It looks like we have confirmation that the platinum card annual fee is officially going to increase to $695. You can tell this from this PDF.
I’m expecting to hear something from American Express very soon (hopefully tomorrow) that officially outlines all of the enhanced benefits we have heard about such as the new credits that will help offset this much higher annual fee. So stay tuned!
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Offers contained within this article maybe expired.
There are some huge changes coming to the Platinum Card. Right now, there is a mixture of rumors and substantiated changes but even the rumors seem like they will likely come into fruition based on what we’ve seen so far. These changes will have pretty dramatic effects on the value proposition for the Platinum Card so you definitely want to take note about these.
Confirmed changes
Beginning in February 2023, it looks like free guests will no longer be permitted for Platinum Card members. Instead, you will have to pay $50 per guest unless you have spent $75,000 in the last calendar year or current year.
I think this is just yet another step American Express is taking to reduce overcrowding in Centurion Lounges and we’ll see if it actually works. This change is a pretty big blow to people who rely on a single Platinum Card to gain entry as a couple/duo or family because they will have to cough up $50 per visit.
Also, if you have kids below the age of 13 they cannot be added as an authorized users and so you will have to pay $50 for them. For families with multiple kids, that guest fee will add up pretty quickly.
This change will likely mean fewer people and families/kids in the lounge, but I do wonder if the changes will noticeably thin out the crowds.
Rumored changes
Below are some additional rumored changes.
Keep in mind that the change to the lounge admission policy was once upon a time a rumor so I think the odds are pretty high that we will see these changes happen.
Probably the biggest rumor is that the annual fee is set to increase all the way to $695! The increase of this annual fee will come with a host of different credits that if utilized properly, can probably make this increase actually a net gain.
According to DOC these credits include:
$300 equinox credit
$240 entertainment credit, $20 monthly (magazine/news subscriptions, video streaming services and audio/music streaming services)
$200 credit for prepaid hotel bookings
Annual CLEAR membership will replace TSA Precheck, but Global Entry seems like it’ll stay
$100 temp Resy credit
Here’s my breakdown:
Here in Tucson, we don’t have an Equinox Fitness near us so a $300 credit there may be completely useless depending on work around techniques with gift cards, etc. Obviously, if you are a current member then that $300 credit will be absolutely huge.
However, the big credit that will likely matter the most is the $240 entertainment credit. It looks like this credit will be given out $20 per month. This credit would presumably be good for things like streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify. For many people, a credit for those services would be as good as cash.
So without the $300 Equinox credit factored in, $240 would offset that $695 annual fee to $455.
A $200 credit for prepaid hotel bookings is still pretty attractive to me. While it is true that you would most likely not receive elite credit for your stay, I have received elite benefits for many stays booked through an online travel portal, including Amex Travel. I would happily utilize the credit for a one night or two night trip to Phoenix or Sedona.
So that credit would help knock the effective fee down to about $255.
The annual CLEAR membership, which might be replacing the TSA Pre-check credit, is also very enticing. A full price CLEAR membership is $179. Assuming that you would pay full price, that knocks the effective fee down to only $76.
There also is what looks like to be a temporary Resy credit.
Resy is an app that “powers the world’s best restaurants, using technology to imagine the future of hospitality. If you’re a person who loves dining out but hates hassling for reservations, download Resy now! Book sought-after seats at the best restaurants in 80 cities worldwide.”
I personally have not used the app but I might look into it if I had a credit.
It’s not clear to me what the plan is for the current credits (Uber, Saks, etc.). Given all of the value above I would assume that all/some of those would be dropped or at least modified. It also seems like some of these changes could start happening as soon as this year so be prepared for these changes to come quickly.
Final word
Overall, these changes mean a different value proposition (and look) for the Platinum Card.
The shift in lounge admission policy means that the card will be catering more to business/frequent travelers and high spenders — a key Amex demo.
Those who travel as a couple or with kids with only one Platinum Card will have to make a decision on whether or not they want to pay for lounge access or add authorized users if possible (based on age limits). Currently, you can add up to three authorized users by paying $175 but we might see that price go up as well. Who knows?
The annual fee increase is honestly not that big of a deal to me given the diverse range of credits. For someone like me who does a moderate level of traveling, I think it is going to be pretty easy to get the effective fee down to an acceptable level. Still, I’m not really in love with the full line-up of proposed credits (especially the $300 Equinox credit).
I will say that all of these additional credits will make using WalletFlo that much more important. You’ll be able to easily keep track of your fees and also keep track of whether or not you are coming out on top of your annual fees when utilizing your credits and perks.
Amex has been a bit of a trendsetter and so it won’t surprise me to see other issues mirror what Amex is doing by raising the annual fee and trying to get you locked in with an array of credits.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
But how hard is it to get approved for the Platinum Card?
This comprehensive article will take a look at what credit score, income, and other criteria are requirements for the Platinum Card and give you some tips on how to meet those if you currently fall a little short.
What are the Amex Platinum Requirements?
The Amex Platinum will generally require a good to excellent credit score (720+) and a mid to high income. However, there are no hard cut-offs for either of these requirements as will be shown below.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
Credit score needed for the Amex Platinum
There is no strict requirement regarding your credit score but you will likely want to have a solid FICO credit score that is at or above 720. Keep in mind that Amex usually pulls from Experian so that’s the FICO score that you need to be paying attention to. You can sign up to check your credit score here.
Lower credit score okay?
If you do enough research you can find plenty of data points of people getting approved with credit scores below 720. In fact, many people have been approved with credit scores in the 600s, so you definitely don’t need a perfect credit score.
If you already have a long-standing relationship with American Express then you probably won’t need as high of a credit score when you apply.
But if this is your first application with Amex and your score is in the 600s, you’re likely facing an uphill battle. For those reasons, I would generally recommend that you focus on improving your credit score if it’s in the 600s.
Improve your credit score
If you need to improve your credit score and you want to do it in a hurry then consider the following options:
You can read more these methods and about improving your credit score (quickly) here.
Income requirements for the Amex Platinum
There is also no strict income or salary requirement for the Platinum Card.
Platinum Cardholders, on average, do have very high incomes though.
But there are reports of people getting approved with incomes in the $50,000 range or below. Once again, your history with Amex could be a major factor for getting approved if you are a borderline candidate.
You should know that thanks to the Credit Card Act of 2009, you are allowed to report the income of your spouse and/or family members so long as it is reasonably accessible to you and you are 21 years or older. Learn more about what kind of income is “reasonably accessible” here.
The Amex Business Platinum recently has required a minimum business revenue of $1,000 for many applicants but no similar minimum income requirement has been implemented for the personal version.
No annual spend requirement like the Amex Black Card (Centurion)
One thing that is clear is that there is no annual spend requirement for the Platinum like there is for the American Express Centurion Card, also known as the Amex Black Card.
The Black American Express card usually requires at least $250,000 in spend per year just to receive an invitation to apply. For the business version of the Centurion Card, once you spend around $500,000 (or possibly $450,000) in a calendar year you might receive an invitation.
So the Black Card is a much different premium card than the Platinum Card and comes with a lore more benefits. Here’s a quick look at some of the perks of the Black Card:
I generally suggest for people to go for another American Express card first in order to build up a relationship with Amex before applying for the Platinum.
You don’t have to do it this way but if you think you’re a somewhat borderline applicant and your credit history is your weakness, then it might not be a bad idea.
Building your history with Amex
A great card to consider is the new Amex Green Card. That’s a solid points earning card that earns 3X on travel and dining and comes with credits for CLEAR and Lounge Buddy that can allow you to offset the annual fee. It’s known for being one of the easier Amex cards to get approved for so it’s a good way to start building up your credit history.
How long to wait
If you are getting ready to apply for your first American Express card and you decide to go with one of the easier options to get approved for then you might want to wait 6 months to a year to apply for the Platinum Card.
That should give Amex some time to learn to trust you.
Some like to wait even longer to establish their credit history, but generally 6 months to one year is enough time for banks to start trusting you a little bit.
Upgrade later?
As I talk more about below there is a difference between charge cards and credit cards. If your charge card account is in good standing, you might be able to upgrade any of your charge cards to a Platinum Card. So for example you could potentially upgrade the Green Card to a Platinum Card.
The Green Card is usually easier to get approved for so this could be a smart way for you to establish your relationship with Amex and then you could always look into upgrading at a later date. But be aware that due to Amex application rules, if you upgrade, you will not be eligible for a welcome bonus for the Platinum Card (you might be able to get a special offer for upgrading).
If you want to go this route make sure you don’t mistakenly apply for a credit card.
Age
Some report that waiting until you reach the age of adulthood (21) to apply could increase your approval odds.
The Platinum Card isn’t exactly a card that’s tailor made for those under 21 and Amex likely will have doubts about your income and or credit history at young ages below 21. So if you’re in your lower 20s, consider trying to build up a few years of credit history first to increase your approval odds.
Authorized user
If your credit score isn’t that high or your income is on the lower side then maybe there is someone else who can apply for the Platinum Card like a spouse or family member. It only costs $175 to add up three authorized users to the Platinum Card and they get a lot of the key perks like Priority Pass and Centurion Lounge access.
Credit limits
A traditional credit card provides you with a credit limit and you are not allowed to use more credit than that specified limit. However, the Platinum Card is not a traditional credit card.
Charge cards
The Platinum Card is a charge card offered by American Express.
This means that you have no set credit limit when you are approved. Instead, you are expected to pay off your monthly charges at the end of each month. This allows you to have great flexibility with your spending and it’s why I consider the Platinum Card to be one of the best credit cards for high spenders.
Something to make clear is this does not mean that your credit limit is unlimited.
Instead, Amex will likely monitor your monthly spending habits and slowly up your spending capacity as you gain their trust by showing that you can pay off your balance.
In the mean time, you can pre-pay your bills to free up credit if that’s what you need to do.
Pay Over Time
Amex does offer something called “Pay Over Time,” though.
This allows you to select certain charges over $100 that you will pay over time just like a traditional credit card. You will be paying interest on these charges so keep that in mind.
One great thing about Pay Over Time is that Amex will often send out a promotional offer where you can earn Membership Rewards just for enrolling in Pay Over Time.
You should expect to wait about six months to one year before being offered Pay Over Time, though it likely depends on your history with Amex. Read more about Amex Pay Over Time here.
Amex Platinum features
The Amex Platinum has some of the top features out of any credit card.
The standard welcome bonus is 75,000 miles after spending $5,000 within the first 6 months, which is very competitive for a premium credit cards. However, it’s possible to find offers up to 100,000 points.
If you value Membership Rewards at 1.8 cents per point, that’s $1,080 with the lower 60,000 point welcome bonus, which would nearly cover the annual fee for two years.
Bonus earning
The Platinum earns 5X on airfare and 5X on hotels booked through the Amex Travel portal making it one of the best credit cards to use for airfare purchases. Getting 5X on hotels booked through the Amex Travel is nice too but it requires you to book pre-paid stays which aren’t always ideal.
Travel credits
The Platinum comes with a $200 airline credit and a $200 Uber credit. Both of these credits can offset the hefty annual fee down to $150, making this card much more appealing. The Platinum also has a $100 Saks credit.
Lounge access
I think that the Platinum Card is the best credit card for lounge access.
With it you’ll be able to receive:
Priority Pass access for you and two guests
Centurion lounges access for you and two guests
Delta Sky Club access when flying with Delta
Most other premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve only offer Priority Pass memberships. But Centurion Lounges are some of the nicest airport lounges around and Delta SkyClubs can be impressive so this is a great deal for many people.
Elite status
With the Platinum Card, you’ll get more out of your hotel stays as you’ll get the following elite statuses:
These can provide you with perks like free breakfasts, upgrades, late check-out, and some other nice perks which can even include lounge access.
Annual fee
The annual fee is high at $695 but as stated the travel credit offset much of that and the value that you’ll receive with the lounge access and hotel elite benefits will probably be worth well over $150 for frequent travelers. Note that if you’re in the military you can get the annual fee waived.
Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!
Transfer partners
Being able to transfer your hard-earned Membership Rewards out to some amazing travel partners is a big deal because those partners allow you to receive outsized value for your points.
For example, I once transferred 55,000 Membership Rewards to Aeroplan and then booked a business class ticket to Europe and earned a whopping 14 cents per mile on that redemption!
Here are all of the American Express travel partners:
Airlines
Avianca
Delta Skymiles
Club Premier AeroMexico (1,000 = 1,600 premier points)
One of the great features of the Platinum Card (and several other Amex cards) is that you can usually generate referral links for extra bonus points.
If someone used your referral link to apply and they get approved, then you’ll be rewarded with bonus points up to 55,000 points per year. Unfortunately, there is no known advantage or boost to their approval odds if they use your link. You can read more about that referral program here.
Amex application rules
American Express has some very specific rules for applying for their cards.
Luckily, most of these rules apply to credit cards and not their charge cards.
But you need to be aware that they have a once per lifetime rules and have recently cracked down on people trying to game the system while earning welcome offers. You can find out more about these rules here.
Final word
The Amex Platinum Card requirements are pretty straight forward: you need a solid credit score and a good income.
However, there are no hard cut-offs for these requirements and depending on other factors like your credit history and your prior relationship with American Express, you may be able to get approved even if your numbers are on the low side.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
Is the Amex International Airline Program Worth It? (Review) [2021]
The Amex International Airline Program might be one of the best kept secrets of the Amex Platinum Card. It offers opportunities to save hundreds or even thousands on premium airfare, making it one of the most valuable perks of the Platinum Card.
However, there are some restrictions on this program that you should know about.
This review article will discuss everything you need to know about the Amex International Airline Program, including how to book your tickets and what kinds of discounts you can expect to receive.
What is the Amex International Airline Program (IAP)?
The Amex International Airline Program is a special program available to Platinum cardholders and Centurion cardholders that allows you to receive special discounts on up to eight first class, business class, and premium economy fares when booking through Amex. (Noticeably missing from eligibility is the Corporate Amex Platinum Card.)
Of course, the Platinum Card offers other solid benefits like 5X on airfare, lounge access, and many others that help to offset the card’s annual fee.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
What about the American Express Platinum Companion Fare?
The Amex International Airline Program used to allow you to purchase a 2-for-1 business class fare and so it functioned as a sort of premium companion pass. One of the big drawbacks to this program was that you were forced to purchase a full-fare business class ticket.
This perk had limited value to many people because full fare business class tickets can be very pricey and so the amount saved was often minimal. For example, you might be charged close to 2X the price for a full fare business class ticket versus a discounted rate.
There was a small subset of folks who likely benefited from booking these full fares for work and who were reimbursed but with a companion fare to go along with them. But this group of people was not very large, which made the International Airline Program one of the least interesting features of the Platinum Card.
Well, in the summer of 2017, Amex revamped the Amex International Airline Program. This program is much more useful and practical for cardholders and in my opinion adds a tremendous amount of value to the Platinum Card.
LATAM business class on the 787 Dreamliner.
The Amex International Airline Program rules
While this program has the potential to save you a lot of cash on your first class, business class, and premium economy tickets, there are some rules that you need to be aware of in order to take advantage of the savings.
Refundable or non-refundable fares
This is a very welcomed change. With the new program you can purchase either refundable or non-refundable fares and still receive your discount.
First class, business class, and premium economy
As stated, the deals apply to first class, business class, and premium economy fares.
Flights must originate in the US
Travel must originate in and return to U.S. gateway (may exclude certain overseas territories) and select Canadian gateways. One-way travel permitted on some airlines where routing originates in U.S. or select Canadian Gateways
Ticket service fee
There is a $39 per ticket service fee per booking, so make sure to factor in that fee for your savings. Also, if you need to make any changes or rebook your flight, you will likely have to pay the $39 fee each time.
This service fee is waived for Amex Centurion members.
Membership Rewards can be used
Membership Rewards can be used to cover the cost of the ticket via Pay with Points. You’ll need to redeem a minimum redemption of 5,000 points. Your card will first be charged with the full price of the ticket and then Amex will reimburse you based on the value of your Membership Rewards.
Remember that if you book with the Business Platinum Card you’ll be able to get 35% Membership Rewards points back after you use points for all or part of an eligible flight booked with Amex Travel, up to 500,000 points back per calendar year. So using points with the Business Platinum Card allows for even more lucrative redemptions.
If you choose to pay with points, you will still be able to earn your frequent flyer miles so it’s a sweet deal.
You can find the official terms and conditions here.
Qatar business class on the A350.
How to book the Amex International Airline Program
To take advantage of these special fares, you no longer need to call American Express Travel speak with an agent. You can now search and book flights online here.
If you still want to book over the phone, there are two phone numbers for the International Airline Program, depending on whether you have a personal card or a business card. Here are the hone numbers:
1-800-525-3355 for Platinum Travel Service
1-800-553-9497 for Business Platinum Travel Service
One of the great features of this program is that they allow you to put a flight on hold free of charge for up to 48 hours. Once you’ve found your potential itinerary, you should also be able to have the itinerary sent to your email address for your review and reference.
If you do put a booking on hold you should verify with the rep that the pricing will remain the same and be sure to closely monitor the price at all times since there are reports of the pricing fluctuating on some cardmembers.
Book via Amex chat
Amex also recently made a change so that you can now book your flights via chat! Simply log-in to your account and open up a chat and after verifying your details, you’ll be able to make your search request.
What kind of discounts can you get with the Amex International Airline Program?
The big question about this program is what kind of discounts are you able to get through it to make it worth it or not. Generally, when you find a deal, you’re probably going to be looking at discounts around 5 to 15% off but you can certainly find discounted fares that will offer even more off than that.
For example, you can find reports of people receiving discounts of close to 50% off on certain flights. Those awesome deals are going to be less common but there’s an insane amount of value to capture if you can snag one of those fares.
I recommend checking out the Flyertalk thread/Wiki on this to get a sense of the discounts found on different airlines.
Note that you should never take it for granted that these rates will be cheaper than publicly available rates and should always compare pricing since sometimes these discounts leave a bit to be desired and sometimes there are no discounted rates offered (compared to what the airlines are offering). I recommend a simply price search with Google Flights for easy comparisons.
You can see the price comparison between Google Flights $3,413 and Amex IAP $2,385 below on a one-way flight to Tokyo– a difference of over $1,000 or 30% off!
An example of how you can save hundreds of dollars.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
What airlines participate?
Not every airline participates in the program. Currently, here is the list of airlines that participate:
AeroMexico
Air China
Air France
Air New Zealand
Alitalia
ANA
Asiana Airlines
Austrian
British Airways
Brussels Airlines
Cathay Pacific
China Airlines
Delta
Emirates
Etihad Airways
Iberia
Japan Airlines
KLM
LATAM
Lufthansa
Qantas
Qatar
Singapore
South African Airways
Swiss
Virgin Atlantic
You’ll notice that notably absent are domestic carriers United and American.
Can you earn 5x with the International Airline Program?
Both the personal Platinum Card and the Business Platinum Card will earn 5X the points when booking flights with Amex Travel.
The personal Platinum Card earns 5X with the International Airline Program but the Business Platinum Card does not according to Amex reps.
Keep in mind that the Business Platinum Card only earns 5X through the Amex Travel portal while the personal Platinum Card earns 5X on airfare purchased directly with the airlines. Amex chat reps state that the Business Platinum does earn 5X with the IAP but I haven’t been able to personally verify that.
5X the points is a lot of points. If you value Membership Rewards at 1.8 cents per point then that’s like earning just under 10% back on your purchase. So that’s an additional discount that you want to factor into your analysis if you’re using a Platinum Card to pay for your airfare.
The 5X on airfare is only one of the key benefits to the Platinum Card. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the major Platinum benefits.
Yes, you will earn 5X Membership Rewards when you use your Platinum Card for the International Airline Program. But, the Business Platinum Card will not earn 5X.
Can I use Membership Rewards to pay for the flight?
Yes, you can use Membership Rewards to pay for your flight. You’ll need to redeem a minimum redemption of 5,000 points.
Can I still earn frequent flyer miles with the International Airline Program?
Yes, you will still earn your frequent flyer miles when you book with the International Airline Program.
Can I book non-refundable fares?
Yes, you can book either refundable or nonrefundable fares with the IAP.
Is there a fee involved?
Yes, your booking will be subject to a $39 ticket service fee.
Final word
The International Airline Program has the potential to be the most valuable benefit offered by the Platinum Card if it’s one that you would normally put to use. With just one booking you could potentially save hundreds or thousands of dollars which would instantly offset the high annual fee (which is already pretty easy to offset).
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) Complete Guide: (Free Nights, Upgrades) [2021]
Offers contained within this article maybe expired.
Despite having the potential for offering a serious amount of value, the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts program does not receive as much attention as it probably deserves.
This comprehensive article will show you all of the benefits that this program offers and also give you an idea of how valuable all of those benefits can be to your personal travels. I also compare hotel prices to see if the FHR is really worth it.
If you’re more of a video person, check out the YouTube video at the bottom of the article for more!
Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!
AMEX Centurion Lounge in Hong Kong (HKG).
What is Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR)?
Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts, also known as “Amex FHR,” is a luxury hotel program that offers special perks at over 975 world-class properties all around the world.
The perks are very similar (and some are identical) to what you receive as a typical hotel elite member but the perks get even sweeter with free nights, hotel credits, and other additional benefits.
Tip:Looking for the best hotel credit cards? Check out the full list here.
How do you get access to Amex FHR?
You can access the Amex FHR online here or via phone by calling Platinum Travel Service at 1-800-525-3355. However, you have to have one of the following cards issued by American Express to use the FHR:
Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts offers an entire suite of benefits which include:
Noon check-in, when available
Guaranteed 4pm late check-out
Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
Daily breakfast for two people
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Special amenity unique to each property
I will go into detail about these benefits below.
Check-in and guaranteed late check out
Amex FHR offers noon check-in when available and guaranteed 4pm late check-out.
The noon check in is nice, since many hotels have check in time at around 3pm which can be very inconvenient when arriving early. While the early check-in benefit is not guaranteed, at least it gives you a shot of getting into your hotel room earlier than normal.
It’s also worth pointing out that other luxury hotel programs don’t offer an early check-in option so the FHR is unique in that regard.
The late check out on the other hand is guaranteed and pretty darn late: 4 pm.
For example, I have top-tier status with Hilton (Hilton Diamond), and the latest I usually get for late check-out is 1pm or 2pm. Also, other luxury hotel programs like the Chase LHRC only offer late checkout subject to availability.
So compared to other programs, this 4 PM late checkout is a very solid perk.
Upgrades
Upgrades are probably going to be hit or miss with this program since they are subject to availability but a lot of people have success with getting upgraded.
Generally, you will be limited to upgrades to a better view or a single category above your booked room. So, for example, if you book a standard room then you might get an upgrade to something like a room on a higher floor, a corner room, or deluxe room.
I probably would not be expecting suite upgrades and I would also be aware of the fact that I might not even receive an upgrade since they are based on availability and are not guaranteed.
If you have elite status with one of these properties then obviously that will help your upgrade chances and you should definitely bring that to the attention of the hotel property.
Tip: As a general tip for upgrades, it’s a good idea to get familiar with the types of room categories at your hotel so that you can check on the hotel’s website shortly before check-in and see the real-time availability.
Don’t be afraid (to kindly) point out to the front desk that there’s availability for rooms one category up that you could be upgraded to.
Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts offers daily breakfast for two people.
At a minimum this will include a true continental breakfast but at many properties it will be a full hot breakfast. In fact, the quality (and value) of the breakfast might blow you away at major hotels.
Depending on how long your stay is at the hotel, this benefit could end up saving you upwards of a couple of hundred bucks.
For that reason, this is a very valuable perk, especially for those who don’t have status with some of the hotel loyalty programs that do offer complimentary breakfasts.
For example, I have Hyatt Discoverist status via the Hyatt card and I’m not offered complimentary breakfasts so booking Hyatt hotels through the FHR makes a lot of sense.
Complimentary Wi-Fi is provided in room, with the exception of select properties where in-room Wi-Fi is included as part of a mandatory daily resort fee or is not available.
In these instances, complimentary Wi-Fi will be provided in a common space on property. Contact Platinum Travel service for property specific details regarding Wi-Fi.
Special amenity
Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts offers a special amenity unique to each property that is valued at a minimum of $100.
This is often a $100 food and beverage or spa credit but sometimes it comes in a different form. Here are some examples of what the special amenity could consist of:
A complimentary 50-minute massage, for two people per room, once during your stay
A complimentary one way private sedan transfer from hotel to airport for two people per room, once during stay
A complimentary dinner, for two people per room, excluding alcoholic beverages
$150 property credit
If you are somebody that likes to enjoy a meal or a drink at your hotel, then this benefit really does save you $100 per hotel visit.
If you combine the $100 savings with the free breakfasts allowed, then you can see how quickly the value of the FHR program can start to add up.
The Conrad Maldives, part of Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts.
FHR Special Offers (huge value potential!)
Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts offers special offers for various properties that you can take advantage of for special savings. This is what really separates FHR from other luxury programs, since you can save so much.
Many of these offers will have specific time periods for which you have to book your hotel stay and also a specific time that you need to actually stay at the hotel for.
For example, the Baglioni Hotel Carlton offered a complimentary 3rd night when booking a paid stay of at least three nights at Baglioni Hotel Carlton, Milan when booked from July 8 through December 28 for hotel stays from July 8 and completed by December 31.
You can search for which properties are currently offering special offers here.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
Free nights
One of the most valuable perks of the Amex FHR program is that you can get free nights during your stay. You can find hotels offering the 3rd night free, 4th night free, 5th night, and 6th night free at different properties.
Out of all of the perks offered by the FHR program, the free night benefit is definitely where you have the potential for the most value. One free night could easily save you hundreds of dollars and potentially even offset the annual fee of the Platinum card which is pretty incredible.
For example, the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort had nights priced at $569, which would completely almost offset the $695 annual fee of the Platinum Card with a free night!
A few hotel programs offer the 5th night free on award stays and the Citi Prestige offers the 4th night free but it’s rare to see a 3rd night free offered. For people like me who rarely stay in one location for longer than three nights, this is a fantastic perk.
Be aware that some types of rooms may be excluded from these special categories.
Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts free nights.
Property credit
Not all of the special offers are for free nights.
Some of the special offers will offer a “property credit.”
The property credits usually range from $100-$200. Just like the free nights, they also have time restrictions for when they can be used, so make sure to always pay attention to the timeframes for booking and travel.
One of the cool things about these property credits is that they are offered in addition to the hundred dollar property credit that is often given out as unique benefit.
So in the case shown below there’s actually an ability to get $300 worth of free travel just with these two perks alone. When you add in breakfast for two along with a potential upgrade, free Wi-Fi, and even guaranteed late checkout, you can see how the value of just a single stay could very well exceed $500.
It just goes to show how valuable this hotel program can really be.
An example of a $200 credit.
Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts List
It is very easy to search and locate properties that participate in the FHR.
You can click here to go to the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts directory, where you will input the hotel name or the city where you are looking to book a hotel.
You can also choose an entire state or country if that’s what you would like to do.
Also, you can the call Business Platinum Travel Service at 1-800-553-9497 to arrange your booking.
After you input a destination, you can see the number of search results pulled up for that location. From there, you can click on the hotel property to find out more details and to book it.
The website will show you some basic details regarding the hotel. But what is helpful is that you can see what the unique amenity is at that given property. For example, below is the unique amenity offered by the Conrad Maldives.
As you can see it is not a $100 resort credit but instead they are offering a complimentary lunch or dinner for two people per room. If you have ever stayed at the Conrad Maldives (or any hotel in the Maldives before), then you know how much value a complimentary dinner for two people could hold. Hint: it’s a lot!
I’m not sure exactly which restaurants at the Conrad Maldives they allow you to use this perk at, but I could see this benefit offering well over a couple of hundred dollars worth of value based on their prices.
As mentioned there are over 975 world-class properties in the program so writing out a complete list would be a little excessive for this article.
But to give you a sense of what kind of properties you can expect, here are some of the properties you can find in major international cities.
Hong Kong
Conrad
Four Seasons
Mandarin Hotel
The Peninsula
Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
Bangkok
Park Hyatt
Mandarin
The Peninsula
San Francisco
Fairmont
Four Seasons Hotel
Loews Regency
The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco
St. Regis San Francisco
Las Vegas
Aria Sky Suites
Bellagio
Delano Las Vegas
Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas
Mandarin Oriental
The Cosmopolitan
New York
Four Seasons Hotel New York
Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown
Mandarin Oriental
Loews Regency
Park Hyatt New York
The London NYC
The Peninsula
St. Regis New York
Hawaii
Halekulani
The Ali‘i At Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
The Kahala Hotel & Resort
The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort
Trump International Hotel Waikiki
Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa
The St. Regis Princeville Resort
Paris
Four Seasons Hotel George V
Hotel Lancaster
Le Bristol
Mandarin Oriental
Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome
The Peninsula
As you can see, there are a lot of the premier brands from the major hotel chains within the FHR like Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Park Hyatt, etc.
Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
Do you earn elite points with Amex FHR?
One of the great things about the Amex FHR is that you’ll often still earn your elite points with your loyalty program because the rates are usually considered “qualifying rates.”
In addition to points, you should still be able to earn your elite qualifying nights, too. Another cool perk is that you should be able to utilize special elite perks like upgrade certificates.
But note that there are mixed reports about people receiving their elite qualifying points and nights when booking through FHR. Getting those perks doesn’t seem to always be guaranteed.
Therefore, in some cases you’ll have to work those things out with the hotel, so if you plan on doing that it’s a good idea to call the property ahead of time and inquire about it.
Do you have to prepay for FHR hotels?
You usually will not pre-pay for these hotels and will instead pay at check-out.
But that doesn’t mean you can use any credit card.
The terms state:
Payment must be made in full with an American Express Card in the Platinum Cardmember’s name.
This means that you can use any Amex card for payment!
This is big for people with cards like the Hilton Aspire since it has a $250 Hilton Resort Credit. So you could use FHR to book a stay at a Hilton property and receive a special $100 amenity on top of the $250 Hilton Resort Credit.
Note that the cardmember must travel on the itinerary booked to be eligible for benefits described.
There are some reports of others booking rooms for others and not showing up and still receiving the benefits but I would generally try to follow the terms and conditions here since a hotel could easily deny you the benefits if the Platinum cardmember is nowhere to be found at check-in.
When you use your Amex card to book a pre-paid hotel room through FHR, you’ll earn 5X Membership Rewards, which is extremely rewarding!
Some value Membership Rewards at around two cents per point so that would be like getting 10% back on your hotel stays which is very impressive.
A couple of things to note:
You should note that just because you are pre-paying that does not mean that you lose the flexibility with your cancellation policy.
If hotel reservations are made or modified directly with the hotel provider, the reservation will not be eligible for 5X!
Selecting the 5X option is very simple. After you select the property and select the specific type of room you are interested in booking, you should see the selection for earning 5X the points show up with the option to “Pay Now.”
Are the FHR hotels the same price?
One of the biggest questions is whether or not the FHR hotels are the same price as what you could find on the hotel website or other source. I did some research on a handful of different properties, comparing the FHR price to booking directly, and the results were pretty interesting.
I found that some of the prices were virtually identical but in other cases the FHR was more expensive. In fact, in the Maldives the FHR was significantly more expensive! Check out the results below.
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney — Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, City View (flexible)
FHR: $349.30
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney: $348.89
Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco — Deluxe Room with one king bed (flexible)
FHR: $1,391.52
Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco: 1,391.58
St. Regis Hong Kong — Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, City View (flexible)
FHR: $772.73
St. Regis Hong Kong: $715.98
Conrad Maldives — Superior Villa, 1 King Bed (flexible)
FHR: $2,670.40
Conrad Maldives: $1,410.48
Park Hyatt Bangkok — Room, 1 King Bed (flexible)
FHR: $388
Park Hyatt Bangkok: $331.17
So for the most part the prices were pretty similar or the FHR was a bit more expensive (with one ridiculous outlier).
When the FHR price is more expensive, you need to tabulate how much value you put in the benefits like free breakfast, food credits, etc. In many cases a slightly higher price can be easily justified due to the benefits you will receive through FHR.
But remember, just because you’re given a $100 credit, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re saving $100 if you normally would not have spent $100 at that hotel.
I always compare prices with at least two other sources when paying cash for a hotel so I recommend doing the same when booking though FHR.
The Park Hyatt Bangkok rooftop terrace.
How much is the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts worth?
You can get a ton of value from the Amex FHR program.
I’ll break down what that could look like at a hotel called the Baglioni Hotel Carlton in Milan, Italy, where I was able to pull up the third night free.
$357 for free night
$80 breakfast for two people ($40 each) x 3 days = $240
$100 food and beverage credit
Three-night upgrade estimate: $300
Early check-in/late check-out: $50
As you can see, it’s very easy to get over $700 worth of travel from this benefit when you can utilize one of the free nights.
But even if you can’t find a hotel offering a free night that you can utilize, it’s still very easy to get a couple hundred dollars worth of value just from the breakfast and the food and beverage credits offered at these hotels.
So if you’re in the market to stay at luxury properties for about three nights per year, I’d say this benefit is easily worth around $300 to $400, with the potential for even more value as seen above.
It really does amaze me that more people don’t use this program.
Tip: Check out the free app WalletFlo so that you can optimize your credit card spend by seeing the best card to use! You can also track credits, annual fees, and get notifications when you’re eligible for the best cards!
Amex Travel vs FHR
A drawback of booking through Amex Travel is that you typically will not be able to earn elite points or elite credits when staying at a hotel. In fact you might also be denied your elite status benefits!
That’s a major difference between the two programs and it’s one reason why people with hotel status actually don’t mind booking through Amex FHR.
Back to back bookings
Because you’re given some perks per visit, many people think about booking individual nights back to back with the hopes of getting extra benefits.
The terms and conditions state that “back-to-back stays within a 24-hour period at the same property considered one stay.”
So if you make two separate bookings for back to back nights under the same name at the same property, those bookings will be counted as a single stay.
Some people get creative and alternate nights by using a spouse or partner with a Platinum Card so that their bookings are not back to back. I don’t think this is majorly frowned upon but I wouldn’t take it too far.
If you book five nights and you and your spouse are checking in and out of the same hotel each morning, it’s going to start looking very odd and could lead to an awkward confrontation.
Using points to book FHR
You can now use your American Express Membership Rewards to book hotels though the FHR! Points will be worth one cent per point so 50,000 points would cover you for $500 worth of hotel stays.
If points redeemed do not cover the entire amount, the balance of the purchase price will remain on your card. Minimum redemptions are 5,000 points.
Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts FAQ
Do you get free breakfast with Amex FHR?
Yes, you will be offered at a minimum a continental breakfast for two people. At many properties, you can get a full hot breakfast as well.
Do you get upgrades with Amex FHR?
Upgrades are subject to availability so they are not guaranteed. Typically, if you get an upgrade it will be to a single category above your booked room which could be a room on a higher floor or a room with a better view.
Do you get late check out with Amex FHR?
Yes, one of the great perks of the FHR program is that you get guaranteed late check out at 4pm.
What is the special amenity for FHR?
The special amenity is usually valued at $100 or more and it can come in many different forms.
You might receive something like a spa credit, a complimentary massage, complimentary dinner, etc.
When you check the hotels webpage in the FHR portal, you might be able to find details about the special amenity.
How can I get the free nights?
Select properties will offer you free nights such as the third or fourth night free when you make a booking. In some cases, this could end up saving you hundreds of dollars on your booking.
Be sure to check out the special offers which will show you the free nights available.
What type of hotels are part of the Amex FHR?
You will find many of the top luxury brands in the FHR directory. You can click here to go to the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts directory and find hotels that participate.
How much can you save with Amex FHR?
When you combine the savings for all of the perks such as free breakfast, $100 credits, upgrades, and early check-in and late checkout, it’s easy to save several hundred dollars on a stay.
And if you are able to capitalize on a free night, you might be saving over $1,000 during your stay.
Can I use points to book the FHR?
Yes, you can use your American Express Membership Rewards to book hotels though the FHR. Points will be worth one cent per point.
Final word
As you can tell, the Fine Hotels & Resorts program offers the potential for a ton of value. Booking a hotel through this program is essentially like getting an elite status upgrade for that specific property because you are given so many elite-like benefits.
For that reason, I think that this program is great for those people who don’t have elite status with any of the major hotel programs but still want to get a taste of those elite benefits.
And, even if you do have elite status with some of these hotels it can still be worth it to go through this program so that you can capitalize on additional benefits like free nights and special credits for food and beverages.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
Amex Hotel Collection Guide [2021]
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American Express offers a number of ways to go about hotel bookings including programs like Amex Travel and Fine Hotels and Resorts. But a lot of people overlook the Amex Hotel Collection.
In this article, I’ll cover all of the benefits you can receive with the program and also will show you if booking through the Amex Hotel Collection is cheaper than booking directly with the hotels.
What is the Amex Hotel Collection?
The Amex Hotel Collection is a program available to select American Express cards that allows you to receive a $100 credit and other benefits at certain hotels when you book a minimum two night stay.
Many of the properties will be high-end properties that are part of a major hotel chain and others might be upscale boutique hotels. However, you can find some properties at lower rates around $200 per night.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
Eligible cards
Only select American Express cards will give you access to the Amex Hotel Collection. These are more “premium” cards with higher annual fees and the eligible cards include:
Note: Since the Gold Card does not have access to FHR (discussed more below), the Amex Hotel Collection really feels like more of a stand out benefit for that card.
How to use the Amex Hotel Collection
It’s very easy to use the Amex Hotel Collection. Simply go to the main website and then input the search criteria for your hotel. Remember, you must stay a minimum two nights to use this benefit.
You can search without logging in but if you would like to book you will be prompted to login. (Sometimes, you may be prompted to login before beginning your search.)
All of the common hotel search filters will be available to use such as filtering by price, map, star rating, neighborhoods, etc. So you can play around with all of those to narrow down your top choices.
Just make sure that when you are searching, that you check the checkbox for the Hotel Collection on the left sidebar. Otherwise, you will see hotels that are not part of the program.
Always remember to select the Hotel Collection checkbox.
Amex Hotel Collection Benefits
$100 property credit
Room upgrade at check-in if available
Gold Card members receive 2X (on prepaid stays)
Platinum Card members receive 5X (on prepaid stays)
Ability to pay with points
$100 property credit
I would argue that the main benefit of this program is that you can receive a $100 property credit. This credit can be used on qualifying dining, spa, and other resort purchases.
The exact type of credit that you will receive just depends on the type of property that you booked.
My bit of advice would be to make reservations if you plan on utilizing this credit for things like dining and spa treatments.
If you don’t book far enough in advance and inquire about reservations, it’s possible that you could arrive at the property with no way to utilize your property credit.
And if that happens, you may not be given any kind of a refund or credit.
Spa treatments are a common use for the $100 credit.
Room upgrade
By booking through the Hotel Collection, you will also be entitled to a room upgrade if there is availability.
Typically, I would probably expect a room upgrade one class above what you booked. So this could mean your standard room getting upgraded to a larger room or perhaps a room with a better view or on a higher floor.
Benefits for prepaid bookings
While it is possible to book flexible cancellation rates, if you make a prepaid booking, you can actually get a little bit more value out of this program.
If you are using your Gold Card, you can earn 2X Membership Rewards on the booking.
But things are much more lucrative if you have a Platinum Card. With the Platinum, you can earn a whopping 5X Membership Rewards on your prepaid bookings.
If you value Membership Rewards at around two cents per point, that’s like getting 10% back on your hotel spend which is extremely competitive and better than even some of the best hotel credit cards.
For example, the Hilton Aspire earns 14X at Hilton properties and at a valuation of .52 cents per point, that comes out to 7.28% back. So the Platinum could earn you almost 3% more back on a Hilton stay.
As explained more below, just remember that you will likely be missing out on credits toward elite status and points on your stay which set back your earnings quite a bit.
And finally, if you are booking a prepaid stay you can also use your points to pay for the booking. You’ll have to redeem a minimum of 5,000 points and you only get .7 cents in value per point. This is not good value for your points and so I would only use it as an absolute last resort.
Elite status
Many people wonder if you can still receive elite benefits when booking through the Amex Hotel Collection.
Unfortunately, I was not able to find a clear-cut answer but there are a few things to note.
Elite status benefits
When it comes to receiving your elite status benefits tied to your specific level of elite status such as a free breakfast, there’s always a possibility you can receive them when booking through an online travel agency.
A lot of times it depends on the brand but I have booked stays in the last two years and received my elite status benefits with major hotel programs including Marriott, Hyatt, and Hilton.
I received these benefits at both cheaper properties and even top luxury brands like the St. Regis. (I’ve even received the benefits on prepaid stays.)
I usually call up the hotel a few hours after booking and ensure that my elite status number is attached to my reservation. Sometimes the hotel automatically adds it and other times I have to get them to add it.
Also, at check-in I usually inquire about potential upgrades based on my elite status.
I’ll ask something like, “So does my Platinum status get me an upgrade on this stay?” If they say yes, then that’s generally an indication that I’ll receive all of my elite status benefits like free breakfast, lounge access, etc.
Elite status credits
Receiving credit towards elite status for your stay is a much different matter. It’s extremely rare in my experience to receive credits for status for your stay when booking through an online travel agency.
Your best odds probably occur when you avoid prepaid bookings. But even then I would not say it is guaranteed at all.
That program will offer you the following benefits:
Noon check-in, when available
Guaranteed 4pm late check-out
Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
Daily breakfast for two people
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Special amenity unique to each property
So FHR offers a much more complete set of hotel perks. Also, many people report receiving elite credits when staying at an FHR property which is another key difference.
Of course, the other big difference is that you must have a Platinum Card in order to access the FHR program. But if you are looking to receive an “elite-like” experience during your hotel stay, the FHR is definitely the way to go.
The big question that people usually ask is whether or not the Amex Hotel Collection is cheaper than booking directly with the hotel.
Well, we were highly curious about this question and so we researched 15 different properties and found the exact same room types with the same (or very similar) type of cancellation policy.
And what we found was that the prices on Amex Hotel Collection were usually 10% more expensive per night. The average increase in price was about $25 per night.
That is no surprise considering that you receive additional benefits when you book through the Amex Hotel Collection.
When you factor in those perks like the $100 hotel credit and potentially room upgrades then all of a sudden the value proposition is a little bit different.
In that circumstance, paying something like $25 more to receive a $100 credit can make sense if you already had plans on spending what that credit can cover such as a meal at the hotel.
Of course, you also have to factor in the elite benefits you might be losing by booking through Amex Hotel Collection.
If the prices were the same between booking directly with the hotel and the Amex Hotel Collection, it’s possible that you could still get more value by booking directly with the hotel when you factor in benefits like free breakfast, points earned, and elite credits. This is especially true on longer stays.
If you are curious about the data points that we found, I’ve included all of the research below so you can check it out yourself.
Hotel
Hotel Collection
Direct
% Difference
Grand Bohemian Hotel Charleston, Autograph Collection
$443
$384
15.36%
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa At Gainey Ranch
$299
$291
2.75%
C. Baldwin, Curio Collection by Hilton
$199
$191
4.19%
Andaz Savannah
$234
$213
9.86%
Conrad Chicago
$339
$325
4.31%
InterContinental New York Times Square
$299
$278
7.55%
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort And Spa
$269
$243
10.70%
The Charter Hotel Seattle, Curio Collection by Hilton
$259
$248
4.44%
InterContinental San Diego
$279
$259
7.72%
W Fort Lauderdale
$319
$303
5.28%
Renaissance Paris Vendome Hotel
$550
$489
12.47%
InterContinental London Park Lane
$495
$478
3.56%
Hilton Tokyo
$257
$219
17.35%
InterContinental Sydney Double Bay
$302
$208
45.19%
Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht
$551
$593
-7.08%
9.58%
Hotel Collection FAQ
Can I get elite status benefits when booking through the Hotel collection?
It may be possible to receive your elite status benefits as long as you add your elite status number to your reservation. However, receiving elite credits is probably much more unlikely.
What are the Amex Hotel Collection benefits?
$100 property credit Room upgrade at check-in if available Gold Card members receive 2X (on prepaid stays) Platinum Card members receive 5X (on prepaid stays) Ability to pay with points
Are the Amex Hotel Collection properties expensive?
The Hotel Collection contains many luxury properties, which means that these will typically be more expensive properties. Prices will generally be $300 per night or more, although you may find some for around $200 per night.
Is the Amex Hotel Collection more expensive than booking directly with the hotel?
Yes, based on our research looking at various hotels we found that the Amex Hotel Collection is approximately 10% more expensive on average.
What cards are eligible for the Amex Hotel Collection?
Amex Business Gold Card Amex Gold Card Business Platinum Card Centurion Card Platinum Card
Can I earn 5X when booking through the Amex Hotel Collection?
Yes, if you book a prepaid stay with the Platinum Card you will earn 5X.
Do you get free breakfast with the Amex Hotel Collection?
Unfortunately, no free breakfast is not a benefit.
Final word
As you can see, this can be a great way to receive some perks on a stay of at least two nights — perfect for a weekend getaway.
You just need to be careful about the difference in price which sometimes can be quite high and always remember to do a value analysis on the perks you may or may not be receiving.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
31 American Express Platinum Benefits to Maximize (Video) [2020]
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The Amex Platinum is a shiny (and heavy) metal card with a sleek design that’s a definite attention-grabber. But does it actually have a lot to offer in the benefits department? The answer is a firm “yes.”
The Platinum Card is all about the benefits and this article will walk you through all of the American Express Platinum benefits, so you’ll know exactly how much value these perks can bring you.
1. Strong welcome bonus
The Platinum Card comes with a welcome bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $5,000 within the first 6 months.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
2. Transfer partners
The Platinum Card’s points, known as Membership Rewards, can be transferred out to a long list of airline and hotel partners. Here’s a list of all of the Amex travel partners.
If you are interested in traveling the world in style by flying business class and first class, I think that American Express has the best partners for that — you just need to do a little bit of research to figure out how to best use them.
Membership Rewards can be used on Emirates for first class flights.
3. 5X on airfare
For the longest time, the Amex Platinum didn’t offer any bonus categories. But eventually Amex rolled out with two bonus categories: airfare and hotels (through the Amex portal).
The Platinum Card earns 5X on airfare purchased directly with airlines. This allows you to rack up Membership Rewards in a hurry if you are a frequent flyer. And these points are in addition to the miles that you’ll earn on your flight via the airline.
Using the same valuation of 1.75 cents per point, 5X comes out to 8.75%!
The issue with that is the hotels must be pre-paid and you might lose out on receiving your elite status perks by booking through an OTA. Still, some hotels will still honor elite status and earning 5X on those purchases can be worth it in some instances. Personally, though, I would rather just book directly with the hotel.
I received Marriott Platinum perks at the St. Pancras in London even though I booked through an OTA (online travel agency like the Amex portal).
5. Amex Centurion Lounges
One of the greatest American Express Platinum benefits is its vast lounge network. In fact, I would argue that this is the core benefit of the Platinum card. There are different types of lounges that you will get access to but the most notable lounges are probably the Centurion Lounges.
The Platinum Card provides you (and up to two guests) with Amex Centurion Lounge access, which are some of the nicest lounges in the US. You can relax with specialty cocktails and enjoy hot food, shower facilities, and free wifi.
Some Centurion Lounges even have a spa!
These lounges aren’t quite as good as some of the premier business class and first class lounges you will find at US airports but they are a large step up from domestic carrier lounges for airlines like United and American Airlines.
Here are the locations where you can find these Centurion lounges:
Location: After clearing TSA in TBIT, walk towards the bridge to the Great Hall. Once there, immediately turn left and enter the elevator lobby. Take elevator from level four to level two where the lounge is straight ahead.
Location: Terminal 1; take the escalator just before Gate 60
Hours: 5:30am – 12:30am
You’ll also find International Centurion Lounges across the globe.
These don’t always offer the same level of amenities and complimentary services and they also can be much smaller than standard Centurion Lounges. I recently visited the Centurion Lounge in Sydney, Australia and was not very impressed to tell you the truth.
Here are locations where you will find them:
Buenos Aires (EZE)
Delhi (DEL)
Mexico City (MEX), Monterrey (MTY), Toluca (TLC)
Mumbai (BOM)
São Paulo (GRU)
Sydney (SYD)
6. Priority Pass lounges
The Platinum Card also provides you and up to two guests with Priority Pass Select access, which will get you into over 1,000 lounges all around the globe.
These lounges vary greatly in terms of quality and features but some can be very nice and be an absolute life-saver between long flights. If you have ever got off a long haul flight and had to endure a few hours for a layover, you know how valuable an airport lounge can be in that scenario.
I do have to say, many of the Priority Pass lounges within the US tend to be a bit unremarkable.
Don’t get me wrong — I still enjoy spending time in those lounges versus spending time outside in the gates but they often are smaller lounges and don’t always offer the greatest amenities.
But when traveling internationally, I have come across much for quality lounges. These lounges have been more spacious, offered more varieties of food and drink, and have just been more interesting lounges to check out.
The big thing to note about Priority Pass access with the Platinum card is that you don’t get access to the Priority Pass restaurants. Many Priority Pass memberships for other cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve will allow you to receive a credit for something like $26 per person when eating at a restaurant in the Priority Pass network. But that is no longer the case with the Platinum card.
7. Delta Sky Clubs
Whenever you fly Delta, the Platinum Card will get you into Delta Sky Clubs. Delta Sky Clubs are pretty solid lounges compared to many other domestic lounges. Unfortunately, guests are not complimentary and you’ll have to shell out $29 for each guest to come in to the lounge with you (but authorized users would be able to get in).
8. Additional Lounges
The Platinum Card also offers lounge access to other different type of lounges which also include:
Virgin Australia lounge access when flying Virgin Australia
Centurion Suite at the Staples Center (open for sporting events — no complimentary food or drinks)
Universal Studios lounges (Orlando and Hollywood)
9. $200 airline credit
The Amex Platinum offers you an annual $200 airline credit which you receive on a calendar basis. You can utilize this travel credit on the following types of purchases:
In-flight entertainment fees (excluding wireless internet because it’s not charged by the airline)
Airport lounge day passes & annual memberships
The following items are explicitly excluded:
Airline tickets
Mileage points purchases or mileage points transfer fees
Gift cards
Upgrades
Duty–free purchases
Award tickets
I’ve used the credit for change fees and for airport lounge passes before and felt like it was worth it for the most part. Sometimes you can get around the exclusions above but American Express enforces their terms more strictly now so I would not count on it.
The catch here is that you can only use it on qualifying airlines. Qualifying airlines include:
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Delta Airlines
Frontier Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
JetBlue Airways
Spirit Airlines
Southwest Airlines
United Airlines
This credit is important because the annual fee is so high for this card at $695. But if you are able to utilize all of your credits like this one then you could knock down that annual fee way down. You can read more about this credit here.
10. $200 Uber credit
The Amex Platinum also provides you a $200 Uber credit.
Each month you’re given $15 but that amount expires at the end of the month (for December you get $35).The best part is that you can use the Uber credit for Uber Eats!
This really is a fantastic credit for people who already use the rideshare service and the food delivery service from Uber. But if you don’t currently use those then you really need to consider the additional fees that go into your orders.
For example, when you use Uber eats you will have to pay a delivery fee, service fee, tip, etc. So for some people they may value this $200 credit at something more like $170 but it all just depends on the user.
Together the airline and Uber credits cut down the annual fee to only $150. Amex Platinum and Centurion cardholders also automatically get Uber VIP when they add their card into the Uber app.
Use the $200 credit towards lounge memberships like this United Club at Houston (IAH).
The way it works is that you’ll get $50 from January to June and another $50 in the second half of the year so you don’t get it all at once. There are a number of smaller purchases you can make at Saks to make this credit worth using.
Things like champagne flutes, passport holders, and tons of other random things can be purchased. In the past, I have purchased things like face lotion and a Ralph Lauren Polo hat. (If you don’t see anything you personally like this credit can be great for purchasing gifts for other people.)
While gift cards are subject to exclusion, some have had success purchasing those and re-selling them for a cash agin.
12. Hilton Honors Gold
Hilton Honors Gold elite status will get you free breakfast, upgrades, late check-out, and sometimes even lounge access. It’s one of the best mid-tier statuses to have and could bring you real value in terms of money saved.
Depending on how often you stay at Hilton properties, this benefit could save you hundreds of dollars by itself by offering you things like the complementary breakfast and late checkout.
With the Platinum Card, you’ll also get Marriott Gold elite status. Unfortunately, after the Marriott/SPG merger, gold status is no longer worth what it once was because it no longer comes with perks like a free breakfast. I personally don’t care too much for this perk.
Get special perks at Hilton hotels like the Conrad Maldives.
The Avis Preferred and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards aren’t true elite statuses since pretty much anybody can sign-up for them. However, they do get you some perks like upgrades and skip the line privileges.
However, the Emerald Club Executive for National Car Rental is a true elite status with perks like being able to choose any car (full size and above) in the “Executive Area” and only pay the Midsize rate, get faster Free Rental Days (6 qualified car rentals = 1 Free Rental Day), and always get guaranteed a free upgrade when you reserve using the Midsize rate.
Get rental car upgrades with the Platinum Card.
Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!
This is an exclusive program where you can receive special perks like upgrades, free breakfast, $100 credit, wifi, and late check-out. Basically what it does is give you elite status perks when you book through the portal.
It’s also possible to still earn your points for your preferred hotel loyalty program. And the Platinum Card even earns 5X on Fine Hotels and Resorts. The fact that you can earn 5X and also receive elite benefits when booking through this portal is huge to me.
The rates are usually among the best rates for the hotels and they’ve got a full roster of popular five-star luxury hotels like the Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Conrad, Four Seasons, etc. So if you like to stay in luxury hotels this perk has the potential to offer you tons of value at locations all around the world.
The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, a member of the Fine Hotels & Resorts.
17. American Express Concierge
The Amex concierge service is one of the lesser discussed American Express Platinum benefits but it can help you with just about anything. Typical requests are for hard to get dinner reservations, flowers and gift deliveries, and tickets to shows and events. But the concierge service can help you out with random requests as well so don’t be afraid to ask away!
The American Express Concierge number is 800.525.3355 (go with option 2).
18. International Airline Program
The International Airline Program is one of the best kept secrets of the Platinum Card. That’s because you’ll be able to save big time on certain types of flights, including: premium economy, business class, and first class flights.
The amount you are able to save varies but in some cases you could save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on these flights, easily offsetting the cost of the $695 annual fee.
Not every airline participates in the program.
Currently, here is the list of airlines that participate:
AeroMexico
Air China
Air France
Air New Zealand
Alitalia
Asiana Airlines
Austrian
British Airways
Brussels Airlines
Cathay Pacific
China Airlines
Delta
Emirates
Etihad Airways
Iberia
Japan Airlines
KLM
LATAM
Lufthansa
Qantas
Qatar
Singapore
South African Airways
Swiss
Virgin Atlantic
You’ll notice that notably absent are domestic carriers United and American.
19. Authorized users
One of the best perks of the Platinum Card is that you can add up to three authorized users for only $175. These authorized users get most of the perks like Centurion Lounge access and Priority Pass. They even get Global Entry credits. So $175 for all of the perks is worth it.
Amex Offers will get you discounts on all sorts of different purchases like department stores, restaurants, hotels, airfare, and everything else in between.
If you only utilize a handful of these a year you could still end up saving anywhere from $100 to $500+ on larger purchases.
21. Lost or damaged Luggage protection
Will pay a benefit for the Replacement Cost, up to $3,000, for each Covered Person on a Covered Trip for Loss of carry-on Baggage.
Will pay a benefit for the Replacement Cost, up to $2,000, for each Covered Person on a Covered Trip for Loss of checked Baggage
22. Trip interruption
The Platinum Card now comes with trip interruption protection up to $10,000 per trip ($20,000 per year). If a covered event were to prevent you from finishing your trip and you had to cut things short, you could get reimbursed for your nonrefundable purchases and also get reimbursed for the travel expenses to get back to where you need to go.
23. Trip cancellation
The Platinum Card also comes with the trip cancellation protection up to $10,000 per trip ($20,000 per year).
This is one of the most needed travel protections for everybody. Sometimes something unexpected comes up and you are not able to even begin your trip and you could be stuck with non-refundable expenses like airfare, hotels, and tours.
24. Secondary car rental coverage
If you use your Platinum Card to book a car rental you’ll be covered with secondary car rental coverage. This isn’t quite as good as the primary rental car coverage offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
One area where the Platinum disappoints is that it doesn’t offer things like baggage delay built into the protections of the Platinum Card. For the Platinum, you’d have to purchase travel insurance before your trip to get these benefits.
25. Purchase protections
The Platinum will cover your new purchases for 90 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. $10,000 is a high limit for purchase protection and the 90 day period is good but not quite as good as some cards that offer protection up to 120 days.
26. Extended Warranty Protection
The Platinum provides one additional year if the original manufacturer’s warranty is between one year and five years limited up to a maximum of USD $10,000 per occurrence
This warranty used to allow you to get coverage up to two additional years but now it is limited to only one additional year. Still, it is one of the most competitive extended warrantees because many credit cards only offer extended warranty protection on original warranties of three years or less.
27. Return Protection
You can be reimbursed for eligible items that the store won’t take back within 90 days of purchase, up to $300 per item, $1,000 per year.
28. Amex Platinum benefits for military members
Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, (SCRA), Amex offers several military member benefits like waiving the annual fee (even the $695 fee for the Platinum Card!). They also waive other fees like late payment fees. You can request your SCRA benefits with this link.
29. Amex Platinum Special Events
Membership Experiences (take advantage of presale tickets and special events)
By Invitation Only® (invites to high profile events like Cannes, celebrity chef events, etc.)
American Express® Preferred Seating (get better seats at games, concerts, shows, and other big events).
Get special seating at evens like Yankee games.
30. Misc American Express Platinum Card benefits
In addition to all of the American Express Platinum Card benefits above, there are tons of other special perks to be aware of.
Private Jet Program
Amex Auto Purchasing Program
Departures Magazine
InCircle®
Year-End Summary
Cruise Privileges Program
ShopRunner (get free two day shipping and free returns)
To enjoy all of these premium benefits you’re going to need a good solid score and good income. Luckily, there are no strict cut-offs for eligibility but you can read more about the requirements here.
Amex Platinum Benefits FAQ
What bonus points does the Platinum Card earn?
The Platinum Card earns 5X on airfare and 5X on hotels through amextravel.com.
What are the main Amex Platinum Card benefits?
Strong welcome bonus 5X on airfare 5X on hotels through amextravel.com Lounge access Hotel elite status $200 airline credit $200 Uber credit $100 Saks credit Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check $100 credit Car rental benefits American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) International Airline Program American Express Concierge Travel protections Purchase protections
What lounge access do you get with the Platinum Card?
Amex Centurion Lounges – For you and up to two guests Priority Pass lounges – For you and up to two guests Delta Sky Clubs – For you when you fly with Delta
What airlines can I use the airline credit on?
Alaska Airlines American Airlines Delta Airlines Frontier Airlines Hawaiian Airlines JetBlue Airways Spirit Airlines Southwest Airlines United Airlines
How much is the Uber credit?
You will receive $15 every month in Uber credits. For the month of December, you will receive a $35 credit.
What hotel elite status do I get?
You will receive automatic Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Gold elite status.
What rental car companies do I receive benefits with?
Yes, you will have access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) — an exclusive program where you can receive special perks like upgrades, free breakfast, $100 credit, wifi, and late check-out.
What is the Platinum Card concierge number?
The American Express Concierge number is 800.525.3355 (go with option 2).
If your trip is interrupted by a covered event you can get coverage up to $10,000 per trip.
How much is the trip cancellation benefit?
If your trip is cancelled by a covered event you can get coverage up to $10,000 per trip.
How much is the Platinum Card purchase protection?
The Platinum will cover your new purchases for 90 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim.
How much is the Platinum Card extended warranty benefit?
The Platinum Card provides one additional year if the original manufacturer’s warranty is between one year and five years.
Is the Platinum Card metal?
Yes, the Platinum Card is metal and one of the heavier cards on the market.
Do military members get Platinum Card special benefits?
Yes, military members get benefits such as a waived annual fee.
Final word
As you can see, there are a ton of American Express Platinum benefits that can be at your disposal. If you only take advantage of a hand full of these benefits you can easily recoup enough value to more than cancel out your annual fee. And many of these can make your life much easier, especially if you do any kind of traveling. I highly suggest to closely look at all of these perks and consider how much value they could bring you in your everyday life.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
American Express Platinum Hilton Perks Explained [2021]
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The American Express Platinum Card comes with a number of solid benefits, including lounge access, 5X on airfare, $400 worth of travel related credits, and a whole lot more. But one of the these special perks is Hilton Honors Gold status. This article is going to look at the value in this American Express Platinum Hilton perk and other related Hilton benefits.
What are the American Express Platinum Hilton Perks?
The American Express Platinum Card (full review) offers you complimentary Hilton Gold status. (This is in addition to Marriott Gold status).
Note that you must enroll in in this benefit so that your Hilton account will be linked.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
There are also some hotel-brand specific benefits. For example, at some properties you might be able to choose between a snack or drink coupon and a small amount of points.
The Hilton Auckland.
80% bonus on points earned
For every dollar you spend on eligible rates and purchases at Hilton properties, you’ll earn 80% bonus points on the base rate. This means that you’ll earn 18 points per dollar spent at Hilton properties. With a valuation of .4 cents per point, that comes out to around a 7% return which is just okay compared to other hotel programs.
However, Hilton runs many promos so you can often bump this earning rate up for more competitive earnings.
Breakfast
To me the top American Express Platinum Hilton benefit if the free breakfast perk.
For many travelers, getting a free breakfast is what they mostly care about because it saves them money that they would normally spend during their stay. Depending on your spending habits, this could save a couple an easy $20 to $40 per hotel night.
I put $100+ worth of annual value on this perk alone based on our Hilton stays and it makes the Platinum Card much more attractive to me because of that.
Upgrades
Getting upgraded is nice but it’s not as much of a money saver as the free breakfast. Sometimes, I’ll look back on a stay and be surprised that my elite status provided me with an extra $100 or more in value since I was bumped to a better room.
But in most of those cases, I didn’t actually “save” any money since I had no intention of booking that better room in the first place. So while I enjoy upgrade possibilities, I don’t put a tremendous amount of “money saved” value on this perk.
Wifi
The complimentary wifi is another money-saver but you’ve just to remember that it’s not unique to Gold members. It can easily save you close to $10 to $15 per day but given how easy it is to obtain complimentary wifi at Hilton properties, this isn’t exclusive to the American Express Platinum Hilton perks.
Possible lounge access
Gold members are allowed into the executive lounge when they “receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor or an upgrade to a room type that confers Executive Floor Lounge access benefits.” However, I’ve been allowed into lounges even without an executive floor upgrade so YMMV.
Because this benefit is not guaranteed it’s difficult to put a set value on it but I know that there have been occasions where I’ve been able to skip a lunch or dinner just by hitting up the lounge. So there is some real value that can be had with this perk. If you want to read what it’s like in one of these lounges check out my review article here of a recent Executive Lounge.
The Hilton Americas Executive Lounge.
Late check out
Late check out can be offered but it’s not as strong of a perk as other programs, such as Marriott which allow you late check out until 4pm. With Hilton, you’re probably going to be able to hang around until around 12pm or 1pm.
5th night free
Silver members receive the 5th night free perk so this isn’t unique to Gold members. But still, if you can utilize the fifth night free perk on awards stays, you can greatly increase the value of your points and Hilton Honors becomes a much more valuable rewards program.
Amex Offers
Your Platinum Card will get you access to Amex Offers which often contain special promotions for Hilton properties where you can save money. Sometimes it’s only $10 but other times they will be more lucrative. For example, you might seen an offer where you can save $75 when spending $300.
If you regularly stay at Hilton properties, you can expect these to save you some money each year. But if you really want to find Hilton discounts, try out the Hilton MVP program which you can read about here.
Hilton Diamond
A lot of people don’t realize that once you hit Hilton Gold you might be able to do a status challenge to obtain Hilton Diamond status. The requirements for these challenges change all of the time but sometimes it can be ridiculously easy and inexpensive to achieve Hilton Diamond status at times.
It’s worth noting that the new Hilton Aspire card now offers automatic Diamond status so that’s a much easier route to hit top tier with Hilton. You can read more about the Hilton Aspire card here.
Transfer Amex points to Hilton
Note that Amex recently improved the transfer ratio from Amex Membership Rewards to Hilton which is now 2 Hilton points for every 1 Membership Rewards point transferred.
While this was a welcomed improvement, this will generally not be a good use of points because in most cases you’ll be losing value unless you’re staying at a very high end property.
Amex Platinum Hilton Perks FAQ
What Hilton elite status do you get with the Platinum?
You get automatic Hilton gold status.
What are the Hilton Honors Gold benefits?
80% bonus on points earned Free breakfast Possible upgrades Complimentary wifi Possible lounge access Late check out 5th night free on award bookings
Can you get a free breakfast at Hilton properties?
Yes, once you have activated your Gold status you will be entitled to receive a free breakfast at Hilton properties.
Can you get upgrades at Hilton properties?
Yes, you will be entitled to upgrades and may even get an upgrade to an executive floor room at times.
How can I get Hilton Diamond status?
The Platinum Card gets you Gold status but you can get automatic Diamond status by getting approved for the Hilton Aspire.
Do I have to activate my Hilton elite status?
Yes, you must enroll in the benefit with your Platinum Card.
What is the transfer ratio for transferring points from American Express Membership Rewards to Hilton Honors?
The transfer ratio is 2 Hilton points for every 1 Membership Rewards point transferred.
Final word
Overall, the American Express Platinum Hilton perks are solid because they can bring most travelers value on a regular basis with free breakfasts. They can also enhance your experience by providing you with upgrades, lounge access, late check-out, and free wifi. But Gold status can also set you up to earn top tier status with Hilton which comes with even more special perks like better upgrades.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
Amex Platinum Authorized User Benefits Guide [2020]
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The Platinum Card from American Express is one of the most valuable credit cards available on the market. It’s rich in benefits, such as lounge access, travel credits, hotel elite status, and more.
One of the biggest perks of the Platinum Card is that you can add authorized users for a reasonable fee and they receive almost all of the same perks as the primary cardmember.
So here’s a breakdown of the Amex Platinum authorized user benefits. If you want to check out the full review of the Platinum Card click here.
Amex Platinum authorized user fees
You can add up to three authorized users for $175. Starting with your fourth authorized user, each one will cost $175.
You can also add up to 99 Gold Card authorized users at no additional cost (more on that below).
Paying $175 for up to three authorized users is a phenomenal deal. If you were to split that cost between a trio, that’s only ~$58 per person. So keep that cost in mind when learning about the benefits below.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
What are the Amex Platinum authorized user benefits?
Amex Platinum authorized user benefits include:
5X on airfare and hotels booked through Amex Travel
Airport lounge access with multiple programs
Hotel elite status with Hilton and Marriott
$100 statement credit for Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check
Fine Hotels and Resorts
International Airline Program
Amex Offers
Concierge service
5X on airfare and hotels
As an authorized user, you’ll be able to earn 5X on airfare purchased directly with airlines and also 5X on hotels booked through Amex Travel.
Priority Pass airport lounge access for up to two guests (worth $400 per year)
Delta Sky Club lounge access (when you fly with them)
Additional lounges in the network
The Platinum Card easily has the best lounge access out of any of the top travel credit cards on the market. Here’s what you’ll get:
Centurion Lounges
Centurion Lounges are airport lounges created by American Express and they are a step above most domestic airline lounges. Compared to a domestic airline lounge, they will typically offer better food and drinks, better service, and more equipped facilities (nap rooms, spas, etc.).
More and more Centurion Lounges are popping up around the world so it’s getting easier to visit them. You can find the latest list of locations here.
Priority Pass
Priority Pass is a huge airport lounge network with over 1,200 airport lounges located around the globe.
Not every Priority Pass lounge is going to be spectacular but there are some lounges that can be pretty nice with complimentary hot food, alcohol, showers and comfy places to relax in.
The one drawback of Priority Pass access with the Platinum Card is that you don’t get credits for use at Priority Pass restaurants located within airports.
Delta Sky Club
Whenever you are flying Delta, you’ll be able to enjoy access to Delta Sky Clubs. You won’t be able to bring in guests for free but you can bring them along on a discounted rate of $29.
Additional lounges in the network
Your Platinum Card can also get you into a number of other lounges including:
You will likely have to call the number on the back of your card to enroll in these benefits since only the primary card member can activate the perks online.
Also, you can get Hilton Gold status automatically with one of the top hotel credit cards: the Hilton Surpass. That card will also offer a free night when you spend $15,000 in a year and it will earn 12X on all Hilton purchases.
Enjoy free breakfast and upgrades at Hilton properties as an authorized user.
$100 statement credit for Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check
Authorized users will be able to use the $100 statement credit for Global Entry or $85 credit for TSA Pre-Check.
Global Entry will help you get expedited entry back into the US. Meanwhile, TSA Pre-Check will let you bypass the main airport screening line while not having to take out items like:
Some premium cards don’t offer these credits to authorized users so this is a nice benefit.
Another thing that’s great about the Platinum Card is that you can use your Global Entry credit for other people.
So if you had a friend or family member that needed Global Entry, you could use your card and allow them to get it for free while you get reimbursed for the fee.
Just note that you can’t do this for TSA Pre-Check because you have to pay in person for that and they usually require the credit card to match the name of the applicant.
Fine Hotels and Resorts
Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) is a network of luxury properties located around the globe that offer elite-like benefits which include perks like:
Noon check-in, when available
Guaranteed 4pm late check-out
Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
Daily breakfast for two people
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Special amenity unique to each property
What’s fantastic about this program is that whenever you book with your Platinum Card you can still earn elite credits and receive elite status benefits, such as upgrades.
It would not be unheard of to receive hotel benefits worth over $200 on a short stay of three nights so this perk could easily more than make up for the $175 in fees.
And on top of that you can even earn 5X Membership Rewards on your bookings. So when you can find the right property through the Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) it really is the ultimate hotel booking route.
International Airline Program
The Amex International Airline Program is a special program available to Platinum Cardholders that allows you to receive special discounts on up to eight first class, business class, and premium economy fares when booking through Amex.
Out of any benefit that the Platinum offers, this one has the most potential to give you the most outsized value with just one use. There are some data points of people saving thousands of dollars on business class flights when using this perk only once.
The savings won’t always be that big but it’s a good idea to always check to see how much you might be able to save.
Amex Offers
As an authorized user, you’ll be able to take advantage of Amex Offers, which are special promotions that can save you money with all kinds of different merchants.
Everything from airfare, hotels, to Best Buy and Amazon show up on these offers.
You’ll need to create your own log-in account (separate from the primary cardholder) so that you can see them when you log-in, however. Otherwise, you’ll have no way to access these offers.
You might consider this one of the least valuable Amex Platinum authorized user benefits, but don’t underestimate the amount of money that this perk will save you.
If you consistently monitor these offers, you could end up saving yourself a few hundred bucks a year, depending on your spending habits.
Concierge service
The Amex Platinum concierge can help you find tickets to special events and get reservations at nice restaurants including those in the dining program.
There are some perks that authorized users will not get.
Welcome bonus
Authorized users will not be able to receive a welcome bonus for being added as an additional card member.
The standard offer for the Platinum Card is 60,000 Membership Rewards after you spend $5,000 in the first three months but you can only get this if you are signing up as a new card member.
$200 airline credit
Something to keep in mind about Platinum Card authorized users is that they don’t get their “own” $200 airline credit.
What I mean by that is that each Platinum Card account and all of the authorized user accounts tied to it, only receives one pool of airline credits that must be split among all of the authorized users.
So for example, if you have one primary Platinum Card member and three authorized users, then those four people essentially split a pool of $200 worth of airline credit.
Each authorized user can use the statement credits but that will prevent the other cards from using them if that authorized user uses them all up. Both Platinum Card and Gold Card authorized users can use this benefit.
$100 Saks credit
The same logic applies to the Saks credit. The authorized user will not get his or her own credit but they can use the credit from the main cardholder.
Uber credit
The $200 Uber credit is different. It is only effective for the primary cardholder and not available for authorized users.
So if an authorized user adds a Platinum Card to their Uber account, they will not be able to use any of the $200 credit because it’s not one of the Platinum Card authorized user benefits.
You can however, add the primary cardholder to an Uber account in someone else’s name and use the credit.
You just have to make sure that the primary cardholder deleted the Platinum Card from the first Uber account so that it will become effective for the second account.
Gold Cards
The Gold Cards only receive a fraction of the Platinum Card perks.
You can earn 5X on airfare and hotels purchased through the Amex travel portal. You can also take advantage of the $100 Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check credit.
So basically the Gold Cards are useful in helping you earn more Membership Rewards through bonus spend and by allowing you to cash in on the Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check credit. Aside from that, there’s not a lot of value there.
How to add an authorized user to the Platinum Card
To add an authorized user to your Platinum Card, follow these steps:
Log-in to your American Express account and then click on Account Services
Click on “Manage Other Users”
Click on “Add Someone to Your Account”
Select your Platinum Card
Input the personal details of the authorized user such as the name, date of birth, and Social Security number
Select whether you are adding an additional Platinum Card authorized user or a Gold Card authorized user
Click “Agree and Submit”
Amex Platinum authorized user FAQ
What are the Amex Platinum authorized user benefits?
Amex Platinum authorized user benefits include:
5X on airfare and hotels through Amex Travel Airport lounge access with multiple programs Hotel elite status with Hilton and Marriott $100 statement credit for Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check Fine Hotels and Resorts International Airline Program Amex Offers Concierge service
Can I set a spending limit on an authorized user?
Yes, you can set a spending limit for your authorized users if you wish to keep their spending in check. Click here to find out how to do that.
Can authorized users get welcome bonuses?
No, authorized users do not receive welcome bonuses when getting added to a primary cardmember’s account.
Can authorized users get lounge access?
Yes, authorized users will get the full lounge access memberships, which includes:
Centurion Lounge access for up two guests Priority Pass airport lounge access for up to two guests Delta Sky Club lounge access (when you fly with them) Additional lounges in the network
What are the Amex Platinum authorized user fees?
You can add up to 3 authorized users for $175. Starting with your fourth authorized user, each additional authorized user will cost $175.
Do Amex authorized user accounts report to personal credit reports?
Yes, your authorized user accounts will show up on your personal credit report, although it may take a couple of months.
Do Gold Card authorized users earn 4X on groceries and dining?
No, Gold Card authorized users on the Platinum Card do not earn the same as the Amex Gold Card that earns 4X on groceries and dining.
Are the Amex Platinum authorized user cards metal?
Yes, not only are they metal but they are one of the heaviest metal credit cards out there.
Final word
Adding three Platinum Card authorized users for $175 is a sweet spot among premium cards because of all of the benefits offered by this card. Even if you only travel a couple of times a year, if you’re only paying around $60 for all of these perks, then Platinum Card authorized user benefits can be well worth your money.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
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The Platinum Card from American Express is the best credit card for lounge access, at least in my opinion. Many people only think about Centurion Lounge access or maybe Priority Pass and Delta Sky Club access when it comes to lounge access offered by the Platinum Card.
But there are actually many more different types of lounges you can access within the Global Lounge Collection.
In this article, I’ll cover all of these different types of lounges and walk you through what you can expect at these lounges in terms of quality and guest policies.
Be sure to check out the YouTube video at the end as well!
What lounge access do you get with the Amex Platinum?
The Platinum Card is the best card for airport lounge access because it offers such a variety of different lounges to visit. It not only offers quantity but quality.
You’ll be able to visit all of the following lounges (subject to certain terms).
Centurion Lounges
International American Express Lounges
Priority Pass Select Lounges
Delta Sky Clubs
Airspace Lounges
Escape Lounges
Plaza Premium Lounges
Lufthansa Lounges
“Hidden” lounge benefits
There are a lot of other premium cards that offer airport lounge access but most of them only offer Priority Pass Select.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve only offers Priority Pass Select. Since the Platinum Card goes above and beyond Priority Pass Select, it is clearly the best card for lounge access in my opinion and it’s really not even close.
However, there are a couple of instances where you might benefit more with one of the other cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and I will talk about those below.
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Centurion Lounge access
Amex Centurion Lounges are among the nicest lounges in the US. Why exactly do they stand out? To me it is for a few specific reasons.
Nice selection of hot food items
Generally speaking, I can find a pretty nice selection of hot food items when visiting a Centurion Lounge. Many airport lounges only offer light snacks or cold food items on a complementary basis, so getting quality hot food items is a major plus.
If you are trying to get breakfast at a normal lounge you might only get offered some basic cereal, fruits, and yogurt. But if you are visiting a Centurion Lounge you might get something like hot eggs, poached eggs, sausage, etc. — they will just offer you a much more robust spread (for free).
High quality drinks and cocktails
Many lounges will offer you complementary drinks, including alcohol. If you want more premium drinks or special cocktails, sometimes you have to pay extra. At Centurion Lounges you can choose from a selection of high-quality cocktails and get them all for free. You can also get these served to you while you relax in your seat.
Nice modern designs
I also just really like the vibe inside of Centurion Lounges. They are usually designed very well and look pretty swanky. They also have a distinct scent that I really love. In short, they just feel like nicer lounges than most other lounges I find in the US and they feel like a more relaxing place to unwind in.
Variety of seating
In some airport lounges, you may only find two or three different types of seating options throughout the entire lounge. At Centurion Lounges you will find several different types of seating that offer different comfort levels depending on what you are looking for. For example, you might be able to find a chaise lounge chair where you can relax and take a nap or find seats that offer more of a cubby experience so that you can get more privacy.
Showers and other facilities
Many have showers and some of the lounges, like at MIA and DFW, offer enhanced amenities such as spa facilities.
Location: After clearing security in TBIT, you will see American Express The Centurion Lounge blue branding to the immediate first left, prior to the bridge to the Great Hall. Take the American Express branded elevator from Level 4 to Level 2 for direct entry to the Lounge.
Location: Terminal 3, Area A, Post-Security, Level 2.
Hours: 5:30am to 9pm
There are now more and more Centurion Lounges popping up all over the place. So chances are if you frequent a major airport and they don’t have a Centurion Lounge yet at some point in the next few years they might be getting one.
Also, sometimes you can find an American Express pop-up lounge. We’ve seen these in places like London, Tokyo, New York, LA, etc. So be on the lookout for those as well because sometimes they seem to act as a predictor of where the next lounge will be built!
Amex Centurion lounge at IAH.
How to get access
You must bring your Platinum Card with you to gain access to the Centurion Lounge (along with your same-day boarding pass). If you happen to forget your Platinum Card, some agents will be okay with verifying your ID and still allowing you in but that’s not guaranteed so don’t rely on it.
You are allowed to bring in two guests, regardless of familial status. You used to be able to bring in unlimited immediate family members but, to the dismay of many, American Express changed that policy to only allow two complimentary guests total. If you want to bring in an additional guest, it will cost you a pretty penny at $50 per person.
There are also new limitations where you may be denied entrance into the lounge If you are trying to enter the lounge more than three hours prior to your departure. American Express states:
We will not admit Platinum Card Members more than 3 hours before the departure time on the Platinum Card Member’s same-day, confirmed boarding pass.
This rule does not apply when you have a connecting flight. Also, another exception to this rule would be when your flight has been delayed as I was recently allowed entrance into the lounge a good four hours prior to my newly scheduled departure time.
No arrival access
Centurion Lounges are designed to be departure lounges and not arrival lounges and American Express will not admit Platinum cardholders to the lounge when they arrive. American Express specifically states:
We will not admit arriving PlatinumCard Members with boarding passes for flights that have just landed.
The drawback to Centurion Lounges
Although I love Centurion Lounges, there is one major drawback to them.
They can get very crowded, especially during peak business traveler times. This can make finding a place to rest and enjoy a meal or drink virtually impossible. Sometimes these crowds are so bad you don’t even want to step foot inside the lounge. However, in early mornings, early afternoons, and evenings, I find the crowds to be much more manageable.
Las Vegas Centurion Lounge.
Overall, I think that if you frequent or even semi-frequent an airport with a Centurion Lounge, the experience can make worth holding on to the Platinum Card, considering all of the other benefits too.
You’ll also find International American Express lounges across the globe.
Buenos Aires (EZE)
São Paulo (GRU)
Mexico City (MEX)
Monterrey (MTY)
Toluca (TLC)
Delhi (DEL)
Mumbai (BOM)
Sydney (SYD)
Melbourne (MEL)
Stockholm (ARN)
The quality and amenities offered by these lounges may vary.
For example, some are smaller than US Centurion Lounges and may require you to pay for certain food or drink items, but they generally appear to be of decent quality and thus often worth a visit, assuming you don’t have access to a superior lounge.
I recently visited the Sydney “Centurion Lounge” on a layover and it was nice to have a lounge to access to freshen up for a flight and get a quick bite but the lounge got very packed, the food was pretty basic, and the shower situation was a bit odd.
So I wouldn’t look forward to visiting these lounges in the same way I would a “real” Centurion Lounge.
Sydney Centurion Lounge.
Priority Pass Select
The other major lounge benefit with the Platinum Card is that you get Priority Pass Select, which is a $400 a year pass that comes complimentary with the Platinum Card. This pass gets you access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide.
Are these lounges quality?
The quality of these lounges varies dramatically.
Generally, I’ve found that many of the Priority Pass lounges within the US are not very great and can also have crowding issues or access restrictions where you’re not even allowed in. The lounges in the US tend to be on the smaller side but sometimes I am surprised to see them offering hot food items of decent quality.
Internationally, however, some of these lounges can be fantastic. If you’re planning any kind of long trip around the globe, having access to these lounges can be invaluable. The vast majority of Priority Pass lounges are located abroad so you really do get more value out of this membership when you travel a lot internationally.
The Club at MCO, a Priority Pass lounge.
How to get access
One thing you must remember, is that you have to register for your Priority Pass either online or by calling in. Otherwise, you won’t receive a card and won’t be able to access these lounges.
The guest policy for the Platinum Card’s Priority Pass was also recently updated, so now you can bring in two guests for free (as opposed to before when you were only allowed one guest). This was actually a pretty significant change that helped to put the Platinum Card more on par with other premium cards.
You must have your Priority Pass card with you when you to gain entrance into the lounge. There’s also a Priority Pass app so you can show them your “e-card” but note that not all Priority Pass lounges are able to scan these so it’s best to keep your card on you.
Bidvest Premier Lounge in Cape Town, South Africa.
Priority Pass Restaurants
At many airports, there are restaurants that are part of the Priority Pass lounge network. This means that you can get a food credit often around $30 at these restaurants that you can enjoy. This can be an amazing perk whenever you are not flying out of a gate near a lounge or the lounges are super packed.
The problem is that the Priority Pass membership attached to the Platinum Card no longer provides you with access to the Priority Pass restaurants so you cannot get credit for the restaurants.
Priority Pass perks
Priority Pass can also get you access into other VIP-like perks. For example, when flying into MBJ in Jamaica, your Priority Pass gets you into the expedited line for security (as well as the VIP lounge, which is quite nice especially for Caribbean standards).
Delta Sky Clubs
The Platinum Card Can also get you access into Delta Delta Sky Clubs. Delta Sky Clubs are pretty solid lounges compared to other what other domestic carriers offer and you should be able to get free drinks and snacks.
To gain access to Delta Sky Clubs, you must be flying with Delta on that day. Unfortunately, guests are not complimentary and you’ll have to shell out $29 for each guest to come in to the lounge with you.
The good thing about the Platinum Card is once again, authorized users are given this perk, too, so if your travel partner has a Platinum Card they can get in for free, too.
If you are interested in getting a more thorough Delta Sky Club membership you can look at the following cards:
Delta Reserve Credit Card
2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases
Priority boarding
First checked bag free
20% off in-flight purchases
Annual fee $450 (not waived)
Annual 1-time first class, Comfort+ or main cabin companion certificate
Complimentary Delta Sky Club access
Annual miles and MQMs after spend requirement
Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card
2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases
Priority boarding
First checked bag free
20% off in-flight purchases
Annual fee $450 (not waived)
Annual 1-time first class, Comfort+ or main cabin companion certificate
Complimentary Delta Sky Club access
Annual miles and MQMs after spend requirement
JFK T4 Sky Club Sky Deck
Airspace lounges
The Platinum Card also offers access to Airspace lounges. There are currently only a couple these lounges and they are found in Cleveland and San Diego. The lounges offer basic snacks and drinks but as a Platinum cardmember, you’ll be given a $10 credit that you can use towards food and drinks, which should be enough to cover a light meal.
The cardmember’s spouse and children under the age of 21 or up to two companions may enter the club as complimentary guests.
Airspace lounge in San Diego. Image via San Diego International Airport.
Escape Lounges
As one of the recent upgrades to the Platinum Card, it now offers access to Escape Lounges, too. Escape Lounges can be found at:
Entry to some of these would cost your $40-45 to enter these lounges so these were nice additions to the Platinum’s lounge network. You can bring two guests with you to these lounges.
The BDL and MSP lounges were part of the Priority Pass network but MSP was recently dropped, so now you would gain access to that lounge by your Platinum Card instead of Priority Pass. These lounges are generally regarded as quality lounges, although you have to pay for certain premium items.
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Plaza Premium Lounges
Plaza Premium Lounges can often be accessed with Priority Pass so there’s a large overlap with lounge benefits here.
However, there are some lounges that are only accessible with the Platinum Card so you do get access to more venues. But in addition to that, sometimes access is restricted for Priority Pass members but not Platinum members and as a Platinum cardmember, you might be given more benefits (unlimited free drinks, etc.).
These lounges are largely found in Asia but you can find some in other locations like Europe and South America. You can search for locations here.
I have reviewed a Plaza Premium lounge before and felt like it was a pretty decent lounge on par with a typical Priority Pass lounge. They had a number of hot food items for breakfast, drink options, and the lounge was decent sized with some comfortable seating options.
Cardmembers may bring up to 1 companion into Plaza Premium Lounges as complimentary guests.
Plaza Premium Lounge at TPE.
Lufthansa Lounge access
With the Platinum Card you can also get special Lufthansa Lounge access.
As part of The American Express Global Lounge Collection, you can get access to select Lufthansa airport lounges in the satellite area of T2 in Munich Airport and in Terminal 1 Concourse B of Frankfurt Airport through 3/31/20.
Platinum Card Members may enjoy access to Lufthansa Business Lounges (regardless of ticket class) and Lufthansa Senator Lounges (when flying business class) in the Satellite area of T2 in Munich Airport, and T1 Concourse B in Frankfurt Airport.
To access the Lufthansa lounges, Platinum Card Member must present a government issued I.D., a same-day boarding pass showing confirmed reservation on a Lufthansa Group flight (Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian airlines) and a valid Platinum Card.
Lounge access is for Card Members departing from Munich and Frankfurt only.
Frankfurt Airport.
“Hidden” Amex lounge benefits
I’m always surprised how many cardholders aren’t even aware of the many hidden benefits of the Platinum Card. Beyond the lounge networks above, there are actually several other lounges where you can get access with your Platinum Card. Just keep in mind that these less-advertised perks may be subject to change since they are not highly publicized.
Access Suite Lounge at South Coast Plaza
The South Coast Plaza is a super high-end mall all outside LA known for its high concentration of designer stores. It is also home to a little VIP lounge known as the Access Suite.
The Access Suite Lounge at South Coast Plazas is located on the 2nd floor, just outside Saks Fifth Avenue. It is open from 11am to 7pm (Monday through Saturday) and from 11am to 6:30pm on Sunday. You should be able to enter with up to three guests. You can find a full review here.
You can get special access through a dedicated entrance found on Atlantic Avenue, to the left of the Calvin Klein VIP Entrance. To gain entry to Barclays Center through the American Express Card Member Entrance, you must present the guest services representative with a valid American Express Card along with a valid event ticket.
They state that the guest policy is the following:
All active American Express Card Members are permitted entry to Barclays Center via the Card Member Entrance for themselves and all guests in their party, provided all guests have a valid event ticket.
So it sounds like all of your guests just need to be with you and have a ticket to get in through this entrance.
Note: the Centurion Suite at the Barclays Center is now closed!
Centurion Suite at the Staples Center
The Centurion Suite at the Staples Center is located on Suite Level B. After entering from any main entrance, proceed to the Centurion Suite check-in, located on the Main Concourse across from aisle M22 (next to the Team LA Store).
You will need to show your Platinum Card along with a photo ID at check-in. And you will be given a wristband that allows for re-entry. You will be allowed to bring up to three guests with you.
Once you’ve been checked in, take the stairs or the elevator to Suite Level B.
Here’s what they state for directions:
If taking the elevator, The Centurion Suite will be located through the brown double doors to your right once you reach Suite Level B. Otherwise, proceed to your left at the top of the stairs. The entrance to The Centurion Suite will be located on your right hand side.
The Centurion Suite opens for most Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers home games throughout the year. It opens up 90 minutes prior to the beginning of a game. Since spots are given out on a first come, first serve basis you need to check in as quickly as possible!
Centurion Suite in Louis Armstrong Stadium at the US Open
During the U.S. Open you can get access to an American Express lounge. You will be able to bring up to three guests but spots are issued on a first come, first serve basis and the access is not restricted to only Platinum Card members. You also can sometimes get additional perks like free bags or even a statement credit to use at the event.
Note that there is no access for guests at these lounges.
Universal Studios lounges (Orlando and Hollywood)
The terms state that to get access to the American Express Lounge, you need to purchase a Multi-Park Ticket or Annual Pass with any American Express card at UniversalOrlando.com or at the Universal Orlando Resort ticket window.
In reality though many people report getting into the lounge without having shown proof of purchase of that type of pack. It could depend on the capacity of the lounge but it is worth giving it a shot to get in even if you did not purchase one of the eligible packages.
Entrance to the Universal Studios Florida American Express Lounge is located across from Shrek’s Ye Olde Souvenir Shoppe. The American Express Lounge is open seven days a week from 12–5 pm and subject to availability.
Virgin Australia lounge access
You can get Virgin Australia lounge access when flying Virgin Australia.
Not all of these lounges will offer full complimentary service. For example, for the Centurion Suite at the Staples Center, the terms state:
This VIP space offers a full service bar with a complete selection of finely crafted cocktails, beer & wine, and an array of non-alcoholic beverages for purchase.Guests can also purchase and order premium food items from the bar, prepared by renowned Levy Restaurants Chef Joseph Martin.
One great thing about the Platinum Card is that authorized users are given full access to these lounges just as the primary cardmember is. You can add up to 3 authorized users for $175, so this can be a great way to receive a lot of value if you’ve got friends or family that you trust and want to offer these perks to.
Platinum Card lounge access FAQ
What lounges can I get access to with the Platinum Card?
You can get access to the following lounges subject to certain terms:
Centurion Lounges International American Express Lounges Priority Pass Select Lounges Delta Sky Clubs Airspace Lounges Escape Lounges Plaza Premium Lounges Lufthansa Lounges “Hidden” lounge benefits
Do I have to bring my Platinum Card to gain access to the Centurion Lounge?
Yes, you will need to bring your Platinum Card and also your same-day boarding pass.
In the past, they have made exceptions to this at times but my advice would be to always bring your card just in case.
Can I get access when I arrive to the airport?
No, you cannot get access when you arrive at the airport unless you have a connection.
How early can I arrive to a Centurion Lounge?
You will not be allowed in more than three hours prior to your departure. Exceptions may apply if your flight is delayed.
Do Centurion Lounges get crowded?
During peak business traveler times, some Centurion Lounge are known to get very crowded.
During these times, it may be difficult to find a place to sit, especially if you are traveling as a group.
Can I bring my family into a Centurion Lounge?
The Platinum Card will allow you to bring up to two family members with you for free. If you want to bring in an additional guest, it will cost $50 per person.
Do you get access to Priority Pass Restaurants?
Unfortunately, no, you do not get access to Priority Pass restaurants with the Platinum Card.
Final Word
I think that the Platinum Card is probably the best card for lounge access. While other cards like the Sapphire Reserve and Citi Prestige offer Priority Pass, the Platinum Card goes beyond that with its quality Centurion Lounges and other lounges located throughout the US and the world.
So while the value of lounge access comes down to use, I think these lounge benefits provide me with more than enough value to hang on to the Platinum Card even with its high annual fee.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
American Express Las Vegas (LAS) Centurion Lounge Review
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I have finally visited a Centurion Lounge! After three years of holding the American Express Platinum Card, I went to an airport that had a Centurion Lounge. While, I have been through HKG, LGA, IAH, and SFO during the last three years, I always had access to better lounges or arrived just in time for boarding.
I always heard Centurion lounges were very crowded. That alone made me not care about visiting them. So, I took the opportunity to visit the Centurion Lounge in Las Vegas and wow, it felt like I was at the commons building at my university, but I would visit again.
The American Express Las Vegas Centurion Lounge is a “true” Centurion Lounge and not merely an international Amex Lounge. The difference is that the international lounges aren’t typically as nice and equipped as the Centurion Lounges are. For example, they are often smaller and may not have the same level of food and drink options.
I highly recommend you can check out our article about Centurion Lounges here.
You can find the locations for all true Centurion Lounges below:
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Guest Policy
You’ll be allowed to bring in two guests with you on a complimentary basis if you have the Platinum Card. Centurion members may enter with up to two guests or immediate family (spouse or domestic partner, and children under 18) at no additional charge.
Platinum Card and Centurion Members may purchase a day-pass for any additional guests for $50 USD at the time of entry.
Amex Las Vegas Centurion Lounge Location
The Amex Las Vegas Centurion Lounge is in Terminal 1 Concourse D (also known as D Gates) near gate D1. D gates are served by American, Delta, Air Canada, Frontier, Hawaiian, Sun Country, Thomas Cook, and United. If you’re flying Southwest, you’ll be flying out of Terminal 1, B and C gates.
The Las Vegas airport is easy to navigate, unless you’re hungover from your time in Vegas. 😉
Once you take the Blue Line Tram or Red Line Tram from Terminal 1 or 2 to Concourse D, you will find yourself on level zero. Go up the escalators and follow signs for gates D1. Right across from gates D1 you will see the pure white Centurion wall with their beautiful blue doors.
To connect to other Concourses it’s only accessible by the tram after security. It takes about 5 minutes in each direction. The tram connects D Gates to A, B, C Gates and Terminal 3 E gates.
Amex Las Vegas Centurion Lounge Hours
The American Express Las Vegas Centurion Lounge is open between:
5am to 11pm every day.
Amex Las Vegas Centurion Lounge experience
About 9:00 in the morning I arrived in Las Vegas and made my way to Concourse D to visit the Centurion Lounge. I arrived and saw the beautiful blue doors and white walls with no sign about capacity. Full marks to Amex on the white walls with the blue doors, I love the contrast and minimalistic look.
The photo was taken when I was leaving the lounge, as you can see the lounge has the special sign out limiting lounge access.
I walked in and found myself greeted by 3 check-in attendants. I verified if I could access the lounge even though I was arriving. The lounge attendant explained how they weren’t at capacity and that I would be allowed in.
When they are limiting guests, there will be a sign at the entrance that will typically read that you can only access the lounge 3 hours before departure and cannot access the lounge as an arriving passenger.
After scanning my boarding pass, checking my Platinum card and ID the attendant gave me the wifi and feedback card telling me to enjoy the lounge.
The shape of the lounge is a quarter of a circle; this allows lots of natural light in most areas of the lounge except the dining area. Even when I was in the dining area, I didn’t feel like I was in a cave because of the lack of natural light. Otherwise, the lounge is lovely if you want to plane spot.
When you first walk in the main part of the lounge, you see tables with chairs and some different seating options. The main part of the lounge is long and goes from the very entrance to the end of the lounge. Then you will see the dining room in the middle divided by a wall.
Amex Las Vegas Centurion Lounge
To the left of the check-in desk, you will find the member services desk for all your Amex needs. This is where you can ask them anything or act like a concierge of some sort.
Right across from the check-in desk you will find the membership desk.
Amex Las Vegas Centurion Lounge member services desk.
The rest of the lounge is a mixture of different seats everything from tables and chairs to lounge chairs. Power outlets with USB ports are available throughout the lounge, and I didn’t have a huge issue finding one, even when it became busier throughout the time I was in the lounge.
Across from the member services desk, you will find the kids room, some different tables and chairs, and then the dining room with half booths.
Towards the back of the lounge, you will see different style of seating that provides lots of privacy.
You will find the drink station and more seating at the end of the lounge.
The variety of seating in the lounge doesn’t end.
Amex knows people work and eat at lounges, so it’s easy to find a place where there is a table.
The lounge has workstation desktops readily available for guests.
A communal table with power outlets all over it.
Probably my favorite type of seat is the black chairs with the tall side walls or the wall benches that were so comfy (as seen below). They are secluded and offer lots of comfort from all the throw pillows. Each one has power outlets and of course a table. This type of seating is nice since the fabric will cut out some of the noise in the lounge.
Another thing that is great about the type of seating at the Las Vegas Centurion Lounge is how most seats can fit a couple, like in the wall benches or the black chairs.
My favorite type of seating in the Amex Las Vegas Centurion Lounge.
You will notice one theme throughout the lounge; it’s crowded. Wow, it’s been a long time since I have visited a lounge where it was this crowded and noisy.
Yes, there are still seats available. Yes, I didn’t have an issue finding a seat during my two hours staying in the lounge, but the noise level of the lounge is the issue. Without noise canceling headphones you easily hear people chatting it up with others or on the phone. It feels like I am back at my university, which is not something I want to experience at a lounge.
Where are the phone rooms?
When I visited the JAL Sakura Lounge at NRT earlier this year, it was super crowded, probably worse than this. The noise level at the JAL Sakura Lounge was very minimal, and there were kids all around, especially in the dining area. However, it’s built so noise won’t bounce off the walls as much, there are phone rooms, there are different areas, not just one long room.
The Las Vegas Centurion Lounge is the complete opposite; the noise level is annoying without headphones. This is of course not only with Centurion Lounges themselves, but it seems to be a common problem that isn’t addressed at lounges. Add a phone room, and it could help reduce the noise from people talking on their phone.
But then there is the problem of how clean the lounge is.
Cleanliness
Stained seats, food all over the seats, stained tables, and dirty bathroom are just a few things that make this lounge one of the dirtiest lounges I have been to. Yes, dirtier than lounges within China.
When was that cleaned?
There is food, crumbs all over, and then white and brown stains. Some of which is sticky… don’t worry after touching that sticky stuff I used my hand wipes. No matter where you sat on this bench you will find it dirty and stained.
What are those stains on the table? I cannot remove them from the table at all. I tried to wipe them off with a wet wipe, but nothing happened.
And no, it was multiple tables that had this stain issue.
Where are all these stains coming from? I was amazed at how many benches were stained, chairs are to lesser of a degree dirty but still wowed me. Tables are even stained, but tables can be easy to replace.
The bathroom was dirty as well. I was standing in a puddle of liquid when using the toilet… (no I didn’t take a picture while I was in the bathroom since others were in there).
Amex, please clean.
Amex Las Vegas Centurion Lounge dining and bar experience
This is where this lounge shines. During my visit to the lounge, they had a good amount of hot and cold food out. It was breakfast, so they had food like french toast, eggs, hash, and oatmeal.
The lounge offers one wall where the hot and cold food is and the other wall you will find a full-service bar with a bartender. The bar isn’t too big, and I never waited for a drink while at the bar. The bar is where you will get soft drinks and acholic beverages. There are no cocktails till 10:30am, so I ended up only getting prosecco. I am in Vegas don’t judge me. 🙂
Right outside of the dining room, you will find an espresso machine and self-service water with 2 other juices besides it.
What is nice is they have a TV displaying all the flights departing in the dining room.
Everything in the lounge is proper tableware.
Las Vegas Centurion Lounge buffet
Las Vegas Centurion Lounge buffet
Las Vegas Centurion Lounge buffet
Las Vegas Centurion Lounge bar
Las Vegas Centurion Lounge dining room
Las Vegas Centurion Lounge dining room
Las Vegas Centurion Lounge dining room
Las Vegas Centurion Lounge dining room
Las Vegas Centurion Lounge dining room
I ended up getting french toast, eggs, and charro hash with water. All of which were good for buffet style lounge food! I then got some prosecco later.
The lounge attendants were very attentive and cleared plates and glasses within minutes of finishing, but were not intrusive at all. When someone leaves a table, the lounge attendants usually do a quick wipe of the table. However, later on, the lounge got busier, and they wouldn’t wipe it off all the time since people were immediately stealing that table.
Actually, all the lounge attendants were friendly and pleasant. They always had a smile, chatting with guests sometimes.
During my 1 hour in the dining room, they refreshed the food when it got more than half empty. They also made sure the food looks presentable, which makes a huge difference in my opinion.
Amex Las Vegas Centurion Lounge WiFi
The wifi isn’t too bad for a lounge that is crowded. It’s on par with 4G speeds, which isn’t anything special though.
Final word
Crowded, noisy, and dirty. Why would I come back? Well, there are tons of outlets, and it’s easy to find a seat with a table to do some work. Some fancy seating for two people, which is nice while traveling with someone. Then there is the food, which is not the best lounge food but certainly very good. I still think it’s like a university commons area, but with a good pair of headphones, for the most part, you can ignore the noise. Just bring some hand wipes and find a clean seat. 😉
This article was originally published by Steve Smith.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
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