The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Premium travel + serious business tools. If you travel for work and want top-tier lounge access, flexible points, and rich statement credits, this is Amex’s flagship for businesses.
Card Details
- Annual fee: $895 for new accounts.
- Rewards: 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel; 1.5X on large purchases (≥$5,000) and select business categories; 1X on other eligible purchases.
- Points: Membership Rewards® points (transferable to airlines/hotels).
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
- Pay Over Time: Available on eligible purchases; it’s a charge card with flexible financing if you choose.
- Lounge access: Centurion®, Priority Pass™ (enrollment req.), Delta Sky Club® (visit limits apply), Escape & select partner lounges.
- Travel protections: Trip delay/cancellation, baggage, and car rental loss & damage coverage (terms apply).
- Hotel status: Gold with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment req.).
- Purchase protections: Extended warranty, purchase protection, and return protection (terms apply).
Premium Benefits (highlights)
- Airline incidental credit: Annual statement credit for select airline fees.
- Hotel credit: Statement credits on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings via Amex Travel.
- Dell, Adobe & business tools: Statement credits toward eligible U.S. purchases (great for IT, software, hiring).
- CLEAR® Plus / Global Entry / TSA PreCheck®: Statement credits to speed you through security.
- 35% Pay With Points rebate: Get 35% of your points back on eligible flights booked with Amex Travel (cap applies).
- Premium car rental privileges & elite perks with leading brands (enrollment/terms apply).
(Exact amounts, terms, and enrollment requirements are outlined on the issuer’s site; use the Rates & Fees button above.)
About The Card
Think of this as your business travel command center. You earn flexible Membership Rewards points, you get the airport lounge network most people actually want, and you pick up valuable credits that can offset real business spend (IT, software, hotels, airline incidentals, security programs). The card’s protections and elite hotel status smooth out trips before, during, and after you fly.
It shines if your business books flights and hotels through Amex Travel and makes periodic large or category-eligible purchases. If you maximize the credits you’re effectively clawing back a big chunk of the annual fee, while the lounge access, insurance, and status do the day-to-day heavy lifting.
Qualifications
- Who it’s for: Businesses and freelancers with good–excellent credit who travel regularly.
- Welcome offer rules: Amex generally has “once-in-a-lifetime” language on welcome offers per card.
- Card limits: Amex “credit card” limits don’t typically apply to charge cards like Business Platinum.
- Inquiry impact: A hard inquiry is expected at approval; pre-qualification tools may use a soft pull.
- Employee cards: Add employees with adjustable limits; some premium employee cards carry their own annual fee.
Pros
- Deep lounge network + premium travel perks that actually improve the trip.
- High earn where it counts: 5X via Amex Travel; 1.5X on big tickets/eligible categories.
- Rich credits (airline, hotel, Dell/Adobe/CLEAR/Global Entry/PreCheck) that can offset the fee.
- Strong protections (travel + purchases) and elite hotel status built in.
- 35% Pay With Points rebate on eligible flights—great for stretching points.
Cons
- High annual fee—you need to use the credits and perks to win.
- Best earning is through Amex Travel and specific categories; everyday 1X elsewhere.
- Delta Sky Club visits are limited unless you meet specific annual spend rules.
- Enrollment/terms required for many benefits; some credits are “use it or lose it.”
Is this card for me?
Choose Business Platinum if you (1) fly several times a year, value Centurion/Priority Pass/Sky Club access, (2) can book flights/hotels through Amex Travel to grab 5X and premium hotel perks, and (3) will actually use the credits (airline, hotel, Dell/Adobe, CLEAR/GE/PreCheck). If your travel is light, you rarely book through Amex Travel, or you won’t use the credits, a lower-fee business card may fit better.
Membership Rewards® Transfer Partners (U.S.)
(Ratios and speeds are typical; transfers are final. U.S. airline transfers may incur a small excise fee. Always verify current terms before moving points.
Program | Type | Transfer Ratio | Typical Transfer Speed |
Air Canada Aeroplan | Airline | 1:1 | Usually instant |
Air France–KLM Flying Blue | Airline | 1:1 | Usually instant |
ANA Mileage Club | Airline | 1:1 | ~24–48 hrs |
AeroMexico Club Premier | Airline | 1:1.6 | ~3–5 days |
British Airways Executive Club (Avios) | Airline | 1:1 | Usually instant |
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | Airline | 1:1 | ~24–48 hrs |
Delta SkyMiles | Airline | 1:1 | Usually instant |
Emirates Skywards | Airline | 5:4 | ~1–2 days |
Etihad Guest | Airline | 1:1 | ~24 hrs |
Iberia Plus (Avios) | Airline | 1:1 | ~24–72 hrs |
JetBlue TrueBlue | Airline | 250:200 | Usually instant |
Qantas Frequent Flyer | Airline | 1:1 | ~1–2 days |
Singapore KrisFlyer | Airline | 1:1 | ~24–48 hrs |
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | Airline | 1:1 | Usually instant |
Choice Privileges | Hotel | 1:1 | Usually instant |
Hilton Honors | Hotel | 1:2 | Usually instant |
Marriott Bonvoy | Hotel | 1:1 | ~1–2 days |
