American Express has launched an attractive limited-time offer for 2019: the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card is available free for the first year. Normally this card carries a joining fee of Rs. 3,500 plus GST, but this promotion waives that fee without any restrictive income criteria often seen with corporate or airport-specific deals.
Why it’s a Top Travel Card
The Amex Platinum Travel Card ranks among the best travel credit cards in India for frequent travelers. Its rewards structure and travel benefits make it especially valuable for people who regularly book flights and premium hotel stays.
At roughly a 7% effective reward rate, cardholders can earn up to Rs. 18,000 in American Express domestic travel vouchers and an additional Rs. 10,000 in Taj vouchers annually, based on yearly spends of around Rs. 4 lakh.
I obtained this card in 2016 and have benefited from many memorable experiences, including complimentary stays at Taj properties across India.
- 2016: Taj Santacruz, Mumbai
- 2017: Vivanta by Taj Surya, Coimbatore
- 2018: Taj Fisherman’s Cove, Chennai
Beyond hotel benefits, combining travel vouchers across years helped me save approximately Rs. 40,000 on family airfare for a trip to Delhi and Agra. The card also unlocks periodic spend-based promotions, making higher annual spending even more rewarding.
Earn Money for Applying
Not only is the first-year fee waived, but you can also earn value for applying. Examples of current promotional opportunities include:
- Supplementary card offer: Receive Rs. 2,000 in Amazon vouchers for approved supplementary cards. (Offer valid through 30 June 2019.)
- Referral bonus: Earn 2,000 Membership Rewards points after spending Rs. 5,000 within the first 90 days when you apply via the referral link. Those 2,000 points can be redeemed for travel vouchers valued at about Rs. 1,000.
- Total potential value: Approximately Rs. 3,000 in vouchers and points on top of a waived joining fee.
For someone who can spend around Rs. 4 lakh a year, the card delivers substantial travel-focused returns, making it a compelling option for frequent travelers.
How to Apply
Although American Express may not list this waiver on its primary website or offline materials, the promotion is currently available through a referral channel. The offer appears to be time-limited and could be withdrawn without notice, so interested applicants should act promptly.
Thanks to the blog reader Ramna for spotting this offer.