American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card Review
A travel-focused credit card with domestic lounge visits, Priority Pass membership and milestone bonuses that scale with your annual spend.
Quick facts
There is no published spend-based waiver on the renewal fee, so this card suits people who'll consistently use the lounge and milestone benefits rather than those chasing a fee-free card.
Fees and reward rates
10,000 Membership Rewards welcome bonus points (worth around ₹3,000 on redemption) on spending ₹15,000 within 90 days of card membership.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Joining fee (first year) | ₹5,000 + GST |
| Annual/renewal fee (second year onwards) | ₹5,000 + GST |
| Cash withdrawal fee | 3.5% of amount, minimum ₹250 |
| Forex mark-up | 3.5% of transaction value |
| Late payment fee | 5% of outstanding, minimum ₹300 |
| Priority Pass excess visit fee | USD 35 per visit beyond the complimentary allowance |
| Spend category | Reward rate |
|---|---|
| All eligible spends | 1 MR point per ₹50 |
| Fuel, insurance, utilities, cash & EMI conversions | No MR points |
- 7,500 bonus MR points on ₹1.9 lakh spend in a Cardmembership year
- 10,000 bonus MR points on ₹4 lakh spend in a Cardmembership year
- 22,500 bonus MR points plus a ₹10,000 Taj stay voucher on ₹7 lakh spend in a Cardmembership year
What else you get
8 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year, limited to 2 per quarter
Complimentary Priority Pass membership with the USD 99 annual fee waived
Up to 20% off at select partner restaurants
Zero convenience fee on HPCL fuel purchases below ₹5,000
Reward points never expire as long as the card stays active and in good standing
Eligibility
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 years and above |
| Income (salaried) | ₹6 lakh personal annual income and above |
| Income (self-employed) | ₹6 lakh personal annual income and above |
| Credit history | Good credit history with no payment defaults |
| Residency | Resident Indian in an Amex-serviceable city |
American Express periodically pauses new applications in certain cities, and cards are issued mainly in metro and Tier-1/Tier-2 locations — confirm current city availability on the official American Express India site before applying.
Verdict
What works
- Domestic lounge access and Priority Pass at a relatively modest ₹5,000 fee
- Three-tier milestone structure rewards higher annual spend generously
- Points never expire, unlike many bank cards
- Reasonably accessible ₹6 lakh income eligibility
What to watch for
- No spend-based waiver on the annual fee
- Lounge visits are capped at 2 per quarter, not unlimited
- Base reward rate of 1 point per ₹50 is modest outside the milestone tiers
- No rewards on fuel, insurance or utility payments
FAQs
How many lounge visits does the Amex Platinum Travel card offer?
What are the spend milestones on this card?
Is there an annual fee waiver on Amex Platinum Travel?
Platinum Travel or Platinum Reserve — which should I choose?
Compare more American Express cards
See the full American Express India lineup on SearchLocally.in.