Full information to licensed customers on the Amex Platinum Card

You may wish to add licensed customers to your journey bank cards for a lot of causes. For instance, your licensed customers may help you hit a minimal spending requirement to earn a welcome provide, otherwise you may wish to construct your kid’s credit score historical past early on.

However some playing cards additionally provide licensed customers most of the identical advantages as the first cardmember — one of the well-liked being The Platinum Card® from American Specific.

On this information, we’ll contemplate the assorted perks that might nonetheless make including licensed customers to your Amex Platinum worthwhile. We’ll additionally contemplate how the brand new annual charge construction could change this calculus (see charges and costs).

Overview of Amex Platinum licensed customers

The Amex Platinum comes with a $695 annual charge (see charges and costs) and has so many advantages that it is also known as a “membership card” (in some circles) — a card that you retain for its advantages quite than its incomes potential. That stated, it does include a welcome bonus new cardholders can earn of 80,000 Membership Rewards factors after spending $8,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership — or you possibly can be focused for an even increased provide utilizing the CardMatch software (topic to vary at any time).

Nevertheless, in contrast to another premium journey playing cards, including licensed customers to the Amex Platinum incurs a further value.

You possibly can add youngsters as licensed customers, however American Specific requires them to be no less than 13 years outdated.

Amex additionally affords further non-Platinum playing cards, generally known as companion Platinum playing cards, which you could add to your account. These playing cards do not incur annual prices (see charges and costs) however function very restricted advantages.

Nevertheless, including further Platinum cardmembers to your account (and paying $195 for every further cardmember in additional annual charges; see charges and costs) unlocks a wide range of perks.

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Which Amex Platinum advantages apply to further cardmembers?

Here is a rundown of the important thing advantages that further Amex Platinum cardmembers will take pleasure in. As famous above, these solely apply to further Amex Platinum playing cards, not companion playing cards.

Lounge entry

The primary key profit that extends to further Amex Platinum cardmembers is lounge entry, even when touring with out the first cardmember. The American Specific World Lounge Assortment consists of a number of networks, together with American Specific Centurion Lounges, Precedence Move lounges, Delta Sky Golf equipment on same-day Delta flights (restricted to 10 annual visits from Feb. 1, 2025), Plaza Premium lounges and numerous different kinds of lounge entry. (You possibly can view a full checklist of taking part areas at this hyperlink.) Phrases apply. Enrollment is required.

American Specific does not enable most Amex Platinum cardmembers to usher in two complimentary friends when visiting Centurion Lounges. As an alternative, it will value you $50 for every grownup visitor over 18, and you will pay $30 for every little one between the ages of two and 17 (youngsters underneath two are nonetheless free).

There are two methods to keep away from this visitor charge. First, you possibly can cost $75,000 in your Platinum Card in a calendar yr, unlocking the earlier advantage of bringing in two friends.

Alternatively, when you incessantly journey along with your partner (or youngsters over 12), you possibly can add them as licensed customers.

Notice that Centurion Lounges aren’t the one ones that may be troublesome or costly to entry for Platinum cardmembers. In case you maintain the Amex Platinum, you possibly can enter the Sky Membership when you’re touring on a same-day Delta-operated flight (restricted to 10 annual visits from Feb. 1, 2025). The charge for bringing friends with you is $50 every time you go to — a part of Delta’s efforts to fight lounge overcrowding.

Nevertheless, you possibly can keep away from these prices altogether when including further Platinum cardmembers to your account.

In case you suppose Amex or Delta lounge entry is definitely worth the $50 cost for friends, you’ll cowl the $195 annual charge for licensed customers after 4 visits annually.

In fact, this may not assist households with youngsters underneath 12 (like mine). My 8-year-old daughter cannot grow to be a certified consumer on my card. Nevertheless, the $50 visitor charge at Delta Sky Golf equipment ought to set off the Platinum Card’s as much as $200 annual airline charge credit score since I’ve designated Delta as my eligible provider (enrollment is required).

Lastly, it is value declaring that it’s essential to enroll in Precedence Move to be eligible to entry Precedence Move lounges (you may get into the opposite lounges within the American Specific World Lounge Assortment by merely displaying your Platinum Card). Extra cardmembers cannot enroll on-line; they should name the quantity on the again of their Amex Platinum to enroll.

Associated: The ten finest Precedence Move lounges around the globe

World Entry/TSA PreCheck software charge credit score

One other nice perk that extends to further Amex Platinum cardmembers is the assertion credit score for World Entry ($120) or TSA PreCheck (as much as $85) software charges. Identical to the profit offered to main cardmembers, every licensed consumer can use this profit as soon as each 4 years for World Entry or as soon as each 4½ years for TSA PreCheck. Additionally, you do not even want to make use of the credit score to your personal membership — any qualifying cost for a buddy or member of the family will set off the credit score.

In case you add a certified consumer who applies for World Entry within the first yr, you may obtain $120 value of advantages proper off the bat, which covers greater than half of the $195 licensed consumer annual charge.

Nevertheless, it is value declaring that the above chart signifies that each one further members added to an Amex Platinum account — each further Platinum Card and extra companion playing cards — are eligible.

Associated: High bank cards for World Entry and TSA PreCheck

Marriott and Hilton elite standing

Amex Platinum licensed customers can even make the most of complimentary Gold standing with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. Each the first cardmember and licensed customers ought to have the ability to enroll for these statuses on-line. In case you frequent Marriott or Hilton properties, this could deliver you room upgrades (when accessible), bonus factors and extra on-property perks.

Remember the fact that there are different methods to get Marriott and Hilton standing by bank cards:

Nonetheless, having an authorized-user Platinum Card covers each packages and thus could also be simpler than sustaining a number of different playing cards.

The knowledge for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Associated: Information to Marriott and Hilton elite standing with the Amex Platinum and Enterprise Platinum

Entry to the Superb Inns + Resorts and Resort Assortment

As a further Amex Platinum cardmember, you may also use the Superb Inns + Resorts and The Resort Assortment advantages on the cardboard (minimal two-night keep required for The Resort Assortment). Whenever you e-book a pay as you go keep by the Superb Inns + Resorts program, you may earn 5 Membership Rewards factors per greenback and get entry to this system’s elitelike advantages. Phrases apply.

These advantages embody a room improve upon arrival (when accessible), each day breakfast for 2, assured 4 p.m. late checkout, midday check-in (when accessible), complimentary Wi-Fi and a $100 expertise credit score.

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Automotive rental elite standing

Extra Platinum cardmembers obtain complimentary Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle, Avis Most well-liked Plus and Nationwide Emerald Membership Govt standing. You possibly can enroll in every of those memberships on Amex’s web site.

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Different advantages

Amex Platinum licensed customers can even entry the Cruise Privileges and Worldwide Airline Applications. In the meantime, further Platinum cardmembers and companion cardmembers can entry Amex Gives and the Auto Buying Program. Notice that enrollment is required for Amex Gives and that not all cardmembers will probably be focused for a similar affords.

Which Amex Platinum advantages are shared amongst cardmembers?

Past the above perks, main and extra cardmembers share a number of Amex Platinum advantages. In different phrases, these perks are granted as soon as per account — however purchases by any card on the account will set off them.

• Airline charge credit score of as much as $200 per calendar yr, offered as assertion credit for incidental charges charged by the airline you choose*
• As much as $100 Saks credit score break up into two as much as $50 assertion credit for the 2 halves of the calendar yr*
• As much as $200 annual resort credit score, legitimate on pay as you go reservations at Superb Inns + Resorts or The Resort Assortment properties (requires a minimal two-night keep) made by Amex Journey*
• As much as $199 annual Clear Plus assertion credit per calendar yr, offered as assertion credit for a Clear Plus membership*
• As much as $240 annual digital leisure credit score, break up into as much as $20 month-to-month assertion credit for choose retailers, together with The Disney Bundle, Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, The New York Occasions and The Wall Avenue Journal*
• As much as $300 annual Equinox assertion credit score every calendar yr to eligible Equinox memberships or entry to the Equinox+ app (topic to auto-renewal)*
• As much as $155 in Walmart+ credit yearly, the place you possibly can obtain a press release credit score every month that covers the total value of 1 $12.95 (plus tax) Walmart+ membership (topic to auto-renewal). Plus Up Advantages not eligible*

It is a good way to make sure you maximize these assertion credit. For instance, chances are you’ll not wish to use the Equinox credit score when you use a special health club or health supplier. Nevertheless, in case your licensed consumer prices an Equinox membership to the cardboard, these purchases will set off the assertion credit score till the $300 annual most is reached.

*Enrollment is required for choose advantages. Phrases apply.

What advantages will not be included?

Notice that a number of advantages aren’t granted to licensed customers.

Most significantly, there is not any further welcome provide. Whereas all purchases depend towards the cardboard’s minimal spending necessities, it is a single deposit of factors.

As well as, the Amex Platinum consists of Uber VIP standing (the place accessible) and as much as $200 Uber Money — break up into month-to-month $15 credit for U.S. rides or U.S. Uber Eats orders, plus a bonus of $20 in December. Nevertheless, this Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account whenever you add the Amex Platinum Card as a fee technique and redeem it with any Amex card. To make use of it in a certified consumer’s Uber account, it’s essential to delete the cardboard from the unique account and reenroll utilizing your licensed consumer’s account.

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Is it nonetheless value including licensed customers to your Amex Platinum?

The annual charge construction for extra Amex Platinum cardmembers has present clients questioning whether or not it is value it. Extra informal vacationers could not profit sufficient to warrant the $195 annual charge for every further Amex Platinum cardmember.

In case you’re serious about including new licensed customers (or looking forward to your subsequent renewal and contemplating eradicating present licensed customers), listed here are some inquiries to ask:

• Will your licensed customers join World Entry or TSA PreCheck? If that’s the case, that may be a right away $120 in advantages. Nevertheless, this is not an annual perk.
• How incessantly will your licensed customers use the cardboard’s resort perks? Semi-frequent vacationers who will not earn Gold standing with Marriott or Hilton in their very own proper might nonetheless get a whole lot of {dollars} in worth from these advantages annually. The identical holds true for stays at Superb Inns + Resorts or The Resort Assortment properties. A single FHR keep to your further Platinum cardmember (with complimentary breakfast and an on-property credit score) might cowl the $195 annual charge all by itself.
• How invaluable is lounge entry to your licensed customers? As famous earlier, it will value you $50 per go to to deliver friends into Centurion Lounges and Sky Golf equipment as a Platinum cardmember. At face worth, you’d want no less than 4 visits per yr to cowl this added value. Nevertheless, this can be much less invaluable when you not often go to these areas (or can offset Sky Membership visitor charges with the cardboard’s airline charge credit score).

Use these inquiries to estimate the yearly worth your further Platinum cardmember will get. If that is considerably increased than the brand new $195 annual charge, it is value it. In any other case, chances are you’ll wish to rethink.

Key issues

In fact, including a certified consumer isn’t so simple as having access to further advantages. As the first cardmember, you’re chargeable for all prices in your account, together with these charged by others. Because of this, it is best to solely add different cardmembers you belief to keep away from operating up your steadiness. Keep in mind, too, that it’s essential to pay your Amex Platinum steadiness in full every month (although you ought to actually do that with all bank cards).

If accomplished proper, including a certified consumer to the cardboard will be an effective way to construct up their credit score historical past. This will go a good distance towards serving to a buddy or member of the family with poor credit score since American Specific will report the on-time fee historical past for each cardmember in your account to the respective credit score bureaus. Once more, be sure that the licensed consumer is somebody you possibly can belief.

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The right way to add further cardmembers

In case you’ve determined so as to add further cardmembers to your Amex Platinum account, the method is comparatively easy:

1. Log into the dashboard to your Amex Platinum account
2. Click on on the “Account Companies” hyperlink on the high
3. Click on “Handle Different Customers” on the left-hand facet
4. Click on “Add Somebody to Your Account”
5. Guarantee you’ve gotten the Amex Platinum chosen, then click on “Proceed”
6. Select the kind of card you wish to add (Platinum or companion), enter the consumer’s data, then click on Agree & Submit

Notice that you do not have to instantly enter the brand new licensed consumer’s Social Safety quantity or date of delivery, however Amex requires that data inside 60 days of the cardboard being issued. In any other case, the cardboard will probably be canceled.

Associated: The right way to maximize advantages with the Amex Platinum Card

Backside line

Having further cardmembers can broaden your incomes potential, and on sure playing cards, it will probably unlock a wide range of perks to your licensed customers as properly. On the Amex Platinum, it prices $195 for every new licensed consumer, however given the array of advantages they’re going to take pleasure in, this could be a stable choice underneath the precise circumstances. Simply make certain that this extra value is value it.

To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the Amex Platinum.

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Apply right here: The Platinum Card® from American Specific

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Associated: 5 methods you could be lacking the worth of your Amex Platinum card

For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.