Amex Platinum Belgium 2026: Complete Guide + 150,000 Welcome Points

Also read on TravelLux.be

• Maldives on points: how to fly for free from Belgium with Membership Rewards
• 20 Best Luxury Hotels in Europe via Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts
• Amex Platinum vs Amex Gold: Which Card Wins for Belgian Travellers?

✦ Exclusive offer

Apply now via our
personal referral link

Receive the maximum welcome bonus of 150,000 Membership Rewards points, significantly more than applying directly at americanexpress.com/be.

TravelLux.be is an independent referral site. American Express® and Membership Rewards® are registered trademarks of American Express. Terms apply.

Who is this card actually for?

The Amex Platinum is an expensive card (€780 a year). It works best for these three profiles:

• The frequent Belgian flyer — at least 4 flights a year out of Brussels Airport. You recover €169 in Skip ID Plus + €350+ in Priority Pass right away. With a single business-class redemption via Qatar Avios or Etihad Guest, you cover the annual fee twice over.
• The annual luxury-trip taker — anyone who spends at least one 5+ night stay in a 5-star hotel benefits from Fine Hotels & Resorts: $100 hotel credit + breakfast + room upgrade + late check-out per stay. That's €200-€400 per FHR stay.
• The self-employed or business owner with flexible spending — anyone who spends a lot via credit card for business accumulates Membership Rewards quickly. At €40,000 yearly spend = ~50,000 points/year on top of the welcome bonus. And partially tax-deductible.

Who is this card NOT for?

Honestly: for most Belgians, the Amex Platinum is not profitable. These are the profiles where you should NOT take this card:

• You fly fewer than 3 times a year. Skip ID Plus and Priority Pass don't deliver enough value to cover the annual fee.
• You don't use a credit card as your primary payment method. Many Belgian businesses don't accept Amex (especially small merchants and some restaurants). If you mainly pay with Bancontact or Maestro, you'll miss out on Membership Rewards.
• You only stay in budget or mid-range hotels. Fine Hotels & Resorts only adds value for 4-5 star stays of at least 2 nights. On a €120/night hotel, it doesn't work.
• You already have a strong alternative card. If you're happy with your Diners Club Premium or a corporate Visa Infinite, switching often delivers little beyond the welcome bonus.
• You won't hit the minimum spend of €4,000-6,000 in 3 months. Without the welcome bonus, year 1 is almost certainly loss-making.

Tip: in doubt? Take the card just for the welcome bonus and cancel in year 2. That's a legitimate strategy and many Belgian point-savers use it.

Comparison with other premium cards in Belgium

The Amex Platinum is not alone on the market. Here's the honest comparison with the most relevant alternatives for frequent Belgian travellers:

The Amex Platinum is more expensive but offers by far the broadest set of benefits for travellers in its category. For lighter users, Amex Gold is a more reasonable entry point; for occasional trips, a Mastercard World Elite via your bank suffices.

The fine print others won't mention

• Minimum spend for the welcome bonus. You only receive the 150,000 or 250,000 points after ~€4,000-6,000 spend in the first 3 months (exact amount depends on the promotion). If you miss this, the bonus is forfeit and year 1 is almost certainly loss-making.
• Acceptance in Belgium. Amex isn't accepted everywhere — especially small merchants, small restaurants and some supermarkets don't take it. Always carry a Bancontact or Visa as backup.
• Monthly settlement required. The Amex Platinum is a charge card (no revolving credit). The full balance must be paid monthly. No flexible repayment like some Visas.
• Welcome bonus = one-time. You only receive it on the first Platinum application. If you've previously held a Platinum, re-applying is often not bonus-eligible.
• Conditions can change. Amex regularly adjusts its welcome bonus and benefits. What's in this guide is based on the situation in 2026 — always check the current referral page before deciding.
• Full referral transparency. If you apply via my friend link, I also receive points. That's why I stick to one rule: only recommend it if the numbers actually work for you — use the calculator on this site.

Go deeper

Go deeper

Key sub-topics — 15+ articles on TravelLux.be