Business Platinum Card® from American Express review: traveling entrepreneurs, take notice

Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Overview

APR

• Intro: N/A
• Purchase: 19.49%–27.49% variable (for Pay Over Time transactions)
• Balance transfer: Not permitted
• Cash advance: Not permitted
• Penalty: 29.99%

Annual fee: $695

Foreign transaction fee: None

Late fee: $39 or 2.99% of any past due Pay in Full amount, whichever is greater

Returned payment fee: $39

While The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has a jaw-drop-worthy annual fee, you could see a significant return on your investment if you take full advantage of its Membership Rewards program and other benefits. Plus, you can confidently use your card  wherever your travels take you without worrying about foreign transaction fees. If travel is a significant expense for your company, this card could be a top contender for your financial toolbox.

To view rates and fees of the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.

Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Rewards

The Business Platinum Card® has a multi-tier rewards structure through its Membership Rewards program:

• 5x points on flights and prepaid hotel stays booked through amextravel.com
• 1.5x points on purchases in select business categories (currently construction material and hardware suppliers, U.S. shipping providers, U.S. electronics retailers, and software and cloud system providers)
• 1.5x points on qualifying purchases of $5,000 or more in other categories
• 1x points on all other eligible purchases

Please note: The 1.5x rewards multiplier is capped at two million dollars of eligible purchases per calendar year per account.

You can earn points on most purchases. However, the following transactions are ineligible for Membership Rewards points:

• Person-to-person transfers
• Fees or interest charged to your account
• Gift card or traveler’s check purchases
• Prepaid card purchases or reloading

Does the Business Platinum Card® from American Express offer a bonus?

The Business Platinum Card® offers an extremely generous welcome bonus to new customers. Though terms apply, you can earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of card membership. If you redeem each bonus point for one cent (possible with select redemption methods), your welcome reward would be worth $1,200—nearly double the annual fee.

How to redeem Membership Rewards points with the Business Platinum Card® from American Express

There are several ways to redeem your Business Platinum Card® Membership Rewards points. Be aware, however, that some redemption strategies are more lucrative than others.

Pay with points

You can link your Membership Rewards account with 16 retailer checkout processes (including PayPal) and apply your points to purchases in your online cart. When you redeem points this way, they’ll each be worth half a cent to a cent.

You can also shop with your points on MembershipRewards.com. The site features thousands of products sold by American Express® merchant partners. Each of your points will only convert to half a cent when you use them on this platform, so it may not be your best bet for maximizing reward value.

Upgrade with points

If you want a better seat on an upcoming flight, you can offer some of your Membership Rewards points to the airline in exchange for an upgrade. The airline can accept or reject your offer.

If your offer gets accepted, the airline will charge your credit card for the value of the upgrade. Then, American Express will deduct points from your Membership Rewards account and apply them to your card statement to cover the upgrade’s cost. 

Redeem for gift cards

You can also redeem Membership Rewards points for gift cards. Dining and retail gift cards tend to give you a more favorable exchange rate—close to one cent per point. However, other options may only net you half a cent per point. 

Redeem for cash

If you have an American Express® Business Checking Account, you can convert your points into a cash deposit into that account. You’ll receive $10 for every 1,000 points if you link your credit card and checking account to the same Membership Rewards account. Otherwise, you’ll get $8 per 1,000 points.

Transfer points to a travel partner

Transferring your Membership Rewards points to your preferred airline or hotel loyalty program may result in the most favorable exchange rate. Typically, you’ll get one cent for every point redeemed. However, the Hilton Honors program offers a higher redemption rate; one Membership Rewards point is worth two Hilton Honors points. 

Apply points to a statement charge

You can use your Membership Rewards points to reduce the balance due on your credit card. However, you’ll only get 0.60 cents per point (that’s six-tenths of one cent, not 60 cents), and you must use enough points to cover an entire charge on your current statement. Plus, a statement credit doesn’t count as your minimum monthly payment, no matter how large of a charge you negate.

Additional benefits

In addition to the points you’ll earn for making qualifying purchases, you’ll enjoy these (and other) valuable benefits as a Business Platinum Card® cardmember:

• Flexible spending limit: Instead of a fixed credit limit, your overall spending cap will adjust based on your credit history and account activity.
• Pay Over Time: You can spread payments out for most purchases as long as you stay within your specific Pay Over Time credit limit. You’ll pay interest on any balance carried to the next billing cycle. If you have a balance not covered by the Pay Over Time program, you must pay it in full each month.
• 35% airline bonus: If you redeem points for a qualifying flight through Amex Travel, you can get 35% of those points credited back to your rewards account (capped annually at one million points).
• $200 airline fee credit: Get up to $200 credited back to your account for baggage fees and in-flight refreshment charges paid using your American Express card to an eligible airline.
• Upgraded hotel status: Enroll in Marriott Bonvoy™ Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold programs for free without meeting stay requirements.
• Hotel perks: Enhance your hotel stay with a room upgrade, early check-in, late checkout, free Wi-Fi, breakfast for two, or a $100 amenity credit through the Fine Hotels and Resorts Program.
• Global Lounge Collection access: Relax in more than 1,400 airport lounges in 140 countries.
• Rental car program premium status: Get priority customer service, discounts, and vehicle upgrades (when available).
• Car rental loss and damage insurance: Protect your rental without paying for coverage out of pocket.
• Cell phone protection: Get reimbursed for up to $800 to repair or replace your cell phone. You’re limited to two claims per year, and all claims are subject to a $50 deductible.
• Baggage insurance: If your luggage gets lost, stolen, or damaged, you can receive up to $2,000 for checked bags or a combined $3,000 for checked and carry-on bags.
• Trip delay, interruption, or cancellation insurance: If your adventure doesn’t go as planned, contact American Express for assistance.
• Premium Global Assist® Hotline: If you’re more than 100 miles from home and have a problem, you can call the hotline for medical, financial, and legal assistance 24/7.
• Business Platinum Travel Service: A travel expert will create custom itineraries for your upcoming adventures.
• $189 CLEAR Plus credit: Get up to $189 credited back to your account to cover the cost of your CLEAR Plus membership, which helps you get through event security faster.
• Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Get reimbursed $100 every four years for your Global Entry membership fee and up to $85 every four and a half years for your TSA PreCheck® membership fee.
• Other statement credits: Get up to $400 credited to your account when you make qualifying purchases through companies like Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and wireless telephone service providers.
• Business tools: Take advantage of account alerts, the American Express® mobile app (for Android and iOS), employee cards (which also earn rewards), helpful account statements and reports, and seamless integration with QuickBooks.
• Extended warranty: Get your manufacturer’s warranty extended for up to one year on covered purchases. 
• Purchase protection: If you buy a new gadget and it gets stolen, lost, or accidentally damaged within 90 days of purchase, American Express® may be able to help.
• Terms apply.

Is Business Platinum Card® from American Express right for you?

If your business takes you to destinations near and far, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express could offer perks worth considering. You can easily recoup the annual fee if you use a fraction of the card’s benefits. However, if travel isn’t one of your main expense categories, a different card might better align with your business’s needs.

Credit cards similar to Business Platinum Card® from American Express

When searching for a business credit card, it’s wise to compare your options. In this case, you might want to consider the Business Gold Card from American Express.

Business Gold Card from American Express vs. Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The American Express® Business Gold Card and the Business Platinum Card® both feature a flexible credit limit, the Pay Over Time option on select purchases, no foreign transaction fees, and the same APR. However, that’s where the similarities end.

The Gold Card’s welcome bonus is only 70,000 points compared to the Platinum card’s 120,000 points. Plus, the Gold Card gives you a maximum multiplier of 4x Membership Rewards points on the two categories you spend the most in during a given billing cycle versus the Platinum Card’s 5x points on select travel spending. In addition, Gold Card cardmembers enjoy far fewer travel and business-related benefits than Platinum Card® users. 

While the Gold Card offers cardmembers fewer points and perks, it comes with a lower cost of ownership. Its annual fee is $400 less than its Platinum counterpart—only $295 per year. 

To view rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, see this page.

Frequently asked questions

What credit score do you need for an Amex Business Platinum Card®?

American Express® doesn’t disclose specific eligibility criteria on its website. However, you’re more likely to qualify for the Amex Business Platinum Card® with very good or exceptional credit (740+).

Is Amex Platinum better than gold?

The Amex Business Platinum Card® offers a larger welcome bonus and gives you more points for certain types of purchases than the Amex Business Gold Card. However, the Amex Business Gold Card has a lower annual fee and lower spending threshold required to earn the welcome bonus.

Can you use the Amex Business Platinum Card® for personal use?

You can’t use the Amex Business Platinum Card® for personal purchases. The terms and conditions of the card explicitly state that you can only use it for commercial or business purposes.

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date but are subject to change at any time at the issuer’s discretion. Before applying, please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.