Do These 17 Things When You Get the Amex Business Platinum Card

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is the premier Amex business card on the market today. Offering great rewards on airfare purchases, elite travel benefits, and fantastic purchase protections, it’s easy to see why the card is a great choice for business owners and well worth the annual fee.

So if you’ve made the decision to apply and have been approved for the Amex Business Platinum card, here are 17 things you’ll want to do first when your card arrives.

Note that some benefits of the Amex Business Platinum card require enrollment through your American Express account.

American Express Business Platinum Card Overview

If you’ve been considering adding the Amex Business Platinum card to your wallet, here’s a quick overview of the card:

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Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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 card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

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The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

150,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$3,300

Annual Fee

$695

APR

18.74% - 27.74% 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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)

Cons

• High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

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Card Highlights

• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 5X Membership Rewards^® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
• Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card^®, here.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card^®.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Once you’ve received your card, here are the top things you should do to take full advantage of the card’s benefits:

1. Activate Your Priority Pass Select Membership

One of the benefits of the Amex Business Platinum card is membership with the world’s largest lounge network, Priority Pass. Priority Pass operates 1,400+ airport lounges worldwide, including over 110 lounges in the U.S. alone.

In order to set up your Priority Pass Select membership, you will need to request enrollment in the program on the Benefits page of your American Express account. After you’ve done so, you will be mailed a physical Priority Pass membership card that will grant you access to any lounge that participates in the program.

Cardholders can also bring up to 2 guests into a lounge with them, even if they’re not flying on the same itinerary. However, keep in mind that American Express Priority Pass members can no longer access Priority Pass restaurants or other airport experiences.

Hot Tip: You must present either the physical Priority Pass membership card or the digital version via the Priority Pass mobile app in order to access a Priority Pass lounge. Trying to gain access using your Amex Business Platinum card itself will not work.

2. Apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

Your Amex Business Platinum card gives you a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit when you pay for your application with the card.

Not sure which program is right for you? Global Entry gives you an expedited immigration process when re-entering the U.S. and TSA PreCheck gives you an expedited security process when traveling domestically.

The fee for Global Entry is $120 (as of October 1, 2024) and $78 for TSA PreCheck. Since those with Global Entry also receive TSA PreCheck, we highly recommend you opt for Global Entry.

A Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership is good for 5 years, but you will receive this credit every 4 years. There is no enrollment needed for this perk, but you must use your Amex Business Platinum card to pay the application fee.

Hot Tip: Already have Global Entry or TSA PreCheck? No worries! You can still use this credit to pay for a friend, family member, or business colleague’s application so that they can enjoy an expedited security experience as well. 

3. Sign Up for CLEAR Plus

One of the newer perks that the Amex Business Platinum card started offering is up to $199 in annual CLEAR Plus credits. This amount is enough to pay for an annual CLEAR Plus subscription.

All you need to do is visit the enrollment page for CLEAR, use your Amex Business Platinum card to pay for the application fee, and create an account! However, before paying, you’ll first need to enroll in the CLEAR Plus  benefit on the Benefits page of your American Express account.

Then, you’ll visit a CLEAR kiosk before your next flight to complete your biometrics and registration. After that, you’ll be good to go with your CLEAR Plus membership.

4. Select Your Airline for up to $200 Credit and a 35% Points Rebate

Another fantastic benefit of the Amex Business Platinum card is the up to $200 airline incidental credit and 35% Pay with Points rebate.

The up to $200 airline incidental credit can be used to cover charges like baggage fees, seat selection, inflight Wi-Fi, lounge passes, etc. In order to receive this credit, you must first select an airline that you’d like the credit to apply to. Then you must pay for any incidental charges you incur with your Amex Business Platinum card; these charges will be credited back to you in the form of a statement credit.

You’ll also receive a 35% rebate on point redemptions via AmexTravel.com on your selected airline. However, since your Membership Rewards points via AmexTravel.com are worth just 1 cent per point (1.54 cents after the rebate), this generally would result in using more miles than a standard award ticket would and is quite a bit less than our 2.2 cent per point valuation of Membership Rewards points.

For example, a $500 ticket from New York to Los Angeles would set you back 50,000 Membership Rewards points. While you will get 17,500 of the points redeposited back into your account, you must have all 50,000 available at the time of booking.

There are a few benefits, though. In addition to receiving 35% of those points back, you won’t need to rely on finding available award space. Flights booked with points are also treated as revenue flights by the airlines, meaning they count towards elite status and earn redeemable miles with that airline.

Hot Tip: Want to book a first or business class ticket with an airline other than the one you’ve selected? You’ll receive a 35% rebate when using your points through AmexTravel.com to book those as well. This is likely to set you back a large number of points, though, as business and first class tickets are notoriously expensive. But if there is zero award space available for the dates you’d like to fly, this could be a good option. 

5. Sign up for Hilton and Marriott Gold Status

Amex Business Platinum cardholders are also granted Gold status in both the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programs. This is a really exceptional perk of the card as it allows you to gain mid-tier loyalty status with both of these large hotel chains.

Hilton Gold status traditionally requires members to stay 40 nights, 20 stays, or earn 75,000 base points in a year, and comes with perks like:

• 80% bonus on points earned during stays
• Complimentary upgrades to preferred or executive rooms (excluding suites) when available
• Complimentary continental breakfast or a food and beverage credit
• Late checkout (subject to availability)

Marriott Gold Elite status usually requires members to stay 25 nights to qualify, and includes perks like:

• 25% bonus on points earned during stays
• Enhanced room upgrades (subject to availability and excludes suites)
• 2 p.m. late checkout (subject to availability)
• Welcome gift of extra points at check-in (250 to 500 bonus points per stay)

You will need to manually enroll in both programs, which can be done quite easily through your Amex Business Platinum card benefits page.

Bottom Line: You will keep your Gold status with both programs each year, even if you don’t qualify every year via stays. That’s right, all of the perks of elite status, without even trying!

6. Enroll for Rental Car Elite Status and Discounts

With your new Amex Business Platinum card, you’re now going to receive special status and/or discounts with 3 major rental car companies: Avis, Hertz, and National. While the benefits you’ll receive from all 3 chains are definitely welcome, some are certainly better than others. Here’s a breakdown of what perks your new card will offer with each company:

Avis Preferred American Express Benefits

• Enroll to receive Avis Preferred status, which allows you to save up to 25% off Avis base rates, skip the lines at the counter and go straight to your car, and keep rental preferences on file to track your activity
• Complimentary 1-car class upgrade with coupon #UUNA007 in your reservation

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle Status

• Guaranteed upgrade
• 50% bonus points
• Widest selection from Ultimate Choice, allowing you to choose from more cars
• Dedicated Hertz Rewards line
• Free additional driver

National Emerald Club Executive Status

• Enroll and receive Executive Area/Emerald Aisle access, which allows you to pay the mid-size rate and then choose any car class (full-size and above) from either aisle
• Guaranteed upgrades on mid-sized vehicle rentals in the U.S. and Canada
• No second driver fees
• Free 1-class upgrades at participating National locations in France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, and the U.K.
• Get preferred pricing on upgrades to the Premier Selection cars at the rental lot
• Free rental credit after 6 car rentals

Hot Tip: As mentioned, all 3 companies provide discounts, but we find the benefits you receive with Hertz or National to be the most valuable. 

7. Use Your Dell Credit

Similar to the Saks Fifth Avenue credits offered with the personal version of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, the Amex Business Platinum card gives cardholders up to $400 in statement credits annually by getting up to $200 semi-annually for U.S. Dell purchases.

You will need to activate this credit through your card’s benefits page and then pay for your merchandise using your Amex Business Platinum card. You’ll receive a $200 statement credit for purchases made from January through June and an additional $200 statement credit for purchases made from July through December.

Dell sells a wide range of products that will no doubt be very useful for your business, including laptops, desktops, monitors, software, printers, headphones, and more!

8. Pay Your Cellular Bill

When you pay your cellular bill with the Amex Business Platinum card, you’re eligible to receive up to $10 per month in statement credits towards wireless telephone services, which gets you up to $120 per year in value. You’ll need to enroll in this benefit before you pay your bill.

Here are the notable exclusions for the wireless statement credit:

• Bundled services
• Cellular repair services
• Electronics purchases
• Hardware purchases
• Purchases from authorized retailers, resellers, or third-party sellers
• VoIP services

Additionally, with the Amex Business Platinum card, you’ll qualify for cell phone protection when you put your monthly cellular bill on this card. That way, in the event that your cell phone is damaged or stolen, you can get up to $800 per claim in reimbursements with a $50 deductible per claim.

There’s a limit of 2 claims per card account per rolling 12 months.

9. Make a Booking Through the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts Program

Another great travel benefit of your Amex Business Platinum card is the option to make hotel bookings through the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts Program.

The Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts Program (FHR) allows you to book a stay with any hotel offered on the platform and receive elite status-type benefits for doing so.

When you make a booking through the Fine Hotels and Resorts Program you will receive:

• 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent
• Room upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability)
• Daily breakfast for 2 people
• 12 p.m. check-in (subject to availability)
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• A unique property amenity valued at $100

Hot Tip: Keep in mind, for those wanting to take advantage of the Hilton or Marriott Gold status they receive with the card (or any other hotel elite status you may have) in addition to FHR benefits, you will also receive those hotel elite benefits and earn hotel points, as long as you provide your hotel loyalty number to the property.

10. Visit an Amex Centurion Lounge (and Other Lounge Options)

American Express offers its own premium lounge network called Centurion Lounges, which is only accessible to those who hold an Amex Platinum card, the Amex Business Platinum card, Centurion^® Card from American Express, Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card (when you book your Delta flight with your Delta Reserve card), and Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card (when you book your Delta flight with your Delta Reserve Business card).

Centurion Lounges offer travelers free chef-inspired meals, high-end cocktails, and impressive touches that really make for a high-end lounge experience. Some Centurion Lounges even offer spas with complimentary services or shower suites for travelers who’d like to freshen up after a long day.

Fortunately, the lounge access doesn’t stop there, as Amex Business Platinum cardholders will also receive access to Escape Lounges — The Centurion Studio Partner, International American Express Centurion Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, select Lufthansa Lounges when flying on a Lufthansa Group flight the same day, select Virgin Clubhouses, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta) the same day, and of course, the previously mentioned Priority Pass lounges upon enrollment.

11. Enroll With ShopRunner

ShopRunner is a subscription service that gives members access to free 2-day shipping from dozens of online merchants that you likely already shop with, like Brooks Brothers, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Tommy Hilfiger.

A subscription with ShopRunner usually costs $79 per year but Amex Business Platinum cardholders get a complimentary membership after enrolling via their Benefits dashboard. If a store you’re shopping with ships via ShopRunner, you’ll be prompted to enter your credentials when checking out and will receive free 2-day shipping.

Here’s our full list of the merchants who use ShopRunner.

Hot Tip: As a business owner, be sure to familiarize yourself with all of the benefits and perks of using and earning points and miles.

12. Use Your Card for Purchases That Need Protecting

As a business owner, you likely buy plenty of valuable items each year that help you get the job done, and oftentimes, those items might not come cheap.

Luckily the Amex Business Platinum card offers purchase protection on all items you buy with the card. If your item is accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost within 90 days of purchase, American Express will reimburse you for the full purchase price, up to $10,000 per item.

Your coverage on these items is secondary coverage, so any primary insurance policies you have will apply first. If you have no other insurance policy on the item, your Amex insurance will become the primary coverage.

In an incident does happen, your claim must be filed within 90 days of the product being lost or damaged. Keep in mind that you can only receive a maximum of $10,000 in reimbursements per occurrence, and up to $50,000 in reimbursements per cardmember account per calendar year.

All purchases made with your Amex Business Platinum card are also eligible for a complimentary extended warranty of 1 additional year, as long as the product has a standard warranty of 5 years or less. Similar to the purchase protection, claims will cover up to $10,000 per item with a maximum of $50,000 in claims annually.

13. Book Travel With Great Travel Protections

In addition to the 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com you earn with your Amex Business Platinum card, you’ll also receive some top-notch travel protections to help you have peace of mind on your next trip.

The card offers checked and carry-on baggage insurance, which covers up to $3,000 in reimbursements for the cost of carry-on baggage, up to $2,000 in reimbursements for the cost of checked baggage, and up to $1,000 in reimbursements for high-risk items such as jewelry or electronics.

Trip delay insurance is another benefit as long as you book a round-trip ticket with the card. If your trip is delayed by more than 6 hours due to a covered reason, you will be reimbursed up to $500 for unexpected expenses like meals, lodging, or personal items. You can have up to 2 trip delay claims approved per rolling 12-month period.

The Amex Business Platinum card even offers trip cancellation and interruption insurance when your flight is canceled for a covered reason, like inclement weather, an act of terrorism, jury duty, illness, or injury. If this happens to you, you can receive reimbursement of any non-refundable travel expenses of up to $10,000 per trip, with a maximum of up to $20,000 per eligible account for each consecutive 12-month period.

14. Use Your Amex Platinum Concierge for Special Requests

Your Amex Business Platinum card provides you with access to the American Express Platinum Concierge service that can provide assistance with arranging lunch or dinner reservations, tracking down event tickets, booking ground transportation, and more. The Platinum Concierge team is available day or night, anywhere in the world.

This benefit does not require any sort of enrollment, and to get in contact with a member of the Platinum Concierge team just call the number on the back of your card.

15. Add Employee Cards

If your business has employees you may want to consider adding an employee card to your account. Each employee card comes with an additional fee (rates & fees), and each cardholder receives access to all of the same airport lounges, Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, and Gold status with Hilton Honors.

The points from all of their purchases will be deposited into the main cardholder’s Membership Rewards account. This is, without a doubt, a great option to share the great travel perks you receive with your employees while earning some extra points in the process!

16. Recruit Your Next Hire Through Indeed

One of the benefits of the Amex Business Platinum card is the ability to get up to $360 in Indeed credits per year (up to $90 per quarter).

The first thing you’ll need to do is access the Benefits section of your online Amex Business Platinum card account and then enroll in the Indeed benefit.

After that, post a job through your Indeed account and pay using the Amex Business Platinum card to qualify for up to $90 per quarter in statement credits. This can help you get a head start on that next position you’re thinking to fill.

17. Get Discounts on Powerful Business Software Through Adobe

Leveraging software to streamline or optimize your business is crucial — Adobe partners with Amex to offer up to $150 in yearly Adobe credits through the Amex Business Platinum card on eligible subscriptions. Adobe offers a suite of software applications that includes Photoshop, Lightroom, Premier Pro, Acrobat Pro, and more.

Just activate it in the Benefits section and pay for your eligible subscription using this link to get started.

Final Thoughts

Put simply, the Amex Business Platinum card has a lot to offer, and if you’re a new cardholder or are considering applying soon, then this should serve as a great starting point for helping you maximize each card benefit.

Looking for a full list of every benefit offered on the card? Check our guide that shows how cardholders can receive thousands of dollars in value from their Amex Business Platinum card.

For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, the maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the Cell Phone Protection benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the Return Protection benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. 

For the purchase protection benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, Purchase Protection is an embedded benefit of your Card Membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect Covered Purchases made on your Eligible Card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Coverage Limits Apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the extended warranty benefit of  The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, when an American Express^® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty§ can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.