The Platinum Card from American Express Review

The Platinum Card® from American Express, one of our favorite cards here at ChooseFI, has leveled up by adding even more benefits and rewards to its already stacked deck. So, let's take a look at precisely what this card has to offer and what you can do to make the most of it all.

Who Should Get The Platinum Card® from American Express

You should consider applying for The Platinum Card® from American Express if you plan to travel quite a bit and want significant travel rewards from your credit card or you want a card that fits your other (the new perks) needs above. The annual fee is $695 (see rates and fees), so you want to ensure that you get all your money's worth by taking advantage of as many of the new perks and rewards as you can.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Benefits include:

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• $200 annual incidental fee credit on selected airline*
• 5 Membership Rewards points earned per dollar spent on flights booked through American Express Travel or directly with the airlines
• Access to the Global Lounge Collection*
• Up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every 4 years
• $15 per month in Uber Cash with a bonus $20 in December*
• $695 annual fee annual fee (SCRA and MLA benefits may apply for active-duty military)
• Terms Apply

* Enrollment is required for select benefits

The Platinum Card® from American Express in Action

Here at ChooseFI, we only back credit cards that we use ourselves. So we asked one of our well-traveled team members (who has regularly used this card for the past decade) to tell us about his overall experience. Here is what they said:

"We've been using the Amex Platinum card for at least ten years now. We could say so many awesome things about having it, but honestly - to us - the travel rewards bonus points are simply unbeatable. We may travel quite a bit more than the average family, but it really pays off for us. So I would imagine even moderate travel, along with the other perks American Express has thrown in this year, would be worth it.

We're a bit spoiled; I guess you could say with the TSA precheck because we've had the card for so long - but that's a big bonus, especially when traveling with kids. We don't have a CLEAR nearby (the airport biometric bonus on the Amex Platinum card), so I can't speak to that. But my friends say it's worth it."

The Bottom Line

If you love credit card rewards as much as we do, The Platinum Card® from American Express is definitely a card you want to have in your wallet when you're traveling. Yes, you'll need to spend a lot during the year to get the value out of the annual fee. But, if you already do this, The Platinum Card® from American Express is an absolute must-have.