My Annual Amex Platinum Card Conversation

Each year about this time I receive a bill for the annual fee on my Platinum Card from American Express. Each year I ask myself a question. Is this card worth $450 dollars? The answer this year, like every year before, is an unequivocal YES!! Let’s look at why.

• Airline Club Access (American Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club, US Airways Club. Must be traveling on AA and DL to access, can access US anytime)
• $200 Dollar Airline Fee Credit (Charge your airline fee to your card, and receive a statement credit back, up to $200 dollars annually)
• Cruise Privileges (Up to $300 dollars in onboard credit or upgrades, plus other benefits)

If I didn’t have the card, I would be paying an annual fee for club membership with an airline, likely Delta. Nothing wrong with joining the club, but carrying the Platinum Card enables me to access the Delta Sky Club whenever I fly Delta and offers access to other clubs when I don’t fly Delta. I took advantage of this benefit just last week. The club access itself pays for the card from my perspective, but then there’s more. The $200 dollar airline annual fee credit is another great benefit. I’m not sitting in First Class much anymore when I fly Delta to/from Atlanta, so it’s nice to know that my inflight drinks and snacks will be reimbursed up to $200 dollars annually. Should I ever need to pay a change fee (hasn’t happened in a while), I will charge it to the Platinum Card.

Then there’s the Cruise Privileges program. The last time I used this was with Celebrity. I received a $100 dollar onboard credit, a complimentary dining in a specialty restaurant ($30 dollars x 2), and a bottle of wine (Cakebread Chardonnay I value at $45 dollars). In just one cruise, I received $205 dollars in value. Multiply that out over a year of cruises, and I think you see where I’m headed. And I haven’t even mentioned the Global Entry fee reimbursement for not just the primary, but additional cardholders as well.

In my case, The Platinum Card from American Express pays for itself and then some, and I have no problem justifying the annual fee. It’s a great card, and one that I think many frequent travelers would benefit from carrying.

LINK: The Platinum Card® from American Express 

• Earn 25K Membership Rewards® points when you spend $2,000 during your first three months of Card membership
• Premium travel benefits: access over 600 lounges worldwide with Priority Pass™ Select, no foreign transaction fees, bypass airport arrival lines with Global Entry
• Entertainment benefits: get Advance Tickets before the public and access once in a lifetime events with By Invitation Only®
• 24/7 Platinum Card® Concierge service for assistance with reservations, travel, gifts, and more
• Fine Hotels & Resorts Program: exclusive upgrades and amenities at over 700 boutique, resort, and luxury hotels worldwide
• Terms and restrictions apply.

LINK: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN 

• Enroll and select an airline to receive up to $200 annually in statement credits for incidental fees such as checked bags, in-flight refreshments, and change fees.*
• 20% Travel Bonus when redeeming with Membership Rewards® Pay with Points
• Take advantage of 40 premium benefits and rewards, including 24/7 concierge service and dedicated business consultants
• Complimentary airport club access to 600+ partner lounges, a $950/yr value
• By Invitation Only: Receive exclusive access to events, ideal for entertaining clients or treating staff, worldwide that aren’t available to the general public
• No pre-set spending limit*
• Terms & Restrictions Apply.

Disclosure: If you apply for and receive a card product through the links provided in this post, I will receive a referral bonus. As always, I appreciate your readership whether you use my links or not.

Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.