The American Express Platinum Card® is one of the most valuable travel cards out there — and it’s got a welcome offer to match
Apply and find out if you are 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. Terms apply.
That second part is key — not everyone will get the same welcome bonus offer, and some people won’t qualify for one at all. But it’s at least worth checking your offer today to see what you’re in for. Here’s why.
How does the Platinum Card®’s welcome bonus offer work?
These days, most top Amex cards don’t have a single, flat welcome bonus offer. Instead, they offer a range of potential bonus amounts.
The good news is Amex lets you find out your exact offer before you land the card — and it won’t affect your credit score whatsoever. However, if you’re approved and accept the Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Here’s what to do:
- Apply for the Platinum Card® and see if you’re approved with no impact to your credit score.
- If approved, you’ll find out your exact offer amount.
- Decide if you really want the Platinum Card® (and its welcome bonus offer). If not, you walk away unscathed. If you do, any potential hit to your credit score only comes once you accept the card.
Amex points can be redeemed for travel at a value of $0.01 per point, as estimated by Motley Fool Money. That means the biggest welcome bonus offer is worth $1,750 in travel rewards. Even a smaller welcome bonus offer can be worth $1,000+ in travel rewards — more than the card’s $895 annual fee (see rates and fees).
My take: It’s at least worth seeing your offer to see what you’re working with. There’s no harm, no foul in checking — and you might find out that the current offer is too good to pass up.
Platinum Card® bonus: Credit score requirements and the once-in-a-lifetime rule
A few restrictions on the Platinum Card® and its welcome bonus offer worth mentioning:
- Credit score: The most qualified Platinum Card® applicants typically have at least a “good” credit score rating. That’s just a guideline, though — Amex also weighs things like income and your credit history with them.
- The “once-in-a-lifetime rule”: Amex won’t let you earn the welcome bonus on the same card more than once. That means if you’ve ever owned the Platinum Card® and are applying for it again, you probably won’t get a bonus out of it.
Want to see if you’re eligible with no harm to your credit score? Read our full review of the American Express Platinum Card® to apply and check your welcome offer today.
Plus: Unlock $3,500+ in yearly perks
The Platinum Card® is a lot more than a nice one-time bonus to earn. You’ll also get over $3,500 in yearly travel and lifestyle perks against the card’s $895 annual fee (see rates and fees)– nearly four times the card’s annual fee. Some of my favorites include:
- $600 in annual hotel credits to use for bookings at Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts® collection or The Hotel Collection (THC requires a min. two-night stay)
- $300 a year in digital entertainment credits to use on streaming services and more
- An annual $219 CLEAR+ credit
- $200 a year in airline fee credits
- $200 in annual Uber Cash credits
- $120 in annual credits to cover the cost of Uber’s premium membership, Uber One
- Access to over 1,550 airport lounges worldwide
- Terms apply; enrollment may be required
To be honest, the Platinum Card® isn’t for me — I don’t travel nearly enough to justify using its perks. But if you’re a jetsetter or big spender, this premium travel card is an easy win.
And the (potentially) massive welcome bonus offer is just one more reason to hit that apply button.