Amex Platinum Card Refresh 2025: What You Need to Know About the Biggest Update Yet

Amex Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card, long regarded as a premium travel and lifestyle credit card, is once again making headlines in September 2025. American Express has confirmed a major refresh of the Platinum Card set to launch on September 18, 2025. This impending update brings some of the most significant changes to the card’s benefits, design, and pricing in recent years. For cardholders and prospective applicants alike, understanding what’s new, what’s changed, and what remains the same is essential.

Why Is the Amex Platinum Card in the News?

The buzz around the Amex Platinum Card right now centers on an announced refresh that will introduce new benefits, a redesigned card look, and an increased annual fee. American Express aims to elevate the card’s appeal to Millennial and Gen Z audiences by doubling down on premium travel, dining, and lifestyle experiences. It’s not just a facelift: the updated card includes valuable credits and features designed to enhance membership value despite a higher cost.

Early leaks and official announcements have revealed:

• A higher annual fee of $895, up from $695.

• New credits including a $400 annual Resy dining credit.

• A $600 combined Fine Hotels and Resorts / Hotel Collection credit.

• A $120 Uber One credit supplementing existing Uber cash benefits.

• Optional new mirror-finish card design alongside the classic look.

• Additional fees for authorised users with full benefits access.

These updates position the refreshed Amex Platinum as a versatile card tailored for urban lifestyle and travel enthusiasts, especially younger consumers who prioritise both experience and status in their spending .

What Are the Key New Benefits?

Resy Dining Credit

One of the headline benefits is a $400 annual credit dedicated to Resy, a reservation platform boasting over 20,000 restaurants worldwide in 30+ countries. This credit breaks down into $100 per quarter, making premium dining experiences more accessible while encouraging exploration of curated restaurant choices. The Resy credit reinforces the card’s emphasis on dining as a core lifestyle category .

Fine Hotels and Resorts / Hotel Collection Credit

The refreshed card offers a generous $600 annual credit split evenly between the Fine Hotels and Resorts program and the Hotel Collection. This $300 biannual credit can be applied to bookings, allowing cardholders more freedom and value for luxury hotel stays worldwide. The credit aligns with Amex’s focus on premium travel perks exclusive to Platinum members.

Uber One Credit

In addition to the existing $200 Uber Cash annually—usable for rides and Uber Eats—the new Platinum Card will include a $120 credit for Uber One, Uber’s subscription service offering savings and perks. This credit adds value for frequent Uber users and meshes well with the card’s urban, on-the-go lifestyle branding .

New Design: Mirror Finish

Cardholders will get a choice between the traditional Platinum card design and a new mirror finish option, signaling a more modern and sleek aesthetic. This is a subtle but meaningful change aimed at keeping the card’s status symbol appeal fresh and visually distinctive in the premium credit card space.

Authorized User Fee and Benefits

The card refresh comes with an increased authorized user fee of $195, but these users will receive full card benefits, which was sometimes limited in previous versions. This makes adding family members or authorized users more costly but more rewarding from a benefit standpoint.

What Has Not Changed?

Despite the refresh, many core benefits remain intact. These include access to the expansive American Express lounge network with over 1,550 lounges in 500+ airports worldwide, including Centurion Lounges and more coming in Newark, Salt Lake City, and Tokyo. The card still offers premium travel protections, elite status benefits with hotel chains, and access to exclusive Amex Experiences .

Who Should Consider the New Amex Platinum?

The refreshed Platinum Card is targeted primarily at urban Millennials and Gen Z consumers, who made up 35% of total U.S. consumer spending in the last quarter, according to American Express. The card’s balanced focus on travel, premium dining, and lifestyle effectively appeals to younger users seeking exclusive experiences and status symbols. However, the nearly $900 annual fee remains high, making the card most suitable for those who can maximise the value of its credits and perks .

How Does the Update Compare to Competitors?

The Amex Platinum’s refresh comes amid intensified competition in the premium credit card market. Chase Sapphire Reserve, Citi Prestige, and others have also upgraded benefits or adjusted pricing recently. The Amex Platinum’s uniquely broad lounge access, combined with targeted lifestyle credits like Resy and Uber One, set it apart. Meanwhile, its annual fee increase positions it at the higher end of the premium spectrum, challenging cardholders to verify if the enhanced benefits justify the cost.

Feature	Amex Platinum (2025 Refresh)	Chase Sapphire Reserve	Citi Prestige Card
Annual Fee	$895	$650	$695
Airport Lounge Access	1550+ lounges including Centurion Lounges	Priority Pass Lounges	Priority Pass Lounges
Dining Credit	$400 Resy annual credit	$300 dining credit	$250 dining credit
Hotel Credit	$600 combined FHR/Hotel Collection	$300 travel credit	$250 hotel credit
Ride-Share Credit	$120 Uber One Credit + $200 Uber Cash	Up to $60 Lyft credit	No dedicated ride credit
Card Design	Classic or mirror finish	Classic design	Classic design

This comparison highlights the Amex Platinum’s strong push into lifestyle and travel benefits but at a higher price point .

What to Expect on September 18, 2025?

The official announcement date from American Express for the Platinum Card refresh is September 18, 2025. Cardholders should expect detailed terms and new enrollment processes for credits around this time, along with official marketing from Amex. Those considering applying for the card should carefully assess their spending habits and benefit use cases against the higher annual fee.

Final Thoughts

The American Express Platinum Card’s September 2025 refresh is significant for anyone invested in premium credit cards. With upgraded credits for dining and travel, a new sleek design option, and a price increase, Amex is aiming to redefine how premium cardholders experience lifestyle rewards. While the steep $895 annual fee may be a hurdle for some, those who maximize the credits and perks stand to gain a next-level luxury experience. Urban Millennials and Gen Z consumers appear to be the key demographic as Amex

the card for evolving tastes and spending styles.

For those who value airport lounge access, exclusive dining, and hotel credits and seek a prestigious card with a fresh edge, the new Amex Platinum promises to deliver. The coming weeks will reveal all specifics, but the early leaks already indicate a major upgrade poised to shake up the premium card landscape in 2025.