(Update 9/3/23: Audible is getting removed from October 2, 2023 and beyond. They added Wall Street Journal instead.)
American Express has just launched a number of new benefits for Platinum cardholders. In this post we will explain the new $240 digital credit. This credit allows cardholders to get up to $20 in statement credits per month when they make purchases with participating partners. You need to enroll in this benefit first (enrollment link here). The participating partners are as follows:
- Peacock
Audible(removed from October 2, 2023, and beyond)- SiriusXM
- The New York Times
- Hulu
- Disney+
- Disney+ bundle (with Hulu and ESPN+)
- ESPN+
- Wall Street Journal (added in August 2023)
You need to allow 6-8 weeks for the credits to post, but it will likely credit much quicker than that.
Peacock
The credit can be used on all Peacock subscriptions (Peacock Premium & Premium Plus). Gift card purchases are specifically excluded.
- Peacock Premium is $4.95 per month
- Peacock Premium Plus is $9.95 per month
Audible
Credit can be used on all Audible subscriptions (Audible Plus & Audible Premium Plus) as well as audiobook purchases. Audible has two membership tiers:
- Plus: $7.95
- Premium Plus: $14.95
More information about Audible can be found here (our affiliate link).
SiriusXM
All purchases made directly with SiriusXM online, telephone or direct mail purchases. It excludes SiriusXM safety, security or Telematics services (Connected Vehicle), SiriusXM for Business subscriptions, SiriusXM ad sales or Pandora. SiriusXM has three different membership tiers (plus a bunch of additional options):
- Streaming: $10.99 per month
- Car + streaming select: $16.99 per month
- Car + streaming all access: $21.99 per month
New York Times
Unfortunately purchases from NYtimes store are excluded, as are gift card purchases. Subscriptions (digital, print, NYT Cooking, and New York Times Game) are all eligible. New York Times digital subscription is $4.25 per week (billed at $17 every four weeks).
Best Uses Of The Credit
The best use of this credit will obviously be if you’re already subscribed to any of these services or would like to subscribe to them. At the moment we don’t know if things like gift card purchases will work, although they are specifically exclude in the terms that doesn’t always mean it’s enforced (although with American Express who knows if they will do a claw back ten years from now).
I can’t see any interesting portal plays at the moment (looks like Mr Rebates has $5 on Peacock), but SiriusXM sometimes has deals where you can get free echo dots and or similar devices when signing up.
I think most people that just want to ‘set & forget’ this credit will end up doing a combination of Peacock and Audible. Obviously some will find SiriusXM and New York Times useful as well. Overall this credit as it currently stands is extremely disappointing, fingers crossed we can find some better uses of it.
I’m guessing WSJ Wine codes differently and wouldn’t trigger?
Darn, I just noticed Peacock hiked its price from 5+4.99 ($9.99) to 6+5.99 ($11.99). Using these benefits is becoming tougher every day. Jordan was right!
I’m considering joining the Coast Guard Reserve to waive the fee
you need to be on active duty or active status for reserve.
One garbage provider replaced with another garbage provider.
Reminder that SiriusXM will give discounts if you call them, usually more than 50% off. No one needs to ever pay full price, thus freeing up the AMEX credit for other things too.
One of the worst card benefit in the history of credit card now gets worse.
That seems a bit harsh. Many of us are able to enjoy the digital credit on Hulu (Disney+/HBO Max), NYT and WSJ every month.
NYT and WS articles are garbage nowadays. only xm radio for me
That’s your opinion, not fact 🙂
Newspapers like NYT and WSJ raise their rates at least 5x after a 1 year promo period. I believe Sirius employs a similar strategy. This card subscription “benefit” is like a $50 wine.com gift card. Sounds like a huge value until you try to redeem it.
I cancelled my NYT twice today nice a yearly promo was up, and both times they offered me 4 bucks a month. Will continue to do so, but I’m cancelling my plat for sure.
My local library provide daily redeem code for NYT and it can be used for unlimited times.
NYC?
Lots of public libraries offer free access to NYT.
$240 still helps offset the annual fee.
Not unless you spend on those stuff anyways.
Reading is a good habit, you know.
I have the grandfathered Disney bundle $16 and Peacock $6 which puts me just over the $20 credit!! I’d just pay for Audible and WSJ separately but thats my best use
WSJ is best used as the $9 option to bundle with all the media channels they have. Its a great deal.
What media channels? I see a bundle for $1.50/week that has Barrons & MarketWatch, but I wouldn’t exactly call those media channels?