Up to 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points — discover your offer now!
Apply for The Platinum Card® from American Express and earn up to 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months. Offer eligibility may vary based on your application and credit profile.
Apply now. Terms & fees apply. Partner offer via Amex.
Rewards Rate
5X points
Annual Fee
$799
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended Credit
Excellent to Good
Our Take:
Premium Travel Perks That Pay Off
Editor’s Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
The Platinum Card® from American Express is built for frequent travelers seeking luxury and value. With a huge welcome bonus, premium travel rewards, and over $1,500 in yearly credits, it can more than justify its annual fee.
Why We Like It:
Big Bonus: Earn up to 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points
5X Points: On flights and prepaid hotels via Amex Travel
Elite Perks: Centurion® Lounge access, Gold Status with Hilton & Marriott
Valuable Credits: Uber, Clear Plus, digital entertainment & more
Concierge Access: Book restaurants, events, and VIP experiences
What to Watch For:
- $799 Annual Fee: Best suited for frequent travelers who’ll maximize the perks
- Airline Fee Credit Use Can Be Tricky
Pros
• Huge welcome bonus potential
• 5X points on travel bookings
• Premium airport lounge access
• Elite hotel status and perks
• Over $1,500 in annual credits
• 24/7 concierge services
• TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee credit
Cons
• High $799 annual fee
• Complex credit redemptions
• Limited value for non-travelers
• No 0% intro APR offers
The American Express Platinum Card is one of Canada’s top travel cards, offering premium perks, flexible rewards, and elite status benefits. With a sleek metal design and a $799 annual fee, it’s ideal for frequent travellers who want luxury and value combined.
Bonus & Annual Fees
Earn up to 180,000 Membership Rewards® points in three stages:
100,000 points after $10,000 spend in 3 months
50,000 points after $50,000 spend in 12 months
30,000 points with a purchase between months 15–17
The $799 annual fee is partially offset by:
$200 travel credit (per card anniversary)
$200 dining credit (per calendar year)
Use both, and your effective fee drops to $399.
Plus, earn 20,000 points per referral, up to 225,000 points by August 18, 2025.
Need help reaching spend goals? Use services like Chexy to pay rent or tuition by card (1.75% fee) and rack up points faster.
How Much Value Can You Really Get?
Let’s break down the potential return from the American Express Platinum Card—without even touching on its premium perks (yet).
We value Amex Membership Rewards (MR) points at 2.2 cents each. That makes the 180,000-point welcome bonus worth about $3,960.
By spending the required $50,000, you’d also earn 50,000 base points—adding another $1,100 in value.
Add to that:
$200 travel credit × 2 years = $400
$200 dining credit × 2 years = $400
That’s a total of $5,460 in value from points and credits alone.
Now subtract the $799 annual fee × 2 years = $1,598, and you’re still left with a net value of $2,664—before even factoring in the perks, lounge access, or insurance.
This is a conservative estimate—the real value could be even higher depending on how you use the card.
Earning Rewards
For everyday spending, the American Express Platinum Card earns you:
2 MR points per $1 on eligible travel and dining in Canada
+1 MR point per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked via Amex Travel
1 MR point per $1 on all other purchases
The 2x rate on dining and travel is solid—but cards like the Amex Cobalt (5x on dining) and Gold Rewards Card (also 2x on travel) offer stronger returns in key areas.
While the 1x base rate is average, the real strength lies in the flexibility and high redemption value of MR points.
Overall, the Platinum Card earns well—but not best-in-class across all categories, especially given more affordable Amex options.
Redeeming Rewards
The Membership Rewards program stands out for its flexibility and strong redemption value, especially with its wide range of transfer partners.
You can transfer MR points to top airline and hotel programs at the following rates:
Aeroplan – 1:1
Avios (British Airways) – 1:1
Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific) – 1:0.75
Flying Blue (Air France–KLM) – 1:0.75
Delta SkyMiles – 1:0.75
Etihad Guest – 1:0.75
Marriott Bonvoy – 1:1.2
Hilton Honors – 1:1
You can also redeem points through the Fixed Points Travel chart for round-trip flights from Canada, or as a travel statement credit at 1 cent per point (1 cpp).
That said, transfers to programs like Aeroplan or Avios usually deliver the best value, making MR points some of the most powerful in Canada.
Perks & Benefits
The Platinum Card’s $799 annual fee is offset by premium travel benefits.
Lounge Access: Entry to 1,300+ lounges worldwide via the Amex Global Lounge Collection, including:
Centurion Lounges (with 2 free guests)
Priority Pass, Delta Sky Club, Plaza Premium, and more
Hotel Status: Automatic Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors.
Fine Hotels & Resorts: Perks like free breakfast, late checkout, upgrades, and third-/fourth-night-free offers.
Airfare Discounts: Save on business/first-class fares through the International Airline Program.
Travel Credit: Annual $200 credit on bookings via Amex Travel.
Dining Credit: Annual $200 credit for select top Canadian restaurants.
Concierge: 24/7 assistance with travel, dining, gifts, and more.
Airport Perks: Priority security at Toronto Pearson + car rental upgrades with Hertz and Avis.
Event Access: Reserved tickets via Front Of The Line® and Amex Experiences.
Amex Offers: Enjoy exclusive deals and rewards across top brands and merchants.
Insurance Coverage
As a premium travel card, the Platinum Card offers strong protection when you charge your trip to the card:
Travel Insurance
Emergency Medical: Up to $5 million for first 15 days (under age 65)
Trip Cancellation: Up to $2,500/person, max $5,000/trip
Trip Interruption: Up to $2,500/person, max $6,000/trip
Flight Delay (4+ hrs): Up to $1,000 total (shared with baggage delay)
Baggage Delay (6+ hrs): Up to $1,000 total (shared with flight delay)
Lost/Stolen Baggage: Up to $1,000 for covered items
Hotel Theft: Up to $1,000 for stolen personal items (cash excluded)
Travel Accident: Up to $500,000 for accidental death or dismemberment
Car Rental Theft/Damage: Covers rentals up to 48 days, vehicles up to $85,000 MSRP
Purchase Protection
Purchase Protection®: Up to $1,000 against theft or damage (within 120 days)
Buyer’s Assurance®: Extends manufacturer’s warranty by up to 1 year
No minimum income required to apply for the American Express Platinum Card.
Apply Now
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