  • An annual meal credit of $200
  • $100 NEXUS Card Statement Credit
  • Complimentary access for you and one additional guest to over 1,400 airport lounges in more than 130 countries
  • Hilton Honors Gold Elite status (complimentary breakfast at all Hilton hotels)
  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
  • Access to the Fine Hotels and Resorts program

Last but not least, the Platinum Card® offers a wide range of insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, $500,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (out-of-province or out-of-country), lost or stolen baggage, flight delays and misdirected baggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Value of Membership Rewards Points

100,000 Membership Rewards points have a value of $1,000 if used against any purchase charged to your card, which is a value of 1 cent per point.

But in our opinion, the value can be much greater by transferring your points to partner loyalty programs such as Aeroplan, The British Airways Club, Flying Blue or Marriott Bonvoy!

Personally, I use my Membership Rewards points by transferring them to Aeroplan to book flight tickets:

Or I use my Membership Rewards points via the American Express Fixed Points Travel Program for certain North American destinations: the return is 2 cents per point.

Singapore Airlines A350 Business Class 09
Singapore Airlines A350 Business Class - Cabin

Everyday Life Benefits

Enhanced earn rates for certain purchases

American Express adapts the earn rate of the Platinum Card® to the spending habits of its cardholders!

Thus, the Platinum Card® allows you to earn:

  • 3X the points per dollar of travel purchases via American Express Travel
  • 2X the points per dollar of travel purchases
  • 1X the points per dollar of other purchases

Membership Rewards points can be transferred to:

  • Airline programs such as Aeroplan, British Airways Club, Delta Skymiles or Flying Blue
  • Hotel programs such as Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors.

$200 Annual Dining Credit

Each year, you can benefit from a $200 annual dining credit.

This credit is automatically applied following a single transaction of $200 CAD or more, including taxes and gratuities, at one of the eligible restaurants.

The benefit is automatically reset on January 1st of each year it is offered.

amex platine cobalt restaurants
The Platinum Card vs. the Cobalt Card at restaurants

A Metal Card

A premium card… means a metal card!

The Platinum Card® is one of the only cards in Canada to be made of metal, which establishes the Premium (and distinct) side of the Platinum Card® compared to the competition.

And this card is really beautiful, with only your name on the front: all the other information is on the back (although your wallet will weigh a little more)!

card Platine Max Featured Platinum Card
My Platinum Card

Benefits for Your Travels

Access to Airport Lounges

The Platinum Card® holders have access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection.

Here are the conditions of access for each type of lounge:

Lounges Details
Priority Pass Free, unlimited access for the holder AND a guest
1,400 airport lounges worldwide
Swissport Executive Lounges Free access for the holder and their spouse
&2 children under 21

on presentation of the Platinum Card
Ex: National Bank Lounge in Montreal, Aspire in Amsterdam, Gatwick…
V.I.P Lounge at the
Quebec Jean-Lesage International Airport
Free access for the cardholder and one travelling companion
&2 children under 18

on presentation of the Platinum Card.
Plaza Premium Lounges Free access for cardholder and spouse
on presentation of the Platinum Card
Ex: Numerous Plaza Premium lounges in Montreal (Air France), Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg…
Delta Sky Club Free access for
cardholders
on presentation of their
Platinum card & Delta Airline ticket.
Airspace Lounges Free access for the holder and their spouse
&2 children under 21

or 2 travelling companions
on presentation of the
Platinum card
San Diego and Cleveland airports
Escape Lounges Free access for cardholder
& 2 travel companions
on presentation of Platinum card
Oakland and Minneapolis airports…
The Centurion Lounge Free access for the holder
& 2 travel companions
on presentation of the Platinum card
Airports of Miami, Las Vegas, La Guardia, San Francisco, Hong Kong
International Lounges
American Express
Free access for the cardholder
american express lounge collection

For example, you can enjoy free access to the Air France Lounge or the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport.

Air France Montreal YUL Lounge
Air France Montreal YUL Lounge

$200 Travel Credit

American Express Canada offers a $200 annual credit for travel 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.

$100 NEXUS Credit

The Platinum Card® comes with another benefit for travelers: the $100 statement credit for NEXUS program membership. Simply charge your NEXUS membership (every 4 years) to your Platinum Card® to receive this credit.

Nexus Statement Credit
Nexus Passeports Milesopedia

Status in Hotel Programs

The Platinum Card® also offers status in several hotel loyalty programs, which entitles you to many benefits:

Program Status Main benefits
marriott bonvoy logo Elite Gold
Room upgrade

Late check-out until 2 PM
10 points for every US dollar of eligible purchase
& 25% more points than base-level members
Enhanced complimentary Internet access
hilton honors e1488115875520 Gold
Complimentary breakfast
Room upgrade
80% more points than base-level members
Enhanced complimentary Internet access
2 complimentary bottles of water per stay
radisson rewards logo Gold
Room upgrade
Early check-in and Late check-out
25 points per US dollar of spending
15% discount on food and beverages
2 complimentary bottles of water per stay

The Platinum Card® offers benefits with 2 major rental companies:

Rental Company Benefits
hertz logo 2 Five Star Level
Priority counter service
One-car-class upgrade
Discounts on standard rates
Special rates on the Prestige Collection
Up to 4-hour grace period to return the vehicle
Additional driver at no cost (spouse / partner)Read our review
on booking a rental car
with Hertz and the Platinum Card
avis logo
Avis Preferred
Priority counter service
One-car-class upgrade
Special discounts

The Fine Hotels and Resorts Program

The Platinum Card® holders have access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program, which provides various significant benefits at high-end hotels such as:

  • Complimentary Breakfast
  • Room upgrade
  • 4 p.m.guaranteed late departure
  • $100 credit for a service depending on the hotel
Marriott Bonvoy Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Autograph Collection featured
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Autograph Collection

Premium Travel Insurance

The travel insurance on the Platinum Card® is particularly advantageous with very high reimbursement levels, whether for flight delays, baggage delays, assistance abroad, or high-end car rentals…

Here is a summary of insurance coverages (this information is informational. Refer to the brochure provided with your Platinum Card®).

Insurance Coverage
Emergency medical expenses
(out-of-province or out-of-country)
This coverage covers eligible emergency medical expenses incurred outside your province or territory of residence in Canada, during the first 15 consecutive days of each trip, up to a maximum of $5,000,000 per insured person, for all insured persons under 65 years of age.
Trip cancellation When you charge the full cost of your travel arrangements to your Platinum Card, this coverage provides reimbursement for the non-refundable and non-transferable portion of your prepaid travel expenses, up to $2,500 per insured person (maximum of $5,000 for all insured persons), if you must cancel a trip due to an eligible situation.
Trip interruption When you charge the full cost of your travel arrangements to your Platinum Card, this coverage covers the unused, non-refundable and non-transferable portion of your prepaid travel arrangements, excluding the cost of the unused prepaid return transportation to your point of departure, up to $2,500 per insured person per trip (maximum of $6,000 for all insured persons), if your trip is interrupted or delayed due to an eligible situation.
Flight delay Charge your airline tickets to your Platinum Card and receive up to $1,000 (maximum in combination with Mishandled Baggage Insurance) for all necessary and reasonable hotel, motel or restaurant charges incurred within 48 hours if your flight is delayed or you are denied boarding for more than four hours without alternate transportation.
Misdirected baggage If you have booked your flight with the Platinum Card, you can receive up to $1,000 (maximum in combination with Flight Delay Insurance) for any reasonable and customary purchase of essential clothing and sundry items made within four days, if your baggage is not returned to you within six hours of your departure flight’s arrival at your destination.
Loss or theft of baggage If you charge the full cost of your airline tickets to your Platinum Card, you are covered for loss or damage to your personal effects, carry-on baggage or checked baggage while in transit, up to a combined maximum of $1,000 per trip.
Car Rental Theft and Damage Save when you travel with flight and damage insurance for rental cars included with your Platinum card. Where permitted by law, you will automatically be insured against damage or theft of your rental car with a maximum MSRP of up to $85,000. To take advantage of this benefit, you must decline loss/damage coverage or any other similar option offered by the rental company, and charge the entire rental to your Platinum Card. There’s no additional charge for this coverage, and you save yourself the daily insurance fee (usually $16 to $23 per day) charged by the car rental company.
Hotel/motel burglary Automatic coverage of up to $1,000 for the loss of most personal belongings, excluding cash, if your hotel or motel room is burglarized. when you fully charge your accommodations to your Card.
$500,000 Travel Accident Insurance You’re covered for up to $500,000 in the event of accidental death or dismemberment for you, your spouse and dependent children under the age of 23 when you travel on a common carrier (plane, train, boat or bus) and charge the full cost of your tickets to your Platinum Card. Supplementary Cardholders, their spouses and dependent children under 23 are also covered.
Buyer’s Assurance Protection Plan Eligible items are automatically insured against direct physical damage and theft up to $1,000 per occurrence (not per item purchased) for a period of 120 days from the date of purchase if you pay for them with your Platinum Card. No registration required. You may be reimbursed for eligible events not covered by any other insurance.
Purchase Protection Plan The Purchase Protection Plan automatically doubles the duration of the original manufacturer’s warranty, up to a maximum of one additional year, if you pay for your purchase in full with your Platinum Card. This protection applies to items paid for with the Card anywhere in the world, provided the manufacturer’s warranty is valid in Canada and the U.S. and does not exceed five years. Jewelry, motorized vehicles, and their parts are excluded from this coverage. Before having an item repaired, you must obtain authorization. Replacement and repair costs for each eligible item cannot exceed $10,000, up to $25,000 per cardholder, per policy year, for all claims.
american express centurion lounge hong kong 17
American Express Centurion Lounge Hong Kong

A Membership Rewards Card

Redeeming Points to Book Flights With American Express

American Express has two charts:

  • Flexible / soft points: here you use your points at a value of 1,000 Membership Rewards points = $10
  • Fixed Points: the fare will depend on the destination
American Express lounge logo 1

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.

Using Points Towards Any Expense

Another way to use Membership Rewards points: by applying them to your purchases. The rate is 1,000 Membership Rewards points = $10.

Membership Rewards Transfer Partners

Here are all the transfer partners for American Express Membership Rewards program:

Partners Conversion rates
Aeroplan New Logo 100,000 Membership Rewards points
=
100,000 Aeroplan points
flying blue logo 100,000 Membership Rewards points
=
75,000 Flying Blue miles
in asia miles 100,000 Membership Rewards points
=
75,000 Asia Miles
british airways club 100,000 Membership Rewards points
=
100,000 Avios
pg logo delta skymiles e1496111335578 100,000 Membership Rewards points
=
75,000 miles
etihad guest 100,000 Membership Rewards points
=
75,000 miles
hilton honors e1488115875520 100,000 Membership Rewards points
=
100,000 Hilton Honors points
marriott bonvoy logo 100,000 Membership Rewards points
=
120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

Fee and Welcome Bonus

See below for details of the current offer for the Platinum Card® subscription:

Remember:

  • all the benefits offered by this card, including unlimited airport lounge access for the cardholder and a guest
  • the excellent welcome bonus, largely covering the first-year fees
  • the $200 annual travel credit, renewed every year on the card’s anniversary date
  • the $200 annual dining credit, renewed every year on January 1st
  • the $100 NEXUS credit every four years

Conclusion

There is no card offering benefits comparable to those of the Platinum Card®, which justifies the level of the annual fee.

For a frequent traveler, all the benefits of the Card far exceed the effective cost of $399 (since every year, you benefit from a $200 credit on your travel bookings and $200 for certain restaurants):

  • access to a multitude of airport lounges around the world
  • benefits from hotel statuses, some of which offer complimentary breakfasts
  • the flexibility offered by both the transfer of Membership Rewards points and the American Express fixed flight pricing grid
  • high-caliber insurance

To this, American Express adds an enhanced earn rate of:

  • 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar of travel purchases

Take advantage of this exceptional welcome offer:

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien Voisine is the President and Founder of Milesopedia and a leading expert in rewards programs, credit cards, and travel across Canada, France, and the U.S.A. Now 40 years old and a father of two, he has explored more than 100 countries—many of them alongside his wife Audrey and their children. Specializing in loyalty programs such as Aeroplan, Flying Blue, American Express Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, Jean-Maximilien helps travellers unlock the full potential of their points and benefits. His mission: empower others to travel better and smarter across North America and Europe.
All posts by Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Receive our newsletter every week!

Savings this way:

Milesopedia