Both The Platinum Card® from American Express (review) and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (review) offer a variety of useful perks, and it can almost be tough to keep track of them.
Many people don’t realize that the Amex Platinum offers hotel status with two major hotel loyalty programs, so in this post I wanted to go over the details of how that works. This is in addition to the Amex Platinum offering elite status with three major car rental brands.
In this post:
Amex Platinum hotel status benefits
Those with the Amex Platinum receive both Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status on an ongoing basis (Enrollment required):
- This applies to both the Amex Personal Platinum and Amex Business Platinum
- Even authorized users are entitled to this benefit
- This benefit is available on an ongoing basis, for as long as your card remains open and in good standing; you only have to register once, and the perk will auto-renew year after year
- While you receive the benefits that correspond to the elite status, you don’t receive the corresponding elite qualification; in other words, when you receive status you’re no closer to getting Hilton Honors Diamond status or Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status
Amex Platinum Hilton Honors Gold status
To request your complimentary Amex Platinum Hilton Honors Gold status, simply visit this website and log into your American Express account.
On the next page you’ll be prompted to enter your Hilton Honors number.
Then within 72 hours your account should automatically be updated with Hilton Honors Gold status.
Hilton Honors Gold status benefits
There are lots of perks to Hilton Honors Gold status, though the way I view it, the main perks are the following:
- Complimentary breakfast or hotel credit — within the United States receive a food & beverage credit, and outside the United States receive at least a continental breakfast
- Executive lounge access, subject to availability
- Upgrades to preferred rooms, subject to availability
- Late check-out, subject to availability
- 80% bonus Hilton Honors points
- A fifth night free on award redemptions
The way I see it, the single most valuable perk of Hilton Gold is that you get free breakfast, a food & beverage credit, and/or lounge access, as that’s a perk that will quickly add up. Note that there are several other credit cards offering Hilton Honors Gold status.
Amex Platinum Marriott Bonvoy Gold status
To request your complimentary Amex Platinum Marriott Bonvoy Gold status, simply visit this website and log into your American Express account.
On the next page, you’ll be prompted to enter your Marriott Bonvoy number.
Then within 72 hours, your account should automatically be updated with Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.
Benefits of Marriott Bonvoy Gold status
There are several perks to Marriott Bonvoy Gold status, though the way I view it, the main perks are the following:
- A 25% points bonus on all stays
- An upgrade to an enhanced room, subject to availability
- 2PM late check-out, subject to availability
- Premium in-room internet
- A welcome gift of bonus points
The benefits are fairly limited, but better than nothing if staying at a Marriott. Note that there are several other credit cards offering Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.
Which Amex Platinum hotel status is more valuable?
Personally I think Hilton Honors Gold status is significantly more valuable than Marriott Bonvoy Gold status. Why? Hilton status gets you breakfast, lounge access, or a hotel credit, which I’d consider to be among the most valuable perks of elite status.
That being said, ultimately either status can come in handy, if you find yourself staying at a hotel belonging to either Hilton or Marriott. Some status is better than none.
Bottom line
While there are lots of awesome perks to the Amex Platinum Card, the complimentary hotel status is one benefit that’s often overlooked. Just for having the Amex Platinum you receive Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.
Those perks can add value for cardmembers, particularly the Hilton Honors Gold status, which offers some substantial perks.
If you have the Amex Platinum, have you benefited from the complimentary hotel status?
I'm not showing that Gold get's *ANY* access to executive lounge locations. Is this only a benefit for Amex Plat Gold?
What am I missing?
https://www.hilton.com/en/hilton-honors/member-benefits/?_gl=1*1nas9gk*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE2NzcxOTE1NzQuQ2owS0NRaUF1dHlmQmhDTUFSSXNBTWdjUkpTV01NQkxwT1JhS1ZjMU5qdVY0MGFQeUYwdUxyUzVUV2FkbHpSWU9Od1dxc1NaV245dlAtNGFBdWJxRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_dc*R0NMLjE2NzcxOTE1NzQuQ2owS0NRaUF1dHlmQmhDTUFSSXNBTWdjUkpTV01NQkxwT1JhS1ZjMU5qdVY0MGFQeUYwdUxyUzVUV2FkbHpSWU9Od1dxc1NaV245dlAtNGFBdWJxRUFMd193Y0I.
I'm not showing that Gold get's *ANY* access to executive lounge locations. Is this only a benefit for Amex Plat Gold?
What am I missing?
https://www.hilton.com/en/hilton-honors/member-benefits/?_gl=1*1nas9gk*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE2NzcxOTE1NzQuQ2owS0NRaUF1dHlmQmhDTUFSSXNBTWdjUkpTV01NQkxwT1JhS1ZjMU5qdVY0MGFQeUYwdUxyUzVUV2FkbHpSWU9Od1dxc1NaV245dlAtNGFBdWJxRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_dc*R0NMLjE2NzcxOTE1NzQuQ2owS0NRaUF1dHlmQmhDTUFSSXNBTWdjUkpTV01NQkxwT1JhS1ZjMU5qdVY0MGFQeUYwdUxyUzVUV2FkbHpSWU9Od1dxc1NaV245dlAtNGFBdWJxRUFMd193Y0I.
Only if you’re upgraded to the executive lounge floor.
Don’t hold your breath.
What about the other elite hotel status that come with the Amex Platinum?
Melia gold is quite good, it gives you 3 vouchers of 30%, late checkout, upgrade and 1 free breakfast if you are two...limited footprint but much better than Hilton and Marriott in my opinion
Radisson premium also gets you free upgrade
I don't think Melia or Radisson status are perks of the AMEX Platinum
It is in Europe
"Executive lounge access, subject to availability"
Worth noting that's not strictly true. I'm in Conrad Tokyo right now. I have Gold via AmEx Plat, and booked a suite on an Impresario rate. They could have upgraded me to an Exec Floor suite, but they elected not to.
It might be worth noting what's a guaranteed benefit versus a "hotel is gonna decide what the hotel wants to do" benefit.
Sir, you've just said too many trigger words for @DCS.
@Eskimo -- There you go again asking for my opinion by beating around the bush. Why not just ask me directly to chime in like many folks do?
If you listen to self-anointed "travel gurus", they will assure you that there is no "material difference" between HH Gold and HH Diamond elite benefits, except that folks keep reporting instances like this one, where a HH Gold is denied an...
@Eskimo -- There you go again asking for my opinion by beating around the bush. Why not just ask me directly to chime in like many folks do?
If you listen to self-anointed "travel gurus", they will assure you that there is no "material difference" between HH Gold and HH Diamond elite benefits, except that folks keep reporting instances like this one, where a HH Gold is denied an upgrade to the exec floor and, with it, access to exec lounge, whereas HH Diamonds never face such a restriction. Their access to the exec lounge is not contingent on being upgraded to the exec floor. They get it regardless. Clearly, a huge or "material" difference in benefit...
For HH Golds "Executive lounge access, subject to availability" means exactly what it says, with the twist that each property has complete discretion on deciding when there is or there isn't availability... That is what the commenter encountered at Conrad Tokyo. The property decided that there was no availability of suites on the exec floor even if it was a Hilton Impresario booking. No exec floor upgrade, no exec lounge access for a HH Gold.
G'day
Can't argue with most of this, but will still point out that continuing to insist that Ben and others are "self-anointed "travel gurus"" is trolling.
It's your way of coping with the reality that these experienced and revered individuals don't share your infatuation with Hilton.
It can't be that knowledgeable people would pick Hyatt over Hilton, it has to be that they're not knowledgeable, they're "self-anointed".
Whatever helps you sleep, though.