What is the average credit score needed to get approved for The Platinum Card® From American Express?

To apply for the Platinum Card® from American Express, you must have a minimum credit score of 670.

Does The Platinum Card® From American Express report to all three credit bureaus?

Yes, this card reports to all three credit bureaus.

Does the Platinum Card® From American Express have a lengthy application process? Can you prequalify?

To see if you qualify for any credit card offers, American Express collects your name, address, date of birth and the last four digits of your Social Security number. As soon as you submit the application form, you'll find out if it has been approved. Your application will be handled within 14 days of your approval. However, the approval of some applications can take as long as 60 days.

What information is needed to apply for the Platinum Card® From American Express?

The Platinum Card® from American Express requires you to submit your full name, email address, date of birth, mobile phone number, home address, Social Security number, total annual income and your income source when you apply for the card.

Does The Platinum Card® From American Express have good customer service or satisfaction?

It's difficult to tell how well a certain credit card is liked by its owners. American Express, on the other hand, comes out on top in J.D. Power's assessment of credit card customer satisfaction.

Does The Platinum Card® From American Express have a mobile app or the option to pay or manage your account online?

Yes. You can manage your Platinum Card® From American Express and make payments through the American Express website or app.

Does The Platinum Card® From American Express raise credit limits automatically or charge for limit increases?

Yes, if you use and pay your card responsibly, you may be eligible for a [credit limit increase ](https://www.moneygeek.com/credit-cards/advice/increase-credit-limit-with-american-express/)every six to 12 months, free of cost.

Does the Platinum Card® From American Express offer the option to freeze your credit/account or have other security features?

You can freeze your Platinum Card® from American Express via the Amex app. Additionally, you can receive fraud alerts when an odd spending behavior is detected. The app also has Amex Pay, which enables you to make QR code-based or contactless payments.

Does American Express offer other credit cards besides the Platinum Card?

Yes, it does. American Express also provides several credit cards, including the Gold Card, Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, Delta Skymiles Card and Blue Cash Preferred Card.

MoneyGeek's Take

The Platinum Card® from American Express Review

The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the highest-rewarding travel credit cards available that offers benefits and bonuses on every travel purchase. While the annual fee is high, savvy travelers can take advantage of the card's features while on the road in order to get a great value that offsets the card’s fee.

Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 3/13/2023

Reviewed By

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

The Platinum Card® from American Express is highly beneficial for frequent travelers seeking a luxury travel experience. Its reward program focuses on travel benefits by offering 5x reward points on airfare and hotel bookings. Every other purchase is rewarded at one point per dollar. Despite a pricey yearly fee and high APR, it charges no fee for international transactions. Plus, its luxury travel benefits more than outweigh its fees for luxury travelers. MoneyGeek's The Platinum Card From American Express review discusses the card's advantages and disadvantages to help you decide if the card is right for you.

Card Details to Know Up Front

Bonus, Fee or Feature
Has or Not
Has Annual Fee
Has Balance Transfer Offer
Has APR Offer
Cash Back Rewards
Travel Rewards
Hotel Benefits
Airline Benefits
Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
Has Foreign Transaction Fee
Recommended Credit
Good–Excellent

Click to see this card’s rates, fees and how they compare to other cards in our dataset.

OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Credit Card Details at a Glance
Pros & Cons Explained
Bonuses & Rewards Explained
Our Verdict: Is This Card for You?

The Platinum Card® from American Express at a Glance

Aside from its lucrative membership rewards points and welcome offer, the Platinum Card from American Express can be very attractive to avid travelers thanks to its fee-free international transactions and high travel rewards points.

The Platinum Card® from American Express
A great rewards card for air travel with premium benefits
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $695Annual Fee
- 1–5 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 5xRewards Rate on Air Travel
- 1xRewards Rate on Gas
Pros
A spend-based welcome offer to earn bonus points
5X points on flights booked through Amex Travel and directly through airlines on up to $500,000 per year
Redeem points in different ways, including transferring them to popular airline frequent flyer/loyalty programs
Airport lounge access
$200 airline fee credit per year
Statement credits for various other services
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit
Savings on international first, business and premium economy seats through the Amex International Airline Program
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status
Access to perks through the Fine Hotels & Resorts Program
Premium car rental status across different car rental programs
Complimentary travel insurance
Purchase protection and extended warranty

Cons
Annual fee of $695
Penalty APR may apply in case of a late or returned payment
Earn 80,000 membership reward points by spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months
Earn 5X points on flights booked with American Express Travel or directly with airlines, on up to $500,000 per year.
Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel.
Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
Use points to pay for all or part of upcoming travel through amextravel.com.
Transfer points to partner airline frequent flyer programs such as Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Etihad Guest, Emirates Skywards and Asia Miles.
You may redeem your points to shop online, pay off purchases or get gift cards.
Get a $100 Global Entry statement credit every four years or an $85 TSA PreCheck credit every four and a half years.
Earn up to $189 in statement credits toward your CLEAR membership each year.
Earn $200 as a statement credit toward prepaid Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings per year.
Get $200 as a statement credit toward incidental airline fees for one qualifying airline per year.
Earn up to a total of $200 Uber credit per year — through $15 Uber Cash credits per month for rides or eats orders in the U.S. and a $20 bonus credit each December.
Get $25 monthly statement credits toward Equinox.
Earn up to $20 statement credits every month toward eligible digital entertainment purchases through Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM and the New York Times.
Pay no foreign transaction fees.
Get access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection at airports worldwide.
Book flights through the International Airline Program and look forward to savings on international first, business and premium economy seats on up to eight tickets per booking.
Get benefits such as complimentary breakfast and late checkout when you make prepaid hotel bookings through the Fine Hotels & Resorts Program.
Get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status as well as Hilton Honors Gold Status.
Get Premium Car Rental Status for car rental programs such as Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards and National Car Rental.
Benefit through complimentary trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty.
Get access to Platinum Card Concierge and By Invitation Only events.
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

Pros & Cons Explained

The Platinum Card® from American Express has many benefits that can be appealing. However, you must also take into account the card's shortcomings before making a final decision on whether or not to apply for it.

Pros

Benefits
Description
High Travel Reward Points
This card provides many benefits when making airline and hotel reservations. Each dollar spent on eligible travel and hotel bookings earns you five points, up to a maximum of $500,000 each year. This covers reservations made directly with passenger airlines or via American Express Travel.
No Foreign Transaction Fee
Most people want a travel card with no foreign transaction fees. With this card, your international transactions are free of charge, allowing you to maximize your usage of the card and earn points.
Payment Flexibility
You have the option of paying in full, paying the lowest amount necessary and carrying the remainder forward with interest or splitting major purchases into fixed monthly payments. The card’s payment options are helpful financing solutions for customers interested in payment flexibility.

Cons

Drawbacks
Description
High Annual Fee
Unfortunately, this card costs $695 a year. This is a lot of money. A credit card with travel rewards may not be worth it if you don't travel often and don't make use of the travel rewards and benefits.
Mediocre Non-Travel Rewards
While the card offers high rewards on eligible dining transactions as a welcome offer, most other purchases earn only one point per dollar spent.
High APR
Due to the card's high regular APR of 20.49% – 27.49% and penalty APR of 29.99%, it is only suitable for people who can pay their monthly bills in full.

LOOKING FOR THE BEST CREDIT CARDS OF 2022?

The Platinum Card® from American Express does not rank among MoneyGeek’s top travel or rewards credit cards. Check out our list of the Best Travel Credit Cards if you'd like to see which cards made our list.

Bonuses & Rewards Explained

You could earn at least one point for every dollar you spend on eligible purchases with the Platinum Card From American Express. In addition, it provides significant rewards and bonuses for its cardholders.

New Membership Rewards

Your Platinum Card from American Express comes with a huge offer for new cardholders. If you make qualified purchases totaling at least $6,000 in the first six months of owning the card, you’ll receive 80,000 reward points. Additionally, you can earn an extra nine points per dollar spent on eligible restaurant purchases internationally and through Shop Small merchants in the United States. This is on top of the one point per dollar rewards.

Luxury Travel Benefits

Apart from travel rewards, this card provides access to exclusive events and experiences that enhance the comfort and convenience of your travel. Cardholders receive cash credits for Uber rides, hotel stays, digital entertainment purchases and Walmart purchases. They also receive cashback on Equinox memberships. You may even receive statement credit of up to $100 for TSA/Global Entry application fees. These benefits are subject to change, so keep a lookout for updates.

Earning Rewards

Membership Rewards points are awarded at a rate of five points per dollar spent on flights and hotel bookings made through an airline or American Express Travel. For every $1 spent on everything else, you get one point.

Rewards Redemption

To redeem and pay using points, you must be a member of the American Express Membership Rewards program. All of your reward points are stored in your Membership Rewards account and can be used to make purchases through the American Express travel program.

Other Features Explained

The Platinum Card® from American Express has a handful of impressive features that make it an easy and safer choice for your travel needs.

Refer to MoneyGeek's credit card glossary for more information on the terminology used in your credit card statement or terms.

Card Feature
Description
Additional Card
You may add an additional card to your account for anyone 13 years of age or older and earn points on purchases made with the card. Members are also eligible for an additional Gold Card with no annual fee.
American Express App
Android and iOS users can download the American Express app. This app tells you about deals and reward programs that are available in your area. It offers safety features, such as card freeze and notifies you about fraud alerts and merchant transactions.
Send & Split
With the app, you can use this feature to send money and divide purchases with any Venmo or PayPal user for free.
Card Member Services
Your questions and concerns will be addressed by the American Express Member Services team around the clock.
Customer Satisfaction
According to J.D. Power's credit card customer satisfaction study, American Express cards have a high level of customer satisfaction. The company's app and website were recognized as the best in a study of U.S. credit card companies’ websites and mobile apps.
Year-End Summary
The year-end summary has all charges that were made to your credit card from January 1st to December 31st of the preceding year.

MONEYGEEK QUICK TIP

While the American Express rewards program enables cardholders to earn significant points, the company also provides outstanding membership benefits and advantages to cardholders. Additionally, the promotional deals offered to Platinum Card change often, so it’s wise to keep an eye on any changes so that you can maximize your rewards.

Understanding the Fine Print

It’s important to know your rights as a credit card holder. Understanding the Platinum Card from American Express and all of its advantages, fees and interest rates will help you compare this card with other options.

Card Feature
Amount or Rate
APR
20.49% – 27.49% Variable
Annual Fee
$695
Cash Back Rewards
Rewards Rate
1–5 Points per $1*
Airline Benefits
Rewards Rate on Groceries
1x
Rewards Rate on Gas
1x
Rewards Rate on Dining
1x
Rewards Rate on Entertainment
1x
Rewards Rate on Online Shopping
1x
Rewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
1x
Rewards Rate on Air Travel
5x
Rewards Rate at Hotels
5x
Balance Transfer Fee
Unspecified
Balance Transfer APR
Unspecified
Late Fees
up to $40
Cash Advance Fee
$10 or 5%, whichever is greater
Cash Advance APR
29.74%Variable
Foreign Transaction Fee
None

Annual Fee
The annual fee for the card is $695, which is on the high side. However, if you make the greatest use of the card and accumulate dining and Uber cash credits, this fee can be justified.
Foreign Transaction Fee
Because there is no foreign transaction fee and the travel rewards are substantial, this card is ideal for use on overseas trips.
Regular APR
The American Express® Gold Card has a high variable APR ranging from 20.49% – 27.49%, plus a cash advance fee of 29.74%. These rates are subject to change based on The Wall Street Journal's prime rate.
Rewards Rate
For every dollar spent with the card, you will receive at least one reward point. Flight and hotel bookings can earn you five points per dollar.

WHERE TO FIND THIS INFORMATION?

When comparing credit cards, their annual fees, APR, bonuses and rewards are all factors to consider. If you want to see how the Platinum Card From American Express stacks up with another card that you already own, check your credit card company's website, app or a recent card statement. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) credit card agreement database is another option to review to get more information.

Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider The Platinum Card® from American Express?

Other Considerations for The Platinum Card® from American Express

Whether the Platinum Card from American Express will be your first card, only card or an additional card in your wallet, there are some key things to consider before you apply for it.

Things to Consider if This Will Be Your First or Only Credit Card

As your first or only credit card, you must remember to pay the balance before the monthly cycle ends. The card's high annual percentage rate might add up quickly if you continue to use revolving credit.

Additionally, if you don’t travel often, this card is not recommended as your primary or only credit card. Instead, get a credit card with a lower interest rate and annual fee.

Things to Consider if This Will Be an Additional Card in Your Wallet

The Platinum Card® from American Express could be a worthwhile addition to your wallet as an additional credit card if you are a frequent traveler and its benefits exceed the higher annual fees of your other credit cards.

If you travel regularly, the five-points-per-dollar rewards for airfare and hotel bookings will pay off. Also, take advantage of its 10 points per dollar restaurant incentives whenever available as well as the ability to avoid transaction fees in foreign countries.

Additionally, remember to pay off your card in full each month so that you don’t get hit with high interest fees.

WHY TRUST OUR REVIEWS

MoneyGeek conducted in-depth studies of numerous credit cards and companies using a comprehensive rating methodology. The process begins with data collection from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's database, standardization of data points for card comparison, estimation of average spend profiles, consideration of each card's annual and introductory bonuses and calculation of the three-year value of holding the card. Additionally, the process entails monthly re-ranking of the cards and semi-annual updating of the card list.

How The Platinum Card® from American Express Compares to Other Cards

Compared to most other travel cards, this card performed well because of its high travel rewards and benefits and fee-free foreign transactions. However, comparing it to other reward cards could help you find a better option for your wallet.

Quick Comparison of The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Annual Fee: $695
International Transaction Fee: None
Regular APR: 20.49% – 27.49% variable
Rewards Rate: One to five points per dollar
Best For: Frequent flyers and international travelers

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Annual Fee: None
International Transaction Fee: None
Regular APR: 19.24% – 29.24% variable
Rewards Rate: 1.25 to five miles per dollar
Best For: Travelers looking for a no-annual-fee card

Other Helpful Decision-Making Q&As

You may have more questions about the Platinum Card from American Express. Our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions could help you make a decision on whether or not the card is right for you.

Still not sure about this card? Consider these options.

If you're still on the fence about applying for this card, research some of the other cards that offer similar benefits. If a rewards or travel card don’t match your needs, a no-fee cashback card might be better.

View All Credit Cards

Learn more about credit cards in general

sources

American Express. "The Platinum Card® from American Express." Accessed December 14, 2021.
American Express. "Everyday Features." Accessed December 14, 2021.
American Express. "How to Increase Your Credit Limit." Accessed December 14, 2021.
J.D. Power. "U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study." Accessed March 16, 2022.
J.D. Power. "Digital Banking and Credit Card Studies Platform." Accessed March 16, 2022.

*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
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