Latest news with #MembershipRewards
Forbes
7 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
This Amex Platinum Offer Could Score You As High As 175,000 Bonus Points
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. There's a massive The Platinum Card® from American Express (Terms apply, see rates & fees) welcome bonus floating around, but it's playing hard to get. If you've been eyeing the Amex Platinum, you might want to check your personal offers ASAP. The Platinum Card may flash a bonus of 175,000 points, but whether you get it depends on what's behind the velvet rope. Unlike the standard 80,000-point public offer, this one is all about personalization. You'll see the biggest number up front, but your actual welcome bonus might be lower depending on your credit profile, card history and other mystery metrics. That means some applicants will receive a personalized offer as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on the card in the first 6 months of card membership (approval required, welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer). Others might see a lesser offer or may not qualify for anything. Here's how to find out where you land. There are a couple of ways to see if you qualify for the new Amex Platinum offer. The easiest way is to use a special link that includes the 'as high as' language, which has been emailed to Amex customers, on the Amex website, or from the application link on this page. Once you click through, you'll land on the Amex Platinum offer landing page, where you can click 'Apply Now' to fill out a short form with information like your Social Security number and income. Once you submit your information Amex will run a soft credit check to show you the specific welcome bonus you're eligible for, if any. This won't affect your credit score, and you're under no obligation to continue if you don't like what you see. If you're eligible, you'll immediately see your personalized welcome bonus. At that point, you can either accept your offer (which may impact your credit score) or hit 'Withdraw Application' and exit without any impact on your credit. If you accept the offer you will have to meet a spending requirement in the allotted time to receive the bonus. Let's not sugarcoat it, the $695 annual fee on the Amex Platinum card isn't cheap. But if you travel even a few times a year, the perks can be worthwhile. Lounge Life Goals Centurion Lounge? Priority Pass? Delta Sky Club (when you fly Delta)? Yes, yes, and yes. Cardholders can also expect free food, drinks, Wi-Fi and a quieter place to wait than the standard gate area. Stacked Statement Credits Earn back up to $200 in airline fees, up to $200 in Uber Cash, and up to $240 toward streaming services each year (terms apply, see rates & fees for details). That's nearly $650 in value, almost covering the annual fee right there. VIP Hotel Treatment Cardholders get elite status with Hilton and Marriott, plus luxe perks through Fine Hotels & Resorts like upgrades, free breakfast and late checkout. 5x Points on Flights and Amex Travel Flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel earn 5x points. Add that to a huge welcome bonus, and you're basically bathing in Membership Rewards. Other Extras Earn CLEAR credits, Walmart+ perks, purchase protection ¹ , return protection ¹ and concierge access for last-minute table reservations (you didn't plan ahead for). It's unclear how long the 'as high as' feature will be available or whether similar offers will roll out for other cards. If you do see the offer, it's worth checking your personalized bonus, since it won't affect your credit score unless you accept the offer which you're under no obligation to do. This card may be a good fit for frequent travelers who can take advantage of the lounge access, hotel perks and high-value travel credits. For those who fly several times a year, the benefits can outweigh the $695 annual fee. But if you don't travel often or don't typically spend much on flights and hotels, it may be harder to justify the cost or fully use the perks. Ultimately, this is one of the highest public offers currently available on a premium card—but whether it's worth it depends on your travel habits and how much value you'll realistically get from the benefits. To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page. ¹Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
CNET
7 days ago
- Business
- CNET
This Amex Card's New Welcome Offer Has Me Scratching My Head. Here's Why
CNET/Getty Images A welcome offer is usually one of the main reasons people apply for a new credit card. But what if the issuer didn't disclose the offer until after you applied? American Express recently changed the language for the terms on The Platinum Card® from American Express without specifying the exact number of points you'd be eligible to earn with its welcome offer. A credit card's welcome bonus -- a lump sum of rewards you can earn, typically for reaching a certain spending threshold in a specified number of months -- is one of the biggest draws of luxury travel cards. The annual fee on an expensive credit card can usually be offset by the welcome offer you can earn. So, with a card that has a $600 annual fee and a welcome bonus of 100,000 points (depending on how much those points are worth), you know that fee is covered for at least a year. American Express didn't respond to a request for comment. So what changed with The Platinum Card? I'll explain. What changed with The Platinum Card's welcome offer? Here's how Amex changed its language: Old offer: 80,000 points for spending $8,000 in the first six months. 80,000 points for spending $8,000 in the first six months. New offer: You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Find out your exact welcome offer when you apply. It's a mouthful, I know. As someone who's covered credit cards for nearly a decade, it's a good reminder to read all of the terms carefully. Here's what you should pay attention to. Why you should read the offer carefully A few things to call out with this new language. As high as. Yes, 175,000 is a big number. However, they don't disclose the range. That leaves me to wonder what's the least amount you might earn on a card with a $695 annual fee. (See rates and fees; terms apply.) Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for this offer. This could mean that you may not qualify for the highest payout or, in the worst case, that you may not qualify at all. Either way, the wording is ambiguous. Find out your exact welcome offer when you apply. You're no longer told how much you're eligible to earn before applying. Let's say you're approved, expecting a 175,000 bonus, but instead only qualify for 60,000. At that point, you'd have to decide if the card is valuable enough to you to accept. On the plus side, Amex says your credit score is only affected if you accept the card -- not when you apply. Should you apply for the Amex Platinum? If you had plans to apply for the card, it might be worth holding off until the company clarifies the bonus -- perhaps that will come with its planned update to the card later this year. Otherwise, the welcome offer you receive may not match your expectations. It could be that the credit card issuer is putting this out now, ahead of the planned update in preparation for a rewards revamp. Amex might offer tiers of Platinum cards, each with a different welcome offer and rewards, but that's just speculation. Either way, the change in language and the lack of disclosure about the welcome offer give me pause. Similar to how the new Coinbase One Card won't disclose how many assets you need to qualify for the highest rewards rate, the new language strikes me as purposefully ambiguous to get people to apply, only to find out the benefits are much less than what they expected.
CNET
20-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
A New Welcome Offer for The Platinum Card® from American Express Gives Me Pause. Here's Why
CNET/Getty Images Would you apply for a credit card that costs hundreds of dollars if the issuer wouldn't tell you what the welcome offer was? American Express recently changed the language for the terms on The Platinum Card® from American Express without specifying the exact number of points you'd be eligible to earn with its welcome offer. A credit card's welcome bonus -- a lump sum of rewards you can earn typically for reaching a certain spending threshold in a specified number of months -- is one of the main reasons why people apply for luxury travel credit cards. The annual fee on an expensive credit card can usually be offset by the welcome offer you can earn. So, a card with a $600 annual fee and a welcome bonus of 100,000 points (depending on how much those points are worth), you know that fee is covered for at least a year. American Express did not respond to questions in time for publication. So what changed with The Platinum Card? I'll explain. What changed with The Platinum Card's welcome offer? Here's how Amex changed its language: Old offer: 80,000 points for spending $8,000 in the first six months. 80,000 points for spending $8,000 in the first six months. New offer: You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Find out your exact welcome offer when you apply. It's a mouthful, I know. As someone who's covered credit cards for nearly a decade, it's a good reminder to read all of the terms carefully. Here's what you should pay attention to. Why you should read the offer carefully A few things to call out with this new language. As high as. Yes, 175,000 is a big number. However, they don't disclose the range. That leaves me to wonder what's the least amount you might earn on a card with a $695 annual fee. (See rates and fees; terms apply.) Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for this offer. This could mean that you may not qualify for the highest payout or, in the worst case, that you may not qualify at all. Either way, the wording is ambiguous. Find out your exact welcome offer when you apply. You're no longer told how much you're eligible to earn before applying. Let's say you're approved, expecting a 175,000 bonus, but instead only qualify for 60,000. At that point, you'd have to decide if the card is valuable enough to you to accept. On the plus side, Amex says your credit score is only impacted if you accept the card -- not when you apply. Should you apply for the Amex Platinum? If you had plans to apply for the card, it might be worth holding off until the company clarifies the bonus -- perhaps that will come with its planned update to the card later this year. Otherwise, the welcome offer you receive may not match your expectations. It could be that the credit card issuer is putting this out now, ahead of the planned update in preparation for a rewards revamp. Amex might offer tiers of Platinum cards, each with a different welcome offer and rewards, but that's just speculation. Either way, the change in language and the lack of disclosure about the welcome offer give me pause. Similar to how the new Coinbase One Card won't disclose how many assets you need to qualify for the highest rewards rate, the new language strikes me as purposefully ambiguous to get people to apply, only to find out the benefits are much less than what they expected.
Zawya
14-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
American Express Middle East celebrates 30 years of the Platinum Card with new exclusive benefits
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – American Express Middle East is celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Platinum Card® in the region unveiling exclusive benefits designed to align with the evolving aspirations of its Card Members. To celebrate this milestone, Platinum Card Members are invited to enjoy two exclusive benefits until December 31, 2025 — a new dining experience and an enhanced retail offer, providing even greater value: Platinum Card Members can enjoy up to US $200 dining credit per year at more than 300 restaurants across the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait. Platinum Card Members with a passion for fashion can now enjoy a US$ 200 statement credit per year at Net-A-Porter and Mr. Porter— double the previous value of US$ 100). All new Platinum Card Members who successfully apply for and receive their Card in 2025 will also enjoy a welcome offer of a statement credit of up to US$ 250 and a bonus of up to 50,000 Membership Rewards® points[1]. "For 30 years, The Platinum Card has set the bar for premium cards in the Middle East," said Mazin Khoury, CEO at American Express Middle East & North Africa. "We're marking this milestone by introducing exclusive Card benefits across dining and retail, designed to enhance the lifestyle of Platinum Card Members and connecting them to what they love." Three Decades of Defining Premium Experiences While the new benefits celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Platinum Card®, its legacy in the Middle East over the past three decades remains defined by a suite of existing premium privileges. These benefits reaffirm ThePlatinum Card's commitment to delivering convenience and extraordinary experiences for Card Members. Complimentary Airport Lounge Access: Eligible Card Members can access over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide through the American Express Global Lounge Collection. Eligible Card Members can access over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide through the American Express Global Lounge Collection. Comprehensive Insurance Coverage : Offers up to US$ 1 million in travel insurance coverage. : Offers up to US$ 1 million in travel insurance coverage. 24/7 Concierge Service : Dedicated concierge service available 24/7 to assist with travel planning, reservations, and more. : Dedicated concierge service available 24/7 to assist with travel planning, reservations, and more. Fine Hotels + Resorts Program: Exclusive benefits in 1,600 properties worldwide such as daily breakfast for two, room upgrade upon arrival when available, $100 credit towards eligible charges (which vary by property), guaranteed 4pm late checkout, and noon check-in when available. Exclusive benefits in 1,600 properties worldwide such as daily breakfast for two, room upgrade upon arrival when available, $100 credit towards eligible charges (which vary by property), guaranteed 4pm late checkout, and noon check-in when available. Membership Rewards Program: Points never expire and can be redeemed across a wide range of partners. Points can also be used toward eligible purchase made on the Card and can be used for redemption at any time. Discover the exclusive benefits of the American Express Platinum Card: Terms and Conditions apply. About American Express Middle East American Express began operations in the MENA region in 1959 and set up its first office in Bahrain in 1977. In 1992, AEME was established in Bahrain as a joint venture company owned by American Express and Mawarid Investment Limited. Today, AEME provides consumer card, corporate and merchant payment solutions across MENA, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business. Learn more at download Amex MENA app or connect with us on and [1] Terms and Conditions apply
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Earn 150k points and a $500 statement credit with this Amex Business Platinum limited-time offer
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has a limited-time offer of 150,000 points and a $500 statement credit. This offer is interesting because, depending on whether you meet the offer requirements, you can earn one or both aspects of the two-tiered bonus. Here's the full offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card within the first three months. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your card within the first three months. The offer ends June 30, 2025. This offer is worth at least $2,000 toward flights, though it could be worth much more with specific transfer partner redemptions. This is a two-tiered offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card within the first three months. Earn a $500 statement credit after spending $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your card within the first three months. You can earn one or both parts of this Amex Business Platinum offer. We don't like leaving any part of a welcome bonus on the table, so we recommend working at least $2,500 worth of flights into the $20,000 you have to spend in the first three months. Then, you'll qualify for both the 150,000 points and the $500 statement credit. Of course, this strategy only makes sense if you need to book upcoming flights. The offer could still be worth it if you can only earn the 150,000 points, but it loses much of its value if you only qualify for the $500 statement value of 150,000 Membership Rewards points can vary in value depending on the redemption option. Here are some examples of how much 150,000 points are worth for different redemptions: Book flights: $1,500 Reserve prepaid hotels: $1,050 Cover card charges: $900 Receive an Olive Garden gift card: $1,500 Receive a The Cheesecake Factory gift card: $1,275 Receive a Starbucks gift card: $1,050 Using this sampling of possible redemptions, the bonus is worth up to $2,000 (including the $500 statement credit) toward flights or certain gift cards. It's worth significantly less if you choose any of the low-value redemption options, such as covering card charges or reserving prepaid hotels. However, there's no set redemption value if you transfer points to one of over 20 Amex travel partners, including Air France-KLM, Singapore Airlines, or Virgin Atlantic. From our experience, you can receive well over $1,500 in value when transferring 150,000 points to a transfer these examples of transferring points to different Amex travel partners to get more value from your rewards. Singapore Airlines has a route from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA), where you can book a business class flight for 81,000 miles plus a small amount of taxes and fees. This flight is on one of the best airlines in the world and can cost over $2,600, giving you plenty of value for your points. Singapore Airlines offers frequent discounts with its KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes promotions, which could lower the award flight cost to only 56,700 miles. This redemption will be even more worthwhile if you can snag this deal. Either way, you'd still have points left over for other redemptions. How does a business class flight to Paris (CDG) from Seattle (SEA) sound? With only 60,000 points transferred to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, you can make that dream a reality. You have to cover some taxes and fees, but it's still worth it, considering this flight can cost over $3,000. Even better, you would still have 90,000 Membership Rewards points to use after this redemption. If you would rather stretch your points for more flights, there's plenty of opportunity to do so. Consider this economy flight on Aer Lingus from Chicago (ORD) to Dublin (DUB), which only costs 13,000 Avios miles and some taxes and fees (about $131). This flight would cost $685 if you were to pay cash. With 150,000 points to work with, you could cover 11 of these flights (worth over $7,500). That's a lot of solo visits or at least a few family trips, depending on how many 'family members' turn up once they hear you're booking heavily discounted flights to Ireland. The Amex Business Platinum charges a hefty $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), which means you need to get enough value from the card's benefits each year to offset that amount. Otherwise, it might not be worth hanging onto this card year after year. Without considering the value of its welcome offer, here are a few simple steps to see if a card is worth it for you: See how much you must pay for a card membership or annual fee. Review a card's benefits and calculate their value. Don't consider benefits you won't use. If the value of a particular benefit is difficult to quantify, this can require educated guessing. See if the sum of the values of the benefits you would actually use is more than the annual fee. Here are a few Amex Business Platinum benefits and their potential value: Rewards rate: If your business spends $50,000 on the card annually, that's at least 50,000 points (worth $500 toward flights). You can earn more points if you spend more or qualify for a higher earning rate. Airport lounge access: Paying for airport lounge access can cost between $35 to $50 or more at locations that allow paid guests. Buying a meal at an airport can cost over $15. With airport lounge benefits, you can avoid paying an entrance fee and frequently receive complimentary food and drinks. $200 Hilton statement credit (enrollment required): For eligible Hilton purchases, you can receive up to $200 in statement credits annually ($50 per quarter). $200 airline fee credit (must select a qualifying airline): You can receive up to $200 in credits per calendar year for incidental purchases, such as baggage fees, made with your selected airline. $199 CLEAR Plus credit: You can receive up to $199 back per calendar year on eligible CLEAR Plus memberships. You can more than offset the annual fee each year by using these and other benefits, many of which we didn't mention here. Depending on your business expenses, you might earn enough from purchases alone to offset the fee. This article was edited by Alicia Hahn. Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank's website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
