Amex Gold vs Platinum in Belgium: which card fits you? (2026)

Updated: · Reading time: 9 min

Summary for fast readers: The Gold (€20/month) is the entry card: four lounge visits a year, one dinner for two and Membership Rewards points. The Platinum (€65/month) is the travel card: unlimited lounge access with a guest, Fast Lane at Zaventem, three dinners, hotel status with Hilton and Marriott and Fine Hotels + Resorts. Fly fewer than three times a year: pick the Gold. Fly more often: the Platinum pays for itself.

Anyone considering an American Express in Belgium ends up at the same question: Gold or Platinum? The price gap is real, 240 versus 780 euro per year. So the question is not which card is better, but from which travel pattern the pricier card earns itself back. Below is the comparison, figure by figure, with every amount taken from the official Amex comparison page.

The comparison in one table

BenefitAmex GoldAmex Platinum
Fee€20 per month (€240/year)€65 per month (€780/year)
Lounge access4 free visits per year + Lounge On the Go at 3 airportsUnlimited via Priority Pass, each time with 1 free guest
Fast Lane Brussels AirportNoYes, after registering in the Enjoy programme
Dinners1 dinner for two per year3 dinners for two per year, choice of 150+ restaurants in Belgium and the Netherlands
Hotel statusNoHilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite
Fine Hotels + ResortsNoYes: breakfast for two, upgrade on availability, guaranteed late check-out, property credit
Membership RewardsYes, with optional BoosterYes, with optional Booster
Supplementary cardsSee application page1 extra Platinum (€10/month) + up to 4 free Green cards

Two things stand out. First: the points system is identical. If all you want is points on daily spending, the Platinum costs you 540 euro a year extra without earning a single extra point. Second: everything travel-related sits with the Platinum. Lounge, Fast Lane, hotel status, Fine Hotels + Resorts and the wider insurance together are the entire price difference.

Worked example: when does the Platinum win?

Take the lounge as the yardstick. A single walk-in at Brussels Airport quickly costs tens of euros per person. Travel as a couple and fly five return trips a year and you hit twenty lounge moments. The Gold covers four of them; the Platinum covers all of them, guest included. Add the two extra dinners and one Fine Hotels + Resorts stay a year (breakfast, upgrade and credit are worth hundreds of euros at any decent hotel) and the 540 euro gap is closed before you even touch the insurance.

Flip it around and the advice is just as clear. Fly once a year to a holiday destination and you barely use four lounge visits. The Gold covers that pattern at a third of the price, and you earn the same points.

The advice per profile

ProfileAdviceWhy
Flies 0 to 2 times a yearGoldFour lounge visits cover your year, same points, 540 euro cheaper
Flies 3 to 5 times a yearPlatinumUnlimited lounge with guest + Fast Lane + dinners beat the price difference
Travels with partner or familyPlatinumThe free lounge guest and 4 free Green cards count double
Books a luxury hotel yearlyPlatinumOne Fine Hotels + Resorts stay recovers a large part of the fee
Mainly wants points on spendingGoldThe points system is identical; do not pay for travel perks you will not use

On the fence because your travel pattern sits in between? Run the numbers with our article Is the Amex Platinum worth it in Belgium? The maths, where we express the value of each benefit in euros. Also see the 20 best FHR hotels in Europe if hotels drive your decision.

The welcome bonus: the big difference at the start

For the Platinum, a temporary welcome bonus of up to 250,000 Membership Rewards points runs through the friend link (until 31 August 2026, after which the standard referral offer applies). For the Gold, the welcome offer changes per period; the current offer is on the American Express application page. All details and conditions are in our guide on applying and the welcome bonus.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Amex Gold cost in Belgium?

The American Express Gold Card costs 20 euro per month, so 240 euro per year. By comparison, the Platinum costs 65 euro per month, so 780 euro per year. Both amounts are on the official American Express Belgium comparison page.

Do I get lounge access with the Amex Gold?

Limited. The Gold gives four free lounge visits per year plus Lounge On the Go access at three airports. The Platinum gives unlimited access through Priority Pass, each time with a guest, plus the Fast Lane at Brussels Airport.

Is the Platinum worth the 540 euro per year difference?

If you fly at least four to five times a year, the difference typically comes back through unlimited lounge access with a guest, the three dinners and Fine Hotels + Resorts. Flying once or twice a year, the Gold covers your needs with four lounge visits at a third of the price.

Can I upgrade from Gold to Platinum later?

Yes, American Express Belgium offers existing Gold holders an upgrade path to Platinum, sometimes with a temporary upgrade bonus. Note: the regular welcome bonus for new Platinum applicants is usually higher than an upgrade bonus. If you are sure about the Platinum, start with it directly.

Does the Platinum fit you?

Through the TravelLux.be friend link you receive the maximum welcome bonus of 250,000 Membership Rewards points (temporary, until 31 August 2026).

Apply via friend link

I also receive points when you apply through this link. That is why I stick to one rule: every figure above comes from the official Amex pages and was checked on 18 August 2026.

About the author

TravelLux.be is written by a Flemish frequent traveller who has been using the Amex Platinum for years and writes about it anonymously. Every article is based on first-hand experience and the author’s own calculations, and the site only earns through the Amex friend link (same card, same price). Read who writes this and how the site works.