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The American Express Platinum Card® has a hefty annual fee. That much is for sure. But baked into that annual fee is a lot of value — think hundreds of dollars worth of credits and other perks that can easily offset the card's steep price tag if you maximize them. One of those perks that helps justify the annual fee is a $200 airline fee credit.
Here's what you need to know about the airline fee credit — what it covers and what it doesn't — plus how to get full value from it every year.
(Terms apply)
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
Platinum Card® Airline Fee Credit Overview
The Platinum Card® airline fee credit is exactly what it sounds like. It provides up to a $200 annual credit toward incidental airline fees, which can help offset some of your travel costs.
The credit is available starting January 1 and expires on December 31 if unused, so it’s a use-it-or-lose-it benefit.
There are a few important restrictions to keep in mind. The airline fee credit doesn’t cover everything, and it isn’t valid on every airline.
And before we go further, note that enrollment is required. You’ll then need to select an eligible airline to receive statement credits for qualifying incidental purchases.
Related: Maximize Your American Express Platinum Card®: Which Benefits You Need to Enroll In
Which Airline Should You Choose for Your Fee Credit?
When you receive your new Platinum Card® in the mail, one of the first things you should do is enroll and select an eligible airline. Or, if you already have the Platinum Card®, this is a step you'll need to take each January — by the 31st at the latest — if you want to change to a different airline this year.
The airline you select is the one you'll receive credit for on eligible incidental purchases. You can choose from the following air carriers:
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- JetBlue Airways
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
Note that Spirit is no longer an option after ceasing operations in May 2026, and Hawaiian Airlines was removed following its merger with Alaska Airlines.
Whichever airline you fly the most likely isn't the best choice. In other words, if you have status with that airline or a co-branded credit card, there's a low chance you'll incur at least $200 in fees with that airline.
Thus, a better option is choosing a separate airline you might not fly as much. For instance, American Airlines is my airline of choice; I have AAdvantage elite status and a co-branded credit card, so I don't have to pay for checked luggage. I fly Delta a few times a year and don't have a free checked bag benefit. But with the Platinum Card® airline fee credit, up to $200 of my checked bag expenses are covered when I charge the cost of the bag to the card.
Really, you'll want to be strategic with your choice. It's the best way to ensure you get the full $200 worth of value out of your credit.
Related: All About the American Express Platinum Card®
Can you use the credit on partner airlines?
Suppose you choose Delta as your airline for the Amex airline fee credit. But what if you book a ticket through Delta for a flight operated by its partner airline, Air France? Will purchases you make on your trip count?
The answer is likely no. Thus, you shouldn't expect to use your Platinum Card® to pay for checked luggage at Air France's ticket counter and receive part of your annual fee credit.
What Is Covered by the Amex Airline Fee Credit?
The Platinum Card® airline fee credit covers a lot but doesn't cover everything you may pay for before or during your trip. The key word to remember is “incidental.” Incidental purchases charged to your card separately from the airline ticket itself count — most of the time. For example, eligible charges could include:
- Airport lounge day passes and annual memberships (provided the airline doesn't code this purchase as airfare)
- Change fees
- Checked baggage fees (including oversized baggage charges)
- Inflight food and beverage purchases
- Inflight entertainment purchases (charged by the airline and not a third-party provider)
- Pet fees
- Phone booking fees
- Seat selection fees
This isn't an all-encompassing list. Platinum Card® cardholders routinely share data points of things covered but not on the official list of inclusions. Thus, while your mileage may vary, be sure to read the section on what isn't covered before making a purchase you're convinced will count. And pay attention to that inflight Wi-Fi purchase; it's often billed by a third-party provider, meaning it won't trigger the credit.
When will you receive your credit?
You should receive a statement credit for incidental purchases charged to your Platinum Card® within eight weeks of purchase. Purchases made by additional card members on the enrolled account count, too.
And remember, you won't receive the full $200 at once unless you purchase something that amount. You'll receive the equivalent of what you spent on incidentals — up to $200 annually.
What Isn't Covered by the Amex Airline Fee Credit?
The “what's not included” list might make you think the Platinum Card® fee credit is restrictive. Compared to airline fee credits or travel credits you'll find on other premium rewards cards, we could see why you'd say that, but it's still easy to earn in full every year if you play your cards right (pun intended).
So, what's not covered? Here's a look:
- Airline tickets
- Award taxes and fees
- Duty-free purchases
- Gift card purchase
- Inflight Wi-Fi (when charged by providers like Gogo or Viasat and not the airline)
- Paid upgrades
- Points and miles purchases or transfer fees
Sometimes, you'll get lucky, purchasing something on the forbidden list that counts towards your airline fee credit. However, those are rare exceptions to the rule (possibly errors) that could change at any time. Moreover, remember that only purchases with the airline you selected at enrollment will trigger the airline fee credit.
Claim the Amex Airline Fee Credit Twice in the First Year
One of the big benefits of the Amex airline fee credit is that it can be claimed twice in the first cardholder year. This is because the credit resets at the start of every calendar year (January 1), rather than the Card Member year.
If you time your application right, the airline credit can be claimed once during the first calendar year as a card member. Then, you can claim it again before the annual fee is due on your account anniversary.
All the Amex Cards That Offer Airline Fee Credits
The American Express Platinum Card® is one of many Amex products that offer an airline fee credit. You'll find an identical airline fee credit on other flavors of Platinum cards, such as:
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Note that you can only use the Pay With Points perk on the airline you select for the fee credit.)
- The Platinum Card® from American Express for Goldman Sachs
- The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley
- American Express Platinum Card® by Charles Schwab
- The American Express Corporate Platinum Card®
But that's not all. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card also offers up to $200 worth of reimbursement for eligible purchases, dubbed a “flight credit.” You'll receive up to $50 worth of credits quarterly.
$895Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- Earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more.
- Earn 2X points on each eligible purchase with U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers.
- Earn 2X points on each eligible purchase with U.S. electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers.
- Earn 2X points on each eligible purchase with U.S. shipping providers.
- 2X earning rates are subject to a cap of $2 million in purchases per calendar year.
$550Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly through select rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants
- 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card
Related: Best Credit Cards With Travel Credits and Airline Incidental Credits
Final Thoughts
The Platinum Card® airline fee credit is a valuable perk that helps offset the card's $895 annual fee (Rates & Fees), so remember to use it!
For most travelers, maximizing the credit is easy to do. Just select an airline with which you'll incur at least $200 in incidental fees and charge the purchases to your Platinum Card®. Soon enough, you'll get some money back as a statement credit. It's that simple.
(Terms apply)
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
Page Contents
- Platinum Card® Airline Fee Credit Overview
- Which Airline Should You Choose for Your Fee Credit?
- What Is Covered by the Amex Airline Fee Credit?
- What Isn't Covered by the Amex Airline Fee Credit?
- Claim the Amex Airline Fee Credit Twice in the First Year
- All the Amex Cards That Offer Airline Fee Credits
- Final Thoughts
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: American Express Platinum Card® (Rates & Fees), The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (Rates & Fees)
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