American Express Platinum Card Review 2024: Comprehensive AMEX Platinum Experience and Insights
Updated: Sep 9
The American Express Platinum Card is probably the most exclusive and most powerful credit card in Switzerland. In this review, we show you the advantages and disadvantages of the Platinum Card from American Express so that you can find out whether it is worthwhile for you.
📖 Overview
☝️ At a glanceAdvantages:
Disadvantages:
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Welcome offers 🚀Special offer for Alpian customers 75,000 Membership Rewards points + CHF 200 bonusIf you decide in favour of the Platinum Card from American Express and are also a customer of Digitalbank Alpian, you will receive:
Special bonus of CHF 200 credited directly to your Alpian account (4 x CHF 50 every quarter during the year). Are you not yet an Alpian customer? Then you can find our detailed Alpian review here. When you open a new Alpian account, you will also benefit from CHF 150 starting credit with the promo code BECOME (minimum deposit of CHF 500 required). Learn more AMEX Platinum without Alpian45,000 Membership Rewards pointsIf you decide in favour of the Platinum Card from American Express and do not have or do not wish to open an Alpian account:
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AMEX Platinum Review: Who is the American Express Platinum Card suitable for?
The American Express Platinum Card is made of metal and comes with many exclusive benefits - in this review we examine whether these pay off. The AMEX Platinum is primarily of interest to frequent travellers, as it offers numerous benefits when travelling. In addition to the Amex Platinum Card, which is subject to a fee, you receive another Platinum additional card and up to four Gold Cards free of charge.
The free additional cards also have the benefits of the corresponding main cards. Partners, family members or friends can therefore benefit from the extensive advantages of the Platinum or Gold Card at no extra cost. Remember, however, that all spending on all cards will be charged to your credit card statement.
Worldwide access to airport lounges
For example, there is free and unlimited access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide with Priority Pass (lounges are available at Basel, Geneva and Zurich airports). The Amex Platinum Card also opens the doors to the American Express, Centurion and Plaza Premium Lounges.
Valuable travel credit and vouchers worth CHF 400
You will also receive an annual Swiss voucher worth CHF 100, a credit totalling CHF 200 for the Sixt Ride taxi and limousine service (10x CHF 20 credit each, redeemable a maximum of 2x for taxi bookings) and a CHF 100 Globus voucher (CHF 300 minimum purchase).
Early check-in, late check-out & more hotel benefits
With Fine Hotels + Resorts, you also receive early check-in, late check-out, breakfast for two and amenities such as room upgrades, spa treatments and hotel credit at over 1,000 hotels worldwide.
Free status cards for hotels and car hire for that VIP feeling
Thanks to the American Express Platinum Card, you also receive free status cards with various hotel chains (Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium, Melia Rewards Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold) and car hire providers (Sixt Platinum, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star, Avis President's Circle). With Hilton Honors Gold status, for example, you receive daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade (subject to availability) and additional bonus points. These bonus points can then be redeemed for free overnight stays, car hire, events or rewards in kind.
24/7 concierge service: your personal travel assistant
As an Amex Platinum Cardholder, the Platinum Travel & Lifestyle Service from American Express is available to you around the clock. This service takes care of organising flights, hotels, rental cars, transfers, cruises, private jets and package tours for you and also reserves tables in restaurants or concert tickets for you. 30 enquiries are included per calendar year, each additional enquiry costs 10,000 Membership Rewards points or 50 francs. Further details on the benefits on offer can be found on the American Express website.
The AMEX Membership Rewards Programme
The Membership Rewards Programme is the loyalty programme of American Express. With the Amex Platinum Card, you receive one point for every franc spent. You can either exchange the points you collect for rewards or use them for award flights or flight upgrades. The points can be flexibly transferred to numerous bonus and mileage programmes (such as Miles and More, Flying Blue, Delta Skymiles, Etihad Guest, Hilton Honors or Mariott Bonvoy).
Redeem Membership Rewards points in the rewards shop
The Membership Rewards points you collect can be used very flexibly. With Pay with Points, you can pay directly with your points at over 60,000 shops and restaurants and with Paypal (1 point equates to around 0.5 centimes).
In the Membership Rewards rewards shop, you can redeem your points for non-cash rewards or vouchers (such as SBB, IKEA, Apple, Globus or MediaMarkt) or pay all or part of the annual fee for the Amex Platinum Card with points. In the case of vouchers or payment of the annual fee, one point also has the equivalent value of 0.5 centimes, while the points value varies for non-cash rewards (it is worth comparing whether you might get a better offer in other shops).
Transfer Membership Rewards points to miles programme
You can achieve a higher redemption value if you use your Membership Rewards points for mileage flights or flight upgrades. To do this, you must first transfer the Membership Rewards points you have collected to a participating miles programme. You can transfer your points to the following mileage programmes and with the following exchange ratio:
Air France-KLM | at an exchange ratio of 2 to 1 |
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British Airways - Executive Club | at an exchange ratio of 3 to 2 |
Delta Air Lindes - Delta SkyMiles | at an exchange ratio of 2 to 1 |
Etihad Airways - Etihad Guest | at an exchange ratio of 2 to 1 |
SWISS - Miles & More | at an exchange ratio of 2 to 1 |
When you convert your 75,000 Membership Rewards points from the starting bonus to the well-known Miles & More miles programme, you will receive 37,500 miles. With 30,000 miles you already get a return flight to the USA in Economy Class (taxes and fees apply in addition). Depending on how you use the miles, you can therefore achieve a significantly higher points value than is possible with Pay with Points or rewards in kind. Especially when upgrading to Business or First Class, you can earn the equivalent of up to 5 centimes when redeeming miles. The initial bonus of 75,000 points alone would then have an equivalent value of CHF 3,750. You can also transfer your points to Hilton Honors (at an exchange ratio of 5 to 4) and Marriott Bonvoy (at an exchange ratio of 3 to 2).
This means that you don't have to decide how you want to use your points while you are collecting them. You can then transfer your points to the desired miles programme when you have found a good offer. You can find information about the Membership Rewards programme on the American Express website.
Insurance with the AMEX Platinum
With the American Express Platinum Card you receive a very comprehensive insurance package for all aspects of travelling. The following insurance benefits and cover are included:
Travel cancellation insurance | CHF 30'000 |
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Luggage insurance | CHF 6'000 |
Travel medical expenses insurance | CHF 3'000'000 |
Transport accident insurance | CHF 1'000'000 in the event of death or disability |
Fully comprehensive car hire insurance | CHF 120'000 |
Return of goods insurance | CHF 3'000 |
Shopping insurance | CHF 3'000 |
Warranty extension | CHF 3'000 per device and year |
Ticket insurance | CHF 1'000 per event, max. CHF 2,000 per year |
Full details of the insurance included can be found on the American Express website.
Disadvantages of the AMEX Platinum Card
The main disadvantage is the high annual fee of CHF 900 as well as the 1.75% fee for international use and the high fees for cash withdrawals at ATMs. In addition, American Express cards are sometimes not accepted, especially at smaller retailers. You should therefore carry a Mastercard or Visa with you.
The insurance cover only applies if the trip or service to be insured was paid for in full (at least 50% is sufficient for certain insurances) with the Platinum Card. If American Express cards are not accepted at a retailer, you will therefore not be covered.
If the card is not held for at least 13 months, Swisscard reserves the right to cancel the Membership Rewards points received with the initial bonus and to subsequently charge the full annual fee of CHF 900 for the first year.
Conclusion: Is the American Express Platinum Card recommended?
The Platinum Card from American Express offers you numerous advantages when travelling, which have a positive impact on your travel experience. However, you should also bear in mind the disadvantages of the card and use it accordingly, for example by carrying an additional Visa or Mastercard due to the patchy acceptance of American Express or by carrying a card with more attractive foreign fees for use abroad.
The Platinum credit card from AMEX is only worthwhile if you travel a lot and can therefore use the benefits of the credit card extensively. For most applications, a free credit card is the best solution. Find out more in our credit card guide.
Apply for AMEX Platinum with Alpian to benefit even more
Customers of the digital bank Alpian have the opportunity to obtain the American Express Platinum Card at even more attractive conditions.
The following benefits are offered:
You will receive a starting bonus of 75,000 Membership Rewards points (instead of the usual 45,000).
In the first year you will receive 50% off the annual fee (i.e. CHF 450 instead of CHF 900).
You will also receive a special bonus of CHF 200 credited directly to your Alpian account (4 x CHF 50 quarterly during the year).
If you do not yet have an Alpian account and enter our Alpian voucher code ‘BECOME’ when opening your account, you will also receive a starting credit of CHF 150 directly on your new Alpian account. You can apply for the credit card on the website of Swisscard, the issuer of American Express cards in Switzerland. The credit card is therefore not linked to your Alpian account, nor is Alpian a party to the contractual relationship. Swisscard can also reject your credit card application. However, once the credit card agreement has been successfully concluded, you will receive CHF 50 transferred to your Alpian account in each of the following four quarters. If you cancel your Alpian account before then, you will lose these bonus payments.
Apply for AMEX Platinum without an Alpian account
If you are not an Alpian customer or do not wish to become one, you can also apply for the Platinum Card directly on the American Express website. You will receive 45,000 Memberstip Rewards points as a standard welcome gift and pay only 50% of the annual fee in the first year (CHF 450 instead of CHF 900).
Frequently asked questions about the Amex Platinum Card
Who is the American Express Platinum Card suitable for?
The Amex Platinum Card is suitable for all frequent travellers.
How much income is required for the American Express Platinum Card?
What does the American Express Platinum Card cost?
Is there a spending limit?
Sources:
Amex Platinum Card Experience • Amex Platinum Card Review • Amex Platinum Card Review • Amex Platinum Card Test • American Express Platinum Card Review • American Express Platinum Card Experience
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