Update 1/4/23: There is now a yearly option for Equinox+ (app) membership that is $300 annually. This means you could use your benefit to get that for free. How useful that is will depend on what you think of the app itself. There is also a 7 day trial you can use to decide for yourself. Remember this is only for the app membership, not for physical locations.
Update 11/3/22: American Express has made changes to this benefit. Rather than a $25 monthly credit, it will now be a $300 annual credit starting in 2023. In addition all membership types are now eligible. This should make the credit more usable for most people as you could get six months free of the online membership.
Original Post:
American Express has added a number of new benefits to the Platinum card and increased the annual fee from $550 to $695. One of the new benefits is a $300 Equinox credit. You can receive up to $25 in statement credits per month (for a total of $300 annually) for eligible purchases. Eligible purchases include:
- Select Equinox memberships (All-Access, Destination Access, and E by Equinox access). I think All Access is $275 per month and then for one specific location it’s less, depending on the location
- Stand-alone membership to Equinox+
- Day pass is $50
Unfortunately purchases made on the Equinox online shop are not eligible as per the terms. I think Equinox+ membership is $40 per month, so no freebies there either. I can’t see most Platinum cardholders actually using this benefit at all, unless they already had an Equinox membership. Would have been more interesting if it was an annual credit so it would at least cover in person access for one month. We’ve previously explained the $240 in digital credits here. We still need to know if Equinox allows split tender (e.g using multiple cards for the same transaction).
just did this in Texas, it came out to $320 including taxes. Not sure why for some states there are taxes and for others there aren’t
Used on the Equinox+ app annual membership since I already have access to a different gym. It charged a flat $300 with no taxes (living in NYC) and reimbursed about 1 biz day later. I still haven’t had a chance to use it yet, but my intent is to try their meditation classes.
I’m glad they made it an annual credit.
Will a physical gift card purchase trigger the $300 credit?
Can confirm that a day pass will trigger the credit. Done it a few times now. I guess there are some popular locations that don’t do day passes, but most do. No need to come with an existing member.
not for business platinum card
Actual EQX employee (sales) here:
– You can use multiple cards for the same transaction (must be done in person with a rep in their office on their iPad)
-Check w/ your company if you have a corporate preferred rate w/ EQX. Suburban EQX clubs might offer teacher, student rates where that drop as low as 161.
-non-members can pay a $ 50-day pass. Destination clubs like Hudson yards, and Sports Club, might not allow day pass if it’s a busy season (summer). E-club day pass is also excluded.
-Won’t work on online or in-person Shop
-while it’s a standard 12-month contract, they might let you do it for 3-6 months 1) you’re relocating elsewhere with simple proof 2) medical reasons. We are pretty lenient with this and as long as you’re not an a-hole, we’ll accept them w/o questioning.
can anyone just walk in and buy a day pass? Saw some comments that you have to be with a current member.
Can gift cards be purchased at the membership desk?
Wait, so this Amex Equinox credit actually works for a day pass?
Thank you. This is helpful. Question on the multiple transactions. If I have three Amex plat cards can you pay $300 on each all upfront to prepay several months of dues?
wondering this too, did you ever find out?
Unfortunately my corporate rate is direct bill 🙁 don’t think I can pre-pay that, can I?
@EQXguy – the split tender DP is very helpful. I have a friend who wants to use mine and other people’s unused credits. Can the rep type in card numbers or does it have to be physically swiped when doing split tender?
Is it possible to pre-pay for like 6-12 months by doing this split tender method with multiple cards?
Thank you!
are there any cashback sites to make money on top of this?
I have multiple Platinum cards. I guess I can just join the membership and change the payment card each month? Or it has to be done through that specific link?
wondering this too, did you ever find out if you could prepay?
Would love Peloton or Apple fitness credit, but free yearly is still a great deal, much better than last year!
Equinox+ will still not be free, right? There will still be Tax to pay I assume (?)
Signed up and looks like it’s exactly $300? Will report back after the free trial is up and they charge me.
Did you end up paying tax?
I did. After the 7-day trial ended, I got charged $318 (sales tax is 6% in my state). There was no indication at any point that this would be the total except by logging in to the credit card.
Correct