Many travel cards offer airport lounge access, but The Platinum Card® from American Express (Terms apply, see rates & fees) tops them all.
Here’s why frequent travelers should consider picking up the revamped card for the ultimate airport experience.
Best in Class
While other cards offer travelers entry to Priority Pass lounges, certain lounges remain exclusive to those with The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® provide access to the Priority Pass network as well as the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations, totaling over 1,300 lounges. A midtier annual fee travel card like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card also offers access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One Lounge and Landing locations.
The American Express Platinum, however, currently offers the most extensive airport lounge access of any card on the market. It gives cardholders a golden ticket to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, including 30 locations from The Centurion Lounge network.
Members also receive 10 complimentary visits per year to Delta Sky Club locations when flying on eligible Delta flights and fares, along with Priority Pass Select membership and access to other partner lounges.
American Express continues to expand its lounge offerings, with new The Centurion Lounge locations in the works in Salt Lake City (2025), Newark (2026) and Amsterdam (2027).
While the card carries an expensive annual fee of $895, its generous welcome bonus does much to offset the cost, especially for frequent travelers. New applicants can earn a personalized offer as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on the card in the first 6 months of card membership (approval required, welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer). Your Membership Rewards Points offer can easily cover multiple flights and hotel nights.
5X Reward Rate
5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts®Read More
Welcome Bonus
As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
Annual Fee
$895
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Credit Score
Good, Excellent
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges – more than any other credit card company on the market* – enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
- More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
- More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
- More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
- Whenever you need us, we’re here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
How To Activate
The American Express Global Lounge Collection includes access to the following partner networks:
- The Centurion Lounge
- Delta Sky Club
- Escape Lounges
- Lufthansa Lounges
- Plaza Premium
- Priority Pass Select
- Additional Global Lounge Collection partner lounges
Terms apply to lounge access, see rates & fees for details. The cardholders and Additional Platinum Card Members (authorized users) on the account can access these lounges with their card. However, Companion Platinum Card Members are not eligible for the benefit.
To access Priority Pass Select lounges, members must first enroll in Priority Pass Select online and then present their Priority Pass card and a same-day boarding pass at a participating lounge.
Bottom Line
No other travel card on the market offers an airport lounge network as extensive as the American Express Platinum. Cardholders gain access to more than 1,500 lounges worldwide, including exclusive locations in The Centurion Lounge, Delta Sky Club and Plaza Premium networks.
While the card carries a high annual fee, a sizeable welcome bonus and the ongoing value of lounge access make it an enticing option for frequent travelers.
To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
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