Everything You Wanted To Know About Authorized User Cards From American Express Platinum

Correction: We incorrectly stated that the gold authorized user cards earn 2x at Restaurants. We have confirmed that they earn at the same rates as the primary Platinum cardholder. I’m reposting this post to make this correction more visible. 

One of the new benefits that the American Express Platinum cards offer is the ability to add complimentary gold authorized user accounts. A lot of people had questions regarding these cards and other authorized user accounts on the American Express Personal Platinum, so let’s get started.

Card Types & Annual Fees

The American Express Personal Platinum card (and it’s variations) allow you to add two different types of authorized cards:

• Gold Cards. These cards have no annual fees attached to them.
• Platinum Cards. Annual fees vary by card type and are as follows:
  • Platinum Card From American Express: First three are $175, each additional cardholder is $175
  • Mercedes Benz Platinum Card from American Express: First three are $175, each additional cardholder is $175
  • The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley: First one free, each additional cardholder is $175
  • The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Goldman Sachs: $175 each
  • Platinum Card from American Express for Ameriprise Financial: $175 each, first three are waived in first year
  • American Express Platinum Card for Schwab: First three are $175, each additional is $175

Card Benefits

Platinum Authorized Users

Platinum authorized users get most of the benefits that the primary cardholder gets. For example:

• Lounge access:
  • Centurion lounge access
  • International American Express lounge access
  • Delta SkyClub lounge access
  • Priority pass select membership
  • Airspace lounge access
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓
• Hidden Benefits
• SPG gold status
• Hilton Honors Gold Status
• Card earns at the same rate as the primary cardholder:
  • 5x points per $1 spent on purchases made with airlines or with American Express Travel
  • 5x points per $1 spent on hotel bookings made directly from the American Express travel website
  • 1x points on all other purchases

You don’t get your own $200 airline incidental credit, but your purchases will count towards the primary cardholders reimbursement. For example, if the primary cardholder makes $200 in eligible travel incidentals and then you make $50 that $50 will not be reimbursed. If they made $150 and you made $50 then a total of $200 will be reimbursed.

Gold Authorized Users

Gold authorized users don’t get the same benefits. They do get the following though:

• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ (yes, each individual authorized user [up to 99 total] get their own credit. Yes, I’ve confirmed this)
• Card earns at same rates as primary cardholder:
  • 5x points per $1 spent on purchases made with airlines or with American Express Travel
  • 5x points per $1 spent on hotel bookings made directly from the American Express travel website
  • 1x points on all other purchases

Our Verdict

Platinum authorized users can be a cheap way to get lounge access if that is what you’re interested in (especially if you can split the $175 fee between three people). Gold card is basically a free way to get access to more American Express sync offers and also give people free Global Entry credits. You might also be interested in our post outlining the Uber $200 credit found here.