The unique benefits of the Platinum Card® from American Express | Milesopedia
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 The Platinum Card® from American Express

The unique benefits of the Platinum Card® from American Express

To the point A few days ago, American Express lifted the veil on a new Platinum Card® offer. Let's go over the various benefits of this card, and try to bring some value to it.

The Platinum Card® travel benefits.

The Platinum Card® clearly stands out from the competition because of the various benefits it provides for frequent travelers. I will try to assign a value to each of them.

 The Platinum Card® from American Express

Access to airport lounges

It’s something I personally love (and I know many of the Facebook group members do too!).

The benefit

The Platinum Card® provides free unlimited access to the cardholder and a travel companion at most of the lounges listed below.

centurion lounge las vegas 02
Salon American Express The Centurion - Las Vegas

When we look at just the Priority Pass membership included for the Platinum Card® holder, we are talking about a benefit that has a value of US$429 / year.

And American Express has a special agreement with Priority Pass to add a travel companion to this pass (which would have cost US$ 32 / visit otherwise)!

priority pass abonnements
Les choix d'abonnements à Priority Pass

That’s not taking into account access to all the other types of lounge around the world:

salons platine
Les différents salons accessibles

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

Lounge Details
Priority Pass Free and unlimited access for the holder AND a guest
to
1300 lounges worldwide
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 presenting 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

The value of airport lounge access

Being reasonable in my estimates, with this airport lounge access benefit offered by the Platinum Card®, I estimate that I save $20/person each time we pass through an airport (for drinks/meals).

That’s not counting the rest you get versus waiting in some terminals (especially with young children)!

For a couple that goes through the airport 5 times a year, that ‘s a saving of $200/year thanks to this benenit.

Hotel status Benefit

American Express has partnered with various hotel programs to gain access to higher statuses by being a Platinum Card® holder.

The benefit

Of all the hotel programs, I consider only the status offered by the Platinum Card® on the Hilton Honors side to be of value.

It is the only one to offer breakfast in most of the group’s hotels.

jw marriott phu quoc pdj 17
JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa - Petit-déjeuner

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 that level of status faster.

Program Status Key benefits
marriott bonvoy logo 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
hilton honors e1488115875520 Gold
Complimentary Breakfast
Room Upgrade
80% more points than base-level members
Premium Internet access
2 free bottles of water per stay
logo radisson rewards 3 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

The value of hotel statuses

The value of this Platinum Card® benefit 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!

With an average rate of $20/breakfast/person, for 10 nights stay per year, this could be a saving of $400/year thanks to this benefit.

But if you stay at Marriott hotels instead, the value of this benefit is lessened.

It’s up to you to decide how much value you place on this benefit, depending on your travels! Personally, I estimate it to be around $200/year.

The $200 travel credit

If there is one easily quantifiable benefit of the Platinum Card®, it is the $200 annual travel credit.

The benefit

When you sign up for the Platinum Card®, you get a $200 travel credit to use through American Express Travel services. This may be:

  • A flight
  • A hotel
  • A car rental
  • A travel package
hertz amex platine msy 02
Une location de voiture avec le crédit voyage - Infiniti QX60 - Hertz

Then each year, when your Platinum Card® annual fee renews, you get that credit again. I explain in detail in this article how the annual travel credit works.

avantages voyages platine
Les avantages

The value of the travel credit

Having the opportunity to travel several times a year, it is easy for me to use the $200 annual Platinum Card® credit. So it has a value of… 200$, for trips I would have bought anyway!

This benefit is a way for me to mitigate the $699 annual fee for my Platinum Card®. To me, this card – and the benefits it provides – costs $499 every year.

The $100 NEXUS credit

The Platinum Card® comes with another benefit for travellers: the $100 NEXUS Card Statement Credit. Simply charge your NEXUS membership (every 4 years) onto your Platinum Card® to get this credit.

global entry nexus

The Platinum Card® Membership Rewards program

In addition to the travel benefits, it is important to note the excellent earning rate of Membership Rewards points through the Platinum Card®:

  • 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 Membership Rewards point per dollar per dollar of other purchases
accumulation platine

Here is an example of earning rate:

Restaurants Travel Other
Purchases 10 000$ 10 000$ 10 000$
Membership Rewards 30 000 20 000 10 000
Total 60,000 Membership Rewards points
lufthansa first fra bos 32
Première Classe - Lufthansa avec des milles Aéroplan

Conclusion

For sure, 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 credit, access to airport lounges, status, etc.) as well as the Membership Rewards points earning categories, this is THE card to get in anticipation of those trips!

The benefits exceed the annual fee (especially the first year with a welcome bonus of 50,000 Membership Rewards points!)

So for me, it remains an essential card alongside my American Express Cobalt® Card!

american express restaurants Platinum cobalt

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 apply.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
4.8 Milesopedia Rating
Jean-Maximilien
Jean-Maximilien is an expert in Canada and France about Loyalty programs, Credit cards and Travel. He is the Founding President of Milesopedia.

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