The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

There has been an Amex Business Platinum metal card since March 30, 2017. So if you’re opening a new American Express Business Platinum account, you’ll automatically be issued a metal card. But if you already have a plastic card from before the switch, you can still switch to metal. There’s no fee for ordering an Amex Business Platinum metal card, and it should arrive within 3 business days.

Here’s how to get an Amex Business Platinum metal card online:

1. Log in to your Amex Business Platinum Account.
2. Go to “Card Management” and select “Order Replacement Card.”
3. “Request Metal Card” will be one of your options.

Here’s how to get an Amex Business Platinum metal card by phone:

1. Call customer service at 1-800-492-4344
2. When the automated system asks what you would like to do, say “order a new metal card.”
3. When prompted, enter your account number. From there, the automated system will guide you through the replacement process.

You should get your new metal card within three business days. Till then, you can keep using your current plastic card.

By the way, a new metal Business Platinum card isn’t the only change Amex announced in March 2017. Other new features include 5 points per dollar on hotels booked with Amex Travel, access to more airport lounges, and complimentary cards for up to 99 authorized users. Those extra cards are Amex Business Green cards, though, not Platinum. So the perks aren’t as good.

There is no Amex Business Platinum 100k point bonus. Amex Business Platinum currently offers an initial bonus of 75,000 points for spending $20,000 within three months of opening your account. But at one time, there were 100,000 point initial bonus offers for both the personal and business Platinum cards. They’re expired now though. And the Amex Business Platinum 100k bonus was a targeted offer, which means you only would’ve seen it if Amex selected you.

Here’s what you’ll get instead of an Amex Business Platinum 100k bonus:

• 50,000 points for spending $10,000 in your first three months.
• 25,000 points for spending a second $10,000 in your first three months.
• The points will be credited to your account 8-12 weeks after you meet the spending threshold.
• Your account can’t be canceled or past due when Amex posts your points, or you won’t get your bonus.
• You can only get one initial bonus per card, but additional card members can help meet the spending requirements.

You can’t get the Amex Business Platinum 100k point bonus because it doesn’t exist. But the 75,000 bonus is pretty close. To get the entire bonus, you have to spend $20,000 on purchases in three months. And the bonus is only worth it if that’s a natural fit for your business’ spending patterns.

Amex Platinum Business vs. Personal comes out in favor of Amex Platinum Business because it offers up to 75,000 bonus points for spending a combined $20,000 in the first three months after account opening. It also gives an extra 50% more points on purchases of $5,000 or more. Both cards give 5 points per $1 spent on flights and hotels booked on amextravel.com. Other purchases get 1 point per $1. Both cards offer a $200 annual airline fee credit and have $0 foreign transaction fees.

There are a few other differences in the cards’ terms, though. Amex Business Platinum offers up to 15,000 more initial bonus points than Amex Platinum. But you’ll have to spend $15,000 more in the first year to get them. Rewards exclusive to the business card include a 35% refund on up to 500,000 points redeemed for airfare with one selected airline each year. There’s also a 35% refund when using points for any first-class or business-class flight. And Business Platinum offers a $200 annual statement credit for purchases with Dell.

The personal Amex Platinum card offers a $200 annual Uber credit and a $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit. But it has a $550 annual fee. The Business Platinum card’s fee is a little more expensive, at $595.

If you’re looking to add authorized users, the personal Amex Platinum card would be the better deal. You can add up to three authorized users for a single annual fee of $175. Business Platinum charges $300 per additional card.

There are several different ways to earn Amex Business Platinum points. You can spend $10,000 in the first three months for 50,000 bonus points, or $20,000 for 75,000 points. You’ll get 5 points per dollar for flights and hotels, and 1.5 points per $1 for any purchase of $5,000 or more. Plus, when you use points to play for flights, you’ll get 35% of them back.

Your points will show up in your account somewhere between 6-12 weeks after you earn them, depending on the type of bonus. I’ll walk you through the specifics below.

Here’s how you earn Amex Business Platinum Points:

• You get 50,000 points for spending $10,000 in the first three months your account is open. You also get 25,000 more points for spending another $10,000 within that period. You’ll get your points 8-12 weeks after you meet the spending requirements.
• You earn 5 points per $1 on flights and eligible hotels booked at amextravel.com. They’ll post to your account 10-12 weeks after you make such a purchase.
• You get 1.5 points per $1 on purchases of $5,000 or more. You can earn up to a million points per year this way. They’ll be credited to your account 8-12 weeks after you make this type of purchase.
• You get 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. They’ll appear in your account 8-12 weeks after you make a charge.
• You get a 35% rebate on points used to pay for first class or business class flights on amextravel.com. You can earn up to 500,000 points a year with this bonus. They’ll show up in your account 6-10 weeks after you book a flight.

If you don’t make your minimum payment on time, you forfeit your points for that month. You can get those points back, but you have to pay a $35 fee. Since Amex points are worth up to one cent each, paying the fee is only worth it if you have 3,500 points or more.

The American Express Business Platinum travel benefits start with 5 points per dollar on flights and hotels at the Amex travel site. You also get a 35% points bonus when you use points to pay for flights. Plus, you get access to airport lounges around the globe.

Those are the some of the most notable benefits, but since American Express Business Platinum was built for frequent travelers, there are several more.

Here are the top 10 American Express Business Platinum travel perks:

1. Points earning: You get 5 points per dollar on flights and eligible hotels booked through amextravel.com. And you get 75,000 points for spending $20,000 in your first three months.
2. 35% airline bonus: When you use you points to book first class or business class flights at amextravel.com, you get 35% of them back. The limit is 500,000 points refunded per year.
3. Airport lounges: Amex Business Platinum card members get free entry to 1,000+ airport lounges all over the world.
4. Travel accident insurance: You are insured up to $3.5 million for death or serious injury aboard planes, ships, trains, and taxis when you book your reservation with Amex Business Platinum. Your spouse, dependent children, and additional card members are included. They just have to be on your reservation.
5. Rental car insurance: You’re covered for theft or damage (up to the value of the car), as long as you pay with your Amex Business Platinum card and decline the rental company’s insurance.
6. Baggage insurance: You’re covered up to $3,000 per person per trip if your baggage gets lost, stolen, or damaged. Your spouse and any dependent children on your reservation are also covered.
7. $200 airline fee credit: Amex will reimburse you up to $200 a year for charges like baggage fees and in-flight food and drink. This benefit can only be applied to one airline per year.
8. TSA Pre-check or Global Entry credit: If you’re accepted, Amex will cover your membership in TSA Pre ($85) or Global Entry ($100).
9. Hotel perks: You can get free upgrades, late checkouts, and other benefits when use your Business Platinum card to book a stay in one of the 900+ Amex partner hotels.
10. No foreign transaction fees: You won’t pay any extra fees when you make purchases in another country.

American Express Business Platinum travel benefits offer you peace of mind and comfort while traveling. And they pay you extra for booking if you do it right. So the card’s a contender if you spend a lot of time in airport lounges, the friendly skies and hotels.

The American Express Business Platinum foreign transaction fee is $0. That’s because The Amex Business Platinum Card was made with travel in mind. You get 5x points when you book flights and hotels on Amex Travel, and a 35% bonus if you use your points to pay for them. Plus, you get to hang out in over 1,000 different airport lounges for free.

But just because Amex Business Platinum has no foreign transaction fee doesn’t mean you won’t have to pay any fees. Who could forget about the huge $450 annual fee? There’s also a $38 fee for late or returned payments and a $300 annual fee for additional Platinum cards. You can get up to 99 Green cards for authorized users for free though.

Here’s how the American Express Business Platinum foreign transaction fee compares:

• American Express Business Platinum foreign transaction fee: $0
• American Express Business Gold foreign transaction fee: 0$
• Capital One Spark Miles for Business foreign transaction fee: $0
• Chase Ink Business Preferred foreign transaction fee: $0
• Bank of America Business Advantage Cash Rewards foreign transaction fee: 3%

You won’t pay an American Express Business Platinum foreign transaction fee if you use your card to buy something abroad, or from an internationally based merchant. But you will pay a hefty $450 fee every year. Amex Business Platinum is only worth the price for people who travel enough to take full advantage of the rewards, and who value perks like airport lounge access.

Amex Business Platinum lounge access lets you visit over 1,000 airport lounges in 120 cities around the world, for free. You just need to show your Platinum card, a valid ID, and a boarding pass for a flight that day, in most cases. All of the Amex partner lounges allow you to bring at least one guest or immediate family members for free.

Here’s where you can go with Amex Business Platinum lounge access:

• The Centurion Lounge: You need a Platinum card, a boarding pass for same-day travel, and a government-issued ID. You get 2 free guests.
• International American Express Lounges: Access requires a Platinum Card, government-issued ID, and same-day boarding pass. You get 1 free guest.
• Delta Sky Club: Present your Platinum Card, an ID, and a same-day Delta boarding pass. You can purchase up to 2 guest passes for $29 a person. Your spouse and dependent children under 21 can get in for free.
• Escape Lounge US: You need your Platinum Card, a government-issued ID, and a same-day boarding pass. You can bring 2 free guests
• Priority Pass Select: To get access to Priority Pass lounges, you need to enroll in Priority Pass online. You’ll get your Priority Pass card in 10-14 business days. Present your Priority Pass card and a same-day boarding pass. You can bring 2 free guests, and more for $27 each.
• Airspace: You’ll need to show your Platinum Card and an ID. You can bring your spouse and any children under 21 for free, or up to two guests.
• Plaza Premium Airport Lounges: Present your Platinum Card and an ID. You can bring two guests with you for free.

Amex Business Platinum access means you can sit in a comfy chair, have a drink, and sometimes even take a shower while you wait for your flight to leave. Different lounges have different amenities, but you can find out the details on the Amex website, along with hours and locations.

The best Amex Business Platinum benefits are 75,000 points for spending $10,000 in the first 3 months, 5 points per $1 spent on flights and hotels, and access to 1,200 airport lounges worldwide. Other benefits include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, rental car insurance, and baggage insurance. And there’s a perk that gives 35% of redeemed points back with a selected airline (or any airline for first class and business class flights).

Some Amex Business Platinum benefits aren’t exactly for everyone. Presumably, not every Amex Business Platinum cardholder will take advantage of the 20% discount on flights with the Delta Private Jet program. But all worldwide travelers will enjoy the lack of foreign transaction fees and the complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you and up to two guests into Priority Pass lounges for free.

The benefits list for Amex Platinum is long, but the card is only worth its $595 annual fee if you use these benefits often. Some of the top American Express Business Platinum benefits include:

Airline fee credit: $200 per year in statement credits for airline charges like baggage fees and in-flight refreshments. Applies to one airline selected by cardholder.

TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit: Statement credit for the cost of applying for TSA Pre-check ($85) OR Global Entry ($100) every 4-4.5 years.

Hotel perks: Staying at one of the 900+ Amex partner hotels provides perks like late checkout, hotel credits and complimentary room upgrades.

Airport lounge access: Access to over 1,200 airport lounges around the world with the American Express Global Lounge collection.

35% redemption bonus: 35% of redeemed points back when used at one selected airline. 35% back on all first class/business class flights regardless of airline.

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Up to $10,000 in compensation per covered trip ($20,000 per year) for cancellation or interruption of you or a family member’s travel plans due to accidental injury or illness, bad weather, hijacking, jury duty, or damage to your primary residence.

Rental car insurance: Covers theft and collision damage for the first 30 days of a rental. Coverage is up to $75,000. Must charge the rental to Amex Business Platinum and decline the rental company’s insurance.

Baggage insurance: Up to $3,000 per person per trip if baggage gets lost, stolen, or damaged while traveling. Coverage applies to cardholder, spouse and dependent children under 23. The whole reservation must be charged.

Those aren’t the only Amex Business Platinum benefits. But they are the most broadly useful. Most of the other perks are special experiences without a clear dollar value. For example, there’s preferred seating at concerts. Or, there are services that very few people need, like private jet bookings.

When it comes to Amex Business Gold vs. Platinum, the biggest difference is between their annual fees: Amex Business Platinum costs $450 a year, and Amex Business Gold has a $175 fee that’s waived the first year. That’s a $450 advantage for Amex Business Gold the first year and $275 every year after. However, the Platinum Card offers some extra perks, including a $200 annual airline fee credit and 3x points on flights and hotels at the Amex travel site. Plus, you get 35% of your points back when you redeem them for Amex travel. 

Here’s what to consider with Amex Business Platinum vs. Gold:

• Annual fee: $450 for Amex Business Platinum, $175 for Amex Business Gold.
• Initial bonus: Platinum offers 50,000 points for spending $10,000 in your first three months, and an extra 25,000 points for spending another $10,000 within the same timeframe. With Gold, you get 50,000 points for spending $5,000 in the first three months.
• Bonus category rewards earning: Platinum gives you 5 points per $1 spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked on the Amex travel site. With Gold, you get 2-3 points per $1 spent in 5 bonus categories. Specifically, you’ll earn 3 points per $1 in a category of your choosing, up to $100,000 spent each year. And you’ll get 2 points per $1 on your first $100,000 spent in each of the other 4 categories.  
  Gold’s 5 bonus categories are: flights booked directly with the airline; advertising; gas station spending; shipping; and computer hardware, software, and cloud computing.
• Big purchase bonus: Platinum offers 1.5 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, up to 1 million points per year. Gold does not offer extra points for large purchases.
• Everyday rewards earning: Both cards offer 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases outside the bonus categories.
• Redemption bonus: Platinum refunds 35% of your points when you redeem them for flights on the Amex Travel site. You only get this benefit with one airline, and you can only pick your airline once a year, in January. Gold does not offer this perk.
• $200 airline fee credit: Platinum offers up to $200 in statement credits for incidental airline fees, like baggage charges. You can only get credits with one airline, and you can only change that airline every January. By the way, you have to pick the same airline for this and the 35% redemption bonus. Gold does not offer this type of credit.
• Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check credit: If you apply for one of the two airport security pre-screening programs, Amex Business Platinum will reimburse the application fee every four years. You’ll get an $85 statement credit for TSA Pre-Check or a $100 credit for Global Entry (you can’t get both). Gold doesn’t have this perk.
• Airport lounge access: Platinum gives you access to over 1,000 lounges in 120 countries through membership in the Amex Global Lounge Collection. Gold does not.

In Amex Business Platinum vs. Gold, the $275 per year difference between their fees makes for a compelling argument in favor of the Gold Card. But if you’re a frequent traveler who will take full advantage of the Platinum card’s airline statement credit and lounge access, it might be the card for you.