Card Promotions Amex Platinum Card Benefits, Offers & Discussion

Enjoy a world of travel benefits and 150,000 bonus Amex Membership Rewards Premium Ascent points...​

Learn more and apply for this card:

American Express® Platinum Card

The American Express (Amex) Platinum charge card is one of the best publicly-available cards in Australia for travel benefits.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

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What are the main benefits of this card?

1. Signup bonus: 150,000 Amex Membership Rewards Points (worth 75,000 Qantas Points, Velocity Points, Avios or Asia Miles, among other options) when you apply by 28 January 2025 and spend at least $5,000 within 3 months
2. Earn 2.25 Amex Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on everyday purchases, uncapped. You can transfer these points to 12 airline & 2 hotel programs, including Qantas Frequent Flyer.
3. Enjoy unlimited access to many airport lounges, including Virgin Australia and Priority Pass lounges
4. Gift Priority Pass membership to one additional cardholder
5. Receive complimentary elite status with hotel loyalty programs including Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Radisson Rewards & Accor Live Limitless
6. Complimentary international travel insurance
7. Receive a $450 annual travel credit, plus airfare discounts, $400 worth of annual dining credits, subscriptions to The Australian & Wall Street Journal, plus many more exclusive benefits!

Why we like the American Express Platinum Card

Packed full of travel perks, the American Express Platinum Card is one of the best publicly-available cards in Australia for frequent flyers.

With a $1,450 annual fee, this metal card is not for everyone. But the return on investment for the high annual fee is strong, as it comes with a lot of useful benefits! This includes an annual travel credit, dining credits and unlimited access to Virgin Australia, Delta, Lufthansa, Priority Pass, Plaza Premium and Amex Centurion airport lounges.

There are also some great hotel perks including a free annual hotel night, Accor Plus membership, Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits and complimentary elite status with Hilton, Marriott and Radisson.

For points collectors, this is one of the most lucrative cards available in Australia. You’ll earn 2.25 Amex Membership Rewards Ascent Premium points per $1 spent on eligible transactions. Points transfer to most frequent flyer programs at a 2:1 rate, although there are some exceptions (e.g. it's 3:1 to KrisFlyer and Emirates).

You can convert your Amex points to around 12 airlines including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and Etihad! Plus, you can transfer points to two hotel loyalty programs for even more redemption possibilities.

To sweeten the deal, new cardholders who apply by 28 January 2025 can also earn 150,000 bonus Amex Membership Rewards points when spending at least $5,000 on the card within 3 months of approval. See our card guide for the full details:

American Express® Platinum Card

The American Express (Amex) Platinum charge card is one of the best publicly-available cards in Australia for travel benefits.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

AFF members are welcome to discuss this card in this thread.

 

[albyd]

I'm personally hardly using my Platinum charge since I got the explorer. Will need to think it over next renewal. Just using it for eating out at 3x MR doesn't justify the annual fee but the some of the perks.

 

[dannnnl]

if your exp card is linked your charge account, it's not worth to cancel the charge card as ascent points values more

 

[blueythecat]

You can have up to 2 charge cards and 2 credit cards. Good work on getting 3 credit cards.

Is it correct that one of the Charge cards (if you have two) has to be a business Charge card?

I'm personally hardly using my Platinum charge since I got the explorer. Will need to think it over next renewal. Just using it for eating out at 3x MR doesn't justify the annual fee but the some of the perks.

if your exp card is linked your charge account, it's not worth to cancel the charge card as ascent points values more

You could apply for an Edge before closing the Charge - then you'd get to keep your points in Ascent if you chose to close the Charge. You'd be downgraded from Ascent Premium to Ascent, the only difference being that you'd lose Qantas as a transfer partner - you'd also have ~$1000 in annual fees too.

 

[foggy]

so the general consensus is that this card is used primarily for the benefits and signup bonus?
because the 3x earn rate at restaurants does not seem very useful for the average consumer

edit:
does the pts from a linked edge and explorer also switch to the ascent premium?

 

[blueythecat]

edit:
does the pts from a linked edge and explorer also switch to the ascent premium?

Yep they sure do. If you have an Edge (and thus Ascent) then apply for a Charge card your points will convert to Ascent Premium. Assuming you haven't held a Charge card in the last 18 months you'll of course get the sign-on bonus points too (this is even explicitly in the T&C's!!).

 

[opusman]

because the 3x earn rate at restaurants does not seem very useful for the average consumer

An odd comment. Are you saying average consumers don't go to restaurants?

 

[foggy]

An odd comment. Are you saying average consumers don't go to restaurants?

i just mean given the explorer is 2x earn per $ and this is 3x earn, you'd have to spend a lot at restaurants to make this card worthwhile in the 2nd year without the bonus signup

 

[dannnnl]

i just mean given the explorer is 2x earn per $ and this is 3x earn, you'd have to spend a lot at restaurants to make this card worthwhile in the 2nd year without the bonus signup

Will need to travel a lot to make Plat charge card worth a while

 

[winstonAU]

Hi all,

I recall reading somewhere that Amex will take into account household earnings when applying for this card. I'm an existing Amex customer (Explorer), but fall short of the $100k threshold on my own merits. Combined with my partner we're well in excess - what are my chances?

Appreciate any insight!

Edit: Never mind me - the application says household.

 

[unfunkable]

With the weak earn rate on the charge card compared to a explorer/ascent combo
The only real benefits I can see is using it for lounge access, the hotel perks, and discounted car hire.

You really need to use the travel credit on the charge and its companion card AND get a tax deduction on the fee to make it worthwhile..

 

[BacchusMarsh]

With the weak earn rate on the charge card compared to a explorer/ascent combo
The only real benefits I can see is using it for lounge access, the hotel perks, and discounted car hire.

You really need to use the travel credit on the charge and its companion card AND get a tax deduction on the fee to make it worthwhile..

I also like the way it elevates my Explorer earn to Ascent Premium. Just for that odd occasion when QFF points are actually useful.

 

[robbo135]

Has anyone got the Platinum Charge Card with a Professional Association (CA/CPA/EA etc) ever got the points signup bonus whilst holding another Amex Card? From an updated post on Point Hacks today (sorry as I am new can't post links), it looks though you will now no longer be eligible for the bonus on the Charge Card if you hold ANY Amex card in the last 18 months not just a Charge card.

 

[Daver6]

I was sent the form for the Plat Reserve about two weeks ago. When I called up about something and checked on the progress, the guy did say something about the Edge being approved. I corrected him and said I believe its the Reserve and his response was along the lines of "yes same thing". The card should arrive this week. I'll report back when I get it.

I can confirm the Platinum Reserve card just turned up. If anyone needs a PDF of the application form, PM me with your email address and I'll forward it.

 

[foggy]

I can confirm the Platinum Reserve card just turned up. If anyone needs a PDF of the application form, PM me with your email address and I'll forward it.

Could you let me know how many amex cards you have?

i was wondering if i could possibly end up with dj amex, explorer, edge, platinum and reserve..
My application is pending information for the first time ever with AMEX

 

[Mr_Orange]

Could you let me know how many amex cards you have?

i was wondering if i could possibly end up with dj amex, explorer, edge, platinum and reserve..
My application is pending information for the first time ever with AMEX

The normal limit is 1 charge and 2 credit cards so I doubt you will get 1 charge and 4 credit.

 

[Daver6]

Could you let me know how many amex cards you have?

i was wondering if i could possibly end up with dj amex, explorer, edge, platinum and reserve..
My application is pending information for the first time ever with AMEX

QF Ultimate, Plat Charge and Plat Reserve (all personal)

 

[tinkybelle]

Plat edge reserve charge biz plat biz and z accellerator so i have 5

 

[Mr_Orange]

Plat edge reserve charge biz plat biz and z accellerator so i have 5

That's because you have a mix of personal and business. If they were all personal, the limits above apply.

 

[foggy]

Ive just been approved for the platinum charge card which i am surprised because of the cards i already hold all under personal.
So it is possible to hold djs,explorer,edge and plat charge

 

[unfunkable]

Will you get the points?
I heard they changed the conditions on 30th March 2017 to exclude bonus points if you hold ANY amex card