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Here's Why I'm Skipping the Amex Platinum for This Travel Card Instead

  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. -amex-platinum-for-this-travel-card-instead.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Sunday, October 19th 2025 at 13:11 GMT by The Motley Fool
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

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Let's fetch the content.The Amex Platinum has long been the benchmark for premium travel rewards, but it isn’t the best fit for everyone. In a detailed comparison, a seasoned traveler on The Motley Fool explains why he’s decided to forego the $695 annual fee card in favor of a different high‑end travel credit card that offers more bang for the buck, more flexible rewards, and a lower overall cost of ownership.

1. The Amex Platinum: What It Offers

On the Amex Platinum page (https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/credit-cards/products/amex-platinum-card/), the issuer lists a host of luxury perks:

• Rewards – 5 × Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amex.com, and 5 × points on hotels booked through amex.com or the Hotel Collection.
• Travel credits – $200 airline fee credit, up to $1000 in lounge credits (including access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, and Airspace lounges), and a Global Entry/TSA Pre‑Check credit.
• Insurance – Comprehensive travel insurance, including trip delay, cancellation, and lost baggage coverage.
• Other benefits – Complimentary concierge service, elite status with select hotel and airline partners, and an array of exclusive event invitations.

While these perks sound enticing, the $695 annual fee can quickly erode the value of the card if a traveler’s flight and hotel spending isn’t high enough to earn the same or better rewards elsewhere. The high fee also deters many with a mid‑range credit score, as the Platinum requires a 720+ credit score for approval.

2. The Alternative: Capital One Venture X

The article pivots to the Capital One Venture X (https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/venture-x/), a newer premium travel card that carries a $395 annual fee—exactly half of the Platinum’s cost. The Venture X offers several advantages that the author believes outweigh the Platinum’s allure:

The Venture X’s higher multipliers on hotel stays and dining—10 × and 5 ×, respectively—mean that a traveler who spends heavily on hotels and restaurants can earn miles at a faster pace than on the Platinum’s flat 5 × multiplier. Additionally, the Venture X’s 10 × on hotels applies only when booking through Capital One Travel, but the card still offers 5 × on hotels booked anywhere, providing a balance between flexibility and reward optimization.

3. Why the Author Skips Amex Platinum

1. Cost‑to‑Benefit Ratio
   The author explains that the $695 fee of the Platinum often outweighs the premium lounge credits and airline fee credit when combined with the lower reward multipliers on everyday spending. For a typical traveler who spends $25,000–$30,000 a year on flights and hotels, the Venture X delivers comparable or superior points at roughly half the cost.

2. Flexibility in Rewards
   With the Venture X, miles can be used as a statement credit against any travel expense or transferred to a range of airline partners, including low‑cost carriers that don’t partner with Amex. The Platinum’s Membership Rewards® points, while valuable, are more tightly coupled to the Amex travel network.

3. Lounge Experience
   While the Platinum’s lounge access is limited in the number of visits, the Venture X’s unlimited lounge access—including the new Venture X lounge—provides more consistent value for frequent travelers. The author highlights that the Venture X lounge features a quieter, more modern design and offers complimentary drinks and snacks, which are often missing from Amex’s lounges.

4. Insurance Coverage
   Both cards provide solid insurance, but the Venture X’s policy is tailored for the card’s travel profile, offering a more straightforward claim process and a higher maximum coverage limit for lost luggage.

5. Credit Score and Approval
   The Venture X is available to individuals with a credit score of 720+, whereas the Platinum’s threshold is generally 740+. The author’s own experience shows that the Venture X is easier to qualify for, which reduces the risk of rejection or higher interest rates.

4. A Quick Look at the Travel Credits

The Venture X’s $300 airline fee credit is applied automatically each year to your credit card statement. Unlike the Platinum’s $200 credit, which requires manual entry, the Venture X credit is more user‑friendly and is often used for ancillary airline costs such as seat upgrades, baggage fees, or in‑flight meals.

The Global Entry/TSA Pre‑Check credit is identical between the two cards—$100 per year—though the Venture X offers the credit in a more streamlined form: a one‑time credit applied to your statement for the first year, and a smaller annual credit thereafter.

5. Final Verdict

After weighing the rewards, travel credits, lounge access, and cost, the author concludes that the Capital One Venture X delivers a more balanced and cost‑effective travel experience for most people. The card’s superior reward multipliers on hotels and dining, combined with unlimited lounge access and a lower annual fee, provide a clear advantage over the Amex Platinum for travelers who prioritize flexibility and value over exclusivity.

For anyone considering a premium travel card, the article suggests that the Venture X should be the first stop before opening a file on the Platinum. The combination of 10 × miles on hotels, 5 × on flights, and a generous travel credit stack the card as an optimal choice for the modern traveler who seeks a blend of luxury, flexibility, and savings.