Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Key Takeaways
- The Amex Platinum annual fee will rise from £695 to £850 in 2025.
- New perks include a generous £600 hotel credit and an expanded £20 monthly Uber credit.
- Points multipliers jump to 5x on flights and hotels, 3x on dining.
- Lounge access grows to 1,500+ locations, with new Centurion Lounges in the UK.
- Cardholders must weigh the higher fee against potential value exceeding £2,000 per year.
Table of Contents
Annual Fee Increase & Value Proposition
Starting 1 January 2025, the Platinum Card’s annual fee climbs to £850—a 22 per cent hike. In its American Express press release, the issuer claims savvy users can unlock more than £2,000 in annual value via new credits, richer rewards and expanded protections. Analysts at The Points Guy UK note the move mirrors a broader premium-card trend: fees rise, but headline perks rise faster.
“Customers want tangible benefits they can use every month—not just prestige,” an Amex spokesperson said.
New Benefits & Credits
- £600 Hotel Credit: Valid across Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, Hyatt and select boutiques, usable for room rates or on-property charges.
- £240 Annual Uber Credit: Automatically applied at £20 per month toward rides, Uber Eats and airport transfers.
- Boosted Points Multipliers:
- 5x on flights booked direct or via Amex Travel
- 5x on prepaid hotels through eligible portals
- 3x on dining worldwide (up from 2x)
- 2x on all other spend
Membership Rewards points remain transferable to 20+ airline and hotel partners, or can be redeemed via the Amex Travel portal for roughly 0.9p per point, according to UK Finance data.
Travel & Lifestyle Perks
The card deepens its premium positioning with wider protection and access:
- Travel insurance: Trip cancellation up to £10,000, baggage loss to £2,500, and upgraded medical cover.
- Concierge 2.0: AI-enhanced chat plus human agents to secure reservations and solve last-minute issues.
- 1,500+ lounges: Centurion, Priority Pass Select, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), Plaza Premium, Escape Lounges and more.
New Centurion Lounges open at London Gatwick and Manchester in 2025, promising complimentary spa treatments and curated menus by local chefs.
Considerations at Renewal
Renewal notices land 60 days before your anniversary date. If you opt out, there’s no penalty; if you stay, the higher fee and upgraded perks activate immediately. A conservative user might realise:
- £600 hotel credit
- £240 Uber credit
- £200 value from 10 lounge visits
- £150 extra points value on moderate spend
- £300 from enhanced insurance and concierge
Total: ~£1,490 versus an £850 fee. Heavy travellers could push well past £2,000.
Business Card Enhancements
Corporate users gain smarter expense tools, tighter employee controls and fresh credits:
- £200 statement credit for office supplies & telecoms
- LinkedIn Premium Business subscription (value £600)
- WeWork All-Access passes & upgraded business-class lounge entry
Future Outlook
American Express plans a revamped app that tracks credits in real time, AI-driven spend advice and carbon-offset options. Partnerships with luxury retail and fitness brands are also in the pipeline, underscoring Amex’s push to keep the Platinum Card culturally relevant.
Chief executive Stephen Squeri: “Our strategy centres on delivering unmatched premium experiences.”
FAQs
Is the higher fee worth paying for occasional travellers?
If you don’t exhaust the hotel or Uber credits, the maths becomes tougher. Occasional users might find a lower-tier card with transferable points more economical.
Do existing cardholders keep any legacy perks?
Yes—some grandfathered benefits (e.g., bonus referral points) remain, but most new perks replace older versions once the higher fee is charged.
Can the hotel credit be split across multiple stays?
Absolutely. The £600 credit can be applied in increments, provided bookings are made through eligible Amex channels and settle in GBP.
What happens if I cancel the card mid-year?
Amex typically grants a pro-rata refund of the annual fee, but any unused credits for that period are forfeited.
How do the new points rates compare with rivals?
The 5x flight and hotel earn rates now match or exceed most UK premium cards, though Chase Sapphire Reserve still edges ahead on some travel partners in the US market.
