American Express Platinum Charge Card
Joining Fee: ₹60,000 + GST
Renewal Fee: ₹60,000 + GST
Reward Type: Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
Hotel Vouchers: Receive stay vouchers worth ₹45,000 at Taj, SeleQtions, and Vivanta Hotels on spending ₹50,000 within the first two months.
Referral Bonus: Earn 10,000 Referral Bonus Membership Rewards Points on spending ₹5,000 within 90 days of card issuance.
Reward System
Earning Points
1 Membership Rewards Point per ₹40 spent.
3X points on spends outside India.
5X points on purchases via the AmEx Rewards Multiplier portal.
1 point per ₹100 spent on fuel, with a cap of 5,000 points monthly.
No points on utility bill payments or insurance spends.
Reward Redemption
Redeem points for e-vouchers on Amex’s online portal, INSTA purchases, and credit card bill payments under the Cash + Points scheme.
Transfer points to various AirMiles and hotel loyalty programs.
Book hotels, flights, and experiences through the Amex Online Travel website.
Redeem points for dining, travel, and entertainment products via the Membership Rewards catalog.
Travel Benefits
Domestic Lounges: Unlimited access to partner lounges in India.
International Lounges: Access to over 1,300 lounges globally, including Centurion, American Express, Priority Pass, Escape, and Delta Sky Club Lounges.
Hotel Status: Fast track to higher-tier memberships at various hotel loyalty programs.
Hotel Benefits: Complimentary benefits worth ₹37,000 at 5-star hotels, including late check-outs, room upgrades, and daily breakfast.
Exclusive Deals: Discounts on airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and more.
Rail Journeys: Up to USD 100 for fine dining on Platinum Luxury Rail Journeys in Europe.
Movie and Dining Benefits
Dining Discounts: Up to 50% off at over 1,800 premium restaurants across India.
EazyDiner Prime Membership: Complimentary membership with benefits like 25% off at Prime restaurants and complimentary drinks.
Golf Benefits
Golf Access: Complimentary access to over 30 golf courses in India and 50+ worldwide.
Fuel Surcharge
HPCL: No surcharge for transactions up to ₹5,000; 1% surcharge above ₹5,000.
BPCL & IOCL: 1% surcharge (minimum ₹10).
Other Stations: 2.5% surcharge (minimum ₹10).
Insurance Benefits
Travel Insurance
Personal air accident cover (loss of life): ₹5 crore.
Loss of baggage, passport, documents: ₹50,000.
Overseas medical insurance: USD 50,000.
Purchase Protection: Coverage for loss or damage of items within 90 days of purchase.
Wallet Protection: Fraud protection up to ₹15 lakh.
Emergency Assistance: Up to ₹2 lakh for hotel and travel emergencies.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Generous Welcome Benefits: ₹45,000 worth of hotel vouchers and 10,000 Referral Bonus Membership Rewards Points. | High Annual Fee: ₹60,000 per annum with no spend-based waiver. |
| Extensive Travel Benefits: Unlimited domestic lounge access, global lounge access, and hotel status upgrades. | Not High Reward Rate: Effective reward rate of 1.25%, which is low for a super-premium card. |
| Luxury Hotel Benefits: ₹37,000 worth of benefits at 5-star hotels, including upgrades and late check-outs. | No Spend-Based Fee Waiver: Annual fee is fixed and does not have a spend-based waiver. |
| Significant Dining Discounts: Up to 50% off at premium restaurants and complimentary EazyDiner Prime membership. | Limited Reward Points on Certain Spends: No points on utility bills or insurance. |
| Golf Privileges: Free access to numerous golf courses worldwide. | |
| Comprehensive Insurance: Includes high-value air accident cover, overseas medical insurance, and purchase protection. |
Summary
The American Express Platinum Card is a luxury credit card with a high annual fee of ₹60,000, competing directly with Axis Bank’s Burgundy Private card in terms of benefits and cost. It is ideal for frequent travelers seeking top-tier travel perks, offering discounts at high-end properties globally, and unlimited complimentary lounge access through Amex's own and third-party programs like Priority Pass and Delta Sky Club. The card also provides fast-track upgrades to higher tiers in premium hotel loyalty programs.