The 3 Best Cards To Pair With the Amex Platinum Card [2026]

The Platinum Card^® from American Express comes with a fantastic welcome offer, additional bonuses on travel purchases, and some of the best purchase and travel protections of any card in the market. The Amex Platinum card also earns American Express Membership Rewards points, which you can transfer to airline and hotel partners.

However, you can get the most from the card if you use it for certain purchases, pairing it with other cards that can help you accrue additional Amex Membership Rewards points and other points currencies that can offer the ultimate flexibility for booking travel.

This article will explain the benefits and occasional drawbacks of the Amex Platinum card and some of the best cards to pair with it to maximize your rewards.

Amex Platinum Card Snapshot

BEST LOUNGE CARD

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum card reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum card reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and elite status.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount — all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.

As High as 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, the Platinum Card^® from American Express is a top choice.

The card offers premium perks like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and several annual card credits. The Amex Platinum card is easily worth the annual fee for frequent travelers who use the lounges and travel credits, and hard to justify for those who won’t.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far): Get access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5 points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $895 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags).

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 Delta Sky Club visits (subject to visit limitations) when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass™ membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. *As of 01/2026
• $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card^® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
• $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
• $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel^® using the Platinum Card^®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights™ by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. As a Platinum Card^® Member you have special access to reservations on select nights at participating sought after Resy restaurants in select cities through Platinum Nights™ by Resy. Simply add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to book your reservation.
• $219 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card^®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card^® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• Start your vacation sooner and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts^® through American Express Travel^®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4pm late check-out.
• $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card^®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• $895 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Benefits of the Amex Platinum card

Once considered the premium travel card, the Amex Platinum card offers numerous benefits and lifestyle perks that its competitors don’t. Although the card has undergone significant changes over the years, it’s still one of the best travel cards available.

As for earning rewards, the Amex Platinum card earns 5x Membership Rewards points for flights booked directly with airlines or with AmexTravel.com — up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year (then 1x). If you purchase a lot of airfare, it may be worth carrying the Amex Platinum card for that reason alone. It also earns 5x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com.

For those looking for exclusive experiences when traveling, the Amex Platinum card has comprehensive airport lounge access and offers hotel and rental car elite status (upon enrollment).

Finally, the Amex Platinum card also includes purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty, along with car rental loss and damage insurance and trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

All these benefits of the Amex Platinum card come at a cost: that substantial annual fee. However, to help offset the annual fee, the Amex Platinum card comes with plenty of credits (with enrollment), including credits for prepaid hotels, digital entertainment, Resy, lululemon, Walmart+, airline fees, Uber Cash, Equinox, Uber One, Oura Ring, CLEAR+, and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (every 4 years for those last two).

Bottom Line:

The Amex Platinum card offers a ton of value despite an incredibly high annual fee. If you can take advantage of the various statement credits, the Amex Platinum card is worth having in your wallet.

Where the Amex Platinum Card Is Weakest

No single card can offer it all, and that includes the Amex Platinum card. Although the Amex Platinum card can offer consumers significant value, it isn’t the best for everyday spending.

The Amex Platinum card severely lacks bonus categories. The card earns a low 1x points on many everyday spending categories, including restaurants, supermarkets, and gas.

If you spend a lot on airfare, it may be worth having the Amex Platinum card in your wallet. However, if airfare isn’t where you spend the most, the card becomes much less useful, since it earns 1x on nearly everything else.

This is reason enough to carry another card (or a few other cards) in your wallet.

Best 2 Personal Cards To Pair With the Amex Platinum Card

When it comes to pairing credit cards, you want to maximize the rewards you earn by choosing a card with higher rewards-earning potential in specific categories. When you know what your largest spending categories are, it’s easier to determine which cards work best.

Here’s a look at some of the best cards you can pair with the Amex Platinum card to maximize your spending.

1. American Express^® Gold Card

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out, and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out, and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $2,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

With the Amex Gold card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There are several other benefits of the Amex Gold card, including monthly dining credits.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App
• 4x points at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• 4x categories for restaurants and U.S. supermarkets have annual spend caps

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• Pay It^® lets you tap in the American Express^® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It^® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
• $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express^® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star^® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
• Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
• Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express^® service and support. Only for American Express^® Card Members.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

When it comes to the best cards for everyday spending, the Amex Gold card is a top option, especially if you spend a lot on groceries or at restaurants.

With the Amex Gold card, you can earn 4x points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., on up to $50,000 per calendar year (1x thereafter). You also get 4x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases (1x thereafter).

The Amex Gold card does have a $325 annual fee (rates & fees). However, the card comes with a few different statement credits each year that effectively offset its annual fee. These include:

• Up to $120 in annual dining credits: These are broken into monthly statement credits of up to $10 when you use your Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Buffalo Wild Wings, Wonder, or Five Guys (enrollment required).
• Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: This is issued as $10 monthly Uber Cash credits valid for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Amex Gold card to your Uber account and use it as your payment method.
• Up to $100 in Annual Resy credits: This is distributed as $50 semiannually, and redeemable at any U.S. Resy restaurant and other eligible Resy purchases. Enrollment is required.
• Up to $84 in Annual Dunkin’ credits: This benefit is distributed as $7 per month and is redeemable at Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment is required.
• A $100 experience credit with a 2-night minimum stay when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com. The experience credit varies by property.

Why This Card Pairs Well With the Amex Platinum Card

Unlike the Amex Platinum card, the Amex Gold card serves as both a travel rewards card and an everyday spending card. The higher earning rates on certain day-to-day spending categories make this card ideal for an Amex powerhouse card combination.

Carrying both the Amex Platinum card and the Amex Gold card is a great way to earn American Express Membership Rewards points by maximizing your spending benefits. According to our valuations, Amex Membership Rewards are among the most valuable points of any card loyalty program.

For travel purchases, you could use the Amex Platinum card to earn 5x points for all flights purchased directly with an airline or AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year, then 1x) and for all prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com.

You could then use the Amex Gold card to earn 4x points at restaurants for up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1x), and 4x points at U.S. supermarkets for up to $25,000 per calendar year (then 1x). It’s worth noting that the Amex Gold card has no foreign transaction fees, and you still earn 4x points when spending at restaurants abroad (rates & fees).

Hot Tip:

A bonus card option is the American Express^® Classic Green Card, which is currently closed to new applicants. However, if you already hold it, remember that it earns 3x points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), on all eligible travel purchases, and on transit purchases, and has an up-to-$219 CLEAR+ credit. It pairs well with the Amex Platinum because of its higher earning potential on some common spending categories, such as travel, which broadly includes airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, and more.

2. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

LIMITED-TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Apply Now(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

Earn more than $1000 in Travel Bonuses with a limited-time $300 Capital One Travel stays credit, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening—that's more than $1,000 in travel value. 

$300 Travel Credit + 75k miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,650

Annual Fee

$95

APR

Purchases: 19.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent Credit

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $300 to use on hotel and vacation rental bookings through Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s more than $1,000 in travel value
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Top rated mobile app

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 19.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Although the Amex Platinum card generally pairs best with other Membership Rewards-earning cards, let’s also take a look at a great card offered by a competing issuer. Since the Amex Platinum card isn’t the best for everyday spending, you should ideally pair it with something that is.

The Capital One Venture card earns an unlimited 2x miles on every purchase. This makes it a simple choice for earning more on everyday spending. You can also earn 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. This provides an alternative to AmexTravel.com for booking hotels.

In addition, the Capital One Venture card also features other benefits, including purchase protection, MasterRental insurance, and travel insurance. The card also comes with a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application credit of up to $120 every 4 years.

Similar to how Amex Membership Rewards works, when you earn Capital One miles, you have access to Capital One’s airline and hotel partners. The Capital One Venture card has an annual fee of $95 (rates & fees) and doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).

Why This Card Pairs Well With the Amex Platinum Card

Unlike the Amex Platinum card, the Capital One Venture card is an excellent card for everyday spending for a reasonable annual fee.

With this combination, you could use the Amex Platinum card for all flights and prepaid hotels with AmexTravel.com and then use the Capital One Venture card for all other purchases. You could also use the Capital One Venture card for hotels booked through Capital One Travel, as you would also earn 5x miles. It would be best to compare rates between the 2 travel portals to get the best deal.

Although you wouldn’t be earning American Express Membership Rewards points with it, carrying the Capital One Venture card in your wallet allows you to earn Capital One miles. Better yet, both American Express and Capital One have common transfer partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan and The British Airways Club. This allows you to pool points together, earning them more quickly for award travel.

Hot Tip:

Check out our guide on the best ways to redeem Capital One miles for maximum value.

Best Business Card To Pair With the Amex Platinum Card

Now that we have looked at the best personal cards to pair with the Amex Platinum card, it’s worth mentioning a business credit card for small-business owners.

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.

Welcome Offer

Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.

15,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $330

Annual Fee

No annual fee

APR

16.74% - 28.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

As a business owner, getting a credit card that maximizes each dollar you spend does not have to be complicated or expensive. Especially when you opt for The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express.

With the Amex Blue Business Plus card, you’ll earn 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases throughout the year (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter) and receive purchase protections and no-additional-charge employee cards all for no annual fee (see rates and fees).

The simple and straightforward earning structure makes it a great fit for those looking to earn flexible rewards, without having to fixate on which purchases earn the most points.

Let’s take look at all that the Amex Blue Business Plus card has to offer.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2x Membership Rewards points per $1 on everyday business purchases (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter)
• Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
• No annual fee and employee cards at no additional cost

Cons

• No unique bonus categories and 2x earnings are capped at $50,000 in annual spend
• No elite travel benefits like lounge access or elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 16.74% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
• Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
• You’ve got the power to spend above your credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
• No Annual Fee
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 16.74% - 28.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The Amex Blue Business Plus card is ideal for small-business owners looking for a simplified earning structure for business spending.

The card earns 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases for up to $50,000 per year. After you reach that threshold, the card earns 1x points. The 2x points are an easy way to earn Membership Rewards points on spending that generally doesn’t come with a bonus.

In addition to the simplified earnings, the Amex Blue Business Plus card also offers other perks. For example, the Amex Blue Business Plus card allows you to add employee cards for no additional fee (rates & fees), and has purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and car rental loss and damage insurance.

The card provides all this value with a $0 annual fee (rates & fees).

Why This Card Pairs Well With the Amex Platinum Card

The Amex Blue Business Plus card pairs nicely with the Amex Platinum card for 1 main reason. Although the card doesn’t offer any bonus categories, the 2x Membership Rewards points earned on everyday purchases are already better than what the Amex Platinum card offers in many spending categories.

To make the most of this combination, you could use the Amex Platinum card for all your airfare purchases directly with the airline or through AmexTravel.com and all prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com to earn 5x points.

You could then use the Amex Blue Business Plus card for all other business expenses to earn 2x points. With this combination of cards, you’d earn at least 2x Membership Rewards points for all your business spending for up to $50,000 per year.

It is worth noting that the Amex Blue Business Plus card charges foreign transaction fees (rates & fees). For purchases abroad, the Amex Platinum card is a better choice.

Detailed Card Comparison

Bonus Category Earnings

Here are some of the earning rates on common spending categories for these cards to help you decide which card is best to use.

Welcome Offer and Annual Fee

One of the best reasons to apply for a new credit card is a generous welcome offer, as you can earn thousands of extra points and miles by meeting a minimum spending requirement.

Here’s a look at the current welcome offers and annual fees for each card discussed in this article.

Final Thoughts

Selecting the right credit card combinations is the best way to boost your rewards-earning potential by maximizing a specific card for a specific bonus category. Because credit cards offer different benefits and earning potential, it makes sense to carry more than 1 card.

No single credit card is best for every purchase, even an ultrapremium card like the Amex Platinum card. Although it features many luxury travel perks and lifestyle benefits, the card is severely lacking in everyday spending categories.

Pairing the Amex Platinum card with any of the cards mentioned in this article is a simple way to maximize your travel rewards. It’s important to know your highest spending categories, as that simplifies deciding which card to pair with your current card.