Why the American Express Credit Card Refresh Matters in 2025: What’s New, What’s Worth It

If you’re researching the American Express credit card, 2025 is a pivotal year. Amex has just rolled out a major refresh for its flagship Platinum Card — both the consumer and business versions — redefining what “premium” means in the credit card world. But with a steep annual fee increase, not everyone will benefit equally. This article breaks down what’s new, who stands to gain, and whether the changes make sense for you.

What’s New with the Amex Platinum Card in 2025

In June 2025, American Express announced “major updates” to its U.S. Consumer and Business Platinum Cards — the most significant refresh the card has seen in years. ir.americanexpress.com This move reflects Amex’s strategy to double down on its high-spending, experience-focused customer base — especially Millennials and Gen Z. ir.americanexpress.com

Annual Fee Has Gone Up — But So Has Value

Starting in late 2025 / early 2026, the Platinum Card’s annual fee will rise from $695 to $895. cnbc.com That’s a nearly 29% increase, but Amex argues that the added perks more than justify the bump. cnbc.com

In return, cardholders now get access to over $3,500 in annual value, according to Amex’s own estimates. ir.americanexpress.com

Key Enhanced Benefits

Here are some of the standout additions in the Platinum refresh:

1. Dining Credit & Resy

   • A $400 annual credit for dining via Resy, Amex’s restaurant reservation platform. Yahoo Finance

   • “Platinum Nights” — special access to premium Resy restaurant reservations in top U.S. cities. tmcnet.com

2. Hotel Credit Boost

   • The Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) credit now goes up to $600 per year (prepaid bookings via Amex Travel), up from $300. mint

   • Access to over 3,100 handpicked luxury hotels with benefits like late checkout, upgrades, and on-property credits. tmcnet.com

3. Lifestyle & Wellness Credits

   • $300 Lululemon credit (apparel / fitness) annually. mint

   • $200 credit for Oura Ring purchases — Amex is clearly leaning into wellness. mint

   • Digital entertainment credit increased: up to $300/year for services like YouTube, Paramount+, and more. Yahoo Finance

   • Uber One credit: $120/year for an auto-renewing membership. mint

4. App & Design Refresh

   • New mirror finish Platinum card design for a more premium “metal-feel” look. AInvest

   • A redesigned Amex mobile app experience exclusively for Platinum cardmembers — streamlined, more premium, and better at tracking all these new benefits. tmcnet.com

5. Airport Lounges

   • Amex still offers access to over 1,550 airport lounges globally, including Centurion Lounges. tmcnet.com

   • In fact, Amex plans to open three new Centurion Lounges soon: Newark, Salt Lake City, and Amsterdam. ir.americanexpress.com

6. Business Card Perks

   • For Business Platinum cardholders: new credits for Dell ($1,150 annually) and Adobe ($250) when spending certain amounts. ir.americanexpress.com

   • For very high spenders: up to $3,600 in statement credits in the following year (after hitting $250,000 in eligible purchases). ir.americanexpress.com

Is the Price Hike Worth It?

That depends heavily on how much you’ll use the perks:

• Frequent Travelers: If you regularly book hotels through Amex Travel, the $600 hotel credit alone could justify the higher fee.

• Foodies & Diners: The $400 Resy credit helps, especially if you dine out at Resy-affiliated restaurants or book premium reservations.

• Wellness-Oriented Users: Credits for Lululemon and Oura Ring are niche but very valuable if you’re already interested in fitness or wellness tech.

• Entertainment Consumers: If you subscribe to streaming or digital services, the $300 entertainment credit can offset costs.

• Business Users: High-spend business clients may find huge value in Dell / Adobe credits plus the potential extra $3,600 in statement credits.

On the flip side, if you don’t make use of these credits (or prefer cashback or low-fee cards), the new $895 fee may be too steep.

Risks & Considerations

• Enrollment Required: Many of these credits (Resy, Lululemon, Oura, hotel) require enrollment, and some have terms/limits. Double-check Amex’s terms. ir.americanexpress.com

• Annual Fee Timing: For existing cardmembers, the new $895 fee takes effect at their next renewal (Dec 2025 for business, Jan 2026 for consumer). mint

• Competitor Pressure: Premium cards from other issuers could be more attractive if you don’t fully use Amex’s lifestyle perks. Some analysts say this is part of a “credit card arms race.” cnbc.com

• Credit Requirements: As a high-end Amex credit card, the Platinum typically requires very good to excellent credit to be approved.

Why This Matters Now

This isn’t just a cosmetic update — it’s a strategic move by American Express to reaffirm its leadership in the premium credit card tier. By significantly increasing benefits, Amex is betting that affluent and experience-driven consumers (especially younger generations) will pay more in annual fees for value that aligns with their lifestyles. ir.americanexpress.com

From a macro perspective, this could push more card issuers to supercharge their own high-end products, which could mean more innovation and better rewards for consumers — assuming you pick the right card for how you spend.

Conclusion

If you’re comparing American Express credit card options, the 2025 Platinum refresh is a big deal. Yes, the $895 annual fee is steep — but if you make use of the dining, hotel, wellness, and entertainment credits, you could easily extract well over $3,000 in value. On the other hand, if your spending patterns don’t align, it could be more cost than benefit.

Ultimately, the key is to run the math: estimate how much of each credit (Resy, hotel, Uber, etc.) you’ll realistically use, and compare that to the fee. For the right user, the new Amex Platinum Card could be one of the most rewarding premium credit cards in 2025.

Best Credit Card of 2025：Top 10 Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus Offers – September 2025

Capital One Credit Card Offers and Rates in November 2025: What You Need to Know