How Does the American Express Platinum Card $200 Annual Dining Credit Work?

One of the new features recently introduced on the Canadian-issued American Express Platinum Card is the $200 annual dining credit.

This benefit was added to help offset the increased annual fee, which rose from $699 (all figures in CAD) to $799 on September 26, 2023.

The $200 annual dining credit is now available to current and future cardholders, and the list of restaurants at which it can be used ‌is also live.

What Is the American Express Platinum Card $200 Annual Dining Credit?

The American Express Platinum Card‘s $200 annual dining credit was introduced in September 2023, when major changes hit the American Express Platinum Card.

Part of the changes included increasing the card’s annual fee from $699 to $799, and the dining credit was introduced to help offset the annual fee increase.

Each calendar year, cardholders are eligible for a $200 statement credit upon making a qualifying purchase of at least $200 at a participating restaurant in Canada.

It’s important to note that the dining credit will only kick in on a transaction of at least $200. The dining credit isn’t cumulative, which means you won’t be able to make a few smaller purchases and have it triggered.

Furthermore, the $200 annual dining credit is only available to the primary cardholder, and isn’t available on supplementary accounts.

The $200 annual dining credit on the Canadian-issued American Express Platinum Card is only valid for dine-in services at participating establishments in Canada. Restaurants outside Canada won’t trigger the credit, even if they’re valid for dining credits with Platinum Cards issued by other countries.

There are currently 171 eligible restaurants in Canada, which are mostly concentrated in major city centres. However, there are participating restaurants in smaller cities as well, such as Cambridge, Rimouski, and Tofino, to name a few.

The full list of restaurants can be found on the American Express website.

Since the $200 dining credit runs on the calendar year and not the cardholder year, if you currently hold a Platinum Card or if you’re approved for one before the end of 2023, you’ll enjoy a $200 dining credit this year, and another one as of January 1, 2024.

Therefore, if you have the Platinum Card by the end of 2023, you’ll enjoy three $200 credits over the first year as a cardholder, or by your next cardholder anniversary date if you already have the card:

• One $200 dining credit to be used by December 31, 2023
• Another $200 dining credit to be used on or after January 1, 2024
• One $200 annual travel credit to be used before your anniversary date (if not already used)

If the current welcome bonus on the card interests you, be sure to leave enough time to use up the first dining credit by the end of 2023.

How to Use the American Express Platinum Card’s $200 Annual Dining Credit

Initially, cardholders must manually register for the $200 annual dining credit on the Amex Offers section of their account.

Registration can either be completed within the American Express mobile app, or on the American Express website.

Simply login to your American Express account, select your Platinum Card if you have more than one Amex card, and then navigate to the Amex Offers section.

Once here, look for the $200 annual dining credit, and hit “Register your card”.

After you’ve registered, all you need to do is pay for a bill totalling at least $200 at any of the participating restaurants in Canada using your Amex Platinum Card. Once the transaction posts to your account, you’ll receive a $200 statement credit.

Keep in mind that the statement credits can take five business days to appear, but it can take up to 150 days from the offer end date, as per the terms and conditions.

However, if the $200 statement credit for dining is akin to statement credits from many other Amex Offers, it should appear on your account within a few days.

After the initial enrolment, cardholders won’t have to manually add the offer each year from the Amex Offers page. Rather, you’ll be automatically re-enrolled, and the statement credit will be applied to your account on any eligible transaction above $200 at one of the eligible venues.

Conclusion

American Express recently increased the annual fee on the Canadian-issued American Express Platinum Card from $699 to $799. To help offset the increased cost, cardholders now have a $200 annual dining credit to use at a participating restaurant in Canada.

Current cardholders, and those who are approved before December 31, 2023, will enjoy a dining credit valid until the end of 2023, and another $200 credit at the start of 2024.

The $200 annual dining credit joins the $200 annual travel credit as one of the mainstay features on the American Express Platinum Card. If you’re able to take advantage of the dining credit, be sure to take a look at the list of restaurants, and then pay with your Platinum Card for a significantly reduced bill.