Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
Part of American Express UK Platinum card hub
GUIDE
Amex UK Gold vs Amex UK Platinum: Card Terms Compared
Amex UK Gold vs Amex UK Platinum compares two UK American Express rewards credit cards: the American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card, with a £195 annual fee that is £0 in the first year, and The Platinum Card®, with a £650 annual fee plus Membership Rewards earning, lounge access and worldwide travel insurance. [4] [5]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- The Platinum Card® carries a £650 annual fee; the Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card is listed at £195, reduced to £0 in the first year. [4] [5]
- The Platinum Card® earns 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 spent and 2 points per £1 at American Express Travel Online, and its points never expire. [4]
- Conditions apply to the Platinum extras: dining statement credits of up to £200 a year in the UK and £200 abroad, access to over 1,550 lounges, and worldwide travel insurance for trips up to 90 days. [4]
- Applicants who hold or have held a personal Membership Rewards-enrolled American Express card in the past 24 months are not eligible for a welcome bonus. [4]
How do the annual fees compare?
The headline difference is price. Amex UK lists The Platinum Card® at a £650 annual fee and the Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card at £195, with the first year at £0. [4] [5] From year two, the Gold annual fee is charged automatically on or after the anniversary of the account opening date. [5] On both products the fee is charged once a year, starting on the date of the first statement, unless Amex says otherwise. [5]
| Term | Preferred Rewards Gold | The Platinum Card® |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £195, £0 in year one [5] | £650 [4] [5] |
| Purchase rate | 29.1% p.a. variable [5] | 29.1% p.a. variable [5] |
| Representative APR | 85.8% APR variable [5] | 685.3% APR variable [5] |
| Assumed credit limit | £1,200 [5] | £1,200 [5] |
Representative APR includes both the purchase rate and the annual card fee, so the two cards show very different APRs even though the headline purchase rate is the same. [5] Actual credit limits and interest rates depend on Amex's credit assessment and may differ from the illustrated figures. [5]
How do you earn and use points?
On The Platinum Card®, the cardmember and any supplementary cardmember earn 1 point for every £1 spent, plus 1 additional point for every £1 spent at American Express Travel Online, shown as 2X points on amextravel.co.uk and 1X on other purchases. [4] Amex UK states that Membership Rewards points never expire. [4]
Not all spending earns. Amex UK excludes balance transfers, cash advances, American Express travellers cheque purchases, foreign exchange, fees and interest charges for returned payments, finance charges, late payment and referral charges, and fees including joining, annual and Membership Rewards fees. [4] The wider UK ineligible-spend list for Membership Rewards also covers loading of prepaid cards and amounts later credited back to the account as refunds. [5]
For the Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card, Amex UK publishes a redemption reference rather than a spend rate: 25,000 points is worth up to £125 in gift card redemption. [5] Platinum cardmembers can also earn at least 12,000 bonus points for each friend approved after an invitation, up to 90,000 points a year. [4] Points sit inside the Membership Rewards programme, which is described in the glossary of frequent flyer terms.
What travel benefits does The Platinum Card® add?
Dining credits. Enrolled Platinum cardmembers can receive statement credits of up to £200 a year at UK participating restaurants and a further £200 a year at participating restaurants abroad. [4] Each credit is split £100 from January to June and £100 from July to December. [4] The benefit starts on the date it is saved to the card and ends on 31 December 2026. [4]
Lounge access. The card includes complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across over 140 countries in the American Express Global Lounge Collection®. [4] Entry requires a Priority Pass membership in the cardmember's name, a boarding pass for same-day travel and government-issued ID. [4] The main cardmember and a Platinum supplementary cardmember may each bring one guest at no cost, with any further guests charged to the Platinum card at the prevailing rate. [4]
Hotel and car benefits. With enrolment, Platinum cardmembers receive Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, MeliáRewards Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and ALL Accor Gold status, plus Hertz Gold Plus Rewards benefits including up to 15% off standard rates, up to 25% off Prestige Collection vehicles, one car-class upgrade subject to availability and up to a four-hour grace period when returning the car. [4] The full benefit set for the card is set out on the Amex UK Platinum card profile.
What are the conditions on the Platinum travel insurance?
Amex UK describes worldwide travel insurance on The Platinum Card® as covering the cardmember and supplementary cardmembers, including their partners and dependent children under 25, for trips of up to 90 days. [4] Some insurance benefits apply only where the trip or item was paid for with the card. [4]
Two conditions narrow the cover: Medical Assistance and Expenses cover does not apply at age 70 or above, and pre-existing medical conditions are excluded unless they appear on the Accepted Conditions list. [4] The limits and exclusions that apply are set out in full in the insurance terms, which cardmembers should read before relying on the benefit. [4]
Exceptions and limits
- Dining credits require enrolment, and supplementary cardmembers are not eligible for them. [4] Only the meal charge qualifies — booking fees and deposits paid towards a meal do not — and transactions processed through payment facilitators are excluded. [4]
- Lounge guest policies vary by location, and lounge access may be subject to availability or wait times. [4] Complimentary pre-booking entitlements are 4 for 2025 and 8 per calendar year from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027. [4]
- The first Platinum supplementary card is provided free of charge; a £285 annual fee applies to each additional Platinum supplementary card. [4]
- Applicants who hold or have held any personal Membership Rewards-enrolled American Express card in the past 24 months are not eligible for a welcome bonus — see the guide to Amex UK welcome bonus rules. [4]
- Platinum eligibility requires the applicant to be 18 or over, hold a UK bank or building society account and a permanent UK home address, have no history of bad debt, and earn at least £35,000 a year. [4]
- The Gold card discount is limited to the first year of membership; the £195 fee applies from year two. [5]
Frequently asked questions
Which card has the lower annual fee?
The Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card, at £195 with the first year at £0, against £650 for The Platinum Card®. [4] [5]
Do Membership Rewards points expire on The Platinum Card®?
Amex UK states that Membership Rewards points never expire. [4]
Can a supplementary cardmember use the lounge benefit?
Yes. The main cardmember and a Platinum supplementary cardmember may each bring one guest into Priority Pass lounges at no cost, although guest policies vary by location. [4] Supplementary cardmembers cannot use the dining credits. [4]
What age restrictions apply to the Platinum travel insurance?
Medical Assistance and Expenses cover does not apply at age 70 or above, and pre-existing conditions are excluded unless listed on the Accepted Conditions list. [4]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. It covers two UK consumer cards only: the American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card and The Platinum Card®. It does not cover the UK Business Gold and Business Platinum cards, the British Airways American Express, Cashback, Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy cards, or American Express cards issued outside the UK. [5]
- The Platinum Card® UK card page and benefit terms, checked 18 October 2026
- American Express UK credit card comparison page and footnotes, checked 18 October 2026