Review: American Express Platinum credit card – earn 40,000 points at sign-Up

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What does American Express promise?

Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards points
No Foreign Transactions Fees
Airport Club Access and Priority PassTM Select
$200 Airline Fee Credit
Global Entry Fee credit
Complimentary Amazon Prime membership
Business/ First Class Companion Ticket
Primary Collision Damage Waiver (add. fee)

Why should you get this card?

1) The fee is $450 and not waived but really a non-issue

Most people I talk to are taken aback by the high fee but actually it's not bad at all. If you do it right it will provide you with $400 in credit you can use for airline tickets. And most of use certainly spend $200 in airline tickets within 18 months.

Most of us have Amazon Prime - the card gives you one year for free.

Global Entry is a must if you travel a lot internationally - the card gives it to you for free!

The Priority Pass Club Lounge access is a great benefit - combined with the Centurion Lounges it has value to me.

So in essence I feel like this card has no real fee.

2) 40,0000 Membership Rewards points

While the relative value of these may have slipped - they can be used very well across multiple partners and give you access to deals.

AeroMexico
Aeroplan
Alitalia Airlines
All Nippon Airways
Asia Miles
British Airways
Delta Air Lines
EL AL Israel Airlines
Flying Blue
Hawaiian Airlines
Iberia Plus
JetBlue Airways
Singapore Airlines
Virgin America
Virgin Atlantic Airways

It's great to have this valuable mileage currency in your cache!

3) No foreign transaction fee

You'd expect that from a travel card!

4) Lounge Access

The AMEX Centurion Lounges rock! You will have unlimited access!

The card also lets you into Delta Sky Clubs and Priority Pass lounges. Priority Club lounges are all over the world and you will be hard pressed to find an aiprot without a priority club lounge.

5) Comprehensive insurance package

The American Express Platinum Card has the insurance you'd expect from a top notch card!

Extended Warranty
Purchase Protection
Return Protection
Collision Damage Waiver
Baggage Insurance Plan
Trip Delay and Cancellation
Medical Assistance

Most interesting is the primary car rental coverage (CDW) which you can activate against a fee of $17.95 per rental. It will jump in before you regular car rental insurance. Regular credit car insurance will first reflect all claims to your personal car insurance.

6) Amazon Prime and Global Entry Fee credit

Both are immensely useful tools for the digital nomad. Both cost about $99 each. Do that when you sign up!

7) Fine Hotel & Resorts

Depending on how you travel - this can be a great benefit. Usually these hotels are in the $200++ price range but when booking through American Express you will receive VIP treatment often including room upgrades and free breakfast. There are NO extra fees for this.

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