> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://pointspeaks.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Amex Platinum - What Surprised Me - URL: https://pointspeaks.com/amex-platinum-what-surprised-me/ - Published: 2026-10-04T02:15:36.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-04T02:15:36.000Z - Author: Oddy Litlabo I was basically born a Capital One Venture X fanboy. It was my first premium rewards card, and I loved the simplicity and the perks. 2x on everything, awesome protections and insurance, and of course, lounge access. It got even sweeter when Capital One introduced its flagship lounges. I'm a fan. I've been more cautious about the Amex Platinum and the Chase Sapphire Reserve. As I've been churning credit cards, I picked up the welcome offers for the Amex Green and then the Gold. And I told myself I'd open the Platinum if I ever got the 175k offer. And so I did. After being in pop-up jail for almost a year, I signed up through the no-lifetime-language link that floated around a few weeks ago. Thanks, Doctor of Credit. It's only been a month with the Amex Platinum, and as someone who's mostly here for the points and not the perks, these are my takeaways. **1) The Amex lounge network is impressive.** My impression was always that this card “just” had Priority Pass and Centurion Lounges, but Plaza Premium lounges and Delta Sky Clubs are a nice touch. Priority Pass also includes “experiences,” like Minute Suites, which I used on my last trip out of JFK. Not life-changing, but the lounge selection is really good for a non-airline card. **2) I enjoy the Walmart+ membership.** Walmart has really cheap shelf-stable groceries available for delivery, and it helps me keep my grocery bills low. An extra streaming subscription isn't so bad either. **3) The Resy and Uber credits are really easy to use.** Especially living in NYC, where there's a Resy restaurant on every corner. I wouldn't go out of my way to get this card for these credits, but they're a very easy way to offset the fee. **4) Now, the credits I don't like.** **Airline incidental fee credit:** Too much of a hassle. You have to plan ahead, pick an airline, and figure out which charges qualify. I usually book main cabin, so seat assignment fees don't mean that much to me. I also often fly internationally, where meals and drinks are included. And I'm not loyal to any airline, so picking one ahead of time isn't ideal. **Lululemon credit:** Too much work to get good value out of it. I ended up buying an item on final sale, returning it for store credit, and saving that to stack with next quarter's credit. I wish I could just load up my wallet with $75 gift cards and use it that way. **Digital entertainment credit:** Maybe it's because I already have a lot of the services offered, but I don't see much extra value here. I already get Disney+, Paramount+, YouTube Premium, and Peacock through other benefits. Getting a credit toward The New York Times is nice, but it's not changing my life. **Oura and Equinox credits:** Both are way too niche for me, and getting substantial value requires spending more than the credit covers. The exception is the Equinox+ app, which isn't great and isn't something I personally value. **5) The hotel credit is just mid for me.** You can find some good value. I was able to fully cover a two-night Hotel Collection stay in Buenos Aires using the credit, but it depends on where you're traveling and how expensive the options are. Not always a good deal, but sometimes you luck out. **6) The other travel perks are nice extras.** CLEAR+ is a nice add, but I'd never spend money on it myself. The TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit is nice too, but as you know, a lot of cards already cover that benefit. Uber One is a nice touch, but again, not necessary. **Overall review** The Platinum beat my expectations, but the bar was really low. I love the lounge network. It's one of the best out there. For me, the $400 in Resy credits and $200 in Uber Cash add up to $600 in value on a card with an $895 annual fee. The other perks aren't personally worth the remaining $295, even if I enjoy some of them. For year one, with 175k points? Totally worth it. But for me, this is a one-and-done. What do you think? Let me know!