AmEx Platinum 175k Offer GuideAmExPlatinum175k

Is the Amex Platinum 175k Worth the $895 Annual Fee?

Complete breakdown of the Amex Platinum 175k benefits, credits, and perks to help you decide if this premium card with the Amex Platinum 175k welcome bonus makes sense for your lifestyle

Quick Decision: Is This Card For You?

Answer these questions to get a quick assessment

You SHOULD Get This Card If:

  • You fly 6+ times per year (lounge access pays for itself)
  • You can use at least $1,500 in annual credits
  • You value premium travel experiences (business class, luxury hotels)
  • You're applying for the Amex Platinum 175k offer (worth $2,800-$3,850)
  • You spend $20k+ on travel annually (5X points)
  • You want Marriott/Hilton Gold status automatically

You Should SKIP This Card If:

  • You fly less than 4 times per year (lounges won't be worth it)
  • You can't realistically use $1,000+ in credits
  • You prefer cash back over travel rewards
  • You're not comfortable with a $895 annual fee
  • You rarely stay at hotels or use ride-sharing
  • You already have Chase Sapphire Reserve (similar benefits)

Complete Amex Platinum 175k Benefits Breakdown

Travel Benefits

Total Value: $1,600-$2,000/year

1,550+ Airport Lounge Access

$400-$500/year value

Access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Select (1,400+ lounges), Delta Sky Clubs (10 visits/year), Escape Lounges, and more across 140 countries.

Centurion Lounges: Premium dining, showers, spa services
Delta Sky Clubs: 10 complimentary visits when flying Delta
Guest Policy: No free guests unless you spend $75k/year

$600 Hotel Credit

$600/year value

Up to $600 annually for Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through Amex Travel ($300 per calendar half-year).

FHR Perks: Room upgrades, daily breakfast, $100 property credit
Hotel Collection: More properties, similar perks
Limitation: Must book through Amex Travel, often higher rates

Marriott & Hilton Gold Status

$200-$400/year value

Automatic Gold elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors - no stays required.

Room Upgrades: Subject to availability at check-in
Late Checkout: Usually 2pm (vs 11am/12pm)
Bonus Points: 25% more points on stays

$200 Airline Fee Credit

$120-$200/year value

Annual $200 credit for incidental fees with ONE selected airline (choose at start of year).

Covers: Baggage fees, seat selection, in-flight purchases
Doesn't Cover: Ticket purchases, upgrades with miles
Tip: Can be tricky to use - plan purchases carefully

$209 CLEAR Plus Credit

$209/year value

Annual credit for CLEAR Plus membership - skip TSA lines at 50+ US airports.

Speed: Bypass regular security lines in 2-5 minutes
Availability: 50+ airports including major hubs
Note: Still need TSA PreCheck for best experience

$120 Global Entry / TSA PreCheck

$30/year value (amortized)

$120 credit for Global Entry (every 4 years) or $85 for TSA PreCheck (every 4.5 years).

Global Entry: Includes TSA PreCheck + expedited customs
TSA PreCheck: Keep shoes/belt on, laptops in bag
Tip: Get Global Entry - it includes TSA PreCheck

Lifestyle Benefits

Total Value: $1,400-$1,900/year

$400 Resy Dining Credit

$400/year value

Up to $400 annually ($100 per quarter) at 10,000+ Resy restaurants in the US.

Coverage: 10,000+ restaurants across major US cities
Bonus: Platinum Nights by Resy - exclusive reservations
Limitation: Quarterly cap, doesn't roll over

$300 Digital Entertainment Credit

$300/year value

Monthly $25 credit for eligible streaming and digital subscriptions.

Eligible: Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Peacock, NYT, Audible, SiriusXM
Easy to Use: Most people already have these subscriptions
High Usage Rate: 90%+ of cardholders use this

$200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One

$320/year value

$15 monthly Uber credit ($35 in December) + annual $120 Uber One membership credit.

Uber Cash: Works for rides and Uber Eats
Uber One: $0 delivery fees, 5% off eligible orders
Limitation: Monthly credits don't roll over

$155 Walmart+ Credit

$155/year value

Monthly credit for Walmart+ membership ($12.95/month including tax).

Benefits: Free delivery, gas discounts, mobile scan & go
Bonus: Includes Paramount+ subscription
Note: Only valuable if you shop at Walmart regularly

$100 Saks Fifth Avenue Credit

$50-$100/year value

$50 credit twice per year (Jan-Jun, Jul-Dec) for Saks purchases.

Works: In-store and online at saks.com
Limitation: Must use $50 in each period, doesn't combine
Tip: Buy gift cards if you don't shop at Saks

$300 Equinox Credit

$0-$300/year value

Annual $300 credit for Equinox gym membership or Equinox+ digital app.

Equinox+: Digital fitness app ($39.99/month)
Low Usage: Only ~20% of cardholders use this
Limitation: Equinox memberships are $200-$300/month

Real User Scenarios

See how different types of users extract value from the Platinum card

Sarah - Business Traveler

Flies 15+ times/year

Lounge Access (15 visits):$525
Hotel Credit:$600
Airline Fee Credit:$200
Uber + Entertainment:$500
Hotel Status Value:$300
CLEAR + Global Entry:$239
Total Value:$2,364
Annual Fee:-$895
Net Value:+$1,469
Excellent Value

Mike - Leisure Traveler

Flies 6-8 times/year

Lounge Access (8 visits):$280
Hotel Credit:$400
Resy Dining:$300
Uber + Entertainment:$500
Airline Fee Credit:$120
CLEAR:$209
Total Value:$1,809
Annual Fee:-$895
Net Value:+$914
Good Value

Lisa - Occasional Traveler

Flies 2-3 times/year

Lounge Access (3 visits):$105
Resy Dining:$200
Uber + Entertainment:$500
Walmart+:$155
Saks Credit:$50
Total Value:$1,010
Annual Fee:-$895
Net Value:+$115
Marginal Value

How Does It Compare to Competitors?

Amex Platinum vs other premium travel cards

FeatureAmex PlatinumChase Sapphire ReserveCapital One Venture X
Annual Fee$895$550$395
Welcome Bonus175,000 pts ($3,500)60,000 pts ($900)75,000 miles ($750)
Airport Lounges1,550+ (Best)1,400+ Priority Pass1,400+ Priority Pass + Capital One
Annual Travel Credit$600 hotel + $200 airline$300 general travel$300 general travel
Lifestyle Credits$1,400+ (Most)$60 DoorDash$0
Hotel Elite StatusMarriott & Hilton GoldNoneNone
Dining Multiplier1X10X (Best)2X
Travel Multiplier5X flights/hotels10X hotels/car, 5X flights5X hotels/flights
Transfer Partners20 partners (Most)14 partners15 partners
Best ForFrequent flyers, lounge access, luxury travelDining, flexible travel creditLower fee, simple benefits

Choose Amex Platinum If:

  • You want the highest welcome bonus (175k)
  • You fly frequently and value lounge access
  • You can use $1,500+ in lifestyle credits
  • You want hotel elite status automatically

Choose Chase Sapphire Reserve If:

  • You spend heavily on dining (10X points)
  • You prefer flexible $300 travel credit
  • You want simpler benefits structure
  • Lower annual fee ($550 vs $895)

Choose Capital One Venture X If:

  • You want lowest annual fee ($395)
  • You prefer simple, straightforward benefits
  • You don't need lifestyle credits
  • You're new to premium travel cards
Is the Amex Platinum 175k Worth the $895 Annual Fee