How do I earn the American Express Platinum card welcome bonus?

To earn the American Express Platinum card welcome bonus, new cardholders must spend $6,000 in the first 6 months after opening an account. The American Express Platinum card bonus is 80,000 points, worth around $536 depending on the redemption method.

American Express Platinum card bonus details:

• Eligibility: The American Express Platinum card welcome bonus is designed for new cardholders. So, you may not be eligible for this introductory bonus offer if you currently have the American Express Platinum card or you had it in the past, regardless of whether you previously earned the bonus. Amex will also take into consideration the number of American Express credit cards you have opened and closed, along with other undisclosed factors.
• When the bonus posts: Bonus points will be credited to the account 8-12 weeks after you meet the American Express Platinum card minimum spending requirement.
• Eligible purchases: Most purchases made in the first 6 months by both the primary cardholder and any authorized users count toward the $6,000 threshold.
• Charges not covered: Certain charges, such as fees and interest rates, do not apply toward the American Express Platinum card's minimum spending requirement. Purchasing travelers checks, cash equivalents such as lottery tickets and money orders, prepaid cards, and gift cards won’t count either.
• Redemption value: American Express Platinum card points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for airfare or stays at Fine Hotels & Resorts properties booked through the American Express Travel portal. Points used for most other forms of travel are worth just 0.7 cents each, however. 

In addition, points are usually worth up to 1 cent each toward most gift cards, depending on the merchant. Plus, points are worth 0.6 cents toward statement credits or 0.7 cents when using the Pay with Points feature for purchases at major retailers, like Amazon or Best Buy.

It is worth mentioning that you may potentially earn a higher American Express Platinum card welcome bonus if you receive a pre-approved offer from Amex in the mail. Alternatively, you may check to see if you pre-qualify online through the issuer’s website. If you pre-qualify for the American Express Platinum card, you may also be offered a higher welcome bonus than the one that’s publicly available.

Other American Express Platinum card perks:

• Ongoing rewards: 5 points per $1 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 on all other purchases.
• Annual Airline Credit:Earn a $200 annual statement credit for airline incidentals with one select qualifying airline. You can’t use the credit for airfare or upgrades.
• Hotel Credit: Earn up to $200 in statement credits each year for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings made through Amex Travel (requires a minimum two-night stay).
• Uber credit: $15 in Uber credits every month, plus an extra $20 bonus in December. It can add up to $200 per year for Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the United States.
• Complimentary Hotel Status: Cardholders can enroll in Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy as Gold-level members free of charge. Members get complimentary room upgrades and more opportunities to earn free nights.
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit: Receive a $100 credit for the Global Entry application fee or an $85 credit for the TSA PreCheck application fee. Both services expedite airport screening.
• 0% foreign transaction fee: No extra fees when you make purchases in another country or online through an internationally based merchant.

The card’s annual fee is $695, and you need at least good credit for approval. If you don’t know where you stand, you can check your credit score for free, right here on WalletHub.