What is the American Express Optima Platinum card?

The American Express Platinum card offers 1 - 5 points per $1 spent, depending on the type of purchase. More specifically, with this card you can earn 5 points per $1 spent on flights booked with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 spent per year), 5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked through Amex, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

In addition to these ongoing rewards, the American Express Platinum card also offers new cardholders an initial bonus of 80,000 points for spending $6,000 in the first 6 months. Charges for travelers’ checks, prepaid cards, gift cards, cash equivalents such as lottery tickets, fees, and interest do not earn points.

Things to know about the American Express Platinum card points:

American Express Platinum card points are worth 1 cent each...

The most prestigious American Express card is the Centurion® Card from American Express. You need an invitation to get it, but you can also request one online. While Amex doesn’t disclose the requirements, online reports say you have to spend at least $100,000 a year on an Amex card to merit consideration.

The Centurion® Card from American Express also has a $10,000 initiation fee and a $5000 annual fee. Cardholders get access to Centurion Lounges, hotel benefits, a personal concierge, and more....

There are no American Express credit cards that are easy to get. They all require good credit or better. Compared to other American Express cards, the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card is easier to get if you have good credit or better and you meet all other criteria in order to qualify for it.

While American Express credit cards aren’t that easy to obtain, there are several other credit cards that are easy to get approved for.

Easiest credit...