In this Neptuno Lounge review, I’ll give you a full run down of the facilities, how to gain access – and crucially, what might prevent you from gaining access – as well as my opinion on whether it’s worth using one of your passes to use it.

Neptuno Lounge Facilities

The Neptuno VIP lounge is very well equipped, is incredibly spacious and has a good range of food and drinks – that I will cover in detail later on.

It is one of the more spacious and open lounges I have used, and without a doubt has a business-like feel to it, with it’s padded seats laid out in a very uniform fashion.

Upon entry, you are first greeted by a selection of local and international newspapers, and will then take in the expansive runway views with light flooding in to the lounge.

Neptuno has an array of hot and cold food, soft and alcoholic drinks, clean and well equipped wash rooms – and showering facilities – all of which are located in the lounge itself.

If needed, you can use their fax and printing services, there’s a meeting room if required and there are multiple work stations with tables.

The standard seats all have access to USB type C sockets and European style plug sockets.

There’s a children’s play area and when I was there we noticed some lounge areas were not accessible as if they had been reserved.

Accessing Neptuno Lounge At Madrid T4S

This was my first time flying out of Terminal 4S at Adolfo Suárez Madrid – Barajas Airport – the experience was largely very positive.

First you will go through check-in and security at the main terminal 4. We did this on a Monday early evening (5pm) and the check-in and security lines were fast.

You can fast track security if you wish, but I am glad we saved the 30 Euros here as we were through security in about 3 minutes.

You do however still have to go through passport control (again, this was no more than a 2 minute wait) and travel from T4 to T4S which is a walk and a monorail away.

The signs say this takes around 25 minutes. In reality, it took us about 15 minutes (including the 5 minute monorail journey).

If you are flying out of T4S – you DO NOT want to access the lounge in T4 like we almost did. As you could leave yourself not enough time to board your flight.

It’s also worth mentioning that you can access the Neptuno lounge 4 hours before your flight is due to take off. This is double many PP lounges and even the more generous ones usually only allow 3 hours prior – so you can really make full use of this lounge if you wish.

Once you get in to T4S you will need to go up a set of escalators. Do not go straight ahead in to the connections terminal, instead turn left and you will see the sliding doors to Neptuno.

Walk in and check in with the reception.

When we arrived, there was no queue. We scanned our digital PP card and then scanned the boarding passes and we were in.

Who Can Access Neptuno?

There is one quirk about the Neptuno lounge – although it shouldn’t catch many out due to where the flights are heading from T4S.

And that is that anyone within the Schengen Area – will not be allowed access to this lounge.

Schengen Area countries include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Even before the UK left the EU, they were not formally a Schengen Area country, and that remains the case – so anyone flying to the UK (like we were) will gain access to the lounge.

Passengers on long haul flights will also be fine.

However, do note that if you are flying from Spain to any of those countries listed above then you will not be granted access to the lounge.

We were asked verbally where we were flying to when we checked in, and of course it will also be on your boarding pass – so there’s no sneaking in!

Other than that – Neptuno VIP accepts Priority Pass or you can purchase tickets for €45.54 for adults and €21.76 for children at the time of writing this review.

Food & Drinks At Neptuno VIP

The food and drink offerings were in line with what I’d generally expect from a Spanish airport lounge – and were far, far superior to the corresponding Heathrow T5 lounge we experienced on the way out to Madrid!

The food and drink is all self-service – and the area in which to do so is vast and spacious. Soft drinks and water are all displayed in refrigerated displays with ice buckets and bottle openers for the glass bottles.

There is a selection of beers, wines and sparkling wines – again, all of which is self serve.

We tried the Cava and a white wine – both of which were excellent and on a par with what we had been drinking in an expensive restaurant the night before at €40 a bottle.

We also had a few of the soft drinks that were as you’d expect.

The food options were good – although there was a lack of hot food at the time we visited. As I mentioned, it was around 5.30-6pm by the time we made it to the lounge – with Spanish people generally not eating dinner until around 9pm onwards.

I have seen other Neptuno reviews that show hot food – which I am guessing would come later.

That being said, there were some hot Spanish tortilla and pizza to choose from – the tortilla was lovely. I added to that a selection of cold meats and cheese – all of which were very good.

There were olives and nuts of all varieties available too – as well as pre-packed sandwiches and rolls – of which we took a couple for our 2 hour flight home (yes we were a little naughty here but it was hard to resist).

A wide selection of cakes, donuts and pastries were also on hand.

If you were traveling through here and found your were out of sync time zone wise you’d be well catered for – as there were also breakfast items available – including fruits and yogurts.

Overall – I couldn’t fault the food and drink options.

Our Experience

I loved the Neptuno lounge. When you first walk in you can’t escape the openness and calmness of the space. In my opinion it is what an airport lounge should be.

My wife felt it was a little less impressive, given the more business-like feel to the place – but for me, this is what a lounge should offer. Somewhere to work if needed, but relax if you so wish – for me, Neptuno hits both target markets perfectly.

A pet hate of mine with lounges is when you have to leave to go to the rest rooms – not a mistake that Neptuno make. I didn’t use the showers but did ask a guest who had used them what they were like and he commented on them being perfectly adequate.

The seats are very comfortable, with USB C charging ports and plenty of plug sockets. The atmosphere was calm and relaxing, and the lounge was very quiet.

I love the large, spacious, open plan nature to the lounge and the staff were very accommodating when we had questions about the facilities.

My only regret about Neptuno was that we weren’t able to check in earlier (due to British Airways) which meant we only spent around an hour in the lounge.

For me, it’s well worth spending one of your PP passes on. Luckily for us, we have unlimited passes with our Amex Platinum so it was a no-brainer!

Despite my lame impression of a Tom Cruise Mission Impossible-style run through Dubai airport to make my connection, I did indeed make the flight departing Dubai to London Heathrow to allow me to bring you this Emirates A380 First Class review.

First Impressions

As I was rather hurriedly connecting flights, I unfortunately didn’t have time to access the Emirates First Class Lounge. So my first impression when I ran onto the plane as pretty much the last passenger to board, was that I was definitely the last First Class passenger to board.

I had started my journey in Bali, which is renowned for having poor airport lounges and has no dedicated Emirates lounge (read my Bali Lounge review here) – and as Emirates do not offer a First Class service from Bali, I had travelled Business Class up until this point.

This was my first Emirates A380 First Class experience. Despite sweating, being horrendously out of breath and stressed because I was convinced I wasn’t going to make this flight due to a 3-hour delay at Bali, I was bowled over by the welcome.

A very personable greeting by my flight attendant and the immediate offer of champagne (or any other drink I wanted), a hot towel (although at this stage I really wanted a cold one), and then being shown to my suite, the first impression was exactly what I had expected – opulence.

First really is a big step up from Business.

The privacy afforded by the sliding doors, the attentiveness of the staff who are with you within seconds of hitting the call button, and of course the large bathrooms – this had the makings of a very comfortable final leg of my trip home.

There was a sting in the tail end of this story, which I will get to later – but for now, everything was pure bliss as my heart rate lowered back to it’s normal resting range.

Pre-Departure

Despite my rushing to catch the plane (it was at final call before I disembarked my preceding flight), we had time for three glasses of champagne prior to take-off.

I asked for one, and the free-pouring flight attendant just kept topping me up as soon as he noticed I was nearing empty.

The Dom Pérignon 2013 might not be the 2003 vintage that we used to see on Emirates, but at around $230 per bottle and a good year for the brand, it is still a very enjoyable sip.

I spent most of my time getting comfortable in my suite, which has ample space to keep your carry-on bag, as well as an array of snacks and drinks to keep you going during take-off and landing.

I also took this time to inspect the Bvlgari toiletries bag. This gifted a generous 30ml Bvlgari Le Gemme Gyan Eau de Parfum worth over $100, aftershave balm, emulsion, cleansing towel, razor, shaving foam, dental kit, deodorant, tissues, and a hairbrush.

Between swigs of champagne, I also checked out the Emirates pajamas, and got myself familiar with the ports and plugs for all my charging needs.

Before we took off, I was also asked when I’d like to take my shower. I opted for 90 minutes prior to landing. They also asked if I’d like my food straight after take-off. This was my preference, as it was a nighttime flight.

Main Service

I opted for skipping the breakfast options and went straight for the caviar (with all the trimmings) to start, followed by the mezze as my actual starter, and the spiced lamb with rice as my main.

I was asked if I wanted a foie gras amuse-bouche, which was hard to turn down – so the food was already flowing thick and fast.

In fact, if there’s one criticism of most First Class services, it’s that there’s simply too much food.

Anyway – the amuse-bouche was delicious, as was the mountain of caviar that I was presented with. I polished off the blinis and some of the melba toasts that accompanied it, and moved on to the mezze.

The mezze was my first mistake. I mean it was delicious, but it was a meal in itself. Even the flight attendant commented that it was a lot of food as he cleared my half-full plates.

Then came the lamb, which was slow-cooked, plentiful, and simply delicious. I had a glass of the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Louis Latour 2012, which retails at around $200 per bottle. This was a very large glass as you will see from my photographs, but was very enjoyable (if not to my taste completely).

What I love about the First Class experience with Emirates is that you can have what you want, when you want. I decided after the meal that I’d change into my pajamas, check out the lie-flat seat, and grab a few hours’ sleep.

The Bathroom

Before heading to my slumber, I visited the bathroom to change. This was perhaps the most impressive part of the whole experience for me. Having ample space to change into pajamas without feeling like you are performing some sort of contortion act is a real luxury at 40,000 feet.

The bathroom is even more spacious than I’d imagined after watching plenty of videos showing it. It is well kitted-out with a range of amenities, and has towels and additional toiletries should you need them.

Now you might think it would be too decadent to put a heated floor in the bathroom of an airplane, but that’s exactly what you get here. And when changing into your nightwear just before bed, that heated floor is just the ticket to help you feel relaxed.

More on the shower later… I headed back to my suite for a slumber.

Lie-Flat Seat

Back at the suite and I had made my bed lie flat. I have read that often the attendants will have made your bed for you, but as I hadn’t indicated to them that I was changing into my night clothes, they probably didn’t know to do this.

Anyway, I promptly made my seat lie flat with the touch of a button, and placed my mattress in place. I decided not to use the hefty blanket that was provided, as I was still quite warm – and on the previous flight I had been too hot when sleeping.

The difference between Business and First when it comes to the lie-flat seat is vast. This experience was as close as I have ever come to feeling 100% comfortable and as though I am in a real bed while flying.

What makes the experience even better is the sliding door to give you almost complete privacy. I closed the door, put my belt on, and went to sleep.

I slept for around 3 hours – which is a little less than I’d intended, but I’d already had around 2.5 hours’ sleep on my 9-hour flight from Bali to Dubai, so I was happy overall with that.

More Service

Upon waking, I pressed the call button and within 10 seconds the attendant appeared. I didn’t fancy breakfast or any of the other on-demand dining options, so asked for a cup of tea. I was promptly presented with a pot of tea and a selection of chocolates and biscuits.

All of which were delicious and some of which I saved to take home.

At this point I was gearing up for my in-flight shower, so used the supplied Emirates bag to pop my clothes into, and was promptly escorted to the bathroom by one of the attendants.

Emirates A380 Shower

The flight attendant offered to show me how everything worked in the bathroom – although it’s all very self-explanatory.

You get five minutes of hot water in the shower itself, but you can switch this on and off as required. They didn’t explicitly tell me how long I could spend in the bathroom, but I’m guessing around 25-30 minutes would be the limit.

Either way, I didn’t need anywhere near as long as that and was done within 15 minutes.

There is a helpful monitor that shows you how much hot water you have remaining, and this automatically shuts off at 25% remaining – just in case you are getting carried away, I suppose.

The heated floor is a lovely touch, the shower itself is pretty powerful – I’ve certainly had worse on the ground – and overall, this is a fantastic way to start or end your flight.

I was really glad to have chosen the end of the flight for my shower, as after two long flights I arrived at Heathrow feeling refreshed.

The array of a VOYA toiletries and a fresh towel are placed in the bathroom for you when you take your shower. I didn’t use any of these, but I am sure they are all great.

There are also extra dental kits, shaving kits, cotton buds and shower caps should you need them.

Having space to dry off in the large bathroom and dressing with space to swing several cats (although not advised) is a joy. Then, it was back to my seat for some pre-landing treats.

Pre-Landing & Exiting

As I hadn’t ordered any more food, I was presented with some fresh fruits and a mint tea. All very pleasant and pretty refreshing considering it was now early morning local time (around 6.30am).

I was also offered more chocolates (which I decided to take home for the kids), the pre-landing clean-up had commenced, and we were very quickly on the ground.

There was an issue at Heathrow with the airbridge, so it took a good 15 minutes to leave the plane. First Class of course were first off, and the attendants were holding back the hoards of Business Class passengers who were almost fighting to exit.

Not the best experience at the end of the flight, but not something that Emirates could really do much about, I guess.

An Unfortunate End

Upon arriving at the luggage collection, it soon became evident that only a handful of people had their luggage. Due to the floods in Dubai, Emirates seemingly prioritized boarding passengers and not the luggage – as there were around 100-150 people without any luggage.

This might not have been a massive issue if there had been adequate staff to deal with the reporting of lost luggage – but this wasn’t the case.

To cut a long story short, I manage to fill in a form and hand it in (this took around 45 minutes) and my luggage arrived three days later to my house.

Although not all of this was Emirates’ fault, they are not off the hook entirely.

As mentioned, the airport staff was lacking at baggage claim – but there were zero Emirates staff at their desk on exit.

Emirates have a chauffeur lounge at Heathrow, where you can meet your chauffeur to drive you home. This was being renovated, so I was told by one of the builders to go to the desk opposite – but there was no-one there.

Luckily, my rather abrupt chauffeur had called me and told me where to meet him. He wasn’t easy to find, but I located him eventually and the journey home was swift.

Not a great ending to what was otherwise an exceptional flight and terrific experience.

I’m writing this review as I sit in the rebranded version, and will give you my honest verdict in this Tujuwan Lounge review.

First things first, let’s set the scene. I was already not in the best of moods thanks to flash flooding in Dubai (where I’m catching my connecting flight), giving me a 2-hour delay accompanied with the prospect of missing my connecting flight to London Heathrow and being stranded in a flooded Dubai airport for hours (maybe days, if they doom mongers on X are to be believed – yes, I need to stop planning for the worst).

So it looks like I’m going to be spending the best part of 3 hours in the Tujuwan Lounge – the lounge offered to pretty much all Business and First Class passengers on any of the major international airlines, including Emirates (my airline today), Qatar, Qantas, and many more.

There are two other lounges to choose from: a budget option that didn’t seem to have a name, and the Concordia Lounge, which is located next door (Concordia is a Priority Pass lounge). 

The reviews I’d read about the formerly named Premier Lounge and Concordia were equally terrible, with Google reviews kicking up common statements such as:

‘This lounge is constantly crowded and you’re lucky to get a seat.’

‘No alcohol here – be warned.’

‘The bread is stale and the food choices are slim.’

So it’s fair to say I wasn’t looking forward to the experience. I was even planning to eat downstairs at one of the many appetite-inducing eateries rather than the food poisoning that one reviewer had claimed they’d had as a result of their visit.

After one glass of white wine, I can confirm that at least one of the above statements is no longer true.

But how did the rest of my experience fare? Let’s get into it…

My Tujuwan Lounge Experience

As I mentioned earlier, I had done my research on the lounges at Bali – even more so when I learned I could be spending many hours in one. So I had tempered my expectations.

My concluding impression? I was very pleasantly surprised by the lounge, and I can tell you 100% that it is not the worst lounge in the world.

My guess is that the renaming of the lounge has coincided with a clear effort to improve – and to cater to an international traveler. 

Although Bali is mainly Hindu, the old operation was more akin to a lounge you would find in a predominantly Muslim country (which Indonesia is). And as such, alcohol was not served.

Anyone who does drink will tell you that a lounge without alcohol is not much fun.

The beverage offering at Tujuwan is decent. They offer a range of cocktails (including espresso martinis), mocktails, beer, and a selection of wine – all served from a small bar area. They also have plenty of bottled water, soda water, soft drinks, and self-serve tea and coffee.

The food options, while not plentiful, were pleasant. They were being renewed and replenished regularly during my evening visit, and there were at least five different options – some local and some international (spaghetti). 

There were some local desserts, sandwiches (these didn’t look particularly appetising, so I didn’t bother), and some snacks such as nuts and cookies.

The atmosphere in the lounge was equally pleasant. It was not busy, with at least 50 free seats. As I write this I have 10 empty seats and tables next me with just one occupied.

I had read that the plugs didn’t work and they had no USB sockets. Again, this is not the case anymore.

I am currently charging my iPhone from a USB 2.0 socket (I did need my trusty 3 to 2.0 adapter, which I take on journeys like this as charging points are often an issue), and it is working a treat.

The seats are comfortable and there a few different zones to choose from. Almost all have low tables though, so if you are planning on working on a laptop you may find yourself hunched over (as I am right now).

There are several standalone air-conditioning units, but they do not seem the most effective. I overheard one member of staff informing a guest that they were not working properly – and it’s a little warm in the lounge. Not uncomfortably so, although I have been traveling for a month so I have probably adjusted somewhat.

The most impressive aspect of this visit is the staff. They are superb.

They are well presented, friendly, plentiful, and can’t do enough to make sure you are happy. I dared to walk up to the bar to get a second glass of wine and I was promptly told to sit down as she followed me to my seat and carried my drink for me.

As my flight was delayed, on entry one staff member talked me through the issue in Dubai and informed me of how to track it from within the lounge. This was pretty obvious, as there is a large screen displaying the information – but it’s a nice touch all the same.

One thing I love about airport lounges are the restrooms. Some don’t have them, but thankfully the Tujuwan Lounge does.

They are not the largest, but there is one shower in both the mens’ and ladies’ – and the restrooms are clean enough.

Verdict

All in all, is the Tujuwan Lounge the worst in the world? No – not by a long shot. In fact, I quite enjoyed it. 

Okay, so the food is not the best I’ve had – but it was fresh, hot and tasty. I was expecting no booze, but was instead greeted with a good cocktail menu, decent wine (the Chenin Blanc was my tipple), and beer.

It’s comfortable, not over-crowded, and they seem to have got the basics right.

Bali is hardly like Dubai, so shouldn’t be judged by the same standards – but it is a very pleasant and comfortable lounge and my three hours here were hardly the worst way to start my 18-hour (hopefully) journey home.

Which is why in the last 18 months I’ve signed up to and used pretty much every Amex card going… and my latest addition to my collection might just be the best yet… the Amex Platinum Card.

Now, when I say the best yet – I’m talking about for my own personal circumstances. Yours might be very different to mine, and of course, there is one major difference when assessing American Express’ premium offering – the whopping big £650 yearly fee!

If you’ve landed on this Amex Platinum Card review, I’m guessing you are already considering signing up – and you’d have good reason if you stand to gain from the wide range of travel (and non-travel) perks that come with this card.

If you can’t stomach the £650 fee – stop reading now and maybe consider either the BA Amex Card or The Amex Gold card – both of which come with their own significant travel benefits and are without year one fees.

But if I have piqued your interest enough to consider £300 worth of global dining credit, £100 Harvey Nichols retail credit, free access to airport lounges and included worldwide travel cover – plus a fair few other perks – then let’s pick apart the Platinum Card offer and see just how much value an average traveller might enjoy.

Amex Platinum Card – How It Works

The Platinum card by American Express works just like any other credit card, and like other cards, it comes with its own set of perks. It is ideal for those who travel a fair amount (we will get in to why shortly) and like other Amex cards, it allows you to collect American Express points – which they call Membership Rewards.

For every £1 you spend, you earn 1 point that can be used against travel or retail related purchases. But you get this with non-fee paying cards, so what makes Platinum so special?

For your £650 yearly fee you also get an array of other benefits – and depending on how often you travel, they could be worth thousands in savings.

Amex points can also be transferred to other travel programs – including Avios points transfers, which means they can be used on airlines including Qatar Airways and British Airways.

Amex Membership Rewards can also be transferred to:

• Delta SkyMiles
• Asia Miles
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad Guest
• Finnair
• Flying Blue (AirFrance & KLM)
• Marriott Bonvoy
• Qantas
• SAS
• Singapore Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Having the ability to transfer Amex Reward points to so many programs makes it a very appealing rewards program.

The Welcome Bonus

The welcome bonus on the Platinum Card is one of the most generous – and depending on when you apply (if they have any promotions running or not) and whether you are referred – you could earn as many as 100,000 points.

One word of note (and something I personally didn’t realize when I signed up) is that if you have earned bonus points from any other American Express Rewards point programs in the past two years to you signing up – you will be ineligible for the bonus points.

I was a little miffed at this – as I had previously had an Amex personal Gold Card and a Business Gold Card – and received bonus points from both of these. I felt with my £650 fee I should have been entitled to the points – so it goes to show – always read the small print!

It’s worth saying too, that if you are recommended by a friend, the chances are you will be offered more bonus points. If you don’t have a friend to refer you, feel free to drop me an email at jason@pointsinspector.com and I’ll send you a referral code.

American Express run promotions throughout the year, and when they are on, the bonus points will sometimes shoot from the standard 40,000 points – up to 100,000.

Amex Platinum Benefits

Despite my issue with not being eligible for the bonus points – even without them, the Platinum Card benefits can still more than make up for the hefty yearly fee.

Let’s start by looking at the headline grabbing benefits:

There are additional benefits to these headline grabbing perks listed above, which include the Amex travel and dining concierge service, automatic access to higher tiers in hotel loyalty programs including Hilton Honors and Marriot Bonvoy Gold Elite Status, discounts on car hire and flights as well as double points on all Amex travel purchases and 1x points on all other purchases.

It’s important to state that these benefits are really only benefits if you use them – and although you do not need to use them all to make the Platinum Card worth it – the more you use, the more value you can get out of it.

Next, I’m taking a look at how that value stacks up for me and my family in a standard year.

True Value

There are three main reasons I want any kind of travel rewards credit card:

1. To collect points to spend on flights (including those generous signup bonuses)
2. Access airport lounges
3. Travel insurance

The other benefits are nice perks, but they aren’t deal breakers for me. You should only include them when calculating your true value if they are things you would actually spend money on.

For me – the addition of the £300 global dining credit is a real boon – as both myself and my wife love eating in high end restaurants and so this is effectively a £300 like for like value for me.

If you would not ordinarily spend £150 in one visit to any of the restaurants that the dining credit can be used for – then this might actually add costs for you rather than reduce them.

Here’s my breakdown of true value:

As you can see from the table above, I’ve attributed £1249 of value in year one, which means even after the £650 fee I am still enjoying close to £600 in additional value.

For me, I wouldn’t use the Harvey Nichols credit usually – I will definitely take advantage of it as a nice bonus, but that, the concierge and the car hire discount is something I wouldn’t factor in.

For you, it might be the dining credit or the travel insurance that is worth nothing to you – and the figures above might be different for you based on your circumstances and preferences – but hopefully they serve as a good guide.

Is It Worth It?

Whether the American Express Platinum Card is worth it for you will very much depend on how you attribute the value to the benefits as shown above.

Certainly, if you are eligible for the year one bonus points then it is usually very easy to make a solid case ‘for’ the Platinum Card.

The other beefy benefits such as the airport lounge access and dining credit will depend on how often you travel and how you like to dine. If you are traveling via air more than 4 times per year (assuming at least two lounge visits per trip for two or more people) and you take advantage of the dining credit then the chances are it will at least break even for you.

For me personally, even without the bonus points, the card is well worth it. For those who don’t have a family or who travel alone, then the perks might have to work a bit harder to make this card worth it for you.

Personally, I love the Platinum Card – and although the annual fee has crept up in recent years – so long as it doesn’t go much further north, I’ll continue to use it.

Verdict

We are blessed to have so many high value rewards based credit cards at our disposal – and the Platinum Card by American Express really is one of the heavy hitters.

Personally, I love it. Aside from the gorgeous aesthetic and the weighty feel of metal each time you pay for something, the benefits really are benefits – and not just a small perk.

The amount of value you can extract each year will vary on your exact usage, but for anyone who travels by air a few times each year (especially if it’s with others) then it shouldn’t be hard to at least break even – and that’s without trying too hard to find the value.

Should you get the Platinum Card? Only you can decide – but for me it’s a big yes!

Our AmExs combined have given us a lot (though, of course, we’ve paid a fair amount in fees in the process) – from flight upgrades to lounges, to freebies on Amazon (my personal favorite perk).

According to the most recent valuations by TPG, Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards points are tied as the most rewarding transferable points currencies, valued at approximately 2 cents per point. And with the right transfer partners, you can potentially squeeze even more value from your points. It’s pretty intense.

But how do you do this? How do you make the most out the American Express Rewards and what are the best ways to use AmEx points? I’m exploring all of that below…

The top ways to use your points

Want all the juice you can possibly get from your points? Here are the best ways to do it.

Transfer to airline partners

You can transfer your AmEx Membership Rewards points to airline partners. This will let you redeem points for flights on various airlines, giving you a big bang for your buck.

Transferring your points to airline partners can maximize the value of your Membership Rewards points. Airlines often offer better value for point redemptions compared to other options like cashback or gift cards. This means you can get more out of your points by using them for flights.

Transferring your American Express Membership Rewards points to airline partners is simple:

1. Log in to your American Express account.
2. Head to the Membership Rewards section of your account. This can usually be found by selecting the ‘Rewards’ or ‘Membership Rewards’ tab.
3. Select ‘Transfer Points’.
4. From the list of available partners, select your favorite airline to transfer your points to.
5. Here’s where you provide your loyalty program account information, such as your frequent flyer number and name, to link your AmEx account with the selected airline program.
6. Enter the number of points to transfer – there’ll be some rewarding promotions available to get the most out of your points.
7. Review all your transfer details, and confirm the transfer.
8. Wait a little while for your transfer points to load.
9. The satisfying part – seeing your miles safely land into your loyalty account! I always check these miles are correct (I’m the detail type when it comes to rewards).

Remember that the available transfer partners, transfer ratios, and specific instructions can change, so always inspect your points.

Transfer to hotel partners

Transferring points to hotel partners is rewarding by name and very rewarding by nature. It’s luxury for a lot less.

You stand to gain a few things by transferring your AmEx Membership Rewards points to hotel partners. One of the main advantages is increased flexibility. This is because you are not limited to a specific hotel chain – you can choose from a variety of hotel partners, and find those gem stays that best suit your taste and travel plans.

And, of course, there is value maximization, which is what I’m all about. Hotel programs often offer better redemption rates compared to other options, just like you can get with airlines. This means that by transferring your points to hotel partners, you can potentially get more value out of your Membership Rewards points.

Furthermore, transferring points to hotel partners makes you eligible for the benefits and perks offered by the hotel loyalty program. These benefits can include room upgrades, complimentary breakfasts, access to exclusive amenities, and more. I’ve had quite a few free breakfasts over the years – and yes, they really do taste better for being on the house!

AmEx points can push further than this though. Accumulate enough and, for some hotel redemption rates, the entire cost of your accommodation could be covered. It’ll be a hefty vault of points you’ll need, but absolutely possible to achieve.

Some hotel loyalty programs offer elite status tiers based on your activity and points balance. By transferring points and staying at partner hotels, you may be able to unlock elite status benefits such as late checkout, priority check-in, and bonus point earnings.

I’m a real fan of the late checkout. Book in tandem with a late flight and you’ve got a whole extra day of holiday. I’ve only used it a couple of times, but it’s a real cheat code for maximizing your stay.

Here’s a tip: always keep an eye out for transfer bonuses – these are extra AmEx points to your transfer when converting to hotel partners. These bonuses can increase the value of your points, and provide an opportunity to accumulate more rewards.

Use for statement credits

Though a little less glamorous, redeeming your AmEx points for statement credits is still a very beneficial reward. It offsets the cost of eligible purchases made on your American Express card, offering flexibility in how you use your points.

In short, this will mean a smaller credit card bill. It’s very handy at times – when we were all grounded during Covid lockdown, this is one of the financial tactics my wife and I used to our advantage when we couldn’t spend our points on travel or going out.

Once you make a qualifying purchase, you can apply your points to offset the cost by redeeming them for statement credits, effectively reducing the amount you owe. It’s a pretty straightforward process, plus it’s flexible and convenient, giving you plenty of control over which purchases you want to offset and when you want to redeem your points.

Here’s another way this could come in handy: if you overspend on your holiday and you’ve got points left over after upgrading your flight and hotel experience, why not shift them onto your statement at the end of your stay? That’s a couple of free margaritas, or a free meal at your favorite local taverna.

Shop with points

I’m not a big one for shopping in general (unless we’re talking health supplements or vintage clothing, two of my weak spots…), but even I have to admit that this is a pretty cool way to use your AmEx points. It gives you an online marketplace filled with a wide variety of products and services that you can use your points to buy.

By opting to shop with points, you can effectively transform your loyalty points into tangible items – they really do act like cash, here. And you can spend that ‘cash’ on a lot of different things, such as electronics, home goods, fashion, beauty, and so on. From the latest smartphones and gadgets to high-quality kitchen appliances or fashion accessories, there’ll be something for you.

And if you don’t want to shop for yourself? Well, you can also buy gift cards with them. With a wide selection of gift cards available, you can choose to redeem your points for cards from popular retailers, restaurants, or even entertainment venues. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? That’s right – a handy way to top up someone’s Christmas or birthday gift, all in exchange for your points.

Shopping with points through the online marketplace is an enjoyable experience. What I mean by that, is that it’s convenient and hassle-free (my kind of shopping).

It’s easy as anything to browse the products and services on offer, take a look at detailed descriptions, and make your selections directly on the platform. Once you make a purchase with your points, the item is typically shipped to the cardholder’s designated address… it really couldn’t get much smoother.

Using AmEx points for shopping gives you a real, tangible reward that you can hold in your hand. A welcome opportunity to buy yourself a deserved treat – the latest gadget, or a cool camera for your travels, maybe – without making any kind of guilty dent in your wallet.

Always remember though, inspect your points – their value when shopping may vary depending on the specific item or gift card chosen. Always compare prices, consider the retail values, and think about the real redemption value before buying anything using your points.

Use your points on Amazon

OK, so we’re still shopping over here… but marrying the ease of AmEx points with the ease of Amazon makes me want to talk about this separately. It’s a great way to use your points – especially during periods of non-travel – and one of my favorite ways of browsing Amazon.

Whether it’s for everyday items for home, or products that’ll be great for your next adventure or work trip away, AmEx points go far with Amazon. Here, your points on Amazon are like credits, much like using a gift card to offset the total cost. And it’s so simple to do.

First, you need to link your eligible American Express card to your Amazon account. This can be done by going to the American Express Shop with Points page on Amazon. Once your card is linked, the process is easy:

• Enroll your AmEx card in the Membership Rewards program. This is a prerequisite for using your reward points for shopping on Amazon.
• Browse through the millions of eligible items on Amazon and add them to your cart.
• Picked your items? Head over to the checkout, and select ‘Membership Rewards points’ as your payment method.
• Enter the number of points you want to apply to your purchase, and review your order before confirming.
• It’s on the way! All courtesy of your AmEx points, which will be deducted from your Membership Rewards account.

With Amazon, you’ve got a colossal volume of products to choose from. With Amex points, you’ve got a simple, rewarding way to purchase these items and save yourself some money. A fantastic scheme that’s easy to flex.

Final thought

If you’re an AmEx cardholder, the AmEx Membership Rewards program delivers you a bouquet of attractive redemption options, allowing you to make the most of the points you accumulate throughout both your everyday life, and around the world as you travel.

Whether it’s booking travel, redeeming for statement credits, or shopping online, there is something for everyone.

However, it’s quite an investment. Squaring it can be a challenge – is it really worth it for the money you spend, for what you get?

Let’s have a deeper look in to this semi-exclusive lounge membership program and figure it out.

What is Priority Pass?

Priority Pass is a program that gives you instant access to a really very widespread network of airport lounges around the world. In fact, it covers over 1,500 lounges in over 600 cities across 145 countries. You’ll struggle to find somewhere in any major city not catering to it.

Thus, Priority Pass offers its members the convenience and luxury of comfortable spaces to relax and unwind before their flights pretty much wherever they might find themselves traveling from.

You get to choose between three tiers of membership – Priority Pass offer Standard, Standard Plus, and Prestige. These different levels all come with various benefits, including the likes of complimentary access to lounges, airport guides, Wi-Fi access, and refueling facilities, to name just a few.

As well as this, plenty of credit cards offer complimentary Priority Pass membership as a perk – both me and my wife have a pretty decent deal with the Platinum American Express card, for example, so we are able to enjoy the benefits on offer in airport lounges without any additional cost above and beyond what we pay for the Amex account.

Amex Gold (both personal and business) also come with Priority Pass – although the limit of visits does vary.

Priority Pass seems very able to cater to its members diverse needs by offering access to not just traditional airport lounges, but also to mini-suites and restaurants and the like. By expanding beyond lounges, Priority Pass makes sure that you will always be able to enjoy a unique experience with various options from which to choose.

Priority Pass will also give you access to airline-operated lounges as well – BA and the like have some lovely lounges. These kinds of deals are generally reserved for business and first-class passengers, or for those holding some kind of elite status with extensive airmiles with the airline.

However, as a Priority Pass member, you get access to these same privileges. It’s actually a pretty sweet deal. Access like this can really make your airport experience something else, allowing you to indulge in the comforts and amenities usually limited to premium passengers.

To become a member of Priority Pass and activate your account, simply visit their official website. The process is quick and straightforward, and you will be able to start enjoying membership benefits straight away.

There are also third-party lounges included. These lounges are not affiliated with any specific airline and offer access to paying customers. The quality of these lounges can vary significantly. Some may match the standards of airline-operated lounges, whilst others may leave a little to be desired, though they will generally represent a bit of an upgrade to sipping endless cups of cold coffee in Starbucks in the general waiting areas.

Priority Pass gives its members access to a vast network of lounges worldwide, both airline and non-affiliated, all to differing, yet often high, standards. With its extensive reach, diverse options, and convenient membership levels, Priority Pass aims to make your airport experience and thus overall travel experience that much nicer, more luxurious and less stressful.

Whether you are a frequent flyer or someone who occasionally indulges in luxury travel, Priority Pass offers valuable benefits that can make your time at the airport more enjoyable and relaxing.

Accessing Priority Pass lounges

You can get access to Priority Pass lounges a few different ways, including via credit card benefits (as mentioned, both myself and my wife get some good perks from using various Amex cards) and direct membership.

One popular way to gain access is through credit cards that offer complimentary Priority Pass Select membership.

Certain credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card® from American Express, provide cardholders with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership.

These premium travel cards offer additional benefits and perks, making them a pretty attractive option for frequent travelers.

Other credit cards, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, also come with complimentary Priority Pass Select memberships. These can even include two guests, allowing you and your partner or traveling companion a bit of refreshing luxury.

Alternatively, you can buy a Priority Pass membership directly from their official website. The annual fees for membership start at $99, and there are three options to choose from:

1. Standard membership: this option costs $99 yearly and allows you and your guests to access Priority Pass lounges for $35 per visit.
2. Standard Plus membership: this membership costs $329 per year, and includes 10 free visits, with subsequent visits priced at $35 each (i.e. the same price as all guest visits).
3. Prestige membership: this membership will set you back $469 yearly but offers unlimited visits for the member. However, guests accompanying the member are charged $35 per visit.

This is, of course, where it starts to fall apart. A freebie from your credit card provider is lovely. But paying a flat hundred bucks yearly for the ability to then pay $35 per visit is a bit much. Either charge per visit only or go for a perhaps slightly more robust one-off payment – $250 for unlimited visits might see more mileage, or a $25 joining fee plus a similar amount per visit.

Paying nearly $500 per year for unlimited solo visits, with guests still having to pay, is also pretty steep!

It’s also a bit of an oddity. If you’ve got this kind of budget, and fly enough to make it worth using… well, the chances are that you’ll be flying in at least business class anyway. You’ll already have access to decent airport lounges and the like.

The flexibility is nice. It at least looks good. But really, the pricing is a little odd.

What is Priority Pass like to use?

Priority Pass is nice to use. My wife and I have used it a number of times through a few different schemes – though we’ve never signed up to a dedicated membership package – rather enjoyed it as a perk with associated rewards based credit cards.

It’s all pretty user-friendly and convenient, and it really does give you a nice start and end to your journey. I always get a little tense traveling, so to have somewhere quiet to unwind and have a cup of coffee in peace is pretty special.

And it’s ubiquitous enough, with enough airports covered, that you’re guaranteed utility most places – or, at least, in most major airports.

Using Priority Pass is a straightforward process. Once you have obtained your membership, either through a credit card or by purchasing a direct membership, you can access the lounges by simply presenting your Priority Pass card or digital membership card at the lounge entrance. The staff at the lounges are familiar with the program and will quickly check your membership and let you in.

And it really is a welcoming and peaceful environment (though it should be, at these prices). The lounges are designed to provide a respite from the hustle and bustle of the airport, with comfortable seating, ample space, and generally pleasant decor. Most lounges offer amenities like complimentary Wi-Fi, charging stations, work areas, and some even provide shower facilities and spa services.

These will allow you to relax a little, catch up on some work, or at least freshen up a bit before your flights. You’ll usually have drinks (including alcohol) and snacks included, with some lounges offering more in the way of substantial meals. In these cases, the prices make sense – I can easily spend $35 on coffee or wine (depending on the time) and food when traveling.

I like using Priority Pass. And, after all, this is the point. It’s not about utility. It’s about making your journey more pleasant. You should feel a little looked after, a little pampered. And, by and large, you do. 

It is worth noting that most lounges do not allow you to pre-book and if the lounge is full, you will not be granted entry. Most large airports have a few lounge options but I have been in lounges in smaller airports and seen people turned away just minutes after we’ve entered. So far, I’ve not personally been turned away, but it does happen – so keep that in mind.

Is it worth it?

The airport can be a frustrating and stressful experience. As mentioned above, I always find it pretty stressful – check-in, timings, security, getting to the gate, dealing with crowds… it’s a lot.

In giving you access to airport lounges around the world, Priority Pass undercuts this all a fair amount. But, importantly, is it worth it?

Of course, there’s an element of subjectivity at work. How much do you benefit from it? Does it really make your traveling experience that much better? If so, and if you can afford it, who really cares about the price? And if you’ve got some excess cash, but not quite enough to afford or justify upgrading to business or first class, this is perhaps a good middle ground.

But let’s try to be objective for a moment. Let’s break it down.

Let’s say you pay five visits per year – two or three flights with decent waiting times. If you visit a lounge five times annually, you would spend $175 ($35 per visit) in addition to the $99 Standard membership fee. This equals out at $274. That’s quite a chunk of cash for five airport experiences.  Paying for food and drinks at the airport on each occasion is probably a better idea.

How about ten visits per year? Going for a Standard Plus membership with 10 free visits would cost $329. At around $33 per visit, this falls outside the typical price range for lounge visits. Therefore, it may not be financially wise to choose the Standard Plus option.

Or twenty visits per year? A Prestige membership covers all 20 visits for $469. With an average cost of $20 per visit, this is actually pretty reasonable. Anyone flying this much, and with the money (which presumably you would to travel so much), would probably go for it. In this case, and pretty much only this case (or with more visits – if you travel extensively and visit lounges 30 times or more annually, a Prestige membership would amount to less than $16 per visit, which is incredible), then Priority Pass beats sitting in Starbucks.

If your access is provided through a credit card, you need to consider this benefit when determining the membership’s value. For instance, if you visit a lounge 10 times per year and estimate each visit’s value at $20, you could consider that your credit card perk provides approximately $200 per year.

That’s none too shabby, provided their other perks are also good. It’s perhaps not a good reason to choose a card, but it may sway you, and quite rightly so. 

Also, consider the amount of time you’re likely to spend in each lounge. If you have early morning flights, you may not want to wake up earlier just to get a complimentary coffee and croissant.

Also, if you’re rushing to catch a 6:30 p.m. flight after work then you won’t have enough time to fully enjoy a lounge. The $20 per visit may not be worth it.

I personally like to get to airports nice and early (I mentioned my travel anxiety above – this diminishes it). I can easily spend a couple of hours waiting for a flight, at which time coffee and snacks in a nice, quiet place can be very welcome.

My Verdict

Really, then, a Priority Pass membership’s ability to justify itself hangs almost entirely on your travel habits and preferences. If you travel a lot without going for the expensive seats, you will likely get good use of the lounges, though you should only really consider the higher-tier Prestige membership. The other two don’t really work out to be worth it, in my opinion.

It’s probably generally a very good idea to go with a credit card contract or similar package that gives you access as a perk.

However, if you don’t travel all that much, or you know that you simply won’t ever make the most of those lounges (early morning and after-work flights, for example), then I can’t see much justification for membership.

Of course, this needn’t matter. It’s kind of a luxury, a treat-yourself moment. If you really want it, that’s its own utility – buy with your heart, by all means. It’s only when buying with your head that things can get a little troublesome.