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The Amex Platinum is not an everyday card, but you should still use it for that
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The Amex Platinum is not an everyday card, but you should still use it for that

My wallet only holds a small percentage of my overall credit card collection, so I have to be picky. This usually means my Amex Platinum card isn’t doing the job.

Because let’s be frank, my friends: this is not an “everyday” card. I don’t take it out at the grocery store or the gas pump. (Cards like these are much better for gas and groceries!)

That being said, I use my Amex Platinum card to make purchases, and I do so regularly. These purchases help me earn rewards and credits that easily offset my annual fees each year.

Fortunately, most of these purchases don’t require difficult choices about wallet locations. Here are the items I always put on my Amex Platinum card.

Set-it-and-forget-it statement credits

The most common purchases I make with my Amex Platinum card are those that qualify for various statement credits, especially ones that I have to use monthly. This includes Digital Entertainment Credit and Walmart+ Credit (terms apply).

I use the same streaming services every month for entertainment credit, so all the work on my part ended once I signed up and set up my Amex Platinum card to pay automatically my monthly subscription fee. Likewise, just pay for my Walmart+ subscription with my card to get this credit, so all I had to do was set it up and then the job is done.

Every flight, every time

My favorite way to book flights is (for the most part) for free with my travel rewards. You can use several of our favorite travel rewards cards to get free flights..

However, anything I can’t cover with points ends up on my Amex Platinum card. There are several very important reasons for this:

  • 5X Membership Rewards points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year (conditions apply)
  • Up to $200 per year in statement credits toward airfare costs on your favorite airline (after, you know, select a preferred airline; conditions apply)
  • Various travel insurance, including trip delay, cancellation and interruption coverage (conditions apply)

Eligible FHR Hotel Reservations

I have several high-value hotel credit cards that I use for hotel reservations in most cases. However, there is one type of hotel stay that I always book with my Amex Platinum card: Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR).

Amex’s FHR program includes a ton of great luxury hotels around the world and gives you a ton of great extras for booking one of these hotels through the program. This includes room upgrades, free breakfast, and (my favorite) guaranteed late check-out (conditions apply).

You book FHR stays through Amex Travel, so you earn up to 5X points per dollar on your Amex Platinum card. Plus, you’ll get a $200 annual statement credit on qualifying FHR (or The Hotel Collection) stays each year (conditions apply).

Not a daily driver, but barely in the sock drawer

Some cards you use almost every day. There are other cards that you use for the welcome bonus or introductory APR offer, then put them in a drawer to never swipe again.

Then there are the ones you use from time to time, but not enough to take up a coveted wallet slot. This is where the Amex Platinum card is located.

For good cardholders, this card is a great way to get perks, rewards, and statement credits, making it worth the $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). But if you’re wondering what you’d use it for, it’s probably not the best solution. Consider one of our other favorite credit cards for a better choice.