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The Platinum Card® stands out from the competition thanks to the various advantages it offers frequent travelers. I will try to assign a value to each of them.
It’s something I personally love (and I know a lot of facebook group members do too!).
The Platinum Card® offers free, unlimited access for the cardholder and a travel companion to most of the lounges listed below.
When we look solely at the Priority Pass subscription included for the holder of the Platinum Card®cardholder, we’re talking about a benefit worth US$429 / year.
And American Express has a special agreement with Priority Pass allowing a travel companion to be added to this subscription (which would otherwise have cost US$32 / visit)!
And that’s not counting access to all the other types of trade shows around the world:
Here are the conditions of access for each type of lounge:
Being reasonable in my estimates, thanks to this advantage of access to airport lounges offered by the Platinum Card®I estimate that I save $40 per person each time we pass through an airport (for drinks and refreshments).
Not to mention the rest you get versus waiting in some terminals (especially with young children)!
American Express has forged partnerships with various hotel programs in order to gain access to higher statuses by being a holder of the Platinum Card®.
Of all the hotel programs, I consider only the status offered by Hilton Honors to be valuable. Platinum Card® fromHilton Honors.
It’s the only one to offer breakfast in most of the group’s hotels.
Unfortunately, Marriott Bonvoy’s Elite Gold status has lost its lustre, with the program now reserving the benefit of complimentary breakfasts for Elite Platinum members.
I would have liked to see American Express offer Platinum Elite status, or at least status nights to reach this level of status more quickly.
The value of this Platinum Card® is relative. It will be based on the number of stays made in these different hotels each year. If your preference is Hilton Group hotels, getting free breakfast for each of your nights can be a great benefit!
At an average rate of $20 per breakfast per person for ten nights stay per year, this could mean savings of $400 a year.
But if you stay at Marriott hotels instead, the value of this benefit is lessened.
If there’s one easily quantifiable benefit of the Platinum Card®is the $200 annual travel credit.
When you purchase the Platinum Card®you’ll receive a $200 travel credit to be used through American Express Travel. This may be:
Then, each year, when you renew the annual fee for your Platinum Card®annual fee, you’ll get this credit again. In this article, I explain how the Annual Travel Credit works.
Having the opportunity to travel several times a year, it’s easy for me to use the $200 annual credit from the Platinum Card®. It’s worth $200, for trips I would have bought anyway!
Another easy-to-quantify benefit of the Platinum Card®is the $200 annual meal credit.
When you purchase the Platinum Card®you’ll receive an annual meal credit of $200.
This credit is applied to your restaurant bill based on a list of American Express restaurants.
Then, every year on January 1, you get this credit again.
Having the opportunity to dine in fine restaurants at Montreal, it’s easy for me to use the $200 annual meal credit from the Platinum Card®. It’s worth $200, for a meal in a good restaurant that I would have had anyway!
Instead of using my American Express Cobalt® Card (which earns me 5 points per dollar in all restaurants), I’ll use my American Express Platinum Card®.
The Platinum Card® offers travellers another great benefit: a $100 Statement credit for a NEXUS membership. Simply charge your NEXUS membership (every 4 years) to your Platinum Card® to obtain this credit.
In addition to the travel benefits, it is important to note the excellent accumulation of Membership Rewards points thanks to the Platinum Card® :
Here is an example of earning rate:
The Platinum Card® – like the American Express Cobalt® Card – allows you to use your privilege points in a multitude of ways, “without being caught” with points Aeroplan:
The Platinum Card® is not for everyone, and remains a card for travelers.
However, if you have travel plans and can take advantage of its various benefits ($200 annual travel credit, $200 annual meal credit, airport lounge access, status, etc.) and Membership Rewards points accumulation categories, this is THE card to get in anticipation of those trips!
Benefits easily exceed the annual fee (especially in the first year with a welcome bonus).
For me, it remains an essential card alongside my American Express Cobalt® Card !
This post was not sponsored. The views and opinions expressed in this review are purely my own. American Express is not responsible for maintaining or controlling the accuracy of the information published on this website. For complete and up-to-date product information, click on the Apply Now link. Terms and conditions apply.
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