For many Canadians, the Amex Platinum Card in Canada represents the gold standard of prestige and perks. It’s the card that sparks conversations at airport lounges, sets travellers apart with priority boarding, and often headlines discussions around luxury credit cards. But here’s the big question: does the value of this card really extend past the enticing welcome bonus?

Take Jordan, a Toronto-based consultant. He signed up for the Platinum primarily for its initial points windfall. Within months, he had redeemed his welcome bonus for a business-class flight to London. But as the months passed, Jordan found himself calculating whether the annual fee was really worth it long term.

If you’ve ever asked yourself the same question, you’re not alone. Let’s take a deep dive into the perks, hidden benefits, and the bigger financial picture to answer whether the Amex Platinum is worth its hefty fee in Canada.

Annual Fee: The Elephant in the Room

Before digging into the perks, let’s address the most intimidating factor: the $799 annual fee. No matter how you look at it, that’s a serious upfront cost for a credit card.

However, value with premium credit cards often comes down to credits and perks that offset this fee. The Platinum offers:

• $200 annual travel credit, usable through the Amex Travel portal.
• $200 annual dining credit, a newer perk redeemable at select Canadian restaurants.

That’s already $400 back if you take full advantage, which effectively brings the fee down to $399. From here, the rest of the perks, if you use them, can easily outweigh the remaining cost.

Travel Benefits: The Core Value Proposition

The Platinum Card’s strongest appeal lies in its travel perks. For Canadians who travel more than once or twice per year, these can deliver huge value.

Airport Lounge Access

With Platinum, you get unlimited access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, including Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion Lounges, and even Maple Leaf Lounges. For frequent flyers, this is priceless. A single lounge visit often costs $40–$50 per person. Multiply that by multiple trips, and you’re easily surpassing the card’s fee.

Hotel Status Upgrades

Amex automatically gives you mid-tier status with major hotel chains:

• Hilton Honors Gold
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite

These statuses bring perks like free breakfast, late check-out, and room upgrades—small luxuries that add up over the course of a year.

Comprehensive Travel Insurance

Unlike some top-rated cash back credit cards, the Platinum comes with robust travel insurance: emergency medical, trip cancellation, trip interruption, and even coverage for lost or delayed baggage. This insurance can save hundreds in premiums if you travel frequently.

Everyday Spending: Points That Add Up

The Platinum earns Membership Rewards points, which are flexible and highly valuable when redeemed strategically.

• 2 points per $1 on dining in Canada
• 2 points per $1 on travel purchases
• 1 point per $1 on everything else

While the earn rate is not as high as the Amex Cobalt Card (which excels on groceries and dining), the Platinum’s true strength lies in point flexibility.

You can transfer points to partners like:

• Aeroplan (Air Canada)
• Marriott Bonvoy
• British Airways Avios

A savvy Canadian can stretch their points to achieve 2–3 cents per point in value, especially when booking premium-class flights.

Comparing Against Other Amex Cards

If you’re deciding between the Amex Platinum, Amex Gold Rewards Card, and the Amex Business Platinum Card, here’s where the Platinum stands apart:

• Amex Gold Rewards Card: Lower fee ($250), strong earn rates on dining and groceries, but lacks premium perks like lounge access. Great for everyday spenders who aren’t heavy travellers.
• Amex Cobalt Card: Best for maximizing points on everyday categories like groceries, dining, and streaming. Lower annual cost, but fewer luxury travel perks.
• Amex Business Platinum Card: Higher fee, but designed for entrepreneurs. It offers extra perks like access to the Amex Business Concierge and better business travel rewards.

The Platinum Card in Canada is best positioned for frequent travellers who value experience and perks as much as points.

Beyond Travel: Everyday Lifestyle Benefits

The Platinum isn’t just about airports and hotels. For urban Canadians, the dining credit alone is a strong incentive. Whether it’s a night out in Montreal, a steak dinner in Toronto, or sushi in Vancouver, $200 annually can easily be maximized.

Additionally, Amex often provides targeted Amex Offers, which can include rebates on retailers like Dell, Indigo, or travel partners. If you stack these strategically, you can recoup hundreds more each year.

Who Should Skip the Platinum?

Not every Canadian needs this card. If you’re someone who:

• Rarely travels
• Doesn’t dine out often
• Wants to avoid high annual fees

…then the Platinum may not deliver value. In these cases, a TD Cash Back Visa or Tangerine Credit Card Cash Back could be smarter choices. Both are part of the top-rated cash back credit cards in Canada and offer straightforward value without the complexity of maximizing perks.

Responsible Use: Maximizing Without Overspending

Here’s the key point many Canadians miss: the Amex Platinum Card in Canada should never be used as an excuse to overspend. Rewards only deliver true value if you pay your balance in full every month. Otherwise, high interest charges (20%+) wipe out any benefit.

A responsible strategy is to funnel your planned travel and dining expenses through the card, redeem strategically, and track your rewards. Think of the Platinum as a tool for optimization, not an invitation to inflate your lifestyle.

Maximise Your Platinum Value with Great Canadian Rebates

If you’re considering applying, don’t miss the chance to save even more. Always start your applications through Great Canadian Rebates—you’ll earn extra cash back just for signing up for cards like the Amex Platinum, Amex Gold, or even top-rated cash back credit cards.