The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers more than $3,500 in annual statement credits (Source: American Express) and access to more than 1,550 airport lounges, set against an $895 annual fee (rates & fees). It is worth the fee for frequent business travelers who use the lounges and travel credits, and it’s hard to justify for those who won’t.
Great Card If
- You travel often enough to use the card’s travel benefits.
- You want luxury perks such as hotel elite status and airport lounge access.
- You want purchase protection.
- You want a card that earns transferable rewards.
Don’t Get If
- You won’t get value that exceeds the annual fee.
- You prefer a cash-back card.
- You don’t travel often.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Earns transferable Membership Rewards points with more than 20 airline and hotel transfer partners
- Access to more than 1,550 airport lounges
- Hotel and rental car elite status after enrollment
- Extensive travel and purchase protections
- More than $3,500 in annual statement credits (some require enrollment)
Cons
- At $895, the most expensive publicly available business card on the market
- Low base earning: 1x on most noncategory spending, with higher rates available on many competing cards
- Statement credits require enrollment and ongoing effort, and several are niche (U.S. purchases at Dell, Indeed, Adobe, ChatGPT Business).
- No bonus points on travel booked directly, outside AmexTravel.com
- Comparable lounge access is available on cheaper business cards.
Is It Worth It? Short Answer
Recurring statement credits total more than $3,500 a year, excluding the conditional $1,000 Dell credit and the $250,000-spending tier. A heavy business traveler who uses the lounges, the Fine Hotels + Resorts credit, and 2 or 3 software credits nets positive against the $895 annual fee (Source: American Express). Using about half the credits is borderline; skipping the lounges and FHR likely nets negative. See the full is-it-worth-it breakdown for the math and the benefits page for the complete credit tally.
Benefits at a Glance
“The Amex Business Platinum card is my go-to card for international airfare, and I like getting the 35% rebate when I use Membership Rewards points for select flights via AmexTravel.com. Best of all, I enjoy a break in a Centurion Lounge during my travels.” — Christine Krzyszton, senior finance contributor
How To Earn and Redeem Your Amex Points
The Amex Business Platinum card earns 5x Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com (Source: American Express), 2x in key business categories on up to $2 million per year, and 1x on everything else. Points are worth the most when transferred to Amex partners; see the guides on how to earn, redeem, and transfer Membership Rewards points.
Additional Credits With $250,000 in Annual Spending
Cardholders who spend $250,000 in a calendar year unlock up to $3,600 in additional statement credits the following year: a $1,200 AmexTravel.com flight credit and up to $2,400 toward American Express One AP fees.
Hot Tip:
How Much Is the Amex Business Platinum Card Annual Fee?
The annual fee is $895. Consider whether the rewards and benefits you’d use will offer more value than that.
With transferable Membership Rewards, extensive annual credits, and benefits such as airport lounge access, hotel elite status, the 35% Pay With Points rebate, and a CLEAR+ credit, it’s possible to get thousands of dollars in value from the card.
Amex Platinum Card vs. Amex Business Platinum Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Amex Business Platinum card share extensive travel benefits and lounge access but differ in their credits. The Amex Business Platinum card carries business-focused credits, while the Amex Platinum card carries lifestyle credits. For a full comparison, see the head-to-head: “Amex Business Platinum card vs. Amex Platinum card.”
Alternatives to the Amex Business Platinum Card
Sapphire Reserve for Business℠: A premium business card with strong travel credits and lounge access at a comparable annual fee, earning elevated rewards on Chase Travel and on flights, hotels, and advertising. See the Amex Business Platinum card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card comparison.
Capital One Venture X Business Card: A lower-fee premium card ($395) earning an uncapped 2x miles on all purchases and more on travel booked through Capital One, with a $300 annual travel credit and lounge access. See the Amex Business Platinum card vs. Capital One Venture X Business card comparison.
The card has also been compared to the American Express® Business Gold Card and the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card.
UP’s Card Review Methodology
Every card we review is assigned a "U.P. Rating" – our star-based system that encompasses all the key details to showcase a card’s standout features, where it falls short, and how it stacks up for travelers to maximize rewards.
These ratings range from 0 to 5 stars and are determined by carefully weighing crucial factors like:
- Bonus categories
- Benefits and perks
- Quality of associated loyalty programs
- Annual fees and other costs
- Size of the welcome bonus (and relative to the annual fee)
- And several more
You can learn more about how Upgraded Points reviews and rates credit cards.