The Business Platinum Card News: Is the Amex Business Platinum Right for You?

The Amex Business Platinum Card has long been a favorite among business owners, but is it right for you? The card's impressive benefits and rewards make it a top choice for those who travel frequently and want to earn points on their purchases.

One of the standout features of the Amex Business Platinum Card is its sign-up bonus: 75,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months. This can be a game-changer for businesses just starting out or looking to boost their rewards earnings.

The card also offers a generous rewards rate, with 5x points on air travel and hotels booked directly with airlines or hotels, and 1x point on all other purchases. This makes it a great choice for businesses that spend a lot on travel.

With an annual fee of $595, the Amex Business Platinum Card is not for everyone. However, for business owners who can take advantage of its benefits, it may be well worth the cost.

The American Express Business Platinum Card comes with a range of fees and charges to consider.

The annual fee for the Amex Business Platinum Card is $695 (Rates & Fees), which is one of the highest annual fee cards out there. You can also expect to pay an authorized user fee of $350 per user, which is steep compared to other cards.

One benefit of the card is that it offers no foreign transaction fees, making it a great option for businesses that travel abroad. This can save you money on international transactions.

Here are the annual fees for the Amex Business Platinum and Consumer Platinum cards:

Note that the card also offers a $200 annual airline fee credit, which can be used towards airline incidentals and fees.

The Amex Business Platinum Card has a high annual fee, but it also offers a range of benefits that can make it worthwhile.

The authorized user fee for this card is $350 per card, which is steep. This fee is non-negotiable, and authorized users will not receive additional credits, such as airline fees or Dell credits.

Here are the authorized user fees for different Amex cards:

It's worth noting that authorized users will still receive lounge access perks and most hotel perks, but they won't get the additional credits.

The American Express Business Platinum Card offers no foreign transaction fees, which can be a huge plus for frequent travelers.

This means you can make purchases abroad without worrying about extra charges.

The Citi Premier Card also offers no foreign transaction fees, making it a great option for those who travel internationally.

With no foreign transaction fees, you can focus on enjoying your trip, not stressing about your credit card bill.

The Amex Business Platinum Card offers an annual credit of up to $199 toward a CLEAR membership. This credit is available for cardmembers who enroll in CLEAR Plus.

To be eligible for the credit, you must charge the CLEAR membership fee to your Amex Business Platinum Card. The credit will automatically be reimbursed, and it doesn't matter who the fee is being paid for.

The CLEAR service offers expedited security at select airports in the United States. Instead of lining up to have your ID checked, you can have your biometric data taken and then be escorted to the front of the line.

You can also bring kids under 18 with you for free when you use the CLEAR service.

Here's a summary of the CLEAR Plus credit benefits:

This credit can help offset the cost of the CLEAR membership, which is a service that can save you time at the airport.

The business Platinum card offers some amazing benefits for travelers. You can earn a 35% rebate on paid airfare, which means you'll get a value of at least 1.54 cents per point.

Booking your flight through American Express Travel using the Membership Rewards Pay with Points feature gets you this rebate, but you need to book a first or business class flight or any cabin on your selected qualifying airline. The maximum rebate is one million points per calendar year.

If you book a $1,000 ticket for 100,000 points, you'll get 35,000 points back, meaning you're paying 65,000 points in the end. That's a value of ~1.54 cents per point, which is excellent.

You can also earn 5x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels and flights booked through Amex Travel. However, this is fairly restrictive and you generally won't earn points with your preferred loyalty program for third-party bookings.

To earn 5x points, you need to book through Amex Travel or use the Fine Hotels + Resorts program, which offers 5x points and perks like free breakfast and late checkout.

Here are the details on points redemption for airfare:

You can combine points from all your American Express Membership Rewards cards onto your most valuable card, so that they are worth the most for travel. The Business Platinum card allows you to use your AMEX points as hybrid points, giving you the best of both worlds.

The Amex Business Platinum Card offers a welcome offer of 150,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months, which can be worth up to $2,550.

Earning points with the card is relatively straightforward, with 1.5x points per dollar on business expenses, including U.S. construction materials, electronic goods retailers, shipping providers, and eligible purchases of $5,000 or higher. You'll also earn 5x points per dollar on prepaid hotels and flights booked through Amex Travel, and 1x points on other purchases.

Here's a breakdown of the earning opportunities:

If you're looking to save time at the airport, CLEAR Plus is a great option to consider. You can get reimbursed for up to $199 in annual charges with the AMEX Business Platinum and AMEX Consumer Platinum cards.

To use CLEAR Plus, you'll need to enroll in the service and then charge the annual membership fee to your eligible card. The fee is $179, but you'll get it back in the form of a credit.

CLEAR Plus allows you to skip to the front of the TSA line at various airports, which can save you around 5 minutes each time. However, the value of this credit is subjective, and some people may not find it worth the annual fee.

If you already have TSA Pre✓ included with another credit card, you may not find CLEAR Plus to be as valuable. But if you're flying at a busy time, it could be worth paying $20 a year for the service.

Here's a breakdown of the CLEAR Plus credit benefits:

If you're looking to maximize your rewards earnings through bonus category purchases, you'll want to know which categories offer the best returns. The American Express Business Platinum card offers 1.5x points per dollar on electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, construction material and hardware suppliers, and shipping providers, up to $2 million in annual spending combined with large purchase bonus.

The Amex Business Platinum card also offers 5x points on prepaid hotels and flights booked through Amex Travel, but this is fairly restrictive and may not be the best option for all businesses. Some other cards, like the American Express Consumer Platinum card, offer a $200 annual credit in the US for Uber purchases, as well as Uber VIP status.

Here's a breakdown of the bonus categories and earning rates for some American Express cards:

It's worth noting that the earning rates and bonus categories can vary depending on the specific card and your business's spending habits. Analyzing your business spending will help you see if this card will maximize your earnings.

The Amex Business Platinum Card offers some great earning opportunities. You can earn 5X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com.

The card also offers 1.5X points on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year.

In addition to these bonus categories, the card offers 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. This is a decent earning rate, but it's not the highest you'll find on other Amex cards.

To give you a better idea of the earning potential, here are some key earning rates:

Keep in mind that these earning rates can add up quickly, especially if you're making large purchases. For example, if you spend $5,000 on a construction material purchase, you'll earn 7.5X points (1.5X on the purchase + 5X on the AmexTravel.com booking).

The Business Platinum Card is packed with benefits, statement credits, and luxury add-ons worth more than $2,000 a year. These perks include lounge access, which is great, but if you weren't putting it on your business tab already, you're not saving money.

You can earn 5x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels and flights that are booked through Amex Travel, which can be a good deal because of the perks you get, and also because you still earn points with your preferred hotel loyalty program.

The card also offers a $400 Dell statement credit annually, which can be broken down into two $200 statement credits, one between January and June, and another between July and December. This can be useful for businesses that purchase electronics or other items from Dell.

Here are some of the key benefits and perks of the Business Platinum Card:

Hotel Elite Status is a valuable perk offered by the Amex Business Platinum and Consumer Platinum cards. You can earn Hilton and Marriott Gold status as a primary and additional Platinum cardholder.

To get started, you'll need to enroll online for Hilton Gold status and Marriott Gold status separately. You can also enroll additional Platinum cardholders for Gold elite status, but that needs to be done over the phone.

With Hilton Gold status, you'll get upgrades, bonus points, 5th night free on awards, late checkout, breakfast, and bottled water. I've heard the breakfast at the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem is particularly great, especially for kosher travelers like myself.

Marriott Gold status gets you late checkout, more points per dollar spent at Marriott hotels, room upgrades, enhanced in-room WiFi, and a points amenity on stays, even when redeeming points.

Here's a summary of the benefits:

The Amex Business Platinum Card offers a range of luxury hotel benefits that can enhance your travel experience.

You can earn 5x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, which is a great way to rack up points quickly. However, keep in mind that you won't earn points with your preferred loyalty program for third-party bookings, including Amex Travel bookings.

The Fine Hotels + Resorts Program is a standout benefit, offering perks like 12 PM check-in, 4 PM check-out, free breakfast for two, and free room upgrades when available.

The Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts program takes it a step further, providing benefits like daily breakfast for two, room upgrade upon arrival, a unique property amenity, guaranteed 4 PM check-out, and complimentary in-room Wi-Fi.

Here are some key perks of the Fine Hotels + Resorts Program:

These luxury hotel benefits can make a big difference in your travel experience, especially if you're looking to indulge in some high-end amenities.

The American Express Business Platinum and Consumer Platinum cards offer a range of benefits that can be a game-changer for frequent travelers. Both cards provide a 4 hour late return fee-free grace period, exclusively discounted pricing, and President's Circle membership at Hertz and National Executive status guarantee upgrades and faster free award rentals.

One of the standout benefits of both cards is hotel elite status. With the Business Platinum and Consumer Platinum cards, you'll get Hilton and Marriott Gold status for primary and additional Platinum cardholders. This means you'll enjoy upgrades, bonus points, 5th night free on awards, late checkout, breakfast, and bottled water at participating hotels.

The Business Platinum card offers a massive 150,000 point intro bonus, which is a great incentive for signing up. Additionally, it earns 5X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, making it a great choice for frequent travelers.

Here are some of the key benefits of the Business Platinum and Consumer Platinum cards:

Overall, the Business Platinum and Consumer Platinum cards offer a range of benefits that can help frequent travelers save money and earn rewards.

You can access Delta Sky Clubs for free with a Platinum card when flying on Delta, and additional Platinum cardholders can access Delta lounges for free as well.

Delta SkyClubs, such as JFK, offer complimentary hot kosher meals upon request, while others have kosher snacks upon request.

You can access Delta Sky Clubs within three hours of departure of your flight, or upon arrival, with the Amex Business Platinum card.

You can redeem your Amex points by transferring them to one of the 21 airline or hotel partners. The best way to do this is through the Membership Rewards program.

These partners include 18 airline partners and three hotel partners, offering a wide range of options for redemption. Aer Lingus AerClub, Aeromexico Club Premier, and Air Canada Aeroplan are just a few of the airline partners available.

By transferring your points, you can get outsized value toward premium airfare, especially for travel in first and business class. These tickets can be super expensive if paying cash, but can be a good deal with points.

Amex often has transfer bonuses, which can get you even better value. For example, you can transfer your points to Aer Lingus AerClub, Aeromexico Club Premier, or Air Canada Aeroplan.

Here are the 21 partners you can transfer your points to:

The Business Platinum Card from American Express offers a sign up bonus of 190,000 Membership Rewards points, which can be redeemed for a minimum of $1,140 in statement credits, or much more if transferred to a travel partner.

To meet the minimum spend, cardholders can pay their rent through Bilt, but be aware that this comes with an additional $70 fee per month. Alternatively, they can pre-pay big expenses, such as a marketing company, to hit the target.

The intro bonus is even more impressive, with 150,000 Membership Rewards points available after spending $20,000 within three months. This can be worth more than $3,000 when strategically transferred to a travel partner, but requires a significant amount of spending.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express is designed for high-spending business owners, with a $20,000 intro bonus threshold and high rewards on purchases over $5,000.

If you're on the edge of that category, the numerous statement credits can help retain the card's value. However, those with lower spending or specific spending needs may get more from another card.

Frequent travelers will find immense value in the lounge access, elite status options, and hotel perks. The high annual fee can be a barrier, especially if the statement credits aren't applicable to your business.

Adding extra cards can also be expensive, so it's essential to consider these costs before applying. The premium reputation of the Business Platinum Card may be a draw for some, but it's crucial to ensure it represents good value before applying.

The sign up bonus is a great perk of many credit cards, and it's worth understanding how it works. The sign up bonus of 190,000 Membership Rewards points can be a game-changer, but it requires meeting the minimum spend requirement.

Paying rent through Bilt can help you hit the minimum spend, but be aware that it comes with an additional $70 fee per month. You'll also get a minimum of 1 point per dollar spent, which can add up to another 15,000 points, but this spend could be better used on another credit card.

The value of 190,000 Membership Rewards points depends on how you use them, but the lowest value is 0.6 cents per point when redeemed to cover a charge on your card. This means the points are worth $1,140 in this scenario.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express offers an even bigger sign up bonus of 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 within three months. This is a huge bonus, but it requires a significant amount of spending.

The American Express Business Platinum Card offers a generous Indeed credit, allowing you to earn up to $360 in annual credits for Indeed purchases.

This credit is broken up into a $90 per quarter credit, which can be used for all Indeed hiring and recruiting products, as well as products and services to post open positions and find talent.

If you're an Indeed user, this credit can be a significant perk, especially if you're a frequent user of their services.