The Platinum Card® from American Express is a clear standout for people who frequently travel, don’t mind paying a hefty annual fee and can take advantage of the card’s premium benefits. But the annual fee and travel-focused perks mean it won’t make sense for everyone, especially if your purchases align with other bonus categories. You might be better off with a more moderately priced travel card instead. The card even offers $200 back in statement credits each year on select prepaid hotel bookings.
If you get a card that’s issued by American Express, you can expect high-quality service. For instance, if you have the Platinum Card from American Express, you qualify for trip delay insurance up to $500 per trip (maximum two claims per eligible card) vs. $300 for those with an American Express Gold Card. Learn more about the differences between Amex Gold card and Amex Platinum so you can decide if one is right for you. Thomas J Catalano is a CFP and Registered Investment Adviser with the state of South Carolina, where he launched his own financial advisory firm in 2018. Thomas’ experience gives him expertise in a variety of areas including investments, retirement, insurance, and financial planning.
Best For Delta Medallion Members
These cards do not require a credit inquiry to open, though they do come with nominal monthly fees. Credit One Bank’s American Express cards may offer some of the same benefits and rewards as American Express cards but may also have different fees, interest rates, and terms.
American Express also offers other financial products and services including savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs). Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity and other home lending products.
The Platinum Card® from American Express offers some lucrative perks and benefits. If you don’t have a good credit score, you may not qualify for a standard credit card or a rewards card. To obtain a secured credit card, you need to make a substantial security deposit, typically equivalent to the credit limit on the card. Secured cards typically have APRs that are relatively high, though lower than many unsecured cards. They don’t usually offer rewards, though some offer cash back on certain types of purchases such as groceries and gas.
Cash Magnet®, Blue Cash Everyday®, Blue Cash Preferred®: Get Cash Back
The card currently has a welcome bonus offer of 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases on the card within the first three months. That’s worth around $665 in travel, based on Insider’s valuation of Marriott points.
Once you’re ready to redeem your Membership Rewards points, you may notice that the value of those points changes depending on how they’re redeemed. However, you may be able to squeeze more value out of them if you transfer them to a partner loyalty program with Delta or Aeromexico. Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 3 months.
- For instance, if you have the Platinum Card from American Express, you qualify for trip delay insurance up to $500 per trip (maximum two claims per eligible card) vs. $300 for those with an American Express Gold Card.
- This helps us locate your profile and identify cards that you may qualify for.
- The popular Amex Platinum Card has no preset spending limit, for example.
- Even if travel isn’t top of mind now, you can benefit from earning rewards on U.S. supermarket purchases and receiving a credit on eligible take-out.
You may not know this, but merchants have to pay credit card companies a fee in order to accept any credit card. Of course, merchants choose to offer this service because it’s better for their customers and better for business. But for every credit card transaction, they pay an interchange fee to the credit card issuer, costing them money.
In the U.S., American Express is accepted by 99% of merchants, which means you generally don’t have to worry about needing a backup card. It’s generally best to have a Visa as a backup if you plan to travel abroad since its global acceptance exceeds that of American Express. Neither card charges a foreign transaction fee, making them affordable to use abroad. You will need to apply and be approved for a new Schwab Investor Card® from American Express account or a new American Express Platinum Card® for Schwab account.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card From American Express
There are all sorts of credit cards on the market — including cash-back cards, rewards cards, business cards, etc. Each of these credit cards that you apply for has its own set of eligibility requirements related to credit score, credit history, and income levels. Some networks are more widely accepted, some offer better customer service, and others might be the best choice if you have less than stellar credit. Since Visa isn’t a credit card issuer, every Visa card also has a card issuer. For example, Chase credit cards with Visa will have both the Chase and Visa logos on them.