How To Maximize Benefits with the AMEX Platinum Card

Some credit cards are simple and straightforward in nature, offering a smaller selection of features in exchange for a minimization of their costs. In contrast, other credit cards are flush with potential benefits, bonuses, and rewards, which are funded by the higher costs charged upon them. Both kinds of credit cards have their respective upsides and downsides, but when someone chooses one of the latter such as the American Express Platinum Card, they should do their best to capitalize on those upsides as much as possible.

Here are some suggestions that can be used to maximize the benefits from an AMEX Platinum C1ard:

Sign-Up Offer

The AMEX Platinum Card comes with a sign-up offer that can prove attractive to some people. In short, it consists of 60,000 points in exchange for the credit card user spending $5,000 within the period of 3 months. As a result, people who want to lay claim to those points might want to remember to spend that $5,000 before time can run out.

Bonus Points

Credit cards that come with a lot of rewards tend to have categories of spending that are incentivized through the provision of increased bonus points. In the case of the AMEX Platinum Card, this means a 5 time bonus on airfare as well as hotels, meaning that it is well-suited for making travel-related purchases. Although this does not mean that people should travel just for the sake of collecting more Membership Rewards points with their AMEX Platinum Card, it does mean that they should use said credit cards whenever they make such purchases so as to maximize what they are getting out of each such purchase.

Airline Credit

On a related note, the AMEX Platinum Card comes with a $200 credit on airline expenses with an eligible airline that has been designated ahead of time. Said credit can’t be used for airfare, but considering the sheer range of costs that can be racked up through an airline, credit card holders should have no problems finding a way to make use of the credit on their travels.

Uber Credit

AMEX Platinum Card holders can expect a $200 Uber credit on an annual basis. However, they should know that the credit is not given to them on an annual basis but rather on a month-to-month basis. To be exact, they get $15 in Uber credit per month, which is increased to $35 for the month of December. Naturally, unused credit is not rolled over into the next period, meaning that AMEX Platinum Card holders should make sure to use theirs before the month comes to a close.

Lounge Access

Speaking of which, the AMEX Platinum Card provides free access to American Express Centurion lounges, which offer interested individuals a chance to get something to eat, a chance to get something to drink, and a chance to rest for a time. Furthermore, an AMEX Platinum Card provides free access to Airspace Lounges as well as Delta Sky Clubs whenever they are traveling with that particular airline. Naturally, this is something that will prove to be more useful to some credit card users than others, seeing as how these lounges can be found in a limited number of locations. As a result, those who are curious should check the list of lounges that can be found out there so that they can see how much they can benefit from this particular feature.

Hotel Elite Status Programs

Unsurprisingly, the AMEX Platinum Card provides membership in the elite status programs of a number of hotel chains as well. One example is Starwood Preferred Guest Gold, while another example is Hilton Honors Gold. Once again, this is something that will prove useful to people who spend a great deal of time out traveling by providing them with bonus points, free upgrades when space permits, and other benefits.

American Express Concierge

On a final note, people with an AMEX Platinum Card get access to the American Express Concierge, which can help them get tables at fine restaurants, tickets to special events, and other arrangements when they are out traveling. In particular, it should be noted that some restaurants have tables reserved for people with AMEX Platinum Cards, meaning that the American Express Concierge might be able to help interested individuals get tables that they would not have been able to get on their own. If not, there is no harm in giving it a shot, particularly since it can save interested individuals from a great deal of fuss and hassle.