American Express is revising its Platinum Travel Credit Card benefits in late 2026. Starting September 10, the ₹1.9 lakh spending milestone will be removed, while the ₹7 lakh reward shifts to Taj gift cards. From October 1, domestic airport lounge access will require a minimum spend of ₹1 lakh in the previous quarter. These changes impact cardholders based on their spending habits.
American Express has announced updates to its Platinum Travel Credit Card in India, affecting both reward structures and airport lounge access. These changes are scheduled to take effect in the coming months as the company adjusts its card benefits.
Reward Milestone Adjustments
Starting September 10, 2026, the company is discontinuing the reward benefit for the ₹1.9 lakh annual spending milestone, which currently offers 7,500 Membership Rewards points. The intermediate ₹4 lakh annual spending milestone will remain unchanged, continuing to provide 10,000 Membership Rewards points.
The most significant change occurs at the higher spending tier. For cardholders who achieve ₹7 lakh in annual spending, the current reward of 22,500 Membership Rewards points will be replaced by a ₹20,000 Taj Experiences e-Gift Card. While this move reduces the flexibility of reward points—which could previously be used for various purposes—it provides a higher absolute value in the form of a gift card for a specific hospitality brand.
Spend-Based Lounge Access
Beginning October 1, 2026, the criteria for complimentary domestic airport lounge access will change. Previously, the card offered a set number of visits annually without strict spending prerequisites. Under the new policy, access to up to two complimentary domestic lounge visits per quarter will be conditional. Cardholders must reach a minimum spending threshold of ₹1 lakh during the preceding calendar quarter to qualify for these benefits in the following quarter.
Impact on Cardholders
These updates suggest a strategic shift toward rewarding higher-spending customers while tightening access to perks for users with lower or inconsistent spending patterns. Cardholders who utilize the card primarily for its entry-level rewards or occasional lounge access may find their benefits reduced. Conversely, high-spending users who frequently utilize premium hotel experiences may find increased value in the new gift card incentive, despite the loss of transferable points at the top tier.
American Express stated that these revisions are part of a regular review process to keep card benefits aligned with current customer usage trends. Cardholders are encouraged to review their spending history to determine how these modifications will affect the overall value they derive from the card. The key monitorable for users will be their quarterly spending volume, as this will now directly determine their eligibility for lounge access in the subsequent quarter.