Traveling with two little kids means every trip comes with extra stress, extra gear, and extra things that can go wrong. That’s exactly why I carry the Amex Platinum.
It’s not a card for everyone, but for us, it makes travel feel a little less chaotic and a lot more doable. Here’s what we actually use, the full breakdown, and a quick way to tell whether it would pay off for your family.
- Annual fee
- $895
- Amex’s advertised value
- $3,500+ per year (only if you use everything)
- Statement credits
- Roughly $3,000 per year if you use every one
- Points
- 5X flights · 5X prepaid hotels via Amex Travel · 1X everything else
- Best for
- Families who fly a few times a year, stay in hotels, and already use Uber, Walmart+ or streaming
What makes it worth it for our family
- Lounge access. A quiet place to eat, recharge, and let the kids burn off energy before a flight, instead of camping out at a crowded gate.
- Travel protections. Trip delay, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance take the sting out of the inevitable curveballs.
- Hotel perks. Early check-in and room upgrades make a real difference when naps and bedtime are on the line.
- Airline and hotel credits. They help offset the cost of flights and stays that add up fast with a family.
The credits
Most credits need to be enrolled in your Amex account first, and they don’t roll over. Set a reminder for the monthly and quarterly ones.
| Credit | Up to | How it’s paid out |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel (prepaid via Amex Travel, Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection) | $600/yr | $300 Jan–Jun, $300 Jul–Dec |
| Resy dining | $400/yr | $100 per quarter |
| Digital entertainment (Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+ and more) | $300/yr | $25 per month |
| lululemon | $300/yr | $75 per quarter |
| Equinox or Equinox+ | $300/yr | Annual |
| CLEAR+ | $219/yr | Annual |
| Airline incidental fees (one airline you select) | $200/yr | Annual |
| Uber Cash (rides or Uber Eats) | $200/yr | $15 per month, plus $20 extra in December |
| Oura Ring | $200/yr | Annual |
| Walmart+ membership | ~$155/yr | $12.95 per month |
| Uber One membership | $120/yr | Annual |
| Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application | $120 / $85 | Once every 4 years |
The listed credits add up to roughly $3,000 a year (not counting Global Entry/TSA PreCheck), but only if you use every one.
Status and memberships
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold (enrollment required)
- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle (enrollment required)
- Amex Global Lounge Collection: 1,550+ lounges, including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Club (limited visits when flying Delta), Escape Lounges, and Priority Pass
- Fine Hotels + Resorts perks: room upgrade when available, daily breakfast for two, noon check-in when available, guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, free Wi-Fi, and a property credit (usually around $100)
Built-in insurance
- Trip cancellation & interruption
- Trip delay
- Baggage
- Car rental loss & damage
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty
Coverage has terms, limits and exclusions, and you generally need to pay with the card. Read the benefit guide before you rely on it.
Extras and adding a partner
- Amex Experiences: special and early ticket access to concerts, sports and events.
- Additional Platinum cards are $195 each and include lounge access, the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, and hotel elite status, which is handy when you travel as a couple.
Is it worth it for you?
The card only pays off if you’d actually use the credits. Count only the ones you’d spend on anyway, like Uber, Walmart+, streaming and hotels. Credits you’d never use, like Equinox or Oura if you don’t want them, shouldn’t count toward the $3,500 figure. The PDF has a quick worksheet to do the math.
Planning a trip to use those perks?
I plan Disney trips, Caribbean cruises, all-inclusives and family getaways, and I’ll help you stack your card perks with the right hotel and booking. Tell me where you want to go, email me at book@holidaywithhuma.com, or say hi on Instagram at @holidaywithhuma.
Huma