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The Platinum Card® from American Express has gotten much better. There’s an initial bonus offer as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after $8,000 spend in your first 6 months of cardmembership. (Initial bonus offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer – the actual offer is confirmed prior to finalization of application so there’s no credit score impact unless you’re approved and choose to accept the card).
The Platinum Card from American Express has an $895 annual fee (see rates and fees). They tout $3,500 in benefits – in fact, over $2,900 in credits are available. The initial bonus offer, combined with elite status offered by the card and lounge access, make this a no brainer to get.
I’ve had it in my wallet for years. It was sort of marginal lately, but the refresh makes this super easy to keep and get real value from. It’s not a card I use for my spending outside of airfare. It’s a tool for better travel travel experience with Hilton and Marriott Gold status, car rental status and access to Centurion Lounges and 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight.
Delta Sky Club LAX
Delta Sky Club Austin
Centurion Lounge New York JFK
I personally find great use for these credits, though there are others:
- $320 Uber: $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit, $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December (add your Platinum card to your Uber account and use it on rides and delivery orders in the U.S to use the credit, and paying for an auto-renewing Uber One membership covers the cost of membership in statement credits).
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card at Paramount+, YouTube Premium and YouTube TV, Disney+, Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal. (Enrollment required.)
- $600 Hotel Credit: up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings (the latter requires a minimum two-night stay).
- $400 Resy Credit: Pay with the Platinum cards at U.S. restaurants which use the Resy platform (or make other eligible purchases through Resy) and get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter. The card also offers special access to reservations on select nights at participating ‘in demand’ Resy restaurants. (Enrollment required.)
- $209 CLEAR Plus Credit: Sometimes CLEAR gets you through security faster than PreCheck, not always. I travel enough that I want all options on the table, especially when lines are long and I don’t show up to the airport super early. I don’t like queueing. This credit covers the cost of membership.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: You choose one qualifying airline and receive up to $200 in statement credits each calendar year for incidental fees like checked bags that are charged by that airline to the card. The past several years I’ve had luck buying under-$100 Southwest Airlines tickets with my credit (I register Southwest as my airline of choice) but I assume at some point this will no longer work, since it isn’t supposed to.
But is it weird that – with all of this – I was excited to get my card replaced with the new mirror design? They said it wouldn’t arrive until October 3. It showed up September 24.
The card really is a mirror:
It’s a nice, clean design as well. I like it.
I don’t like to admit that I was excited over a credit card’s aesthetics, but we might as well find joy in creativity and design. I hadn’t really liked the artistic designs Amex has offered in recent years. This one is somehow different.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
Gary, did you have to request a new card or was this sent to you automatically?
@kimmiea – I requested it https://viewfromthewing.com/amex-platinum-mirror-card-just-dropped-how-to-get-yours-before-everyone-else-does/
How is it with fingerprints? The shiny happy people song comes to mind.
I like the Kehinde Wiley card! Flower power.
Did you know that the new MIRRORED Platinum American Express card could be a lifesaver in the event of an aircraft crash in the wilderness? It’s a travel essential you won’t want to leave home without. Inspired by Gary Leff’s article on VFTW, I decided to order this innovative AMEX card design. Since the mirrored Platinum American Express card lacks a sighting hole, here’s a guide on how to use it for signaling help after a crash:
1. Form a “V” shape using the index and middle fingers of one hand.
2. Extend that arm to frame your target (such as a helicopter or a distant ship) within the notch of the V.
3. With your other hand, hold up the mirror.
4. Adjust the mirror until you catch the sun’s reflection on your V-shaped fingers.
5. Keep the light focused on your fingers and flash it three times toward your target, repeating as needed.
I am writing this reply from the sky on my American Airlines DFW to DTW flight. Your new mirrored Platinum American Express card could prove invaluable and save your life in a critical situation!
Wow looks nice, enjoy! And thank you for your valuable PSA @Ken A, as always — very resourceful.
I envy you. mines like stained or graffiti, embarrassing to present
@Peter — Nice REM reference!
@Ken A — So… you purchased AA WiFi? Oof… shoulda flown Delta…
@ Gary — It has been widely reported that UberOne is nothing but a scam. Uber simply raises the price of your ride and then subtracts back the “discount”. This scam does not save you any money. Knowing uber, it probably costs you MORE.
Reagarding the silly “mirror” card, I guess it is great for narcissistic cocaine addicts, like Don Jr, but otherwise, why not get the plastic version of the card? Why carry around the excessively heavy/thick metal card at all?
@1990- one of the lyrics is “gold and silver shine” but sadly no mention of Platinum…
@1990 @Peter — That whole album went platinum though so it all works out!
Probably one of the few who bothered to order one. That’s why.
What nonsense.
@Peter @L737 — “…and I feel fine.”
@L737 – now we’re talking! Wikipedia said it went quadruple platinum – just like @1990!
For those of us who don’t want to weigh our pocket down with a mirror that doubles as a credit card, Amex will send out a plastic card replacement if you ask
I’m pleased to report that each of the new Q3 Resy and Lululemon credits are posting (on all four cards)… booked 1 of 4 FHR stays for the new $300 credit; it should post eventually, too.
@1990: You wrote, “So… you opted for AA WiFi? Oof… perhaps you should have flown Delta…” Fortunately, I received 20 complimentary minutes of Viasat internet after watching a sponsored ad. I can’t help but wonder if the absence of free broadband internet on American Airlines is why many premium passengers are choosing to fly with Delta Air Lines instead of with American Airlines.
@1990 – LFG!
@Ken A – Using your precious internet time on VFTW? I salute you, sir.