The Ultimate Benefit Checklist for The Platinum Card®

Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit AmericanExpress.com to learn more. 

Last updated: March 28, 2022

The Platinum Card® from American Express’s annual fee has consistently been one of the highest on the market, but the card itself offers so many benefits that it’s a card most people shouldn’t overlook. When you factor in the up to $200 airline fee credit, up to $200 in Uber Cash annually, up to $100 at Saks Fifth Avenue, you’ll quickly find that the $695 annual fee isn’t actually that expensive. See Rates and Fees. This assumes that you remember to take advantage of all of these benefits, which are offered in a mix of statement credits and Uber Cash. Enrollment is required on select benefits.

In this article, we’ll touch on the key benefits that you need to remember monthly, bi-annually, and annually. There are many, many more benefits that are part of being a Platinum Cardholder, but to keep it simple we’ll only look at the ones that are essentially “use it or lose it”. Let’s dive in!

The Platinum Card Benefit Checklist

Want a simple way to track and make sure you’re receiving all of the benefits of The Platinum Card? Simply use this link below to make a copy of our Google Sheet and add it to your own personal Google Drive. There you can edit it and use it to track your benefits, all for free. You can also download the file and use Microsoft Excel if you prefer.

FREE DOWNLOAD - The Platinum Card Benefit Checklist

Now that you have the tools, let’s get into the benefit details!

The $200 Airline Fee Credit 

The Platinum Card® includes a $200 airline incidental fee benefit. This fee is intended for things such as baggage fees, ticket change fees, and other additional fees that you may encounter during your air travel. Technically this fee can’t be used for things such as seat selection, seat upgrades, or actual airline tickets. You must also select a preferred airline for this benefit and this benefit will only work for charges on that specific airline. However, you can change your airline selection each year. Here are the steps below for maximizing your benefit:

Platinum Card Airline Fee Benefit

  • Frequency: annually

  • Enrollment: required

  • Benefit amount: $200 annually

  • Expiration: expires at the end of each calendar year

How to use The Platinum Card’s Saks Fifth Avenue Benefit

  1. Create a Saks Fifth Avenue account

  2. Add your Platinum Card to your Saks Fifth Avenue account

  3. Use your Platinum Card for your purchase at Saks Fifth Avenue

Check your Platinum Card for a $50 statement credit towards your Saks Fifth Avenue purchase

Need help maximizing your benefit? Feel free to DM us on Instagram or email us at hello@thepointspassport.com. We’re happy to help make sure you’re able to use this benefit, even if your plans don’t have you back in the skies anytime soon. 

The $200 Uber Cash Benefit

The Uber Cash benefit is a more recent benefit that’s been added to the Platinum Card. Once you link your Platinum Card to your Uber account, you’ll automatically receive $15 per month in Uber Cash. Keep in mind, this is a monthly “use it or lose it” benefit, so your Uber Cash will expire at the end of the month if it goes unused. This is why we really appreciate that Uber Cash can be redeemed for Uber Eats in addition to Uber rides. That way, simply by ordering Uber Eats once a month you can make sure you don’t let this benefit go unused. Here are the steps to making sure you get your Uber Cash each and every month:

The Platinum Card Uber Cash Benefit

  • Frequency: monthly

  • Enrollment: link your Platinum Card to your Uber account

  • Benefit amount: $15 per month in Uber Cash ($20 Uber Cash in December)

  • Expiration: Uber cash expires monthly

New to Uber and Uber Eats? Get $20 ON TOP of Your Uber Cash!

  • You can get $20 off your first order at Uber Eats and we’ll get something too. Use code “eats-cclaw” at checkout. 🎁🌮🍕🍜 http://ubr.to/EatsGiveGet

How to use The Platinum Card Uber Cash Benefit:

  1. Create an Uber account

  2. Add your Platinum Card to your Uber account

  3. Once linked, you’ll see “AMEX Benefit” next to your Platinum Card number in the Uber app

  4. Each month, $15 in Uber Cash will be added to your Uber account

  5. Redeem the Uber Cash on your next Uber ride or Uber Eats order

  6. Note: in December every year, you’ll receive $20 in Uber Cash

The $100 Saks Fifth Avenue Benefit

The Saks Fifth Avenue credit is one of the long-standing signature benefits of The Platinum Card. It offers the perfect way to treat yourself at least twice a year. This benefit is offered bi-annually, in the form of two $50 statement credits on your Platinum Card. The first period is January through June, and the second period is July through December. 

The Platinum Card Saks Fifth Avenue Benefit

  • Frequency: bi-annually

  • Enrollment: required

  • Benefit amount: $50 every six months

  • Expiration: the $50 benefit expires on June 30th and December 31st, annually

How to use The Platinum Card’s Saks Fifth Avenue Benefit

  1. Create a Saks Fifth Avenue account

  2. Add your Platinum Card to your Saks Fifth Avenue account

  3. Use your Platinum Card for your purchase at Saks Fifth Avenue

  4. Check your Platinum Card for a $50 statement credit towards your Saks Fifth Avenue purchase

It’s worth noting that you’ll also want to create a Shop Runner account and link it to your Platinum Card. This is because The Platinum Card includes a complimentary Shop Runner account, which gets you free two-day shipping and free returns. You can use your Shop Runner account at many online retailers, from Saks Fifth Avenue to Cole Haan and many, many more!

Overall, there are a plethora of benefits that The Platinum Card offers its members. If you want to dive into all of the perks that The Platinum Card has to offer, make sure you check our full deep-dive review of The Platinum Card. If you’re considering getting a Platinum Card to take advantage of all of the rich benefits, check out the CardMatch tool to make sure you’re earning the best offer. Some Welcome Offers can be up to 150,000 Membership Reward points, which is far more than the standard 100,000 Welcome Offer!

If you have any questions regarding any of The Platinum Card’s benefits, feel free to DM us on Instagram or email us at hello@thepointspassport.com.

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. 

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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