Credit Card Offers Amex Platinum Card Benefits, Offers & Discussion

Enjoy a world of travel benefits and 225,000 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: 225,000 Amex Membership Rewards Points (worth 112,500 Qantas Points, Velocity Points, Avios or Asia Miles, among other options) when you apply by 8 April 2025 and spend at least $5,000 within 3 months. This is an AFF exclusive offer - sign up through AFF to take advantage of it!
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 through AFF by 8 April 2025 can also earn 225,000 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.

 

[Daver6]

I think you can only use Charge for FHR

The different cards, platinum charge primary and reserve cards have respectively $450 and $400 travel credits ( paid as a rebate to the card a few days after a booking). If you want to use the Fine Hotels rates and benefits, you must use the primary charge card and associated travel credit. These are not available for the reserve card.

I've definitely used the reserve card in the past for booking a hotel via FHR to use the credit. When in FHR and you get to the payment section there is an option to select to use the reserve card for payment too.

Regardless, I've figured out the problem. Of course, it's an idiot user problem The travel credit on my reserve card isn't available again until next week, so of course it's not going to show.

 

[RealtimeY]

Sorry I couldnt find the answer in this thread, how does an additional card holder apply for the hotel status?

Once they’ve activated their card and registered for online access, they go here

Login

global.americanexpress.com

 

[TheRealTMA]

I've definitely used the reserve card in the past for booking a hotel via FHR to use the credit. When in FHR and you get to the payment section there is an option to select to use the reserve card for payment too.

Regardless, I've figured out the problem. Of course, it's an idiot user problem The travel credit on my reserve card isn't available again until next week, so of course it's not going to show.

Yes but you don’t get the FHR benefit now on reserve. Once maybe but not now. Just used cards for Langham Gold Coast and only plat charge allowed FHR benefit.

 

[sarahaaa]

I am planning to book a trip I’m taking (SYD>IST) in 5 weeks. I wanted to get this card and meet the minimum spend through my flights and tour booking, then use the points to upgrade to business. I don’t plan to use the card for anything that I wouldn’t normally spend on. I also plan to travel internationally at least twice a year. It’s still my first credit card though and it’s a high annual fee. I’ve been told I might not get my points in time to upgrade to business class if I’m travelling in 5 weeks. What’s the worse case scenario if I’m unable to use my points now but I get the card anyway? It’s obviously a risk but it could also be a really great investment. I’ve also heard people negotiate the annual fee in the long term

 

[GrahamBRI]

I am planning to book a trip I’m taking (SYD>IST) in 5 weeks. I wanted to get this card and meet the minimum spend through my flights and tour booking, then use the points to upgrade to business. I don’t plan to use the card for anything that I wouldn’t normally spend on. I also plan to travel internationally at least twice a year. It’s still my first credit card though and it’s a high annual fee. I’ve been told I might not get my points in time to upgrade to business class if I’m travelling in 5 weeks. What’s the worse case scenario if I’m unable to use my points now but I get the card anyway? It’s obviously a risk but it could also be a really great investment. I’ve also heard people negotiate the annual fee in the long term

Welcome to AFF.
Your first credit card adventure, sounds like a challenge.......
- Points crediting in 5 weeks - risky - you need to apply, be successful, get the card, spend on the card and get your end of month statement, before you get the points. You will then need to transfer these points to your airline.
- Upgrade to Business - risky - we would need to understand what airline, what flight numbers and dates to be able to identify business class loadings and the probability of an upgrade.
- Fee negotiation on Amex Platinum - I don't think so.

I think you need more time to look at all the other benefits of the card to see if this card will payback its annual fee for you. I would not be recommending this card solely based on your ideal plan (described above).

Best of luck

 

[sarahaaa]

Let’s say I’m not able to get my points in time to upgrade to business but I plan to travel later in the year. Is it worth it to get the card for the sign up bonus and upgrade to business on my next trip? How do I find the airlines/flights that have the greatest chance of a business class upgrade? I know a lot of points specialists talk about picking the best flights like they can see all the business upgrade options before they choose a flight. Can you direct me on where I can find this information or build this skill?

 

[GrahamBRI]

know a lot of points specialists talk about picking the best flights like they can see all the business upgrade options before they choose a flight. Can you direct me on where I can find this information or build this skill?

Have a read of this thread

Thread 'Flight Availability/Loadings & Upgrade Probability Help Desk'

Sep 2, 2010

PLEASE INCLUDE DATE, FLIGHT NUMBER, ORIGIN & DESTINATION IN ALL REQUESTS

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>>>> ADDED BY ADMIN (6 Sept 2010) <<<<

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Background to this thread
We have noticed an increase in the posting of questions about seat availability on specific flights. These are all valid questions and we all appreciate the efforts our members go to to provide answers.

The only drawback is that our forums can become "cluttered" with specific questions about availability on specific flights. This tends to reduce the overall usability of our site.
We have therefore created...

• Sprucegoose
• flight upgrades
• Replies: 8,271
• Forum: AFF Help Desk

• 

 

[Mr_Orange]

Let’s say I’m not able to get my points in time to upgrade to business but I plan to travel later in the year. Is it worth it to get the card for the sign up bonus and upgrade to business on my next trip? How do I find the airlines/flights that have the greatest chance of a business class upgrade? I know a lot of points specialists talk about picking the best flights like they can see all the business upgrade options before they choose a flight. Can you direct me on where I can find this information or build this skill?

Points upgrades are far from guaranteed so don't spend $1450 on a credit card annual fee just because you think you will get an upgrade.

 

[sarahaaa]

Thank you both! It seems like the main incentive for people to sign up to a credit card is for the travel perks and flight upgrades. If it’s “far from guaranteed” why do people take on this risk and make such an investment?

 

[Mr_Orange]

Thank you both! It seems like the main incentive for people to sign up to a credit card is for the travel perks and flight upgrades. If it’s “far from guaranteed” why do people take on this risk and make such an investment?

There are other ways to "make back" the cost of the annual fee such that the points (earned or bonus) come "free of charge".

 

[Cynicor]

Thank you both! It seems like the main incentive for people to sign up to a credit card is for the travel perks and flight upgrades. If it’s “far from guaranteed” why do people take on this risk and make such an investment?

Probably your perception is incorrect in the first place. Most people sign up to these things and don’t use the perks and the banks make money.

Most people here would book points seats outright, not hoping for upgrades.

 

[Cynicor]

You’re also in the plat charge thread. Other cards will earn as many points for a fraction of the fee and with higher bonus points to start. Look at the virgin Amex, 12 months gold right now with 150k points or something. For $150 or so? Dunno as I don’t have it, buts that’s likely to be 1/5 to 1/10 the cost.

This card does offer travel benefits but it’s the credits; priority pass, free hotel nights, $400 at restaurants etc that offset the cost.

 

[Snouter]

Qatar is offering up to 50% bonus when purchasing AVIOS. Any idea if redeeming AMEX points into AVIOS is defined as a purchase?

 

[Hunter4vr]

Qatar is offering up to 50% bonus when purchasing AVIOS. Any idea if redeeming AMEX points into AVIOS is defined as a purchase?

It's not.