Is the Amex Platinum still worth it mainly for airport lounge access?
37% View from the Wing
63% Other
The American Express Platinum still delivers meaningful value through its airport lounge program, but the benefit is increasingly balanced by crowding, competition from other premium cards, and the effort required to capture the full $895 annual fee.
How lounge access adds up
- The card grants entry to the Global Lounge Collection, which includes more than 1,500 lounges and is valued at over $850 a year View from the Wing .
- Centurion Lounge visits are still a core perk; the author of a recent review logged two visits (Miami and Atlanta) during a membership year Your Mileage May Vary .
- Business Platinum members also receive 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club visits on eligible Delta flights View from the Wing .
- Recent expansions now let Platinum card‑holders use Lufthansa Group lounges across Europe, adding a useful option for many travelers The Bulkhead Seat .
Drawbacks that temper the value
- Lounges have become crowded, with waitlists and three‑hour pre‑flight limits, reducing the “elite” feel View from the Wing BoardingArea .
- Other premium cards (e.g., Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X) offer comparable lounge access at lower annual fees, and many travelers now split their lounge usage among multiple cards View from the Wing .
- Guest access is limited unless you spend $75 000 a year on the Platinum, which many users do not meet View from the Wing .
Bottom line for a lounge‑focused user
- If you regularly travel and can take full advantage of the Global Lounge Collection—including the Centurion, Delta Sky Club, Priority Pass, and newly added Lufthansa lounges—the Platinum’s lounge access can cover most or all of its $895 fee, especially when combined with the $850‑plus estimated lounge value View from the Wing View from the Wing .
- However, if you experience frequent crowding, rely on guest passes, or already have other premium cards that provide similar lounge entry, the incremental benefit of the Platinum may be marginal View from the Wing BoardingArea .
So, the Amex Platinum remains worthwhile for airport lounge access if you maximize its extensive network and can tolerate the crowding, but its value is less compelling when you already have comparable lounge perks from other cards.
Is The $895 AMEX Platinum Card Worth It? Here’s How I Got $1,815 In Value
My $895 annual fee just hit for the American Express Platinum Card, which means it’s time for my yearly ritual: figuring out whether I actually got enough value from this increasingly complicated coupon book to justify keeping it. The Platinum Card still isn’t a great card for everyday spending, outside of airfare purchases. For me, the real value has always come from the benefits, statement credits, and lounge access. But with AMEX continuing to add more lifestyle credits and partner perks, keeping track of that value has become a lot more complicated than it used to be. So
200,000 Point Business Platinum Bonus — American Express Is Making A Huge Push For Premium Cardholders
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is really aggressive right now with an elevated offer to earn 200,000 points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the card within the first 3 months. They’ve refreshed the product and they’re definitely creating buzz with it. This is an $895 annual fee card (see rates and fees). I thought I’d gotten a great offer for the card when it was 150,000 about 20 months ago. I’m a bit jealous of the bigger offers available now. Here’s what the card delivers. American Express touts to over 1,550 lounges.
American Express Centurion Lounges Used To Set The Standard — Now They’re Packed And Serve Bad Food
We need to talk about the decline in American Express Centurion lounges. They were once great. They aren’t any longer. They aren’t as good as they used to be, and both Capital One and Chase offerings are better. But even those lounges can get super crowded, too, and aren’t the oasis they’re cracked up to be. It’s increasingly common to see reactions like this, because Centurion lounges used to be a high quality product but they’re stale design, the food isn’t very good, and yet they’re more crowded than ever. In 2018 I wrote that they’d gotten so busy
Amex Platinum: The card most frequent flyers should have, but rarely use
Despite the eye-watering $895 annual fee, the American Express Platinum Card® is a great choice for most frequent flyers. Get the card for its welcome bonus, keep the card for its perks, and justify the cost with its many valuable credits. The card won’t be a fit for everyone, but I think that many will find that it deserves a spot in their travel wallet. The Platinum card offers valuable perks for frequent flyers, including lounge access, emergency medical transportation assistance, hotel and car-rental elite status, cruise benefits, and more. The card also comes loaded with valuable credits.
Best Rewards Card Offers Right Now — Up To 200,000 Points In Bonuses For Premium Travel [March 2026]
The best credit card offers are the quickest, easiest way to earn a large amount of miles and jump start your travel. These are the most lucrative. There are several new best-ever and limited-time offers that have come out over the last several weeks. Many of the offers on this list are new. Every month I post what I find are the best credit card offers out there. Some of last month’s best credit card offers are gone or changed. What excites me is that card rewards really seem to be on the upswing in a big way. Now
American Express Platinum Card Lounge Access Expanded Across All Lufthansa Group Airlines
Travelers holding the Platinum Card® by American Express now have an even more valuable lounge benefit when flying with the Lufthansa Group. Lufthansa has updated its lounge access policy to extend access to include all Lufthansa Group airlines on same-day flights. Under the revised rules, eligible cardmembers traveling with any Lufthansa Group carrier can now access participating Lufthansa lounges in Germany and select international locations. This marks a significant improvement in one of the most useful credit card travel perks available in Europe. Previously, lounge access was restricted to passengers flying on flights operated only by Lufthansa, Austrian
Amex Platinum Card Retention Offer, Lounge Access Experience Worsens, Hyatt Devaluation & more…
Wow, it looked like 2026 had just started and March is already here! My recent attempt at an Amex Platinum Card retention bonus and analysis on lounge access not being the same as it once was. That and much more as we round up some of the key stories we covered during the month of February. The new and higher $895 annual was just billed to my card and I reached out to Amex’s customer service to check about a retention bonus offer on the Amex Platinum Card. Over the last decade, we’ve seen a rapid escalation of
Review – Escape Lounge – Hartford Bradley Int’l (BDL)
Renovated lounge sports a refreshed décor, extensive buffet, expanded bar and an excellent staff Travelers at Hartford Bradley had no lounge at the airport while the Escape Lounge was closed for months as it underwent a complete renovation. The wait worth it. The lounge is at located at the entry to the A concourse, which mainly serves Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest. But it’s an easy walk to and from the B concourse, which serves United, American and Breeze. The entry is clearly marked. Upon presenting your credentials at the reception desk to the friendly and professional attendant, returning visitors