Flytrippers award won
American Express Platinum Card®
Summary of Flytrippers' review
WHY GET THIS CARD
- Good welcome bonus of ≈ $814
- Unlimited access to airport lounges (for 2 people)
- Gold Elite Status at Marriott and Hilton hotels
- Plenty luxury travel benefits
- The flexibility of hybrid rewards
- Excellent earn rate on travel
- Exceptional travel insurance coverage
It’s really the best card for frequent travelers!
WHO SHOULD GET THIS CARD
- Those who travel a lot and want unlimited lounge access
- Those who can reach minimum spend of $7500 in 3 months
If you check one of these boxes, it’s a card for you.
Card details
Welcome bonus structure
(INCREASED OFFER)
80,000 points Bonus after spending $7,500 (in a maximum of 3 months)
80,000 points Total with the bonus
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Earn on the minimum spending requirement
7,500 points Minimum earn on the minimum spending requirement of $7,500 (at base earn rate of 1 pt/$)
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Total rewards by unlocking the welcome bonus
87,500 points Welcome bonus + earn on the minimum spending requirement to unlock it
A $100 credit for NEXUS fees is also offered but not included in our Flytrippers Valuation
Flytrippers Valuation of the welcome bonus
≈ $1200 Welcome bonus (80,000 pts at ≈ 1.5¢/pt)
≈ $113 Earn on the required spending (7,500 pts at ≈ 1.5¢/pt)
$200 Travel credit that can be cashed out (fixed value)
–$699 Card fee (deducted from Flytrippers Valuation)
≈ $814 Total net value by unlocking the welcome bonus alone
(11% back on the minimum spending requirement of $7,500 in 3 months)
‣Learn more our Flytrippers Valuation of welcome bonuses
Minimum fixed value of the welcome bonus for simpler redemptions
$800 Welcome bonus (80,000 pts at 1¢/pt)
$75 Earn on the required spending (7,500 pts at 1¢/pt)
$200 Travel credit that can be cashed out (fixed value)
–$699 Card fee (deducted from Flytrippers Valuation)
$376 Total net value by unlocking the welcome bonus alone
(5% back on the minimum spending requirement of $7,500 in 3 months)
‣Learn more about the minimum fixed value of American Express points (coming soon)
Rewards from welcome bonus
You will have 87,500 Amex MR points after unlocking the Welcome Bonus AND a separate $200 annual travel credit.
The points give you either:
- ≈ $1313 in rewards at the Flytrippers Valuation + $200
- $875 in rewards at the simpler minimum fixed value + $200
Concrete examples of redemptions
Here are some of the actual redemptions you can get with these points:
14 one-way short-distance reward flights such as Toronto-New York or Toronto-Washington
8.5 one-way medium-distance reward flights such as Toronto-Miami or Toronto-Nashville
7 one-way longer distance reward flights such as Toronto-Costa Rica or Toronto-Mexico
1.5 one-way business class reward flight such as Vancouver-Japan or Toronto-Switzerland
11 one-way short-distance reward flights in several regions of the world
17 completely free nights in beautiful hotels in specific destinations like Bali
$1400 discount on specific flights that are very expensive in cash
$875 as a simple travel credit that can be applied to any travel expense
Earn rate (at Flytrippers Valuation)
3 points per $ (≈ 4.5%) on dining and food delivery
2 points per $ (≈ 3%) on travel
1 point per $ (≈ 1.5%) everywhere else
‣Learn more about credit card earn rates (coming soon)
Earning with additional cards
Fee for additional cards: $175 with the travel benefits like lounge access / $50 without the travel benefits
Quantity allowed: 9
Minimum age: 13 years old
‣Learn more about additional cards (coming soon)
American Express Lounge Collection
You get unlimited access to over 1,300 airport lounges around the world, for you and 1 guest. All Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium lounges, Centurion Lounges, and a few others.
‣Learn more about the American Express Lounge Collection
$200 annual travel credit
The credit can be applied to any booking made with Amex Travel (flights, hotels, cars) or can even be cashed out with a pro tip.
‣Learn more about the annual travel credit (coming soon)
$100 NEXUS credit
A credit will appear if you charge a NEXUS fee to your card — and you should really have NEXUS if you don’t already.
‣Learn more about the Amex NEXUS credit (coming soon)
Hotel elite status benefits
You get Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and Radisson Americas.
‣Learn more about the Marriott Elite status benefits (Hilton/Radisson coming soon)
Car rental elite status benefits
You get elite status with Hertz and Avis.
‣Learn more about the Platinum status benefits (coming soon)
24/7 concierge service
You have access to a concierge service that can make restaurant reservations, organize deliveries for flowers or other things, and complete various research tasks for you.
‣Learn more about the Amex Platinum concierge service (coming soon)
Amex Offers program
Access to discounts, credits, and special offers throughout the year.
‣Learn more about the Amex Offers program
American Express Experiences program
Access to exclusive virtual and in-person experiences and pre-sale tickets to lots of events.
‣Learn more about the American Express Experiences program (coming soon)
Exclusive Platinum events
Similar, but with many additional events that are exclusive to Platinum Cardmembers. I love going to the free Amex Platinum lounge on the beach during Art Basel in Miami every year.
‣Learn more about the American Express Experiences program (coming soon)
The Hotel Collection program
Benefits at top luxury hotels, such as a US$100 credit to use at the hotel and a free room upgrade.
‣Learn more about The Hotel Collection program (coming soon)
The Fine Hotels + Resorts program
Even better benefits at even more luxurious and expensive hotels, exclusively for Platinum Cardmembers.
‣Learn more about the Fine Hotels + Resorts program (coming soon)
Metal card weighing 18 grams
The luxurious and heavy card is internationally recognized as a status symbol, if you care about those kinds of things.
‣Learn more about the Amex Platinum design (coming soon)
Insurance included
Medical travel insurance 15 days (64 years and under)
Flight delay insurance ($1,000, 4h minimum)
Rental car insurance
Baggage & personal effects insurance
Trip cancellation insurance
Trip interruption insurance
Travel accident insurance
Hotel burglary insurance
Purchase insurance
Extended warranty
‣Learn more about the American Express Platinum Card®‘s insurance coverage (coming soon)
Insurance not included
Mobile device insurance
‣Learn more about the different types of insurance coverage (coming soon)
Redemptions
American Express points can be used for specific flights to maximize their value (via transfers to partner programs or via the Amex flight chart) or for hotel nights (via transfers to partner programs). But they can also be used as a simple travel credit (which can be applied to any travel expense).
‣Learn more about the American Express rewards program (coming soon)
Pricing
Amex points are hybrid rewards: They can be used as fixed-value rewards (fixed value of 1¢) or variable-value rewards (value depending on how you use them; our Flytrippers Valuation is ≈ 1.5¢).
‣Learn more about American Express points (coming soon)
Expiry
Amex points never expire as long as you have the card. And even if you no longer have the card, you can easily extend the expiration indefinitely.
‣Learn more about American Express points expiry (coming soon)
Pooling
If you have travel companions, it’s possible to pool Amex points via transfer partners.
‣Learn more about pooling American Express points (coming soon)
Transfers
American Express points can be transferred to multiple partner programs and this often provides the best value.
‣Learn more about American Express point transfers (coming soon)
Other redemption options
American Express points can be used for rewards other than travel but this should be avoided.
‣Learn more about why you should always use your rewards for travel (coming soon)
Rewards program logistics
You can use your points directly on the American Express website or app.
‣Learn more about how to get started with American Express rewards (coming soon)
Rewards program summary
Rewards: American Express points
Type: Hybrid rewards
Subtype (fixed value): “Eraser” rewards
Subtype (variable value): “Standard” or “Dynamic” Rewards (depending on the transfer partner)
Variety: Bank rewards
Flytrippers Valuation: ≈ 1.5¢ per point
Minimum value: 1¢ per point
Maximum value: Unlimited
Transferable: Yes (8 partners)
‣Learn more about rewards programs basics (coming soon)
Card eligibility
Minimum personal/household income: $0
Age: Majority in your province
Estimated credit score: Good or Excellent
Credit bureau: TransUnion
‣Learn more about credit card eligibility requirements (coming soon)
Welcome bonus eligibility
You must not have had the American Express Platinum Card® before.
‣Learn more about credit card welcome bonus eligibility rules (coming soon)
Offer end date
Offers subject to change at any time.
‣Subscribe to Flytrippers’ free travel rewards newsletter to get all card updates
Card details
Issuer: American Express
Network: American Express
Card Type: Card with no pre-set spending limit
Product Type: Personal card
‣Learn more about credit card types (coming soon)
Fees and rates
Card fee: $699/year
Fee for additional card: $175
FX fee: 2.5%
Purchases annual interest rate: N/A
Funds advances annual interest rate: N/A
Balance transfer fee: N/A
‣Learn more about why Flytrippers recommends ignoring fees and rates (coming soon)
- Unlock special experiences with the Platinum Card®
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points – that’s $800 towards a weekend away
- New Platinum® Cardmembers, earn 80,000 Welcome Bonus points after you charge $7,500 in net purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
- Earn 3 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible dining and food delivery in Canada, 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel, and 1 point for every $1 in all other Card purchases
- You will have access to a $200 CAD Annual Travel Credit to use towards any single travel booking of $200 or more charged to your Platinum Card and made on www.americanexpress.ca/travel or through Platinum Card® Travel Service
- Take full advantage of The American Express Global Lounge CollectionTM which unlocks access to over 1300 airport lounges worldwide. This includes The Centurion® Lounge network, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience
- Enjoy flexible ways to use your points such as statement credits for any eligible purchase charged to your Card, new travel purchases booked on American Express Travel Online through the Flexible Points Travel Program, and eligible flights through the Fixed Points Travel Program
- Transfer points 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs
- Enjoy complimentary benefits that offer an average value of $550 USD at over 1,000 extraordinary properties worldwide when you book Fine Hotels + Resorts
- Platinum Cardmembers can enjoy access to special events and unique opportunities
- Enjoy premium benefits at the Toronto Pearson Airport such as discount on parking
- You will also have access to many leading hotel and car rental companies’ loyalty programs. Our partners include Marriott International, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Radisson Hotel Group Americas, Hertz and Avis
- Interest applies in accordance with your Cardmember Agreement, Information Box, and Disclosure statement if the total New Balance is not paid by the Payment Due Date each month. All payments must be received by the Payment Due Date shown on the monthly statement
- American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information click the Apply now link. Conditions apply
Start earning rewards today
And make sure to download our free checklist for when you get a new card—it includes very important mistakes to avoid
(it will open in a separate tab, or you can click here)
via Amex secure application
*Beta version of card page. Sign up to get updated guide soon.*
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Valuation ≈ $750