American Express to make largest ever investment in travel-focused Platinum Credit Cards
'We're going to take these cards to a new level, not only in what they offer in travel, dining and lifestyle benefits, but also in how they look and feel,' Howard Grosfield, Amex's group president for US consumer services, said in a statement Monday.
Amex raised its Platinum card annual fee to $695 in July 2021, when it also added $200 in annual hotel credits. Since then, the New York-based company has faced intensifying competition for premium credit-card customers, including from JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s Sapphire Reserve card and Capital One Financial Corp.'s Venture X Rewards card.
The Amex update will apply to both the US consumer and business Platinum cards, the company said. It didn't provide more specifics on what changes are coming.
Typically premium cards, as the name suggests, offer premium services such as hotel stays, fine dining, access to golf, among others. These cards are usually invite-only and can be applied for. However, most of these cards have a high annual fee i.e., upward of ₹ 50,000. The Amex card mentioned here has an annual fee of $695 (equivalent to ₹ 59,770). The complimentary services, meanwhile, are too premium to be availed for anything less than this.
These cards are accepted around the world and come with concierge service which can assist you in booking flowers, movie tickets and fine dining reservations.
Disclaimer: Mint has a tie-up with fintechs for providing credit, you will need to share your information if you apply. These tie-ups do not influence our editorial content. This article only intends to educate and spread awareness about credit needs like loans, credit cards and credit score. Mint does not promote or encourage taking credit as it comes with a set of risks such as high interest rates, hidden charges, etc. We advise investors to discuss with certified experts before taking any credit.
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