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Amex Platinum $200 Airline Fee Credit: Complete 2025 Guide + Eligible Purchases
July 1, 2025
Among the many perks of the American Express Platinum Card®, the $200 Airline Fee Credit remains one of the most useful for frequent flyers. Used correctly, it can offset a range of travel expenses — from checked bags to seat upgrades — making premium travel a little more affordable.
This 2025 guide explains how the credit works, which purchases qualify, and how to get the most out of it. Whether you fly often or just a few times a year, knowing these details ensures you don’t leave any of that $200 unused.
Understanding the Amex Platinum $200 Airline Fee Credit
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The Airline Fee Credit is designed to reimburse you for incidental fees on one selected airline each calendar year — up to $200. It’s not for airfare or tickets, but for the little extras that often sneak up when you travel: baggage charges, seat selection, or in-flight snacks.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Each January, the credit resets, giving you another $200 to use. If you opened your card mid-year, you still receive the full annual amount before it refreshes on January 1.
Essentially, it’s Amex’s way of turning those minor travel expenses into tangible savings — a feature that helps justify the Platinum Card’s premium annual fee (see rates & fees).
Selecting Your Airline
You must choose one qualifying airline for the year before using the credit. Once selected, that airline becomes your designated carrier for all reimbursements through December 31.
How to Choose Your Airline
American Express provides a list of eligible U.S. airlines, including:
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Frontier Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- JetBlue Airways
- Spirit Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
Think about which airline you fly most often or where you’re most likely to incur fees. For instance:
- If you check bags regularly, pick the carrier that charges for them.
- If you prefer specific seat selections, consider airlines with those paid options.
- If you travel with family, focus on one where multiple incidental charges (baggage or pet fees) can add up.
Once confirmed, your choice generally can’t be changed until the next calendar year — so make it carefully.
Step-by-Step: How to Set It Up
- Log into your American Express account online.
- Navigate to Benefits or Membership Benefits.
- Find the section labeled “$200 Airline Fee Credit.”
- Review the list of eligible airlines.
- Select your preferred airline and confirm your choice.
- Look for an email confirmation from Amex verifying your selection.
After this, all qualifying incidental fees from that airline will automatically trigger reimbursements — no manual claims needed.
What the Credit Covers
The Airline Fee Credit is meant for incidental charges, not airfare itself. Understanding this distinction helps you target the right expenses.
Eligible Purchases
These are the types of fees that generally qualify:
- Checked baggage fees — one of the most common uses of the credit.
- Seat selection fees (for preferred seats or extra legroom).
- In-flight food and beverages.
- Airport lounge day passes (for your chosen airline’s own lounges).
- Pet travel fees for animals flying in-cabin or in cargo.
- Overweight or oversized baggage fees.
- Phone booking fees charged directly by the airline.
All qualifying purchases must be billed directly by your selected airline.
What Doesn’t Qualify
Just as important are the exclusions. The credit does not apply to:
- Airline tickets or airfare of any kind.
- Upgrades to higher classes of service.
- Airline gift cards or e-vouchers.
- Mileage or points purchases.
- Duty-free or retail purchases on planes.
- Third-party transactions (for example, Wi-Fi charges billed by a non-airline provider).
When in doubt, ask yourself: “Is this a fee related to my flight, not the ticket itself?” If the answer is yes — and the charge comes from your selected airline — it likely qualifies.
Maximizing the $200 Credit
You can let this benefit quietly offset your travel expenses throughout the year — or use a few smart strategies to make sure you get every dollar back.
1. Plan Around Your Travel Year
Use your credit early if you already have flights booked. Paying baggage or seat fees in January frees you to enjoy the rest of your year’s trips without worrying about expiration.
Remember: the credit operates on a calendar year, not your cardmember anniversary. If you open your card mid-year, you’ll still receive $200 before it resets on January 1.
2. Bundle Fees Strategically
The easiest way to use your credit is by paying for multiple incidental charges at once — for example:
- Checking multiple bags for a family trip.
- Paying for a pet’s in-cabin travel fee.
- Upgrading to extra-legroom seats on a long flight.
These add up quickly, and because each charge posts separately, reimbursements typically arrive automatically within a few weeks.
3. Use the Credit for Lounge Passes
If your chosen airline offers lounge day passes, buying one can be an excellent way to use leftover credit. This gives you a chance to enjoy premium pre-flight amenities while exhausting any unused balance.
4. Combine with Other Travel Perks
The Platinum Card comes with a host of additional travel benefits that pair naturally with the Airline Fee Credit:
- Global Lounge Collection access (including Centurion, Delta Sky Club, and Priority Pass lounges).
- Travel credits and hotel perks through Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection.
- Trip protections and car rental privileges for more seamless travel planning.
Leveraging these together can create a smoother and more rewarding travel experience overall.
Timing and Tracking
When Credits Post
Eligible reimbursements typically appear as statement credits within 2–4 weeks after the charge posts to your account. You’ll see them labeled as “AMEX AIRLINE FEE CREDIT.”
Amex processes these automatically — you don’t need to request them manually — but keep timing in mind around year-end.
- Year-end purchases: If you make a qualifying charge on December 30 and it posts in January, it will count toward the new year’s credit.
- Posting vs. purchase date: The date the charge posts determines the benefit year, not the date you made the purchase.
How to Monitor Your Credit
To see how much of your $200 you’ve used:
- Log into your American Express account.
- Go to Benefits → Airline Fee Credit.
Review:- Your selected airline
- Total used credit
- Remaining balance
- Recent credited transactions
Checking this page after every trip helps confirm reimbursements and keeps your balance clear.
Troubleshooting and Common Scenarios
Even with automated reimbursements, questions can arise. Here’s how to handle them.
A Charge Didn’t Reimburse
If your credit hasn’t appeared after 4 weeks:
- Double-check that the charge came from your selected airline.
- Confirm it was for an eligible fee type.
Make sure it posted during the correct calendar year. - Review your Benefits page to ensure you haven’t exhausted your $200.
If everything checks out, contact American Express customer service. Have the transaction details ready — including date, amount, and merchant description. Representatives can verify eligibility and, if appropriate, manually adjust your account.
You Chose the Wrong Airline
Unfortunately, you generally can’t change your airline mid-year. The selection is locked until January of the next calendar cycle.
If you made a genuine mistake and haven’t used any credit yet, you can contact Amex to ask for a one-time correction — though approval isn’t guaranteed.
You Didn’t Use the Full $200
The credit doesn’t roll over. Any unused portion disappears on December 31, so it’s “use it or lose it.”
If you have a few dollars left late in the year, small in-flight purchases (like snacks or drinks) can help you use the remainder before it resets.
Beyond the $200: Additional Platinum Travel Benefits
The $200 Airline Fee Credit is just one piece of a broader travel suite that defines the Platinum Card’s value. Here are a few complementary perks worth knowing.
1. Lounge Access
- Centurion® Lounges — premium Amex-exclusive spaces with chef-prepared food and craft cocktails.
- Delta Sky Club® access when flying Delta.
- Priority Pass™ Select membership (enrollment required) for access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide.
- Plaza Premium and Escape Lounges for additional coverage.
Together, these options create one of the most comprehensive lounge access programs available on any credit card.
2. Hotel and Resort Privileges
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment required).
- Fine Hotels + Resorts® bookings include daily breakfast, late checkout, room upgrades, and a unique $100 property credit.
- The Hotel Collection offers a $100 experience credit for stays of two nights or more, plus potential upgrades.
These perks make each stay more rewarding, often offsetting the cost of the annual fee when used strategically.
3. Car Rentals and Insurance
- Elite status with select rental programs like Hertz President’s Circle® and Avis Preferred Plus®.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance (secondary coverage).
- No foreign transaction fees, saving you 2–3% when traveling internationally.
The American Express Platinum Card® offers a wide range of statement credits that can easily offset its premium annual fee for frequent travelers and lifestyle enthusiasts. Cardholders can receive up to $600 annually in credits for prepaid bookings through Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection, along with a $200 airline fee credit for incidental charges on a selected airline. Additional perks include up to $209 for CLEAR Plus membership, $300 for lululemon purchases, $155 toward a Walmart+ membership, and $400 in annual dining credits through Resy (enrollment required). You’ll also get monthly Uber Cash and an Uber One membership credit, plus a digital entertainment credit — making the Platinum Card’s value proposition strong for those who maximize its benefits.
Compare Cards With Kudos
When choosing a travel rewards card like the American Express Platinum Card®, it can be tough to know if it’s the best fit for your lifestyle — especially when other premium cards offer similar perks. That’s where Kudos makes things easier. Our Explore Cards tool lets you compare cards side by side, highlighting key differences in rewards, travel credits, lounge access, and annual fees. You can instantly see how the Platinum Card’s $200 Airline Fee Credit stacks up against other top travel cards and which benefits align best with your spending habits.
And with Kudos, you can even test drive a card before you apply — seeing how it would reward your actual travel and everyday purchases based on your real spending patterns.
Instead of guessing which card will give you the most value, Kudos gives you a clear, personalized view that helps you pick the card that truly matches the way you travel, spend, and earn rewards.
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FAQs: Quick Answers
Can I change my airline after choosing it?
Unfortunately, no — once you’ve selected your preferred airline for the year, that choice is locked in until the next calendar cycle. You’ll have the chance to update your selection each January when your annual credit resets. It’s best to choose the airline you fly most often so you can make full use of your $200 credit throughout the year.
Does airfare count toward the $200?
No, the credit doesn’t apply to ticket purchases or upgrades to a higher class of service. It’s designed specifically for incidental fees — like checked baggage, seat assignments, in-flight snacks, or lounge day passes — that add convenience to your trip without being part of the base airfare.
What if I don’t use the full $200?
Any portion of the credit you don’t use by December 31 will simply expire. The benefit doesn’t roll over to the next year, so it’s wise to plan ahead and use it gradually throughout your travel calendar rather than waiting until the last minute.
Can I use the credit for someone else’s fees?
Yes, you can. As long as the eligible fees are charged by your selected airline and paid with your Platinum Card®, the reimbursement will still apply — even if the expense is for a family member or friend’s ticket. It’s a great way to cover baggage or seat fees when you’re traveling together.
How long do reimbursements take?
Most qualifying credits appear automatically within two to four weeks after the eligible charge posts to your account. Occasionally, it may take a bit longer depending on the airline’s billing system, so keep an eye on your statement or the benefits section in your Amex account.
Do I need to submit receipts or file a claim?
No paperwork needed. The process is fully automatic — once your eligible purchase posts to your Platinum Card account, Amex will detect it and apply the reimbursement within the standard timeline. It’s one of the easiest benefits to use, requiring no extra effort beyond paying with your card.
Final Thoughts
The $200 Airline Fee Credit is one of those Platinum Card benefits that can quietly add real value to your travel routine — if you know how to use it.
By selecting the right airline, keeping track of eligible fees, and timing your purchases wisely, you can transform routine travel costs into meaningful savings every single year.
Pair it with other Platinum travel perks — like lounge access, hotel upgrades, and elite status — and it’s easy to see why this card remains one of the most powerful tools for frequent travelers.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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