Is the Amex Business Platinum Card 170K Welcome Offer Still Available? [Current Public Offer Is as High as 300K]

170,000 points is a targeted welcome offer we’ve seen previously on the The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, though availability of each bonus amount varies by applicant.

While some may see this welcome offer, others could be targeted for even higher bonuses — even as high as 300,000 points. As always, it’s important to check your eligibility, including any pop-up messages, before applying — and we’ll review what to look out for in the application process.

Targeted offers are discussed in the article below. Please note that these offers are not available to all applicants. Any information related to targeted offers has been collected independently and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Amex Business Platinum Card Welcome Bonus Offer

New applicants for the Amex Business Platinum card can find various welcome offers, but it ultimately boils down to when and how you apply. We’ve seen the opportunity to earn 170,000 points in the past, but the best possible offer is as high as 300,000 points upon meeting minimum spend requirements.

The current public offer is: 

• As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $20,000 in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

However, our writers have seen that American Express offers elevated offers directly to targeted applicants. As with all targeted offers, these offers aren’t available to all applicants, and what one person sees can differ from an offer extended to someone else.

At Upgraded Points, we value Amex Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents each for travel. Taking these valuations into consideration, earning 170,000 points is akin to $3,740 in value.

Eligibility & Pop-Up Rules for the 170K Bonus Offer

During the application process, you may come across a “pop-up notice” stating you’re not eligible for the welcome bonus offer based on your previous account history. When this occurs, you can either confirm and continue or exit the application — either way, your credit score won’t be impacted.

If you don’t see this pop-up message, then you should be eligible for the welcome offer displayed on the next page. However, not all applicants will receive welcome offers like 170,000 points or the highest bonus offers available as eligibility is based on various factors.

Your current and previous spending habits on existing Amex cards, how many accounts you’ve opened or closed, and the number of welcome bonuses you’ve already earned in the past can all factor into what you see on the screen. (Source: American Express)

Do also note the “lifetime language” generally imposed by American Express, which typically limits applicants to earning a welcome bonus on a specific card once. You can find this language by visiting the Offer & Benefit Terms: “You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card or previous versions of this Card.”

Option 1: Check on Amex Directly (Try This First)

First and foremost, you should always look toward applying directly on American Express’ website to find the best possible offers on the Amex Business Platinum card. By checking directly with American Express first, you may be targeted for a generous welcome offer inviting you to apply.

Here’s an example of a targeted 300,000-point welcome bonus offer when applying directly through American Express:

To find out if you’re qualified for any targeted welcome offer, click the button that says “Apply Now” on the card’s landing page and provide your personal information on the following page. If you already have an American Express account, you can log in to have this information prefilled on your behalf, simplifying the process.

Fortunately, American Express conducts a soft credit check to approve you and determine the welcome offer it will show you. If you decide to exit the application after seeing what that welcome offer is, your credit score won’t be affected. (Source: American Express)

However, your credit score may be affected if you accept your new card. That’s because there may be a hard credit inquiry at the point of finalizing the application.

Option 2: Targeted Email Offers

You can also look for targeted email offers from Amex, but you need to opt in. If you do, you’ll receive new card and credit offers in your Amex account’s general marketing email preferences.

After logging in to your Amex account, here’s how you opt in. Start by clicking on the tab called “Account Services” in the top menu, then choosing the option that says “Alerts and Communications.” In this section, click on the button called “Marketing Email Preferences” to opt in for notifications about targeted offers. (Source: American Express)

Key Card Details

There are very few business cards that can rival the Amex Business Platinum card. Despite its $895 annual fee (rates & fees), here’s a preview of the long list of benefits:

• Access to over 1,550 airport lounges (enrollment required for Priority Pass lounges)
• Up to $600 in prepaid annual hotel credit
• Generous bonus points on travel and business categories
• Varied statement credits for eligible purchases at Hilton, Dell Technologies, U.S. wireless service providers, airline fee incidentals, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and CLEAR+ (enrollment required for some benefits)
• Elite status with Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and Leaders Club upon enrollment
• A 35% airline bonus when you use Pay With Points for a flight on your preselected airline booked via AmexTravel.com (up to 1 million points per year)

Making the Most of Your 170K Points

What can you do with 170,000 Amex Membership Rewards points? Here are just a few ideas:

• Book 6 round-trip tickets to the Caribbean: By redeeming British Airways Avios, you can score o-way flights from Miami (MIA) to the Turks and Caicos (PLS) or Jamaica (MBJ, KIN, OCJ) for just 13,500 Avios plus $5.60 in taxes and fees.
• Book 5 nights in Iceland: Hilton Honors is an Amex hotel transfer partner with a favorable 1:2 ratio, so you only need to transfer 100,000 Amex points to get 200,000 Hilton Honors points. You can stay for 5 nights at the Hilton Reykjavik Nordica Hotel for just 200,000 points with the fifth night free (when you enroll in complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status).
• Book 2 round-trip tickets to Europe in premium economy seats: Transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, which regularly offers amazing premium economy deals on SkyTeam airlines such as Air France, Delta, and KLM from 40,000 points.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Business Platinum card can offer 170,000 points as a targeted welcome offer for some applicants, providing a strong opportunity to earn valuable Membership Rewards points. Some may also be targeted for as high as 300,000 points when checking directly through American Express. As always, be sure to check your eligibility (including any pop-up messages) before applying.