American Express Platinum Card 2025: Is the $895 Annual Fee Worth the Investment?
The iconic metal card just got a major makeover and we're not talking about the new mirrored design. Will your wallet celebrate or revolt?
The American Express Platinum Card has long been the heavyweight champion of premium credit cards. But in Sept 2025, Amex decided to throw a curveball that has cardholders either doing victory laps or speed-dialing customer service to cancel. The annual fee just jumped to a whopping $895, but before you panic, let's examine what you're actually getting for that eye-watering price tag.
💳 The Sticker Shock: Annual Fee Climbs to $895
That's not a typo. The annual fee has skyrocketed from $695 to $895, representing a $200 increase that's sure to make even platinum-level spenders pause. But here's the plot twist: Amex didn't just raise the fee and call it a day. They've added some compelling new benefits that might actually justify the premium price tag.
The New Kids on the Block: Fresh New & Updated Benefits for 2025
Lululemon Credit: $300 Annually ($75 per quarter)
For those who treat athleisure as a religion, this credit applies to purchases at U.S. Lululemon stores (excluding outlets) and online. Finally, your expensive yoga pants obsession pays dividends.
Oura Ring Credit: $200 Annually
Health tech enthusiasts, rejoice! This credit covers the hardware cost of an Oura Ring, though it won't pay for the monthly membership. Still, getting a $350+ health tracker for $200 isn't too shabby if you wanted one to begin with.
Enhanced Resy Credit: $400 Annually ($100 per quarter)
The dining credit got a serious upgrade, now offering $100 quarterly for U.S. Resy restaurants. Your Instagram food photos just became a legitimate business expense.
Boosted Hotel Credit: $600 Annually
This is the real game-changer. The hotel credit tripled from $200 to $600 annually, making those weekend getaways significantly more affordable.
Uber One Membership
Up to $120 for Uber One membership (subject to auto-renewal). This falls in line perfectly with that monthly Uber credit for dining.
Boosted Digital Entertainment Credit: $300 Annually
This credit increased from $20 a month to $25 a month and added Paramount+, YouTube Premium and YouTube TV services to the lineup.
Boosted Clear Plus Credit
This credit increased from $199 to $209 to compensate for the increased annual Clear membership fee.
New hotel and dining perks
- Leaders Club Sterling status (The Leading Hotels of the World); enrollment required
- Platinum Nights by Resy (currently only in Los Angeles, Miami and New York City)
🧮 Crunching the Numbers: The New Math
Let's break down what this premium plastic actually delivers in cold, hard value. It's unlikely that every cardholder will use all of the offered benefits so lets look at this from my own personal use.
Annual Credits That I Actually Use
| Benefit | Annual Value | How It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Credit (ENHANCED) | $600 | Annual usage |
| Resy Credit (ENHANCED) | $400 | Quarterly ($100) |
| Digital Entertainment (ENHANCED) | $300 | Monthly ($25) |
| Lululemon (NEW) | $300 | Quarterly ($75) |
| CLEAR Plus (UPDATED) | $209 | Annual |
| Uber Credits | $200 | Monthly ($15) + December ($20) |
| Uber One Membership (NEW) | $120 | Annual auto-renewal |
| Airline Fee Credit | $200 | Annual |
| Walmart+ Membership | $155.40 | Monthly ($12.95) |
| Saks Fifth Avenue | $100 | Semi-annual ($50 each) |
| TSA PreCheck/Global Entry | $100 | Every 4-5 years |
Total Potential Annual Value: $3,084.40 and that is before you consider the benefits I use that don’t have a monetary value assigned, like lounge access, rental car status, rental car travel insurance, return protection, purchase protection, and cell phone protection.
Subtract the $895 annual fee, and you're looking at a potential net benefit of $2,189.40 based on the credits I use. Which brings us to the elephant in the room.
🤔 Reality Check: The Usage Factor
Here's where the rubber meets the road. These credits look impressive on paper, but their real value depends entirely on whether they align with your actual lifestyle and spending habits.
The Easy Wins (Most People Use These):
- Digital Entertainment Credit: Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, now including Paramount+, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV.
- Hotel Credit: Perfect for vacation planning and business travel.
- Uber Credits: Great for urban dwellers and airport transportation.
- TSA PreCheck/Global Entry: One-time setup with years of convenience.
The Lifestyle-Dependent Credits:
- Lululemon: Only valuable if you're already buying premium athletic wear. Personally, I'm not this person but I did use the credit for a couple new cross body bags and all the kids in the family may get one for Christmas 😆
- Resy: Fantastic for dining enthusiasts in major cities 🙋🏻♀️
- Oura Ring: Perfect for health tech enthusiasts, useless otherwise. This one is a no go for me as I have Apple products for this and don't plan to spend an additional $200 for the one I may have wanted. 👎🏻
- Saks Fifth Avenue: Luxury shopping that not everyone embraces. This one can be difficult as it's only $50 semi-annual at a store that sells socks for more than that. I personally, will buy anything in store as close to $50 as I can right at the end of the period, then return it for store credit the following month. I let them add up, then buy something, usually in the mens department. 🙄
✨ The Premium Perks: Beyond Dollar Values
While credits grab headlines, the Platinum Card's true magic often lies in benefits you can't easily quantify:
Lounge Access That Actually Matters
- Centurion Lounges: Amex's crown jewel lounges with unlimited restaurant-quality food and drinks (including alcohol)
- Delta Sky Clubs: Access when flying Delta with same-day boarding pass
- Priority Pass: Over 1,300 lounges worldwide
Travel Protection That Saves Your Sanity
- Trip Cancellation Insurance: Up to $10,000 per trip
- Baggage Insurance: Protection when airlines lose your stuff or damage your luggage
- Car Rental Insurance: Primary coverage (deny coverage from the car rental location, you're not filing with your auto insurance first)
- Cell Phone Protection: Up to $800 per claim with $50 deductible
Status That Opens Doors
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status: Room upgrades, late checkout, bonus points
- Hilton Honors Gold Status: Similar perks across Hilton properties
- Leaders Club Sterling Status: NEW benefit with The Leading Hotels of the World
- Car Rental Elite Status: Skip lines, get upgrades, earn bonus points
New Exclusive Experiences
- Platinum Nights by Resy: Special dining experiences in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City
There are so many perks in addition to this. HERE is our complete benefit guide for the Amex Platinum card. It will show you all of the “hidden” benefits, including what benefits you get through a given benefit. For example, free Walmart grocery and pharmacy delivery via Walmart+.
📊 The Bright Side: Potential for Better Lounge Experience
Here's an interesting silver lining: if the fee increase causes mass cancellations, Centurion Lounges might become less crowded. It's like getting an upgraded experience by default when other members decide the premium isn't worth it anymore.
🎯 Who Should Embrace the New Platinum Card?
Ideal Candidates:
- Frequent business travelers who maximize lounge access and travel credits
- Urban professionals living in cities with robust Uber and Resy networks
- Health and wellness enthusiasts who can use both Lululemon and Oura credits
- Luxury travelers who appreciate hotel status and premium experiences
- Points strategists who transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners
Proceed with Caution If You're:
- Occasional travelers who won't justify the lounge access
- Budget-focused spenders who prefer straightforward cash back
- Suburban/rural residents where premium services are limited
- Simplicity seekers who want rewards without credit management
💡 Maximizing Your $895 Investment
The 2025 Platinum Card refresh represents Amex's most aggressive value proposition yet. Despite the substantial fee increase, the enhanced benefits create genuine value for the right cardholder. If you're keeping or considering the Platinum Card, here's how to squeeze every drop of value:
Monthly Optimization Strategy:
- Automate entertainment subscriptions to capture the full $25 monthly credit (annual memberships do not trigger the credit so make sure to set it up on the monthly plan)
- Schedule regular Uber usage for commuting or food delivery
- Plan quarterly purchases for Lululemon and Resy dining
- Book hotels strategically to maximize the $600 annual credit
- Reminders set a reminder for a week/month before the credit expiration date to remind you to use it before you loose it, credits do not roll over!
Travel Mastery:
- Always check Centurion Lounge locations when booking flights
- Leverage elite status for upgrades and enhanced experiences
- Use travel insurance for peace of mind on expensive trips
- Transfer points during bonus periods to maximize redemption value
🚀 The Future of Premium Cards
The 2025 Platinum refresh signals where premium credit cards are heading: higher fees offset by increasingly targeted benefits. Amex is betting that cardholders will pay more for benefits that align with modern luxury lifestyles, from health tracking devices to premium athleisure.
This strategy makes sense in a world where the definition of luxury is evolving. Today's premium consumers value experiences, health, and convenience as much as traditional luxury goods.
📈 Making Your Decision
The enhanced Platinum Card isn't universally worth it, but for the right person, it delivers exceptional value. The key is honest self-assessment: audit your spending patterns, evaluate your travel frequency, and consider whether these specific credits align with your actual lifestyle.
Remember, the best credit card isn't the one with the most impressive benefit list – it's the one that enhances your life while providing genuine financial value.
The $895 annual fee is substantial, but when you break down the potential $2,389+ in net benefits, it becomes clear that Amex isn't just raising prices arbitrarily. They're creating a premium product for premium consumers who can maximize premium benefits.
The question isn't whether the card is expensive. It absolutely is. The question is whether it's expensive relative to the value it provides your specific situation.
What's your take on the new Platinum Card benefits? Are the enhanced credits worth the higher annual fee for your lifestyle?
American Express Platinum Card®
Apply now and you can request the limited-edition mirror design
and as high ad 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
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Jacqueline Gomez
In honor of the new Mirrored Platinum card 🪞
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