If you or your spouse is in the military, chances are high that you’ve heard a lot about the American Express Platinum card. Why? Because it offers A LOT of perks and they waive the annual fee for service members and their spouses! Yes, the spouse too (and not just as an authorized user, we’re talking their own account out right)! That’s $695 a year of free credit card perks or $1,390 if both of you hold one.
We know the world of credit card perks can make your head spin. You may be aware of the perk (or maybe not) but have you fully utilized it? Read below to find out if you are maximizing your early hotel credit, Saks credit, cell phone coverage, digital entertainment credit and Uber Eats credit!
1. $200 yearly hotel credit
You can receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when you or Additional Card Members on the account pay for an eligible prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection
What’s so great about Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection?
When you book a Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection using your Amex Platinum card you get the following benefits:
** $100 experience credit is typically a treat at the spa or a food and beverage credit to use at the hotel
*varies by location
Fine Hotels + Resorts
- 12pm check-in: Start your vacation sooner with 12pm check-in, when available
- Room upgrade: Receive a room upgrade upon arrival, when available
- Daily breakfast for two: Wake up to daily breakfast for two, on the house
- $100 experience credit: Enjoy a complimentary experience credit valued at $100
- Complimentary Wi-Fi: Stay connected during your stay with complimentary Wi-Fi
- Guaranteed 4pm check-out: Keep your vacation going with guaranteed 4pm check-out
The Hotel Collection (when staying two or more consecutive nights)
- Room upgrade: Receive a room upgrade upon arrival, when available
- $100 experience credit: Enjoy a complimentary experience credit valued at $100 (typically a treat at the spa or a food and beverage credit so the first couple are on the house!) *varies by location
How to Book:
Log in to the Amex app
Click MEMBERSHIP
Click BENEFITS —> see all
Click $200 hotel credit
Click “Book Now”
Select your desired location and date(s)
Use the “pay now” option
*you can use cash and points to pay
**Be sure the selected hotel has the “Fine Hotel + Resorts” or “The Hotel Collection” banner when you click to book **
2. SAKS 5th Avenue credit
You will receive a $50 statement credit twice a year
Jan1-June30 and July1-Dec31
Be sure to ENROLL under membership benefits in the Amex app
Make a purchase at a SAKS store or online and you will get up to $50 statement credit
Cannot be used for SAKS off 5th or online gift cards
MTH Tip: Some of our favorite SAKS purchases under $50 are:
Bombas , Olaplex products + Supergoop SPF
3. Cell phone protection/insurance
With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed for your repair or replacement costs following damage or theft up to $800 per claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month’s wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim
The first thing to do is call 1-833-784-1467. A representative from the company (New Hampshire Insurance Company) will help you to get started!
The biggest thing here is to be sure you pay the cell phone bill with the Amex card the month PRIOR to submitting the claim.
4. $20 monthly digital entertainment credit
You must enroll under membership benefits. Use the enrolled card to subscribe to any of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal
MTH Tip: If a subscription does not cost $20, you can subscribe to multiple (for example, Peacock and SiriusXM)
5. Uber/Uber eats credit $15 each month
If you have a spouse with their own Amex Platinum, you can combine these credits each month! Just load both cards as payment options in ONE of your Uber accounts. If you also have Gold cards, these can be combined as well! When we each had a platinum and gold we got $50 each month that we used on Uber eats.
MTH Tip: If you only get $15 each month and that doesn’t seem worth it to order delivery, you can switch the settings to PICK UP and make it more worth your while for some free food!
Meet Amy + Lisa
The demand for affordable travel options and money-saving tips is high among military families who face frequent deployments, relocations, and the need for family connection through leisure travel. Military Travel Hackers began in 2021 when group founder, Lisa, had the desire to share her knowledge of specific military travel benefits.
Now, a group of military spouses who share the same passion, help over 9,000 active duty, veterans and fellow spouses on facebook and Instagram by sharing tips, tricks and insider information on making the most of your credit card points and other military related travel benefits. Our goal is to help other military families travel more and spend less!
Instagram: @military_travel_hackers
