Possible American Express Card Updates on the Horizon
In June, American Express shared plans to refresh both the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cards this fall. However, details were pretty sparse, with no specific benefits or timelines mentioned, just an indication that changes would be coming in the next few months.
Recently, we learned about at least one anticipated update—an enhancement that could significantly benefit cardholders.
A Reddit user noted that new terms regarding Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts® (FHR) were appearing on the reservation page. This pertains to the Amex Platinum’s $600 annual credit, which is typically divided into two semi-annual $300 segments. Importantly, this credit is set to take effect starting September 18, 2025—suggesting that this might coincide with a broader update of the cards.
This information quickly vanished from the Amex site but not before being noticed by keen observers.
Does this hint at what’s next? What about the benefits for a Platinum cardholder who currently enjoys a threefold hotel credit? Will small business owners receive the same advantages?
American Express has yet to clarify any specifics regarding the anticipated changes. Still, it seems that a comprehensive update is in the works.
Currently, the Amex Platinum card offers a $200 annual hotel credit through FHR and allows for hotel collection bookings for two-night stays. While these benefits aren’t groundbreaking, they do surpass what’s currently available, particularly for business users.
In contrast, the Business Platinum Card lacks these hotel perks, offering instead up to $200 per year in statement credits specifically for Hilton hotel bookings, divided into quarterly increments of $50.
If these rumored enhancements come to fruition, they wouldn’t come as a shock. Just earlier this summer, Chase introduced a “Refresh” for its Chase Sapphire Reserve, featuring a new credit of up to $500 annually ($250 every six months) for hotel bookings through Chase Travel. It’s not surprising for Amex to respond with something similarly compelling.
If the September date holds, it seems logical for Amex to refresh both cards around that time. They had previously updated the Business Platinum card to include a 35% rebate on points used for booking business or first class flights—a change that has generated interest.
Beyond the leaked hotel credits, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the new offerings tied to the Platinum Card. There are whispers that the annual fee may jump to $895, signaling that some changes could be significant.
Given Amex’s typical moves, it’s likely they’ll introduce a number of new lifestyle and travel credits. In addition to boosted hotel credits, it wouldn’t be surprising to see dining credits added, similar to those on the Amex Gold card, along with new benefits aligned with their co-branded Delta cards.
As Chase and Citi have recently rolled out credits for concerts and live events with each of their top offerings, Amex will likely explore similar opportunities while possibly removing credits from older partnerships.
Conclusion
The leaked information suggests that significant changes could roll out on September 18, 2025, including the introduction of the new $600 annual Fine Hotel + Resort Credit for both Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders. This would mark a fresh enhancement for the business card while retaining the existing benefit for personal cardholders.
This update could include a variety of new perks, likely alongside a rumored fee increase to $895, as Amex aims to stay competitive with Chase and Citi in the premium credit card space.
