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.

 

[flightsonpoints]

Yeah I got the survey too. I really hope that the AF fee does not increase anywhere near the numbers they provided in the survey! $1,950 and $1,750 is pretty ridiculous.

My survey had increase to $1,600

 

[Viridis]

I didn’t get the survey …. presumably they feel they can bank on my membership

 

[Kimster]

Had the survey but nothing regarding AF in any of the questions. More questions along the lines of what other benefits would be good and whether using other cards for spend etc.

 

[RealtimeY]

Had the survey but nothing regarding AF in any of the questions. More questions along the lines of what other benefits would be good and whether using other cards for spend etc.

I must have got that one too, heavy focus on how much I'm using the Amex vs other cards

 

[lovestotravel]

No survey here, it time for another price increase with some pathetic benefits/credits thrown in to try to make it look good.

 

[Jonova]

My survey mentioned a reduction in AF to $1250 with certain benefits but that might be because at the beginning I stated that I was 100% certain to not be renewing the card

 

[0x012fd0aa]

got a survey but no mentioning of fee… all benefits and alternative benefits, where some to me look like more devaluations

 

[Franko Costa]

Mine said $1,750 and then the next question was $1,600

AF going up for sure

 

[djkelly69]

Numerous posts online about it.

The link doesn't seem to be working for me but seems to be okay if you use it from award travel:

Anyone who did this, is your Hertz account actually showing the new status yet? I did it more than 72 hours ago and status hasn't changed from normal 5 star.

 

[sudoer]

Anyone who did this, is your Hertz account actually showing the new status yet? I did it more than 72 hours ago and status hasn't changed from normal 5 star.

No. I got a confirmation email confirming the Presidents Circle status (which mentions 24-72 hours to apply the status) but after about 82 hours I'm still Five Star.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I don't recall how long it took but it did end up changing.

I also remember a few DPs where it mentioned that you won't get to enjoy PC on your first rental and you'll need to wait till after your first rental before "real PC" kicks in? I haven't tested it myself though.

 

[PointsDude]

I’d probably be okay with a $1,600 AF if the benefits remained the same but they got rid of the 3% FX fee and broadened the travel insurance coverage so I could be secure knowing I’m still covered when I use a flight credit or points gained from other sources.

 

[Viridis]

I’d probably be okay with a $1,600 AF if the benefits remained the same but they got rid of the 3% FX fee …….

Completely agree. The fx fee is irritating.

It would be an added bonus if they went back to providing the AFR instead of the Australian

 

[albyd]

It would be an added bonus if they went back to providing the AFR instead of the Australian

100% I agree. The Australian is cheaper which is why they substituted it. The Australian isn’t in keeping with the ‘brand’ they’re trying to cultivate. My 2 cents worth …

 

[muppet]

100% I agree. The Australian is cheaper which is why they substituted it. The Australian isn’t in keeping with the ‘brand’ they’re trying to cultivate. My 2 cents worth …

I think the aus aligns completely with the current Amex Plat offering. Its now just a coupon book that provides access to nice but overcrowded lounges.

I’d much prefer the return of AFR, costs me $700 pa since it was cut from amex years ago.

 

[daft009]

I’d much prefer the return of AFR, costs me $700 pa since it was cut from amex years ago.

12ft and save your $700

 

[Doctore1003]

I’d probably be okay with a $1,600 AF if the benefits remained the same but they got rid of the 3% FX fee and broadened the travel insurance coverage so I could be secure knowing I’m still covered when I use a flight credit or points gained from other sources.

The insurance is one of my favourite features. The points source is irrelevant.

 

[TheRealTMA]

100% I agree. The Australian is cheaper which is why they substituted it. The Australian isn’t in keeping with the ‘brand’ they’re trying to cultivate. My 2 cents worth …

Otherwise no one would read tha Australian.

 

[PointsDude]

The insurance is one of my favourite features. The points source is irrelevant.

The Platinum card’s insurance T&Cs say that you have to use your corresponding Membership Rewards points or frequent flyer points (listed on the same line) to pay for the full amount of your outbound ticket. To me, corresponding indicates the frequent flyer points need to be derived from your Amex account and from no other sources.

Maybe you’ll be covered, sure, but I’m not willing to risk a US trip and a $1 mil in medical costs to find out if Chubb thinks otherwise.

 

[muppet]

The Platinum card’s insurance T&Cs say that you have to use your corresponding Membership Rewards points or frequent flyer points (listed on the same line) to pay for the full amount of your outbound ticket. To me, corresponding indicates the frequent flyer points need to be derived from your Amex account and from no other sources.

Maybe you’ll be covered, sure, but I’m not willing to risk a US trip and a $1 mil in medical costs to find out if Chubb thinks otherwise.

While I don’t necessarily agree with the interpretation (as it is unclear and unclear terms should be interpreted in the insured’s favour) - I agree its not worth the risk and so for redemption trips I have to rely on alternatives.

I’ve said it before, but for $1400 we should get an annual multi- trip policy without trip eligibility coughy-traps.