Why the Amex Business Platinum Is the Only Card I’ll Use To Book Flights

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is a powerhouse for business travelers. It offers solid earning rates and a suite of travel-focused perks and benefits for cardmembers.

This combination of earning potential and benefits makes the Amex Business Platinum card undoubtedly one of the best options for flyers. And right now, the Amex Business Platinum card has a limited-time welcome offer that sweetens the deal even more.

Today, I’ll explain why the Amex Business Platinum card is my preferred option for booking business flights — and why now is a great time to add it to your wallet.

Amex Business Platinum Card’s Limited-Time Welcome Offer

Successful Amex Business Platinum card applicants can earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com with your Amex Business Platinum card within the first 3 months of card membership. You can earn 1 or both of these offers.

LIMITED TIME TRAVEL OFFER

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

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

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 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card^® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card^® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.

150,000 points + $500 statement credit

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,800

Annual Fee

$695

APR

18.49% - 27.49% 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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

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, prepaid hotels, and short-term rentals and prepaid flight and hotel packages booked through Amex Travel
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection (as of 10/2024).
• 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 (on up to $2 million per calendar year)

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

• Limited Time Travel Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card^® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card^® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.
• 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 10/2024.
• 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.
• Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
• NEW! Make the Business Platinum Card^® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® points for flights, prepaid hotels, and short-term rentals and prepaid flight + hotel packages booked at AmexTravel.com. 1X points on other 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.
• $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^®.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

This limited-time welcome bonus offer ends on June 30, 2025. Based on our valuation of Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents apiece, 150,000 points are worth $3,300. Add in the $500 airfare statement credit for a total potential value of $3,800!

Travel Benefits

The Amex Business Platinum card isn’t the kind of card you earn the welcome bonus on and never look at again. It offers tons of earning potential and travel-focused perks and benefits that make it a worthwhile resident in your wallet despite its $695 annual fee (rates & fees).

The range of flight-focused benefits makes it my preferred option for booking business flights. Here’s an overview of the most noteworthy perks (some may require prior enrollment):

• Earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
• Access to 1,400 airport lounges worldwide
• Up to $200 annual airline incidental fee credit
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit
• Up to $199 annual CLEAR Plus credit
• 35% airline bonus when you use Pay With Points for flights booked through AmexTravel.com (up to 1,000,000 points per year)
• Travel protections and insurance

Other Top Benefits

The benefits of the Amex Business Platinum card aren’t limited to flying. Some of these benefits require enrollment, and Amex is making changes to the existing Adobe and Dell credits that feature on the card as of July 1, 2025:

• Up to $400 in statement credits each year on purchases made at Dell
• Up to $360 in annual credit for purchases with Indeed
• Up to $150 in statement credits each year for select prepaid subscriptions with Adobe
• Up to $120 in statement credits each year for wireless phone services
• Up to $200 in Hilton statement credits each year
• Hotel and rental car elite status and benefits
• Global Dining Access by Resy

The perks and benefits you receive by having the Amex Business Platinum card easily exceed the card’s $695 annual fee (rates & fees).

8 Key Flight Perks of the Amex Business Platinum Card

Now that we’ve reviewed the top benefits and perks of the Amex Business Platinum card, it’s time to explore why this card is the best option for booking business flights.

1. Earn a $500 Statement Credit After Spending $2,500 on Flights

As part of the Amex Business Platinum card’s current welcome offer, you can earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com with your Amex Business Platinum card within the first 3 months of card membership.

While we at Upgraded Points are all about using points and miles for flights whenever possible, there are situations when paying cash may be the only option. The ability to earn a $500 statement credit after spending $2,500 on airfare booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com provides a sizable discount that’s absolutely worth taking advantage of.

Since spending $2,500 is nothing to sneeze at, the goal is to find airfare as close to that number as possible. If you’re a solo traveler, this could mean a one-way (or round-trip, if you get lucky) fare in a premium cabin across the country or the pond, for example.

If you have a family or a travel companion, $2,500 isn’t a hard threshold to reach, especially if traveling internationally. You can also purchase multiple tickets to get as close to $2,500, allowing you to score as high as a 20% discount on your next trip (or trips).

2. Earn 5x Points on Flights Booked Through AmexTravel.com

Earning 5 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent on airfare (and prepaid hotels) booked through AmexTravel.com is a huge perk, especially if you travel frequently and have to book cash tickets.

We value American Express Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents apiece, so you’ll effectively earn $11 in value for every $100 spent on airfare (500 points earned for every $100 spent on airfare booked through AmexTravel.com).

There are practically endless ways to redeem Amex Membership Rewards points for tremendous value, so if you spend a lot on airfare, you’ll be building your points balance at a rapid clip, allowing you to redeem them for incredible future travel experiences.

3. Score Lounge Access

The Amex Business Platinum card isn’t just great for booking business flights — it’s also a fantastic tool to have while you’re flying. This is largely thanks to the incredible number of airport lounges you can access as an Amex Business Platinum cardmember worldwide.

American Express offers the Amex Global Lounge Collection, encompassing more than 1,400 airport lounges in 140 countries worldwide.

With your Amex Business Platinum card, you can access the following lounges:

• Aspire Lounges
• Centurion Lounges (both in the U.S. and abroad)
• 10 visits a year to Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta same-day, plus the ability to unlock unlimited visits)
• Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner
• Select Lufthansa Lounges (when flying Lufthansa same-day)
• Plaza Premium Lounges
• Priority Pass lounges (upon enrollment)
• Select Virgin Clubhouses

While it’s fantastic to have access to so many lounges, the highlights here are Amex’s own Centurion Lounges, which offer staffed full bars, elevated food options, and other high-end amenities such as shower suites and dedicated work rooms.

If you fly Delta Air Lines often, you’re allotted 10 visits to Delta Sky Clubs annually. You can enter multiple Sky Clubs in 1 day, which will only count as 1 visit. For example, you could begin your day at Chicago-O’Hare (ORD), visit the Sky Club there, connect in Atlanta (ATL), and visit the Sky Club there, and that will only count as 1 visit.

Hot Tip:

Learn more about the American Express Centurion Lounge network in the U.S., including locations, opening hours, and more.

4. Save With Up to $200 Annual Airline Incidental Fee Credit

Each calendar year, you can receive up to $200 in statement credits for incidental fees charged by the airline you select within your Amex online account. Unfortunately, airfare isn’t eligible for this credit, but other charges, including checked bags and inflight food and beverages, are.

Statement credits are per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your card or any of the additional cards on your Amex Business Platinum card account.

5. Unlock a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Fee Credit

Expedited airport security is a must for any frequent business traveler — and it’s even better when it’s included in the Amex Business Platinum card!

You’ll receive a fee reimbursement for a TSA PreCheck or a Global Entry membership. Even better, this benefit extends to additional cards on your account, too.

• TSA PreCheck: Up to $85 fee credit every 4.5 years
• Global Entry: Up to $120 fee credit every 4 years

6. Receive a CLEAR Plus Credit (Up to $199 Annually)

Card members can zip through security screenings at select U.S. airports and sports venues with an annual statement credit of up to $199 for a CLEAR Plus membership.

7. Maximize 35% Pay With Points Rebate for Airfare Booked Through AmexTravel.com

With the Amex Business Platinum card, you can Pay With Points for certain flights and receive a 35% rebate on your redeemed points.

Generally speaking, reward points are most valuable when transferred to a partner, but there are circumstances when taking advantage of the Pay With Points rebate makes sense.

To take advantage of this 35% rebate, you must first make sure you’re booking your flight on AmexTravel.com. You can use points to pay for any flight, but the Pay With Points rebate only applies to flights that meet certain criteria:

• Any flight booked with your chosen airline: This is the same carrier you select for your annual up to $200 airline fee credit. Any class of service booked on your chosen airline qualifies for the rebate. This includes economy, premium economy, business, first, and even basic economy.
• A business or first class flight on any airline: Regardless of the airline you choose for your airline fee credit, you can use Pay With Points and receive the 35% rebate if you book a business or first class ticket.

Once it’s booked, Amex will refund up to 35% of your points to your account, up to 1 million points per year. Remember that this is a rebate — not a discount — so you first need to have enough points in your account for the amount you’d like to redeem. Your points rebate will post to your account within 6 to 10 weeks.

8. Utilize Extensive Travel Protections and Insurance

Having the Amex Business Platinum card in your wallet will give you peace of mind while you travel, thanks to its robust suite of travel protections and insurance offerings, including the following:

• Trip delay insurance: When you purchase a round-trip ticket with your card and the flight is delayed by more than 6 hours, you’re covered for up to $500 in reasonable expenses like meals, lodging, and personal use items.
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Flights purchased with your card that are canceled or interrupted due to a covered reason, like inclement weather or accidental injury, are covered up to $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per year.
• Baggage insurance: To be eligible, you must pay for your entire fare using your Amex Business Platinum card or American Express Membership Rewards points. Coverage is capped at $2,000 for checked baggage and a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage.

Final Thoughts

It’s easy to see that the Amex Business Platinum card is designed with frequent business travelers in mind. It offers many benefits that go a long way when booking flights and flying. That’s just a portion of the benefits this powerful card offers.

With these incredible perks, the Amex Business Platinum card is easily the top option in my wallet when booking a business flight or heading to the airport. Plus, the airfare statement credit included in its limited-time welcome offer makes the card even more attractive for business flyers.

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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. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

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. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for covered persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per covered trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each covered person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all covered persons per covered trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.