How to maximize the elite status benefits from
The Platinum Card from American Express
7 Hotel Elite Statuses | 4 Car Rental Elite Statuses | 1 Cruise Line Elite Status
Here is one of those non-point or miles hacks to consider if you travel at least a few times per year. If you travel a lot, chances are you hold elite status with at least one or more hotel chain frequent guest programs so this may not apply to you. But what if you only travel semi-frequently and can't hit those 25, 50 or more nights required from various programs. Or, maybe you just got hired on with a company and will travel lots in but won't get hotel status until later in the year or next year? Or perhaps your company books the lowest rates for each of your trips and has you with a different brand every time so that you can't hit the requirements in each program for status? Then what do you do? You get yourself The Platinum Card from American Express.
The card has some of the most exceptional benefits of any card in Canada but also comes with a somewhat hefty annual fee of $799. That being said you can easily make use of the $799 with the annual $200 travel credit (use it for one of those hotel stays or for flights etc.), the airport lounge access (see our Guide to Business Class lounge access here) and to tie in with this article, it gives you elite status with three hotel frequent guest programs that can then be extended to other programs that match status. In the end you could hold some level of elite status with a minimum of nine hotel chains, one cruise program and four car rental programs!
To begin with, The Platinum Card from American Express provides the following Elite Status benefits:
- Hilton Honors Gold Elite Status
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star Status
To receive these automatic elite statuses you'll have to log in to your Amex account and register for them. Once registered, these are just some of the benefits you get with each of the above programs:
Hilton Honors Gold Elite Status
Key benefits:
- 80% bonus points on all Hilton stays
- Space available room upgrades
- Daily Food & Beverage Credit (U.S. hotels only) or Continental Breakfast (non-U.S. hotels)
Click here to learn more about Hilton Honors Gold Elite Status on Hilton's site.
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
Key benefits:
- 25% bonus points on all Marriott stays
- Enhanced room upgrades
- 2pm late check out
Click here to learn more about Marriott Gold Elite Status on Marriott's site.
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star Elite Status
Key benefits:
- 25% bonus points on Hertz rentals
- One car class upgrade
- Expedited rental service
Click here to learn more about Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star Status on Hertz's site.
That's it for the three hotel elite and one car elite statuses that come as a benefit with the Platinum Card - but it doesn't stop there.
When you receive your Platinum card, register for all of the above elite offers. Once you have confirmed you have elite status with the above four programs you are then set to take advantage of them sot that you can have elite status with additional programs.
The next step in your journey of garnering elite status via your Platinum Card once you have at least one or more of the statuses in place is to take advantage of status match offers that other hotel, car rental and cruise loyalty programs provide.
Ideally you don't want to go and apply for all of these at once. Apply for them when you know you can utilize the benefits - whether on an ongoing basis or even just a one time use. Some like Best Western will let you keep the status or reapply for status each year while others you have to be more careful like Choice Hotels who will only match once per lifetime.
1. Best Western Rewards Status Match
Best Western has had one of the longer running status match offers and it is very easy to get. Simply put, the Elite Level Status Match No Catch promotion will match your other hotel reward program status with, you guessed it, no catch. The level you get depends on what Best Western thinks the equivalent level is in their program. For example, years ago my Hyatt Platinum status gave me Best Western Diamond status. As of today, I would use the Marriott Gold from the Platinum Card as reports from Statusmatcher.com show most people getting Best Western Diamond Select as their match. As a comparison, Hilton Honors Gold tends to only get you Diamond.
Click here to learn more and to request Best Western's Status Match No Catch .
Here are the benefits of the levels you could be matched to in Best Western Rewards:
2. Wyndham Rewards & Caesars Rewards Status Match
Wyndham Rewards is another hotel chain loyalty program that offers an Elite Status Match. With this one you'll want to use your Marriott Gold or Hilton Gold status as those will give you Diamond status Wyndham Rewards. Wyndham's status match lasts for only 90 days so I wouldn't apply for it until a couple of weeks before you have a planned stay at one of their hotels.
Gold Elite Status Match
If you are matched to Gold status you need to stay 1 qualifying night in 90 days to keep the Gold level.
Platinum Elite Status Match
If you are matched to Platinum status you need to stay 4 qualifying nights in 90 days to keep the Platinum level.
Diamond Elite Status Match
If you are matched to Diamond status you need to stay 10 qualifying nights in 90 days to keep the Diamond level.
Click here to learn more about and apply for the Wyndham Rewards status match
Here are the benefits of the levels you could be matched to:
As you can see you can also get elite status with Caesars Rewards if you have Platinum or Diamond status with Wyndham Rewards, so there you go one more status to add under your belt. Learn more about the Caesars Rewards status match here.
3. Sonesta Hotels Travel Pass Status Match
This small chain with hotels two hotels in Canada and many more in the U.S., South America, Caribbean and Egypt will Elite Status Match to preferred and elite status levels in other hotel programs. Both Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold have been matched to Sonesta's top Elite level.
Click here to learn more about the Sonesta Travel Pass status match
Here are the benefits of the levels you could be matched to:
4. Choice Hotels Privileges Status Match
Choice Privileges is large chain with several hundred hotels in Canada and thousands more Worldwide. After you submit your details including proof of your other status you'll receive an answer within 30 days as to what level they will match you to. Statusmatcher.com shows both Hilton and Marriott Gold members getting Choice Privileges Platinum status.
Click here to learn all about and apply for Choice Privieges' Status Match
Here are the benefits of the levels you could be matched to:
5. WorldHotels Rewards Status Match
WorldHotels counts 10 properties in British Columbia and hundreds more Worldwide. They are owned by Best Western so the status match for WorldHotels Rewards is exactly the same as Best Western's. They even call it the same Status Match No Catch so it is very easy to get. Simply put, the Elite Level Status Match No Catch promotion will match your other hotel reward program status with, you guessed it, no catch. The level you get depends on what WorldHotels thinks the equivalent level is in their program.
Click here to learn all about and apply for WorldHotel's Status Match
Here are the benefits of the levels you could be matched to:
7. Enterprise Plus Status Match
Rental car company Enterprise also has status match program for the Hertz Five Star status you get from the Platinum Card. They will give you Enterprise Gold level status as the match. Enterprise Gold gives you 15% bonus points and two free car upgrades per year
Click here to learn more about the Enterprise Plus status match
8. National Emerald Club Status Match
National provides a status match program not only from other car rental programs but also airline and hotel programs. So you could submit any one of the above statuses to get National to match your status.
Click here to learn more about the National Emerald Club status match
9. Sixt Card Status Match
Sixt Car Rental provides a status match program for those who hold status with Marriott Bonvoy. Since the Platinum Card provides Marriott Gold status you can use that to get Gold Status with the Sixt Card program. Learn more about the Sixt status match here!
10. MSC Cruises Voyagers Club Status Match
MSC Cruises will status match in their Voyagers Club program to most hotel programs. MSC states you should apply no later than 14 days before the start of your cruise.
Click here to learn more about and to apply for MSC Cruise status match.
Its not only you who can get status!
Now what makes the card even better, is that if you add a supplementary Platinum Card ($250) that additional card holder is offered all the same benefits. So your spouse or significant other or even maybe your adult children who still live at home can all get the same elite status offers that are listed above! We've done this in the Rewards Canada household and it makes for great travel for your loved ones when they don't travel with you as they don't have to rely on you for those special status benefits! And for only $250 its a great deal! Not to mention the supplementary cardholder also gets the lounge access and all the other associated benefits with the card.
And that's all she wrote! I know this is a long read but in the long run these steps can ensure your travels are just that much better - even if it is just a little benefit like complimentary water bottles or a big benefit like an upgrade to an ocean view suite! Whatever it is, chances are you wouldn't have received it without these status levels!
Here are the details of the card:
The Platinum Card®
2024 Top Ultra Premium Credit Card in Canada
Earn up to 140,000 Membership Rewards® points - that’s up to $1,400 towards a weekend away. Offer ends Jan 28, 2025
Annual Fee: $799 | Additional Card Fee: $250 for Platinum, $0 for Gold (First 2 Cards) then $50 each
- New Platinum® Cardmembers, earn 100,000 Welcome Bonus points after you charge $10,000 in net purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. Offer ends Jan 28, 2025
- Plus, earn 40,000 points when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership. Offer ends Jan 28, 2025
- Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible dining and food delivery in Canada, 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel, and 1 point for every $1 in all other Card purchases
- Access a $200 Annual Travel Credit through American Express Travel Online or Platinum® Card Travel Service
- Enjoy a $200 Annual Dining Credit at some of Canada’s best restaurants
- Unlock $200 or more in additional value with Member extras. You can earn statement credits for qualifying purchases with participating brands
- Take full advantage of The American Express Global Lounge CollectionTM which unlocks access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide. This includes The Centurion® Lounge network, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience
- Enjoy flexible ways to use your points such as statement credits for any eligible purchase charged to your Card, new travel purchases booked on American Express Travel Online through the Flexible Points Travel Program, and eligible flights through the Fixed Points Travel Program
- Transfer points 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs
- Enjoy complimentary benefits that offer an average value of $600 USD at over 1,500 extraordinary properties worldwide when you book Fine Hotels + Resorts
- Platinum Cardmembers can enjoy access to special events and unique opportunities
- Enjoy premium benefits at the Toronto Pearson Airport
- You will also have access to many leading hotel and car rental companies’ loyalty programs. Our partners include Marriott International, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Hertz and Avis
- Interest applies in accordance with your Cardmember Agreement, Information Box, and Disclosure statement if the total New Balance is not paid by the Payment Due Date each month. All payments must be received by the Payment Due Date shown on the monthly statement
- American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment
- Click here to apply for The Platinum Card from American Express
This feature was first posted on October 18, 2016 and is updated frequently