The Platinum Card from American Express
By Alex Compton · Last verified
The lounge king. The 2025 refresh raised the fee, and doubled down on credits.
Welcome Bonus
175,000
≈$3,500 value
Spend Requirement
$12,000
in 6 months
Annual Fee
$895
No FTF
Credit Score
740+
(Excellent)
Current offer note: Personalized offer; Amex advertises an offer as high as 175k
Historical Offers Chart
Every public offer change we've tracked. Hover for details, timing your application is worth hundreds of dollars.
Apply now or wait?
Apply nowThis is the best public offer this card has ever had. In 9 tracked offers going back to 2016, nothing has beaten 175k.
Current offer
175k
All-time high
175k
Typical offer
100k
In place since
June 2024
| Observed | Offer | Requirement | What changed | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-04 | 175,000 | $12,000 in 6 mo | Spend: $8,000 → $12,000Personalized offer advertised as high as 175k; spending requirement increased | American Express Platinum Card product page → |
| 2026-01 | 175,000 | $8,000 in 6 mo | Terms reconfirmed | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
| 2025-09 | 175,000 | $8,000 in 6 mo | Terms reconfirmedRefresh: $895 AF, new credit stack | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
| 2024-06 | 175,000 | $8,000 in 6 mo | Bonus increased: 80,000 → 175,000Targeted high via CardMatch | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
| 2023-01 | 80,000 | $8,000 in 6 mo | Bonus decreased: 100,000 → 80,000 · Spend: $6,000 → $8,000 | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
| 2021-07 | 100,000 | $6,000 in 6 mo | Bonus increased: 75,000 → 100,000 · Spend: $5,000 → $6,000 | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
| 2020-01 | 75,000 | $5,000 in 6 mo | Bonus increased: 60,000 → 75,000 · Window: 3 → 6 months | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
| 2017-03 | 60,000 | $5,000 in 3 mo | Bonus increased: 40,000 → 60,000 · Spend: $3,000 → $5,000 | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
| 2016-01 | 40,000 | $3,000 in 3 mo | Earliest record | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
Primary-source verification log
Append-only evidence ledger- changed
Reconfirmed fee, earning rates, credits and lounge terms; personalized maximum offer now requires $12,000 in six months
Fields: currentOffer, offerHistory, credits, benefits
American Express Platinum Card product page →
Source checked 2026-09-04 · spot an outdated offer? Report a correction above.
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Earning Rates
- 5xFlights booked direct or via Amex Travel (up to $500k/yr)
- 5xPrepaid hotels via Amex Travel
- 1xAll other purchases
Credits ($2,994/yr stated)
- Hotel credit$600
$300 semiannually, FHR / The Hotel Collection
- Resy dining credit$400
$100 quarterly
- Digital entertainment credit$300
$25 monthly
- Lululemon credit$300
$75 quarterly
- Airline fee credit$200
One selected airline
- Uber Cash$200
$15/mo + $20 December bonus
- CLEAR+ membership credit$219
Enrollment and auto-renewal terms apply
- Walmart+ membership credit$155
- Uber One membership credit$120
- Oura Ring credit$200
Eligible purchases at ouraring.com; enrollment required
- Equinox credit$300
Eligible club membership or Equinox+; enrollment required
Benefits
- ✦Global Lounge Collection with 1,550+ lounges, including Centurion Lounges, 10 eligible Delta Sky Club visits, and Priority Pass after enrollment
- ✦Marriott + Hilton Gold status
- ✦Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit
- ✦Fine Hotels + Resorts elite-like benefits
- ✦Transfers to ~20 airline/hotel partners
Lounge Access
This card opens 4 lounge networks. See exactly what you can walk into at your airport with the Lounge Finder.
Why it earns its spot
- +Best lounge access in the industry, full stop
- +The personalized welcome offer can be substantial, but applicants may receive less than the advertised maximum
- +Hotel status and FHR perks on every stay
Where it costs you
- −$895 fee is brutal if you ignore the coupon book
- −1x on everyday spend, this is not a daily driver
- −Credits are heavily enrollment- and merchant-gated
The Compound Verdict
Treat it as a membership, not a credit card. Fly a few times a year through lounge-served airports, use the hotel and Resy credits naturally, and it pays for itself before the bonus. Put everyday spend elsewhere.
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