- As someone who travels for work, I’m always looking for ways to make traveling more cost-effective.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express has a $695 annual fee, but it could save you money.
- In addition to travel rewards, my card also allows me to earn over $1,000 in credits on Uber, hotels, and more.
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As a full-time content creator on the road, I practically live in airports and am constantly looking for ways to make the travel experience easier.
Whether it’s trying out the latest packing cubes or hunting down the best flight deals, I’m all about efficiency and saving money.
That’s why you might be surprised to learn that one of the biggest game-changers when traveling is spending money with a travel credit card. 41% of Americans have travel cardsI use it to save money on things like hotels and airfare.
While the $695 annual fee for the American Express Platinum Card may seem steep at first glance, it’s actually saved me money in the long run — and, more importantly, it’s made traveling a lot smoother.
Below are some of the Platinum Card® from American Express perks I use most frequently.
American Express Platinum Card gives you access to the Centurion Lounge
I travel a lot, so lounge access is important to me. Call me snobby, but I love the quiet space to sit and enjoy a meal and a drink before my flight.
As a Platinum cardholder, you have access to Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass lounges around the world. Of course, this perk is only valuable if, like me, you enjoy eating and drinking at airports, or if your airport has a Centurion Lounge.
Enjoying complimentary gourmet meals at the Centurion Lounge is a luxury, as airport restaurants and bars charge exorbitant prices for basic food and drinks.
You’ll also receive a $200 airfare credit.
As a Platinum cardholder, you can select eligible airlines and sign up to receive a statement credit of up to $200 each year for incidentals on airfare.
This includes: Checked Baggage Feesin-flight purchases, seat assignments, and airport lounge day passes are free when you pay with your American Express Platinum Card. While these fees may seem small, they can add up quickly if you travel frequently.
A $240 digital entertainment credit to use on streaming services, news sites, and more.
As a frequent traveler, I rely on digital entertainment, and luckily, my card offers a $20 monthly statement credit for some of the most popular digital entertainment services after you sign up.
Peacock, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal are all services you can get a refund for if you paid with your Platinum Card.
I always use my $200 hotel credit every year.
With the American Express Platinum card, you’ll receive a one-time $200 statement credit when you make a prepaid booking with Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) or The Hotel Collection (THC) through American Express Travel.
You’ll also receive perks like a free daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade (when available), and a statement credit plus a $100 facility credit, which can usually be used at the hotel’s restaurants and spa, but this varies by facility.
Every year, I use my FHR perks on a special stay. This year, I stayed at the historic Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki. After paying for my room, early check-in and late check-out, complimentary breakfast, a room upgrade, and a hotel credit towards a lovely dinner and drinks by the pool, I received a $200 credit.
Can I get refunds for Clear Plus, TSA Precheck, and/or Global Entry on my card?
In my opinion, the worst part of the airport experience is going through security, which is why I do everything I can to make things easier.
My card will be reimbursed for the $100 Global Entry fee, which expedites customs inspection upon international arrival into the U.S. Global Entry includes: TSA PreCheckThis will expedite security procedures at domestic airports.
After enrolling, you’ll also receive a $199 statement credit for CLEAR® Plus, a paid membership program that uses facial recognition or fingerprint verification to verify your identity at select airports.
Earn points on purchases at Uber Eats and Saks
Another perk of the credit card I applied for is the monthly Uber Cash reward: Every month, $15 is deposited into your Uber account to use on rides (or, my favorite, Uber Eats), and in December, you’ll also get an additional $20 in credit.
If you’re traveling and want to stay home, or you get home and don’t want to go to the grocery store, use your Uber rewards to have Uber Eats deliver. Rewards don’t accumulate, so be sure to use them every month.
You’ll also receive a $50 statement credit from Saks Fifth Avenue every six months after joining, which you can use to buy gifts or small items, offset the cost of a big purchase, or buy something special for an upcoming trip.
My card covers car rental and travel delay insurance
With the Platinum Card, you don’t have to spend extra on rental cars or travel delay insurance.
If you rent a car using your card and join the program, you will get secondary rental car insurance that can cover losses beyond your primary policy.
You’ll also have peace of mind when it comes to trip delays and interruptions.
If you use your card to book travel and your flight is delayed for eligible reasons by six hours or more, you can get a refund for purchases incurred due to the delay, up to $500 per trip. This includes meals, lodging, personal items, and more. We hope you never have to use the card, but it’s good to have it around.
I think this card pays for itself with the perks.
Overall, the benefits you get from being an American Express Platinum Card member are worth the $695 annual fee.
I travel a lot for work, so I like having access to convenient services like lounges and expedited security programs.
This story was first published on May 8, 2024 and last updated on August 30, 2024.