Earlier than including the American Specific Platinum Card® to my pockets, I analyzed my present card setup. The Amex Platinum’s $895 annual payment (see charges and charges) was greater than sufficient to immediate a assessment of my present technique.
On the time, I had just one card in my pockets with an annual payment exceeding $200: the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card. At $395 annually, the Enterprise X is among the many most inexpensive playing cards within the premium market. However was the Enterprise X price maintaining as soon as I added the Amex Platinum?
After weighing the professionals and cons, I made a decision to maintain each of those widespread premium journey rewards playing cards. These are the 4 components that influenced my determination.
I earn two priceless currencies
I am all about amassing transferable factors and miles from every of the foremost issuers. I worth each American Specific Membership Rewards factors and Capital One miles extremely. Plus, incomes each currencies provides me much more flexibility when making redemptions, as I unlock two units of switch companions.
I wish to redeem Capital One miles for Delta Air Strains tickets, which I often guide by SkyTeam alliance accomplice Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue. I lately transferred 15,000 miles to Flying Blue to guide two one-way home Delta flights between Greenville-Spartanburg Worldwide Airport (GSP) in South Carolina and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).
These playing cards provide improbable welcome bonuses:
- Amex Platinum: New cardmembers can discover out their provide and could also be eligible for as excessive as 175,000 bonus factors after spending $12,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome presents fluctuate, and also you will not be eligible for a suggestion.) Per TPG’s Could 2026 valuations, this bonus is price as much as $3,500.
- Enterprise X: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. TPG’s Could 2026 valuations deem this provide price $1,388.
Associated: How (and why) it is best to earn transferable bank card factors
I pay with the Enterprise X — more often than not
I like utilizing my Enterprise X. It supplies not less than 2 miles per greenback spent on all the pieces, which is a really strong incomes charge.
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Conversely, my Amex Platinum is not your best option for almost all of my spending, because it earns 1 level per greenback spent on most purchases.
Nonetheless, it is available in clutch once I must guide flights straight or make lodge reservations by American Specific Journey®, because it earns 5 factors per greenback spent in these classes (on as much as $500,000 per calendar yr for airfare booked direct or by Amex Journey, then 1 level per greenback spent).
Associated: Why it is best to get a fixed-rate rewards bank card
I can entry extra airport lounges
I added the Amex Platinum partly for entry to the cardboard’s in depth American Specific World Lounge Assortment.
I’ve loads of selections at most airports I go to. I like the Escape Lounge at my native Greenville-Spartanburg Worldwide Airport (GSP) in South Carolina. And I count on to go to the Centurion Lounges at Charlotte Douglas Worldwide Airport (CLT) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport (ATL), as I incessantly join by these airports.
Plus, once I go by ATL on a same-day Delta ticket, I can expend one in all my 10 annual visits to the Delta Sky Membership.*
*Spending $75,000 or extra on the cardboard unlocks limitless Sky Membership visits.
The Enterprise X was my first card with lounge entry, and I’ve had improbable experiences of their issuer-branded lounges.
Since I’ve handed by Las Vegas’ Harry Reid Worldwide Airport (LAS) twice previously yr for live shows, and I typically fly by Dallas Fort Value Worldwide Airport (DFW) once I join on American Airways, it is sensible for me to maintain entry to the improbable Capital One lounges in these two airports.
Associated: The do’s and don’ts of visiting an airport lounge
I maximize assertion credit
This is a significant factor when deciding whether or not it is price paying an annual payment.
Amex Platinum assertion credit
There’s a lengthy checklist of assertion credit provided by the Amex Platinum. That is how I exploit 4 of my favorites:
- Airline payment credit score*: I obtain as much as $200 in assertion credit per calendar yr towards incidental charges on my one chosen U.S. airline. I exploit this once I must examine luggage on Delta, since I am going to sometimes fly with them however do not have one in all their cobranded playing cards nor SkyMiles elite standing.
- Digital leisure assertion credit score*: I get $25 off my YouTube TV subscription every month, utilizing as much as $300 in assertion credit per calendar yr towards eligible subscriptions.
- Eating assertion credit score*: I spent a $100 quarterly assertion credit score on date night time dinner and cocktails at The 07, a restaurant in my space. I obtain as much as $400 in assertion credit per calendar yr at collaborating U.S. eating places affiliated with Resy (no reservation required; merely pay along with your card at an eligible restaurant).
- Resort assertion credit score: I booked a two-night keep at The Learn Home, a historic lodge in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for less than $236 out of pocket due to a biannual $300 credit score. I obtain as much as $600 in assertion credit per calendar yr towards pay as you go stays booked by Amex Journey at Tremendous Lodges + Resorts or The Resort Assortment properties (two-night minimal at The Resort Assortment properties).
*Enrollment required
Enterprise X journey credit score
The Enterprise X would not have practically as lengthy a listing of credit, however its $300 annual journey credit score for bookings made by Capital One Journey lowers the efficient annual payment to $95 by itself.
Final yr, I used this credit score to get $300 off a three-night keep on the Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World.
Associated: Bank card perks and advantages try to be utilizing this month
When it would not make sense
There are a number of cases the place it would not make sense for me to maintain each the Amex Platinum and Enterprise X.
- If I did not have an organized plan to maximise assertion credit throughout each playing cards, or if I did not intend to make assertion credit a precedence.
- If I did not plan to go to an Amex or Capital One lounge within the foreseeable future.
- If I needed to keep up a easy, one-card setup.
If any of those utilized to my state of affairs, I would downgrade to the $95 annual payment Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card as an alternative of maintaining with the Enterprise X.
Associated: Why the Capital One Enterprise X may very well be the best choice to your first premium card
Backside line
My pockets is definitely stronger with each the Amex Platinum and Enterprise X.
From elevated incomes charges to expansive lounge entry and high-value assertion credit, the perks on these two playing cards pair exceptionally nicely. Their strengths fill in one another’s gaps, making a well-rounded setup that fits many several types of vacationers.
I am assured these playing cards will meaningfully improve my upcoming journeys — and so they have already got.
To study extra about both card, learn our full opinions of the Amex Platinum and Enterprise X.
Apply right here: American Specific Platinum Card
Study extra: Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
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