Amex Platinum vs Platinum Card for Morgan Stanley

Every figure below is from the same dataset Miles computes its recommendations from. Rows the two cards agree on are collapsed at the bottom.

Amex Platinum

American Express

Platinum Card for Morgan Stanley

American Express

Economics

Ongoing annual value

$1,946

$198/yr more

$1,748

Net value (value − fee)

$1,051

$198/yr more

$853

First-year value estimate

$2,511

$1,425/yr more

$1,086

Authorized user fee

$195, but $0 companion cards are available with reduced benefits

First authorized user is FREE, $195 for each additional authorized user

Sign-up Bonus

Current offer

As high as 175K points after $12K spend in the first 6 months

80K after $12K spend within first 6 months

Earning

Flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel

5X7.5%

—

Flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500K/year)

—

5X7.5%

Percentages are the return on a dollar spent: the multiplier times what Miles values those points at. Categories only one card earns a bonus on are marked for that card; the other earns its base rate.

Benefits

Statement credits

CLEAR Plus: $219 (Annual Calendar Year)
Equinox: $300 (Annual Calendar Year)
SoulCycle At-Home Bike: $300 (One Time)
Digital Entertainment: $25 (Monthly)
The Hotel Collection: $300 (Semi Annual Calendar Year)
Uber Cash: $15 (Monthly)
Walmart+: $13 (Monthly)
Airline Fees: $200 (Annual Calendar Year)
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: $120 (Every 4 Years)
Resy Dining: $100 (Quarterly Calendar Year)
Uber One: $120 (Annual Calendar Year)
lululemon: $75 (Quarterly Calendar Year)
Oura: $200 (Annual Calendar Year)

CLEAR Plus: $219 (Annual Calendar Year)
SoulCycle At-Home Bike: $300 (One Time)
The Hotel Collection: $300 (Semi Annual Calendar Year)
Uber Cash: $15 (Monthly)
Walmart+: $12 (Monthly)
Airline Fees: $200 (Annual Calendar Year)
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: $120 (Every 4 Years)
Resy Dining: $100 (Quarterly Calendar Year)
Uber One: $120 (Annual Calendar Year)
lululemon: $75 (Quarterly Calendar Year)
Oura: $200 (Annual Calendar Year)
Equinox: $300 (Annual Calendar Year)

Lounge access

American Express Centurion Lounge (unlimited)
Priority Pass Select (unlimited)
Delta Sky Club (10/yr)
Plaza Premium Lounge (unlimited)
Airspace Lounge (unlimited)
Escape Lounge (unlimited)
Lufthansa Business Lounge (unlimited)
Lufthansa Senator Lounge (unlimited)

American Express Centurion Lounge (unlimited)
Priority Pass Select (unlimited)
Delta Sky Club (10/yr)
Plaza Premium Lounge (unlimited)
Airspace Lounge (unlimited)
Escape Lounge (unlimited)
Lufthansa Business Lounge (unlimited)
Lufthansa Senator Lounge (unlimited)

Elite status

Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Hilton Honors Gold
LHW Leaders Club Sterling
Avis Preferred Preferred Plus
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle
National Emerald Club Executive

Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Hilton Honors Gold
LHW Leaders Club Sterling
Avis Preferred Preferred Plus
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle
National Emerald Club Executive

Protections

The same on both cards (8)

Annual fee

$895

Foreign transaction fee

None

Issuer

American Express

Rewards currency

American Express Membership Rewards

Card type

Personal

Network

American Express

All other purchases

1X1.5%

Prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel

5X7.5%

Which one is right for you

This page shows the difference. It does not pick: the winner depends on what you spend and what you already hold, and adding these figures up without knowing that would be a guess dressed as a verdict. Ask Miles and it computes the answer against your own wallet.

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