what destinations offer the most value for amex platinum points
100% FrequentMiler
If you’re looking to get the most bang for your American Express Platinum Membership Rewards points, focusing on certain airline partners and specific routes can deliver the highest value.
High‑Value Airline Partners and Routes
- Transatlantic business‑class flights on Air France Flying Blue often provide excellent value thanks to frequent promo awards and competitive pricing.
- ANA Mileage Club’s round‑the‑world business‑class award can be booked for as few as 115 K miles, making it one of the best value redemptions.
- Air Canada Aeroplan lets you redeem Star Alliance flights with no fuel surcharges and low award fees, offering strong value on many long‑haul routes.
- British Airways Avios short‑haul flights within Europe typically have low or no fuel surcharges, delivering high cent‑per‑point value on these segments.
- Delta SkyMiles flash sales and award‑ticket promotions can yield great value, especially when combined with the Business Platinum 35 % airline bonus.
Hotel Partners with Notable Value (when points are transferred)
- Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio, but the best value comes from using them for 5th‑night‑free stays at high‑end properties, which can effectively lower the cost per night.
These destinations and partner programs are consistently highlighted as the sweet spots for extracting the most value from your Amex Platinum points.
Rakuten American Express Credit Card: Not as exciting as it could be
Rakuten is a shopping portal that ranks near or at the top for most of us at Frequent Miler (except when we’re getting shut down). It has been around forever, always has competitive rates, and is one of the more reliable portals when it comes to correctly tracking your purchases and paying out the correct rate. Perhaps the best aspect of Rakuten is the ability to choose to receive your portal rewards as either cashback or as Amex Membership Rewards Points. For example, a 3x offer can either be paid out as 3% cashback or as 3x Membership Rewards.
American Express Platinum Card® Complete Guide
American Express Platinum Cards® come loaded with high-end perks: More than a thousand dollars per year in various credit reimbursements, access to multiple types of airport lounges, hotel and car elite status, and much more. All of this goodness comes at a steep price: There are multiple versions of the consumer American Express Platinum Card®. In addition to the regular card, there are Platinum Cards® branded by Morgan Stanley and Schwab. These cards are mostly the same, but they do each have a few unique benefits that can make one or the other a better fit for you.