The Platinum Card® from American Express provides excellent value — and many of these perks don’t have to be limited to the primary cardholder. That’s because you have two options for sharing your refreshed Amex Platinum’s perks with a partner, child, friend or other companion.
Of course, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The Companion Platinum Card comes with no fee (see rates and fees) but fewer benefits, while you’ll pay an additional $195 authorized user fee (see rates and fees) on top of the Amex Platinum’s existing $895 annual fee (see rates and fees) if you go that route.
So, which one is right for you? Let’s compare these two products to help you decide.
Companion Platinum vs. authorized user benefits
| Benefit | Companion Platinum | Authorized user |
|---|---|---|
| Access to Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection programs | No | Yes |
| Amex Offers | Yes | Yes |
| Car rental and hotel elite status | No | Yes |
| Cellphone protection (when you pay your monthly bill with the card) | Yes | Yes |
| Earns Membership Rewards points | Yes | Yes |
| Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit | Yes | Yes |
| Lounge access | No | Yes |
| Platinum Nights by Resy dining experiences | Yes | Yes |
| Travel and shopping protections | Yes | Yes |
| <strong>Additional fee</strong> | <strong>$0<br> </strong> |
<strong>$195</strong> |
Which benefits do neither Companion Platinum Card members nor authorized users receive?
It’s important to note that neither Companion Platinum Card members nor authorized users receive their own individual statement credits except for the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. However, they can help the primary cardmember maximize their credits by spending on the card.
Companion Platinum Card members and authorized users also don’t receive a welcome offer unless they apply for their own Platinum Card as a primary cardmember.
Can you earn bonus points for adding a Companion Platinum Card member or authorized user?
It’s worth checking your Amex Offers to see if you can earn bonus points for adding an authorized user. (You’re unlikely to earn bonus points for adding a Companion Platinum Card.)
For example, TPG contributing credit cards editor Matt Moffitt had an offer to earn 20,000 bonus points after the first authorized user added spent $2,000 on their card within the first six months of card membership.
Related: The 7 credit cards with the greatest value for authorized users
When you should get a Companion Platinum
When considering a Companion Platinum Card, remember it does not include lounge access or elite status, benefits that come with an Amex Platinum authorized user card. If you’re fine without, consider these perks.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit
Primary cardmembers, authorized users and Companion Platinum Card members receive statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees.
You’ll receive a statement credit of up to $120 every four years for Global Entry or up to $85 every 4 1/2 years with TSA PreCheck.
If you are already enrolled in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, you can use this benefit for someone else. Since you don’t have to pay to add a Companion Platinum Card, this provides excellent value.
Earning more points
The primary cardmember earns bonus points on every purchase made by a Companion Platinum Card member. Companion Platinum Cards earn points in the same bonus categories as the Amex Platinum:
- 5 points per dollar spent on airfare purchased directly with the airlines or through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)
- 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
American Express Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each, per TPG’s September 2025 valuations, representing a 10% return on eligible flights and hotels booked through Amex Travel. And if you move your points to one of Amex’s transfer partners, you can unlock incredible travel experiences for your spending.
Related: 7 ways to get 2 cents in value from each Membership Rewards point you redeem
When you should pay for an Amex Platinum authorized user
There are some circumstances where it makes sense to pay the extra $195 and add an authorized user to your Amex Platinum. An authorized user receives all the benefits of the Companion Platinum Card, plus the following perks:
Lounge access
Eligible authorized users receive access* to the American Express Global Lounge Collection — even when they aren’t traveling with the primary cardmember — including:
- American Express Centurion Lounges
- Aspire lounges
- Delta Sky Clubs
- Escape lounges
- Lufthansa lounges (select locations)
- Plaza Premium lounges
- Priority Pass lounges
*Enrollment is required.
**When traveling on same-day Delta Air Lines-operated flights, eligible Platinum Card members will receive 10 visits per eligible Platinum Card, per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go locations, unless they spend $75,000 or more on their card to unlock unlimited visits.
Amex doesn’t allow most Platinum Card members to bring complimentary guests to Centurion Lounges, so adding your traveling companion as an authorized user could be a great idea.
That’s because it normally costs $50 for each adult guest over 18 and $30 for each child between 2 and 17 (children under 2 are still free). An adult would need to visit a Centurion Lounge four times to earn back the value of the $195 authorized user fee.
However, if you spend $75,000 on your Amex Platinum in a calendar year, you can bring two guests into Centurion Lounges.
Car rental and hotel elite status
Authorized users will also receive complimentary Gold status in the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programs, as well as Leaders Club Sterling Status from The Leading Hotels of the World. (Enrollment is required.)
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status benefits include room upgrades and priority late checkout (both subject to availability).
In addition to hotel elite status, Amex Platinum authorized users also receive status with three car rental companies. These include Avis Preferred Plus, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle and National Emerald Club Executive status. (Enrollment is required.)
With National Emerald Club Executive status, you will receive Emerald Aisle access and won’t have to pay secondary driver fees when you rent a car.
Hotel benefits
Authorized users can access American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection, just like the Amex Platinum primary cardmember (minimum two-night stay required for The Hotel Collection).
While they’ll receive the benefits below, they don’t get their own up to $300 biannual hotel statement credit, which is reserved for the primary cardmember only.
Booking through The Hotel Collection provides elitelike benefits to both primary cardmembers and authorized users, including:
- Noon check-in***
- Late checkout***
- Room upgrade upon arrival***
- $100 credit toward eligible charges
***Benefits are subject to availability.
And the Fine Hotels + Resorts program provides all the above benefits, plus:
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Daily breakfast for two
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout
Related: Our favorite American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts properties where you can get elite perks
Which option is right for you?
The Companion Platinum Card allows another person to earn Membership Rewards points on behalf of the primary cardmember and redeem Amex Offers for no additional fee. Examples of who this option is best for include:
- A teenage or college-aged child who wants to build their credit history
- Someone who would benefit from receiving a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit
If you add someone as an authorized user, they’ll receive perks similar to those available to you as the primary cardmember, such as lounge access and elite status — but it comes at a price.
For an authorized user, you’ll have to pay an additional $195 on top of the Amex Platinum‘s $895 annual fee (see rates and fees). You can add up to three authorized users, and they have to be at least 13 years old. So, this option would be best for:
- A partner, parent or close friend who is a frequent traveler
- A travel companion who values lounge access
Related: How to pick the right travel credit card for you
Bottom line
With so many benefits to enjoy, it’s easy to see why you’d want to share your Amex Platinum with someone else.
A Companion Platinum Card is best for teenagers and young adults just starting out to earn Membership Rewards points (for your account), while an authorized user card is a great option for frequent travelers who would better appreciate the card’s travel benefits like lounge access and elite status.
If you’re weighing whether your authorized user should get their own Amex Platinum — and potentially earn their own welcome bonus — we also have a full guide on how to make that decision.
To learn more about the card, read our full review of the American Express Platinum.
Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
