The American Express Platinum Card® has been the go-to luxury rewards card for a generation of travelers. It includes premium benefits, annual credits, elite status and numerous other features that travelers enjoy. However, many people don’t realize that there are actually six distinct versions of the luxury card:
— American Express Platinum Card®
— The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
— The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab
— The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley
— Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
— Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
[SEE: Best American Express Credit Cards]
Common Benefits of American Express Platinum Cards
Platinum cards have similar benefits and earning power for customers, which provides a common experience for cardholders and a unique advantage over competing cards from other issuers. All six Platinum cards have the following features in common:
— No foreign transaction fees
— Global Entry or TSA PreCheck reimbursement
— Cellphone protection
[Read: Rewards Credit Cards]
A Look at Each American Express Platinum Card
American Express Platinum Card®
You’ll pay an annual fee of $895. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Rewards
— Earn five points per dollar on flights booked directly or through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year) or hotels booked through American Express Travel.
— Earn one point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Top Perks
— Complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection
— CLEAR+ credit
— Airline, hotel and ride-hail credits totaling $1,000
— Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors™?Gold Status
— Annual spending credits with Walmart+, Equinox, Uber and more
— Premium car rental privileges
— Travel and purchase protections and luxury hotel benefits
Note: Enrollment is required for select benefits.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express features one of the largest welcome bonuses of any Platinum card.
Pay an annual fee of $895. You may earn as high as 300,000 points after you spend $20,000 within the first three months.
Rewards
— Earn five points per dollar on flights or hotels booked directly through American Express Travel.
— Earn two points per dollar on purchases of $5,000 or more, and on eligible purchases with U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers, shipping providers, electronic goods retailers, and software and cloud system providers. This is capped at $2 million per year.
Unique Feature
— It offers over $1,000 in annual credits to merchants like Dell, Indeed, Adobe and wireless telephone providers.
Top Perks
— 35% points back after you pay with points for flights booked through Amex Travel with your selected qualifying airline, on up to 1 million points per year
— Complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection
— CLEAR+ credit
— Hotel and airline fee credits of up to $1,000
— Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors™?Gold Status
— Premium car rental privileges
— Travel and purchase protections and luxury hotel benefits
Note: Enrollment is required for select benefits.
The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab
Schwab is a popular investing platform, and the company partnered with American Express to customize a Platinum card with exclusive benefits for its clients. Rewards can be redeemed for deposits into an eligible brokerage account.
You’ll pay an $895 annual fee. You may earn as high as 150,000 points after you spend $12,000 within the first six months. Rewards
— Earn five points per dollar on flights booked directly or through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year) or hotels booked through American Express Travel.
— Earn one point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Unique Features
— Earn an annual appreciation bonus up to $1,000, depending on the size of your Schwab holdings.
— Schwab customers can redeem Membership Rewards for deposits into an eligible Schwab brokerage account.
Top Perks
— Complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection
— CLEAR+ credit
— Airline, hotel, ride-hail, dining and digital entertainment credits totaling over $1,000
— Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors™?Gold Status
— Annual spending credits with Walmart+, Uber and Lululemon
— Premium car rental privileges
— Travel and purchase protections and luxury hotel benefits
Note: Enrollment is required for select benefits.
The Platinum Card From American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley is another investment firm that offers a version of the Platinum card for its clients, and several unique features make its card one of the best available if you can qualify. Cardholders can redeem rewards for deposits into their Morgan Stanley brokerage account.
You’ll pay an $895 annual fee. You may earn as high as 150,000 points after you spend $12,000 within the first six months. Rewards
— Earn five points per dollar on flights booked directly or through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year) or hotels booked through American Express Travel.
— Earn one point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Unique Features
— Qualify for a $695 annual engagement bonus if you hold a Platinum CashPlus account with Morgan Stanley.
— Add one additional Platinum card for no annual fee.
Top Perks
— Complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection
— CLEAR+ credit
— Airline, hotel, ride-hail, dining and digital entertainment credits totaling over $1,000
— Annual spending credits with Walmart+, Uber and Lululemon
— Premium car rental privileges
— Travel and purchase protections and luxury hotel benefits
Note: Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Kyle Stewart of Scott & Thomas, a boutique luxury travel agency, recommends the Morgan Stanley Platinum for retirees receiving Social Security, a pension or other recurring retirement income. In order to receive the annual $895 credit, you must have a Platinum CashPlus account with a $25,000 balance and $5,000 in monthly deposits. However, “Social Security benefits of any amount also qualify.”
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
This card earns Delta SkyMiles instead of Membership Rewards points. Additionally, its benefits center around Delta Air Lines flights rather than being a general travel card.
You’ll pay a $350 annual fee. Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after spending $8,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/15/26.
Rewards
— Earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta and hotel purchases.
— Earn 2 miles per dollar at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
— Earn 1 mile per dollar on other eligible purchases.
Unique Features
— Receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each year and earn $1 MQD toward elite status for every $20 spent.
— Receive a Companion Certificate each year after card renewal.
— Enjoy up to $150 in DeltaStays credit.
— Earn a 15% discount on Delta flights when you use miles to book travel.
— Pay nothing for your first checked bag worldwide and second checked bags (on domestic flights).
— Receive 20% back on in-flight Delta purchases.
Top Perks
— Up to $120 in Resy statement credits each year
— Up to $120 in ride-hailing statement credits each year
— Premium car rental privileges
Note: Enrollment is required for select benefits.
[Read: Airline Credit Cards]
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Like its consumer card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card earns miles instead of points — and rewards business expenses.
You’ll pay an annual fee of $350. Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after spending $8,000 in purchases in your first six months with the card.
Rewards
— Earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta and hotel purchases.
— Earn 1.5 miles per dollar on transit, with U.S. shipping providers and on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. This is capped at $100,000 of combined eligible purchases per year.
— Earn 1 mile per dollar on other eligible purchases.
Unique Features
— Receive $2,500 MQD each year and earn $1 MQD toward elite status for every $20 spent.
— Receive a Companion Certificate each year after card renewal.
— Enjoy up to $200 in DeltaStays credit.
— Earn a 15% discount on Delta flights when you use miles to book travel.
— Pay nothing for your first checked bag worldwide or second checked bag on domestic flights.
— Receive 20% back on in-flight Delta purchases.
Top Perks
— Up to $120 in Resy statement credits each year
— Up to $120 in ride-hailing statement credits each year
— Premium car rental privileges
Note: Enrollment is required for select benefits.
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There’s More than One American Express Platinum Card originally appeared on usnews.com
Update 07/14/26: This story was previously published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.
