Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.
Choosing between the The Platinum Card from American Express ($895/yr) and the Mastercard® Black Card® ($699/yr) comes down to where you spend most. Both cards can deliver real value. Let’s break it down, then run your numbers to find the winner.
5X on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. Global Lounge Collection access.
Perfect if: You spend enough in bonus categories to easily offset the annual fee.
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2X points on airfare and hotels booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com, 1X on everything else; up to $300 in annual credits ($200 airline + $100 dining), plus a $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every 5 years. Earns 1X points on everything else.
Perfect if: You spend enough in bonus categories to easily offset the annual fee.
Beyond the points: Up to $300 in annual statement credits ($200 airline + $100 dining), plus a $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every 5 years, offset a large share of the $699 fee before any points are counted. Then add Priority Pass Select with unlimited guest visits and 24/7 concierge.
Apply Now| Feature | The Platinum Card from American Express | Luxury Card Mastercard Black Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $895 | $699 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 175,000 points after $12,000 spend in 6 months | None |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% | 0% |
| Base Reward Rate | 1% | 1X points |
| Redemption Value | 1.0¢ per point | 2% redeemed for airfare, 1.5% redeemed for cash back |
| Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above |
5% on flights Earns 5% only on flights booked direct with the airline or on amextravel.com, and on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com. Hotels booked direct, car rentals and cruises earn 1%. |
None |
| Key Benefits | 5X on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. Global Lounge Collection access. | 2X points on airfare and hotels booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com, 1X on everything else; up to $300 in annual credits ($200 airline + $100 dining), plus a $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every 5 years. |
Luxury Card Mastercard Black Card wins on travel, dining, groceries, gas.
The $196/year fee difference means The Platinum Card from American Express needs to earn about that much more in rewards to justify its cost.
The Platinum Card from American Express carries $1,174/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings), while Luxury Card Mastercard Black Card carries $420/year in credits (mostly unlocked by everyday bonus-category spending). Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.
Rewards rates aren’t the whole story here. Lounge access, concierge service, travel protections, and statement credits can be worth more than a fraction of a percent in earn rate. See the key benefits above and weigh them against how you travel and spend.
Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.