As the world reopens, airports are busier than ever, with tons of people jetsetting off on long-awaited holidays (including us!) and even travel fairs are back in full force.
We’re returning to life as we knew it — an exciting technicolour journey brimming with passion, inspiration and opportunities. We’re back to reviving goals that were put on pause and want to achieve them quicker than ever to make up for those lost pandemic years.
While we look towards satisfying our pent-up wanderlust and live to the fullest, it makes sense to get much more out of our spending. Why not up the ante, instead of going through the motions? If there’s anything I’ve learnt during the pandemic, it’s truly: You Only Live Once.
One way is to choose The Platinum Card® by American Express (Amex) that rewards you for your renewed globetrotting lifestyle. The Platinum Card comes with generous travel perks and luxury benefits that not only help you save money but also elevate your travel experience.
Read on to find out how you can upgrade more moments.
Membership benefits
As someone who loves to travel (who doesn’t?), I’m always on the lookout for ways to save money and get the most out of my trips. Being able to redeem an award ticket quickly and easily is a great feeling, and The Platinum Card makes this a reality!
The Platinum Card by Amex has travel and luxury perks that make it one of the best rewards cards in Singapore.
Source: American Express
Let’s take a closer look at each aspect of The Platinum Card Membership benefits.
Sweet travel perks (worth S$2,247)
Travel benefits for The Platinum Card include:
- S$200 Airline Credit every year (Singapore Airlines/Scoot*) with qualifying spends
- S$1,247 worth of global lounge access, spanning more than 1,400 airport lounges across 650 cities
- S$800 worth of Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits (over 1,300 extraordinary properties worldwide)
*Enrolment is required. T&Cs apply. Visit go.amex/myplatinum for more details.
For those who’ve never experienced an airline lounge before, this can really be a lifesaver before, or in the middle of (while transiting) a long-haul flight. I am a self-confessed workaholic, and literally being able to lounge in comfort, put some food in my tummy (and some wine), have free Wi-Fi and charging sockets for my laptop really helps to put my mind at ease — even if it’s just me logging into my email or replying to teammates’ chats to make sure everything’s alright.
By the way, in addition to access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 650 cities, you also have unlimited complimentary access (it’s usually capped at max of 2 visits/visitors per year) to all locations of The Centurion® Lounge and can bring up to two companions each time. I have yet to try it, but I heard the experience is life-changing, with handcrafted food and drinks by award-winning chefs and top mixologists, a luxurious space to rest, relax and work, and even spa amenities.
It’s also nice to see I can gain instant status to higher tiers of leading hotel loyalty programmes at Fine Hotels + Resorts such as the Marriott Bonvoy™ Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status. What this means is that I’ll get hotel privileges such as guaranteed late checkout, breakfast for two and possibly a free room upgrade! It may not seem like much, but the luxury of being able to take your time and sleep in (or trot back later to the hotel after a leisurely walk by the beach after a relaxing hotel brekkie) in your unexpectedly upgraded room really, really rocks.
For example, with an award flight to Hong Kong, you can use the Fine Hotels + Resorts perks on The Platinum Card. Choices include 15 fine establishments such as Conrad Hong Kong, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, Rosewood Hong Kong, The Langham Hong Kong (it’s home to three Michelin-starred restaurant T’ang Court that you can use your US$100 Fine Hotels + Resorts experience credit on), the prestigious award-winning Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, and cardmembers’ favourite The St. Regis Hong Kong (check out the 24-hour personalised butler service).
Bonus: You’ll also earn 5 Membership Rewards® points for every full S$1.60 spent with Singapore Airlines and Scoot (equates to 1.95 miles per S$1).
Get access to the best (worth S$2,496)
Access benefits for The Platinum Card include:
- Access to Tower Club Singapore (worth S$2,100)
- Access to Regional Golf Programme (worth S$396)
This is super cool because Tower Club is one of those super swanky, extremely elite members-only clubs with the creme de la creme of who’s who in the business community…BUT having The Platinum Card in hand means you gain exclusive access to this premier private business club as well.
The Platinum Card ensures access to Tower Club for you and your Supplementary Platinum Members. You’ll get to partake in its elegant dining facilities and ambrosian cuisine, deftly prepared by culinary veterans. Some of the epicurean names: Atlantic Dining, Ba Xian Dining (the panoramic views here are unrivalled as it’s over 60 storeys high, alongside delectable dim sum, half-priced Saturdays and you can even get a S$100 Amex voucher with qualifying spend), Straits Bar, as well as a fitness centre that’s strictly reservation-only.
Did you know that Platinum Members can bring in any number of guests to the Tower Club, subject to the Tower Club’s capacity? This way you can bring in your family or impress a group of friends!
And golfers or golfers-to-be can rejoice, for there’s access to the Regional Golf Programme!
Up your lifestyle (benefits worth S$2,264)
Lifestyle benefits for The Platinum Card include:
- S$400 Love Dining by Platinum*
- S$400 Global Dining Credit (S$200 to be used abroad, S$200 to be used locally)
- S$400 Lifestyle Credit
- S$204 Entertainment Credit
- S$860 Platinum Perks^
*The saving of S$400 is based on a two to dine scenario with four visits a year as assumption with average spend of S$200 each visit at a participating Loving Dining @ Restaurant or Hotel. Actual saving potential varies based on usage of benefit.
^ The calculation of S$860 is based on 2022 membership voucher pack with S$400 dining and S$460 Spa voucher. Hotel stay voucher is excluded from calculation as actual value will vary based on property, room rate, upgrade availability, and use of benefits.
Take heart, the Global Dining credits can be used overseas as well, such as when you’re on your Hong Kong trip.
Over in Hong Kong, fine dining establishments on my to-eat list include the new Amber at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental with its French flair, the award-winning Mott 32 (now with an outpost at Marina Bay Sands) and Xin Rong Ji with its one Michelin starred Taizhou Chinese cuisine.
Back home in +65, some of the restos I head to on special occasions are on the list, such as Basilico (awesome Sunday brunch btw), JAAN by Kirk Westaway (2 Michelin stars, FYI), and Odette (3 Michelin stars, helmed by Chef Julien Royer, who also mentored Chef Westaway).
There’s also up to 50% savings at selected restaurants (with 2 pax dining) in some of the best luxury hotels in Singapore such as Fairmont Singapore, Swissôtel The Stamford Singapore and The St. Regis Singapore with Love Dining @ Hotels by Platinum. Knowing how much food costs these days, it’s a great trump card to use to your advantage during special occasions and celebrations!
Did you know you can also stack this with your Amex S$200 local dining credit? This means a total value of S$400 when stacked!
You can also get up to 50% savings at selected hotels and restaurants such as Marriott, The St. Regis, and W Singapore among others. Meanwhile, the S$204 Entertainment Credit can be used from streaming to reading and live events, with up to S$17 every month to spend at over 10 popular entertainment brands.
Pamper yourself and get perks!With The Platinum Card, your me-time takes a front row seat as you have S$400 credits back each year with a minimum spend at Adeva Spa, Spa Rael, The Ultimate Spa or Grand Cru Wine Concierge, so you can dine, shop, be entertained, be pampered and repeat to live your best luxurious life. Drivers can also get complimentary weekend parking at Great World City and enjoy a S$150 complimentary fashion credit with NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER — Platinum style. |
Membership Rewards (worth S$1,000)
Last but definitely not the least are the Membership Rewards® that are worth up to S$1,000.
The Platinum Card members can earn a total of 20 Membership Rewards® points for every full S$1.60 spent with 10Xcelerator by Membership Rewards®. Some of the partners include 1-Group: The Alkaff Mansion that’s perched atop Telok Blangah Hill — a fantastic venue for weddings, events and of course, the good food.
Other partners fall in various categories such as beauty and cosmetics (Maison 21G), fashion and accessories (Fred Perry, Moschino, RABEANCO, etc), dine and wine (Parkroyal Collection Pickering, Venchi, Grand Cru, etc), 1-Group establishments such as Bee’s Knees and Wildseed Cafe, home and lifestyle (Leica, Miele, Mazda, Samsonite, etc), and watches and jewellery (IWC, The Hour Glass, Montblanc, Tag Heuer, etc).
- Earn 2 Membership Rewards® points for every S$1.60 spent.
- All Membership Rewards points never expire.
Note: There’s a cap on the 10Xcelerator points — earn 20 points per S$1.60 for the first eligible S$16k spent at 10X partners. Refer to here and here for full details. However, there is NO CAP on earning the usual Membership Rewards® points. And to stack with any welcome offers such as the ongoing S$15,000 spend-for-spend offer, the spend must be on eligible 10Xcelerator partners.
Time to upgrade more moments
With borders open, it’s time to explore enticing cities with your The Platinum Card by Amex.
Pair this up with the various card benefits such as for the lounge, hotels, dining… and that’s your whole trip planned and covered! We’ll even summarise it for you so you can go off to plan your itinerary now!
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Check out The Platinum Card by Amex to upgrade more moments. Bon voyage!
This post was written in collaboration with American Express. While we are financially compensated by them, we nonetheless strive to maintain our editorial integrity and review products with the same objective lens. We are committed to providing the best information in order for you to make personal financial decisions with confidence. You can view our Editorial Guidelines here.