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The Business Platinum® Card from American Express is not for the faint of heart, between a record setting $595 annual fee and one of the highest amounts of spending required in order to earn the card’s welcome bonus. Yet the card still ranks at or near the top of our list of best business credit cards, thanks to the long list of travel and business related benefits the card offers.
If you’ve been on the fence about adding the Business Platinum card to your wallet, there’s no better time than now. For a limited time only, until December 4th, 2019, new applicants can earn up to 100,000 bonus Membership Rewards points. This bonus is spread out over two tiers, meaning that you’ll earn the first 50,000 points after spending $10,000 in the first 3 months, and the second 50,000 points after spending an additional $15,000 ($25,000 total) on qualifying purchases during the first 3 months. I value Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, making this bonus worth an impressive $2,000. Obviously not every business will be able to spend $25,000 in 3 months, but for larger more established businesses, or those with high expenses for inventory or equipment, this is an unbeatable offer.
The hefty $595 annual fee is partially offset by two key annual statement credits: $200 a year in airline incidental fee credits (though you must select an airline first). This credit can’t be used for airfare, only for incidental charges such as checked bag fees or seat selection. The second is a $200 Dell technology statement credit, that’s split up into a $100 credit semi-annually. The Business Platinum also earns 5x on airfare and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com, which equates to a 10% return based on my valuations. For large spenders, you’ll also enjoy a 50% bonus on purchases over $5,000 (up to a million bonus points per year)
On the travel side of things, the Business Platinum card comes with complimentary Marriott and Hilton Gold elite status and the most comprehensive lounge access of any credit card. Cardholders will receive a Priority Pass select membership and have access to Amex Centurion lounges and Delta SkyClubs when flying Delta. The Business Platinum has access to Amex’s full suite of Membership Rewards airline and hotel transfer partners, and you’ll also receive a 35% rebate when you use your points to pay for economy flights with your selected airline or business and first class flights with any airline.
Amex only allows you to earn a bonus on each of its credit cards once per lifetime, so if you think your business can swing the $25,000 spending requirement, then don’t miss out on one of the most valuable bonuses we’ve seen all year. Make sure to act fast though, as this 100,000 point offer is only available until December 4th, 2019.
Learn more about the Business Platinum.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
