If you add a Companion Card, your authorized user won't enjoy perks but can help you earn points and spend some of your annual credits. If you add an additional Amex Platinum, there's a fee, but your cardholder will enjoy the perks discussed below. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.

On an American Express Platinum account in 2026, the Additional Platinum Card is a full-service authorized user card that carries an annual fee (currently $195 per card). This card grants the holder their own lounge access (Centurion, Delta Sky Club), Marriott/Hilton Gold status, and a separate TSA PreCheck credit. In contrast, the Companion Platinum Card (sometimes called the "Gold" or "White" card) usually has no annual fee but offers almost none of the travel perks. The Companion card is strictly for spending; it allows the user to make purchases that earn points for the primary account holder, but it does not provide lounge access or hotel status. In 2026, the Additional Platinum is best for family members who travel frequently on their own, while the Companion card is a supportive tool for tracking household expenses without paying for high-end benefits that a non-traveling member wouldn't use.

Excellent question. This is a common point of confusion, and the distinction is important for benefits and costs.

Here’s the breakdown:

Additional Platinum Card® from American Express (The Standard “Gold Card”)

• Who gets it: This is a card you request for an additional user (or “Authorized User”) on your primary Platinum Card account. It’s most often given to a family member (spouse, domestic partner, or child over 18) or a trusted individual.
• Physical Card: It looks different. It’s traditionally a gold-colored card (though it says “Platinum” on it) and has the authorized user’s name on it.
• Cost: $195 per year, per card (as of 2024). This fee is in addition to your $695 annual fee.
• Key Benefit - Airport Lounge Access: This is the most valuable perk. Additional Card Members get their own, independent access to the Centurion Lounge, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), Priority Pass Select, and other lounge networks. They do not need to be traveling with the primary cardholder.
• Other Benefits: They receive many of the core Platinum benefits, including:
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® fee credit (once every 4-5 years).
  • Access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts® and The Hotel Collection programs.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • Car rental status and hotel elite status (e.g., Gold status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy).
• What They DON’T Get: They do not receive the digital entertainment