HomeCredit CardsAmexThe Platinum Card® from American Express just got improved (slightly)

The Platinum Card® from American Express just got improved (slightly)


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Quietly and without any fanfare, two slight improvements to two of the benefits offered by card_name have been made. Considering how much publicity Amex normally throws behind “improvements” that don’t actually improve the card, it’s surprising that more hasn’t been made of these changes but, nevertheless, this is genuinely a little bit of good news.

The Equinox credit is going annual

At the time of writing, card_name offers cardholders up to $25 in statement credits each month when membership fees for select Equinox memberships (which include complimentary access to the Equinox+ app as part of membership) or fees for a stand-alone membership to the Equinox+ app are charged to the card (terms apply).

Starting from 1 January 2023, however, this Equinox credit will be paid out annually.

The wording on the card’s benefits page now reads like this:

“Through 2022, statement credits through this benefit will be provided on a monthly basis of up to $25 back per month. Starting in 2023, statement credits through this benefit will be provided on an annual basis of up to $300 per year.”

For some, this may not make any difference whatsoever, but for Equinox members who are in a position to cancel a membership without charge partway through the year, this will make the benefit considerably more useful.

Also, when this Equinox credit was first introduced in 2021, I seem to recall that it was only available on memberships that cost more than the cheapest membership on offer (e.g. memberships that give access to multiple locations).

Now, however, the terms of the benefit clearly discuss “any Equinox club membership” so I’m not sure if I’m misremembering how this benefit was first rolled out or if this is another slight improvement (I don’t use this benefit so I haven’t been paying attention to how it works!).

Top tier Hertz elite status

Not before time*, holders of card_name will now be given Hertz President’s Circle elite status instead of Hertz Five Star status (terms apply and enrollment is required). [HT: Travel With Grant]

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*Holders of cards that cost considerably less than card_name (e.g. holders of the card_name) already get President’s Circle status.

In the grand scheme of things, this probably isn’t a huge deal because the Hertz loyalty program is not very rewarding at all (in fact, it’s a bit of a dumpster fire), but as guaranteed upgrades are always very welcome, cardholders wishing to take the risk that Hertz won’t try to send them to jail for something they didn’t do will probably appreciate this change.

Currently, I still see my old Hertz Five Star status on my account, and when I try to enroll for President’s Circle status via the Amex benefits page…

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…I just get an error message telling me that I can’t copy across my member number correctly (which I can!).

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Still, as I’m in no hurry to go to jail for a crime that I didn’t commit make a Hertz booking, I’ll probably wait to see if my status gets upgraded in the coming weeks. If it doesn’t get upgraded, I’ll make time to call the number the error message provided the next time I’m feeling brave and ready to rent a car from Hertz.

Note: This change also applies to card_name.

Bottom line

Holders of card_name are now being given Hertz President’s Circle elite status as standard (additional cardholders get this benefit too), and the card’s Equinox statement credit benefit will be offered as an annual credit (instead of a monthly credit) from 2023.

Neither of these changes is groundbreaking, but both are clearly slight improvements to what card_name offers.

Link to our review of card_name

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20 COMMENTS

  1. I had the same experience trying to sign up for the Hertz promotion. I called and was told that “theyre working on the website” and to “try again in a few days”

    • In your amex plat account where it says click to get Five Star membership, the link will actually take you to a presidents circle upgrade and your number will work when you try to upgrade. No need for a new number or going through the hertz website (which doesn’t work).

  2. Same thing happened to me. Your current Gold number won’t work. You need to go through the whole application process again and be issued a new number (Hertz gold +). After I did this I received an email that i am now Presidents circle.

    • You are missing out on the airport lounge access if you travel a lot. I find the platinum card benefits pay for the annual fee if you are a frequent traveler.

      • Yes, the normal 45 min wait to get into Seattle’s Centurion lounge is such a great benefit… and yes, priority pass can work in some airports but certainly not all, and are certainly less priority to get into club lounges than any other members of their clubs. Sorry, but your facts are wrong.

        • Only if you’re stuck in the airports of the United States. Different picture if you travel out of the country more frequently.

          • Amex priority pass access is not the full priority pass. You need sapphire reserve for full priority pass. Amex only get you into priority pass lounges and does not get you the $28 restaurant voucher

        • Wow, that’s rough. I’ve only had to wait for the Delta lounge here in NYC. I’ve had no issue getting into the Centurion and Priority Pass lounges here. That combined with free one way Uber VIP rides have definitely been worth it for me.

  3. Finally catching yp to Capital One on the Hertz angle. My hope is someday that Equinox offer expands to include NordicTrack.

    Either way, I’m clearly not the target audience here. Gold plus Venture X still wins in my world.

  4. Was able to get the presidents circle upgrade on my existing hertz account by screencapping the email and sending the screencap to a hertz representative via chat .

  5. When is Amex going to offer the same offers to those in the UK ?

    Other cards are supplying so great offers and I find that I have to shop around more often than I would like.

  6. I have a Delta Sky Miles Amex Platinum and it doesn’t even offer these thing. That’s why I mainly use my Chase Sapphire Reserve now

    • The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card costs $495 per year less than the Amex Platinum Card so it’s unrealistic to expect it to offer anything like the benefits that the Platinum card offers.

  7. Question? My friend bought me as a gift tickets to Bangkok and Istanbul on Platinum Card. Does he have to travel with me in order for me to enjoy the lounges in Istanbul and elsewhere. Flying Buisness Class?

    • As you’re flying in Business Clas, you’ll have access to whatever Business Class lounges the airline(s) you’re flying with use.

      You will not, however, have access to any lounges that are not used by the airlines you’re flying with but that can be accessed by Platinum Card holders (E.g Centurion Lounges).

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