How to maximize benefits with the American Express Platinum

The American Express Platinum Card® is one of the most benefits-rich premium travel rewards cards available.But its value doesn't just lie in the Amex Membership Rewards points you can earn with it.The Amex Platinum's true utility comes from its impressive slate of benefits — both travel-related and otherwise — that can be worth thousands of dollars each year.ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUYBy taking advantage of even just a few of the card's benefits, you can easily offset its $895 annual fee (see rates and fees).But you actually have to use those benefits and, what's more, maximize them to unlock the card's full potential.Here are the strategies I'd use to get the most value from the Amex Platinum.American Express Platinum Card: Find out your offer — you may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $12,000 on purchases in your first six months of membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.First things to do when you get the Amex Platinum CardBefore you start maximizing the card, knock out a few setup tasks. Several Platinum benefits require enrollment or activation, and forgetting to do so can mean leaving value on the ta...