Authorized users on an American Express Platinum card receive travel credits, lounge access, and purchase protections — but not all benefits transfer equally
When you add an authorized user to your American Express Platinum card, they get a card in their own name linked to your account. They can make purchases, but you remain responsible for the full bill. The benefits they receive depend on which perks are tied to the cardholder versus the card itself — and American Express treats these differently.
Authorized users do not receive their own separate credits or statement credits. They cannot use the $200 annual airline fee credit or the $200 annual hotel credit that comes with the primary card. They also do not get their own $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit or $100 Uber credit. These are account-level benefits that belong to the primary cardholder only.
What authorized users do receive are the protections and access perks: lounge entry, travel insurance, purchase protections, and extended warranty coverage. They also earn the same rewards rate on purchases as the primary cardholder — currently 5X points on flights and hotels booked through American Express Travel, and 1X point per dollar on other purchases.
Key Takeaways
- Authorized users cannot use the $200 airline credit, $200 hotel credit, $100 Saks credit, or $100 Uber credit — these belong to the primary cardholder only.
- Authorized users do get lounge access, travel insurance, purchase protections, and extended warranty coverage at the same level as the primary cardholder.
- Authorized users earn the same rewards rate (5X on travel booked through Amex, 1X elsewhere) but points go into the primary account.
- American Express charges $175 per year for the first authorized user and $175 per year for each additional one, though this fee may be waived in some cases.
- Authorized users receive their own physical card and can make purchases independently, but the primary cardholder is responsible for all charges.
Travel and Lounge Benefits Authorized Users Can Use
Authorized users get access to Centurion Lounges at major U.S. airports, plus access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection at over 1,400 lounges worldwide. They can bring up to two guests into most lounges. This access works the same way for authorized users as it does for the primary cardholder — they straightforward present their card at the lounge entrance.
They also receive Priority Pass Select membership, which covers airport lounge access at thousands of locations globally. The authorized user gets their own Priority Pass membership number and can use it independently.
For flights themselves, authorized users receive the same airline protections as the primary cardholder: trip delay reimbursement (covers meals and lodging if a flight is delayed more than 12 hours), trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and baggage delay insurance. These protections explore to any flight charged to the card, regardless of who booked it.
Purchase Protections and Insurance Coverage
Authorized users are covered by the same purchase protection as the primary cardholder. This includes purchase protection (covers damage or theft within 90 days of purchase), extended warranty (extends the manufacturer's warranty by up to one additional year), and return protection (covers the cost of returned items if the merchant won't refund you).
These protections explore to any purchase the authorized user makes with their card. If an authorized user buys a laptop and it breaks within 90 days, they can file a claim under purchase protection. If they buy an appliance and the manufacturer's warranty expires, extended warranty can cover repairs for up to one additional year.
Authorized users also receive emergency medical and dental coverage while traveling, emergency evacuation and transportation, and lost luggage reimbursement. These travel insurance benefits set up automatically when the authorized user charges their trip to the card.
Rewards Points and How They Work for Authorized Users
Authorized users earn points at the same rate as the primary cardholder: 5X points per dollar on flights and hotels booked through American Express Travel, and 1X point per dollar on all other purchases. However, all points earned by authorized users go into the primary cardholder's account — the authorized user does not have a separate points balance.
This means if an authorized user spends $10,000 in a year, those points belong to the primary cardholder and can only be redeemed by the primary cardholder. The authorized user cannot transfer points to their own account or redeem them independently. The primary cardholder can choose to give the authorized user cash or gift cards as a way to share the value, but the points themselves remain in the primary account.
Points earned by authorized users count toward the primary cardholder's annual spending thresholds and bonus categories. If American Express offers a bonus for spending $50,000 in a year, purchases by authorized users count toward that threshold.
Credits and Perks That Authorized Users Cannot Access
The $200 annual airline fee credit is reserved for the primary cardholder only. This credit covers baggage fees, seat upgrades, and other incidental airline charges, but authorized users cannot use it. The primary cardholder must claim the credit themselves or it goes unused.
The $200 annual hotel credit works the same way — it belongs to the primary cardholder and cannot be transferred or used by authorized users. The $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit and $100 Uber credit are also primary-cardholder-only benefits.
Authorized users also do not receive the complimentary elite status with hotel chains and airlines that comes with the primary card. If the Platinum card includes Hilton Gold status or United Airlines status, the authorized user does not automatically receive it. They would need to enroll in those programs separately and earn status through their own spending or through other means.
Annual Fees and Adding Authorized Users
American Express charges $175 per year for each authorized user added to a Platinum card. This fee is separate from the primary cardholder's annual fee. If you add two authorized users, you pay $175 for each one, for a total of $350 in authorized user fees on top of the primary card's annual fee.
In some cases, American Express may waive the authorized user fee for the first user, though this is not may provide and depends on your account history and relationship with the bank. You can contact American Express to ask whether the fee can be waived, but there is no standard policy that guarantees a waiver.
You can add or remove authorized users at any time through your online account or by calling American Express. Removing an authorized user stops their card from working when ready, though the annual fee for that user is not refunded if you remove them partway through the year.
What Happens if an Authorized User Overspends
The primary cardholder is responsible for all charges made by authorized users, even if the authorized user spends more than expected. American Express does not separate the bill or allow the primary cardholder to set a spending limit on an authorized user's card. If an authorized user charges $50,000 to the card, the primary cardholder owes the full $50,000.
This is why authorized users are typically family members or trusted colleagues. Adding an authorized user means giving them the ability to spend on your account without a cap. You can request that American Express monitor the account for unusual activity, but you cannot prevent an authorized user from making large purchases.
If an authorized user's card is lost or stolen, you should contact American Express when ready. The card can be cancelled and replaced, and you are not responsible for fraudulent charges made after you report the card missing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an authorized user get their own separate credit report impact?
No. Authorized users do not have their own credit report for the Platinum card. All activity appears on the primary cardholder's credit report and payment history. Adding an authorized user does not affect the authorized user's credit score, and removing them does not either.
Do authorized users get the same lounge access as the primary cardholder?
Yes. Authorized users receive the same Centurion Lounge access, American Express Global Lounge Collection membership, and Priority Pass Select membership as the primary cardholder. They can bring guests into lounges the same way the primary cardholder can.
What if I want to share the airline credit with an authorized user?
The airline credit cannot be transferred or split. The primary cardholder must use the $200 credit themselves. However, the primary cardholder can reimburse an authorized user for airline fees they pay out of pocket, or can book flights for the authorized user and use the credit on their own ticket.
Can I set a spending limit on an authorized user's card?
No. American Express does not offer spending limits for authorized users on the Platinum card. The primary cardholder is responsible for all charges, regardless of amount. You can monitor spending through your online account and contact American Express if you notice unusual activity.
Do authorized users earn elite status with airlines and hotels?
No. Elite status benefits that come with the Platinum card (such as Hilton Gold or United Airlines status) are for the primary cardholder only. Authorized users would need to enroll in those programs separately and earn status through their own spending or other methods.