One of the more popular benefits of the The Platinum Card® from American Express (personal version) and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN (business version) is that you receive a $200 airline fee every calendar year that you are a cardmember. This can cover anything from checked baggage fees, change fees, airport lounge memberships, in-flight entertainment, etc. Many people have also reported being able to get airline gift card purchases reimbursed — you can view the entire FlyterTalk thread for more on this.
So since the the $200 credit is for every calendar, not cardmember year, you can theoretically get the $200 credits twice in your first year having the card. Let’s say you apply for the card now, you can get the $200 credit in November and then again in January, for example. That would give you a total of $400 in credits before your first year is up! That definitely helps offset the high annual fee, especially if you are able to get gift cards reimbursed! Just make sure to register for your airline of choice! You can learn more about the benefit and select your airline here.
Within the first year of cardmembership for both cards, if you utilize all of the benefits, the statement credits received definitely offset the annual fee. Here is the math:
The Platinum Card® from American Express ($550/year annual fee; See Rates & Fees)
- Airline Fee Credit – $200 per calendar year and you can possibly receive it twice within your first year of cardmembership for a total of up to $400 reimbursed.
- Uber credits – Up to $200 in Uber rides annually ($15 credits per month January-November and $35 credits for December)
- Global Entry Fee Reimbursement – $100 statement credit after applying and paying the $100 application fee for the Global Entry program
That is a total of $700 in reimbursements/statement credits which is higher then the cost of the first years annual fee. Additionally, you can currently earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you meet the minimum spend requirements. *Terms Apply. See Rates & Fees. Based on my valuation of Membership Reward points, the average person will get around a $1,720 value within their first year (60,000 points + $200 Airline Fee Credit Year 1 + $200 Airline Fee Credit Year 2 + $200 Uber credits + $100 Global Fee Reimbursement).
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express ($595/year annual fee; See Rates & Fees)
- Airline Fee Credit – $200 per calendar year and you can possibly receive it twice within your first year of cardmembership for a total of up to $400 reimbursed.
- Global Entry Fee Reimbursement – $100 statement credit after applying and paying the $100 application fee for the Global Entry program
That is a total of $500 in reimbursements/statement credits. Now that the annual fee has increased significantly, you are no longer coming out ahead in the first year like you used to. This is an incredibly expensive card and I am just not sure the benefits are worth it.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
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