The Platinum Card from American Express Travel Benefits Guide 2026

📌 At a Glance: Top Travel Perks

No foreign transaction fees
Amex Centurion Lounge access (15 US + international locations)
Priority Pass Select membership (1,200+ global lounges)
Delta Sky Club access up to 10 visits/year when flying Delta
$200 annual airline fee credit
$200 annual hotel credit (Fine Hotels + Resorts / The Hotel Collection)
$200 annual Uber Cash credit
Secondary rental car insurance up to $75,000

Travel Benefits Breakdown

Here's exactly what you get — and what you don't — when you use the The Platinum Card from American Express for travel.

✈️ Lounge Access

Network: Amex Global Lounge Collection (1,550+ lounges in 140 countries)

Guest policy: Up to 2 complimentary guests per visit ($50 fee per additional guest)

American Express Centurion Lounges (15 US locations)
Delta Sky Club (limited to 10 visits/year when flying Delta)
Priority Pass Select (enrollment required)
Aspire Lounges
Escape Lounges — Centurion Studio Partner
Plaza Premium Lounges
Select Lufthansa Lounges

Centurion Lounges: up to 2 guests at $50/guest. Priority Pass: enrollment required, guest policy varies by lounge. Delta Sky Club: limited to 10 complimentary visits per year as of Feb 2024; must be flying on Delta-marketed/operated flight. Note: Amex Platinum still has Priority Pass Select as of 2026 (not removed).

🛂 Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit

Get a $100 statement credit every every 4 years when you pay for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck with this card.

Global Entry ($100) includes TSA PreCheck and lets you skip customs lines when returning to the US — worth every cent for international travelers.

⏱️ Trip Delay Insurance

If your trip is delayed by 6+ hours, you're covered for up to $500/person in expenses.

Covers: meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, personal use items

Maximum 2 claims per 12-month period.

Must book travel with this card. Keep all receipts for reimbursement.

🚫 Trip Cancellation & Interruption

Reimburses up to $10,000/person (max $20,000/trip) if you must cancel or cut short your trip.

Covered reasons: illness (medically inadvisable per physician), severe weather, jury duty, change in military orders

Maximum $20,000 every 12 months across all claims.

🧳 Baggage Insurance

Lost/stolen/damaged baggage: Up to $3,000/person

Checked bags: up to $2,000 | Carry-on: up to $3,000

High-risk items (jewelry, electronics) capped at $1,000 per person per trip. Delayed baggage is NOT covered — only lost/stolen/damaged.

Baggage delay coverage: not included.

🏥 Emergency Medical & Evacuation

✅ Emergency evacuation coordination covered (transportation costs covered).

Premium Global Assist: 24/7 hotline for emergency medical evacuation (no cost to cardholder for evacuation transport), repatriation of mortal remains, and care for unattended minor children. Does NOT cover medical treatment costs — only coordinates and covers the transport itself.

🚗 Rental Car Insurance

Secondary coverage — you must file with your personal auto insurance first, then this card covers the remainder.

Coverage amount: Up to $75,000

Covers: collision damage, theft

Excludes: liability, personal injury

Eligible countries: Worldwide except Australia, Italy, New Zealand, and OFAC-sanctioned countries.

Secondary coverage — file with personal auto insurance first. Up to 30 consecutive days.

💡 Credit card travel insurance has limits

Credit card trip insurance typically doesn't cover medical emergencies abroad. For international trips, dedicated travel health insurance is recommended.

Browse travel health guides by country →

🌍 Foreign Transaction Fees

✅ No foreign transaction fees — use this card internationally without paying an extra 2–3% on every purchase.

💰 Annual Credits & Perks

Airline fee credit: $200/year — $200 annual airline fee credit for one selected qualifying airline. Covers incidental fees (baggage fees, seat upgrades, etc.) — NOT airfare.
Hotel credit: $200/year — $200 annual hotel credit for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through Amex Travel (minimum 2-night stay for The Hotel Collection).
Uber credit: $200/year — $15/month Uber Cash credit ($35 in December) for US Uber rides and Uber Eats. Must add card to Uber app.
CLEAR Plus Credit: $189/year — Covers annual CLEAR+ membership for expedited airport security.
Equinox Credit: $300/year — $25/month ($300/year) for eligible Equinox memberships.
Walmart+ Credit: $155/year — Covers monthly Walmart+ membership fee ($12.95/month).
Digital Entertainment Credit: $240/year — $20/month for eligible streaming/digital services (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Peacock, NYT, etc.).
Saks Fifth Avenue Credit: $100/year — $50 Jan-Jun + $50 Jul-Dec at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Rewards Structure

1x Membership Rewards per $1

Base rate on all purchases

5x on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000/year); 5x on prepaid hotels through Amex Travel
Travel purchases

1x (dining bonus not on personal Platinum)

Dining

Point / Mile Values

Cash back / statement credit: ~0¢ per point
Travel portal redemption: ~1¢ per point
Transfer partners: varies (often 0.015-0.02+ with airline partners like Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Delta SkyMiles, etc.)

Pros & Cons for Travelers

👍 Pros

✅ No foreign transaction fees — safe to use internationally
✅ Airport lounge access (Amex Global Lounge Collection (1,550+ lounges in 140 countries))
✅ Rental car collision coverage (secondary)
✅ Trip cancellation coverage (up to $10,000/person)
✅ Trip delay coverage after 6+ hours
✅ $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit

👎 Cons

❌ High annual fee ($895) requires heavy use to justify

🎯 Who Is This Card Best For?

Premium travelers who maximize lounge access, hotel perks, and multiple annual credits to offset the high fee

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The Platinum Card from American Express