In last week’s article on the 4 Best Rewards Credit Cards for Military Members, I talked about the awesome benefits of the American Express Platinum Card for active duty service members. Assuming that you actually like free money and traveling like Jay-Z; you are now the proud owner of a crisp, new, all-metal AMEX Platinum.

I bet you also thought it was going to show up in an envelope like every other credit card. Nope! Envelopes are for peasants (I mean Visa’s) :-p. You are now an AMEX Platinum member, so you get your card delivered to you in an ornate, mahogany box made from re-claimed splinters from endangered eucalyptus trees in the Amazon rain-forest… you big baller you.

 

In all seriousness, American Express certainly does go the extra mile to make feel like you just joined a special club, and you kind-of did… except without having to pay the exorbitant annual fee! However, opening your card is just the first step; now you to need ensure you are reaping all of the benefits that you now qualify for. There so many benefits to this card that it can be quite overwhelming at first, and one can easily forget to sign up for something. That’s what I’m here for.

Bottom Line Up Front: In this article I will guide you through a visual step-by-step process to setting up your American Express Platinum card and demonstrate how to link it to other Rewards programs to completely maximize all the benefits of your card. Pretty pictures included for easy reference.

 

The Ultimate AMEX Platinum Setup Guide

1) Create an online account and download the AMEX App

This one is self-explanatory. Go to www.americanexpress.com and create an account. If you have not already activated your card, simply click “account services”, then “register new card,” and input your card’s information. Also, I highly recommend downloading the App on your smart phone of choice. It is very intuitive and will show you where all the Lounges are located in every airport.

2) Order an additional AMEX Platinum for your Spouse…free!

Many service members don’t realize that the annual fee of $175 for additional Platinum cards is also waived for their dependents, and end up giving them Gold cards by accident. I don’t know about you guys, but my wife does the majority of our “spending,” so it is critical for her to have a card as well in order for us to truly maximize earning rewards points and working towards meeting introductory spending bonus offers (Love you honey!).

Additionally, each card member is allowed two guests free in many airport lounges. So if both you and your wife have the card, that is four additional little minions you are allowed to bring with you into the lounge.

• Click “Account Services”,
• Click “Add Someone to Your Account
• Select “Platinum Card”
• Select “Additional Platinum Card from American Express” and enter Spouse information
  • You will NOT be charged an additional fee of $175 if you are an active duty service member.
• Click “Agree and Submit”

 

3) Select an airline to use the $200 airline credit

With this card, you receive up to $200 in statement credits toward incidental airline fees each calendar year; at one selected airline. These incidentals include checked baggage, oversized baggage fees, in-flight purchases, etc.

*Pro-Tip: You can go use this $200 credit to reimburse online gift cards purchased through many Airlines. These gift cards can then be used towards flights! Read these two articles here and here for specifics.

You must select one airline ahead of time to use this credit with. Choose wisely and make sure this is an airline you fly with often. You can change once a year in January. You must select an airline before you travel with them to receive the credit as it won’t be retroactively applied.

The airlines you can select from are:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines and US Airways
• Delta
• Frontier
• Hawaiian
• JetBlue
• Spirit
• Southwest
• United

From your account homepage:

• Click “Membership” followed by “Benefits”
  • The “Benefits” page lists all benefits that you qualify for as a Platinum member. This page is where you will enroll in the benefits you want.
• Scroll down until you see “$200 Airline fee credit” and select your Airline

 

4) Join Delta Skymiles Loyalty Program

Delta Airlines is the official partner of American Express. This will allow you to convert your AMEX Rewards Points into Delta Skymiles at a 1-to-1 ratio should you desire.

Additionally, you can link your Delta Skymiles account to your Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Loyalty account and thus earn “crossover” Starwood points when you book a Delta flight and earn Skymiles when you stay at a Starwood hotel. Even if you don’t fly Delta often there is no reason not to sign up for this. It’s free to join and your miles never expire.

To Link your SPG and Skymiles accounts:

• Login to your Skymiles account and click “open” under “hotel and car”
• Add all your hotel and car loyalty program numbers

To convert your AMEX Rewards Points into Skymiles

• Login to your AMEX account
• Click “Rewards” under the “Memberships” tab
• Click “Transfer Points”
• Select “Delta Skymiles”

 

5) Activate your Starwood Gold status

In addition to earning AMEX Rewards Points when you use your card to book a reservation, you will also earn SPG Rewards Points. Just for having the Platinum Card you get SPG Gold status, which gets you a 50% points bonus, guaranteed 4PM check-out, preferred rooms, free breakfast, etc. Obviously you will need to create a Starwood Preferred Guest account first; and yes, it’s free. Once you have created your account, activate your Gold status on this page. The following Hotels fall under the Starwood umbrella:

• Westin.
• Sheraton.
• The Luxury Collection.
• Four Points by Sheraton.
• W Hotels.
• St. Regis.
• Le Méridien.
• Aloft.

 

 

6) Convert your SPG Gold status into Marriott Gold status

Marriot recently merged with Starwood and lucky for you, the two loyalty programs offer “tier matching.” This means if you have Gold status with one, you get Gold status with the other. Furthermore, you can convert Starwood Points into Marriot points and vice versa. Once your SPG account shows your new Gold status, go to this page and have it merged to Marriott Gold status, which gets you basically the same benefits as SPG Gold status.

7) Activate your Hilton HHonors Gold status

Once again, just for having the Platinum Card you get Hilton HHonors Gold status, which gets you a 25% Hilton Rewards Points bonus, room upgrades, early check-in, late check-out, free breakfast, etc. You will need to create a Hilton HHonors account first; and again, yes it’s free. Once you have created your account, activate your Gold status on this page.

Additionally, you can convert your AMEX points into Hilton Points at a 1-to-2 ratio meaning you can turn that introductory AMEX offer of 60K Points into 120K Hilton Points!

I also want to take this time to highlight that under normal circumstances, a person has to stay 40 freaking nights at a Hilton hotel in a year to achieve Gold status! You’re welcome.

The following hotels fall under the Hilton umbrella:

• Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts.
• Conrad Hotels & Resorts.
• Hilton Hotels & Resorts.
• DoubleTree by Hilton.
• Embassy Suites.
• Hilton Garden Inn.
• Hampton.
• Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Once you set up your Hilton Honors Account, ensure that you chose your “Earning Style” for your Rewards Points under “My Preferences”. You can choose either “Points and Points” or “Points and Miles.” I personally recommend “Points and Points” as this is the fastest way to earn free stays.

• “Points and Points” means you earn 10 Base Points, plus an additional 5 Bonus Points per dollar spent.
• “Points and Miles” means you earn 10 Base Points, plus 1 mile per dollar spent.

 

8) Activate your Priority Pass membership

Just for having the Platinum Card you get a Priority Pass membership, which gets you access to over 900 airport lounges around the world. However, you need to specifically request the card and show it at the lounge entrance in order to take advantage of the perk. The Platinum card will get you in the Centurion and Delta Lounges; the Priority Pass will get you in everywhere else.

From your account homepage:

• Click “Membership” followed by “Benefits”
• Scroll down until you see “AMEX Global Lounge Collection”
• Confirm your information and then within a couple of weeks you will receive your Priority Pass card in the mail.

9) Link your card to your Uber account to get a $200 credit

For those of you who Uber, you definitely want to utilize the annual $200 Uber reimbursement perk. You get $15 credit per month and $35 credit in December. The credit does not roll over if you don’t use it, and it’s only for rides within the U.S. Also, the credit and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.

The credit is not automatic. Download the Uber app and then add your new Platinum card to it. You can find it under “Payment” and add “credit or debit card.” Once you’ve done this, you’ll see a notification that you’ve unlocked your AMEX Platinum benefit.

10) Activate your Rental Car Rewards Programs

Just for having an Amex Platinum Card you receive free Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, and National Emerald Club Executive status. It’s super easy to sign-up. You can register for all of these status levels on this page or by calling Amex customer service.

 

11) Sign-up for free Boingo wifi

Boingo gives you access to over a million wifi hotspots around the world, including many airports.

Log-in with your card on this page, and sign-up for the Boingo Preferred Plan, which gets you free wifi around the world.

 

12) Enroll in TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry

Kill two birds with one stone and sign up for Global Entry as it gives you the same benefits as TSA Pre-check. Every fours years you will receive a $100 credit to renew your membership. Simply sign-up here and charge the $100 enrollment fee to your card and it will be reimbursed. If you already have Global Entry, do someone a solid and pay for a friend or family member to enroll, as it will be reimbursed as well.

 

13) Earn 75,000 Bonus Points

Remember, in order to qualify for the75,000 Rewards Points bonus points offer, you must spend $5,000 in three months. This sounds like a lot, but it really isn’t. The goal is to achieve this spending threshold through normal, everyday spending; NOT spending money frivolously on things you don’t need.

To do this, use your AMEX platinum like a debit card to buy everyday items like food, gas, bills, etc and then pay off the balance each month.

You don’t want to leave 75,000 bonus points sitting on the table, but don’t over-extend yourself to get there.

Bottom Line, Down Low

While this may seem a little overwhelming, definitely take the time to set up your card correctly so that you are truly leveraging every benefit this card affords you. It really isn’t that bad if you follow this handy-dandy guide.

If you wish to learn more about how the “Miles” portion of this all works then I encourage you to read The Beginner’s Guide to Airline Miles. It breaks it down almost as well as I would if I were explaining it :-).

If you found this information helpful, please share it on your social media outlet of choice, and subscribe to my email list to receive more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. If there is something that I missed or something that didn’t make sense, please comment below and I’ll get right back to you.

Otherwise, here’s to traveling like a baller with your American Express Platinum.

via GIPHY

You’re Welcome