AMEX Platinum Reserve Cardholders receive a membership pack in the mail each year upon approval or renewal. This consists of various travel, dining and lifestyle vouchers, which together with Love Dining, Chillax and 10Xcelerator, make up the bulk of the card’s benefits.
I’ve just received my membership pack for the 2024/25 membership year (which, curiously enough, still features the old card art), and here’s what you can expect.
If you’re looking for the vouchers that come with the AMEX Platinum Charge, refer to this article instead.
Overview: AMEX Platinum Reserve vouchers
The 2024/25 AMEX Platinum Reserve membership pack contains a total of 30 vouchers.ย Do note that the selection can change throughout the year, so what you get for your membership year might not match mine exactly.
AMEX Platinum Reserve 2024/25 Vouchers
- Dining
- 2x bottles of wine at Grand Cru Wine Concierge
- 1x bottle of wine at Napoleon Food & Wine Bar
- 2x complimentary cakes or bottles of wine at Fairmont Singapore/Swissotel The Stamford
- 30% off Wan Hao Restaurantย
- Complimentary bottle of wine at Wan Hao Restaurant (min. S$200 spend)
- 40% off Lawry’s The Prime Rib Singapore
- 2x 50% off 8-10 diners at Asian Market Cafรฉ
- 50% off 4-6 diners at CLOVE
- S$50 Crossroads Buffet voucher (min. S$100 spend)
- Complimentary cake at Crossroads Buffet (for birthday and following month)
- Travel
- Complimentary 1-night stay at selected Frasers Hospitality properties
- S$190 nett stay at Hotel Fort Canningย
- S$150 nett stay at Studio M Hotel Studio
- S$190 nett stay at M Social Singaporeย
- S$190 nett stay at The Outpost Hotel Sentosa
- 5x weekend night upgrades at Fairmont Singapore/Swissotel The Stamford
- Weekday rate of S$230++ at Fairmont Singapore/Swissotel The Stamford
- Weekend rate of S$280++ at Swissotel The Stamford
- Weekend rate of S$300++ at Fairmont Singapore
- Lifestyle
- The Spa by The Ultimate S$68 nett treatment
- Adeva Spa S$98 nett treatment
- Spa Rael S$98 nett treatment
- The Ultimate S$78 nett treatment
The first thing I do when I get my vouchers is to sort them into three piles:
- Keep: Vouchers I’m definitely using
- Maybe:ย Vouchers I don’t have immediate plans for, but keep around just in case
- Throw:ย Vouchers I’d give away to anyone who asks
Keep in mind, this assessment is based on my own lifestyle patterns, and what I find useless could very well be useful to you (or vice versa!).ย
AMEX Platinum Reserve Vouchers: Keep
โ Keep |
|
Complimentary 1-night stay at Frasers Hospitality properties
The AMEX Platinum Reserve has historically offered a complimentary 2-night stay at selected Frasers Hospitality properties, but that was reduced to a 1-night stay from 2024 onwards. It’s a bummer for sure, as it effectively halves the value.
At the time of writing, the voucher can be redeemed at the following properties:
Country | Properties |
๐ฆ๐บ Australia | Capri by Fraser Brisbane |
๐ง๐ญ Bahrain | Fraser Suites Diplomatic Area |
๐จ๐ณ China | Fraser Suites Dalian |
Fraser Suites Guangzhou | |
Fraser Suites Shenzhen | |
Modena by Fraser New District Wuxi | |
Modena by Fraser Putuo Shanghaiย | |
Modena by Fraser Zhuankou Wuhan | |
๐ซ๐ท France | Fraser Suites Harmonie Paris |
๐ฉ๐ช Germany | Capri by Fraser Berlinย / Germany |
Capri by Fraser Frankfurtย / Germany | |
Capri by Fraser Leipzigย / Germany | |
Fraser Suites Hamburg | |
๐ฎ๐ฉIndonesia | Fraser Place Setiabudi, Jakarta |
Fraser Residence Menteng, Jakarta | |
Fraser Residence Sudirman, Jakarta | |
๐ฏ๐ต Japan | Fraser Residence Nankai, Osaka |
๐ฒ๐พ Malaysia | Capri by Fraser Bukit Bintang / Malaysia |
Capri by Fraser Johor Bahruย / Malaysia | |
Fraser Place Puteri Harbour, Johor Bahru | |
๐ด๐ฒ Oman | Fraser Suites Muscat |
๐ถ๐ฆ Qatar | Fraser Suites Doha |
๐ฐ๐ท South Korea | Fraser Place Namdaemun Seoul |
๐ช๐ธ Spain | Capri by Fraser, Barcelona |
๐จ๐ญ Switzerland | Fraser Suites Geneva |
๐น๐ญ Thailand | Fraser Suites Sukhumvit Bangkok |
Modena by Fraser Bangkok | |
๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom | Fraser Suites Glasgow |
Park Internationalย Hotel, London | |
๐ป๐ณ Vietnam | Fraser Suites Hanoiย |
Fraser Residence Hanoiย |
While the voucher can’t be used in Singapore, there are two properties just across the causeway in Johor, as well as numerous options in Asia Pacific and Europe.
Grand Cru & Napoleon wine vouchers
The Grand Cru Wine Concierge and Napoleon Food & Wine Bar wine vouchers have no minimum spend requirement, so you can literally pop in, hand over your vouchers, and take your wines back home in five minutes.ย
ย Don’t expect Dom Perignon of course; these are strictly table wines. The selection rotates based on availability, In the past, I’ve received a Famille Perrin Luberon 2020 (3.6 stars on Vivino), as well as a Nocturno Karku Merlot 2020 (3.1 stars).ย
The Fairmont Singapore/Swissotel The Stamford vouchers are a bit trickier to use now. In the past, I’d buy a single scoop of gelato and redeem my wine vouchers at the same time. But ever since late 2024, there’s a new rule that you must order at least one main course, which in turn allows you to redeem a maximum of two vouchers.
My advice would be to visit on Monday where the Love Dining discount of 50% applies for groups of up to five people, and redeem the vouchers then (or if you’re a party of two, you can visit any day).
AMEX Platinum Reserve Vouchers: Maybe
โ Maybe |
|
Wan Hao vouchers
AMEX Platinum Reserve Cardholders already enjoy Love Dining benefits at Wan Hao, but the 30% off voucher can still come in useful as shown below.ย
ย | Love Dining | 30% off voucher |
Applies to | Dine-in only | Dine-in or take-away |
Covers | Food only | Food and drinks |
Dim Sum Menu | Excluded | Included |
Discount |
|
30% regardless of party size |
If your bill exceeds S$200 (before GST and service charge), you can redeem a complimentary bottle of house wine. I’ve been told the current option is The Harbour Shiraz, with a commanding score of 3.3/5 on Vivino.ย
Lawry’s voucher
While Lawry’s is already part of Love Dining, the Love Dining discountย decreases the more diners you have.ย
On the other hand, the 40% off Lawry’s voucher is valid for 4-20 main courses, so it would come in useful for an office lunch or large family treat. Do note that the voucher can only be used from Monday to Saturday, 11.30 a.m to 4 p.m, so dinner is off the table.
Asian Market Cafรฉ and Clove vouchers
These vouchers are ideal for dining in larger groups.
Groups of 8-10 diners can get 50% off at Asian Market Cafรฉ. I don’t think much of the food quality here, but if I were hosting a large group and needed a fuss-free option, then this would probably be it. This halal-certified buffet costs S$84-98++ per adult (and there’s oysters on weekends).
Groups of 4-6 diners can get 50% off at Clove. The buffet here costs S$78-98++ per adult, and isn’t halal-certified.ย
Staycation vouchers
The Near-Away by Platinum programme offers subsidised room rates of S$150/S$190 nett at the following four hotels:
- Hotel Fort Canning: 1-night stay in Deluxe Room for S$190 nett
- M Social Singapore:ย 1-night stay in Loft Gallery Room at S$190 nett
- Studio M Hotel: 1-night stay in Studio Loft Room at S$190 nett
- The Outpost Hotel Sentosa: 1-night stay in Deluxe Room at S$190 nett
All vouchers cover the room only; breakfast is additional.
I’ve stayed at all four hotels over the years, and my favourite would be The Outpost Hotel. Unfortunately (fortunately?) it’s adults-only, so it’s going to be a bit hard to visit now with the MileCub in the picture, but if we do find the time for a couple getaway it’d be high on my list.
AMEX Platinum Reserve Vouchers: Throw
โ Throw |
|
Fairmont/Swissotel vouchers
AMEX Platinum Reserve Cardholders receive three vouchers forย discounted weekday/weekend nights at the Fairmont Singapore and Swissotel The Stamford.
- Weekday rate of S$230++ at Fairmont Singapore/Swissotel The Stamford
- Weekend rate of S$280++ at Swissotel The Stamford
- Weekend rate of S$300++ at Fairmont Singapore
Each voucher can be used for up to two consecutive nights, with restrictions on blackout dates and “dates of high occupancy” (which aren’t defined).ย
Given the current rates at the Fairmont Singapore/Swissotel The Stamford, you could potentially be getting a good deal (provided the “high occupancy” clause doesn’t strike). But if I were to do a staycation, I’d more likely use one of the vouchers from the previous section and cap my costs below S$200.ย
Should you decide to stay nonetheless, there’s also 5x vouchers for a room upgrade valid on Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights.ย
Spa vouchers
AMEX Platinum Reserve Cardholders receive four vouchers for discounted spa treatments:
- Adeva Spa: 60-min Lux Gold Body Massage or 60-min HANN Botanical Radiance Face Spa at S$98 nettย
- Spa Rael: 60-min HANN Oxygen Bubble Face Spa or Choice of 60-min Body Massage at S$98 nett
- The Ultimate:ย HANN Aroma Radiance Face Spa at S$78 nett
- The Spa by The Ultimate: Mu Er Hydrating Face Spa at $68 nett
These are much cheaper than the list price โ though one wonders whether anyone actually pays that โ but there’s an obvious catch: there will be some selling after the treatment to try and get you to buy a package. How hard the sell is depends on your therapist, and those who have difficulty saying no should take caution.ย
Crossroads Buffet vouchers
The S$50 Crossroads Buffet voucher is rather difficult to use. The buffet normally costs S$65-78++ per adult, and this voucher requires a minimum spend of S$100 before GST and service charge. But this venue is also on Love Dining, and if we take lunch as an example:
๐จ๐ปโ๐ณ Crossroads Buffet Lunchย (S$65++ per adult) |
||
ย | Use S$50 voucher | Use Love Dining |
1 pax | N/A (does not meet min. spend) |
S$65.64 (after 15% off) |
2 pax | S$104.44 | S$77.22 (after 50% off) |
3 pax | S$181.66 | S$150.58 (after 35% off) |
4 pax | S$258.88 | S$231.66 (after 25% off) |
5 pax | S$336.10 | S$308.88 (after 20% off) |
6 pax | S$413.32 | S$370.65 (after 20% off) |
7 pax | S$490.54 | S$432.43 (after 20% off) |
So there’s really no scenario in which the voucher makes sense, unless perhaps you’re a single diner who then orders drinks to bring your spend amount to the S$100 minimum (drinks are not eligible for Love Dining discounts).
The cake voucher entitles you to a complimentary 500g (2 diners) or 1kg (4 or more diners) cake during your birthday month or the following month.ย
Who gets a free AMEX Platinum Reserve?
The AMEX Platinum Reserveย is the awkward middle child of the American Express Platinum family, stuck between the entry-level AMEX Platinum Credit Card and the high-end AMEX Platinum Charge.
While there’s nothing wrong with being in the middle, the AMEX Platinum Reserve costs S$545- as much as a Citi Prestige Card, with just a fraction of the benefits. That, together with its relatively muted marketing, means a small membership pool.
But if your AMEX Platinum Charge was approved before November 2022, chances are you have an AMEX Platinum Reserve in your possession too. This stems from the legacy “one annual fee” policy,ย which allowed customers with multiple cards from the same portfolio to pay only the highest annual fee, with no additional charges for the others.
The policy no longer exists, but cardholders approved before 1 November 2022 were grandfathered in and continue to enjoy a perpetual fee waiver, so long as they hold their AMEX Platinum Charge.ย
Conclusion
The AMEX Platinum Reserve is almost certainly not worth getting as a stand-alone card, but if you have the AMEX Platinum Charge and enjoy it as a free add-on, everything it offers is just the icing on the cake.
I’m certainly disappointed to see the removal of the S$100 Tower Club voucher, as well as the Frasers Hospitality stay cut from two nights to one. But at least I’ll still get some value out of the wine vouchers, perhaps even do a discounted staycation or two.
It’s been long rumoured that American Express is thinking of relaunching the Platinum Reserve- hopefully that happens next year!
They also cut Tower Club access for year 2025?