Bonuses & Fees

The Platinum Card is currently offering a welcome bonus of up to 110,000 Membership Rewards points. The points are earned as follows:

80,000 MR points upon spending $10,000 in the first three months
30,000 MR points upon making a purchase in months 15–17 as a cardholder

The annual fee of $799 is one of the highest around, although the Platinum Card offers a $200 travel credit once per anniversary year, and a $200 annual dining credit once per calendar year, making the "effective" annual fee $399 per year.

There are also referral bonuses as a Platinum cardholder if you refer your friends or family to the card. You'll earn 15,000 MR points for every referral you make up to a maximum of 150,000 MR points per calendar year.

American Express Referral Program: Refer Friends, Earn Points

At Prince of Travel, our favourite tool to use with minimum spending requirements is Chexy, a Canadian platform that allows you to pay a host of bills – including rent, tuition, utility bills, car lease payments, property taxes, and much more – with a credit card and earn points. There's a 1.75% processing fee for each payment, but when you consider the value of the points you earn from spending and welcome bonuses, it's easy to justify.

Historical Welcome Bonuses

Welcome bonus history is for Members

See how this card’s welcome offers have evolved over time.

Become a Member Log In

Redeeming Rewards

The Membership Rewards program offers outstanding redemption opportunities. This is primarily because it’s a flexible, transferable rewards currency.

You can transfer your MR points to these airline and hotel programs at the following rates:

Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio
The British Airways Club at a 1:1 ratio
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles at a 1:0.75 ratio
Air France KLM Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio
Delta SkyMiles at a 1:0.75 ratio
Etihad Guest at a 1:0.75 ratio
Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1.2 ratio
Hilton Honors at a 1:1 ratio

What makes Membership Rewards points so powerful is that they can pretty much do everything that all other points currencies in Canada can, but they can also do much more.

By earning a single points currency, you have access to airlines in all three major alliances, and within each of those programs, you also have access to other external partners, too.

Air Canada's Aeroplan gives you access to Star Alliance-member airlines, such as All Nippon Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, and more, as well as external partners, such as Etihad Airways, Virgin Australia, and more.

The Essential Guide to Aeroplan

The British Airways Club gives you access to oneworld-member airlines, such as Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and more. Plus, you can also convert your British Airways Avios into other "flavours" of Avios, which can result in some excellent redemption opportunities.

The Essential Guide to the British Airways Club

Air France KLM Flying Blue gives you access to SkyTeam-member airlines, such as Delta Air Lines, China Airlines, and more, as well as external partners such as Etihad Airways and even WestJet.

The Essential Guide to Air France KLM Flying Blue

Furthermore, you can redeem MR points directly for flights through the Amex Fixed Points Travel reward chart, although these are limited to round-trip flights departing from Canada.

Lastly, you have the option of redeeming MR points directly against travel purchases at a rate of 1 cent per point (cpp), although this is typically not recommended, as the value pales in comparison to what you could get by booking flights through Aeroplan, Avios, or even the Fixed Points Travel chart.

Perks & Benefits

What really sets the Platinum Card apart, though, and what is meant to justify its hefty $799 annual fee, is the outstanding travel benefits.

Chief among these is the complimentary airport lounge access at over 1,300 lounges worldwide through the American Express Global Lounge Collection.

The American Express Global Lounge Collection includes Plaza Premium Lounges, Delta Sky Club, Airspace Lounges, Escape Lounges - The Centurion Studio Partner, Executive Lounges by Swissport, and most notable American Express' own Centurion Lounges, plus Priority Pass membership.

How Does Lounge Access on the American Express Platinum Cards Work?

Priority Pass membership grants you (and one guest) access to more than 600 Priority Pass airport lounges all over the world for free. Most major airports have a Priority Pass lounge, meaning that you'll rarely be without a relaxing space before your flight to grab a drink or a quick meal, away from the crowds at the gate.

How to Access Priority Pass Lounges

American Express' Centurion Lounges are some of the more exclusive lounges available, in part because you can only access them by holding one of the few eligible American Express cards, alongside a boarding pass for the same day.

Centurion Lounges are some of the best lounges that your Platinum credit card can unlock, and you can expect top-quality food and drink inspired by regional tastes, plus comfortable interiors that showcase local design principles. Additionally, the Centurion Lounge benefit comes with a generous guest policy that allows you, as a Platinum Card holder, to bring in two guests for free!

How to Access American Express Centurion Lounges

Beyond airport lounge access, as a Platinum cardholder, you'll also be automatically bestowed with Marriott Gold Elite status and Hilton Gold status. These fast-tracked membership levels come with their own series of valuable benefits when staying at each chain.

Another outstanding benefit is access to American Express's Fine Hotels & Resorts program, which allows you to book special rates at select luxury hotels around the world. These rates include perks such as suite upgrades, daily breakfast for two, and benefits unique to each property (examples include a private airport transfer or a spa & dining credit). The FHR program often pops up with third-night-free or fourth-night-free offers as well, meaning that there's plenty of good deals to be had.

American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts: Exclusive Perks for Platinum Cardholders

As a Platinum cardholder, you'll also have access to Amex's International Airline Program which offers discounted airfares on premium economy, business class, and first class tickets for you and your travel companions on a number of participating airlines.

How Does the Amex Platinum International Airline Program Work?

Among many other bells and whistles, the Platinum Card also offers priority security lane access at Toronto Pearson Airport, upgrades and discounts on car rentals through upgraded status to Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star status and Avis Preferred status, and of course the aforementioned $200 annual travel credit that can be used towards any flight, hotel, car rental, or vacation booking made with Amex's Platinum Travel Service.

American Express Priority Benefits at Toronto Pearson International Airport

Every year, you'll also receive $200 travel credit that can be used towards any flight, hotel, car rental, or vacation booking made with Amex's Platinum Travel Service. This credit renews with your card's anniversary date.

How Does the American Express Platinum Card $200 Annual Travel Credit Work?

A new benefit introduced to the card in 2023 is the annual $200 dining credit, which can be used at some of Canada's top restaurants. You'll need to make a purchase of $200 or more at an eligible restaurant with your Platinum Card.

How Does the American Express Platinum Card $200 Annual Dining Credit Work?

Whereas the dining credit renewed every calendar year, the travel credit renews with your card's anniversary date.

The Platinum Concierge is also worth a mention. They're a "global concierge" team that's able to help you out with any and all requests you may have, wherever you are. For example, they can help make difficult restaurant bookings or last-minute flower orders.

They aren't miracle workers, so don't expect them to be able to snag a spot for you at the hottest restaurant in town for tomorrow evening, but they will proactively put you on the waitlist or look to confirm a spot for you on some future date.

If you enjoy watching concerts, theatre productions, or other special events, your Platinum card will give you access to presale and reserved tickets through Amex's Front Of The Line program and with Amex Experiences.

Lastly, you can take advantage of specially-tailored Amex Offers for extra value when used at specific dining venues, shops, and more.

Amex Offers: Earn Points or Statement Credits on Select Purchases

As a premium travel credit card, you can be sure that the Platinum Card's insurance coverage is top-tier as well. Charge your travel purchases to your Platinum card, and you'll automatically enjoy the following coverages:

Emergency medical insurance: Up to $5 million of coverage for the first 15 days of your out-of-province trip, for travellers under age 65.
Trip cancellation: Up to $2,500 of coverage per insured person, to a maximum of $5,000 for all insured persons on the same covered trip.
Trip interruption insurance: Up to $2,500 of coverage per insured person, to a maximum of $6,000 for all insured persons on the same covered trip.
Flight delay insurance: Up to $1,000 (aggregate maximum with Baggage Delay insurance), for food, accommodation and items purchased within 48 hours when your flight is delayed four or more hours.
Baggage delay insurance: Up to $1,000 (aggregate maximum with Flight Delay insurance), for items purchased within four days of arrival when your baggage is delayed six or more hours. (Note: this is different from lost and stolen baggage insurance, which doesn't cover delays)
Lost or stolen baggage insurance: Up to $1,000 of coverage total for all insured persons.
Hotel burglary insurance: Up to $1,000 coverage for stolen items (excluding cash).
Travel accident insurance: Up to $500,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance.
Car rental theft and damage insurance: Comprehensive coverage for up to 48 consecutive days for cars with an MSRP of up to $85,000.

Additionally, the card also offers Purchase Protection Plan and Buyer's Assurance Protection Plan, covering most eligible items you’ve purchased with your card up to $1,000 should they be stolen or damaged within 120 days of purchase, as well as an extended one-year warranty period on the manufacturer’s warranty.