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Over the past nineteen years as a business owner, I\u2019ve used countless business cards. Some have been amazing and elevated both my travel and my business. Others have been…well, lackluster.<\/p>\n
One of the best? The Business Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express<\/a>. It comes with a lot of world-class perks and benefits, quality customer care, and a solid rewards structure (especially on large purchases).<\/p>\n While the annual fee is pretty high ($895, pay over time available. See Rates and Fees<\/a>), for me, the travel benefits, along with all the statement credits, make the card worth carrying. I think it\u2019s a great choice for business owners who travel frequently. If you can maximize all the credits, this card is a good one to have, especially during the first year.<\/p>\n In this breakdown, I\u2019ll detail the card, what you get, and why I like it.<\/p>\n\n The Business Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express<\/a> is a travel rewards card geared towards business owners. (Remember: even side hustles and freelancing count as businesses so you can get this card even without being an LLC.) First, let\u2019s go over some of the best things you get when you sign up, which make it a no-brainer to get for the first year:<\/p>\n You\u2019ll earn Membership Rewards points with The Business Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express<\/a>. Since Amex has a well-rounded suite of travel partners, Membership Rewards points are some of the most valuable points out there.<\/p>\n These are Amex\u2019s current travel partners:<\/p>\n Most transfers are instant, though some can take up to 48 hours.<\/p>\n You can also use your Membership Rewards points to book flights and hotels in the Amex Travel portal. I generally wouldn\u2019t do this, though as it\u2019s not the best use of your points. It\u2019s always better to transfer them out to one of their partners. However, you can get 35% points back when you do book via their portal so just compare the points costs between both before making a decision.<\/p>\n Amex cards are well-known for their plethora of perks and benefits. They\u2019re a big reason I love their cards. And, if you can take advantage of all that it has to offer, the Business Platinum boasts over $3,500 worth of value. But, with so many categories and so much fine print, it can be hard to keep track of whether a benefit is actually useful for your spending habits. So, to help you decide if the card is right for you, I want to break down some of the major categories of benefits:<\/p>\n Airport Experience Credits (Lounge Access, CLEAR Plus, Global Entry\/TSA PreCheck)<\/strong> On top of that, you\u2019ll get complimentary access to the huge Priority Pass network. If having a quiet space to relax, grab a drink, or get some work done is a priority when you travel, this card has you covered pretty much anywhere.<\/p>\n I also appreciate that the Business Platinum helps you get through the airport faster. It offers up to $199 in statement credits each year for a CLEAR\u00ae Plus membership, which speeds you through security lines.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll also get a credit for Global Entry (up to $120 every 4 years) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85 every 4.5 years), depending on which one you choose. I personally recommend going for Global Entry. It takes a little more effort (there\u2019s an interview), but it includes TSA PreCheck too. It\u2019ll save you a ton of time if you travel internationally.<\/p>\n Airline and Hotel Credits<\/strong> The Business Platinum also offers a few Hilton-related benefits. First, you can receive up to $200 in statement credits at Hilton properties when booked directly. Since these credits are distributed in quarterly $50 increments, you\u2019d have to stay in a Hilton property at least four times a year to get the full value of this credit. But if you\u2019re on the road a lot, that can be easy to do.<\/p>\n Second, the Business Platinum offers complimentary Hilton Honors\u2122 Gold Status (as well as Marriott Bonvoy\u00ae Gold Elite status), which offer extra perks and benefits when staying at these properties.<\/p>\n Business-Related Statement Credits<\/strong> Amex Offers<\/strong> The Business Platinum\u2019s Travel Insurance<\/strong> So, while you could get away with the card\u2019s insurance if you book the trip on the card, I wouldn\u2019t rely on it completely. But it\u2019s better than most!<\/p>\n The Business Platinum is ideal for frequent travelers who can make the most of perks like smoother airport experiences and hotel elite status. If you can take advantage of a few of the business-related statement credits, the statement credits alone make the high annual fee worth it. I get a lot of value from the card through the statement credits that make carrying the card after the first year really worth it. Like I said, if you can maximize all the credits, this card is a good one to have, especially during the first year.<\/p>\n While it\u2019s true you only get 1x point per dollar spent on anything under $5,000 (which isn\u2019t as good as many other cards), the points back on redemptions and the tons of statement credits, elite status, Amex offers, and partners you don\u2019t find anywhere else make this card essential for any business owner.<\/p>\n Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It's how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I'll show you:<\/p>\r\nWhat is the Business Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express?<\/h3>\n
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Using Your Membership Rewards Points<\/h3>\n
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Breaking Down the Business Platinum\u2019s Credits and Benefits<\/h3>\n
\nOne of the best things about this card<\/a> \u2014 and what makes it a standout for frequent travelers \u2014 is the unbeatable airport lounge access. You\u2019ll get into some of the top lounges worldwide, including the excellent Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when you\u2019re flying Delta, with up to 10 visits per year).<\/p>\n
\nAnother travel-related benefit is the up to $200 airline credit. Unfortunately, it comes with a fair number of restrictions, making this credit a bit more annoying to use. It can only be used on one (pre-selected) airline, and you can only use it for incidentals, not airfare. But if you don\u2019t have an airline credit card that offers free baggage, it can be useful to have. You can also use the credit for airline expenses like paid seat selection or on-board food and drink.<\/p>\n
\nThe Business Platinum card comes with some great perks to help lighten the financial load of running a business. Expenses can really add up if you\u2019re managing a business while traveling, so I appreciate that the Business Platinum helps offset these costs.<\/p>\n
\nOn top of all those valuable statement credits, the Business Platinum gives you access to Amex Offers, an easy way to save some cash or rack up extra points with a wide range of retailers. These deals rotate regularly and are personalized, so what shows up for you might be totally different from what another cardholder sees. Most of the time, it\u2019s a simple setup like \u201cspend X, get Y back.\u201d I always check Amex Offers before I purchase. (The personal card offers this too.)<\/p>\n
\nThe Business Platinum also comes with great travel insurance. While I still recommend buying a standalone policy for medical, this card includes strong built-in coverage like trip delay, trip cancellation, emergency evacuation, and medical transport. It also includes cell phone protection for damage or theft, a rare but valuable perk. For a maximum of $800 per claim, with a limit of two approved claims per 12-month period, when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month’s wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim.<\/p>\nShould you get this card?<\/h3>\n
\r\nStop paying full price for travel!<\/h5>\r\n
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