New American Express Platinum

One of the most expensive consumer travel cards has gotten an update for 2025. The American Express Platinum card has been the most expensive credit card at $695 a year. It has been a status symbol for many but has been difficult to justify for many. That will likely still be the case with the now $895 annual fee.

I for one an excited about some of the new benefits of this card. A major change is the now $600 ($300 semi annually) statement credit for the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts partners. At $200 this credit was difficult to derive much value from with the typical room rates of the hotels included, but with this benefit increased to $300 twice a year, you are positioned to take better advantage of the savings.

I don't know about you all but I love to eat. The announcement of the $400 ($100 a quarter) RESY Dining credit was terrific news for me because I was going to eat well anyway. There are a few caveats to note here: 1. You should verify that the restaurant you want to eat at takes American Express. 2. This credit is officially only for US restaurants.

Luxury athleisure wear is important to many people who are in the target demographic for cards this expensive. With that the American Express Platinum now has a $300 annual ($75 quarterly) Lululemon credit. Honestly, can you say you don't know someone who could use at least a Lululemon gift card?

In the same vein of health and fitness, AMEX is also offering a $200 Annual credit for the Oura ring. The Oura ring is a wearable smart ring designed to monitor health and fitness metrics. The ring tracks heart rate variability, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen levels, body temperature, and activity, and is known for its sleep tracking capabilities. The Oura ring 4 currently costs more than this credit, but it is also important to to note that this is a also a subscription service that goes for around 70$ a year.

If you are a TV lover then rejoice. The American Express Platinum's Digital Entertainment credit has increased to $300 annually. You can use this credit on any of the following services: Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Time, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, paramount+, YouTube Premium and YouTube TV.

Lastly there is an Uber One Credit, but that remains largely unchanged since the last iteration of the card.

With all of the benefits of this new card, it is far easier to justify to $895 annual fee for my use case that the last version. The $300 Digital Entertainment Credit, the $400 Resy Dining credit, and the $600 Fine Hotel + Resort credit make this card one of the most exciting credit cards 9if you can have such a thing) in my wallet.