Over the last few weeks, American Express has quietly made some changes to benefits on the Amex Platinum Card card. Unlike the massive refresh in 2026, these changes are minor in nature but still deserve attention. I’ll be updating this master list whenever a new announcement is made as we track what’s going on with the American Express Platinum Card.
American Express Platinum Card: What You Need to Know In 2026
| Benefit Type/Name | Change Announced | Date It Will Go Into Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Saks Fifth Avenue Credit | American Express will discontinue the $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit for new cardholders immediately. Existing cardholders retain the benefit through June 30, 2026. Saks Global filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2026, making the credit increasingly difficult to use. | March 26, 2026 (new cardholders); June 30, 2026 (existing cardholders lose it) |
| Events by Amex | Amex will also wind down “Events by Amex” benefit, which provided presale tickets, exclusive experiences, and invitation-only events. Amex says some form of “special access” will remain, but the dedicated benefit is gone. | June 10, 2026 |
| Uber VIP Status | Uber VIP status (part of the $200 Uber Cash benefit) is being removed and replaced with “Signature Support for Amex,” a priority customer service feature within the Uber app. The $200 Uber Cash credit itself remains unchanged. | May 7, 2026 |
| Lufthansa Lounge Access | Access to Lufthansa Business Lounges is being removed as a benefit for Amex Platinum cardholders. | October 1, 2026 |
| New Airfare Program | A new airfare program has been introduced as part of the card’s evolving travel benefits, which also includes select domestic Economy class tickets. | Effective Immediately |
The Pundit’s Mantra
As someone who currently holds the card, the Saks benefit going away is actually a net positive for me. I rarely found good use of the benefit for my style of shopping. Also, I primarily visit Centurion lounges or Priority Pass lounges during my travels, so Amex taking away Lufthansa lounge access isn’t a deal breaker for me. The Uber VIP status tweak is also not a big deal for me as I primarily use the Uber credits for Uber Eats orders, whenever I use them.
However, I do find the airfare program useful. In this post, I highlighted how Amex’s Platinum Member Airfares Program (Back then it was the International Airline Program) came to my rescue when I was having trouble while booking a trip.
Do you view these changes in 2026 as a net positive? Would these changes convince you to renew the card for another year? Tell us in the comments section.
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