Creditkeeda
If the Amex Platinum Travel card is your go-to for free vacations, here is something important to know. From 9 March 2026, American Express is changing its reward structure, and users will earn fewer points at almost every spending level.
Both the ₹1.9 lakh and ₹4 lakh milestones are seeing major cuts, and a new, higher target of ₹7 lakh has been introduced.
What Is Changing
Earlier, the Platinum Travel card offered strong rewards even for moderate spenders. Users hitting ₹1.9 lakh or ₹4 lakh could earn decent points without stretching their budget.
From March 2026, these milestones will give much lower returns. Most of the meaningful value is now pushed to the ₹7 lakh level.
New Reward Structure
Annual Spend | Current Bonus | New Bonus (After March 9, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
₹1.9 lakh | 15,000 points | 7,500 points |
₹4.0 lakh | 25,000 points + Taj Voucher | 10,000 points |
₹7.0 lakh | NA | 22,500 points + Taj Voucher |
What This Means for You
First, the ₹1.9 lakh milestone has been cut in half. You now earn only 7,500 points instead of 15,000.
Second, the ₹4 lakh milestone has been reduced even more sharply. If you spend ₹4 lakh after 9 March 2026, you will receive only 10,000 points. The earlier 25,000-point bonus will no longer apply.
Third, the Taj voucher is no longer available at ₹4 lakh. You now need to spend ₹7 lakh to unlock it.
Fourth, timing is critical. Only users who complete ₹4 lakh spending on or before 9 March 2026 will receive the old 25,000-point bonus. Any spending after this date will be subject to the new structure.
Final Verdict
The Platinum Travel card is no longer as rewarding for low and mid-level spenders. Whether you spend ₹2 lakh or ₹4 lakh a year, your returns will be much lower after March 2026.
Unless you can comfortably reach ₹7 lakh every year, the card’s value has reduced significantly. Existing users should review their spending plans, and new users should compare other options before applying.