The premium rewards card market is fairly crowded, with cardholders desperate to pay tons of of {dollars} in annual charges to get luxurious perks.
It is loopy to suppose that there was actually just one mass-market premium card lower than a decade in the past — The Platinum Card® from American Express. Now, the Platinum card is only one of a half dozen or so premium card choices from American Categorical, however there are literally a number of completely different variations.
They share many frequent options, together with the glossy metallic design and entry to Amex Offers. Nonetheless, every card options delicate variations that may make yet another engaging to you than the others. Let’s discuss concerning the various kinds of Amex Platinum playing cards and what it’s essential learn about every one.
4 completely different shades of platinum
These are the 4 completely different Amex Platinum playing cards we’re diving into:
The data for The American Categorical Platinum® Card for Schwab and The Platinum Card® from American Categorical Solely for Morgan Stanley has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
The Platinum Card from American Categorical | The Enterprise Platinum Card from American Categorical | The American Categorical Platinum Card for Schwab | The Platinum Card from American Categorical Solely for Morgan Stanley | |
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Welcome bonus | 80,000 Membership Rewards factors after you spend $8,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership | 150,000 Membership Rewards factors after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases together with your card throughout the first three months of card membership | 80,000 Membership Rewards factors after you spend $8,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership | 125,000 Membership Rewards factors after you spend $8,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership; supply ends Aug. 14 |
Annual payment | $695 (see rates and fees) | $695 (see rates and fees) | $695 | $695 |
Bonus classes | 5 factors per greenback spent on airfare bought straight from the airline and on airfare and pay as you go lodges booked with Amex Journey (as much as $500,000 on these purchases per calendar yr, 1 level per greenback thereafter) | 5 factors per greenback spent on airfare and pay as you go lodges booked via American Categorical Journey and 1.5 factors per greenback on eligible purchases in choose enterprise classes and eligible purchases of $5,000 or extra (as much as $2 million of those purchases per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback thereafter) | 5 factors per greenback spent on airfare bought straight from the airline and on airfare and pay as you go lodges booked with Amex Journey (as much as $500,000 on these purchases per calendar yr) | 5 factors per greenback spent on airfare bought straight from the airline and on airfare and pay as you go lodges booked with Amex Journey (as much as $500,000 on these purchases per calendar yr) |
Annual credit | As much as $200 in assertion credit yearly on resort bookings via AmexTravel.com
As much as $200 credit score for airline charges per calendar yr, which covers incidental fees As much as $189 annual assertion credit score for a Clear $100 assertion payment credit score for both International Entry or as much as $85 payment credit score TSA PreCheck each 4 1/2 years As much as $15 in assertion credit score every month to make use of on Uber rides or Uber Eats orders within the U.S., with a further as much as $20 in December Saks Fifth Avenue assertion credit score as much as $50 to make use of January via June and as much as $50 to make use of July via December (enrollment required upfront) As much as $20 month-to-month assertion credit and relevant just for The New York Occasions, Peacock, The Wall Road Journal, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle (enrollment required upfront) As much as $300 annual assertion credit score for choose Equinox memberships or a digital subscription to Equinox+ health app (enrollment required upfront, topic to auto-renewal) Walmart+ membership assertion credit score reimbursement for $12.95 on one membership payment month-to-month for Walmart+ membership (plus relevant taxes; topic to auto-renewal); Plus Up advantages not eligible |
As much as $400 in annual assertion credit (as much as $200 semi-annually) for U.S. Dell know-how purchases per calendar yr
As much as $200 annual airline incidental assertion credit score Enrollment required for choose advantages |
As much as $200 yearly on resort bookings via AmexTravel.com
As much as $200 credit score for airline charges per calendar yr, which covers incidental fees As much as $189 annual assertion credit score for a Clear Plus membership $100 payment credit score for both International Entry or as much as $85 payment credit score TSA PreCheck each 4 1/2 years As much as $15 in assertion credit score every month to make use of on Uber rides or Uber Eats orders within the U.S., with a further as much as $20 in December Saks Fifth Avenue credit score as much as $50 to make use of January via June and as much as $50 to make use of July via December (enrollment required upfront) As much as $20 month-to-month assertion credit and relevant just for The New York Occasions, Peacock, The Wall Road Journal, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle (enrollment required upfront) As much as $300 annual credit score for choose Equinox memberships or a digital subscription to Equinox+ health app (enrollment required upfront, topic to auto-renewal) Walmart+ membership credit score reimbursement for $12.95 month-to-month membership payment for Walmart+ membership (topic to auto-renewal); Plus Up advantages not eligible |
As much as $200 yearly on resort bookings via AmexTravel.com
As much as $200 credit score for airline charges per calendar yr, which covers incidental fees As much as $189 annual assertion credit score for a Clear Plus membership $100 payment credit score for both International Entry or as much as $85 payment credit score TSA PreCheck each 4 1/2 years As much as $15 in assertion credit score every month to make use of on Uber rides or Uber Eats orders within the U.S., with a further as much as $20 in December Saks Fifth Avenue credit score as much as $50 to make use of January via June and as much as $50 to make use of July via December (enrollment required upfront) As much as $20 month-to-month assertion credit and relevant just for The New York Occasions, Peacock, The Wall Road Journal, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle (enrollment required upfront) As much as $300 annual credit score for choose Equinox memberships or a digital subscription to Equinox+ health app (enrollment required upfront, topic to auto-renewal) Walmart+ membership credit score reimbursement for $12.95 month-to-month membership payment for Walmart+ membership (topic to auto-renewal); Plus Up advantages not eligible |
Distinctive perks | N/A | 35% pay-with-points bonus while you ebook with Amex Journey (legitimate on first- and business-class flights on any airline or financial system flights on a particular qualifying airline, as much as 1 million factors per calendar yr)
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A $100 card assertion credit score in case your qualifying Schwab holdings are equal to or better than $250,000 and fewer than $1,000,000; a $200 card assertion credit score in case your qualifying Schwab holdings are equal to or better than $1,000,000 and fewer than $10,000,000; or a $1,000 card assertion credit score in case your qualifying Schwab holdings are equal to or better than $10,000,000 |
The Platinum Card from American Categorical
Along with the perks described above, the Amex Platinum card — together with all its variations — additionally presents a Priority Pass Select membership, entry to Amex Centurion lounges, entry to Delta SkyClubs* on same-day Delta flights and complimentary Gold elite standing with each Hilton and Marriott. Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
One purpose you would possibly need to think about a distinct model is that Amex solely means that you can earn a welcome bonus on any card once in a lifetime. Technically, these 4 Platinums are all completely different playing cards, so you may get the welcome supply on every.
*Efficient Feb. 1, 2025: Eligible Amex Platinum cardmembers will obtain 10 visits per eligible Amex Platinum card per yr to the Delta Sky Membership or to Seize and Go when touring on a same-day Delta-operated flight.
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Proper now, there’s a beneficiant welcome supply on the Amex Platinum: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards factors after you spend $8,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. These 80,000 factors are value a wholesome $1,600, in keeping with TPG’s June valuations.
Plus, this card incorporates a targeted welcome offer for some via the CardMatch tool; CardMatch presents are focused and topic to vary at any time. For an in-depth evaluation of this card, learn our full review of the Amex Platinum.
The Enterprise Platinum Card from American Categorical
The Enterprise Platinum card has a excessive spending requirement of $20,000 within the first three months to earn the 150,000 bonus factors, but when your corporation has massive bills, a world of rewards is ready for you.
This card is a standout alternative for 2 causes: The 35% bonus while you use your factors to pay for flights (first and enterprise class on any airline or financial system in your chosen qualifying airline) and the 50% level bonus on purchases of $5,000 or extra (on as much as $2 million of those purchases per calendar yr; 1 level per greenback thereafter)
The easiest way to make use of this may be on a big journey buy made with American Categorical Journey, so your 50% bonus can be on prime of the 5 factors per greenback bonus class.
However even for those who’re utilizing this for non-bonus spending, it may be a terrific deal. The 1.5 factors per greenback aren’t the very best potential return, however they’re fairly strong. Inquisitive about what else you are able to do with certainly one of these playing cards? Learn our full review of the Amex Business Platinum for extra particulars.
The American Categorical Platinum Card for Schwab
The American Categorical Platinum Card for Schwab is simply accessible to Charles Schwab prospects. There is not any means round this requirement since you could signal into your Schwab account throughout the software course of.
When you’re not a Schwab buyer, you must think about signing up. The Schwab investor checking account reimburses all ATM charges worldwide, making this a terrific choice for getting money when touring.
This card is similar to the non-public Platinum card in most methods, besides it comes with one neat perk — the power to money out Membership Rewards to a linked Schwab brokerage account. Be aware that that is considerably under TPG’s valuation of Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents every, but when you end up racking up factors quicker than you possibly can spend them, this generally is a worthwhile choice.
Points are a bad long-term investment as they’re prone to award chart devaluations with no advance discover, so in case your circumstances change and you are not touring sufficient to burn your factors, think about cashing them out. The method is simple, and after I tried it out myself, the cash posted immediately to my Schwab account although it was a Sunday and banks have been closed.
When you already are a Schwab buyer, you could be eligible for a bonus of $100, $200 or $1,000 after account approval and every year after that, relying on the scale of your account balances.
Associated: How our cruise writer got $4,456 in value from his Amex Platinum in a year
The American Categorical Platinum Card Solely for Morgan Stanley
Like its Schwab counterpart, The American Categorical Platinum Card Solely for Morgan Stanley is simply accessible to Morgan Stanley prospects. You may get all the standard advantages of the Amex Platinum, plus the power to make use of Membership Rewards factors for deposits by Morgan Stanley to your qualifying brokerage account. (For instance, 50,000 factors equals $500.)
You may additionally to eligible to obtain a $695 annual engagement bonus into your Platinum CashPlus account, successfully waiving the cardboard’s annual payment. The deposit is obtained every year upon card opening and upon renewal thereafter. Some Morgan Stanley debit card holders can also qualify.
Lastly, you can add Companion Platinum playing cards for no annual payment, though Companion Platinum cardmembers won’t obtain as many advantages as Extra Platinum cardmembers. You possibly can add full-service Extra Platinum playing cards for $195 apiece.
Associated: Personal or business: Which flavor of Amex Platinum and Amex Gold is best for you?
Backside line
These 4 variations of the Amex Platinum card supply barely completely different variations of a typical package deal of luxurious journey perks. To choose the best for you, it helps to contemplate how you propose to make use of your factors (money out, switch to airways, pay with factors, and so forth.) and the way a lot/what kind of spending you propose to placed on the cardboard.
Nobody wants all 4 completely different variations of the Platinum card, however chances are you’ll discover that there is room for one in your pockets particularly for those who’re available in the market for a useful welcome bonus.
Apply right here: Amex Platinum card
Apply right here: Amex Business Platinum card
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum Card, click on here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Enterprise Platinum, click on here.
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