2025 has been a hectic year in the premium credit card space. We’ve seen mlutple launches and refreshes, I documented some of them here. After Chase’s refresh, it’s the Amex Platinum card that’s next in line. There has been a lot of speculation across different threads, so I thought it would be prudent to document where we are and what we can expect ahead of the refresh.
Amex Platinum Card Changes – What we know
Here’s what we know (sort of):
- Annual Fee: The new annual fee will be $895. While Amex has not confirmed this officially, there’s a good chance this may turn out to be true. That’s a jump of almost 29%
- Hotel Credit: This one was accidentally leaked by American Express, only to be removed later. In effect, customers with the consumer and business versions of the Platinum card will now enjoy $600 in annual credits with Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts and the Gold Hotel Collection. However, customers will enjoy $300 in the first half of the calendar year and another $300 in the second half of the calendar year. While this benefit will kick in after September 18th, we still don’t know how existing cardholders will get affected. For example, if you hold the card and haven’t used the credit before Sept 18th, you may get $300 after the Sept 18th date, which would be an added $100 compared to the current credit. However, if you’re a current cardholder and have used the credit before Sept 18, then will you only get an additional $100 or get the full $300 to use before Dec 31? My hunch is that Amex may offer the entire $300 after September 18th, given that we’re only left with about 3 months before the year ends.
- New Design: Amex could well do yet another design overhaul. Rumors suggest we could the Amex Platinum Card with a new ‘mirror finish‘.
What we don’t know
- Uber Credits: I’m not sure about this benefit sticking around, but if it does, it’s still useful for many people, especially with Uber Eats as an option.
- Saks: There’s a very good chance that this credit may go away, given Saks’ recent financial struggles.
- Airline Fee Credit: I will be surprised if Amex completely gets rid of this. My hunch is that they will either keep it as it is or replace it with an Airfare credit like the one on the Hilton Aspire Card, which offers you $50 each quarter and is valid for any airfare purchased with airlines worldwide.
- Digital Entertainment Credit: While I don’t use this credit that often, I don’t see this one being on the chopping block for now.
Other than that, I don’t see any wholesale changes to other benefits like lounge access, Global Entry/Clear credits or complimentary elite status benefits with Hilton and Marriott.
The Pundit’s Mantra
However, Amex may prove me completely wrong. In their own words, this will be their ‘largest investment in a card refresh‘. So, I’m definitely curious to see how it pans out. As someone who loves travel, I’m hoping they ditch the lifestyle shtick and focus more on more premium travel related benefits.
However, the skeptic and pragmatist in me fears a matrix of complex credits, split across different timelines and brands.
What do you think about this upcoming refresh? Tell us in the comments section.
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New Credit Card Offers
American Express Business Credit Cards
- Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards points with the Business Platinum Card
- Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards and enjoy a 0% intro APR on the Business Gold Card
Chase Sapphire Cards
- Earn 100,000 bonus points and a $500 statement credit with the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
- Earn 200,000 bonus points with the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card for Business
Co-Branded Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
- Earn 185,000 bonus points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
- Earn 155,000 bonus points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card
- Earn 125,000 bonus points with the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card
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