If you carry the American Express Platinum or Business Platinum, the calendar matters as much as the card. Quarterly statement credits reset at the end of September, and unlike airline miles, these perks don't roll over — unspent credit simply disappears. Both cards carry a $895 annual fee, so extracting the built-in credits is how that fee pays for itself.
On the personal Platinum, two quarterly credits are up for grabs: up to $75 at U.S. Lululemon stores (outlets excluded) and online, plus up to $100 at U.S. restaurants on the Resy platform. That's as much as $175 per quarter for anyone willing to plan a little. Resy's footprint is broad enough that most city dwellers can find a participating restaurant nearby, and a reservation isn't required — a walk-in meal counts. There's also a neat workaround for the time-poor: buy a Resy restaurant gift card this quarter to trigger the credit, then top it up next quarter with the next credit, and dine when the balance suits you.
Business Platinum holders have their own deadlines. Up to $90 per quarter applies to U.S. purchases with Indeed, and up to $50 per quarter works at Hilton — provided you've first enrolled in the free Hilton for Business program. One useful quirk: the Hilton credit can apparently trigger on hotel restaurants and gift shops even without an overnight stay. The author covered $50 of a $59 high tea at the Urso Hotel & Spa in Madrid without booking a room.
Separately, both cards include an up-to-$300 semiannual hotel credit (up to $600 a year) on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings made through Amex Travel — The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum. The second half-year window closes Dec. 30, and since bookings are prepaid, you can lock in a stay well into 2027 without travelling now.
A few practical caveats. Enrollment is required for every credit before you spend — purchases made before activating won't count. Also, transactions processed through third-party or mobile card readers may not register, so it's worth confirming a restaurant can process your card directly. If a credit hasn't posted within roughly ten weeks, contacting Amex via chat has been enough to get it manually applied.
New applicants can get an instant card number on approval, add it to a digital wallet, and start earning credits before the plastic arrives. Current publicly advertised welcome offers run as high as 175,000 points for the personal card (after $12,000 spend in six months) and 300,000 points for the business card (after $20,000 spend in three months), though offers vary.
Why it matters for travellers: these credits are effectively free money for hotel stays, meals out and even athleisure — but only for those who track the quarterly rhythm and enroll in advance.