In 2025, the American Express Platinum Card went through a major refresh that pushed the $895 annual fee (Rates & Fees) to record territory among premium cards and yet I’m having an easier time justifying it than ever before. That sounds backwards, so it’s worth explaining precisely.
Continue reading: Is The Amex Platinum Card Worth It? How I Get The Most Value
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
How does the Plat card's travel insurance compare to Chase Reserve/Preferred since you're putting all your airfare spend on it? I remember reading that it's not as good?
Hertz President’s Circle - This is super valuable if you want to be jailed after dropping off your car.
Limiting the annual $200 airline credit to ONE specific airline you choose in January 1 seems unreasonable and unnecessary. The Amex Surpass card has an annual $200 airline credit ($50 each quarter) you can use on any airline or airlines.
Just a short comment to note that the strange creepy AI writing is noticed and makes me very sad
I noticed it too but I can't really blame Ben. Pretty much all white collar workers are being actively encouraged to use AI by their employers. Why wouldn't Ben use it too? I've often wondered how 1 person can produce so much content while traveling extensively and having a family. I don't see a big issue with him using it, especially for these more credit card oriented posts.
Were you really ever on the fence about giving up the Amex Platinum card? I find that hard to believe.
Did Amex "win" the 2025 refresh war? 100% - not even close.
Walmart+ is useful for getting either Paramount+ or Peacock for free. That has some value.
Lululemon requires minimal effort every 90 days to buy something on the day that your alert tells you that LLL is at a good multiplier on a shopping portal. It's a free $300 times X of miles. Unfortunately they disappeared from Rakuten a few weeks ago but can still get them through AA eShopping etc. Free birthday/christmas presents for folks or sell whatever you buy on ebay to get a few dollars back (I hear that selling things on ebay means you have a business... and those business credit card offers look nice sometimes...)
it's laughable to mention lounge access as a benefit when lounges have been packed to the rafters and they're sending people away.
Chase has the best protections from my understanding. That being said, in my many years (and many flights) with the AMEX Platinum, I've needed the travel insurance 0 times.
If you have the CSR, then maybe the piece of mind is worth giving up 1 incremental point/$, but if you have the CSP, I'd personally take the points on the Plat and call it a day.
I used it once for a flight reimbursement and they denied my claim, after many hours of painstaking documentation. I now use my CSR for all flights.
How does the Plat card's travel insurance compare to Chase Reserve/Preferred since you're putting all your airfare spend on it? I remember reading that it's not as good?
Chase has the best protections from my understanding. That being said, in my many years (and many flights) with the AMEX Platinum, I've needed the travel insurance 0 times.
If you have the CSR, then maybe the piece of mind is worth giving up 1 incremental point/$, but if you have the CSP, I'd personally take the points on the Plat and call it a day.
I used it once for a flight reimbursement and they denied my claim, after many hours of painstaking documentation. I now use my CSR for all flights.
Hertz President’s Circle - This is super valuable if you want to be jailed after dropping off your car.
Limiting the annual $200 airline credit to ONE specific airline you choose in January 1 seems unreasonable and unnecessary. The Amex Surpass card has an annual $200 airline credit ($50 each quarter) you can use on any airline or airlines.
Just a short comment to note that the strange creepy AI writing is noticed and makes me very sad
I noticed it too but I can't really blame Ben. Pretty much all white collar workers are being actively encouraged to use AI by their employers. Why wouldn't Ben use it too? I've often wondered how 1 person can produce so much content while traveling extensively and having a family. I don't see a big issue with him using it, especially for these more credit card oriented posts.
Were you really ever on the fence about giving up the Amex Platinum card? I find that hard to believe.
Did Amex "win" the 2025 refresh war? 100% - not even close.
Walmart+ is useful for getting either Paramount+ or Peacock for free. That has some value.
Lululemon requires minimal effort every 90 days to buy something on the day that your alert tells you that LLL is at a good multiplier on a shopping portal. It's a free $300 times X of miles. Unfortunately they disappeared from Rakuten a few weeks ago but can still get them through AA eShopping etc. Free birthday/christmas presents for folks or sell whatever you buy on ebay to get a few dollars back (I hear that selling things on ebay means you have a business... and those business credit card offers look nice sometimes...)
it's laughable to mention lounge access as a benefit when lounges have been packed to the rafters and they're sending people away.
No guest in their lounges in the deal breaker for me
Can you buy an oura ring with credits or just the monthly fees