IHG One Rewards Premier vs Amex Platinum: Which Is Better In 2025?

American Express Platinum Card® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why the American Express Platinum Card® (See Rates & Fees) is a perennial favorite for luxury travelers.

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• Its travel benefits are top-tier, offering extensive airport lounge access and automatic elite status with major hotel loyalty programs.
• The card provides a suite of annual statement credits for travel, entertainment, and retail that can deliver substantial value.
• Cardmembers receive access to exclusive booking programs and dining reservations, unlocking premium travel and lifestyle experiences.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Pros

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• Extensive airport lounge access through the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes the coveted Centurion Lounges.
• A valuable collection of annual statement credits for travel, entertainment, and retail purchases.
• Complimentary elite status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, plus access to exclusive benefits through programs like Fine Hotels + Resorts.

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Cons

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• Its high annual fee requires cardholders to maximize the card’s benefits to justify the cost.
• Bonus rewards are heavily focused on travel, with limited earning potential on most everyday spending.
• Many of the card’s statement credits and benefits require manual enrollment, making them cumbersome to track and use.

American Express Platinum Card® vs IHG One Rewards Premier

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Categories

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When deciding which is better, IHG One Rewards Premier or Amex Platinum, it's crucial to understand that each card caters to a different type of traveler. The best choice depends entirely on your travel style and brand loyalty.

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• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is built for frequent travelers who regularly stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. It is an excellent choice for those seeking to maximize hotel-specific rewards and enjoy elite status benefits within the IHG family of brands.
• American Express Platinum Card® is the gold standard for frequent travelers who value luxury perks and exclusive benefits across various brands. This card is best for those who will take advantage of premium experiences like comprehensive airport lounge access and elite status with multiple hotel partners.

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Redemption

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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Points earned with this card are most valuable when redeemed for stays across IHG's extensive portfolio of hotels and resorts, making it ideal for travelers loyal to the brand.

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American Express Platinum Card®: This card offers exceptional flexibility, allowing you to transfer points to a wide array of airline and hotel loyalty programs or redeem them for travel booked directly through American Express.

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Travel Perks

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• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: This card's ecosystem is tightly integrated with IHG Hotels & Resorts. It does not charge foreign transaction fees, making it a good companion for international travel. While it doesn't offer broad airport lounge access, it does provide a statement credit for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee. The primary travel benefits are hotel-centric, including an annual anniversary night and automatic IHG Platinum Elite status.
• American Express Platinum Card®: This card provides a comprehensive luxury travel ecosystem. It features no foreign transaction fees (Terms Apply). Cardholders gain access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion Lounges and other premium airport lounges worldwide (Terms Apply). The card also offers elite status with multiple hotel loyalty programs like Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors (Terms Apply). Additional perks include access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts program and various annual statement credits for travel-related expenses like airline fees and Uber rides (Terms Apply). It also offers a statement credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee (Terms Apply).

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a financial tool that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards using your real spending data to make a confident decision.

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• Test drive credit cards: See exactly how much a new card would earn you based on your actual transaction history before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
• Approval odds: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval chances based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Bonus tracking: Monitor your progress toward earning credit card sign-up bonuses for free.
• Automated rewards maximization: At checkout, Kudos can autofill the best card from your wallet to ensure you always earn the most rewards for that purchase.
• Exclusive offers: Gain access to special deals and earn extra Kudos Boost rewards on top of your credit card points when shopping at your favorite stores.

Who Should Choose the IHG One Rewards Premier?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is tailor-made for travelers who frequently stay at IHG properties like Holiday Inn, InterContinental, or Kimpton. These cardholders value the automatic Platinum Elite status and can easily offset the annual fee by using the anniversary free night certificate. It's also an excellent fit for those who book longer award stays to take advantage of the fourth-night-free benefit or travel internationally, thanks to its lack of foreign transaction fees.

Who Should Choose the American Express Platinum Card®?

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The American Express Platinum Card® is tailor-made for the frequent traveler who values premium experiences and can maximize a suite of luxury benefits. This cardholder is someone who regularly takes advantage of perks like extensive airport lounge access, elite hotel status, and various statement credits for dining, entertainment, and retail. Ultimately, it's best for individuals whose lifestyle and spending habits naturally align with the card's specific credits and travel perks, allowing them to easily offset the substantial annual fee.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our IHG One Rewards Premier vs Amex Platinum comparison has you feeling like neither card is the perfect match, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards on the market worth considering.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: You will generally need good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending: Ensure you can naturally meet the spending requirement for the welcome offer.
• Review the benefits: Understand how you will use the card’s credits and perks to justify its annual fee.

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Application Strategy

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• Be patient: If you don't receive the best welcome offer, you can often decline and try again later.
• Activate your benefits: Many card perks, like those on American Express® cards, require manual enrollment after approval.
• Know the issuer rules: Be aware of each card issuer’s specific application guidelines and restrictions.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I transfer points between IHG and American Express?

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No, you cannot directly transfer points between the IHG One Rewards program and the American Express Membership Rewards program. They are separate loyalty ecosystems with their own distinct partners and rules.

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Which card offers better hotel elite status?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card automatically grants you Platinum Elite status within the IHG program. The American Express® Platinum Card® provides Gold status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy upon enrollment, but does not include automatic IHG status. Terms Apply.

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Do both cards offer an anniversary free night?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Card provides an Anniversary Free Night certificate each year after your account anniversary. The American Express® Platinum Card® offers up to a $200 annual hotel credit for prepaid bookings through Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection, rather than a direct free night award. Terms Apply.

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