Summary
The value of the American Express Platinum Card is under scrutiny as its annual fee rises to $895. Recent enhancements to the card included new credits and benefits, such as $400 in restaurant credits and an increased lodging credit for fine hotels and resorts. However, significant changes are set to take effect in 2027, including a two-night minimum requirement for lodging credits, which may diminish the card's appeal for frequent travelers who previously maximized one-night stays.
The discussion highlights a series of recent challenges in utilizing the card's benefits. Airline fee credits have become harder to redeem, particularly with Delta, while restrictions on Lululemon gift card purchases have made it difficult to leverage the associated credits. Despite these setbacks, the hosts conclude that the card still offers considerable value, particularly for first-time holders, with estimates suggesting that the benefits could outweigh the annual fee for many users. However, for those considering a second card, the value proposition becomes less compelling, indicating that careful evaluation is necessary before renewal.
Show Notes
This podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmiler The American Express Platinum Card was refreshed last year with the annual fee going from $695 to $895. Many coupons were added, and some were enhanced... so is it worth renewing? Is the $895 Platinum Card worth renewing? (00:18) - Loaded with valuable coupons (00:43) - Platinum Card was refreshed last year (Sep 18, 2025) (01:36) - What's changed (06:31) - Find our "Which Premium Cards are Keepers" spreadsheet here Subscribe and Follow Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media. Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.
More from Frequent Miler on the Air
This podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmiler At the Chicago Points Travel Festival last weekend, Greg and Nick filmed a live coffee break episode, letting the audience pick the topic of discussion: Best use of Bilt points now that the dust has settled. At the end of this discussion, they took some questions from the audience, which we've consolidated for our "Question of the Week" episode this week. (00:18) - Would you spend Bilt Cash to pay a mortgage (if you had a mortgage to pay)? (01:23) - How is rent actually paid to a landlord (through Bilt)? (02:50) - There was an announcement that Bank of America points will transfer to Alaska Atmos at some point in the future, which makes some think Bilt may be cut off as a transfer partner. Should we transfer just in case? (04:32) - Where does an authorized user's points go? Subscribe and Follow Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media. Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.
This podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmiler Giant Mailbag (01:02) Changing frequent flyer number on a partner award Mattress Running the Numbers (08:33) IHG Ambassador Promotion More analysis of this promotion here. Bonvoyed (19:17) Amex Lodging credit will require 2-night minimum in 2027 Learn more about the new options and requirements in our post. This Week in Points (26:05) Bilt adds JetBlue as a new transfer partner (31:27) SAS EuroBonus status match Full details of the SAS status match can be found here. (41:23) StubHub Quadruple Stack Follow the steps of the stack by reading our post. (44:32) American Airlines Admirals Club passes from Citi cards Find more of what you need to know about Admirals Club passes here. (50:25) Greg's quest for more Hilton Free Night Certificates Main Event: Southwest Companion Pass: Now playing hard to get (54:56) Southwest Companion Pass: Now playing hard to get Subscribe and Follow Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media. Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.
This podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmiler The Frequent Miler team appeared at the Points Travel Festival last weekend in Chicago, where Greg and Nick recorded a podcast episode live, selecting a topic from the audience suggestions: Best use of Bilt now that the dust has settled! Best use of Bilt now that the dust has settled (Live Podcast Recording!) (00:55) - What is Bilt? (01:38) - Bilt 2.0 credit cards (04:42) - Using Bilt to pay rent or mortgage (05:39) - Why might you not want to use Bilt for rent or mortgage (08:45) - Transfer bonuses (10:21) - Is the Palladium card worth it? (14:18) - Use your Bilt Cash to pay up to a higher transfer bonus (17:24) - Blacklane (19:31) - Is it worth transferring to Hyatt at 4:3? (20:54) - Should you hold your points for transfer bonuses? (28:42) - Do we have faith in Bilt as a company? (31:30) - A strategy for getting to Platinum Status Subscribe and Follow Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media. Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.
This podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmiler Should I use points for business trips? Brian wrote in with this question, asking: How do I handle bookings when my small business pays for the flight? I have never used points/miles to book a business trip because it feels like I’m using up my personal miles for what would be a legitimate business expense (even though I earned many of those point/miles from business travel). Every once in a while, I see a very good redemption opportunity but don’t take it because I don’t know how to value those miles as a business expense - if it’s a cash booking it’s very straightforward. But this seems like I may be unnecessarily hurting the business by paying more in cash. How do you think of points/miles in this situation? This could apply to hotel points and FNAs as well.(01:58) - One option is to assert a value for your points Find our RRVs here (05:16) - Business pays base rate & you use personal points to upgrade or copay Subscribe and Follow Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media. Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.
This podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmiler In today's episode, United will be making it harder to earn status in 2027; we're simplifying our card and bank account collections; there are Amex Platinum card rumors, and Hyatt now allows transferring points to others online. And speaking of Hyatt... they've made the next move in their relationship with Air Canada. But... is it enough? Giant Mailbag (01:13) - Megan asks Greg if he's considered opening a Bask Bank account as a potential for AA miles Learn more about the Bask Bank Offer here Bonvoyed: United (09:16) - United will be making it harder to earn status in 2027 This Week in Points (13:35) - Transferring Hyatt points to other members can now be done online! (16:44) - Rove has added another new transfer partner: JetBlue (18:40) - Elite night credits from multiple IHG credit cards do stack (20:34) - Hilton and IHG drop their point sale price below half a cent (23:59) - Get paid to visit Vancouver, British Columbia Learn more about getting paid to visit Vancouver here (25:49) - Amex Platinum Rumors (39:00) - Find our "Which cards are keepers?" resource here Personal Points (39:22) - Nick is downgrading cards (46:50) - Greg is downgrading cards too... Main Event: Hyatt & Air Canada's partnership reaches next level (50:30) - Initial partnership (54:21) - What's new? (1:04:06) - Hyatt/Air Canada Dual accrual promo Subscribe and Follow Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media. Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.