American Express has made some big changes to the Platinum Card. The annual fee is climbing, and in return, they are stacking on more lifestyle, wellness, and travel credits than ever before. I have been digging through the fine print to see what is actually useful, what might just be marketing fluff, and how you can get the most value. If you already have the Platinum or are thinking about applying, here is what you need to know.
Disclosure: I am not affiliated with American Express and did not receive any monetary compensation or free products for this review. My opinions are based solely on my personal experience.
Key Changes at a Glance
| Benefit | Old | New |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $695 | $895 |
| Airline Fee Credit | $200 in credits per calendar year for baggage fees and other incidentals | Unchanged |
| CLEAR+ | $189/year CLEAR membership credit | $209/year CLEAR membership credit |
| Digital Entertainment | $240/year ($20 monthly) Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal | $300/year ($25 monthly). New partners: YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, Paramount+ |
| Equinox | Up to $300/year | Unchanged |
| Global Entry or TSA PreCheck | $120 every 4 years | Unchanged |
| Hotel Credit | $300/year via Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection | $600/year ($300 semi-annually) on prepaid Amex Travel bookings at eligible hotels |
| Lululemon Credit | N/A | $300/year ($75 quarterly) for U.S. Lululemon stores or online |
| Oura Ring | N/A | Up to $200/year back when purchasing an Oura Ring directly |
| Resy Credit (Dining) | N/A | $400/year ($100 quarterly for U.S. Resy purchases) |
| Saks Fifth Avenue | $100/year ($50 semi-annually) | Unchanged |
| Uber / Uber One | $200 Uber Cash ($15 per month, $20 in December) | Same Uber Cash + Uber One membership credit (up to $120/year) |
| Walmart+ | Full monthly membership credit (~$12.95 + tax) | Unchanged |
Who Amex Is Targeting
Looking at this refresh, I think Amex is going after young professionals in big U.S. cities. The Lululemon and Oura Ring credits feel very “urban wellness.” Yes, both brands skew female, but not exclusively. Lululemon has been building out its men’s line for years, and smart rings like Oura are for anyone who wants to track sleep and recovery. Personally, I’ve been curious to try one for a while.
Fine Print and Ways to Get Value
Airline Fee Credit
The Airline Fee Credit is pretty easy to use if you know what you are doing. Generally there are ways to maximize value here even when the fine print says it can only be used for baggage fees and other incidentals. Message me on any platform if you want the details.
CLEAR+
The CLEAR credit now fully covers the $209 annual membership. That said, CLEAR is a private company that collects your biometric data. With recent data leaks from companies like 23andMe, I am personally cautious. In my experience, sometimes CLEAR is faster than TSA PreCheck, sometimes it is not. You have to decide if saving a few minutes at security is worth handing over your data.
Digital Entertainment Credit
This one is an easy win. Amex added YouTube Premium as a partner, which gives you ad-free YouTube plus YouTube Music. If you are already paying for Spotify or Apple Music, this credit can replace that bill entirely.
Equinox Credit
Unless you live near an Equinox, this is not super useful. You can use it for Equinox+ online classes, but that is pretty niche. Some cardholders have tried using it at Equinox Spa locations, but that is a hack, not an official use. If it fails, you could end up with a big spa bill, so I would be very cautious.
Hotel Credit
On paper, the hotel credit doubling to $600 sounds amazing. In practice, it is a little tricky. Most Fine Hotels + Resorts properties in the U.S. run $500+ a night, so burning the credit domestically can feel like you are still overspending. My tip is to use this internationally. In places like Taipei or Bangkok you can find luxury hotels for $200–$300 a night, which makes this credit go much further.
Lululemon Credit
You get $75 per quarter, which is best used around their seasonal sales:
- Q1 – Valentine’s Day Sale
- Q2 – Memorial Day Sale
- Q3 – 4th of July Sale
- Q4 – Back Friday Sale
Keep in mind this credit only works at U.S. stores or their U.S. website. Since Lululemon is based in Vancouver, B.C., prices are often cheaper in Canada, but unfortunately you cannot cross the border and use your credit there. No gift cards either, at least officially. There are a few people trying to see if the credit would hit with a gift card purchase right now. I will update this once we get confirmation.
Oura Ring Credit
This one is interesting. The $200 credit only works for hardware, not the subscription. The Oura Ring Gen 3 is $200, so you could essentially get it for free. In theory, you could buy one every year and resell it online, but ring sizes vary a lot, so flipping them may be harder than it sounds. If you have been on the fence about trying one, this is a perfect excuse.
Resy Credit
The Resy credit is issued quarterly in $100 chunks, which is perfect if you already dine out in major metros like New York, LA, Chicago, or Miami. If you are a frequent traveler, you can also optimize this by making your bookings in big cities while you are on the road. That way you are stacking the credit on experiences you would already pay for. If you do not eat out much, this one is more of a “spend to save” perk.
Uber + Uber One Credit
Uber Cash is one of the easiest Platinum credits to use. You get $200 per year split into monthly deposits, plus up to $120 toward Uber One. Uber One already covers delivery fees, which means when you order UberEats you only have to worry about the tip. If you want to stretch your value further, you can use the credit for pickup orders, where tipping is not expected, or even for regular Uber rides. That flexibility makes it one of the most versatile credits on the card. Just keep in mind that many restaurants on UberEats mark up their prices compared to ordering directly, so check before defaulting to delivery.
Walmart+
This one is simple. If you already shop at Walmart, it is solid value. If not, you probably will not get much out of it. A nice bonus is that Walmart+ comes with Paramount+ Essential or Peacock Premium with ads.
Pro Discount Stacking
To squeeze every dollar out of these credits, stack them with Rakuten, Amex Offers, and seasonal promotions. Here is an example with Lululemon:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Lululemon Align™ High-Rise Pant | $128.00 |
| 15% off sale | -$19.20 |
| Sales tax (10%) | +$10.88 |
| Rakuten 2x | +239 Membership Rewards points |
| Amex Offer (spend $100, get $25 back) | -$25 |
| Amex Lululemon Credit | -$75 |
| Final Out of Pocket | $19.68 + 239 Amex Points (real price is $94.68 since you are paying for the credit) |
Stacking like this is how you make the most of the Platinum’s lifestyle perks.
Is the Amex Platinum Worth It in 2025?
It comes down to how much of this you will realistically use. The Platinum is a great fit if you:
- Travel often and stay at Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection
- Use Uber regularly
- Use any of the Digital Entertainment Partners already
- Shop at Lululemon and Saks
- Value lounge access and airport speedups like CLEAR
It may not make sense if you:
- Travel only occasionally
- Already carry other premium cards with overlapping benefits
- Rarely shop at luxury or lifestyle brands
- Struggle to use all the credits
Bottom line
There is no sugarcoating it. The $895 annual fee is steep. But if you can maximize even half of these credits, the value is there. For frequent travelers and lifestyle spenders, the Platinum refresh makes the card more rewarding than ever. For casual users, though, it risks pushing you into lifestyle inflation.
Personally, I think this refresh makes the Platinum one of the strongest premium travel cards if you are in the target audience. If you are not, alternatives like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X, or even the new Atmos Rewards Summit might be a better fit.
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