My credit card costs $695 a year, but it saves me more than that with its free Priority Pass membership and other perks

21.01.2025 - 12:39 / insider.com

In 2023, I added a new credit card to my wallet: the American Express Platinum.

At first, I cringed at its $695 annual fee — but I realized this card is actually well worth its cost for me. The travel perks are great and, in many ways, the card helps me save on purchases I would've made anyway.

Here are some of my favorite perks of the American Express Platinum, especially as a frequent traveler.

One of the card's biggest perks is the complimentary Priority Pass membership, which gives me access to over 1,700 select airport lounges worldwide.

A Priority Pass membership alone can cost hundreds of dollars a year, so I love getting it for free. Plus, I make good use of it.

The city where I live has a smaller airport, which means the majority of our trips require a layover. A layover is way more comfortable when you have lounge access.

Airport lounges can be more comfortable and quiet than bigger boarding areas. Plus, most have free food and beverages, including alcohol. Not having to buy overpriced airport snacks and drinks has definitely saved me money, too.

I have lounge access with my Delta card, but I have to pay $50 each for my guests, which is not cost-effective when I'm traveling with my husband or kids.

However, with my Priority Pass, I can take three guests into a lounge with me at no extra cost. That way, my family of four can eat for free and have a nice place to wait for our flight — win!

This card also gives me access to American Express Centurion Lounges. My guests don't get free access to these, but I enjoy them when traveling solo.

With my card, I was able to get automatic gold status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton. I get accelerated points, options for upgrades or late checkouts, food and beverage credits, welcome gifts, and more.

The perks vary from hotel to hotel, but anyone who travels frequently with these hotel brands will get instant perks.

I also get an annual $199 credit to cover my CLEAR membership, which speeds up the time I spend going through airport security. It's helpful to me as a frequent traveler, but probably wouldn't be for someone who only travels occasionally.

This card gives me $240 worth of digital entertainment credit a year, which I can use on select subscriptions.

The credit could be applied to subscriptions to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Peacock, Disney+, Hulu, and more.

In the past, I've used this to cover a year of Audible and some of my Netflix subscription — both of these come in handy while I'm traveling and want something to watch or listen to.

The card has way more perks that I haven't touched on and don't always use, like $100 toward purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue each year, $300 toward a club membership or digital subscription at