AmEx Platinum Card for Morgan Stanley Review is an American Express Platinum card.
It might be the best version because of Morgan Stanley's new Platinum CashPlus bank account, which offers a $550 Annual Engagement Bonus to cover the entire annual fee on the American ExpressMorgan Stanley Platinum card.
The Platinum CashPlus account can be opened for free with a $25,000 average cash balance and $5,000 in monthly transfers.
Morgan Stanley broadly defines monthly transfers to include Zelle, mobile check deposits, and any incoming transfers, so that requirement should be fairly easy to meet.
If you maintain $25,000 in the Platinum CashPlus account and $5,000 in a Morgan Stanley Access account, you can get a no annual fee American Express Platinum with one free Platinum authorized user.The annual bonus is $550.
There is an application link for American Express Morgan Stanley Platinum.A Morgan Stanley account is required.
It is recommended that you get at least 60,000 Membership rewards points.The bonus has not changed in the last 3 years.
To get the card, you need to open an investment account with Morgan Stanley.The Morgan Stanley Access account is the most popular way to invest.
Morgan Stanley helps you balance your portfolio based on your goals and risk tolerance, but this account comes with a fee.
You can open a CashPlus bank account with this investment account.The Cash Plus account has no foreign transaction fees.
The annual fee on your American Express Morgan Stanley Platinum can be covered by opening a Platinum CashPlus account.
If you maintain $5,000 in total monthly deposits and a $25,000 average daily cash balance, the Platinum CashPlus account is fee-free.Incoming transfers from external bank accounts are included in monthly deposits.
The CashPlus account only pays out a small amount of interest.If a different checking account doesn't earn more than 2.20%, you're better off with the CashPlus account.
There is a monthly fee if you don't meet the requirements.Even if you don't meet the requirements, you will still be better off by signing up for the Platinum CashPlus account.It would cost $270 if you only meet the requirements half the time.
There is a fee-free grace period for the first two months of your CashPlus bank account.
Only American Express Morgan Stanley Platinum cards are eligible for the annual bonus.
If $1,000 in social security benefits are deposited into the account, then you don't need to meet the $5,000 transfer requirement.
You can't make transfers from a Morgan Stanley non-retirement account into your CashPlus Account.
To avoid the monthly Platinum CashPlus Account fee, you must open or maintain an eligible Morgan Stanley investment account.Morgan Stanley Access Investing Account, self directed brokerage account, and a discretionary/ nondiscretionary advisory account are eligible investment accounts.IRAs are not currently eligible for retirement plan accounts.
We believe that existing American Express Morgan Stanley cards do not qualify.
The Annual Engagement Bonus will only be paid to new American Express Platinum cards opened in connection with your Platinum CashPlus Account.An Annual Engagement Bonus for an American Express Platinum card will not be given to you.
When the Engagement Bonus is paid, your American Express Platinum Card must be opened in connection with your Platinum CashPlus Account.
The first authorized user of the Morgan Stanley Platinum is free.It would cost $175 for other Platinum versions.
You can add three more authorized users for $175.$175 is the price for any additional authorized users over four.
Platinum authorized user cards have all of the benefits, except for the $200 airline credit, which is not included in the airport lounge access.
You could add free authorized user Gold cards.The Global Entry credit is earned by gold cards, but they don't get it every five years.
The Morgan Stanley Platinum card comes with a lot of great benefits, including $200 airline credit, $200 ride hailing, and much more.
Fees for checked bags, seat selection, pet transport fees, and in-flight refreshments are included in the $200 airline credit on the Platinum card.
You can't mix and match fees from different airlines because you have to select one U.S. airline for the credit.
Airline tickets, upgrades, mileage points purchases, gift cards, duty-free purchases and award tickets are not reimbursable.
American Express has previously clawed back credits for items that should not have been paid for.
The Platinum card gets a $35 credit in December.The credits can be used for both companies.
Between January and June and July and December, a $50 credit is given to Platinum cardholders.If you register your card in advance, you can get the benefit.
If you join the email list for a 10% off coupon, you can combine your online shopping with a cashback portal to earn an extra 2% on top of your credit.
You will get a statement credit for applying for Global Entry.You could use the card to pay for it for a family or friend if you already have it.
The credit can be used every four years.I prefer Global Entry because it has expedited customs on international arrivals.
If your trip is delayed 6 or more hours, you can seek reimbursement for up to $500 per covered trip with a maximum of 2 claims per 12 months.
The coverage includes delays for weather, which is great because airlines don't give hotels or food vouchers if the delay is weather related.
If your trip is canceled or interrupted, Trip Cancellation Insurance will reimburse you up to $10,000 for non-refundable expenses.The limit is $20,000 per year.
Baggage insurance will reimburse you for lost, damaged, or stolen baggage up to $3,000 for a carry-on bag and $2,000 in a checked bag.
Any damage to the rental car not covered by your insurance is paid for by the secondary coverage.This is primary coverage if you don't have collision insurance.
If you stay at least two nights in a row, American Express will give you a $100 hotel credit to spend on dining, spa, and resort activities.
In the unlikely event of a need for a medical evacuate, American Express will spend an unlimited amount for the cardholder, immediate family, and children under the age of 26 if they enroll full-time in school.A private jet could be sent by American Express.
Cruises Privileges Program gives you a $100 to $300 per stateroom shipboard credit, additional amenities, and earns you 1 extra point per dollar when booking through AmexTravel.
You can use your Platinum card anywhere in the world without foreign transaction fees, which are typically 2.5% on most cards.
If a merchant refuses to take back an eligible item within 90 days, American Express will reimburse the purchase price up to $300 per item with a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year.
The benefit adds an extra year to the original manufacturer's warranty for 5 years or less.
The Platinum card, like all American Express cards, comes with Amex offers which you can load onto your card to save money at certain merchants.
You can get access to over 1,000 hotels through the FINE Hotels and Resorts program.
The service is free with the Platinum card.Special hotel benefits and discounts are offered by the service.
To get price quotes and book, you have to call.To save money after the fee is taken into account, be sure to check the price on the internet before you book to make sure you don't end up paying more.
Premium economy, business, and first-class fares are discounted for the primary cardholder and up to seven companions.
You can book by live-chatting with an Amex agent or by calling a toll-free number.
The participating airlines are Air China, Air New Zealand, Alitalia, Asiana, Austrian, British Airways, Brussels, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Delta, Eibar, Japan Airlines and Qantas.
Platinum cards of American Express have created a lot of valuable connections in the world of dining and events.
You can get Broadway tickets to shows like Hamilton via the Concierge program, which you can call or email at Platinumrequests@concierge.americanexpress.com.
The Global Dining Collection gives Platinum cardholders access to some of the most exclusive restaurants in the world.
Cardholders have access to exclusive once-in-a-lifetime events and American Express Experiences.
Platinum cards can get a special suite at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.I have been to the Suite a few times.I usually buy the cheapest ticket available to get into the building and then get to the Suite 30 minutes before tip-off because there are capacity limits.
You don't have to pay for food and drinks if you get a good view of the court.
The American Express Platinum card gives you access to a number of lounges at the airport.
The Platinum credit cards have a perk called the Centurion Lounges.You get free premium food and alcohol, and every lounge has shower suites.
There are several lounges with perks such as a 15-minute massage in Dallas and a wine tasting area in San Francisco.
Arrive early to the lounge because it is a great place to hang out before your flight.There are plenty of places to charge your devices, workspace, large TVs, and half of the lounges have family rooms.
There are currently eleven U.S. Centurion Lounges and one international lounge in Hong Kong.
American Express has international lounges.You have to pay for premium food and drinks at some lounges in order to enjoy these lounges.
There are three American Express lounges in Mexico City.
Platinum cardholders can get access to Delta Sky Clubs when they fly with Delta.You don't have access if you are flying any other airline.
You can bring guests for $29 per person with a limit of two guests or your spouse/domestic partner and any children under 21 years old.One of your guests would get free access if they were a Platinum authorized user.
Some of my favorite airport lounges are Escape Lounges.They offer a lot of free food and drinks.The food at the lounges is better than the Delta Sky Club.
Their footprint in the U.S. has grown over the last several years with at least two lounges added each year.
Priority Pass has 1,300 airport lounges all over the world.Priority Pass has a large footprint outside of the United States and most major U.S. airports have at least one.
The Sleepbox is located in Washington D.C. and the Minute Suites are located at several airports.
Priority Pass restaurants are not included in the American Express version of the pass, so you have to pay more for it.The Chase Sapphire Reserve and U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve have access to restaurants.
Most of the Plaza Premium Lounges are located in Asia, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and India.
Food and drink can be found in the lounge and shower rooms.For an extra cost, spas and massage therapy can be found in some lounges.
The only Airspace Lounge is in San Diego.There were previously locations in Cleveland and New York.
You can get a $10 credit for food and alcohol at the San Diego location.There are complimentary snacks, coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
American Express has a partnership with Lufthansa.July 31, 2020, is when the partnership is set to end.
Platinum card holders have access to the Business Lounges in the Satellite area of T2 in Munich Airport and T1 Concourse B in Frankfurt Airport.
You can get access if you have a Platinum card and a same-day boarding pass.
The best way to redeem American Express Membership rewards points is to transfer them to the airline or hotel points programs below.
Aeroplan, ANA, and LifeMiles are our favorites.Transfer bonuses, which increase the value of their points by 20 to 50%, are occasionally offered by American Express.
Membership rewards points can be transferred to Morgan Stanley for 1.0 cents per point.I don't like this transfer because you can usually get 1.5 cents per point with airline or hotel programs.You can transfer to Schwab at 1.25 cents per point with the American Express Platinum card.
You can redeem points for travel via the Amex Travel portal, but you only get 1.0 cents per point for airfare and 0.7 cents for cars, hotels, vacations, and cruises.
The points required for gift cards are usually only 0.7 to 1.0 cents per point.
You only get 0.6 cents per point for using points for charges.
The Morgan Stanley Platinum card is a great deal if you can avoid the monthly fees on a Platinum CashPlus account.