Amex Platinum Hotel Credit 2025 : American Express is gearing up for one of its biggest premium credit card updates in years. A recently surfaced leak suggests that The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® will soon offer a $600 annual Fine Hotels + Resorts® credit—triple the current benefit for personal Platinum cardholders and brand new for business customers.
This potential change, expected to take effect on September 18, 2025, signals Amex’s effort to stay ahead of premium travel card rivals like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Citi Prestige® (currently not open to new applicants).
What We Know About the New Amex Platinum Hotel Credit
The update was first spotted by a Reddit user who noticed revised terms on the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) booking page before they were quickly removed. The terms described a $600 annual credit, split into two $300 semi-annual payments, available to both Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders.
Currently:
- Personal Platinum: $200 annual credit for FHR and The Hotel Collection bookings (two-night minimum applies).
- Business Platinum: No FHR benefit—only up to $200 in Hilton credits, split quarterly into $50 increments.
If implemented, this change would:
- Triple the value for personal Platinum cardholders.
- Introduce a premium hotel benefit for Business Platinum customers for the first time.
Why This Matters: The Chase Sapphire Reserve Effect
The timing of this update isn’t accidental. Just months ago, Chase relaunched its Sapphire Reserve®, introducing a $500 annual hotel credit ($250 semi-annually) for bookings through The Edit by Chase Travel℠—a direct competitor to Amex’s FHR program.
Amex would win the game of offering the best premium travel rewards by not only taking the lead again with its Platinum hotel credit at $600. The relocation emphasizes how the premium credit cards keep outdoing one another with greater credits and benefits, despite the increasing annual charges.
Rumored Changes Beyond the Hotel Credit
While American Express hasn’t officially confirmed details, industry chatter and prior trends point to a larger refresh:
- Annual Fee Hike: The Platinum Card’s annual fee is rumored to increase from $695 to $895 (see rates & fees).
- New Lifestyle Credits: Likely additions include dining perks at U.S. Resy restaurants, similar to benefits already offered on the Amex Gold Card and Delta co-branded cards.
- Entertainment Benefits: With Chase and Citi recently adding credits for concerts and live events, Amex could introduce comparable perks to appeal to lifestyle-focused consumers.
- Perk Restructuring: Some long-standing credits may be reduced or replaced to make room for these new offerings.
The September 18, 2025 Launch Date: Why It Tracks
The leaked hotel credit terms list September 18, 2025 as the start date—likely the official relaunch for both Platinum cards.
This is the timing that coincides with another main change, which Amex already informed about previously namely that the Business Platinum 35% on flight booking is to be restricted to only one selected airline coming early in the same day. As a whole, this direction is an indicator of the synchronized release of the new Platinum lineup.
What It Means for Cardholders
If the leaked information holds true, cardholders can expect:
- More lucrative hotel credits—particularly beneficial for frequent travelers and small business owners.
- Higher annual fees, requiring careful evaluation of whether the perks justify the cost.
- Competitive new perks designed to keep Amex Platinum ahead of Chase Sapphire Reserve and Citi Prestige.
Considering the undecided consumers, it is a good chance to apply to the Platinum Card now before it is refreshed and being able to enjoy the current benefits during a period of possible double-dipping.
Bottom Line
An Amex webpage leak strongly indicates that both Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders, effective September 18, 2025, will get a $600 annual Fine Hotels + Resorts credit, split into two, $300 installments.
Combined with the predicted rise in an annual fee to $895 and new lifestyle and travel credits, the update would become one of the major Platinum Card upgrades in recent years.
With a more competitive environment among high-end travel cards, the customers feel that American Express is gearing to regain the leads in terms of richer benefits, although at a premium price. We think the new additions may make the Platinum Card as generous as it has ever been to frequent travelers.
Braj Verma is a resident of Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh and is a content writer and freelancer by profession. He has a degree in Political Science from Barkatullah University, Bhopal. He has expertise in subjects like credit cards, banking, loan, insurance, political analysis and digital marketing.