American Express

The Platinum Card®

American Express and related product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Madeen is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of American Express. Madeen is an independent credit-card comparison and education service. Issuer websites control current terms, fees, and eligibility.

The Platinum Card®3%
Travel at 3%$895 annual feeWelcome bonus
Top 98% for Travel
Highest earn rate in Travel at 3% effective value

The The Platinum Card® from American Express earns up to 3% effective value on travel in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Its annual fee is $895. New applicants may see: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership..

Top category
Travel
Effective value
3%
Annual fee
$895
The Platinum Card® card art

Best for travel-heavy spend when the $895 fee fits your usage; confirm issuer terms before applying. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in travel and can earn 5x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement. Travel perks may add value beyond the earn rate.

Madeen analysis

What does the The Platinum Card earn in each category?

Travel is the strongest category at 3% effective value (5x points at about 0.6 cents each). That travel rate ranks higher than about 98% of the 2,849 cards we track in that category. The five-category effective-rate table on this page shows how The Platinum Card compares across dining, grocery, gas, travel, and other spend. Catalog spend signals highlight flights at.

Travel is the strongest category at 3% effective value (5x points at about 0.6 cents each). That travel rate ranks higher than about 98% of the 2,849 cards we track in that category. The five-category effective-rate table on this page shows how The Platinum Card compares across dining, grocery, gas, travel, and other spend.

Category Earn rate Effective value
Dining
Restaurants, cafes, takeout
1x points 0.6%
Grocery
Supermarkets and grocery stores
1x points 0.6%
Gas
Gas stations and fuel
1x points 0.6%
Travel
Flights, hotels, transit
5x points 3% Top category
Other
General everyday spend
1x points 0.6%

Madeen values American Express Membership Rewards at about 0.6 cents each. Madeen compares every card using this cash-equivalent estimate while still showing the raw earn rate for context.

Reward rules

What are the The Platinum Card reward caps and conditions?

The The Platinum Card has 1 notable cap or condition rule(s) in Madeen's catalog, including activation windows, spend limits, and category exclusions. Review each bullet below before assuming unlimited earn rates.

  • 5X Membership Rewards® points on up to $500,000 per calendar year on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel via AmexTravel.com (then 1X) Capped at $500000 per year.
Madeen take

Who should get the The Platinum Card?

The The Platinum Card fits spenders who put meaningful volume in travel and can earn 5x points. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in travel and can earn 5x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement. Travel perks may add value beyond the earn rate.

The Platinum Card fits spenders who put meaningful volume in travel and can earn 5x points. Madeen ranks its travel effective rate higher than about 98% of the catalog in that category. Compare it against cards you already carry with Madeen — no bank login required.

Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in travel and can earn 5x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement. Travel perks may add value beyond the earn rate.

Compare it against simpler no-fee cards if you want minimum complexity.

Best for travel-heavy spend when the $895 fee fits your usage; confirm issuer terms before applying.

Pros

  • Strongest Madeen category is travel at about 3% effective (5x points).
  • That travel rate ranks higher than about 98% of cards we track in the category.
  • No foreign transaction fee listed.
  • Welcome bonus may add value if you can meet spend requirements.

Cons

  • $895 annual fee requires enough spend in bonus categories to offset.
  • American Express Membership Rewards value depends on how you redeem, not straight cash back.
Welcome bonus

What is the The Platinum Card welcome bonus?

In Madeen's catalog snapshot, the The Platinum Card welcome offer is Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.. Minimum spend, eligibility, and offer windows are set by the issuer and can change — confirm on the issuer application page before applying.

Offer
80k American Express Membership Rewards (~$480 estimated)
Terms (catalog snapshot)
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Minimum spend
$12,000
Window
6Months
Fees

Does the The Platinum Card have an annual fee?

The The Platinum Card has an annual fee of $895 and a foreign transaction fee of None. Confirm current fees on the issuer page before applying.

Annual fee
$895
Foreign transaction fee
None
Travel perks

What travel perks does the The Platinum Card include?

The The Platinum Card includes Trusted traveler credit, Lounge access, $100 Saks Credit, $120 Uber One Credit and more in our snapshot. Perks and benefits can change; verify coverage on the issuer site before you rely on them.

  • Trusted traveler credit

    Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck - Stay focused on getting where you need to go. Receive either a $120 statement credit for Global Entry or a statement credit for up to $85 for TSA PreCheck® through any Authorized Enrollment Provider for a 5-year plan only. TSA PreCheck can expedite security screening and Global Entry can reduce wait time at US Customs at select airports. And if you are approved for Global Entry you will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional charge. Only one credit will be given in a 4 year period for Global Entry or in a 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck for whichever application fee is charged to your Platinum Card first

  • Lounge access

    The Global Lounge Collection - The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport, with more than 1,400 airport lounges across 650 cities in 140 countries and counting

Benefits

What benefits come with the The Platinum Card?

Madeen estimated annual value~$44,562
33 of 37 benefits valued
  • Extended Warranty

    $10,000/yr

    Why is it that as soon as a Manufacturer's Warranty runs out, something always seem to happen? Use your Eligible Card for Covered Purchases and you can have warranty protection for longer. Extended Warranty♦ matches the Original Manufacturer's Warranty for up to one additional year when you use your Eligible Card. Applies to warranties of 5 years or less on Covered Purchases in the United States or its territories or possessions.

    How we value this

    Statement credit face value from issuer terms — $10000 face value (annualized from issuer terms).

  • Purchase Protection

    $10,000/yr

    Sometimes your favorite new purchase gets stolen, accidentally damaged, or lost. But when you use your Eligible Card for Covered Purchases, your Membership can help protect them for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date.

    How we value this

    Statement credit face value from issuer terms — $10000 face value (annualized from issuer terms). Card-specific overrides recommended where amounts differ.

  • Trip Cancellation and Interruption

    $10,000/yr

    Despite our best efforts, sometimes things happen that are out of our control. If you purchase a round trip entirely with your eligible Card on or after January 1, 2020, and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance can help reimburse your non-refundable expenses purchased with the same eligible Card, up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

    How we value this

    Statement credit face value from issuer terms — $10000 face value (annualized from issuer terms). Card-specific overrides recommended where amounts differ.

  • Cell Phone Protection

    $7,200/yr

    Fixing a cracked screen can be expensive. With Cell Phone Protection14, you can be reimbursed for your cost to repair or replace your damaged or stolen cell phone, including a cracked screen, for a maximum of up to $800 per claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim.

    How we value this

    Statement credit face value from issuer terms — $600/month × 12 = $7200/yr. Card-specific overrides recommended where amounts differ.

  • $155 Walmart+ Credit

    $1,860/yr

    A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart, free same-day delivery of groceries from store (where available, subject to order minimum), & more. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive a statement credit for $12.95 (plus applicable taxes) that covers the full cost (excluding any Plus Up Benefits) each month.

    How we value this

    Statement credit face value from issuer terms — $155/month × 12 = $1860/yr. Card-specific overrides recommended where amounts differ.

  • Return Protection

    $1,000/yr

    With Return Protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won't take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase.

    How we value this

    Statement credit face value from issuer terms — $1000 face value (annualized from issuer terms). Card-specific overrides recommended where amounts differ.

  • $600 Hotel Credit

    $600/yr

    With over 3,000 hotels – and more hotels than any other credit card company1 where you can access a suite of special benefits – get up to $300 back in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through Amex Travel.

    How we value this

    Statement credit face value from issuer terms — $600 face value (annualized from issuer terms). Card-specific overrides recommended where amounts differ.

  • Trip Delay Insurance

    $500/yr

    Booking the trip is easy. Avoiding delays is next to impossible. If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your eligible Card on or after January 1, 2020, and a covered reason delays your trip more than 6 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased with your same eligible Card, up to $500 per trip, maximum 2 claims per eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

    How we value this

    Statement credit face value from issuer terms — $500 face value (annualized from issuer terms). Card-specific overrides recommended where amounts differ.

  • $400 Resy Credit

    $400/yr

    Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 U.S. Resy restaurants .

    How we value this

    Statement credit face value from issuer terms — $100/quarter × 4 = $400/yr.

  • $300 Digital Entertainment Credit

    $300/yr

    Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners.

    How we value this

    Statement credit face value from issuer terms — $25/month × 12 = $300/yr.

  • $300 Equinox Credit

    $300/yr

    Get up to $300 in statement credits each year when you pay for an Equinox+ digital subscription with live and on-demand classes, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card®.

    How we value this

    Statement credit face value from issuer terms — $300/yr annual face value.

  • $300 lululemon Credit

    $300/yr

    You can receive up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Card for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com.

    How we value this

    Statement credit face value from issuer terms — $75/quarter × 4 = $300/yr.

Common questions about the The Platinum Card

Where do cardholders spend most with the The Platinum Card?

Madeen's RewardsCC catalog snapshot shows the strongest bonus categories on flights (5x) for the The Platinum Card. These are anonymized issuer category signals, not individual cardholder transactions. Route everyday spend through categories that match your habits, then compare effective rates with Madeen at checkout.

Does the The Platinum Card have an annual fee?

The The Platinum Card carries an annual fee of $895 in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Issuer terms can change, so confirm the current fee on the issuer's site before you apply. Madeen does not predict approval or prequalification.

What category earns the most with the The Platinum Card?

Travel is the strongest Madeen category for the The Platinum Card at about 3% effective value, based on our catalog snapshot and standard point valuations. Other categories are listed in the effective-rate table on this page.

Does the The Platinum Card charge foreign transaction fees?

The The Platinum Card does not charge a foreign transaction fee in Madeen's catalog snapshot, which can make it stronger for purchases outside the U.S. Issuer terms still control international acceptance and other fees.

What is the The Platinum Card welcome bonus?

The The Platinum Card welcome offer in our snapshot: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.. Minimum spend, eligibility, and offer windows are set by the issuer and can change.

Is the The Platinum Card annual fee worth it?

Whether the $895 annual fee pays off depends on how much you spend in travel and whether you use the card's benefits. Compare effective rates across the cards you already carry in Madeen.

Compare

How does the The Platinum Card compare to similar cards?

Compare the The Platinum Card against Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express (3.6% on Travel, $350 fee); Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business (3.6% on Travel, $350 fee); American Express Platinum Card for Schwab (3% on Travel, $695 fee). Madeen ranks effective value by category and annual fee using the same catalog snapshot dated 2026-05-01.

CardTop categoryEffective valueAnnual fee
The Platinum Card
This card
Travel3%$895
Travel3.6%$350
Travel3.6%$350
Travel3%$695
Travel3%$695
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Reviewed by Madeen editorial review
Catalog snapshot 2026-05-01
Updated 2026-06-25
Data source Madeen catalog analysis

American Express and related product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Madeen is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of American Express. Madeen is an independent credit-card comparison and education service. Issuer websites control current terms, fees, and eligibility.

Madeen compares cards you add to your wallet using published catalog rules — no bank login required. Issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility; Madeen does not issue cards, make approval decisions, or provide financial advice. Apply links are temporarily hidden on madeen.app. Affiliate disclosure

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