American Express is betting you’ll pay more for the promise of more. The company has updated its American Express Platinum card yet again with more dining, travel, wellness, and entertainment credits, along with a higher price tag.
While the big change also means a hike in the annual fee, the American Express Platinum perks can exceed £2,000 in value for frequent travellers who maximise dining credits (£400), lounge access, hotel status, and insurance. And therein lies the rub: Who is the card for? It can be a brilliant asset for someone aware of the ins and outs of travelling who can use the perks to their fullest, but used casually, it’s just expensive glitter.
In this article, we break down what has changed, what it means for UK-based Avios collectors, how to maximise its benefits, and when a different card might be smarter.
Current Key Benefits
While it may seem like a revamp, the reality is a bit more complicated. Think of this refresh as a lifestyle-heavy upgrade: more hotel and dining credits, more streaming options, and new wellness and shopping perks added on top of the Platinum's core travel benefits. Here's what's current for 2026 compared to earlier versions:
Key UK and global credits:
- Up to £400 per year in Global Dining Credits (£200 UK + £200 overseas, £100 per half-year each) [Amex UK]
- US$100 hotel credit on qualifying 2+ night stays via The Hotel Collection [Amex UK]
- Complimentary Leaders Club Sterling status with The Leading Hotels of the World
Enrollment is required for most American Express Platinum perks, and many of them reset quarterly or semiannually. The credit expires if you miss the window.
Lounge and status:
- Centurion Lounge expansion continues. Global lounge access, Hilton Honours Gold, and Marriott Bonvoy Gold remain unchanged.
If you travel with Marriott frequently, you can also complement the Amex Platinum by pairing it with the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Credit Card, which offers its own annual free night, bonus points on eligible stays, and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. This can be especially useful if you’re targeting Avios via hotel transfers or extra hotel stays.
The fee:
- The American Express Platinum card annual fee is £650 for UK cardholders.
What does this mean for UK-based Avios collectors?
The Platinum Membership Rewards remain the key attraction for those who collect Avios in the UK. Current welcome offers reach up to 75,000 Membership Rewards points plus a £250 Travel Credit after £10,000 spend in the first six months of Cardmembership. The rewards can be converted at a 1:1 ratio into Avios.
The welcome bonus can kick-start your balance. Membership Rewards move 1:1 into Avios, so you decide when to convert. That flexibility is the real superpower of American Express and Avios. You can wait for a seat to appear, a transfer bonus to pop up, or a plan to firm up before you press "convert." Knowing how to transfer American Express points to Avios on your timeline is better than earning Avios you cannot easily reroute.
Travel benefits that match premium redemptions
Centurion, Priority Pass, hotel status, and comprehensive travel insurance, all complement Avios bookings beautifully. If you're redeeming Club World to Asia with a British Airways Companion Voucher, consider stacking lounge access, late checkout, and Uber credits to elevate the entire trip. This is where American Express Platinum perks feel like part of an ecosystem.
Value is in planning, not drifting
Used deliberately, the credits can outweigh the fee. If your travel plans already include two hotel stays, quarterly meals out, and a couple of subscriptions, the numbers often work. If not, they don't.
What to Watch Out For
While it all sounds great, a little caution never harmed anyone. Here's why you need to read the fine print before you make any decision:
The high fee
An annual fee of £650 is nothing to sneeze at. Create a quick tally of "credits I will actually use" before applying or renewing the American Express Platinum card.
Quarterly and semi-annual traps
Dining and wellness credits refresh every quarter, while the hotel credit resets twice a year, so it's worth setting reminders, because forgetting to use them means losing their value entirely.
Earning rates
When it comes to earning points, the Platinum card is best used on flights and prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Travel, but it's less rewarding for everyday spending. That's why many Avios collectors use it alongside another card, such as a supermarket or dining card, or a British Airways card that helps earn a British Airways Companion Voucher, to achieve the best overall return.
UK specifics vary
The benefits work a little differently in the UK. Dining credits need to be reactivated annually via the Benefits tab, and it's always worth checking before you spend to make sure everything's up to date and active.
How to Use Membership Rewards with Avios
Using your Membership Rewards points with Avios is simple and flexible. To transfer American Express points to Avios, log in to your Amex account and head to the “Rewards” section, then select “Transfer Points.” Link your British Airways Club account, choose the 1:1 transfer option, and decide how many points you want to move. The transfer usually happens instantly. The real advantage is timing. You can convert your points whenever it suits you.
Practical Playbook for Avios Travellers
Start by making the most of the easy wins. Enrol in your benefits right away, use the hotel credit on qualifying stays, treat the dining credit like a half-yearly bill, and always check your Benefits tab before spending to ensure credits are active.
Next, bring your travel perks together. Book through Fine Hotels + Resorts to enjoy extras like breakfast and late checkout, and visit a Centurion Lounge before your next flight booked with Avios.
Final Verdict
So, is the Amex Platinum Card worth it? Ultimately, it comes down to your travel frequency. For frequent travellers who will actually use the card, the American Express Platinum card remains a powerhouse, even at £650. The updated credits, stronger hotel allowance, and lounge network can more than offset the fee.
However, the premium is hard to justify for occasional travellers or anyone who will not plan around quarterly and semi-annual windows. If your goal is laser-focused on Avios and a British Airways Companion Voucher, a lower-fee BA card may be a better option.
If, however, you live on planes, love a good lounge, and want flexible points that slot into Avios only when you’re ready, American Express and Avios are still a winning combination, and the Platinum’s new toolkit makes that combination more capable than ever.
Key Facts & T&Cs
Representative APR: 685.3% variable (based on £1,200 limit at 29.1% p.a.)
Annual Fee: £650
Cash Advance APR: 36.3%
New Cardmember Offer: 75,000 MR points + £250 travel credit after £10,000 spend in 6 months (ends 26 May 2026)
Invite a Friend: Earn 12,000+ MR points (up to 90k/year)
2026 Lounge Update: 8 complimentary UK Priority Pass pre-books per year + full Centurion/Global Lounge access
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