The AmEx Platinum card: Perks for a price

At $450 a year, the AmEx Platinum card isn't for the economy-minded. But newly added perks might make it worth a look.

Starting immediately, the Platinum Card will absorb costs of baggage fees, flight-change fees, in-flight food and airport lounge day passes, up to $200 a year, for flights on "your favorite airline" (which you select yearly) when ticketed with the card. Taking advantage of these features cuts the card's cost to $250 a year.

Also important: AmEx Platinum will soon join only a handful of other cards to eliminate the foreign exchange surcharge on purchases charged outside the country - an important feature for those who travel a lot.

Among the other benefits: cardholders get no-cost access to airport lounge clubs operated by American, Delta, US Airways and (through September) Continental.