It’s a bit of an open secret on military bases: active duty service members can get American Express Platinum Card® without paying the annual fee. This is one of the most coveted credit cards of all, offering some of the most remarkable benefits of any travel rewards card on the market (American Express says it's over $1,000 in free perks per year!). However, those perks come with a hefty price tag of $895 (See Rates and Fees) for most people, active duty military members may be able to have SCRA or MLA benefits applied to their accounts.
We are going to show you exactly how and why this card in particular is so beneficial for active-duty military members.
Let’s take a deeper look.
Why the American Express Platinum Card® Is One of the Best Credit Cards for Military Members in 2024
The value of American Express Platinum Card® lies within its heavily stacked travel rewards. Military personnel are frequent travelers, so applying for this card is a no-brainer.
Benefits include:
- As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- $200 annual incidental fee credit on selected airline*
- 5 Membership Rewards points earned per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel(R) or directly from the airlines (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
- Access to the Global Lounge Collection*
- Many additional credits and benefits available, so check them all out
- $895 annual fee
- Terms Apply
* Enrollment is required for select benefits
An Important Note to Keep In Mind
Be sure to keep on top of your Amex Platinum credit card payments. First, this ensures that you stay current on your bill if you are busy or deployed overseas. Secondly, considering the high credit score necessary to obtain the Amex Platinum Card, you are already credit conscious and want to make sure to preserve your excellent credit history. So, set up automatic payments to make sure you are at least making the minimum payment on time (though we highly recommend you pay on time and in full every month).
Why the Amex Platinum Card is a Great Deal for Active Duty Military Members
The annual fee for the American Express Platinum card members may be eligible for relief for active duty service members due to the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA) or the Military Lending Act (MLA). Both of these laws provide a variety or protections and benefits to our brave service members which helps alleviate some pressure at home.
Who Is Eligible?
- Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard active members.
- National Guard members on active duty longer than a month during an emergency.
- Anyone called up for active duty (Reserves, National Guard and Air National Guard).
- Any United States citizen actively serving with any ally of the United States.
- Public Health Service Commissioned Officers.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officers.
In addition: dependents of any of the above branches/organizations are also eligible for benefits under MLA.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to apply for SCRA or MLA benefits if I am active-duty military:
You can apply for benefits in one of four ways.
- Fill out the application for active-duty military online. Note: you must login to the American Express system when visiting this link.
- Call (800) 253-1720. Please keep in mind that this is a longer process and may delay an answer.
- Fax the proper requested documentation to (623) 444-3000. This is the direct fax number to the active duty status compliance department at American Express, so rest assured it will find its way into the right hands.
- Mail the proper requested documentation to:
American Express
Attn: Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
PO Box 981535
El Paso, TX 79998-1535
Are veterans eligible?
Neither the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA) or the Military Lending Act (MLA) were drafted to provide benefits to veterans.
Are active duty automatically eligible for the Amex Platinum card?
You should be aware that you'll need solid credit in order to receive the card. The average credit score for approval is around 715-720, but some recipients have said that they received one in the 600 range.
The Bottom Line
Far and away, American Express Platinum Card® is the best credit card choice for our active duty servicemen and women. No other card comes close to our recommendations for all the positives this card has with little to no downside of the annual fee. With tremendous rewards for traveling, luxurious lounges to hang out in while everyone is waiting in stuffy terminals, and so many other benefits we can’t keep counting - it’s definitely the one to have in your wallet.