Auf Deutsch lesen →Where this card fits —
the flexible reserve
The Swisscard Amex Platinum isn't a Miles & More card at all — it earns Membership Rewards points, a flexible currency that transfers to Miles & More, Flying Blue, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and several others. The reason it belongs on this site: the welcome bonus alone is worth more than a year of spending on almost any other Swiss card.
For the full breakdown of transfer ratios and when to move points, see the Amex Membership Rewards transfer guide. We cover the card alongside its competitors in our full Swiss credit card comparison too — this page is the focused, standalone version.
- Welcome bonuses, annual fees, and earning rates change frequently — always verify on americanexpress.ch before applying
- Meilenguru is not affiliated with or endorsed by American Express or Swisscard
- This guide is for informational purposes only — not financial advice
Amex Platinum Switzerland —
in full
Welcome bonus (standard)
45,000 MR pts
Earning rate
1 MR / CHF 1
Annual fee
CHF 900
Why it works
- Best single welcome bonus in Switzerland — 45,000 points standard
- Flexible — transfer to M&M, Flying Blue, BA, Singapore, Etihad, and more
- 1 MR per CHF 1 earned on all spending
- Priority Pass Prestige (unlimited lounges)
The trade-offs
- Swiss transfer ratio is 2:1 to most airline programmes — worse than US or UK Amex (often 1:1)
- CHF 900 annual fee — no year-1 discount on this card
- Points are worth nothing sitting idle — you have to transfer to a programme to use them
How it compares —
like for like
| Metric | Amex Platinum | Amex Gold | Cornèrcard Gold | Swisscard M&M Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus (standard) | 45,000 MR pts | 15,000 MR pts | 10,000 miles | 10,000 miles |
| Currently elevated to | — | — (promo ended 25 Aug 2026) | 40,000, up to 65,000 with draw (ends 29 Nov 2026) | 40,000 (ends 24 Sep 2026) |
| Base earning rate | 1 MR / CHF 1 (→ 0.5 miles at 2:1) | 1 MR / CHF 1 (→ 0.5 miles at 2:1) | 1 mile / CHF 1 (Diners) | 1 mile / CHF 2 (Mastercard) |
| Annual fee | CHF 900 (no yr 1 discount) | CHF 350 (CHF 175 yr 1) | CHF 220 (CHF 110 yr 1) | CHF 700 (CHF 350 yr 1) |
| Programme flexibility | 10+ programmes | 10+ programmes | Miles & More only | Miles & More only |
| Lounge access | Priority Pass Prestige (unlimited) — compare across cards | None | 5 free from CHF 7,500 spend | Priority Pass included |
| Best suited to | Biggest single bonus, max flexibility | Cheap second Amex for stacking | Ongoing everyday earning | Frequent SWISS flyers |
Targeting Flying Blue specifically rather than staying flexible? The Viseca Flying Blue World Mastercard credits that programme directly, without the 2:1 transfer tax this card carries.
Who this card
is for
Pick your situation
The single biggest welcome event, full stop → Amex Platinum
45,000 MR points standard (verify current figure before applying) is the largest one-time haul available in Switzerland, even after the 2:1 transfer loss to M&M or Flying Blue.
Flexibility without the CHF 900 fee → Amex Gold instead
Same programme access, same transfer ratios, CHF 550/year cheaper — at the cost of Priority Pass and a smaller bonus. See the Amex Gold review.
The most efficient ongoing earning rate → Cornèrcard Gold instead
1 mile per CHF 1 with no transfer dilution beats Amex's effective 0.5 miles per CHF 1 (after the 2:1 ratio) on every franc of ongoing spend — Amex only wins on the one-time bonus.
The case for
the flexible reserve
Judged purely on ongoing earning rate, Amex Platinum loses to Cornèrcard — the 2:1 Swiss transfer ratio halves the effective value of every franc spent once it lands in Miles & More or Flying Blue. That's a real, structural disadvantage, not a rounding error.
- 45,000 MR points transferred at 2:1 is still 22,500 miles — more than double Cornèrcard Gold's standard welcome bonus, in a single event
- The points aren't locked to one programme — a 22,500-mile-equivalent haul can go to whichever redemption is actually available when you need it
- Priority Pass Prestige (unlimited) has real standalone value independent of the miles question
Amex Platinum isn't the card you keep for the earning rate — it's the card you apply for once, for the bonus, and keep for the flexibility. Judge it on those terms, not as a Cornèrcard competitor.
Frequently asked
questions
Is the Swisscard Amex Platinum worth it? +
For the welcome bonus alone, usually yes — 45,000 MR points standard is the single biggest one-time earning event available in Switzerland. The CHF 900 annual fee and 2:1 transfer ratio to Miles & More or Flying Blue make it less compelling as a long-term everyday card compared to Cornèrcard.
What can Amex Platinum Membership Rewards points be transferred to? +
Miles & More and Flying Blue at a 2:1 ratio in Switzerland, plus British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Etihad, and several other airline programmes. The Swiss transfer ratio is worse than US or UK Amex cards, which often transfer at 1:1.
Should I get Amex Platinum or Cornèrcard Gold first? +
If you're building a card setup from scratch, the welcome bonus size usually makes Amex Platinum worth applying for first — then Cornèrcard Gold for ongoing everyday spend, since its earning rate is more efficient than Amex's diluted 2:1 transfer.
Let's build your card sequence.
Which card first, when to transfer, and which programme to target all depend on your specific situation. In 30 minutes we work out a plan.
Book a session — CHF 79 →