Ramsey Qubein
Conde Nast Traveler, Travel+Leisure, Forbes.com, CNBC.com, AFAR, Robb Report, Reader's Digest, BBC Worldwide, USA Today, Frommers.com, Fodors.com, Islands, Business Traveler, Fortune, Airways, Yahoo, Travel Age West, MSN.com, Bustle.com, AAA magazines
Ramsey is a freelance travel journalist covering business travel, loyalty programs and luxury travel. His work has appeared in Travel+Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Reader's Digest, AFAR, BBC Worldwide, USA Today, Frommers.com, Fodors.com, Business Traveler, Fortune, Airways, TravelAge West, MSN.com, Bustle.com and AAA magazines. As someone who flies more than 450,000 miles per year and has been to 173 countries, he is well-versed in the intricacies of credit cards and how to maximize the associated perks and services.
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MORE LIKE THIS TravelAmerican Express has lots of great travel-related cards with partnerships, including Delta Air Lines , Hilton and Marriott , among others. But, if you’re looking for primary American Express-branded cards that can elevate the travel experience, there are two worthy contenders.
Among the many American Express travel card offers, these carry substantially different annual fees, and the benefits they provide correspond with that cost. Let’s take a look at the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express to see how they compare.
American Express® Gold Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24. Terms Apply.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
Membership Rewards points earned
Bonus points earned
• 4 points per $1 at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per year).
• 4 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per year).
• 3 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
• 2 points per $1 on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases made through American Express Travel.
• 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.
• 5 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 spent per year.
• 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.
American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Priority Pass Select (but excluding airport restaurant benefits) — enrollment required; Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta); The Centurion Lounge and several others.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/Nexus credit
Statement credit point value
AmEx travel portal value
1 cent for flights; 0.5-0.7 cents for hotels and cruises.
1 cent for flights; 0.5-0.7 cents for hotels and cruises.
Trip delay, baggage and car rental insurance.
Trip cancellation, interruption and delay, baggage, and car rental insurance.
Foreign transaction fees
While there’s a wide gap between the cards’ annual fees, there are also several key differences among the earning rates and benefits that these cards offer. Let’s get into the details between these two cards to help you decide which works best for you.
Looking at the current AmEx travel card offers, The Platinum Card® from American Express takes the lead with a hefty welcome bonus : Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
The cheaper American Express® Gold Card , meanwhile, has a smaller introductory offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24. Terms Apply.
While you’ll need to spend more to meet the minimum spend requirement with The Platinum Card® from American Express , the high welcome bonus may be what makes this card worth it for you.
The annual fee for The Platinum Card® from American Express is almost three times that of the American Express® Gold Card . However, at $695 versus $325 , respectively, there are a lot more benefits for the extra outlay in cash.
If you take a look at The Platinum Card® from American Express statement credits alone (including the $200 airline credit, $240 digital entertainment credit, $200 Uber Cash and $400 total in statement credits with Equinox and Saks Fifth Avenue), you’ll get back more than the annual fee for holding the Platinum version of the card. Enrollment required. Terms apply.
If you use most of the statement credits from the card, you could actually save money you otherwise might have spent.
The American Express® Gold Card is much less expensive with an annual fee of $325 . It comes with $524 worth of credits to use toward dining, Uber and stays at The Hotel Collection properties but not everyone may take advantage of these. This is a great card if you order food delivery and take rideshares enough to recoup almost all of the annual fee.
The real value in the American Express® Gold Card comes in the bonus points earned on certain categories like U.S. supermarkets, flights and restaurants. If you can put the bonus points you earn to good use but don’t need the extras of The Platinum Card® from American Express , this could be a good option.
Both of these cards earn American Express Membership Rewards points that can be used to redeem for travel within the AmEx travel portal . One point is equal to 1 cent when redeeming for airfare, or between 0.5 and 0.7 cents when redeeming for a cruise or hotel redemption.
You can also transfer them to one of the AmEx hotel or airline partners at varying ratios depending on the program. Many airlines transfer at a 1:1 ratio, meaning that one AmEx point equals one mile in a frequent flyer program.
There are a few other perks that are similar across both cards:
No foreign transaction fees. If you travel frequently overseas, you won’t need to worry about being charged a foreign transaction fee when you use your card to make a purchase.
Travel insurance. While you’ll get added insurance benefits with The Platinum Card® from American Express , both cards offer protections while you travel . Trip delay, baggage and rental car insurance comes with both cards.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Learn MoreWith a mid-level annual fee, this card is not heavy on luxurious perks, but it does have some sweet bonus categories for earning points. Travelers might miss having lounge access and a credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry , but it is a solid card for plumping up your Membership Rewards balance.
This card will reward you with 4x points at restaurants worldwide. If you like dining out or ordering in, this card piles on the points while you pile up your plate.
If you prefer cooking at home, you’ll still earn 4x points when shopping at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year).
Frequent travelers who book flights directly with airlines or through the AmEx travel portal will also earn 3 points per dollar spent.
In addition to bonus points for dining, this card comes with a $10 statement credit per month to be used toward your Uber account for Uber Eats or Uber rides. You’ll also receive a $10 monthly statement credit for orders through Grubhub or dining at eligible restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory and Five Guys when paying with the card.
If you prefer good beverages over good eats, you can choose to use the $10 monthly dining credit credit at wine.com instead.
Enrollment required. Terms apply.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Learn MoreThe Platinum Card® from American Express comes with lots of perks that the American Express® Gold Card does not.
With access to more than 1,400 lounges in the program, you’re sure to find some respite with drinks, snacks or other amenities when traveling through the airport. For starters, with The Centurion Lounge you’ll be able to have full meals with an open bar before your flight.
This benefit comes with Priority Pass Select membership , which gives access to affiliated lounges around the world, plus the opportunity to bring a guest with you. Enrollment required. Cardholders can also access Delta SkyClub lounges when flying Delta. Other lounges in the program include Escape Lounges , Plaza Premium lounges and more.
Lounge access is changing in 2025. Starting Feb. 1, 2025, cardmembers will receive six visits to Delta Sky Clubs per program year. However, members can earn unlimited access after spending $75,000 in a program year. Unlimited access remains through Jan. 31 of the following year. Spend tracking begins Jan. 1, 2024.
Annually, cardholders receive a $200 statement credit on prepaid Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through the American Express Travel website. These stays include elite-like benefits like late check-out, property credits, complimentary breakfast and room upgrades.
Cardholders also receive a $200 airline credit to apply to incidental expenses like checked bags and in-flight purchases. Enrollment required. You can also use up to $200 in credits toward Uber ($15 each month, plus a $20 bonus in December), a $199 credit toward Clear membership and up to a $100 credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck .
You’ll really hit the jackpot in this category if you max out all of the credit opportunities. Each year, card members are rewarded a total of $240 in digital entertainment credits to use toward streaming services like Hulu and Disney+, among others. Enrollment required.
Twice a year, there’s a $50 statement credit toward purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue. Enrollment required. There’s also $13 for Walmart+ and $25 for Equinox membership given as monthly statement credits.
With this card, you will receive complimentary Gold-tier status in both Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required). Gold status with both programs offer bonus hotel points and on-site privileges like upgraded room types.
In addition to the travel protections offered by the American Express® Gold Card , The Platinum Card® from American Express has added travel insurance for trip cancellation and trip interruption .
AmEx has a total of 15 hotel and airline loyalty program partners to which you can transfer points:
Full list of AmEx transfer partners Aer Lingus (1:1 ratio). AeroMexico (1:1.6 ratio). Air Canada. (1:1 ratio). Air France/KLM (1:1 ratio). ANA (1:1 ratio). Avianca (1:1 ratio). British Airways (1:1 ratio). Cathay Pacific (1:1 ratio) Delta Air Lines (1:1 ratio). Emirates (1:1 ratio). Etihad Airways (1:1 ratio). Hawaiian Airlines (1:1 ratio). Iberia Plus (1:1 ratio). JetBlue Airways (2.5:2 ratio). Qantas (1:1 ratio). Qatar Airways (1:1 ratio). Singapore Airlines (1:1 ratio). Virgin Atlantic Airways (1:1 ratio). Choice Hotels (1:1 ratio). Hilton Hotels & Resorts (1:2 ratio). Marriott Hotels & Resorts (1:1 ratio).For details on transfer ratios, see AmEx's website .
There are several American Express cards in the company’s portfolio, but two of their Membership Rewards earning consumer cards stand out. Both the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express are rich in benefits, although there are notable variances between them.
The American Express® Gold Card has a lower annual fee and fewer benefits than its Platinum counterpart. However, the former has several bonus-point-earning opportunities and built-in statement credits.
If you want outsized value from a travel card though, The Platinum Card® from American Express can actually reward you with a lot more if you maximize all of its perks. With bonus points on travel spending, elite status benefits and more than $1,500 in statement credits, the $695 annual fee gets quickly erased. Terms apply.
Membership Rewards is a versatile points program with flexible points that can bring great value when compared to more restrictive airline and hotel miles and points. Both of these cards are worth considering, so be sure to factor in their differences to choose the one that best fits your needs.
To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page .Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance
Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.Insurance Benefit: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.Insurance Benefit: Baggage Insurance Plan
Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g., plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card , see this page .Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance
Up to $300 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.Insurance Benefit: Baggage Insurance Plan
Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Eligible Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve® Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card About the authorYou’re following Ramsey Qubein
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Ramsey is a freelance writer and editor who travels more than 450,000 miles a year. With 166 countries under his belt and counting, he has a wealth of knowledge about loyalty programs and credit card perks to help people travel more efficiently and in style without breaking the bank. See full bio.
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