Big Changes Coming to Amex Platinum Starting September 18
About Amex Platinum Card Offer Update
- Starting
September 18, 2025, American Express revamps The Platinum Card with
upgraded benefits.
- The
annual fee rises from 695 dollars to 895 dollars for new cardholders
immediately; existing cardholders will see the increase at renewal, with
dates varying depending on consumer versus business card.
Quick Overview
|
Benefit |
Old Version |
New Version (from Sept 18, 2025) |
|
Hotel Credit |
Up to 200 dollars annually for prepaid Fine Hotels and
Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings. |
Up to 600 dollars per calendar year: that is, 300 dollars
statement credit every six months for prepaid bookings via Fine Hotels and
Resorts or The Hotel Collection (with conditions, such as a two-night minimum
for Hotel Collection properties). |
|
New Credits / Enhancements |
Some existing dining, entertainment, airline fee credits,
etc. |
Added perks include: 400 dollar Resy dining credit
(quarterly), 300 dollar Lululemon credit (quarterly), 120 dollar credit for
Uber One membership, 200 dollar credit for Oura Ring purchases, status and
privileges at luxury hotels, expanded digital entertainment credit with new
partners and higher value. |
|
Other Perks Retained / Unchanged |
Airline fee credit, lounge access, Global Entry and TSA
PreCheck credits, Saks Fifth Avenue shopping credit, existing hotel and
travel benefits. |
These remain in place. |
Direct Link To Offer
Unlock More Value with Your American Express Platinum Card — 600
Dollar Hotel Credit
What You Should Know ?
- How
the hotel credit works: You’ll receive up to 300 dollars, twice a year
(once in January to June, once in July to December), for eligible prepaid
bookings through Amex Travel’s Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel
Collection. If using The Hotel Collection, there is typically a two-night
minimum stay required.
- Enrollment
needed: Many of the new or enhanced credits (Resy, Lululemon, Uber
One, etc.) require enrollment or activation. They usually also have
specific spending or merchant-eligibility rules.
- Timing
for existing cardmembers: The higher fee will kick in for consumers
renewing on or after January 2, 2026. For business card renewals, the
change starts December 2, 2025.
Is It Profitable for Customers ?
It depends on how heavily you use the new perks and credits,
but for many frequent travelers and lifestyle spenders, the updated offer can
justify the higher cost. Here’s how to think about it:
Pros:
- The
jump in hotel credit (from 200 dollars to 600 dollars) is significant,
especially if you stay in higher-end properties at least twice a year.
- New
lifestyle credits (Resy, Lululemon, Uber One, etc.) add valuable extras.
- Existing
benefits are not removed, so there is no loss of major services.
Cons:
- The
200 dollar increase in annual fee is steep—if you don’t take advantage of
most of the credits, the cost may outweigh the benefits.
- Some
credits are tied to specific merchants and require enrollment, which adds
friction. If you miss activation or fail to use credits, you lose value.
- If
you travel rarely or don’t use luxury hotel and travel perks often, the
payoff is much smaller.
Review
If you use premium hotels, dine at Resy restaurants, shop at Lululemon, care about digital subscriptions, and want hotel elite status — then the 2025 Amex Platinum refresh is likely worth it. But if many of these categories don’t match your lifestyle, the sharp increase in annual fee might make you consider a lower-cost card with fewer perks.
