Amex Platinum Travel Card Overhauls Rewards and Lounge Access for Indian Cardholders

The American Express Platinum Travel Card in India is undergoing significant changes. Starting September 10, 2026, cardholders will no longer receive a milestone bonus of INR 1.9 lakh (approximately $22,000 USD) in Membership Rewards points. This reward was previously awarded to cardholders who reached the INR 7 lakh spend threshold.

In its place, cardholders will now receive an e-Gift Card worth INR 20,000 from Taj Experiences. Additionally, the total milestone points for reaching the INR 7 lakh spend threshold have been reduced from 40,000 to 10,000 points.

Another change taking effect on October 1, 2026, is the requirement for airport lounge access, which will now be available only to cardholders who achieve quarterly eligible spending. This shift in requirements will likely favor high spenders targeting the INR 4 lakh or INR 7 lakh thresholds.