One of the most valuable travel benefits in the American Express Platinum® Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express It’s hotel statement credit, a benefit that can make luxury stays much more affordable.
Cardholders receive up to $600 in hotel statement credits each calendar year (up to $300 every two years) for prepaid reservations with Fine Hotels + Resorts either The hotel collection properties through American Express® Travel. (THC requires a two-night minimum stay.)
Platinum’s hotel credit increased in the latest card updatewhile the credit was added to Business Platinum as a new benefit.
Let’s see how to maximize this benefit.
What is the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum prepaid hotel credit?
Platinum and Business Platinum Cardholders receive up to $600 in statement credits each calendar year when they make reservations through Amex FHR or THC.
The benefit is obtained as a statement credit of up to $300 every six months, one from January to June and the other from July to December.
Amex FHR offers truly elite benefits when you book at over 3,100 luxury properties around the world, including:
- Complimentary daily breakfast for two
- Free Wi-Fi
- Guaranteed late checkout at 4:00 pm
- Registration at noon*
- Room upgrade upon arrival*
- A $100 experience credit, unique to each property
Booking with THC also provides solid benefits (although not as many as FHR):
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- Registration at noon*
- Late departure*
- Room upgrade upon arrival*
- A $100 credit toward eligible charges such as food, beverages and spa treatments.
*Subject to availability
Note that you must book a stay of at least two nights with THC, while FHR has no minimum stay requirements.
Not all hotels are eligible for prepaid hotel credit. Your hotel must be booked with Amex Travel and specifically part of FHR or THC for the credit to be activated.
How to use Amex Platinum and Business Platinum prepaid hotel credit
Unlike others Platinum either Business Platinum credits, you do not need to register for prepaid hotel credit before using it.
To get started, you can go to Amex Travel directly to search for a hotel or navigate to the FHR and THC Home Page.
When searching the general Amex Travel site, you can filter hotels based on their program affiliation such as FHR and THC properties.
Then, go through the booking process as you normally would and use your card to pay for your reservation.
American Express states that it can take up to 90 days for your statement credit to post, but it usually only takes three days on average. In my experience, a recent FHR reservation was credited to my card within one day.
How to Maximize Amex Platinum and Business Platinum Hotel Credit
To make the most of your credit, start by browsing FHR Properties That Are Competitively Priced. Here, your credit can be stretched even further thanks to competitive nightly rates and generous on-property benefits, both of which can enhance your stay without additional out-of-pocket costs.
Also, be aware of limited time promotions. Sometimes these deals can include an extra night when you book a minimum stay, effectively lowering your nightly rate.
For example, TPG credit card contributing editor. Matt Moffitt I recently booked a three-night stay at the InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest in Romania and only paid for two nights because the third night was free. Their total stay was $441, meaning their out-of-pocket cost was only $141 (taking credit into account).
And you don’t have to use all $300 of your hotel credit on a single reservation. The credit is issued twice a year and you can apply it to multiple reservations if you prefer. This flexibility means you could, for example, use some of the credit on a shorter stay at a lower-priced FHR or THC property and then apply the rest to another booking later in the same six-month period.
However, because many participating hotels have higher prices, combining the credit with a promotion like a free night offer is often the most effective way to maximize the value of your credit.
Related: I rarely stay at major hotel chains; This is how I maximize my reward trips anyway
Key considerations
Maximizing this credit goes beyond simply finding the right hotel — it’s also about understanding the fine print around cancellations, elite benefits, and who can actually use the credit.
Changes and cancellations
Please note that credits on your account statement Amex Platinum either Amex Business Platinum may not be received or may be reversed if the the reservation is canceled or modified. If you need to change the dates of your reservation, it is good practice to call Amex Travel to see if you are eligible to do so.
If the reservation is canceled, Amex may have recovered your hotel credit, even if you receive a refund. You may not receive another credit until the next six-month cycle.
Elite Status Benefits
As mentioned above, bookings through FHR and THC come with their own set of benefits. So, whether or not you will receive benefits for being a elite status member with a brand like hilton either Marriott It depends on where you stay.
Some properties will continue to provide you with loyalty benefits, but not all do. Matt’s experience has been positive, with his two most recent stays at THC (in a Hilton property in Porto, Portugaland a IHG Hotel in Madrid, Spain) honoring their elite status.
Authorized users
Lastly, please note that Platinum and Business Platinum authorized users do not receive their own hotel credit. However, the benefit can be divided among all cards in the account.
Related: A Comparison of Credit Card Issuers’ Luxury Hotel Programs
In a nutshell
The prepaid hotel credit in the American Express Platinum and Business Platinum It is one of the most valuable benefits of each card.
If you can fully utilize the credit (or even get close), you’re already getting excellent value from your card. Properties bookable through the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program and The Hotel Collection are highly rated premium properties that offer elevated stays thanks to your card benefits.
Combining this credit with an FHR or THC promotion can turn a stay at a premium hotel into an exceptional deal.
For more information, read our full reviews of the American Express Platinum and Business Platinum.
Apply here: American Express Platinum
Apply here: American Express Business Platinum
