In any normal year, which this totally isn’t, the best you can typically hope to earn on rewards credit card spending is around 5X points. And 5X is amazing!
Those exciting credit card welcome bonuses everyone loves? Those typically top out around 100,000 points, too. But again, this is no normal year and when it comes to credit card rewards, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as card issuers compete to be the card you pull out of your wallet. Right now, Amex has up to 225,000 points and 10X earning on spending to prove it.
If you’ve been considering joining those frustratingly happy people hanging out in Amex Centurion Airport Lounges before a flight, or you enjoy 4PM late checkout on hotel stays, Amex has a ridiculously lucrative new opportunity to join them, via a Platinum Card offer bringing up to 225,000 points within the first six months.
Amex Platinum Huge 75,000 + 10X Offer
Amex Platinum, despite the $550 annual fee, has become an easier and easier card to justify holding onto in recent years. That’s only continued in 2020, thanks to a series of limited time fee credits, elite status perks, and special offers on things you may actually want to buy which offset the fee entirely, or more.
With travel rebounding, and 2021 expected to be an incredible year to see the world, Amex has launched a brand new offer on the Platinum Card, with spending benefits you can reap today, via a two tiered offer.
You care, because all together they can add up to 225,000 points rather quickly, which is enough to fuel almost any future luxury adventure, whenever it may be.
The card is offering a 75,000 Membership Rewards Points welcome bonus after $5k in spending within the first 6 months, but also gives you 10X Points on the first $15,000 of spend on US Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first six months in addition.
- Spend $5,000 in 6 months, get 75,000 points.
- Plus, 10X Points on your first $15,000 at U.S. Supermarket + Gas Stations.
Basically, if you’re spending a total of $20,000 on the card in the first six months, which comes to $3,333 per month – you could earn at least 225,000 Amex Points, which easily becomes one of the best ever welcome bonuses on any rewards credit card.
If you spend $5,000 to trigger the bonus in the first six months, but spend it all on U.S. Supermarkets and Gas, you’d end up with the 75,000 points, plus an additional 50,000 from the 10x on $5k. Make sense?
Platinum Fee Credits And Limited Time Benefits
Thinking $550 for a credit card is a steep expense to justify right now? Perhaps, but not if you can come out ahead and actually benefit your travels, via the many fee credits Amex Platinum cardholders enjoy right now…
- $200 annual airline fee credit.
- $15 in monthly Uber/UberEats credit ($180 min value).
- $100 in Saks 5th Avenue credit annually.
Total: $480, if used in full.
On top of these standard fee credits offered by the Platinum Card, Amex has some exclusive discounts on US airfare right now, and limited time travel oriented offers which add to the $480 in fee credits established above, including…
- $150 back on Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings of $800 or more.
- $20 monthly cellular phone credit for wireless phone bills through December.
- $20 monthly streaming service credit through December.
New total: $480 + 190 for $670, if all benefits are used.
This number could go even higher if new fee credits are added, or current limited time credits are extended by Amex beyond December.
That’s up to $670 in perks with a $550 annual fee, before even beginning to value in the things Amex Platinum is famous for. Think: lounge access at airports – potentially worth $100’s – elite status from Hilton and Marriott, also potentially worth $100’s – and hotel perks like ‘third night free’ offers, room upgrades, 4pm late check out and more, via Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts.
Basically, there’s a few ways to offset the annual fee entirely, many of which don’t even require leaving the house or getting out of your sweatpants. Don’t lie, we’re all doing it.
If you, like many people, are using this time to cook more and stock the pantry, the 10x points earning at U.S. Supermarkets and Gas Stations is extraordinary. It’d be hard to blame you if you stood there and offered to pump everyone’s gas, or buy everyone’s groceries on your Platinum card in exchange for cash!
If you max out that 10X spending offer, you’d earn 150,000 additional points, on top of the 75,000 point welcome bonus.
225,000 Points Can Go Far
With the increased 75,000 point offer, even if you only manage another $5,000 in spending in the first six months on groceries and gas – less than $1000 a month – it still adds up to a gigantic 125,000 point welcome, thanks to the 10x points earned.
Here’s a look at the 18 luxury travel reasons Amex Platinum is worth it, and the best ways to spend Amex Points.
If you’ve been considering Amex Platinum, or hadn’t at all, this is one of the best ever times to take the plunge, given the huge fee credits, massive welcome bonus and the optimistic news that travel will return to some level of normalcy within a year.
Check out this stunning limited time offer from Amex bringing up to 225,000 points.
Do you know if there’s an equivalent enhanced bonus for UK Platinum Amex cards?
Have looked previously and don’t tend to see these same great deals for us across the pond!
Love the blog, thanks for doing what you do.
It has lifetime limit language