Why The Platinum Card® by American Express Is Great For Active Duty Military

We are all incredibly thankful to those who serve in our military to protect our freedoms.  American Express is going the extra mile by waiving credit card annual fees for all active duty service members.  That’s why The Platinum Card® from American Express is an excellent option for those who are on active duty in the military.

The Platinum Card® from American Express normally comes with a $695 annual fee, see rates and fees.  Thanks to the fee waiver, active duty military service members can have all of the phenomenal benefits for free! 

Plus, The Platinum Card® from American Express is currently offering new card holders a valuable welcome bonus. bonus_miles_full Terms apply. When you combine the welcome bonus, card benefits and no annual fee, this quickly becomes an easy decision.  Now I’ll show you how easily it is to take advantage of this offer.

How To Qualify

American Express has generously waived the annual fees on their personal credit cards for active duty personnel.  While not required by the the Military Lending Act (MLA) and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), American Express has chosen to go the extra mile for military members.  To qualify for these benefits, you have to be on active duty for at least 30 days with any of the major branches of the military

There are a couple ways to have these benefits applied to your account.  Log into your American Express account, under Account Services, then SCRA, and then submit the required documentation.  You can also submit a request, or ask any additional questions, by calling them at 1-800-253-1720.  You can also call them collect at 1-336-393-1111 if you are out of the country.  American Express will issue you a statement credit for the annual fee within a few weeks after confirming eligibility.

Which Card Should I Get

In my opinion, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (which also waives the annual fee for active duty military) barely edges out the The Platinum Card® from American Express.  Don’t get me wrong, the AMEX Platinum is an excellent card with fantastic benefits.  Especially when you don’t have to pay the annual fee.  It really comes down to which benefits you think you’ll use the most.  I would review the perks and benefits that come with each card and choose the one you value the most.

There’s no rule that says you can’t have both cards in your wallet.  If you decide to get both, be sure to give yourself enough time to earn each welcome bonus.  I would recommend prioritizing the Chase cards you want because of their infamous 5/24 rule.  You don’t want to be declined for a card you like just because you didn’t apply for them in the right order.   Now let’s review a lot of the incredible benefits of the The Platinum Card® from American Express.

American Express Platinum Card Benefits

Centurion Lounge Access – I am a huge fan of the Centurion lounges so this is one of my favorite benefits of the The Platinum Card® from American Express.  There aren’t many of these lounges but if you can find one, they’re fantastic!

Delta Sky Club – The AMEX Platinum card also gives you free access to the Delta Sky Clubs.  Access is restricted only to the cardholder on the day you’re flying on Delta.  If you’re traveling with a companion, up to 2 companions can join you in the club for an additional fee.

Airline Fee Credit – Each year you get up to $200 in statement credits towards fees charged by an airline that you choose.  These credits can be used towards baggage fees, food and other eligible items.  Since you didn’t have to pay the annual fee for this card, that’s just free money!

PreCheck or Global Entry Fee Credit – The Platinum Card® from American Express also comes with an fee credit worth up to $100 on your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application.  Simply pay for the application fee with your Platinum card and a credit will issued to your account.  That’s right, more free money!  If you already PreCheck, you can also use the credit for someone else’s application fee.

Priority Pass Membership – When you have the Sapphire Reserve card you also get a free membership to Priority Pass lounges.  There are over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide you can access for free.  Plus, you are able to bring guests traveling with you into the lounges for free as well.  There are also several airport restaurants that give you a food credit as part of your membership.

Hotel Status – Just for having The Platinum Card® from American Express in your wallet, you’ll get gold status at both Marriott and Hilton.  This perk will make traveling for work a little more enjoyable.

There are several other benefits that accompany this card just for having it.  Be sure to look those over as well when you apply for the card so you can get the most out of using it.

More American Express Cards To Consider

American Express® Gold Card – bonus_miles_full Terms apply. You’ll receive 4x Membership Rewards points on purchases at U.S. supermarkets and dining on the first $25,000 spent each year and then 1x after that.   Plus you’ll earn 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines.

Each month you’ll also receive a $10 credit when you use your card with Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory and other select restaurants. 

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card – This card is great if you enjoy flying with Delta.  bonus_miles_full  Terms apply. This card comes with excellent benefits like a free Sky Club membership and a free companion certificate each anniversary year.

Final Thoughts

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a great option for those who are on active duty in the military.  There are so many fantastic benefits that come with the card.  When you’re not paying the annual fee it should be easy to extract a lot of value from the card.  This deal is so good, be sure to share it will all of your friends who serve alongside you.  Thank you all for your service!

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