London with Amex Platinum: From Lounge to Luxury Hotel, My Complete Experience

Mid-February, quarter to six in the morning. Brussels Airport was still half-empty and outside it was raining, of course, as befitting a Thursday morning in Belgium. But while most people dragged themselves to the gate with a lukewarm coffee from the vending machine, I was sitting in the lounge with a fresh espresso, a warm croissant, and that blissful feeling that the trip had already begun before the plane even took off. This is exactly why my Amex Platinum card comes along on every trip, and why a London city trip becomes so much more enjoyable because of it.

Honestly: London is a city that can wreck your wallet if you're not careful. Hotels in good neighbourhoods easily run 300 to 500 euros per night. A decent dinner for two? Count on 80 to 150 pounds. But with the right strategy and a bit of smart planning, I largely turned those costs into benefits, upgrades and free extras. No bag of tricks, just using the tools the Amex Platinum offers.

This story is for Belgian travellers who are considering taking the plunge, or who already have a card but don't realise how much value is actually in it. I'll take you through my entire London trip: from the first step at Brussels Airport to the last evening in Mayfair.

Departure from Brussels Airport: Fast Lane and lounge as a Belgian traveller

Let me sketch out what my morning looked like. I parked the car, checked in via the app, and walked to the Fast Lane security. That's one of those benefits you think on paper "oh, handy", but in practice it really makes a difference. Especially on busy mornings when the regular security queue stretches past the check-in counters. The Fast Lane at Brussels Airport is included with the Amex Platinum, worth €169 per year. I was through to the other side within three minutes.

Next: the lounge. With Priority Pass Prestige (part of the card) you have access to more than 1,550 lounges worldwide, and at BRU there are multiple options. I had an extensive breakfast, charged my phone, and leisurely read the newspaper. My travel companion joined as a guest, because the Amex Platinum gives you free access for yourself and one guest. That immediately saves around 60 euros if you had to pay for it separately.

A small extra I like to use: the Dining Experience at Black Pearls at Brussels Airport. Twice a month you can pick up a meal there as an Amex Platinum cardholder. I had already picked up a meal the day before. It might sound like a detail, but those small benefits add up over an entire year.

Fine Hotels + Resorts London: how I booked a luxury hotel and received €650 in extras

Now the real story. I booked the hotel in London via the Fine Hotels + Resorts programme of Amex Platinum. For those not yet familiar: FHR gives you, when booking at one of the 14,000+ participating luxury hotels, an automatic package of benefits you can't get anywhere else. And no, the hotel doesn't cost more than the standard price. That's the beauty of it.

Specifically, I booked three nights at The Connaught in Mayfair. Beautiful hotel, classic British with a modern twist. The room rate was around £420 per night via FHR, comparable to what you'd pay on booking.com. But on top of that, I received:

If I add everything up: the room upgrade alone was worth at least £200 per night. Breakfast for three mornings for two persons: £270. The welcome gift: £85. And the early check-in plus late checkout gave me almost an extra half day in London. At TravelLux.be we estimate the total added value of an FHR stay at around €650 per trip. That's not marketing talk. Those are the actual savings I saw reflected on my bill.

Honestly, with my first FHR booking I was a bit sceptical. I thought: this sounds too good to be true. But when I stood at the reception of The Connaught and the staff member said "We've upgraded your room, sir, and your breakfast is complimentary throughout your stay", it felt like I was travelling in a different universe.

Earning Membership Rewards points in London: every purchase counts

A major benefit of the Amex Platinum that many Belgian travellers underestimate: you earn Membership Rewards points on every purchase. The standard rate is 1 point per €1 spent. Those who activate the Booster option (€10 per month extra) go to 4 points per €1. And in a city like London, where you easily spend €200 to €300 per day on restaurants, museums, taxis and shopping, that adds up fast.

During my three days in London I spent a total of around £1,800 with the card (hotel included). With the Booster active, that earned me over 8,000 points, on top of the points I already had. Those points aren't just a number on a screen. You can transfer them to airlines such as British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and about fifteen other partners. Or you can use them for hotels, statement credits, or shopping.

What I personally find most powerful: Membership Rewards points never expire as long as your card is active. No stress, no deadlines. You can save at your own pace for that one dream trip. I'm currently saving towards a business class flight to Tokyo with ANA, and every trip to London or Paris brings me a step closer.

Something else you should know about London specifically: there are no foreign transaction fees on overseas payments with the Amex Platinum. That 1.5% to 2% that other banks charge? Not applicable. Over a trip of £1,800, that saves you around €30 to €40 in hidden costs.

Where the Amex Platinum does and doesn't work in London: my honest experience

I'm not going to tell you that everything is sunshine and roses. Because that wouldn't be honest.

American Express is accepted at most places in London. Hotels, large restaurants, department stores like Harrods and Selfridges, most chains: no problem. But there are exceptions. Small pubs in Shoreditch? Sometimes Visa or Mastercard only. Street markets like Brick Lane or Borough Market? Cash or contactless with a different card. I always had my Visa debit card with me as a backup, just in case, and I recommend you do the same.

In practice, I was able to use the Amex for about 85% of my spending. The rest went via my second card. Not ideal, but not a dealbreaker either. It's simply something to keep in mind as a Belgian traveller in London.

Another nuance: the Amex Platinum costs €780 per year (€65 per month). That's not nothing. But if you actually use the benefits — and that's where the key lies — you'll more than earn back that fee. The Priority Pass Prestige access alone is worth around €500. The Fast Lane: €169. The Dining for 2 at top Belgian restaurants (3x per year a free 2-course menu for two): up to €300. And then you haven't even counted FHR, the travel insurance and the points.

Travel insurance and concierge: the unsung heroes of my London trip

Something I almost forgot to mention, but which is actually very important: the travel insurance that is automatically active on every trip you pay for with the Amex Platinum. I didn't need to take out a separate policy. The coverage includes trip cancellation, flight insurance for delays or cancellations, luggage insurance for loss, theft or damage, and even medical costs abroad. Everything via Chubb and Europ Assistance.

And yes, I have needed that insurance. Not in London itself, but on a previous trip when my suitcase arrived two days late. The handling went smoothly, without any hassle. It's in moments like those that you realise how valuable good travel insurance is.

Then the concierge service. I had called the Amex concierge to book a table at The Ledbury, a two Michelin-star restaurant in Notting Hill that is booked up weeks in advance. Within 24 hours I had a confirmation. No magic, just a service that works. The concierge is available 24/7 and helps with everything: restaurant reservations, theatre tickets, having flowers delivered, you name it.

What also stood out to me: the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star status that comes with the card. I had rented a car via Hertz for a day trip outside London (Cotswolds, highly recommended), and the upgrade to a larger vehicle was automatic. Those kinds of small luxuries make the difference between a good trip and an amazing trip.

How much did my London trip actually save me?

Let me do the maths, because I love concrete numbers.

Total savings and added value: approximately €940 for a single three-night trip. And that's a conservative estimate. The room upgrade alone would have cost an extra €600 on the open market.

For comparison: the card costs €780 per year. One London trip and the card has already more than paid for itself. And I haven't even counted the three Dining for 2 experiences in Belgium, the other lounge visits, and all the other trips that year.

Is the Amex Platinum worth it for Belgian travellers going to London?

Short answer: yes, if you travel at least two to three times per year and are willing to actively use the benefits. London is actually the ideal test case. It's nearby (a flight of barely an hour and a half from BRU), you're going to spend a fair amount anyway, and the FHR hotels in London are phenomenal.

Where I do want to be honest: if you only go on a city trip once a year to a budget destination, then the card is probably overkill. The €780 per year needs to be earned back, and that only works if you use the benefits. But for those who travel regularly, do business abroad, or simply enjoy travelling comfortably: this is the best travel credit card I know as a Belgian.

Via the TravelLux.be referral link you'll receive the maximum welcome bonus of 150,000 Membership Rewards points when you apply. That's more than when you apply directly via americanexpress.com/be. Those 150,000 points can be used immediately for your next trip, or saved up for something bigger.

Frequently asked questions about travelling to London with the Amex Platinum

Updated: 2026-04-05. This article contains an affiliate/referral link. If you apply for the Amex Platinum via our referral link, we receive a commission. The card price remains identical (€780/year). At TravelLux.be we only share products that we use and recommend ourselves.