How I’m Redeeming Amex Business Platinum’s 150K Welcome Offer for a Summer NYC Trip

Sometimes it’s great to use your points for first-class flights and 5-star hotels, but other times, it’s nice to just have points that you can use to keep actual cash in your pocket. Flexible rewards points, like American Express Membership Rewards, can be a great way to build an amazing trip.

With The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, new applicants can earn the following welcome bonus offer: Earn 150,000 points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after spending $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com in the first 3 months. Offer ends June 30, 2025.

There are many travel possibilities with this welcome offer, but today we’ll focus on maximizing it for a trip to the Big Apple!

Amex Business Platinum Card Limited-Time Welcome Offer

Through June 30, the Amex Business Platinum card boasts a welcome bonus that provides the opportunity to earn 150,000 points and a $500 statement credit for flights booked directly with airlines or via AmexTravel.com upon meeting the minimum spend requirements.

Meeting the $20,000 Spending Requirement

Spending $20,000 in only 3 months may seem insurmountable, but depending on the size of your business, routine expenses like spending on ads, payroll, or federal and state tax payments can be a great way to meet this threshold quickly. If your provider allows it, paying ahead for utilities, insurance, or tuition can also help.

Other options include home improvements to pay contractors and purchasing appliances or making large, tax-deductible charitable donations with your card.

How To Maximize 150,000 Membership Rewards Points

We are going to use our 150,000 Membership Rewards points to book our flights and hotel for a weekend getaway to New York City.

First, the flights. Of course, the exact cost of a flight depends on both the dates you are flying and where you are flying from. Here is an example of a round-trip flight from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG) to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on Delta Air Lines.

Delta SkyMiles is an American Express transfer partner, so you can transfer 48,000 Membership Rewards points to Delta to become 48,000 Delta SkyMiles.

That would be enough for 2 tickets on the above flights, with a few miles left over. Of course, your flights may cost more or less, depending on when and from where you are flying.

Next, it’s time to book our hotel. We will book through the Amex Hotel Collection, which you can access with the Amex Business Platinum card. Even better, cardholders receive a $100 property credit (to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities at the hotel) for stays of 2 nights or more through the Amex Hotel Collection. We also get early check-in, late checkout, and a room upgrade upon arrival, when available.

While there are many potential properties available, here is a weekend stay at the Hyatt Centric Times Square, only half a block from Times Square.

While using Amex points to pay for hotels through AmexTravel.com is not the best way to redeem Membership Rewards, it can make sense if you are trying to save cash.

Adding the approximately 107,000 points for the hotel to the 48,000 points transferred to Delta, that raises the total cost for our weekend trip to 155,000 Membership Rewards points. While this is slightly more than the welcome bonus offer, remember that we also earn Membership Rewards points from the $20,000 we’re spending to qualify for the welcome offer.

And remember that once you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights, you get an additional $500 statement credit, allowing you to mix and match the savings!

Maximizing Amex Business Platinum Card Benefits

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

While you are meeting the minimum spending requirement for the welcome offer, you also earn points with every eligible purchase.

The Amex Business Platinum card earns 5x points on flights, prepaid hotels, and short-term rentals and prepaid flight and hotel packages booked at AmexTravel.com, and 1.5x points for eligible purchases at U.S. electronic goods retailers (like Apple), U.S. shipping providers, U.S. software and cloud system providers, U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers, and purchases of $5,000 more (limited to $2,000,000 per year). All other purchases still earn 1x points.

This business card charges a $695 annual fee (rates & fees), but also comes with many benefits:

• Access to over 1,400 lounges at airports around the world, including American Express Centurion Lounges (domestic and international), Delta Sky Clubs (with a same-day Delta boarding pass), and Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required)
• Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• Generous statement credits: including eligible purchases made at Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, U.S. wireless service providers, airline fee incidentals, and a CLEAR Plus membership (enrollment required for some benefits)
• Up to $200 Hilton statement credit upon enrollment per calendar year
• $200 airline statement credit of up to $200 per calendar year for incidental fees at one selected qualifying airline (enrollment required)
• Complimentary Gold elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy upon enrollment
• 35% airline bonus when you use Pay With Points for flights booked through AmexTravel.com (up to 1 million points per year)
• Access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts program with benefits like daily breakfast for 2, 4 p.m. checkout, and more.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re planning a dream trip to New York City or looking to unlock premium travel perks for future adventures, the limited-time welcome offer on the Amex Business Platinum card is a powerful opportunity. With a little strategy and planning, meeting the $20,000 spending requirement is absolutely achievable, and the rewards are more than worth it.

From luxury lounges and hotel upgrades to bonus points and statement credits, this business card opens the door to elevated travel experiences and significant savings. If you’ve ever dreamed of turning everyday spending into unforgettable memories, make sure you apply before June 30.