Why the new Amex Platinum changes are converting me to a cardmember

I'm surprised I made it here.

As a generally budget-conscious traveler, I keep annual fees low on my credit cards. Adding the American Express® Gold Card with its $325 annual fee (see rates and fees) was a big first step, but I wanted to earn bonus points on groceries. Now, it's one of my favorite cards.

About a year later, I decided to open my first premium travel card. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was the best option because it charged a lower $395 annual fee compared to its competitors' higher annual fees.

With my opinion on annual fees in mind, I'm so excited about the new benefits added to the The Platinum Card® from American Express that I'll be applying for it.

The Amex Platinum now charges $895 a year (see rates and fees) — $500 more than the annual fee of my most expensive card.

I don't expect to care about the annual fee once I run the math of card membership. The Amex Platinum features statement credits I'll actually use and benefits that will enhance my travel experience.

These are my favorite new Amex Platinum perks and ongoing benefits that made me decide to apply.

Related: My take on the $895 Amex Platinum: Is the price hike worth the added perks?

Enhanced digital entertainment credit

The Amex Platinum's enhanced digital entertainment credit will be the easiest for me to use.

First, the credit was raised from up to $250 to up to $300 per calendar year. This is earned as up-to-$25 monthly statement credits when you pay for eligible purchases with the Amex Platinum at eligible partners (enrollment required):

• Disney+
• Disney+ bundle
• ESPN+
• Hulu
• The New York Times
• Paramount+ (new partner)
• Peacock
• The Wall Street Journal
• YouTube Premium (new partner)
• YouTube TV (new partner)

The addition of YouTube TV to this list is a game changer. YouTube TV has been a staple for me since I cut the cable cord in 2022. Its base plan is an $82.99 charge that I simply can't avoid, and that $25 statement credit will save me money on streaming.

Statement credits should work with your regular expenses, and you shouldn't spend outside of your regular patterns just to make credit card math work. The $300 I earn from this credit will be truly seamless.

Related: How to use the Amex Platinum digital entertainment credit

New Resy credit

The new U.S. Resy credit on the Amex Platinum is another perk I know I'll use.

That's because I'm a huge fan of my Amex Gold's up-to-$100 annual U.S. Resy credit per calendar year, broken down into two up-to-$50 statement credits biannually.

With the Amex Platinum, I'll receive another, higher Resy credit: up to $400 per calendar year on U.S. Resy purchases, split into $100 statement credits quarterly.

This credit is so simple. All you have to do is dine at a participating U.S. Resy restaurant and pay with your eligible card. You don't have to make a reservation to receive the credit.

I've had multiple instances where the credit posted when I didn't even know I'd dined with a Resy restaurant. I've also intentionally made reservations with the Resy platform to seek out new restaurants and get some money back.

Knowing how much I love the Resy credit on my Amex Gold, the fact that I can get even more with the Amex Platinum won me over.

Related: Which card should I pay with when dining at a hotel?

Uber One credit

I consistently take Uber rides, so I find it easy to use the Uber Cash I receive on the Amex Gold. Because of this, the new up-to-$120 Uber One credit on the Amex Platinum drew me to the premium card.

Plus, with the Amex Platinum, I'll receive up to $200 in Uber Cash per calendar year, valid on Uber Rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. Each month, $15 is deposited into my Uber account, and I'll receive an additional $20 bonus in December*. Enrollment is required.

*Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Platinum as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card.

Some of my favorite Uber One perks include a $0 delivery fee on eligible food and grocery deliveries, 6% back on rides in the form of Uber One credits, and no cancellation fees on rides.

Plus, I already love the DoorDash DashPass membership I receive with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees).

Adding complimentary Uber One is just the cherry on top for my food delivery needs.

Related: Select cards now come with a complimentary Uber One membership

Ongoing benefits I will use

While the Amex Platinum's refresh was the final push to convert me, some ongoing benefits had me eyeing the card for a while before now.

Lounge access

Currently, the Venture X is my only card with lounge access. It's been fine, but there are far more Amex Centurion Lounges than Capital One Lounges. As the primary cardholder, having the Platinum would also mean access to the broader American Express Global Lounge Collection.

This is especially relevant for me because I live in the Southeast U.S. and frequently fly out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) or Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) — two airports without Capital One Lounges but with Centurion Lounges.

Plus, I'm excited to visit my first Delta Sky Club when I'm traveling on a same-day Delta Air Lines flight. Amex Platinum cardmembers receive 10 visits per eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight. Enrollment is required.

Airline fee credit

The Amex Platinum's credit of up to $200 per calendar year for airline fees (enrollment required) is a benefit I've long admired from afar.

It's a no-brainer for common purchases like baggage fees and seat selection on a selected airline — especially if you don't have status or a cobranded credit card with them (as I don't).

I'll probably use this credit with Delta Air Lines. While I fly American Airlines most often, my partner and I often travel together, and he has the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®, which provides decent perks for us when we fly on American, including free checked bags.

The information for the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Walmart+

I've been a loyal Walmart+ member for over a year, thanks to 50%-off deals I've found via Amex Offers on my Amex Gold and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.

With the Amex Platinum, I'll receive up to $12.95 in monthly statement credits toward my Walmart+ membership (on one membership, enrollment required, subject to automatic renewal, Plus Up excluded).

Walmart+ gives me complimentary Paramount+ or Peacock (separate enrollment required), up to 10 cents per gallon off at select gas stations across the country, free delivery from the store and free shipping with no order minimum.

All the benefits I already love will now be complimentary.

Related: A guide to the Amex Platinum Walmart+ benefit: The membership that pays for itself

Lucrative welcome offer

In addition to everything I've already mentioned, the Amex Platinum provides new cardmembers with a solid welcome offer.

New Amex Platinum cardmembers can find out their offer and see if they're eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Amex Membership Rewards points are one of the most valuable currencies out there. TPG values them at 2 cents apiece, per our September 2025 valuations. TPG's valuations place this offer as worth up to $3,500.

Related: American Express Platinum: Valuable new benefits and an offer as high as 175,000 bonus points

Bottom line

My colleagues always found solid value in their Amex Platinum cards, but I was skeptical until the new changes were announced.

Despite the card's $895 annual fee, I've been able to map out exactly how I plan to receive value from it.

It's hard to believe I was once a cash-back-rewards fan fiercely devoted to keeping annual fees low. Now I see the hype, and I'm eager to learn more about how the Amex Platinum fits into my travel habits and lifestyle.

To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Platinum.

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Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express

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For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.