The Amex Platinum Benefit I Never Thought I’d Use — Until I Did
Hey friends, what’s up? Phillip here with Points with Phillip, and I’m genuinely excited to talk about one Platinum Card benefit I never thought I’d actually use — but just did. Spoiler: it saved me $600.
Alright, let’s talk about the American Express Platinum Card, and the surprisingly powerful benefit that just earned a permanent spot in my wallet.
📱 The Benefit: Amex’s Hidden Gem — Cell Phone Protection
When most people think of the Platinum Card, they think of lounges, fine-hotel credits, and travel perks — not cell phone protection. But scroll all the way down the Platinum Card benefits page to “Shopping Protections,” and you’ll find it there:
Cell Phone Protection — up to $800 per claim, twice per year.
It’s available on the Amex Platinum, Business Platinum, Gold, and Business Gold cards — as long as you pay your monthly cell phone bill with the card.
And here’s the best part: it actually works.
💥 What Happened: My Wife’s Phone Disaster
My wife and I use Spectrum Mobile, which runs on Verizon’s network. It’s cheap, reliable, and — as it turns out — perfectly eligible for Amex’s cell phone protection.
But here’s what happened:
She accidentally dropped her iPhone, and it was bad. We’re talking shattered back glass, cracked camera lens, and a busted front panel.
The repair estimate? $650.
We assumed she had AppleCare (I handle the phone plan, she handles her Apple ID). Turns out, we didn’t. But then I remembered — we pay the phone bill with our Amex Platinum.
🧾 Filing the Claim with AIG
American Express partners with AIG for its protection program. Filing the claim wasn’t difficult, but it did take a little patience.
Here’s what I had to provide:
Last month’s cell phone bill, showing the full amount charged to my Platinum Card.
Last month’s Amex statement showing that charge.
A repair estimate from a certified technician (this part is non-negotiable).
Once submitted, AIG reviewed everything. Each response came exactly on the 10th business day — not fast, but consistent.
A week and a half later, I got the verdict: approved for $650, minus the $50 deductible.
A check for $600 was on its way.
💸 Why This Benefit Is So Valuable
Think about it — that’s $600 back, for a benefit most people ignore.
Even if I’d had AppleCare, it would’ve cost me around $240 per year for our family plan. Instead, this protection is built into the Platinum Card I already pay for.
The coverage caps at $800 per claim, with two claims allowed every 12 months. So even if you drop your phone twice in a year (hey, it happens), Amex has your back — literally.
🧳 A Reminder of How Much the Platinum Offers
Let’s be clear — this isn’t the reason I got the Amex Platinum. But it might be one of the reasons I keep it.
Beyond this hidden gem, here’s what makes the Platinum so valuable:
$200 airline fee credit (hello, United TravelBank).
$200 Uber Cash + free Uber One membership.
$600 Fine Hotels & Resorts / The Hotel Collection credits ($300 every six months).
$400 Resy dining credits ($100 quarterly).
$300 Equinox credit, $300 Lululemon credit, $100 Saks credit, and more.
Airport lounge access (Centurion, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Club access 10x/year).
Hilton Gold and Marriott Gold status.
Premium shopping and travel protections — including this one.
And if you’re strategic about it, you can easily get far more than the $895 annual fee in real-world value.
🔍 Final Thoughts
This experience genuinely surprised me. I’ve held the Platinum Card for years, but this was the first time I used its cell phone protection — and it worked flawlessly.
It’s one of those perks that feels small until the day you actually need it. And then suddenly, it’s the best $600 you didn’t have to spend.
So, what do you think? Would you use this benefit, or stick with AppleCare? Let me know in the comments — I’d love to hear your take.
Until next time, stay savvy and keep earning those points.
— Phillip ✈️