Update: 10/22/26:

• Effective today, you can book Airbnb Luxe stays via the AMEXTravel site and 2+ night bookings will qualify for the $300 semi-annual lodging credit.
• After booking any Airbnb Luxe stays via the AMEXTravel site, cardholders will receive up to a $250 statement credit for Airbnb experiences. That credit will be valid for purchases from the day the reservation was confirmed until the end of the calendar year.
• You will earn 5 points per dollar on Airbnbs booked via AMEXTravel.
• Effective 1/1/27, Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) bookings will require a minimum two-night stay to be eligible for the $300 semi-annual Lodging Credit.

Originally posted on 9/18/25:

The Platinum Card® from American Express: Now Earn As High As 175,000 Welcome Bonus Points And Awesome New Benefits Offering Over $3,500 Value!

• Related posts:
  • AMEX Makes Biggest Investment Ever In A Card Refresh, Here’s What The Platinum Card Changes Mean For You
  • Newly Refreshed AMEX Business Platinum Card: Now Earn 200,000 (Or More!) Welcome Bonus Points And Benefits Offering Over $3,500 Value, Now With 33% Higher Points Earnings!
  • Watch Our Latest Podcast As We Break Down The AMEX Consumer Platinum Changes And Share Our Spend Strategies To Unlock Hidden Values!

Originally posted on 9/19:

The Platinum Card® from American Express: Now Earn As High As 175,000 Welcome Bonus Points And Awesome New Benefits Offering Over $3,500 Value!

AMEX has made its largest-ever investment into a card refresh, and this card is now an incredible value. These new benefits are all in effect now for new and existing cardholders! 

Welcome bonus

You can apply and find out your welcome offer and earn as high as 175,000 American Express Membership Rewards welcome bonus points for opening the Consumer Platinum Card and spending $12,000 within your first 6 months of card membership.

The most common offer on this card appears to be 50,000 points.

Apply, and if approved, you will find out your offer amount. You can then accept the card with your offer or decline to open the card. After you spend $12,000 in 6 months, you will receive the points. Welcome offers var,y and you may not be eligible for an offer.

There is no impact on your credit score if you don’t accept the card offer. If you’re approved and accept the card, your credit score may be impacted. In general, AMEX doesn’t do a hard credit pull for anyone who already has an AMEX card.

Post what offer you receive!

Annual fee 

$895.

Terms and restrictions apply, see rates and fees here.

There is a $195 annual fee for additional Platinum cardholders and no annual fee for additional “Companion Platinum” cardholders.

Additional Platinum cardholders get benefits like lounge access and elite status, and more!

Companion Platinum cardholders don’t get lounge access, but can still get their own free Global Entry/Pre-Check membership!

Welcome bonus terms

As with all AMEX cards, if you’re an existing AMEX cardholder, there is no hard credit pull for applying for a card.

You officially won’t get the welcome bonus on this card if you have or have had this card, though readers have reported success after several years.

You can tell if you are eligible for an AMEX welcome bonus by simply applying. If you are not eligible for the bonus you will get a popup notification after clicking to apply for the card. At that point you can decide whether to proceed or cancel the application before it is actually processed.

You must keep the card active without closing or downgrading it for at least 12 months.

Mirror Design 

A special limited edition mirror card design is available for new cardholders, and for existing cardholders who contact AMEX and ask for one.

You can order a replacement card and select a new card design on the AMEX site.

I was able to get a sneak peek at it last week, and it’s truly a gorgeous card design!

Card earnings

• 5 points per dollar on up to $500,000 of annual flight purchases.
• 5 points per dollar on hotels booked via AMEXTravel.com
• 1 point per dollar everywhere.
• There are no foreign transaction fees.

Spend Threshold

If you need a little help to meet the threshold, you can pay your federal taxes for a 1.85% fee. If you overpay your taxes, you can request a refund or apply it to your next year’s taxes.

My local natural gas company allows me to prepay up to $1,000 on a credit card for a $1.65 flat fee. That’s a great way to earn miles and help meet a spend threshold. My electricity supplier allows me to pay with a credit card for free as long as I am enrolled in autopay.

$400 annual Resy credit and Platinum Nights

Cardmembers now get a $100 quarterly credit for U.S. Resy restaurants, so you can spend $100 from January-March, $100 from April-June, $100 from July-September, and $100 from October-December and get credited back.

Enrollment is required here.

This is a $500 value in your first cardmembership year!

You don’t have to make a reservation on Resy, using the card at any restaurant that accepts reservations on Resy will trigger this credit when you pay with your card.

You can also buy gift cards from an eligible restaurant in-store or online.

You can find kosher restaurants on Resy and restaurants with eligible gift cards on DDF here. That way you can stack up your credits for a larger bill!

You can find bonus gift card offers at popular kosher restaurants here.

Hopefully, even more kosher restaurants will join Resy to be able to take advantage of everyone who will be using their quarterly Resy credits! Be sure to tell your favorite restaurants to join Resy to take advantage of people using Resy for their quarterly credit.

Also new to the program is Platinum Nights by Resy, which will offer cardholders special access to participating sought-after restaurants on select nights.

$300 annual Lululemon credit 

Cardmembers now get a $75 quarterly credit for Lululemon, valid in store or on Lululemon.com.

Enrollment is required here.

Here is how you can get gift cards with this credit!

This is a $375 value in your first cardmembership year!

$600 annual prepaid lodging credit

Cardmembers will automatically receive $600 back in statement credit on prepaid hotel bookings made via Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) or via The Hotel Collection (THC), with a $300 benefit for hotels booked between January-June and a $300 credit for hotels booked from July-December.

You can now also book Airbnb Luxe stays via the AMEXTravel site, and 2+ night bookings will qualify for the $300 semi-annual lodging credit.

Effective 1/1/27, Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings will require a minimum two-night stay to be eligible for the $300 semi-annual Lodging Credit.

Enrollment isn’t required.

There are more than 3,100 eligible hotels in more than 110 countries. You can use the MaxFHR site to help find FHR bargains!

This is a $900 value in your first cardmembership year!

Additionally, these bookings come with complimentary benefits, such as room upgrades (when available), 12pm early checkin (when available), and a minimum $100 credit to use for on-property charges. You’ll also earn 5 points per dollar spent.

These bookings also qualify for regular hotel points and elite benefits.

FHR bookings also come with daily breakfast for 2, free WiFi, and 4pm guaranteed late checkout.

FHR hotels can be booked for just 1 night, but THC hotels have a 2 night requirement.

You can also stack this with 3rd night free on eligible FHR and THC hotels through 11/30/25, including the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem.

Sample hotels you can book with FHR to get the $600 annual credit as well as a minimum $100 property credit and 4pm late checkout, include the Waldorf Astoria New Orleans:

The Palazzo Las Vegas:

The Grand Hyatt Vail:

The Setai Tel Aviv:

The Mamilla Jerusalem:

• Or for example, in Israel you can use this $600 annual credit at hotels like:
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Herzliya (FHR). Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2 adults (kids always eat free here), room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a $100 property credit.
  • Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem (FHR). Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a $100 food and beverage credit.
  • The David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem (FHR). Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a $100 property credit.
  • King David Jerusalem (FHR). Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a $100 property credit.
  • Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem (FHR). Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a complimentary dinner, and a $100 property credit.
  • InterContinental David Tel Aviv (FHR). Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a complimentary dinner, and a $100 food and beverage credit.
  • The Jaffa, a Marriott Luxury Collection Hotel (FHR). Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a complimentary dinner, and a $100 food and beverage credit.
  • The Setai Tel Aviv Hotel (FHR). Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a complimentary dinner, and a $100 property credit.
  • The Vista at Hilton Tel Aviv (FHR). Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a complimentary dinner, and a $100 food and beverage credit.
  • The David Kempinski Tel Aviv (FHR). Platinum members also get daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade at checkin when available, noon checkin when available, 4pm checkout guaranteed, free WiFi, and a complimentary dinner, and a $100 food and beverage credit.
  • Dan Carmel, Haifa (THC). Platinum members also get a room upgrade at checkin when available and a $100 hotel credit to spend on food and beverage, spa, and other on-property charges.
  • The Drisco Hotel Tel Aviv (THC). Platinum members also get a room upgrade at checkin when available and a $100 hotel credit to spend on food and beverage, spa, and resort activities.
  • Elkonin Tel Aviv – MGallery (THC). Platinum members also get a room upgrade at checkin when available and a $100 hotel credit to spend on food and beverage, spa, and resort activities.
  • Hilton Tel Aviv (THC). Platinum members also get a room upgrade at checkin when available and a $100 hotel credit to spend on food and beverage, spa, and other on-property charges.

$250 Airbnb Experiences credit

After booking any Airbnb Luxe stays via the AMEXTravel site, cardholders will receive up to a $250 statement credit for Airbnb experiences. T

hat credit will be valid for purchases from the day the reservation was confirmed until the end of the calendar year.

$300 annual digital entertainment credit

Cardmembers can get a $25 monthly credit for select digital entertainment partners.

This is up from the previous $20 monthly credit.

Enrollment is required here.

This is a $325 value in your first cardmembership year!

You can get a credit for any of the following:

• Paramount Plus (New!)
• YouTube TV (New!)
• YouTube Premium (New!)
• Disney+/Disney Bundle
• ESPN+
• Hulu
• Hulu ad-free
• Peacock 
• Wall Street Journal (include WSJ, Barrons, MarketWatch, and/or Investor’s Business Daily print and digital subscriptions)
• The New York Times
  • Eligible purchases for the New York Times include any subscriptions (including digital or print news, NYT Cooking, and New York Times Games). Eligible purchases do not include advertising services, NYT conferences, gift cards, the TimesDigest or purchases from the NYTimes company store.

$120 annual Uber One credit

Cardmembers now get up to $120 in statement credits for Uber One. This is valid on monthly or annual Uber One.

Enrollment isn’t required.

Uber One offers 6% back on rides, up to 10% off Uber Eats orders, $0 delivery fee, exclusive offers and promos, surge savings, and more!

This is a $130 value in your first cardmembership year!

$200 annual Uber credit and Uber VIP Status

Platinum cardholders get an automatic $15 monthly at Uber or Uber Eats. In December they get a $35 monthly credit.

Just add your card to your Uber account to receive the credits, and select to pay with the card. Enrollment isn’t required.

This is a $215 value in your first cardmembership year!

If you have multiple Platinum cards or if you add someone else’s Platinum card to your Uber account you can get the bonus added to the same Uber account.

Platinum cardholders also automatically get Uber VIP elite status, which gets you priority access to highly rated drivers and better cars.

$200 annual Oura Ring credit 

Cardmembers now get a $200 credit every calendar year for the purchase of an Oura Ring.

Enrollment is required here.

The Oura Ring monitors your health and wellness and provides insight to make you healthier.

There is a $5.99 monthly subscription fee, which sadly, isn’t covered by this credit.

This is a $400 value in your first cardmembership year!

$12.95 monthly Walmart+ credit

Cardmembers now get a $12.95 plus tax monthly credit to cover Walmart+ membership in full.

Enrollment isn’t required.

Walmart+ members receive unlimited free shipping with no order minimum on items shipped by Walmart.com, free delivery from stores, as well as mobile and contactless check-out to make shopping faster.

This is a $168.35 value in your first cardmembership year!

$7.99 monthly Paramount+ or Peacock subscription

Cardmembers get a free Paramount+ or Peacock subscription, a $7.99 monthly value, via their free Walmart+ membership.

This is a $103.87 value in your first cardmembership year!

$300 annual Equinox credit and $300 Bike Credit

Cardmembers can enroll and get a $300 credit each calendar year for Equinox.

This credit is valid for the Equinox app or Equinox gyms.

Enrollment is required here.

This is a $600 value in your first cardmembership year!

Platinum Card Members will also receive a $300 statement credit every time they purchase a SoulCycle At-Home Bike, up to 15x per calendar year. An Equinox+ membership is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only.

$200 annual airline fee credit

Every calendar year, you can get a $200 credit for airline fees. That means you’ll get $200 back in 2026 and $200 back in 2027 during your first cardmembership year.

This is a $400 value in your first cardmembership year!

You can register for an airline here.

You can choose from Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, or United.

You can read this post to see what currently works for airline fee credits, including TravelBank funding for select airlines.

$219 annual CLEAR+ credit

Platinum Card members can enroll in CLEAR and get reimbursed for up to $219 in annual charges.

Enrollment is not required.

This is a $438 value in your first cardmembership year!

CLEAR+ normally costs $219/year, but United and Delta non-elite members can enroll in CLEAR+ for $209/year. United and Delta cardholders and mid-tier elite members can enroll in CLEAR+ for $179/year. United 1K and Delta Diamond elites can enroll in CLEAR+ for $129/year. Delta 360 and United Global Services elites get CLEAR+ for free. Federal, state, and local government employees, as well as active duty military and veterans can enroll in CLEAR+ for $125/year.

A CLEAR+ member can add up to 3 adults for $125 each, which can also be covered by those cards. Kids under 18 can go with their parents for free without a membership or biometrics required.

Kids under 18 can go with their parents for free without a membership or biometrics required.

CLEAR allows you to skip to the front of the line. If you have PreCheck you can skip to the front of the PreCheck line and if you don’t have PreCheck you can skip to the front of the regular line.

You don’t need to take out your ID either, your fingerprint or eye acts as your ID.

The dependability that skipping the line gives you is simply amazing. It means I can leave my house 55 minutes before a flight and know that I won’t miss my flight out of CLE. When I’m with my family I’ll leave plenty of time and enjoy the airport lounge, but if I’m solo, the less wasted time in the airport is always a win.

Apply now and you can earn the $209 bonus twice in your first cardmembership year.

Leaders Club Sterling Status

Cardholders can enroll in Leaders Club Sterling status. That provides upgrades, daily breakfast for 2, early checkin and late checkout, complimentary WiFi, 5 pre-arrival upgrades, and more.

Enrollment is required here.

AMEX points now transfer to Leaders Club where you get fantastic values at hotels like the King David Jerusalem, Setai Tel Aviv, Acqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach Miami, Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, The Setai Miami Beach, Beach Club at The Boca Raton, The Brazilian Court Hote Palm Beach, Ritz Paris, Ritz London, Palazzo Roma, Palazzo Venart Luxury Hotel Venice,  Alvear Palace Hotel Buenos Aires, Nayara Hangaroa Easter Island, Constance Lémuria Seychelles, Constance Prince Maurice Mauritius, or the Nayara Bocas del Toro Panama, with overwater villas and complementary kosher meals from Chabad!

Hilton and Marriott Gold elite status

The Platinum card offers Hilton Gold and Marriott Gold elite status.

• You can enroll online here for Hilton Gold status.
• You can enroll online here for Marriott Gold status.

You can also enroll additional Platinum cardholders for Gold elite status, but that needs to be done over the phone.

Hilton Gold status gets you upgrades, bonus points, 5th night free on awards, late checkout, breakfast, and bottled water. Free breakfast doesn’t usually do much for me as a kosher traveler, but at the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem the fantastic daily kosher breakfast is free for Hilton Gold members. There is a mind-boggling quantity of awesome kosher food there, from dozens of daily hot dishes to hard cheeses, fresh fruits and pastries to fresh squeezed juices and espresso drinks, as well as on-demand dishes like french toast, pancakes, waffles, and eggs.

Marriott Gold status gets you late checkout, more points per dollar spent at Marriott hotels, room upgrades, enhanced in-room WiFi, and a points amenity on stays, even when redeeming points.

Sixt Platinum elite status [New Benefit]

Leaders Club Sterling status provides Sixt Platinum status. That includes free additional drivers, upgrades, bonus points, discounts, and more!

Car Rental Perks

• Get a 4 hour late return fee-free grace period on paid and award rentals, exclusively discounted pricing, and President’s Circle status at Hertz
• Get National Executive status with guaranteed upgrades, executive aisle access, and faster free award rentals.

Centurion lounge access

Cardholders can access Centurion lounges for free.

Additional Platinum cardholders that have an annual fee can also access the lounges for free. Adult guests cost $50 and children 2-17 cost $30. If you spend $75K/year on your Platinum card you can bring 2 free guests on your visits for the remainder of the calendar year, for the following calendar year, and through 1/31 of the 3rd calendar year. Guests must be traveling on the same flight as the cardholder. You can enter the lounge within 3 hours of a departing flight or within 5 hours of a connecting flight.

Centurion lounges offer showers, complimentary food, drinks, cocktails, etc.

Currently, there are domestic Centurion Lounges in:

• Atlanta (Concourse E)
• Charlotte (Intersection of Concourse D & E, mezzanine level)
• Dallas/DFW (Terminal D, near American)
• Denver (Concourse C)
• Houston/IAH (Terminal D, near United)
• Las Vegas (Concourse D, near United)
• Los Angeles (TBIT)
• Miami (Concourse D, near American)
• NYC/JFK (Terminal 4, now with kosher Fresko meals)
• NYC/LGA (Terminal B, now with kosher Fresko meals)
• Philadelphia (Terminal A West, near American)
• Phoenix (Terminal 4)
• Salt Lake City (Concourse B)
• San Francisco (Terminal 3, near United)
• Seattle (Concourse B)
• Washington/DCA (Terminal 2)

International AMEX lounge locations include:

• Buenos Aires/EZE
• Delhi
• Hong Kong (Terminal 1)
• London
• Melbourne
• Mexico City (4 locations)
• Mumbai
• Monterrey, Mexico (2 locations)
• Sao Paulo/GRU
• Shanghai
• Stockholm
• Sydney
• Tokyo/HND
• Toluca, Mexico

Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge locations:

• Las Vegas

Centurion lounges opening in the future include Boston, London T5, Newark and a Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge in Charlotte. Expanding lounges include Dallas/DFW, Houston/IAH, and Philadelphia.

Sidecar by Centurion Lounge

AMEX has launched a new “speakeasy” style lounge in Las Vegas and will open another in Charlotte. These lounges will be located in airports with larger Centurion lounges.

They will only be accessible within 90 minutes of a departing flight and will feature elevated small plates and beverages.

Priority Pass membership

You can enroll here for a Priority Pass membership.

Primary and additional Platinum cardholders can bring in 2 free guests each.

See the Priority Pass site for their complete list of lounges.

Delta SkyClub

You can access Delta lounges for free with a Platinum card when flying on Delta, up to 10 times per year, from 2/1 through 1/31.  You don’t get any free guests, but additional Platinum cardholders can access Delta lounges for free, up to 10 times per year as well.

If you spend $75K in a calendar year, you’ll unlock unlimited visits through 1/31, two calendar years later.

Select Delta SkyClubs, such as JFK, LGA, and more, have complimentary hot kosher meals upon request. Others have kosher snacks upon request as well.

Escape and Plaza Premium lounges

You can search for lounges here.

Currently, there are US Escape lounges in Bentonville, Cincinnati, Columbus, Fort Lauderdale, Greenville, Hartford, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Oakland, Ontario, Phoenix, Portland/PDX, Providence, Reno, Sacramento, San Juan, Syracuse, Tulsa, and West Palm Beach, and there is an Airspace lounge in San Diego. Primary and additional Platinum cardholders can bring in 2 free guests each.

The Fort Lauderdale lounge carries kosher food.

There are over 100 Plaza Premium lounges worldwide. Primary and additional Platinum cardholders can bring in 2 free guests each.

Global Entry/Pre-Check Fee Refund For You And Your Additional Cardholders

It costs $85 to apply for a 5 year TSA Pre-Check membership which makes flying pleasant again. Shorter lines, no need to remove your shoes, belt, jacket, or hat. You can keep your laptop and small liquids inside your carry-on. And you go through a good old fashioned metal detector instead of assuming the position in the body scanner.  If you charge it on your Platinum card the fee will be refunded.

It costs $120 to apply for a 5 year Global Entry membership which lets you bypass the customs line. If you have Global Entry you also get TSA Pre-Check for free. If you charge it on your Platinum card the fee will be refunded. Kids can now apply for Global Entry for free with parents who are part of the program.

You can read more more about the differences in this post.

You can add additional cardholders to your account for free and they will each qualify for a Pre-Check or Global Entry fee refund as well!

My whole family has Global Entry and it sure makes traveling a whole lot easier!

International Airlines Program and AMEX Insider Fares

Platinum cardmembers get access to discounts on first class, business, and premium economy tickets with dozens of participating airlines. You can use cash or points for these discounted flights, just search for travel on AMEXTravel.com.

AMEX Offers and other benefits

• Earn statement credits at stores that you register for in your AMEX account with AMEX Offers.
• Platinum Concierge.
• Preferred Seating Program at select cultural and sporting events.

Premium AMEX Protections And Lost Item Protection

• Cell Phone Protection.
• Trip delay insurance
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Baggage Insurance
• Purchase protection for lost, stolen, or broken items.
• Return protection.
• Extended warranty
• If you need to dispute a charge there’s nobody who makes it easier or as pain-free as American Express does. It’s the easiest dispute resolution process in the industry by leaps and bounds and you can do it all online.
• See this post to see just how amazing AMEX benefits can be.
• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
• Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Very few credit cards cover lost items, this card covers lost items up to $10,000 for up to 90 days from purchase!

My favorite AMEX benefit is return protection. If you need to return an item up to $300 and a store won’t take it back due to a time limit or final sale return policy, AMEX will gladly refund you in full thanks to return protection. 

Nearly all of the time you’ll even be able to keep the item you want to return! This benefit is valid for $1,000 of returns per card per calendar year.

Additional user cards are available at no cost and also get their own $1,000 per year return protection allowance!

Additionally, if a store charges a restocking fee to return an item then AMEX will cover that cost, up to $300/item, as part of their return protection coverage.

• With Return Protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories.
• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
• Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Airline and Hotel transfer partners

AMEX points can be transferred into many different mileage programs, and best of all, there are often transfer bonuses as well.

AMEX transfer partners include

• ANA (Star Alliance) 1:1 transfer.
• Aer Lingus (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer.
• AeroMexico (Skyteam) 1:1.6 transfer.
• Air Canada Aeroplan (Star Alliance) 1:1 instant transfer.
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue (Skyteam) 1:1 instant transfer.
• Avianca Lifemiles (Star Alliance) 1:1 instant transfer.
• British Airways (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (OneWorld) 1:0.8 instant transfer.
• Delta (Skyteam) 1:1 instant transfer.
• Emirates 1:0.8 instant transfer
• Finnair (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer via BA
• Iberia (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer
• JetBlue 1:0.8 instant transfer
• Qantas (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer
• Qatar (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer via BA
• Singapore (Star Alliance) 1:1 instant transfer.
• Virgin Atlantic 1:1 instant transfer
• Choice Hotels 1:1 instant transfer
• Hilton 1:2 instant transfer
• Leaders Club 4:1 instant transfer
• Marriott 1:1 instant transfer

Sample mileage uses:

• Leaders Club has excellent luxury hotel redemptions, where your points will be worth 2 cents each or more at hotels like the King David Jerusalem, Setai Tel Aviv, Setai Miami Beach, and many more!
• Flying Blue has award flights to Israel for 30K miles for adults or 22.5K miles for kids or domestic awards on Delta from just 4K miles each way!
• 7.5K Virgin Atlantic miles is enough for a Delta short-haul flight. Fly to London from just 6K points in coach or 29K points in business class. Use points to fly on El Al, or book bargains on ANA (From 52.5K points in business or 72.5K in first class), and Air New Zealand (62.5K points business class US-New Zealand).
• Air Canada’s Star Alliance partner awards start at just 6K miles, making for excellent bargains!
• Avianca Lifemiles awards start at just 6.5K miles. Or save up for the 194K miles you’ll need for a round-trip first class flight in First Class from the US to Tel Aviv on Lufthansa with access to their amazing first class terminal during your connection with a Porsche transfer to your plane.
• Qatar Avios can book short-haul JetBlue flights for 8.5K Avios, short-haul AA flights for 9.5K Avios, transatlantic JetBlue for 25K Avios, and transatlantic JetBlue Mint business class for 78K Avios.
• With 90K Cathay Pacific Asia Miles you can book a round-trip business class award between North America and Europe. Plus, save big on BA fuel surcharges.
• With Qantas you can fly one-way on El Al between NYC and Tel Aviv for 43.5K points in coach, 85K points in premium economy, or 108K points in business class.
• With 102K Emirates miles you can fly in A380 Shower Class from JFK to Milan.
• With 163.5K Emirates miles you can fly in A380 Shower Class from JFK to Dubai.
• With Singapore miles you can book highly rated premium cabin award bargains or suites on Singapore flights that are blocked with partner miles.

ANA First Class:

Singapore suites:

Refreshed AMEX App and new AMEX Travel app

The new AMEX app includes the ability to tap to activate your card, track your bonuses, and much more:

You can read more about the new AMEX Travel app here.

Stay on top of your benefits and credits in the app or online:

Dan’s Quick Thoughts:

Now this is a card refresh I can get behind!

Let’s face it, “coupon books” are here to stay. People say they don’t like keeping on top of all the benefits, but these benefits help people justify increasing annual fees, and banks consider them to be wildly successful.

Impressively, there are no devaluations to this card. Plus, there are lots of new benefits to make up for the extra $200 in annual fees!

We have become so accustomed to refreshes that include higher fees and major devaluations, so it’s nice to see a card refreshed that actually adds real value.

In return for the $200 annual fee, I’m already way ahead just with the $400 in Resy credits, which I’ll easily use in kosher restaurants like Mendel’s KC BBQ in Cleveland and dozens of others across the country.

The Uber One membership is also cash back in my pocket.

The $600 in hotel credits, $300 in Lululemon credits, and $300 in digital entertainment credits will also prove very useful, even if I don’t value them at their full dollar-for-dollar value. I love that YouTube is now an eligible category for that credit as well!

Those credits alone more than justify the $895 annual fee in my book, but there’s also the $200 in Uber credit, the $200 in airline fee credit, the $209 CLEAR credit, and Global Entry credit. And that’s besides for the lounge benefits, the 5x point earnings on airfare, and other card perks. All of which turn this card into a no-brainer!

Leaders Club Sterling Status and Sixt Platinum status should provide some value as well.

The Oura ring credit isn’t likely to provide much added value, but I’m sure some people will enjoy that benefit.

And I love the new mirrored finish card.

Overall, kudos to AMEX on this card’s refresh, which turned it a good value into a truly great value in my book!

What are your favorite AMEX Platinum perks?