If you travel often and want more from your credit card than just basic rewards, the American Express Platinum Travel credit card can be a good fit. It promises to turn everyday spending into travel perks like lounge access, milestone bonuses, hotel vouchers, and more. In this review, you will discover American Express Platinum Travel credit card benefits and fees, how the card works in India, how to squeeze maximum value, what its drawbacks are, and whether it’s really worth it for your travel style.
American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Card issuer | American Express (India) |
| Annual / Joining fee | ₹5,000 + applicable taxes (joining + renewal) |
| Welcome / bonus offers | 10,000 Membership Rewards (MR) points (on meeting a spend) |
| Best for | Frequent domestic travellers, high spenders, lifestyle seekers |
| Key highlights | Milestone rewards, lounge access in India, hotel vouchers on high spend |
American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card Benefits and Fees
Cashback/Rewards
- You earn 1 MR point for every ₹50 of eligible spend (excluding categories like fuel, utilities, insurance, etc.).
- The real power is in milestone bonuses. If you spend ₹1.90 lakh in a membership year, you unlock extra MR points (and redeemable value). Spend ₹4 lakh, and you also get a Taj hotel stay voucher (₹10,000) plus further bonuses.
- Many reviewers say that with those milestone rewards, you can achieve an effective rate of ~8.5% in “value” when used optimally.
Travel benefits (if any)
- Lounge access in India: 8 complimentary visits per year, capped at 2 per quarter.
- Priority Pass membership: the card gives you a Priority Pass membership (annual fee waived), though visits to international lounges are not always free (you may have to pay usage fees).
- Hotel vouchers: As mentioned, hitting ₹4 lakh spend gives a Taj / SeleQtions / Vivanta hotel voucher worth ₹10,000.
- Fuel convenience fee waiver (at select HPCL petrol pumps) for certain small transactions.
Shopping/Partner offers
- Dining discounts: up to 20% off at selected partner restaurants.
- Contactless payments: the card supports contactless “tap & pay” for transactions up to ₹5,000.
- The standard e-commerce / online shopping benefits of using Amex, saving card details for faster checkouts, etc.
EMI/Big Spend Perks
- You can convert large transactions (usually ₹5,000 or more) into EMIs.
- The milestone structure encourages large spends. Once you cross the milestone thresholds, the extra rewards and vouchers begin to add appealing value.
American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card Fees and Charges
Annual / Joining fee
- The joining and renewal fee is ₹5,000 + GST.
- There is no standard waiver of the renewal or joining fee, but in some cases, Amex may offer discounted renewal or reward-point payment options. Users have reported options such as 50% off renewal or paying in MR points for a full waiver.
Interest rate (APR) / finance charges
- The finance charge/interest rate for carried balances is typically ~3.5% per month.
- For cash advances, there may also be a 3.5% charge (or a minimum fee) plus any extra charges.
Other charges
- Foreign exchange/forex markup: International transactions attract a markup (often ~3.5% or similar).
- Late payment fee/penalty: Usual penalties for late payments apply (this is standard with credit cards).
- Supplementary cards: Amex allows adding supplementary cards (often up to 2) without extra fee.
American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card Pros and Cons
Pros
- Very strong rewards and milestone bonuses if you can reach the thresholds
- Useful domestic lounge access for frequent flyers
- Hotel voucher benefit helps you convert spending into tangible experiences
- Supports big spends and EMIs
- Good contactless/digital convenience
Cons
- High annual fee with no guaranteed waiver
- Low acceptance in many places (Amex cards are not accepted as widely as Visa / Mastercard, especially in smaller or rural merchants)
- Foreign transaction costs make it less ideal for heavy international spending
- The value is lopsided — you need to spend a lot to unlock the top benefits
- Some benefits (e.g., Priority Pass international lounge access) still require extra payment
Who Should Apply for the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card?
Best for
- Frequent domestic travellers who often fly within India
- High spenders who can easily cross the ₹1.9 lakh and ₹4 lakh milestones
- If you stay at premium hotels like Taj / Vivanta can use the hotel vouchers
- If you are comfortable with doing business in premium / high-end outlets (where Amex is accepted)
Not ideal for
- Casual spenders who might not unlock milestone bonuses
- Those who mostly travel abroad or make international purchases (because of forex fees)
- People who shop at many small/local merchants where Amex acceptance is low
- Someone seeking full lounge access (both domestic + international) as part of base benefits
How to Apply for the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card
Eligibility criteria
- Must be an Indian resident
- Good credit history, no defaults
- Minimum income requirement (Amex tends to expect a decent annual income)
- Likely age above 18, salaried or self-employed, with proof of income
Documents required
- Identity proof (PAN, Aadhaar, Passport, etc.)
- Address proof
- Income proof (salary slips, ITR, bank statements)
- Other internal documents Amex may request
Link to apply
You can apply via the official American Express India website when applications are open. (Note: sometimes Amex closes new applications; always check current status.)
Also, applying via a referral link can fetch you extra MR points (e.g., 2,000 extra) depending on current Amex offers.
FAQs about the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card
1. Does the card give international lounge access for free?
No, while you get a Priority Pass membership, you usually must pay per visit for international lounges. Free access is mostly for domestic lounges.
2. Do the MR points expire?
As long as the card is active, the MR points generally don’t expire. But if you close or cancel the card, points may be forfeited after 30 days.
3. Can the renewal fee be waived?
There’s no standard waiver. But Amex may offer you options: partial discount, pay in points, or keep your benefits. Reports suggest that paying 50% or using MR points are offered in some cases.
4. Will my fuel/insurance/utility spends count for milestones?
Yes — even though these are excluded from regular MR point accrual, such spends often count toward the milestone spend targets.
5. How do I redeem hotel vouchers or bonuses?
Once you meet the spending milestone, the hotel voucher (e.g., the Taj voucher) is mailed or offered to you. For MR points, you’d use Amex’s “Pay with Points” or redemption options in their portal.
American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card Review: Verdict
If you travels within India often and make large monthly spends, the American Express Platinum Travel credit card has a lot of upside. The milestone rewards and hotel voucher make it possible to pull substantial value, sometimes tipping into ~8–9% returns when optimised.
However, it’s not cheap. The ₹5,000 annual fee is steep, and one must be comfortable with the fact that many benefits only unlock after high spending. Also, the lower merchant acceptance of Amex and foreign transaction costs make it less ideal as a sole credit card.
If you spend heavily on travel, dining, or premium shopping, try to hit that ₹4 lakh milestone. It’s at that point that this card starts paying you back in hotel vouchers and extra MR points.
