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Don't Waste $1,000+: How to Use Your Q4 Amex Platinum Credits Before They Expire
July 1, 2025
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Your Amex Platinum card comes with $1,400+ in annual credits but only if you actually use them. Here's how to maximize every Q4 benefit before December 31.
You're paying $895 annually for American Express Platinum Card® (See Rates & Fees). That's a lot of money, but if you use all the credits, you're actually getting more value than you're paying for. The problem? Many cardholders forget about Q4 credits and leave hundreds of dollars on the table. According to American Express data, approximately 30% of Platinum cardholders don't maximize their available credits each year. The average cardholder leaves $300 worth of benefits unused simply because they forget to track them.
Let's fix that. Here's every Q4 credit you need to use before the year ends, plus exactly how to redeem them and how Kudos' Hidden Perks feature can automate the entire tracking process so you never miss a benefit again.
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Why Q4 Matters for Amex Platinum Credits
Most Amex Platinum credits operate on a calendar year basis, meaning they reset on January 1. If you don't use them by December 31, you lose them permanently. There's no rollover. With just seven weeks left in 2025, now is the time to audit which credits you've used and which are still available.
Quick math: If you haven't touched your credits yet, you could be sitting on $1,000+ in unused benefits that expire in 49 days.
Your Complete Q4 Amex Platinum Credits Checklist
1. Up to $240 Digital Entertainment Credit ($20/month)
How it works: Get up to $20 per month in statement credits when you use your card for eligible streaming services and digital media subscriptions.
Eligible services include:
- Streaming: Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM
- News: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal
- Music: Apple Music, Spotify Premium (terms apply)
Q4 action items:
- November credit: Use by November 30
- December credit: Use by December 31
- Total available: $40 if you haven't used November/December credits yet
Pro tip: If you're paying for multiple streaming services separately, consider switching to a family plan paid with your Platinum card to maximize this credit. The Disney Bundle (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+) at $14.99/month qualifies and uses most of your monthly credit automatically.
2. Up to $200 Hotel Credit (Calendar Year)
How it works: Receive up to $200 in statement credits annually when you prepay Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel.
Q4 strategy: If you haven't used this credit yet, book a Q4 or early 2026 stay now. The credit is based on when you book, not when you travel.
Best uses:
- Book a holiday trip for late December
- Pre-book a January or February vacation (you can book months in advance)
- Use it for a weekend staycation at a luxury property
Important: This must be booked through amextravel.com. Third-party bookings don't qualify.
3. Up to $200 Airline Fee Credit (Calendar Year)
How it works: Select one qualifying airline and receive up to $200 in statement credits for incidental fees.
What qualifies:
- Checked bag fees
- Seat selection fees
- In-flight purchases
- Lounge day passes (if you're not using Priority Pass)
What doesn't qualify:
- Airline tickets
- Upgrades
- Award ticket fees (airline-dependent)
Q4 action items:
- Check your Amex account to see which airline you selected
- Review how much credit you've used this year
- If you have credit remaining, book a flight that includes checked bags or seat selection
Pro tip: Some airlines allow you to purchase gift cards that code as incidental fees, effectively converting this into flexible airline cash. Policies vary by airline and change frequently, so research current data points before attempting.
4. Up to $200 Uber Cash (Annual, delivered monthly)
How it works: Receive $15 in Uber Cash monthly, plus $20 in December, for a total of $200 annually.
Q4 breakdown:
- November: $15
- December: $35 ($15 regular + $20 bonus)
- Total available in Q4: $50
Expiration warning: Uber Cash expires if not used within the month it's issued. November's $15 must be used by November 30.
Beyond rideshares: Uber Cash works for:
- Uber rides
- Uber Eats food delivery
- Uber Eats grocery delivery (Whole Foods, local markets)
- Uber Reserve (premium rides booked in advance)
Pro tip: If you don't use rideshare often, stock up on groceries through Uber Eats or send Uber Cash to a family member who will use it. Letting it expire is throwing away $15-35 each month.
5. Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue Credit (Semi-Annual)
How it works: Receive up to $50 in statement credits twice per year (January–June and July–December).
Q4 status check:
- If you used the July-December credit already, you’re done until January
- If you haven't used it, you have $50 available until December 31
What qualifies:
- Purchases at Saks.com or in-store at Saks Fifth Avenue
- Both full-price and sale items
Smart Q4 strategies:
- Holiday shopping: Buy gifts for others while getting $50 back
- Gift card arbitrage: Purchase a $50 Saks gift card, use it in January when the new $50 credit becomes available
- Beauty and home goods: Stock up on luxury skincare, fragrances, or home items that you'd buy anyway
Pro tip: Saks often runs sales around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Combine sale prices with your $50 credit for maximum value. Saks Fifth Avenue is also a Boost partner, so you’ll earn rewards when you activate Kudos before checkout!
6. Up to $300 Equinox Credit (Annual)
How it works: Receive up to $300 in statement credits annually for Equinox memberships.
Q4 considerations:
- This is for Equinox gym memberships only
- If you're not an Equinox member, this credit doesn't help you
- If you are a member, verify that your membership charges have posted to your Platinum card
Alternative value: If Equinox isn't for you, this effectively reduces your Platinum annual fee from $895 to $595, still valuable if you maximize other credits.
7. Up to $200 Oura Ring Credit (Annual)
How it works: Receive up to $200 in statement credits annually when you purchase an Oura Ring at Ouraring.com with your Platinum card.
What is Oura Ring? Oura Ring is a smart health tracking ring that monitors sleep quality, recovery, heart rate, body temperature, and activity levels. It's popular among athletes, biohackers, and health-conscious individuals who want clinical-grade wellness data without wearing a bulky smartwatch.
Q4 action items:
- Enroll in the benefit through your Amex account (Benefits section)
- Purchase an Oura Ring directly from Ouraring.com
- Gen 3 starts at $199 (nearly free with credit)
- Gen 4 starts at $349 (you'll pay $149 after credit)
What qualifies:
- Oura Ring hardware purchased at Ouraring.com only
- Must ship to a U.S. address (not territories)
What doesn't qualify:
- Oura membership subscription ($5.99/month or $69.99/year)
- Chargers, add-ons, or accessories
- Gift cards
- Purchases from Amazon, Best Buy, or other third-party retailers
Important notes:
- Order the free sizing kit first to avoid returns (returns may reverse the credit)
- Credit typically posts within 3-5 days, up to 8 weeks maximum
- You'll still need the monthly membership ($5.99) to access advanced features
Pro tip: If you've been considering health tracking but didn't want to spend $300+, this credit makes the Oura Ring one of the most affordable premium wellness wearables available.
8. Up to $200 Lululemon Credit (Limited Time Offer - Q4 2025)
How it works: This is a limited-time offer available through December 31, 2025. Receive up to $200 in statement credits when you make eligible purchases at Lululemon.
Q4 action items:
- Check if this offer is enrolled in your account
- Browse lululemon.com or visit a store before December 31
- Stock up on athletic wear for yourself or as gifts
What qualifies:
- Online purchases at lululemon.com
- In-store purchases at Lululemon retail locations
- Gift cards (typically qualify, but verify current terms)
Pro tip: Lululemon rarely discounts products, so this credit effectively gives you 20-30% off depending on your purchase size. Use it for big-ticket items like jackets or multiple pairs of leggings.
9. Up to $100 Resy Credit (Annual)
How it works: Receive up to $100 in statement credits annually when you make reservations through Resy and pay with your Amex Platinum.
Q4 opportunities:
- November/December holiday dinners
- New Year's Eve reservations
- Gift experiences (many restaurants offer gift certificates through Resy)
How to maximize:
- Book Resy restaurants in your area
- Use for special occasion dining you'd do anyway
- The credit typically breaks down as $50 per six-month period
Important: You must book through the Resy app or website and pay the bill with your Platinum card for the credit to trigger.
10. Up to $189 CLEAR Credit (Annual)
How it works: Receive up to $189 in statement credits to cover a CLEAR membership.
Q4 action: If you haven't signed up for CLEAR yet and travel frequently, enroll before year-end. Your membership will extend through 2026, and you'll have a new credit available in January 2026 for the renewal.
Is it worth it?
- Yes, if you fly from airports with CLEAR (70+ airports) more than 6 times per year
- Maybe, if you value saving 10-15 minutes per airport visit
- No, if you rarely fly or have TSA PreCheck and short security lines
11. Up to $120 Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit (Every 4-5 Years)
How it works: Receive up to $120 in statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees.
Q4 consideration: If your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck expires in 2026-2027, renew now. The credit posts quickly, and you'll be set for the next five years.
Global Entry benefits:
- TSA PreCheck included
- Expedited customs when returning to the US
- Valid for 5 years
- Costs $100 (fully covered by Amex Platinum credit)
How to Track Your Credits
Manually tracking 11+ different credits across various renewal periods is exhausting. Here's how to stay on top of everything:
Automated Tracking with Kudos
The average Amex Platinum cardholder leaves $300+ in benefits unused annually simply because they forget about them. Kudos' Hidden Perks feature solves this by automating the entire tracking process.
How Kudos tracks your Amex Platinum credits:
- Instant analysis: Connect your Amex Platinum card, and Kudos immediately identifies all available credits and benefits.
- Real-time tracking: See exactly which credits you've used and how much is remaining in each category.
- Expiration alerts: Get notifications before credits expire. For example: "Your $50 Saks credit expires in 7 days. Don't miss out!"
- Usage recommendations: Kudos tells you when you're using the wrong card for a purchase that could trigger a credit.
- Example: You book a hotel on Expedia. Kudos reminds you: "Book through Amex Travel to use your $200 hotel credit instead."
Unlike manually checking your Amex account, Kudos proactively monitors your spending patterns and alerts you to opportunities you're missing—so you never leave money on the table again.
The Real Value Calculation
Let's add it up. If you maximize every Q4 credit:
Even if you only capture half of these credits, you're getting $520 in value from a card with a $895 annual fee, making your effective annual fee $375.
What Happens If You Don't Use These Credits?
They disappear. Permanently.
Unlike some travel rewards programs that let you roll over points or extend expiration dates, Amex Platinum credits operate on strict timelines:
- Calendar year credits reset on January 1
- Monthly credits expire at month-end
- There are no extensions, no rollovers, no exceptions
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Forgetting about monthly credits
The Uber and entertainment credits expire monthly. Set a recurring reminder or autopay eligible subscriptions to your Platinum card.
Better solution: Use Kudos' Hidden Perks feature to get automatic alerts before your monthly credits expire. No more manual reminders needed.
2. Waiting until December 31
Many credits require time to process. If you make a purchase on December 31 and the charge doesn't post until January 2, you've lost that credit.
Action: Complete all credit-eligible purchases by December 27 to ensure posting before year-end.
3. Buying things you don't need
Credits are only valuable if you'd make the purchase anyway. Don't buy a $200 Lululemon order you don't want just to "use the credit.” That's spending $200 to save $200.
4. Not enrolling in limited-time offers
Some credits (like Lululemon and Oura Ring) require manual enrollment through the Amex Offers section. Check regularly for new limited-time credits.
Kudos tip: Hidden Perks shows you which benefits require enrollment and alerts you to new limited-time offers as they become available.
5. Using the wrong card for credit-eligible purchases
You shop at Saks with your Chase card instead of your Platinum, missing the $50 credit entirely.
Kudos solution: Get real-time alerts when you're about to use the wrong card for a purchase that triggers a credit.
Alternative Strategy: Is the Amex Platinum Still Worth It?
If you consistently don't use these credits, consider whether the Platinum Card is right for you.
Better alternatives if you're not maximizing credits:
- $795 annual fee
- $300 annual travel credit (easier to use)
- 3x points on dining and travel
- Better long-term value if you don't use Equinox, Saks, or entertainment credits
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- $395 annual fee
- $300 annual travel credit
- 10,000 anniversary bonus miles ($100 value)
- Effectively $0 annual fee if you use the annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles
Use Kudos to compare which card delivers the most value based on your actual spending patterns.
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FAQ
Do Amex Platinum credits roll over?
No. Calendar year credits expire on December 31 with no rollover. Monthly credits expire at the end of each month.
Can I get cash back instead of credits?
No. Credits are statement credits only and cannot be converted to cash or points.
What if I cancel my Platinum Card mid-year?
You lose access to all remaining credits immediately upon cancellation. If you're considering canceling, use all credits first.
Can I use multiple credits on the same purchase?
Generally no. Most credits are designed for specific merchant categories and won't stack. However, you could use your Uber Cash for rides and your Resy credit for dining as separate transactions.
How long does it take for credits to post?
Most credits post within 2-5 business days after the qualifying charge appears on your account. Some (like airline credits) can take up to 14 business days.
Do authorized users get their own credits?
No. All credits are tied to the primary cardholder's account and are shared across all authorized users.
Bottom Line
Your Amex Platinum card comes with over $1,400+ in annual value, but only if you actually use the credits. With Q4 winding down, now is the time to audit which benefits you've used and which are about to expire.
Don't let $1,000+ in value vanish on December 31.
The smartest strategy? Let Kudos' Hidden Perks feature automatically track all your card benefits, send you alerts before credits expire, and tell you which card to use for every purchase. No more missed credits, no more mental tracking, no more leaving money on the table.
Unlock your extra benefits when you become a Kudos member
Turn your online shopping into even more rewards
Join over 400,000 members simplifying their finances
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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