American Express has recently opened applications for its premium Platinum Charge and Platinum Reserve Credit Cards. Not only this, but many existing AmEx cardholders have received targeted upgrade offers to the American Express Platinum Reserve Credit Card. Priced at ₹10,000 + GST annually, the Platinum Reserve is one of AmEx’s lesser-known offerings, often considered underwhelming and not quite worth the fee. It rarely appears on the wishlists of premium card users.
However, when an upgrade offer comes your way (especially one that includes an Amazon voucher worth ₹2,000), it’s only natural to take a closer look at what’s being offered. Whether you’re considering upgrading or continuing with the Platinum Reserve Card into the second year, this article will help you explore the benefits, features, and overall value of the card to determine if it’s worth it.
Best to know that American Express cardholders can also contact customer care to request an upgrade. If eligible, they will receive an upgrade offer via email. This would be helpful for those who haven’t received an upgrade offer.
Welcome Perks: Justified or Overhyped?
At first glance, it may seem satisfying that you receive 11,000 Membership Rewards (MR) Points for an annual fee of ₹10,000. And currently, a bonus Amazon voucher worth ₹2,000. However, to truly maximize the value of these points, you would need to transfer them to partners like Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio. Doing so typically yields a value of around ₹5,500, assuming a conservative valuation of ₹0.50 per point. Those familiar with the points conversion can even get a higher value for their points.
Additionally, cardholders get complimentary memberships to Accor Plus Traveler, Taj Epicure, and EazyDiner Prime. When combined, these benefits can easily justify the high annual fee, at least for the first year. That said, the actual value depends on whether you actively use these memberships. For the right user, the welcome package can be pretty rewarding.
Worth it in the first year if:
- You stay at or dine with Accor or Taj properties.
- You redeem the MR points efficiently (ideally via transfer partners).
- You take advantage of the EazyDiner benefits.
Not worth it if:
- You prefer cashback or simpler rewards.
- You won’t use the hotel or dining perks.
- You’re upgrading from another AmEx card with similar reward rates and overlapping benefits (like the Platinum Travel Card).
In short, the welcome package does offer more than ₹11,000 in value, but the benefits are highly lifestyle-dependent. If you don’t dine out or travel often, the upfront value won’t translate into real savings. Those who frequently travel or dine outside can definitely take advantage of these welcome benefits.
Average Reward Rate
The Platinum Reserve Credit Card is the second most premium offering after the Platinum Charge Card offered by AmEx in India. While the card does come at an exceptionally high fee, it doesn’t offer an extraordinary reward rate against it. If one looks at other credit cards with a similar fee structure, there are stark differences. For example, the Platinum Reserve Card cannot begin to compete with the likes of the Infinia and Emeralde Private Credit Card.
If you’re considering upgrading from the AmEx Platinum Travel to the Platinum Reserve, keep in mind that there’s no change in the reward rate. In fact, most American Express cards follow a similar reward structure, typically 1 Membership Rewards (MR) point per ₹50 spent, except for a few cards like the AmEx Gold Card (which offers milestone bonuses) and the Platinum Charge Card (which comes with premium lifestyle benefits instead of a standard rewards focus).
- No accelerated rewards on specific categories like travel, dining, or fuel.
- No milestone benefits to boost reward value like the Gold Charge Card offers.
- Lacks redemption flexibility for everyday users unless you’re deeply invested in MR point transfer strategies. This last point is valid for all AmEx Credit Cards.
Free Domestic/International Airport Lounge Access
Although the Platinum Reserve Credit Card does offer both domestic and international airport lounge access, the number of visits provided with the card is too few when compared with any other credit card in the premium segment. There are cards with lower fees in the sub-premium credit card segment, like the IDFC Mayura, that offer far more airport privileges.
Only 3X Reward Points on Rewards Multiplier
With the AmEx Platinum Reserve Credit Card, cardholders earn only 3X Membership Rewards points on eligible purchases through the Rewards Multiplier platform. That’s a let-down for a “premium” product, especially when even the AmEx Gold Charge Card delivers 5X points on the same platform.
Spend-Based Golf Privileges
Even after paying the hefty fee, you must meet a spend-based hurdle just to unlock the golf perk.
With the AmEx Platinum Reserve, you get two complimentary rounds each month at over 30 top golf courses in India, green fees fully waived, but only if you’ve spent at least ₹50,000 in the preceding two months.
For most non-enthusiasts who play only occasionally, this requirement is overly restrictive, and similar casual golf access can be had with other golf-specific credit cards that don’t demand such high spending.
Annual Fee Relief Comes at a Costly Spend
One would need to spend over ₹10 lakh with the Platinum Reserve Credit Card to waive the annual charges. This is quite unrealistic as the card does not offer rewards to justify such high spending.
Bottom Line
Overall, we recommend against upgrading to the Platinum Reserve Credit Card. At first glance, it may seem like a premium offering, but its benefits simply don’t justify the ₹10,000 annual fee. You’ll find far better value in other cards within the same price range. Whether you’re a medium or high spender, the so-called “premium” perks are largely introductory, offer limited utility, and won’t help you recoup the fee.
AmEx users would be better off with any other card than this, whether it’s the rewarding Platinum Travel Card or the luxurious Platinum Charge Card.
American Express has started accepting new applications. Check the complete details here.
Read More Blog–Best American Express Credit Cards in India