The Platinum Card® from American Express

Yes, there is an ongoing Hertz / Amex Platinum deal. As an Amex Platinum cardholder, you’ll get reduced rates and other privileges on Hertz car rentals, including free one-car-class upgrades and expedited service. You can also return your rental up to 4 hours late with no penalty. To get the benefits, just pay for a Hertz rental with your American Express Platinum card and include “CDP #211762” in your reservation.

Amex Platinum also offers free membership in the Hertz Gold Plus rewards program. You get an automatic 15% - 25% discount on all rentals, along with Hertz points. Plus, you can pick pretty much any car you want, without a reservation, as well as add your spouse/partner as a driver - among other perks.

The Amex Platinum airline credit pays you back for up to $200 in fees from one airline every year. This credit applies to fees charged for things like checked baggage, date changes, pet travel, in-flight purchases and more. To get the Amex Platinum airline credit, you just have to tell American Express which airline you want the credit to apply to. Then, Amex will automatically reimburse you with statement credits after that airline charges fees to your card. To choose your airline, simply log in to your Amex account here.

Here’s how the Amex Platinum airline credit works:

• Amex automatically gives you $200 per year for fees from one specific airline.
• You can choose your preferred airline by logging in to your account on Amex’s airline choice page and selecting from the dropdown menu.
• You can select your preferred airline at any time during the first year your account is open. But you can’t change your pick whenever you want. You can only make a change from January 1 to January 31 each year. Otherwise, Amex will use the same airline you picked previously.
• Unused Amex Platinum airline credits do not roll over from year to year. You get no more than $200 each year.
• The Amex Platinum airline credit covers fees for: baggage, date changes, bringing pets, picking your seat ahead of time, reservations by phone, in-flight purchases (food, drinks, entertainment), and extra guest passes for airport lounges.
• The Platinum Card’s airline credit does not apply to: airfare, services provided by third parties (e.g. Wi-Fi), gift cards (officially; some people say it works), fees for transferring points, using a travel agent, duty-free purchases or insurance.

With the Amex Platinum airline credit, you don’t need to worry about $200 in fees that you’d normally have to pay out of pocket each year. And aside from designating which airline you want the credit for, you don’t have to do anything to redeem.

Your first $200 in eligible charges each year will automatically be taken care of. Your transaction history will show “AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement,” with the dollar amount Amex subtracted from your balance.

The Amex Platinum Priority Pass benefit gives you access to more than 1,000 airport lounges around the world. It’s a $399-per-year value. Plus, Priority Pass is just one of the six chains of airport lounges that Amex Platinum gives you access to for free. It also gets you into The Centurion® Lounge, International American Express Lounges, Delta SkyClub, Airspace and Escape Lounges. You can use the Amex lounge finder tool to see which lounges are in the airport you’re headed to.

Out of all the lounge programs you get access to with Amex Platinum, Priority Pass is special because it’s the only one that requires enrollment. You’ll need a membership card, not just Amex Platinum, to enter Priority Pass lounges.

Here’s how to get your Amex Platinum Priority Pass benefit:

1. Use this link and log into your Amex account with your username and password.
   
2. Follow the onscreen instructions to enroll.
   
3. Wait for your card to arrive. It should take 10-14 business days.
   

If you don’t want to enroll online, you can do it by phone by calling the number on the back of your credit card. Once you receive your membership card in the mail, just show it at the entrance to any Priority Pass lounge and you’ll be admitted. You can bring in guests, too, although individual lounges can limit the number of people you’re allowed. Once inside, you’ll get to enjoy amenities like free food and beverages, Wifi, comfortable seating, and more.

Amex Platinum car rental insurance covers cardholders for up to $75,000 in collision damage and theft for vehicles rented with the Amex Platinum credit card or American Express rewards points. To get Amex Platinum car rental insurance coverage, you must decline the rental agency’s supplemental insurance policy. To make a Platinum Card rental car insurance claim, call 1-800-338-1670 within 30 days of a covered incident.

There are a few exceptions you should be aware of, though. And there are more details about the process you’ll need to follow to actually get your money. You can find the key points below.

Amex Platinum Car Rental Insurance Info:

• You’re covered up to $75,000 per claim for collision damage or theft.
• You must pay for the entire rental with your Amex Platinum card or rewards points.
• You must decline the rental agency’s insurance policy.
• The following types of vehicles are not covered by Amex Platinum rental car insurance: Cargo vans, vans that carry 9+ people, box trucks, trucks that weight 10k+ lbs., modified vehicles (except for handicapped accessibility), antiques, limos, off-road vehicles, motorcycles/motorbikes/mopeds, RVs, golf carts, and a few others.
• The following situations and types of damage are not covered by Amex Platinum rental insurance: Manufacturing defects, wear and tear, damage from illegal activities, accidents caused by driver’s intoxication, seizure by authorities, damage by war, and a few others.
• To make an Amex Platinum rental car insurance claim, call 1-800-338-1670 within 30 days of the incident. You can also call 1-216-617-2500 collect from abroad. Amex will then mail you instructions for what to do next. You’ll have 60 days to return any proof they request, which may include damage estimates, police reports, etc.

Amex Platinum rental car insurance will reimburse you within 90 days of American Express receiving your proof of the incident. Before you rent a car with your Amex Platinum card, you should take some time to read through the benefits guide. It will give you the full information.

The American Express Platinum credit score requirement is 700 or higher because applicants need good credit or better to be approved. But your credit score isn’t the only thing that determines whether you’ll be approved for the American Express Platinum card. Your income and any debt you’re carrying will also play a role in your approval odds.

If you don’t meet the American Express Platinum credit score requirement, there are plenty of other credit cards you can get. They likely won’t be from American Express, though, since all Amex cards require good or excellent credit. Once you get a credit card, be sure to make all of your payments on time, and only use a portion of your available credit. This will help raise your credit score so you can get a card like American Express Platinum in the future.

The American Express Platinum card has no pre-set credit limit. That does not give cardholders unlimited purchasing power. It means American Express won’t give you a specific credit limit once you’re approved for the card. Rather, they calculate your purchasing power based on how much you spend on the card as well as your income, any debt you carry, and your overall creditworthiness. Most Amex Platinum cardholders report a credit limit of $2,500 or so for the first several months, from what they can tell.

While “no pre-set limit” can sound enticing, it can actually be quite dangerous. Credit utilization is a major factor in how your credit score is calculated. Essentially, “credit utilization” refers to how much of your credit limit you’re using each month. The less you use up, the better it is for your credit score. However, cards that have no pre-set limit make it extremely difficult to determine your credit utilization. They have the potential to hurt your credit score as a result.

You also have to consider things in even more practical terms. If you don’t know what your credit limit is, you won’t know when you’re approaching it. That could leave you in a tough spot in an emergency situation and make it difficult to buy high priced items with confidence. Thankfully, many cardholders have reported getting emails or calls from Amex early on, saying they were approaching their spending threshold and would need to make a payment before being allowed to make any more purchases.

The best thing to do when trying to figure out how much you can spend on your Amex Platinum card is to start small and gradually increase your spending over time. You will have to pay your balance in full every month, anyway, since Amex Platinum is a charge card. Many cards offering “no pre-set limit” are charge cards.

There are 3 types of Amex Platinum travel insurance: travel accident insurance, baggage insurance and rental car insurance. To get coverage, just pay for your travel costs with your Platinum card. If you experience an eligible loss, you can then file a claim for reimbursement with Amex. All types of Platinum card travel insurance come at no extra cost to you. They’re covered under the $550 annual fee. Benefits also apply to other users on your card as well as to your spouse and dependents under the age of 23.

Amex Platinum travel accident insurance will pay up to $500,000 compensation for death or dismemberment caused by transportation you booked using your Platinum card.

Amex Platinum baggage insurance applies when your bags are damaged by a carrier or are stolen. Amex will pay up to $3,000 per person per trip to reimburse you. You can’t get reimbursed for anything that customs/TSA confiscates, or normal wear and tear on the bags, among a few other things. There’s also a small list of items that aren’t eligible, including animals/plants, consumable/perishable items and cash.

Amex Platinum rental car insurance protects you against collision damage and theft when you rent a car using your Platinum card. You just need to decline any insurance that the rental agency offers. There are some types of vehicles that don’t count, like big vans, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, etc. There are also a few types of incidents that are excluded, like drunk driving, and regular wear and tear. As long as situation is covered, Amex will pay up to $75,000 per claim.

To find out how to file an Amex Platinum travel insurance claim, consult your benefits guide. Typically, the first step is to notify the travel carrier of the loss (and law enforcement, if applicable). Then, you must inform Amex that you’re going to make a claim within 30 days. After that, you’ll have to submit a claim form and all other requested documentation in 60-90 days.

The biggest American Express Platinum travel benefits are a 60,000-mile initial bonus, complimentary Gold Status in the Hilton Honors and Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty programs, a $200 annual airline credit, and 5 points per $1 spent on flights and hotels booked through American Express Travel. There’s also a monthly Uber credit, no foreign transaction fee, baggage and travel insurance, and premium roadside assistance.

Amex Platinum is a charge card, which means you’ll have to pay the balance in full every month. Plus it has a $550 annual fee. So you need to make sure you’ll get your money’s worth from its travel perks before you apply.

Here is a rundown of the American Express Platinum travel benefits:

• Annual Airline Credit

$200 in credits per year for baggage fees, in-flight meals and other airline incidentals. You can’t use the credit for airfare, gift cards, upgrades, duty–free purchases or award tickets.

• Credits for Uber Rides

Up to$15 in credits for Uber rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December ($35 total). The credits expire at the end of each month.

• Complimentary Hotel Status

Cardholders can join Hilton Honors and SPG as Gold-level members for free. Members get complimentary room upgrades and more opportunities to earn free nights.

• Initial Bonus Miles

60,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 in your first three months. Points are redeemable for around $500 in travel-related purchases, merchandise or gift cards. Points do not expire as long as the account remains open.

• Reward Points for Travel Purchases

Earn 5 points for every $1 spent on travel purchases booked through AmexTravel.com. Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit

Credit for the $100 Global Entry application fee or the $85 TSA PreCheck application fee, once every four years. Both services expedite re-entry into the U.S. when traveling abroad. Cardholder eligible for statement credit every four years.

• Baggage Insurance

Pays replacement costs for carry-on baggage, up to $3,000 per covered person per covered trip. Pays up to $2,000 for checked baggage.

• Car Rental Insurance

Covers eligible rental vehicles for up to 30 days against damage and theft up to a maximum of $50,000. Does not cover intoxicated/reckless driving, damage to other vehicles or injuries to people in other vehicles.

• Travel Accident Insurance

Covers you and your family for accidental death or dismemberment while traveling on a common carrier (plane, train, boat or bus), up to $100,000 per person.

• Premium Roadside Assistance

Gives free service to the cardholder 4 times annually. Includes towing up to 10 miles, winching, jump starts, tire changes if you have a spare, lockout service, and 2-gallon fuel delivery. You owe any extra cost for towing more than 10 miles or additional services.

Despite all of American Express Platinum’s travel perks, the $550 annual fee might still be too much. There are some other good options, fortunately. One is Chase Sapphire Preferred. You’ll earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in your first three months. That’s worth $625 when redeemed for travel. And the $95 annual fee is waived the first year.

The higher-end Sapphire Reserve Card is Platinum’s closest competitor. It shares most of the same features as Sapphire Preferred, but has an initial bonus worth $750 in travel. It also has a $300 annual travel credit and a $450 annual fee.

There are more than 1,000 American Express Platinum hotels. American Express Platinum hotels are properties that belong to the 86 brands in Amex’s “Fine Hotels & Resorts” collection. Four Seasons, Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton and Waldorf Astoria are just a few of the available options.

Amex Platinum hotels give cardholders perks ranging from room upgrades to meal credits at no extra cost. You just need to book reservations through American Express using your Platinum card to benefit.

Here are the American Express Platinum hotel benefits:

1. A free room upgrade, if available. (You still pay taxes/fees). The hotel will check for an upgrade when you arrive.
2. Breakfast for two people each day.
3. Check-in from noon onward, if available. This varies by location.
4. Guaranteed late check-out until 4pm.
5. Free Wi-Fi.
6. One “unique amenity” ($100 minimum value). It varies by hotel but could be, for example, a credit for food and beverages or spa services.

To book your Fine Hotels & Resorts stay, just log into your American Express account here. Then, you can search for a hotel by the brand or destination. You can check for open rooms for the dates you want to travel. Once you complete your search, you’ll be able to see the cost and any special offers that are available (e.g. a complimentary fourth night stay). Once you book using your American Express Platinum card or rewards points, you’re all set.

It’s also useful to note that you can book pretty much any hotel with your American Express Platinum card. You’re not limited to booking Fine Hotels & Resorts. They just have added benefits.