- Score: 👨🤝👨👨🤝👨👨🤝👨👨🤝👨👨🤝👨 (5/5)
- Summary: “Luxury unlocked, fee recovered.”
- Watch the story: Watch our weekend in London
Disclaimer: Information accurate as of November 2025. Card benefits and fees can change. Always check the latest details on the American Express UK site. This post isn’t sponsored — we just believe in using products that work.
Table of Contents
- Intro: Can You Really Make the Platinum Free?
- Our Smart Two-Card Setup
- The Weekend That Proved It
- The Numbers: Real Value, Real Maths
- Dining Credits: £400 Back in Meals You’d Have Anyway
- Lounges: Ten Trips, Ten Proseccos, Zero Stress
- Hotel Status: Free Breakfasts and Subtle Upgrades
- Platinum vs Other Cards (Quick Comparison)
- Hidden Perks Worth Knowing
- Retention, Bonuses & Insider Tips
- Wrap-Up & Honest Verdict
- Quick FAQs
Intro: Can You Really Make the Platinum Free?
When Alex first mentioned paying £650 a year for a credit card, I thought he’d lost it. That’s half a weekend in Paris. But here’s the twist — we discovered we were already spending enough on travel, hotels and dining to make the card effectively free.
The American Express Platinum Card looks intimidating, but it’s less about spending more and more about spending smart. Use it intentionally, and it quietly pays for itself while upgrading your entire travel rhythm — from breakfast spreads to stress-free airport mornings.
Our Smart Two-Card Setup
We use what we call the Two-Card Strategy — it’s simple and effective.
1️⃣ British Airways Amex (our everyday card)
We put daily expenses here to earn Avios and build towards the Companion Voucher. Groceries, fuel, general purchases — everything that doesn’t trigger Platinum perks.
2️⃣ Amex Platinum (the perks card)
We switch to this for:
- Restaurant spending covered by the £400 annual dining credits
- Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings
- Hotel stays where Gold status adds value
- Car hire and travel insurance
- Cashback and Amex Offers
It’s the right tool for the right moment. One builds points, the other builds perks.
We haven't change our lifestyle, we just changed which card we tapped
The Weekend That Proved It
We tested it at Pan Pacific London, part of the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) programme. They had a 30% off suite offer, so the Devonshire Suite cost the same as a standard room. Not bad already.
Then FHR worked its magic:
- Room upgrade on arrival to the Walbrook Suite with skyline views
- Breakfast for two (worth £60 per day)
- £100 hotel credit for dinner and cocktails
- Guaranteed 4pm checkout
FHR hotels can look pricier than booking direct, but the value of upgrades, credits and breakfasts almost always outweighs the difference.
The Numbers: Real Value, Real Maths
We track everything because — well, one of us is a spreadsheet guy. Here’s a year of real-world value:
| Benefit | Our Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UK & International Dining Credits | £400 | £100 UK + £100 abroad, each half of the year |
| FHR Upgrades | £100+ | Typical uplift from room to suite |
| Daily Breakfasts | £120 | £60/day for two |
| Hotel Credit | £100 | Dinner and cocktails |
| Late Checkout | £50 | Extra half-day in comfort |
| Hilton Gold Breakfasts | £300+ | Used across six stays |
| Lounge Access (10 visits, 2 people) | £200 | Roughly £10pp saving per visit |
| Total (Conservative) | £1,270+ | Against a £650 fee |
That’s before even counting car hire insurance, travel protection, or random Amex Offers.
Dining Credits: £400 Back in Meals You’d Have Anyway
This is the easiest win.
You get:
- £100 in the UK from Jan–Jun
- £100 in the UK from Jul–Dec
- £100 abroad for each half of the year
That’s £400 total. We use it on restaurants we’d visit anyway — no forced fine dining. The UK list includes great options in London, Manchester and Edinburgh, and new ones pop up every few months.
Treat it like a refund on your normal life — not a reason to eat out more.
Lounges: Ten Trips, Ten Proseccos, Zero Stress
Nothing changes your travel mood like skipping airport chaos. Between us, we’ve used the Priority Pass benefit at least ten times this year. If we’d spent £10 each on coffee and snacks per visit, that’s £200 saved — plus a quiet seat and prosecco.
Platinum holders also get access to Amex Centurion Lounges (when travelling internationally). Think proper bar service, decent food, and no charging cables fought over like rare artefacts.
Hotel Status: Free Breakfasts and Subtle Upgrades
This is where the Platinum keeps giving long after you’ve checked out.
Hilton Honors Gold
Free breakfast for two, occasional upgrades, and late checkout. We’ve easily saved £300–400 a year here.
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite
Room upgrades when available, plus bonus points.
Meliá Rewards Gold
Discounts and perks at European properties — perfect for city breaks.
These statuses apply even when booking direct, so you’ll see value beyond Fine Hotels & Resorts.
For couples who travel a few times a year, those breakfasts alone nearly cover the fee.
Platinum vs Other Cards (Quick Comparison)
| Feature | Amex Platinum | BA Amex Premium Plus | Amex Gold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | £650 | £300 | £195 (first year often free) |
| Main Perks | FHR, £400 dining credits, lounges, insurance | Avios earning + Companion Voucher | Flexible MR points, dining credit |
| Lounge Access | Yes (Priority Pass + Centurion) | No | Limited (via offers only) |
| Hotel Status | Hilton, Marriott, Meliá Gold | No | No |
| Travel Insurance | Full cover | Basic | Basic |
| Ideal User | Frequent traveller who values perks | Avios collector | Occasional traveller |
The takeaway: Platinum is less about point-collecting and more about real-world comfort and savings.
Hidden Perks Worth Knowing
Travel Insurance – Global cover for you and your partner (under 70).
Car Hire Insurance – Full excess waiver built in, saving £50–100 per trip.
Amex Offers – Regular cashback promos; we’ve had 20% back at hotels.com and Space NK.
Supplementary Card – Add a partner for shared lounge access and benefits.
These add up quietly, but they count.
Retention, Bonuses & Insider Tips
💡 Retention Offers: Call Amex before cancelling. They often offer points or statement credit to stay.
💡 Sign-Up Bonuses: These fluctuate — sometimes tens of thousands of points.
💡 Track Dining Credits: They reset every six months. Set reminders.
💡 Book Through the Portal: Always use the official Amex Travel portal for FHR.
💬 Need help? Drop us a message. We’re happy to share what’s worked for us.
Wrap-Up & Honest Verdict
We’re not trying to sell you a card — we’re proving that you can make it work. The Amex Platinum isn’t for show-offs. It’s for people who travel smart, enjoy good food, and appreciate small luxuries without waste.
Between dining credits, FHR perks, lounges, insurance and status, we comfortably offset the £650 fee each year — and travel feels calmer, smoother, and more enjoyable for it.
If you love travel but hate faff, it’s one of the most valuable cards out there. And honestly, luxury doesn’t have to be about spending more. It’s about knowing where to get the most back.
📸 Image idea: Amex Platinum card with coffee cup and boarding pass on marble table
Quick FAQs {#faqs}
Do you need to book FHR hotels in advance?
Yes. Log in to Amex Travel portal to see eligible Fine Hotels & Resorts rates.
Can you use restaurant credits anywhere?
No, only at participating restaurants. The list updates regularly in the Amex app.
Can you hold both BA Amex and Platinum?
Yes. They’re separate products with separate bonuses.
What if you cancel?
Amex gives a pro-rata refund of the annual fee if you cancel part-way through.
Is hotel status really valuable?
Absolutely. Hilton Gold alone saves us hundreds per year in breakfasts.
Are benefits guaranteed?
Late checkout (4pm) is guaranteed. Room upgrades are based on availability.
How can I see if I'm elegable for a American Express Card?
Visit Amex Travel portal to see eligible
Next up: our BA Amex strategy — how we pair Avios earning with Platinum perks for free luxury stays and flights.