Why the Amex Platinum Card is the Best for Travelers

Source : American Expres (www.americanexpress.com)

## Introduction

If you are a frequent traveler, you might be wondering which credit card can offer you the most value and perks. There are many options out there, but one card stands out from the rest: the Amex Platinum Card. In this post, I will explain why the Amex Platinum Card is the best for travelers, and how you can take advantage of its various benefits such as Amex FHR, airline credit, rental car and hotel tier matching, travel cancellation insurance, no foreign transaction fee, saks credit, mobile service credit and more.

## Amex FHR

One of the most exclusive benefits of the Amex Platinum Card is access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts program (FHR). This program allows you to book stays at over 1,100 luxury hotels around the world through American Express Travel, and enjoy a suite of benefits with an average total value of $600 per stay¹. These benefits include:

- Daily breakfast for two

- Guaranteed 4pm late check-out

- Room upgrade upon arrival, when available

- Complimentary Wi-Fi

- Unique property amenity, such as a spa or food and beverage credit

- Early check-in at noon, when available

With FHR, you can experience luxury stays at some of the most iconic hotels in the world, such as The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, and more. Plus, you can earn 5X Membership Rewards points on prepaid FHR bookings, or use Pay with Points to cover the cost of your stay.

## Airline Credit

Another great benefit of the Amex Platinum Card is the $200 airline fee credit. This credit allows you to get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by one selected airline to your Platinum Card account. You can choose one of the following airlines to receive the credit:

- Alaska Airlines

- American Airlines

- Delta Air Lines

- Frontier Airlines

- Hawaiian Airlines

- JetBlue Airways

- Spirit Airlines

- Southwest Airlines

- United Airlines

To receive the credit, you need to enroll your card and select your preferred airline online or by calling the number on the back of your card. The credit will be applied automatically to your statement within 8 weeks after the eligible purchase.

## Rental Car and Hotel Tier Matching

If you rent cars or stay at hotels frequently, you will appreciate the rental car and hotel tier matching benefits of the Amex Platinum Card. These benefits allow you to enjoy elite status and perks with various car rental and hotel loyalty programs, such as:

- Avis Preferred: You can enroll in Avis Preferred and enjoy expedited service, complimentary upgrades when available, and special offers.

- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards: You can enroll in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards and enjoy skip-the-line service, complimentary upgrades when available, and bonus points.

- National Emerald Club Executive: You can enroll in National Emerald Club Executive and enjoy guaranteed upgrades, priority service, and free rental days.

- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite: You can enroll in Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and enjoy 25% bonus points on stays, 2pm late check-out when available, enhanced room upgrades when available, welcome gift of points, and more.

- Hilton Honors Gold: You can enroll in Hilton Honors Gold and enjoy 80% bonus points on stays, free breakfast at all hotels, space-available room upgrades when available, late check-out when available, and more.

To enroll in these programs and receive your status match, you need to visit the American Express website or call the number on the back of your card.

## Travel Cancellation Insurance

Traveling can be unpredictable, and sometimes you may need to cancel or interrupt your trip due to unforeseen circumstances. That's why the Amex Platinum Card offers travel cancellation insurance that can reimburse you for non-refundable travel expenses up to $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per account per 12-month period. The covered reasons include:

- Accidental injury or illness of you or a traveling companion

- Death of you or a traveling companion or an immediate family member

- Severe weather that prevents you from starting or continuing your trip

- Terrorist action or hijacking that prevents you from starting or continuing your trip

- Jury duty or subpoena that prevents you from starting or continuing your trip

To be eligible for this benefit, you need to pay for your entire trip with your Amex Platinum Card or Membership Rewards points. You also need to notify American Express as soon as possible after the occurrence of the covered event.

## No Foreign Transaction Fee

One of the best features of the Amex Platinum Card is that it has no foreign transaction fee. This means that you can use your card abroad without paying any extra charges for currency conversion. This can save you a lot of money and hassle when traveling internationally, as some cards charge up to 3% for foreign transactions. With the Amex Platinum Card, you can enjoy the convenience and security of paying with your card anywhere in the world, and earn rewards on every purchase.

## Saks Credit

If you love shopping, you will love the saks credit benefit of the Amex Platinum Card. This benefit gives you up to $100 in statement credits per calendar year for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on your Platinum Card¹. You can use this credit to buy anything from clothing and accessories to beauty products and home decor. To receive the credit, you need to enroll your card online or by calling the number on the back of your card. The credit will be split into two parts: $50 for January through June, and $50 for July through December.

## Mobile Service Credit

Another useful benefit of the Amex Platinum Card is the mobile service credit. This benefit gives you up to $240 in statement credits per calendar year for wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers on your Platinum Card. You can use this credit to pay for your monthly phone bill, or upgrade your device or plan. To receive the credit, you need to enroll your card online or by calling the number on the back of your card. The credit will be split into 12 monthly parts: $20 per month.

## Calculating the Total Value of Amex Platinum Card Benefits

The annual fee of the Amex Platinum Card is $695. However, this card offers more than $1,444 in credits and benefits per year. Here are the amounts of each credit and benefit:

• Equinox Credit: $300
• Digital Entertainment Credit: $240
• Hotel Credit: $200
• Airline Fee Credit: $200
• Saks Credit: $100
• Mobile Service Credit: $240
• Global Lounge Collection: $99
• Global Entry or TSA Pre Credit: $100
• Travel Cancellation Insurance: $10,000

If you add up all these credits and benefits, you get $1,444 + $10,000 = $11,444. This is about 16 times higher than the annual fee.

## Signing Bouns

If you apply through my referral link, you can get an even better deal:

• Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of card membership

This is a limited time offer that expires soon. While the offer mentioned above is accurate at the time of publication, it is subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

## Conclusion

As you can see, the Amex Platinum Card is the best for travelers, as it offers a wide range of benefits that can enhance your travel experience and save you money. Whether you are looking for luxury stays, airline perks, car rental and hotel status, travel protection, or shopping and mobile credits, the Amex Platinum Card has it all. Plus, you can earn 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, and on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com. You can also redeem your points for travel, gift cards, merchandise, or transfer them to over 20 airline and hotel partners¹. If you are interested in applying for the Amex Platinum Card, you can visit the American Express website or call the number on the back of your card.

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