Amex Platinum annual fee jumps to $895 (from $695), a 29% increase
The Amex Platinum's annual fee rises to $895. It's effective immediately for new cardmembers and from Jan 2, 2026 for existing ones. Is the card still worth it?
The American Express Platinum's annual fee moves from $695 to $895, a 29% jump.
What changed
| Old | New | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $695 | $895 |
| New cardmembers | n/a | Effective immediately |
| Existing cardmembers | n/a | From Jan 2, 2026 |
Earn rates are unchanged; this is a straight fee increase (paired with a refreshed credit structure).
Who's hit
Every Platinum holder. But existing cardmembers get a runway until their fee posts on/after Jan 2, 2026, which is a window to front-load statement credits before the higher fee lands.
What to do
At $895, the Platinum only pays for itself if you actually use the credits and lounge access it's built around. Do the honest math: add up the credits you'll realistically redeem and compare against the fee. If the answer is shaky, Polo Match can surface a lower-fee travel card that fits how you actually spend.
Cards affected
Is your card still the best one to hold?
Devaluations change the math. Re-run Polo Match in 60 seconds and see the top 3 cards for your spending by real net annual value. Free, no bank login.
Re-check my cards →More updates
United cut base earning from 5x to 3x and made the co-brand card the only way back
Since 2 April 2026 MileagePlus members without a United card earn 3 miles per dollar instead of 5, and basic economy earns nothing for general members. Cardholders earn 6x and get at least 10% off award flights. We also found the Explorer's annual fee had moved and corrected it.
British Airways raised the cash you pay on Avios reward flights again, the second increase in five months
From 27 May 2026 the Avios price of a British Airways reward flight is unchanged, but the cash co-pay rose roughly 10% to 33% depending on the route. It is the second cash-element increase in five months, after the December 2025 change.
BOBCARD raises its lounge gate from ₹40,000 to ₹75,000 a quarter, and its finance charge to 45% a year
From 1 October 2026 unlimited domestic lounge access on BOBCARD Eterna, Tiara and Varunah Premium requires ₹75,000 of spend in the preceding quarter, up from ₹40,000. Finance charges rose to 3.75% a month on 15 July, and accidental death cover ended for existing cardholders on 25 August.