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The Platinum Card® from American Express gets several new benefits today. It also will see its annual fee jump from $550 to $695.
Terms and restrictions apply, see rates and fees here.
If you’re not yet a cardholder, there’s an excellent cardmember offer that I’ll write about later today.
If you currently have a Platinum card and it renews in 2021 the fee will be $550. The fee will be $695 for renewals starting in 2022. All of the new benefits apply for existing cardholders effective immediately. Here’s what’s new:
New: $179 annual CLEAR credit
Starting today, all Platinum Card members can enroll in CLEAR and get reimbursed for up to $179 in annual charges.
Clear normally costs $179/year, but United and Delta non-elite members can enroll in CLEAR for $119/year. United and Delta cardholders and mid-tier elite members can enroll in CLEAR for $109/year. Top tier elites get CLEAR for free.
A CLEAR member can add up to 3 adults for just $60 each, so you can join as a Delta or United member, add a 2nd adult, and all charges will be reimbursed by AMEX every year.
Kids under 18 can go with their parents for free without a membership or biometrics required.
CLEAR allows you to skip to the front of the line. If you have PreCheck you can skip to the front of the PreCheck line and if you don’t have PreCheck you can skip to the front of the regular line.
You don’t need to take out your ID either, your fingerprint or eye act as your ID.
The dependability that skipping the line gives you is simply amazing. It means I can leave my house 55 minutes before a flight and know that I won’t miss my flight out of CLE. When I’m with my family I’ll leave plenty of time and enjoy the airport lounge, but if I’m solo, the less wasted time in the airport is always a win.
New: $200 annual prepaid hotel credit
Cardmembers will automatically receive $200 back in statement credit on prepaid hotel bookings made via Fine Hotels + Resorts or via The Hotel Collection.
Additionally, these bookings come with complimentary benefits, such as room upgrades (when available) and a $100 experience credit to use for select activities, such as dining or spa treatments (which vary by property).
Eligible bookings must be made before December 31st, 11:59PM Central Time, each calendar year to be eligible for statement credits within that year.
You’ll also earn 5 points per dollar spent.
- For example in Israel you can use this $200 annual credit at hotels like:
- The Ritz-Carlton, Herzliya. Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2 adults (kids always eat free here), room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a $100 spa credit.
- Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem. Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a $100 property credit.
- The David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem. Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a $100 property credit.
- King David Jerusalem, Jerusalem. Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a complimentary dinner, for two people per room.
- Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem. Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a complimentary dinner, and a $100 property credit.
- InterContinental David Tel Aviv. Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a complimentary dinner, and a $100 food and beverage credit.
- The Jaffa, a Marriott Luxury Collection Hotel. Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a complimentary dinner, and a $100 property credit.
- The Setai Tel Aviv Hotel. Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a complimentary dinner, and a $100 property credit.
- The Vista at Hilton Tel Aviv. Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a complimentary dinner, and a $100 property credit.
- Dan Carmel, Haifa. Platinum members also get a room upgrade at checkin when available and a $100 hotel credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities.
- The Drisco, Tel Aviv. Platinum members also get a room upgrade at checkin when available and a $100 hotel credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities.
- Hilton Tel Aviv. Platinum members also get a room upgrade at checkin when available and a $100 hotel credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities.
New: $240 annual digital entertainment credit
Cardmembers can enroll and get a $20 monthly credit for select digital entertainment partners.
You can get a credit for any of the following:
- Peacock
- Eligible purchases for Peacock include all Peacock subscriptions, including but not limited to Peacock Premium and Premium Plus.
- Audible
- All Audible purchases made directly through audible are eligible, including Audible subscriptions (Audible Plus and Audible Premium Plus) and audiobook purchases.
- SiriusXM
- Eligible purchases for SiriusXM include purchases made directly with SiriusXM online, through SiriusXM telephone sales or direct mail order purchase transactions.
- The New York Times
- Eligible purchases for the New York Times include any subscriptions (including digital or print news, NYT Cooking, and New York Times Games). Eligible purchases do not include advertising services, NYT conferences, gift cards, the TimesDigest or purchases from the NYTimes company store.
New: $300 annual Equinox credit
Cardmembers can enroll and get a $25 monthly credit for Equinox.
This credit is valid for the Equinox app or Equinox gyms.
- Benefits that already existed will remain, such as:
- $200 annual airline fee credit
- $100 annual Saks credit
- $200 annual Uber credit
- Uber Eats Pass And Uber VIP Status
- Hilton Gold status
- Marriott Gold status
- Centurion Lounge Access
- Priority Pass membership
- Delta SkyClub Lounge Access
- Escape, Plaza Premium, and Airspace lounge access
- Global Entry/Pre-Check Membership.
- Car Rental Perks
- Premium AMEX Protections like lost item coverage, trip delay and cancellation insurance, cell phone protection, and return protection.
Are the benefits worth $695?
You’ll have to assign your own personal value to each benefit to figure that out. But if the card made sense for you before, the addition of the $200 annual hotel credit and $179 annual CLEAR credit alone are probably enough to justify shelling out an additional $145 per year.
I just wish the $240 digital entertainment credit had more redemption options, as that would have made it a real no-brainer.
Will you renew your Platinum card at the $695 rate?
To view rates and fees of the AMEX Consumer Platinum card, see this page.
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85 Comments On "AMEX Adds Several New Benefits To The Platinum Card, Increases Annual Fee"
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Any updates coming to the AMEX Biz Plat?
https://www.dansdeals.com/credit-cards/amex-business-platinum-card-adds-179-annual-clear-membership-credit/
This is for the platinum personal card not the business card correct?
Correct
Thanks for the write up Dan! Can we use all these new benefits starting today if we already have the card?
Are you keeping it Dan?
Also for the clear membership, what is a delta member? Did you mean just signing up with their miles program?
I think so, but we’ll have to see how the hotel credit works out.
Correct.
I generally don’t buy hotel rooms through high-brow travel agencies (because I can get them for much less in other ways). So I doubt I have much use for the new $200 AMEX “Fine Hotels+ Resorts” credit. But would it be possible to book something decent for a night using that agency and stay for free?
Sure
So far this is the only Hotel I found under $300 “before” Taxes and Fees on Amex Travel
Vogue Hotel Montreal Downtown
Montreal, Canada
If you find more hotels under $300 please share .
Just checked for August weekday. $279 at the Watergate hotel in DC, and Mr C, Seaport NYC for $289. This is kind of like the AMEX Plat wine “deals.”
Thank you !
Hi – do the changes apply to both business and consumer platinum? Or just to consumer? Also how do I get the Uber benefits on the business platinum?
This is just for consumer.
This is really becoming a coupon card
True, though some coupons are pretty sweet.
All these added benefits went into affect today, correct?
Yes
Hi Dan, Can you give some more details on the CLEAR membership. Main cardholder can get CLEAR covered by Amex Plat. How can i get a second member added for free? Does it go through the Delta/United airline fee?
You can get 2 adults free as described in the post.
Answering my own question (post was not simple enough for me). Delta and United have links to CLEAR (the partner links Dan provides). Register using Delta/United number and price drops to $119. Add a family member for $60. Total is $179 and pay with Amex Platnium. $179 is what Amex covers for CLEAR.
Correct.
So if I sign up with CLEAR not with any airline membership, then it would be first adult free and 2nd $60?
Yes, But you can sign up to delta or united mileage program for free, then Both adults will be free
Airline membership is free, just make an account and put in your account number. It’s a partnership with Delta/United and CLEAR.
Without the airline partnership, it is $179 for first person and $60 for each family member. Pretty much save $60 by going through the Delta/United partnership for free.
Do these benefits apply to additional au platinum cards?
I don’t believe so.
Could you someone an amazon e-book and exchange for a gift card to redeem the entertainment credit?
It doesn’t seem so at first glance, but if you register and try let us know what happens.
This is absolutely ridiculous
Soon you will need to hire a full time manager just to get back some of the annual fee
I can see it now….2025 amex platinum adds new benefits get 1$ back at 100 random useless online retailers every week!!!!(And annual fee goes up to$1695 a year)
Yes, they should just lower annual fee and do away with these credits, but they make $$ off them because likely a lot of people dont end up redeeming
agreed. I’m probably going to cancel this card. Most of the reimbursed benefits are for things I wouldn’t usually use. The only one that’s worth it is uber but not worth keeping the card for that
AGREED. at a certain point to pay $700 or real hard earned money, to MAYBE get that back is just becoming ridiculous.
Agree, the $240 digital entertainment credit needs more redemption options, why no WSJ, Disney+, Prime etc.??
Any sign up links for the old 550 active?
Thanks for info.
Can the streaming credit be used for more than one of the listed options if you don’t use up the whole 20 dollars a month?
For instance my Verizon plan give me peacock for free. Could I upgrade to their premium plan for 5 dollars a month and still use 15 for one of the others?
Following
If you cancel your Platinum card within 6 months after applying for the Clear membership, does your membership stay active till the end of the year or terminate with the cancellation of the Platinum Card?
Will renew, but at this point I just have to write these things down so I won’t miss them.
Thank for the clear explanation of the new benefits .
First: listing the hotels in Israel that would qualify for the hotel credit .
Second: Explaining the benefit of having Clear .
Personally as an Audible Premium Plus Member -2 Credits ($22.50 a month ) The entertainment benefit works out very well .
My pleasure!
And yes, if you currently use Equinox or those entertainment categories, this update is a huge win for you!
Equinox credit barely covers the cost of a typical monthly membership?
I had thought either the new hotel benefit or the entertainment would make this upgrade acceptable. Somehow they rolled out 2 lousy credits. And the Equinox “credit” is just laughable.
If booking a Marriott room via Fine Hotels & Resorts, do you get Bonvoy night/points credit?
There is a fine hotel and resorts offer for $200 back if you spend $800. We could stack that offer with the new $200 fine hotel and resorts prepaid offer right?
The $800 spend with $200 back expires today I believe.
It should.
Just adding 1.5-2X on general spend with no FTF would seal the deal for me pretty much forever, even without Uber/Equinox/Entertainment credits. Would love to see another player above 1X no FTF with transfer partners besides CapitalOne (and my grandfathered Barclays Arrival Premier).
United Club Business?
Wouldn’t want to be locked into one program, especially not United in its current state of affairs. Believe me, I’ve scoured the earth for all options that earn above 1X with no FTF. All the others are single program, like Virgin Atlantic (1.5X+ depending on spend milestones) and the Cathay Pacific card (1.5X on spend outside the U.S.).
FTF?
Foreign transaction fee (FX fee)
Just FYI Dan, the “Spend $800 get $150 back on FHR” offer expires today! So I believe today could be the last day to stack the $200 and $150 (unless the offer comes back).
Overall a wash I think between the useful and useless credits.
Let’s see what the SUB is
Agree the digital entertainment credits are huge miss
Equinox too bc it barely covers a monthly fee cost
only makes sense if you were spending the $650 on these items to begin with
the freebies are being paid for in advance by paying the AF until you utilize it all and then get remainder complimentary
if not, you are paying $650 for membership rewards and the ability to transfer to airlines/hotel
You need to break down what each credit is worth to you.
For example:
$200 airline fee: $160
$200 Uber credit: $150
$179 CLEAR credit: $125
$200 Hotel credit: $100
Centurion lounge access: $100
Delta lounge access: $100
$100 Saks credit: $50
$240 entertainment credit: $25
$300 Equinox credit: $0
That would equal $810 in value, plus you also get Global Entry, AMEX premium protection, Priority Pass, Hilton/Marriott Gold, etc.
Hmm will probably try combining a few $200 hotel stays from different cards and can get a free 3-4 night stay. Assuming should work (unless hotel gives issues combining)
Needs to be prepaid according to the terms.
So what? Why can’t I prepay Sunday from one card and Monday night from a dif card and Tuesday from a third and then when check in to hotel ask them to combine all 3 nights instead of checking out and in 3 times?
You can. You just can’t use 4 cards to pay for 2 nights.
The hotel credit is very limited. The Equinox membership is also limited. I’d say it’s not useful for 90% of the readers
It’s not good!!
Not worth it.
They screwed up on the entertainment credit! Soooo annoying !!! And now the covid benefits are gone as well.
With regard for the hotel credit, can I book a reservation for family or friend, and pay for it with my card and get the credit?
the digital benefit is a joke. The rest are all useless to me except the Uber credit. For these reasons, I’m out.
No use for airline/hotel/CLEAR?
do you know when the 200 dollar fine hotels and resort credit will be avalaible on platinum to use? can we buy gift card on fine hotels and resorts
Available now.
Do such gift cards exist?
I dont thinks so was just asking i got targeted during corona for 200 fine travel and resorts and never was able to use it yet so wondering had I used it before the end of 2020 would I have been able to recieve it again this year? a shame
Amex fine hotels + resort says you can only book in the name of eligible cardholder. Any way around that?
Add a free AU card?
Add someone else as an additional guest on the reservation?
To me only the Clear credit is useful, my card renews in November so ill try to get retention offer but if not eligible I’m out.
As a side note did the shop small credit start yet? I don’t see the offer on any of amex cards, or I guess I’m just not targeted.
If I get approved for the platinum will I be able to get another card that day without an additional credit pull?
Yes.
I think I’m leaving, the new credits don’t justify the annual fee.
Right now I think the only people enjoying this card are the return protection/purchase protection guys.
Equinox is a joke for the lousy coverage, but I guess the hotel benefit is a plus.
I value Delta lounge access highly, and use Uber for a meal a month. I’ll treat myself to some overpriced body products at Saks too.
Everyone has different valuations they apply, but we all can at least take some time to call or write and give Amex a piece of our minds. Hopefully feedback will make a difference in the future.
I’m definitely out. Sirius gives the best deals when you buy an annual subscription. Not monthly as Amex wants you to do. Equinox only has one location in the entire state of Michigan. Nowhere near me. The fine hotels from Amex are rarely a good deal. I’m definitely canceling and giving Amex a bad complaint on their changes.
SiriusXM is doing 12 months at $4.99 a month for one radio and app/online streaming, $6.06 for me a month with tax and royalty fee. I just reactivated my radio. It’s the best deal I’ve seen in a long time.
I’m not thrilled about the price increase, but I will keep it.
Equinox is useless to me.
With the new Amex Centurion Lounge in Denver that is with, well, Platinum to me and my wife.
I made a spreadsheet to track all of the offers, it was very useful for all of the Covid additions. That way I know if I used an offer, or not.
I have Clear now with one family member so it will pay out next month (after 9 months of free extensions just from asking about extensions three times).
My wife has Audible so I’ll bill that to my card now, and I added SiriusXM back to my car radio and have streaming now too.
The last two benefits alone make the increase moot for me. I’ll keep an eye on the airline credit, with status on SWA I won’t need it for EB anymore.
Have fun using up your benefits, you get what you want out of it and there is some management to it which makes it challenging, that makes it fun to me. 🙂
Without immediate flying plans, and given that the card anniversary is months away, I think it makes sense to sign up for Clear later. Any concerns with that? Also, how long does Clear approval take?
That’s assuming you can get into the Centurion lounges. My last three trip-the first two-they were closed, the last, too crowded either time to get in. I never get the AMEX offers. Equinox and CLEAR are useless to me as is the media streaming. I couldn’t find any Fine Hotels that weren’t 3 times the normal rate, and the airline credit is useless now. This card is a definate cancel now!!
I’m afraid that the so-called upgrades are pretty weak. All very limited. Hard to justify anything aside from Clear, and that’s only if you think you will be ramping up travel again soon.
cancel card now
Equinox digital membership is $40 a month, so there’s no way to use the “credit” without spending extra cash.
Dan, would you know if I booked an FHR and selected by mistake pay at hotel and I can no longer cancel but I pay with my Amex platinum at the hotel will it still trigger the 200 dollar credit?
Thanks