Securing the American Express Platinum Card online takes one focused session when documents are ready.
Frequent travelers choose it for airport lounge access, statement credits, and strong earn rates on flights and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel—benefits that vary by market and require enrollment in many cases.
In the U.S., American Express announced an annual fee of $895 for the refreshed Platinum, paired with $3,500+ in annual value via new and expanded credits; timing differs for existing accounts, so always confirm the fee shown during application.
What the Platinum Card Offers
Travelers gain access to the Global Lounge Collection—over 1,550 lounges, including Centurion Lounges and 10 annual Delta Sky Club visits when flying Delta, with the option to buy additional visits at $50 each after using the allotment.
How to Earn Points?
Earning remains simple: 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, capped at $500,000 in flight purchases per calendar year, 5X on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com, and 1X on other eligible purchases.
- U.S. headline credits include a $600 hotel credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings via Amex Travel ($300 twice per year),
- $400 Resy Credit ($100 quarterly), $300 Digital Entertainment Credit ($25 monthly),
- $300 lululemon Credit ($75 quarterly),
- $200 Oura Ring Credit (annually),
- $200 Airline Fee Credit,
- $200 Uber Cash ($15 monthly plus $20 in December), and
- $120 Uber One Credit (annually).
Eligibility and Welcome-Offer Rules
American Express generally limits a given card’s welcome offer to one per person, per card, over a lifetime, and surfaces eligibility “pop-up” language during the application if a bonus isn’t available; that warning appears before any hard credit inquiry and allows withdrawing without score impact.
Family-language restrictions may also appear across Membership Rewards consumer cards (e.g., Green, Gold, Platinum). Always rely on the exact on-screen terms shown to you at submission.
Pre-qualification and Apply with Confidence reduce risk. Checking for matched offers and even applying to see if you’re approved won’t impact your credit score unless you accept the card after approval.
How to Apply for the American Express Platinum Card Online
Keep legal details consistent with your credit file, temporarily lift any credit freezes, and have income documentation handy. Enrollment steps for credits can be finished after approval.
- Visit the official Platinum Card page, review current welcome offers, and open the Rates & Fees and Benefit Terms disclosures.
- Use pre-qualification/Apply with Confidence to check if approval is likely with no score impact at this stage.
- Complete the application: full legal name, date of birth, U.S. residential address, email, mobile number, Social Security number, annual income and source; add authorized users only if needed.
- Review disclosures for the annual fee, Pay Over Time feature, APRs and plan fees; then submit.
- Create or log in to your Amex online account to track Amex application status, enable alerts, and add the card to a mobile wallet once approved. Online status can also be checked through Amex’s dedicated status tool.
Rates and Key Costs
Costs vary by market, and APRs are variable. The fee change for U.S. consumer Platinum was announced on Sept. 18, 2025; always verify the figure presented during your own application.
| Item | Current U.S. disclosure (confirm at apply) |
| Annual fee | $895 (newly announced; check your offer) |
| Pay Over Time APR | Variable; disclosed in your approval package (see Rates & Fees) |
| Other APRs & fees | Cash advance APR and penalty APR are variable; see Rates & Fees |
| Common fees | Late or returned payment up to $40; cash advance fee $10 or 5%, greater of the two; no foreign transaction fees |
| Plan It monthly plan fee | Fixed monthly fee; percentage varies by plan terms; see disclosure |
Benefits That Matter in 2025
Credits are valuable only when activated and used. Focus on the benefits that align with your travel pattern and spending habits, and enroll where required inside your Amex account or partner apps.
Travel & Lounge Access
Global Lounge Collection access spans 1,550+ lounges (Centurion, Priority Pass Select after enrollment, and select partners). Delta access now uses a 10-visit structure per Medallion Year for Platinum; after using all visits, additional entries may be purchased for $50 each.
CLEAR® Plus can be offset with an annual credit up to $209. Fee credits also apply to incidental airline charges ($200 Airline Fee Credit).
Global Entry rose to $120 on October 1, 2024; several Amex cards cover up to $100 per approved cycle, so timing matters if applying for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Dining & Everyday Services
Resy users can earn the $400 Resy Credit—up to $100 per quarter at 10,000+ participating U.S. restaurants after enrollment. Uber benefits include $200 Uber Cash each year and $120 Uber One credit with an auto-renewing membership.
Shopping & Wellness
Eligible purchases can trigger a $300 Lululemon Credit and a $200 Oura Ring Credit annually after enrollment.
A $100 Saks Credit is split semi-annually. The $300 Digital Entertainment Credit provides $25 monthly at listed providers, subject to enrollment.
Protections
Trip protections and purchase benefits are part of the package; coverage terms and exclusions apply. Review the current Amex Assurance terms inside your account before relying on any protection.
Earning and Redeeming Membership Rewards
Flights purchased directly with airlines or through Amex Travel earn 5X points on up to $500,000 in flight purchases per calendar year; 5X also applies to prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com. Everything else earns 1X.
For outsized value, consider Membership Rewards transfer partners for premium-cabin flights or high-cash-rate hotels rather than statement credits or gift cards.
Transfer availability and ratios vary by region; consult the live transfer-partner list in your Amex account.
After Approval: First 24 Hours
Adding the card to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Wallet enables immediate use. Turn on autopay and account alerts to avoid interest and fees.
Decide whether the Pay Over Time setting should remain off; balances moved into that feature accrue interest under the Pay Over Time APR disclosed to you.
Enroll in airline, hotel, lounge, dining, entertainment, Walmart+, and CLEAR benefits, then activate Uber Cash by adding the card in-app.
Practical Approval Tips and Reconsideration
Clean data helps: matching name and address to your credit file, low utilization, and temporarily lifting any credit bureau freezes typically prevent verification delays.
If a decision shows “pending” or “denied,” check Amex application status online and consider calling customer service for context.
For existing cardmembers or general help, use Amex’s official contact page or the 24/7 customer line; for application status by phone, Amex publishes a dedicated number.
Related Cards to Consider
Comparing neighboring Amex options clarifies fit and annual-fee comfort. Features shift over time, so validate details on each card’s page before choosing.
| Card | Type | Annual Fee | Rewards Emphasis | Notable Travel Perks |
| The Platinum Card® | Charge (Pay Over Time optional) | $895 (U.S.) | 5X flights & prepaid hotels via Amex Travel | Global Lounge Collection access; hotel credits; elite statuses; no FX fees |
| American Express® Gold Card | Charge (Pay Over Time optional) | Varies by market | 4X dining; 4X U.S. supermarkets (caps apply) | Dining-aligned credits; no lounge access (U.S. terms) |
| American Express® Green Card | Charge (Pay Over Time optional) | Varies by market | 3X travel, transit, restaurants | Entry-level travel earn; selected credits on some versions |
| Blue Cash Preferred® | Credit | Varies by market | 6% U.S. supermarkets; 6% select U.S. streaming | Cash-back focus; FX fees may apply |
Conclusion
Applied strategically, the American Express Platinum Card can justify its fee through lounge access, hotel credits, and 5X earn rates on flights and prepaid hotels.
Confirm eligibility via the on-screen pop-up, rely on Apply with Confidence for a soft-check approval preview, and enroll in benefits immediately after approval to capture credits with minimal friction.
Frequent travelers realize consistent value when credits align with actual habits.
Useful contacts (U.S.)
General customer service: 1-800-528-4800; mailing address: American Express, P.O. Box 981535, El Paso, TX 79998-1535.
