🚀 Our new App is live!  Signup

Advertiser Disclosure

Advertiser Disclosure

Although we put in a lot of effort to give our readers unbiased information, and we include many credit card offers on our website for which we do not get paid any compensation, we are legally required to notify you that we may be receiving compensation from some of the credit card companies mentioned on our website.

Some of the credit card offers which appear on helpmebuildcredit.com are from credit card companies from which this site possibly receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where credit card offers appear on this site. This site possibly does not include all available credit card offers.

 

Close

Amex Goes Big On The Platinum Card! Higher Annual Fee. Higher Bonus. Higher Credits.

- Jul 1, 2021 Credit Card Info, Credit Card Offers0 comments

Two days ago we posted about the rumors going around about benefits changing on the Amex Platinum card. Most of the rumors seem to have been true. Here’s what changed!

Huge new welcome bonus

Earn 100,000 points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months. Plus earn 10 points at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S. on up to $25,000 in combined purchases within the first 6 months (terms apply).

That’s a total of 350,000 points that you can earn, right there!

Many local stores are eligible for Shop Small, so you can accumulate your Amex points real easy, though I doubt my readers spend $25,000 within 6 months on purchases at Shop Small stores and restaurants (though I wouldn’t be surprised if they do, I’ve got myself some rich readers:). Here’s the Shop Small Map for all merchants under Amex Shop Small so that you know where to shop. If you multiply all you spend at these stores by 10 points, it may turn out to be a lot of points.

Annual fee increased

The annual fee on the card did go up to $695, from the previous $550.

$919 in added credits

Here are the new credits Amex has added to the Platinum card along with the annual fee increase. These new credit benefits are also available for existing cardholders, even those who locked in the $550 annual fee.

  • New! Get $200 credit for prepaid hotel bookings per year.  Bookings must be made at Fine Hotels and Resorts and The Hotel Collections, through Amex Travel.
  • New! Get $179 credit for CLEAR per year. CLEAR, which is becoming available at more and more airports, gets you better and faster security check-in at the airport and gets you through check-in, security, and boarding quickly and easily. This credit was also added to the Platinum Business card.
  • New! Get $300 credit for Equinox. Get fit with $25 per month that you can apply towards the $39.99 monthly fee for Equinox and the fitness app. 
  • New! Get $240 credit for Digital Entertainment. Get $20 a month on purchases at the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and New York Times.

In the previous post, we had mentioned some benefits changing, but no benefits actually did change. So you can continue to enjoy the benefits you enjoyed until now and now also enjoy some new benefits while you’re at it.

Does $919 in added credits justify an $145 increase in the annual fee?

It’s definitely hard to maximize some of these benefits, but let’s see.

  • $200 credit for prepaid hotel bookings per year. This benefit is very restrictive, being that it’s only for hotels part of the  Fine Hotel and Resorts and The Hotel Collections, and the booking needs to be made through Amex Travel. Even though I’d have liked to see this benefit a lot less restrictive, there definitely are properties you can find at your destination with The Hotels Collections. Amex Travel claims there are more than 600 hotels across 75 countries. And at the end of the day, $200 is $200, so even though it may not be your first choice hotel, search for a property at your destination and go off with your $200. It can easily cover a full night at the hotel which is nothing to laugh about.
  • $179 for CLEAR is great for those that hold CLEAR of value. CLEAR can get you from check-in to boarding easily and smoothly. This credit was also added to the Platinum Business card.
  • $300 for Equinox is a teaser. You get $25 per month that you can apply towards the $39.99 monthly fee!?! So this credit does not pay your full membership. This benefit seems to be just an incentive, or a good marketing strategy by Equinox, to get you to sign up with Equinox. 
  • $240 for Digital Entertainment is also a restricted credit and does not seem worth it because of two reasons. One, you can only use it at these 4 providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and New York Times. And two, these entertainment apps are cheap, each costing between $4-$12 a month so I see it as hard to maximize the full $20 value. Unless there’s someone who is entertainment crazy and uses all of these subscriptions.

 Here are the complete details of the so-called “new” Amex Platinum card.

Card Details
Welcome Bonus

Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 within the first 6 months (terms apply).

Annual Fee
Rewards

– 5 points on flights booked directly with airlines and Amex Travel on the first $500,000 you spend within a calendar year
– 5 points on prepaid hotels booked directly with Amex Travel
– 1 point on other eligible purchases

Benefits

Was this article helpful?

avatar_logo
Sam Sam has nearly a decade's worth of experience educating his many readers on everything credit. Sam spends his days checking out credit cards for a full report, from the minute benefit details to the shebang of welcome bonuses. Plus studying the ins and outs of building proper credit. It’s his favorite pastime and he loves sharing it with others.

Leave A Comments

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

0 Comments

Recent Posts

Follow us

Click here to subscribe to
our WhatsApp channel

Today's
best offers

Capital One Venture X Business

Earn 150,000 miles after spending $30,000 within the first 3 months.

more info

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Earn 100,000 points after spending $8,000 within the first 3 months.

more info

The Platinum Card from American Express

Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 within the first 6 months (terms apply).

more info

American Express Business Gold Card

Earn 130,000 points after spending $10,000 within the first 3 months (terms apply).

more info

You May Also Like

The 9 Best Credit Cards For Tolls [2024]

The 9 Best Credit Cards For Tolls [2024]

Since not many credit cards scream “use me” when it comes to paying highway tolls, let us help you put an end to your toll quandary.  Some credit cards include toll within the travel category and some credit cards include toll within the transit category. To make it...

read more
How Is Credit Utilization Calculated On Charge Cards

How Is Credit Utilization Calculated On Charge Cards

Credit utilization is one of the big factors that credit scoring models look at. Credit utilization is calculated by your current balance versus how much percent of your available credit or credit line was used. The higher the percent of your credit line you spend,...

read more
When Is The Best Time To Pay My Credit Card?

When Is The Best Time To Pay My Credit Card?

You might often wonder at what point of the month you should make a payment towards your credit card balance. You may also like to know how much of the balance to pay up at that point. Let’s get this question paid cleared up in this post.

read more
The Best Cards To Use For Charity [2024]

The Best Cards To Use For Charity [2024]

Purim is coming up. People ask me all year round what would be a good credit card to designate for charity purchases. Now before Purim is the best time to take action and finally get yourself a card designated for charity. But which one? In this post I will discuss...

read more
success_icon

Download link sent
succesfully

Got it * please check your promotional inbox
fail_icon

Error sending download link

Try Again