From Gate Anxiety to Lounge Serenity
I still remember how my travel routine looked before I had the Amex Platinum Card: rushing through security, then camping out at the gate with a lukewarm coffee balancing on my suitcase.
Fast forward to this year, and I hardly recognize that anxious traveler. In January, I took the plunge on the Platinum Card despite its hefty annual fee (about $695).
I’d heard about its long list of travel perks – airport lounge access, hotel elite status, monthly credits – basically a bundle of VIP treatments for travelers. I figured if I was going to travel more for leisure, I might as well do it in style. Little did I know how dramatically it would elevate every trip.
My first class flight with the Platinum Card was a cross-country hop from New York to Los Angeles, and I actually arrived early to the airport – intentionally! Normally, I’m the person scrambling to the gate at the last minute. But with my new card, I had access to the American Express Centurion Lounge, and I wasn’t about to miss out on that.
Strolling into JFK’s Centurion Lounge felt like stepping into an oasis away from the terminal chaos. The sounds of boarding calls and echoing footfalls fell away as a friendly receptionist welcomed me in. I settled into a plush armchair, breathing in the aroma of fresh espresso and enjoying the sight of a full hot breakfast buffet (all complimentary).
There were fluffy eggs, artisan pastries, even a bowl of Greek yogurt with granola and berries that tasted far better than anything in the food court. I kicked back with a cappuccino and a blueberry muffin, watching planes take off through the lounge’s panoramic windows. It was early morning, and instead of feeling bleary-eyed and stressed, I felt… pampered.
Getting to that lounge had been a breeze too. I had enrolled in TSA PreCheck and Global Entry as soon as I got the Platinum Card (the card reimburses the sign-up fees), so the security line was no obstacle.
I walked right through the TSA PreCheck lane without taking off my shoes or unpacking my laptop – a small miracle that saved me at least 20 minutes of hassle. By the time I reached the lounge, I was calm and unhurried, a stark contrast to my past self who would be frantically re-buckling my belt and rushing to find my gate.
When it came time to board, I was actually a little disappointed to leave the lounge’s cocoon. But I had another treat waiting: right before the flight, I used my Platinum Card to pay for an upgrade to an exit-row seat with extra legroom. I knew that the card’s $200 airline fee credit would cover this incidental charge, essentially refunding me later for the cost.
With that reassurance, I indulged in the upgrade. The difference in comfort was noticeable – I could stretch my legs fully, and I felt far less cramped on the six-hour flight. As someone who’s tall, this felt like flying business class compared to my usual coach seat. I leaned back, wrapped in the cozy travel blanket I’d packed, and actually managed to nap en route to LA.
Landing in Los Angeles, I continued to reap the benefits. Instead of hunting for a shuttle or overpaying a taxi, I fired up the Uber app. One perk of the Platinum Card is a monthly rideshare credit – $15 in Uber credits each month (with a bonus $20 in December) – which I had dutifully added to my account.
My Uber ride to Santa Monica was essentially free, paid for by the credits I hadn’t even remembered I had until the app applied them. Cruising down the highway in the back of that car, I smiled knowing my card was quietly picking up the tab.
The Los Angeles trip also gave me my first taste of the Platinum’s hotel perks. I had booked a Hilton by the beach, and thanks to the card I was automatically a Hilton Honors Gold member (enrollment required, but complimentary with the Platinum). At check-in, the front desk agent saw my status and immediately offered me a better room – top floor, ocean view, away from the noisy elevator.
I hadn’t even asked; it was like a little surprise upgrade for being a loyal guest (even if, secretly, I’d only just become loyal via the Amex card!). Each morning, I enjoyed free breakfast in the hotel’s sunny café – omelets, fresh fruit, and strong coffee that tasted even better knowing it was included because of my Gold status.
I remembered past trips where I’d munch a granola bar in my room to save money, or wander out to find the nearest cheap diner. Now I was having a proper breakfast spread every day, on the house. It felt like such a luxury.
On the flight home, the Platinum Card continued to shine. I flew Delta back to New York, which meant I had access to the Delta Sky Club® in LAX’s terminal before my flight. I met up with a friend in the lounge (I was able to bring them as a guest), and we toasted our trip with a couple of complimentary glasses of wine while snacking on cheese and crackers.
The Sky Club had a cool vibe – modern decor, lots of outlets to charge our devices, and a welcome calm compared to the bustling gate area. As I sat there looking out at the sunset over the runway, I realized I had spent almost no time at the gate at all on this trip, and I hadn’t missed it one bit. I used to feel anxious and bored waiting to board; now I felt relaxed, well-fed, and even a little spoiled. For the first time ever, I arrived home from a journey feeling refreshed rather than drained.
Jackpot of Perks in Las Vegas
By mid-year, I was fully convinced that the Platinum Card was my travel MVP. So when my partner and I decided to celebrate a special anniversary with a weekend trip to Las Vegas, I was excited to put even more of the card’s perks to use. Vegas is all about high-rolling and luxury, so it felt fitting to let my new travel lifestyle run wild there.
The experience started at the airport (as it often did now) – we left early for our flight specifically to enjoy the Centurion Lounge before takeoff. My partner, initially skeptical about my “airport lounge obsession,” quickly became a convert after I guest-passed them into the lounge.
We found a cozy loveseat in a corner of the lounge at our home airport, and within minutes a server was offering us made-to-order omelets and fresh fruit smoothies. “Okay, I get it now,” my partner laughed as they savored a chocolate croissant. This beat sitting at a crowded gate by a mile.
The lounge even had a spa water station with cucumbers and lemons, which felt very on-theme for Las Vegas (gotta stay hydrated!). We were in such laid-back mode that we nearly forgot to head to the gate – the lounge announcement gently reminded us that our flight was boarding.
Upon arriving in Las Vegas, the Platinum Card turned our trip into something out of a movie. I had booked our hotel through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR), a program for Platinum members that offers extra benefits at luxury properties.
We chose the Bellagio – famous for its lake of dancing fountains – because, why not go big in Vegas? Thanks to FHR, our stay came with some amazing perks at no extra charge: daily breakfast for two, a $100 resort credit, guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, and even a potential room upgrade. At check-in, we felt like VIPs.
The clerk smiled, “We see you booked through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts – we have a lovely suite upgrade for you, overlooking the fountains.” I could hardly believe it. We went up to our room and walked into a panoramic view of the Strip, with the Eiffel Tower replica and Caesar’s Palace shining below.
The suite was twice the size of a normal room, with a marble bathroom and plush robes waiting in the closet. I glanced at my partner, who was grinning ear to ear. This was beyond any hotel experience we’d had before.
Each morning in Vegas, we indulged in the complimentary breakfast FHR had arranged. We sat on a patio at Bellagio’s café, feasting on eggs benedict and fresh fruit as the desert sun lit up the day. Knowing it was free made the orange juice taste that much sweeter.
One morning, we charged a hearty breakfast to our room (pancakes, bacon, the works) and later saw that $0 balance at checkout because the FHR perk covered it – a small victory that made us feel savvy.
We decided to use the $100 resort credit on a couples’ massage in the Bellagio spa. After wandering through casinos and braving the noisy slot machines, it felt heavenly to retreat to a quiet spa oasis. For an hour we enjoyed hot stone massages, and afterwards we lounged in the spa’s relaxation room sipping cucumber water.
The $100 credit wiped out a good chunk of that spa bill. “This is basically Amex treating us to a massage,” I joked as we floated out of the spa in a blissed-out haze. Typically, I might have hesitated at the spa prices, but with the credit it became an easy, guilt-free decision.
Getting around Vegas was also easier on the wallet. We took Ubers up and down the Strip to see different shows and restaurants, and I used the card’s Uber credits toward each ride. By that point I had accumulated a couple months’ worth of credits (including June and July’s $15 credits), so one of our longer rides to old downtown Vegas was completely covered. It felt a bit like having a chauffeur on Amex’s dime.
And when it came to checking out of the hotel, we weren’t in any rush – that guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout meant we could enjoy the pool and a lazy lunch on our last day, well past the usual noon checkout time. We watched other travelers drag their suitcases out at 11 a.m., while we had hours left to soak up Vegas.
To top off our Vegas getaway, a lovely surprise hit my statement after the trip: the Platinum Card gave me a $200 credit toward the Bellagio booking, thanks to its annual hotel credit for FHR bookings. I had prepaid the stay via Amex Travel, and true to promise, Amex refunded $200 of it.
It was like hitting a small jackpot on our way out of town! We flew home with our hearts full, our bodies relaxed, and our wallet not nearly as light as we’d expected. In the airport before departure, we couldn’t resist one more lounge visit – Las Vegas has a Centurion Lounge too. We relaxed with a light lunch and cappuccinos in the lounge, chatting about our favorite moments of the trip.
It was in that moment I realized how routine this level of comfort had become for us. In just half a year, we had gone from travel amateurs to travel connoisseurs, seeking out every perk. The Platinum Card wasn’t just a credit card anymore; it felt like an old friend, ushering us into VIP experiences wherever we went.
Summer in Paris
By late summer, emboldened by months of smooth travels, I felt ready for a bigger adventure. I booked a trip to Paris, a city I’d daydreamed about for years. This time, I knew my Platinum Card would be like a secret weapon in my travel arsenal, making even international travel feel seamless and luxe.
In preparation, I took advantage of one perk I hadn’t used yet: the biannual Saks Fifth Avenue credit. The Platinum Card gives you up to $100 a year at Saks (split into $50 in the first half and $50 in the second). It was July, so I had a $50 credit available. I popped into Saks and treated myself to a soft cashmere travel wrap I’d been eyeing – perfect for chilly airplane cabins.
Using the $50 credit felt great; it was like Amex was subsidizing my little splurge. I wore that wrap on the plane later, and it doubled as a cozy blanket on the overnight flight to France.
For the flight to Paris, I managed to find a reasonable fare with one stop in London. Leaving from New York, I naturally arrived early at the airport (yes, I’m that person now) to enjoy the JFK Centurion Lounge once more. I remember ordering a café au lait and a croissant in the lounge to get into the Parisian spirit.
It’s funny – airport croissants are usually rubbery and sad, but the lounge’s pastry was flaky and buttery, honestly on par with ones I later had in Paris! As I sat there at the window, watching Air France jets taxi in the morning light, I felt the excitement bubbling up.
The journey itself had become something to savor. In the past, I might have been nervously checking my watch or feeling bored at the gate; now I was calm, caffeinated, and ready for the adventure ahead.
When my flight landed in London for the layover, I got to use another facet of the Platinum’s Global Lounge Collection – the Priority Pass membership. The Platinum Card had enrolled me in Priority Pass Select, which opens the doors to countless independent lounges worldwide. Heathrow was bustling that day, but instead of crowding around the departure screens for two hours, I found a Priority Pass lounge and strolled right in.
It wasn’t a Centurion Lounge, but it was still a quiet haven: comfy chairs, free sandwiches and tea, and even a shower facility. I actually took a quick shower to freshen up after the red-eye flight – a godsend when you’re in transit. I’ll never forget standing under that hot water in the Heathrow lounge, washing away the grogginess, and thinking, Who knew a layover could feel this civilized?
I dried off, changed into a fresh shirt, and felt almost human again before my connecting flight. That lounge experience turned what could have been a dreary layover into a mini rejuvenation session.
Arriving in Paris, I hit the ground running. For the first part of my stay, I had booked the Hilton Paris Opera, wanting to maximize my Hilton Gold status perks in an international setting. The historic hotel lobby, with its gilded ceilings and chandelier, took my breath away – but even more impressive was the welcome I received.
Upon check-in, the staff saw my Hilton Gold status on the reservation and promptly offered me an upgraded room on a higher floor. I ended up with a charming room featuring a small balcony overlooking a Parisian street. Waiting on the desk was a welcome gift of macarons and a handwritten note – touches that I suspect were courtesy of my elite status.
Each morning, I enjoyed the Hilton’s expansive breakfast buffet for free (another Gold perk). Let me tell you, sipping café au lait and nibbling on warm croissants without a charge in the heart of Paris is a wonderful feeling. Normally, I’d be calculating whether I could afford a €20 hotel breakfast, but here it was included just for being a Platinum cardholder (via Hilton Gold).
I met travelers in the lobby who were hunting for affordable breakfast spots, and there I was, totally satisfied and fuelled up for a day of sightseeing at no extra cost. The value of that perk really hit home in an expensive city like Paris.
Midway through the trip, I decided to splurge on a weekend stay at a boutique luxury hotel on the Champs-Élysées, one that was part of the Fine Hotels & Resorts program.
I had saved my Platinum $200 hotel credit for something special, and this was it – the card would reimburse up to $200 on a prepaid FHR booking, which helped make the upscale hotel’s price tag a bit more palatable.
Upon arrival at this hotel, I was treated like royalty. The Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts booking had flagged me as a VIP customer of sorts. They upgraded me to a junior suite with a view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance. We also received a €85 dining credit to use at the hotel’s acclaimed restaurant and, very importantly, a 4 p.m. late checkout guarantee.
The late checkout meant we could savor nearly a whole extra day in the city without worrying about storing luggage or being out by noon. It’s the kind of perk you don’t realize is amazing until you use it – and then you never want to go without it.
That Parisian weekend was pure magic. Using the hotel’s dining credit, we had one of the best meals of our lives in the hotel’s restaurant – a three-course French dinner with escargot, coq au vin, and a decadent chocolate mousse, all covered by our FHR credit. We kept gushing that this felt like a second honeymoon (even though we were just longtime friends traveling together!).
On our last day, after a morning stroll by the Seine, we lingered in our suite until late afternoon, enjoying the terrace and doing some lazy packing, because we could depart at 4 p.m. with no pressure. It was the perfect, unhurried end to our Paris stay.
All too soon, it was time to fly home. Normally, the journey home is something I dread – the fatigue, the long customs lines back in the US – but even here the Platinum Card had my back. Before leaving Paris, I made sure to hit the duty-free and use up the last of my Euros; I knew I’d be able to get through customs quickly on the other side. Indeed, when we landed at Newark Airport, I headed straight for the Global Entry kiosks.
Some fellow passengers from our flight were already groaning at the length of the passport control line, but I breezed past and scanned my passport and fingerprints at the kiosk. Within minutes, I was through – no interrogation, no rummaging for paperwork.
My travel buddy, who didn’t have Global Entry, looked at me in amazement as I waited for them on the other side. “How did you do that so fast?” they asked as we grabbed our bags. I just tapped my Platinum Card, smiling: this little guy got me Global Entry, remember? The card had covered the $100 fee to enroll me in the program, which also gave me TSA PreCheck automatically.
Never has $0 (after reimbursement) delivered such an outsized return in convenience. We were in a taxi heading home while others from our flight were probably still inching through the customs line. As we rode home, tired but happy, I reflected on just how painless the Platinum Card had made even the normally painful parts of travel.
Reflections at Year’s End
Back home after a year of near-constant adventures, I took a step back to reflect on how much my travels had changed. In the span of twelve months, I went from being an economy-class, “wait at the gate” traveler, to someone who arrives early for flights just to enjoy the lounge atmosphere.
The American Express Platinum Card didn’t give me free flights or paid for my hotels outright (I still had to budget for trips), but it fundamentally changed the quality of every travel experience I had.
First, there’s the comfort factor. I used to show up at my destination frazzled and exhausted. Now, I step off planes feeling more composed. Those pre-flight lounge visits – whether a Centurion Lounge in New York or a Priority Pass lounge abroad – mean I’m well-fed, hydrated, and relaxed before I even board.
I’ve traded overpriced airport pizza eaten balancing on my lap for chilled Chardonnay and hot meals in real plates. It’s not an exaggeration to say I’ve started to enjoy time at airports (I know, who am I?!).
Then there’s the cost savings. Yes, the card has a high annual fee, but I made sure to squeeze every bit of value out of it. I got $200 in airline fees reimbursed (from seat upgrades and baggage fees).
I used the full $200 in Uber credits over the year on rides I’d otherwise pay for. I redeemed the $100 in Saks credits on items I truly love – that travel wrap and later some holiday gifts.
The $200 hotel credit effectively gave me a night free in Vegas. And the lounge access – goodness, if I put a dollar value on all the fancy meals and drinks I’ve enjoyed for free, it easily hits the high hundreds.
When I did the math, I saw clearly that the card paid for itself and then some (a fact even financial bloggers note). Not to mention the less tangible savings: free breakfasts at hotels, free Wi-Fi, late check-outs that saved me from booking extra hours or luggage storage, and so on.
Perhaps the biggest change, though, was in my mindset. Travel used to be something I approached with a bit of dread – the stress of planning, the discomforts along the way, the little expenses that nickel-and-dime you at every turn.
The Platinum Card, in a way, gamified travel for me. It became a fun challenge to see which perks I could use on each trip. Going to a new city? I’d check if there was a Fine Hotels & Resorts property I could book for a night to get those perks. Staying at a chain hotel? I knew Hilton or Marriott status (the card gives Gold in both programs) might score me upgrades or free amenities.
Big airport hub or tiny regional airport – either way, I’d find a lounge (and I almost always did). I became the friend among my circle who would say, “Let’s get to the airport early – I have lounge passes.” My friends would joke that I had turned into a travel snob, but when they were sitting next to me in a private lounge, sipping lattes and munching on free cookies, they weren’t complaining!
There were also plenty of little humorous moments. Once, I was flying with a co-worker for a quick weekend getaway. He was used to flying without any status or lounge access. I’ll never forget his face when I waltzed into an airline lounge with him in tow.
He looked around at the buffet and the open bar and said, “This is a thing? We’re allowed in here?” I laughed and said, “I’m allowed, and you’re my guest – just act like you belong.” We still chuckle about how he tried to pocket a banana and a bagel for the flight “because it’s all free!” (I assured him that was perfectly fine to do).
Moments like that – sharing the perks and demystifying them for others – made me appreciate the journey I’d been on from novice traveler to someone who feels at home in airports worldwide.
By the end of the year, I realized I had created a new tradition for myself: travel not just to see new places, but to enjoy the journey at each step. I no longer view a long layover with dread; I see it as a chance to explore an airport lounge or even step out and use my Global Entry on the way back in.
I don’t worry about a checked bag fee ruining my trip budget; I know the Platinum’s credit has it covered. I don’t skip nice meals or experiences while traveling to save money; I often have credits or status perks encouraging me to indulge. In short, I travel smarter, smoother, and in far more comfort than I ever did before.
Looking back on this year of leisure travel, I feel genuinely grateful. Yes, grateful to a credit card – it sounds funny, but it’s true. The Platinum Card turned out to be a kind of all-access pass to a better travel life.
It’s given me stories to tell – like how I had champagne in a lounge at 6am, or how I got upgraded to a suite in Vegas, or how I zipped through customs while everyone else waited – and those stories have become part of the travel memories I cherish.
Travel is about the destination, but I’ve learned that how you get there matters too. By smoothing out the rough edges of every trip, the Platinum Card let the destinations shine even brighter because I wasn’t arriving worn out or frustrated.
Will I ever travel without an Amex Platinum again? I’d rather not! I’ve been thoroughly spoiled by the lounge life and all these perks. In fact, I’ve already renewed the card for next year without hesitation.
As I plan new adventures – maybe an Asian excursion or another cross-country road (or rather, air) trip – I’m excited knowing that my travels will be just as smooth and enriched as this past year.
It’s been a year of living the high life in airports and hotels, and I don’t think I can go back to the old way. The Amex Platinum made travel cheaper for me in many ways, but more importantly it made travel richer – filled with little luxuries, big conveniences, and unforgettable experiences at every turn. And that, to me, is priceless.