What are AmEx Platinum Points Worth?

Amex Platinum cards are some of the best on the market, offering top-tier point-earning potential. Some cards, such as the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum come with the “Pay with Points” feature, allowing you to use Membership Rewards to cover travel expenses. These premium cards also come with added perks, such as extra credits, extended warranties, and purchase protections.

But what are Amex points worth, and how can you make the most of them? Keep reading to find out more.

Ways of Earning Membership Rewards

Sign-Up Bonus

One of the most straightforward ways to rack up Amex bonuses is by signing up for an Amex Card with a welcome offer. For example, cardholders can earn points by hitting a certain spending threshold within the first few months of opening your account. Right now, American Express offers a variety of reward cards to suit different needs. Some cards provide extensive perks (like the premium plastic ones) that come with higher annual fees, while others are designed for everyday spending without the burden of hefty fees.

Referral Bonuses

You can also score extra points by referring friends or family to apply for any Amex Card through a referral link. If they are approved, you’ll earn extra units as a referral bonus, and they’ll snag a welcome offer. It’s possible to earn up to 40,000 points for every approved card member.

Pay with Your Card

Another simple way to earn bonuses is by using an Amex Platinum Card to make purchases. Every dollar you spend on qualifying goods will earn you points. Amex point value varies by a category of spending. For instance, you’ll receive 5 points for every dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels.

Take Advantage of Amex Offers

You can earn additional bonuses through the Amex offers program. It provides extra points or discounts when you shop with certain retailers or spend in specific categories. Some of the featured retailers include Ray Ban, Hydro Flask, YouTube Premium, and HBO Max. Just be sure to check the terms and conditions for any restrictions on earning the maximum points.

Just Apply for American Express Platinum Card

The current welcome offer is pretty generous. After spending $8,000 on qualifying purchases in the first half of the year of starting an account, you receive 125,000 points. This card is ideal for travelers as it comes with significant travel perks. Generally, Amex Platinum points value depends on where you redeem them, and the amount varies based on where you earn them. Booking hotels in advance and buying airfares directly from airlines or through Amex Travel earns cardholders 5X Membership points. Other eligible purchases bring them 1 point per dollar.

How Much are Amex Points Worth?

In fact, it’s hard to answer the question, “How much is one Amex point worth?” It really depends on the type of redemption.

The Value of Amex Membership Rewards Points on Travel Partner Purchases

Amex partners with 20 airlines and several hotel chains, making the Membership Rewards program especially appealing to travelers. It makes it possible to book travel there after transferring points to a partner. Cardholders transfer bonuses to airways and hotel companies, including Marriott Bonvoy, Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, and Emirates Skywards Miles.

When it comes to Platinum cards, Amex travel points value is usually 1 cent. This differs from other Amex cards, where the value can range from 0.6 cents to 2.8 cents per point depending on the partner, and transferring points to some partners may not be beneficial at all. However, some offer very favorable terms for Platinum cardholders. For example, if you transfer 1,000 Amex points with AeroMexico, you’ll receive 1,600 Rewards points, giving you an effective value of approximately 1.28 cents per point.

Make sure to closely check the exchange rates before booking a flight or a night at a hotel. However, always keep your trip plans in mind before moving points to a reward program featuring the most appealing miles. Some programs provide exceptional value but have restricted routes and reward options.

Amex Points Value When Buying Air Tickets via Amex Travel

Using the Amex Travel portal is a very straightforward way to calculate your points’ worth. When booking a flight through it, the Amex points worth is 1 cent apiece. While this isn't the highest redemption value, it’s an easy way to save money on airfare. As you can book any flight with cash, you’re spending the bonuses like pennies.

The biggest drawback is there’s no way to maximize points and find a collaborating program with an appealing rate. On the other hand, you don’t need to worry about finding the perfect transferring partner or dealing with limited reward availability.

However, having a business card is more beneficial. Booking travel with Amex Travel entitles you to a 35% return on Amex points. The value of Amex Platinum points remains the same as that of a personal Platinum card. You just receive this additional discount. This benefit applies to first and business-class tickets and any class on a selected airline ordered via American Express Travel. The rebate is capped at 1,000,000 points per year. This benefit essentially allows you to book additional flights with your points.

Amex Point Value for Hotel Bookings via American Express Travel

Overall, redeeming points to book a hotel stay through the Amex portal isn’t the best option. You can typically only redeem 1 unit for 0.7 cents per point for prepaid hotels, as well as for Select Homes + Retreats reservations. The exact value depends on the hotel and the booking details. You can also combine points and cash. This gives you more flexibility and can be helpful if you don’t have enough points to cover your entire stay.

The only exception is the luxurious Fine Hotels + Resorts program for Platinum and Centurion cardholders. In this case, you’ll earn one cent of the value for every point and enjoy elite-type advantages like complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, and late checkout. On top of that, when using Amex Travel to book prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts stays, Platinum cardholders can receive up to $200 in yearly statement credits when booking prepaid stays, though you can’t apply points toward this credit.

Conclusion

The value of Amex points really depends on where you redeem them. Generally, they’re worth 1 cent per point. However, Amex rewards points rank among the most valuable around. Travel partners allow the cardholders to benefit from loyalty programs or special deals on air tickets and hotels, as well as enhanced rewards on bookings. That’s why taking the time to understand these awards will definitely pay off in the long run.