The Amex Platinum Card just got its first fee increase since 2021 — up $200, from $695 to $895. In exchange, Amex added a genuine batch of new benefits, including a Resy dining credit and expanded hotel perks. This review covers whether the math still works at the new price, and what’s actually different about the card in 2026.
In This Review
- The Card at a Glance
- The 2026 Fee Increase
- Earning Rates
- Credits & Other Benefits
- Who This Card Is For
- How It Compares
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Card at a Glance
| Annual Fee | $895 (See Rates & Fees) |
| Rewards Currency | American Express Membership Rewards points |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | None |
| Issuer | American Express |
Terms current as of this writing (July 2026). Always confirm your specific offer and current terms directly with American Express before applying.
Amex’s own math puts this card’s benefits at over $3,500 in stated annual value against an $895 fee — but that number only means something if you actually enroll in and use the specific partners involved, not just hold the card passively.
The 2026 Fee Increase
The fee rose from $695 to $895, effective for new applicants starting September 18, 2025. Existing cardholders whose accounts opened before that date saw the new fee apply at their next renewal on or after January 2, 2026. This is the card’s first fee increase since 2021, when it jumped from $550 to $695.
In exchange, Amex added several new benefits: a Resy dining credit at more than 10,000 U.S. restaurants, ongoing “Platinum Nights by Resy” access at select coveted reservations, and expanded Hotel Collection benefits at more than 400 independent luxury properties. One smaller change worth knowing: Uber VIP status was removed from the existing Uber Cash benefit and replaced with “Signature Support for Amex” — essentially 24/7 live customer service access directly through the Uber and Uber Eats apps.
Earning Rates
- 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, up to $500,000 in purchases per year
- 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
- 1x point on other purchases
Credits & Other Benefits
- $200 Uber Cash ($15/month, plus a $20 bonus in December)
- Up to $120/year in Uber One credits when you pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership with the card — separate from the Uber Cash above
- $200 airline fee credit for incidental purchases with one selected airline
- $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit ($50 semi-annually)
- $300 Equinox credit
- Walmart+ monthly membership credit ($12.95/month)
- $209 CLEAR Plus credit
- New Resy dining credit at 10,000+ U.S. restaurants
- Centurion Lounge access and other airport lounge programs
- Hotel Collection benefits at 400+ luxury independent properties (room upgrades, breakfast, and more with qualifying stays)
The credits alone can offset a meaningful chunk of the $895 fee, but only for cardholders who actually shop at Saks, use Equinox, hold a Walmart+ membership, and enroll in each program individually — none of this value shows up automatically just by holding the card.
Complimentary Elite Status at Hotels and Rental Car Companies
Beyond the credits, Platinum cardholders get complimentary elite status across three hotel programs and three rental car programs, all requiring enrollment through the Amex benefits page:
- Hilton Honors Gold — an 80% points bonus per stay, 5th night free on award stays of 5+ nights, daily food and beverage credit (or continental breakfast), late checkout, and room upgrades when available. See our Hilton Honors guide for more on this tier.
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite — bonus points per stay, 2 p.m. late checkout when available, and room upgrades when available. See our Marriott Bonvoy guide for the full tier breakdown.
- Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club Sterling — a lesser-known third hotel status, including priority 2 p.m. late checkout and other Leaders Club perks at LHW’s independent luxury properties.
- Hertz Five Star — space-available upgrades and Ultimate Choice access. See our Hertz Gold Plus Rewards guide.
- Avis Preferred — priority service and other Preferred-tier perks. See our Avis Preferred guide.
- National Emerald Club Executive — the most substantial of the three rental car statuses, including Emerald Aisle access at the mid/full-size rate. See our National Emerald Club guide.
None of these statuses apply automatically — each requires you to actively enroll through the Amex benefits page after activating the card. If you already hold higher status independently with any of these programs, you’ll keep your existing status rather than being downgraded to what the card provides.
Who This Card Is For
- Frequent flyers who’ll genuinely use lounge access and the airline fee credit regularly.
- Amex loyalists who already shop at several of the specific partner brands (Saks, Equinox, Walmart+) and can realistically capture that credit value.
- Luxury hotel travelers who’ll benefit from Hotel Collection perks and Fine Hotels & Resorts-style upgrades.
Worth pausing before applying if: you wouldn’t realistically enroll in and use most of the specific-partner credits, in which case the effective cost is much closer to the full $895 with only lounge access and points earning to show for it.
How It Compares
Against the American Express Gold Card, Platinum trades the Gold’s stronger everyday dining and grocery earning for airport lounge access and a much higher fee. Against the Capital One Venture X, Platinum costs roughly double but includes a deeper partner-credit ecosystem — the right choice between them depends on whether you’ll actually use Amex’s specific partner brands or would rather have Capital One’s simpler, lower-fee structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Amex Platinum worth the new $895 fee?
It depends heavily on whether you’ll genuinely use the specific-partner credits (See Rates & Fees). Frequent travelers who use lounges regularly and shop at the included partner brands can offset most of the fee; occasional travelers may find the math doesn’t work as cleanly.
When did the Amex Platinum fee increase to $895?
New applicants paid the new fee starting September 18, 2025. Existing cardholders saw the increase apply at their next renewal date on or after January 2, 2026.
Did Amex remove any benefits with this refresh?
Uber VIP status was removed from the Uber Cash benefit, replaced with a customer-service-focused perk called Signature Support for Amex. Most existing credits and benefits were kept, with several new ones added on top.