Don’t forget to register for these benefits with the American Express Platinum

The Platinum Card® from American Express takes the cake for the highest annual fee ($695, see rates and fees) and one of the highest number of annual statement credits of any card. As a quick recap, here are the basic features of the Amex Platinum (enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply):

• New cardmembers can earn 80,000 bonus after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. You may be targeted for a higher offer through CardMatch; offers can change at any time and not everyone will be targeted for the same offers.
• Earn 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1 point) and hotels booked through Amex Travel and 1 point on all other eligible purchases.
• Amex Global Lounge Collection, including access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass and more.

This card has more benefits than practically any other rewards card on the market. The thing you might not realize, though, is that you have to register for some of them before you can use them. Here are the top ones to keep in mind.

Airline fee statement credit

Select one qualifying airline on your online Amex account and receive statement credits of up to $200 per calendar year toward incidental fees on the airline of your choice — applicable for baggage fees, seat assignments, inflight drinks, snacks and other similar charges. Terms apply.

Don’t forget — if you don’t register, you won’t receive any statement credits. It’s also important to remember that once you pick your airline, you may not be able to change it before the current calendar year ends.

You may have success if you haven’t used any of the credit yet, but if you’ve used any of this benefit this year, then you won’t be able to swap your airline for the remainder of the calendar year.

Marriott and Hilton elite status

If room upgrades and bonus points sound enticing to you, register for complimentary Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy elite status, both at the Gold level. To enroll, log onto your Amex Platinum account to request enrollment in both loyalty programs. Terms apply.

Priority Pass lounges

While you’ll have automatic access to Amex Centurion Lounges upon presenting your Amex Platinum card, be sure to register for your complimentary Priority Pass Select membership on your online Amex account. Terms apply.

This will let you into more than 1,300 lounges worldwide — a great alternative to when there isn’t a Centurion Lounge or Delta Sky Club (when you fly same-day Delta; effective February 1, 2025, Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight).

Hotel statement credit

Cardmembers receive up to $200 in annual statement credits each calendar year when they pay for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection stays through the Amex Travel portal using their Amex Platinum. Booking through these programs will also get you elitelike perks, so it’s worth checking out.

Note that a minimum two-night stay is required for Hotel Collection bookings. Additional terms apply.

Uber Cash

Receive up to $15 per month (and up to $35 total in December) in Uber Cash, redeemable for Uber rides or U.S. Uber Eats orders. That’s up to $200 each calendar year.

After adding your Amex Platinum card to your Uber account, you can find your monthly Amex benefit in your Uber Cash balance. Note that you’ll need to pay with an eligible Amex card to use your Uber Cash.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit

You don’t exactly have to register for this benefit, but use your card to pay for your Global Entry or TSA Precheck application through the respective website and receive $120 in statement credits for Global Entry (up to $85 for TSA PreCheck). You’ll be eligible to receive a Global Entry credit every four years or a TSA PreCheck credit every 4½ years. Terms apply.

Clear Plus statement credit

Similar to the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, pay for your annual Clear Plus membership with your Amex Platinum and automatically receive up to $199 as a statement credit per calendar year. Terms apply.

Digital entertainment statement credit

After enrolling in this benefit on your Amex Platinum account, you’ll receive up to $20 in monthly statement credits (up to $240 each calendar year) when using your Amex Platinum to pay for monthly subscriptions through qualifying digital entertainment providers, including Peacock, The New York Times, Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The Disney Bundle and The Wall Street Journal. Terms apply.

Equinox statement credit

For monthly Equinox memberships or your Equinox+ fitness app, you can receive up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year when you pay with your Amex Platinum. Enrollment is also required for this benefit online; terms apply.

Saks statement credit

Again, enroll in this benefit on your card account. Then, when shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue with your Amex Platinum card, you’ll receive up to $50 in statement credits for January through June and another up to $50 in statement credits for July through December.

That’s up to $100 each calendar year. Keep in mind that these credits don’t roll over, so make sure you use your Saks credit before June and December end. Terms apply.

Bottom line

The Amex Platinum comes with an abundance of lifestyle- and travel-related credits that you’ll want to register for, either by paying for the service with your Amex Platinum or enrolling on your online Amex account.

These ongoing benefits crown the card as the best of the best — especially if maximized to its full potential. If you’re able to organically take advantage of all of these benefits, justifying the Amex Platinum’s premium annual fee each year becomes very easy.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum.

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Apply here: Amex Platinum

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Related: How the Amex Platinum Card has provided me with access to $3,000+ in value this year

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.