The Amex Platinum Card – How To Use the Annual $300 Equinox Credit [2023]

One of the most popular travel credit cards is The Platinum Card^® from American Express. With great perks like airline credits, Uber credits, and access to the famous Amex Centurion Lounges, many travelers swear by having an Amex Platinum card in their wallets.

A little over a year ago, American Express shook things up by adding hundreds of dollars worth of perks to the card, but it also increased the annual fee. Part of those new perks was the addition of new partners, including Equinox, a luxury fitness company. Upon enrollment in the benefit, Amex Platinum cardholders now have up to $300 in statement credits with Equinox that can be used on select Equinox memberships.

While not everyone will be able to maximize this credit, we will show you how to enroll and use it, even if you don’t have an Equinox gym near you.

Let’s take a look at the Amex Equinox credit to see how valuable of an addition it can be to your Amex Platinum card.

How Does the Amex Equinox Credit Work?

Equinox has over 100 clubs across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. With luxurious in-club amenities, personal trainers, and popular group classes, members love this high-end gym … but these fancy gyms come at a price, with monthly memberships ranging from $200 to $500 per month, not including initiation fees!

The good news is, Amex Platinum cardholders have access to up to $300 a year in statement credits when they use their card on the Equinox+ digital fitness app or eligible Equinox club memberships.

Before you go and sign up for Equinox, be sure to enroll in the $300 Equinox credit in your American Express account:

Once you have enrolled, visit the Equinox website and choose the membership that works for you.

Equinox All Access

With multiple Equinox locations in major cities and across the country, an Equinox All-Access membership is a good option for someone who likes to check out different gyms in their hometown or while on the road.

Rates vary based on the location of your home gym, but in New York, for example, an All-Access membership currently costs $290 per month with a 12-month commitment for access to 80 clubs across the U.S.

Destination

If you find yourself visiting Equinox locations while outside of the U.S., the Equinox Destination membership might be a better fit for you. In addition to what is included with the All-Access membership, Destination members have exclusive access to all Equinox Fitness, Destination, and Sports Clubs locations worldwide. E Clubs are not included (yes, there are different levels of Equinox clubs).

Rates vary based on the location of your home gym, but in New York, a Destination membership currently costs $330 per month with a 12-month commitment for access to almost all of the clubs worldwide.

E by Equinox

If you are looking for the best of the best, E by Equinox is for you. In addition to what you will find in the other memberships, E by Equinox members have access to exclusive E Clubs in London and New York as well as Training Studios in New York, Connecticut, and San Francisco. These clubs offer bespoke service, elite personal training sessions, and exclusive amenities in a stunning and intimate setting.

While rates are by request only, we have seen New York members pay $550 per month with a 12-month commitment.

Hot Tip: These 3 Equinox memberships all include complimentary access to the Equinox+ app as part of membership.

Equinox+

If there are no Equinox locations near you, you might be interested in Equinox+, the company’s health and fitness app.

Similar to Peloton, this app is full of remote workouts, live and on-demand fitness classes, and programs from partners like SoulCycle, Pure Yoga, and TB12.

Subscriptions cost $39.99 per month and can be canceled anytime. If you wanted to add the SoulCycle bike, you can finance it for an additional $48.72 per month.

Bottom Line: For cardholders who were already paying Equinox gym memberships, they will now be able to save $300 yearly by paying with their Amex Platinum card. You also have the option of signing up for Equinox+ with a 62.5% discount. 

Securing the Amex Platinum Card

If you can take advantage of all of the perks and credits, the card can be very much worth having, especially with the current welcome bonus offer.

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Final Thoughts

The Amex Platinum card made big news in 2021 when the annual fee increased, but that annual fee hike came with hundreds of dollars worth of new benefits and credits. Will everyone be able to maximize all of those new credits? No. Can you? Absolutely.

Even with the expensive annual fee, the Amex Platinum card continues to be a favorite around here. With credits and perks to use annually and the ability to earn a lot of Membership Rewards points through an awesome welcome bonus and spending bonuses, we think it’s worth a spot in the wallet.

Do the math and see if the Amex Platinum card is a good fit for you.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.