Maximize your American Express Platinum benefits and travel like a pro!

Are you a travel enthusiast looking to elevate your travel game and enjoy a host of exclusive perks? Look no further than the American Express Platinum Credit Card. With its impressive range of benefits and rewards, this card is a must-have for frequent travelers. In this article, we will explore how you can get the most value out of your American Express Platinum Credit Card and make your travel experiences even more rewarding.

Take Advantage of the Welcome Bonus

One of the best ways to kickstart your travel rewards journey is by taking advantage of the welcome bonus offered by the American Express Platinum Credit Card. This card often comes with a generous welcome bonus, which can then be transferred to airline and hotel partners for max value! You can usually find the best offer available for you using The Points Guys Card Match Tool here. Make sure to meet the minimum spending requirements within the specified time frame to unlock the sign-up bonus (An example of this would be, earn 100K points for spending 6K in 3 months--you'd want to make sure you spend the 6K on your card within the 3 months and always remember, the annual fee doesn't count towards the bonus). I always set an alarm on my phone for about two weeks before the sign-up bonus is due so I can make sure I am on track to meet it. Alternatively, I also like to use the app, Travel Freely to manage my cards and they will send you notifications when a sign-up bonus deadline is coming up.

Take Advantage of the Credits

The Amex Platinum card offers a variety of credits that can save you money and make the $695 annual fee worth it! You do have to enroll in some of these so be sure to check out the benefits page when you make your online account.

• $200 in annual airline fee credits for incidental charges like baggage fees, in-flight refreshments, and change fees on one selected airline. The real hack here is finding ways to trigger the credit and then get your money back. For instance, I select Southwest as my airline. Flights under $100 will typically trigger the credit and then I just cancel the flights and rack up the flight credits for future flights I actually want to take.

• $200 in Uber Cash each year, which you can use for rides or Uber Eats orders in the US. This comes in the form of a $15 monthly credit ($35 in December).

• $100 in annual Saks Fifth Avenue credits, split into $50 for January to June and $50 for July to December. I've always been able to find something useful with the credit even though I normally don't shop at Saks. For instance, for the July to December credit, I bought a pack of Bombas socks and the hubby used his to buy a few jars of hair paste.

• Walmart + Membership Credit: $12.95 monthly credit and you can get a Paramount + subscription through your Walmart+ membership

• Digital Entertainment Credits-up to $200 per year. I use mine for Disney+.

• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit for the application fee, worth up to $100 every four years. (We used 4 different cards with this credit to get Global Entry for all 4 of us!)

• Worldwide Lounge Access (The Centurion Lounge and Priority Pass Select to name a few)

• And a few more that I don't really use such as a SoulCycle Bike Credit, Clear Credit, and Equinox + credit

With the $200 Southwest airline fee credit hack, the $200 Uber cash that I use, the $100 Saks Credit, and my Walmart + and Disney + memberships, I am easily getting my $695 annual fee back and more! This is why I think this card should be in your wallet too! But--I still haven't told you about one of my favorite features of this card.

Leverage the Amex Hotel Collection Benefits

Perhaps my favorite feature of this card is access to the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts Program and the Hotel Collection. With the Amex Platinum, you get an annual $200 Hotel Credit when you book a minimum 2 night stay at a hotel from the Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels and Resorts and pay with your platinum card (enrollment required). Additionally, the Hotel Collection comes with a $100 experience credit and a room upgrade when available. Additionally, the Fine Hotels and Resorts offers a $100 experience credit, an early check-in, room upgrade when available, daily breakfast for 2, complimentary wi-fi, and guaranteed 4pm check-out. This program is amazing! We used my husband's credit to book the Taj Mahal hotel in New Delhi. We paid $380 for 2 nights after the $200 credit and received an amazing upgrade to a suite with laundry, lounge access with complimentary food and drinks, free breakfast, and a $100 food credit. This hotel had exceptional service and value when booking through the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts program!

We used my credit to book 2 nights at Atlantis the Palm in Dubai. We paid $650 total for the 2 nights after the $200 credit. We received a room upgrade to the club rooms that came with lounge access where we could get complimentary drinks and snacks throughout the day as well as complimentary access to the kids club for our boys, free breakfast for all 4 of us, a $100 food credit we used for lunch, free admission to the famous Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark ($348 value!), free admission to the aquarium, and amazing service. I would book this again in a heartbeat. The value was exceptional, the resort beautiful with so much to do, and the service outstanding. The value using the Fine Hotels and Resorts vs booking on our own was out of this world!

Make the Most of Membership Rewards

The Membership Rewards program is a key feature of the American Express Platinum Credit Card. Familiarize yourself with the various redemption options available, including transferring points to airline and hotel partners, booking travel through the Amex Travel portal, or even using points to offset your card statement. You will almost always get the most value by transferring your points to a partner and this is the only way I would redeem Membership Reward points. Check out this post to see how we redeemed our Membership Rewards points for business class flights to India getting 5.5 cents per point value by transferring to Cathay pacific. Here is a list of Amex Transfer Partners

Amex Airline Transfer Partners:

• AER LINGUS AER CLUB

• AEROMEXICO CLUB

• AIR CANADA AEROPLAN

• AIR FRANCE/KLM FLYING BLUE

• ANA MILEAGE CLUB

• AVIANCA LIFEMILES

• BRITISH AIRWAYS

• CATHAY PACIFIC

• DELTA SKYMILES

• EMIRATES SKYWARDS

• ETIHAD GUEST

• HAWAIIAN AIRLINES

• IBERIA PLUS

• JETBLUE TRUEBLUE

• QANTAS

• QATAR AIRWAYS

• SINGAPORE AIRLINES

• VIRGIN ATLANTIC

Amex Hotel Transfer Partners

• Choice Priveleges

• Hilton Honors

• Marriott Bonvoy

Utilize the Global Assist Hotline

When you're traveling abroad, unexpected situations can arise. The American Express Platinum Credit Card provides access to the Global Assist Hotline, a 24/7 service that offers emergency assistance, medical and legal referrals, and other travel-related support. Whether you need help with lost luggage, medical emergencies, or even passport replacement, this service can be a valuable lifeline during your travels.

Enjoy Hotel and Car Rental Upgrades

As an American Express Platinum Credit Cardholder, you can take advantage of exclusive hotel and car rental upgrades. With the platinum card you are automatically eligible for Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status which will get you things like 2pm checkout, free wi-fi, room upgrades when available, and additional benefits. You are also eligible for Hilton Honors Gold Status which has benefits such as free breakfast, room upgrades when available, late checkout, free wi-fi, and more. You are also eligible for Elite Status at several car rental agencies-National Emerald Club Executive Status, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle, and Avis Preferred Plus. We used the Avis Preferred Plus status when we rented a car in Iceland and got a free upgrade to a bigger car with air conditioning. You do have to enroll in all of these status programs, but the Amex website makes it easy. Simply go to the Benefits page, find the benefit you want to enroll in, and then follow the directions. A few minutes of work for awesome rewards!

Take Advantage of Amex Offers

Amex Offers is a feature that provides personalized discounts and deals based on your spending habits. Regularly check your American Express account for these offers and take advantage of the savings. From travel bookings to shopping, dining, and more, these offers can help you save money and earn additional rewards on your everyday purchases.

Link your Rakuten Account and Earn like a Pro

If you don't know about Rakuten, check out this blog post. One of my favorite things about Amex points is that there are so many ways to earn them--from sign up bonuses, everyday spend, Amex offers, and the Rakuten shopping portal. With all of these options, you really can earn a lot of these really valuable points! So far in 1 year I have earned over 115K Amex Membership Reward Points by strategically using Rakuten and hitting some of their biggest bonuses (like new bank account bonuses such as this Sofi one here: https://www.rakuten.com/sofibanking.com Rakuten is one way I load up on Amex Membership Reward points and if you aren't taking advantage of this easy way to earn extra points, then I'd highly recommend signing up today via my link! www.rakuten.com/r/KELLYL1125?eeid=28187

Once you sign up, be sure to select Membership Rewards in Account Settings under How You Get Paid and link your Membership Reward earning eligible card, like the Amex Platinum. By using my referral link above, you will earn $30 in cash back (or 3,000 Amex Points) after you make your first purchase through the shopping portal!

Stay Protected with Travel Insurance

When you use your American Express Platinum Credit Card to book travel, you automatically receive various travel insurance benefits. These can include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage insurance, and travel accident insurance. Familiarize yourself with the specific coverage details and take comfort in knowing that you are protected during your journeys.

Conclusion and The Math

The American Express Platinum Credit Card is a powerful tool for travel enthusiasts looking to elevate their travel experiences and maximize their rewards. By taking advantage of the welcome bonus, earning points on everyday spending, leveraging the travel benefits and credits, and utilizing the various features and services offered, you can truly get the most value out of this prestigious credit card.

For the Math: Annually I pay $695. I subtract $200 with the airline fee credit and use the Southwest hack to bank a $200 flight credit= $495 remaining. Now subtract the $100 Saks credit that I use for something useful=$395. Next, subtract the $200 Uber cash that I find very useful for ordering dinner and we are left with $195. Subtract the $200 digital entertainment credit for Disney+ and I'm now +$5. Adding in the monthly Walmart+ credit ($155/year) and the hotel collection $200 credit, I'm ahead $360. That's not even including the additional value from the hotel collection or any additional benefits. For that reason, it's a keeper in my wallet!