Why I’m Finally Upgrading to the Amex Business Platinum in 2026

I have long had my eye on The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, but have resisted pulling the trigger to apply for one. I already have more than a dozen credit cards in my wallet, and didn’t feel like adding another business card with a hefty $895 annual fee (rates & fees) to the rotation.

However, toward the end of 2025, my calculus began to change. The Amex Business Platinum card, following a significant update last year, provides an ideal blend of earning potential, travel perks and benefits, extensive and practical statement credits, and a formidable welcome bonus offer.

Let’s take a look at all the reasons why I’ll be adding the Amex Business Platinum card to my wallet in 2026 — and why it quickly became a “need to have” instead of a “would be nice to have” card.

There’s an Incredible Welcome Bonus Offer

The Amex Business Platinum card received a major refresh in 2025, making the card even more appealing to cardmembers in exchange for the $895 annual fee.

The current public welcome bonus offer is among the best in its class, providing cardmembers with hundreds of thousands of points worth thousands of dollars when redeemed for travel:

• Earn 150,000 200,000 points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months.

We value American Express Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents apiece, which means the welcome offer could be worth up up to $4,400. However, if you leverage the lengthy list of American Express hotel and transfer partners, you can redeem those points for far greater value with premium travel experiences. 

Why You Don’t Want To Actually Upgrade Any Card

While I already have several American Express cards, I won’t be upgrading them to the Amex Business Platinum card — technically speaking.

When we refer to “upgrading” a card, we mean the specific process of requesting a product change from the card issuer. You maintain your line of credit on your existing card, but you move from your existing card product to a new one, whatever it may be.

For example, you could call American Express and ask them to upgrade you from the American Express^® Business Gold Card to the Amex Business Platinum card. If you are approved, Amex updates your account, and you then become an Amex Business Platinum cardmember.

However, there’s a huge drawback to this process, and it’s why we rarely recommend upgrading your card. If you upgrade a product, you’re not eligible to earn a welcome bonus offer, which is one of the primary reasons for choosing a card like the Amex Business Platinum card in the first place.

ELEVATED WELCOME 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 150,000 200,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

150,000 200,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $4,400

Annual Fee

$895

APR

17.74% - 28.49% 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 card application.

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 1,550 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on eligible travel purchases like flights, prepaid hotels, and prepaid short-term rentals booked through AmexTravel.com
• Access to over 1,550 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Earn 2x Membership Rewards points 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 $895 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

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Card Highlights

• Elevated Welcome Offer: Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Business Platinum Card^® within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.
• See how you can unlock over $3,500 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
• Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.
• 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.
• 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.
• Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
• Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travel™.
• Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
• Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
• Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
• Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
• 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
• 1X points on other eligible purchases
• $895 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 17.74% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

This is why we recommend applying for a new card altogether. If you already have, for example, the Amex Business Gold card, the issuer considers your application for the Amex Business Platinum card as a totally new product, meaning you’re eligible for the welcome bonus offer.

You Can Earn Big in Major Business Categories

I’m also interested in applying for the Amex Business Platinum card as it’s highly rewarding for cardmembers. After its 2025 revamp, here’s how cardmembers earn Membership Rewards points on these purchases:

• Earn 5x Membership Rewards points on eligible travel purchases like flights, prepaid hotels, and prepaid, short-term rentals booked through AmexTravel.com
• Earn 2x points on purchases at U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers, and shipping providers
• Earn 2x points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of purchases in these 2x categories per calendar year
• Earn 1x points on all other purchases

Note that purchases that are eligible for multiple additional point bonuses only receive the highest eligible bonus.

Travel is expensive, but when you are required to do it for work, you might as well be rewarded handsomely for your purchases. I spend enough on travel each year that the points earned would be significant. When combined with the points coming from the other Membership Rewards-earning cards in my wallet, I’ll be ideally positioned to constantly have a large stash of points I can draw on to transfer to any one of Amex’s travel partners to book incredible flights or hotels.

I also appreciate the 2x multiplier on purchases of at least $5,000. Although I don’t make many large purchases like this in a year, I’ll know exactly which card to reach for when I inevitably have to make a large purchase. This isn’t likely one of the perks I’ll maximize, as I don’t see myself spending anywhere close to $2 million, but it’s nice to know I can earn at least 10,000 points in a single transaction if and when I need to make a significant purchase.

It Elevates Travel in a Way Few Other Cards Can

The Amex Business Platinum card is arguably the very best companion you can have while traveling. It offers a laundry list of perks and benefits that help elevate any trip.

As soon as you show up at the airport, you can begin utilizing your perks, such as a CLEAR membership with the help of an up-to-$209 annual statement credit to cover the membership fee (subject to auto-renewal). Additionally, you can utilize the statement credit the card offers to cover the cost of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, which allows you to speed through the screening process, saving you precious time and mitigating what can be a stressful situation.

And once through security, you can utilize the card’s incredible variety of lounge access to pass the time away from the crowded terminal in spaces with complimentary food, beverages, Wi-Fi, private bathrooms, and, depending on the lounge, showers or spa facilities.

When you land, you can receive perks at various rental car agencies that can help you cut the line, score a better car, and more. Remember, too, that you can have peace of mind with secondary rental car insurance.

In addition to rental car coverage, the Amex Business Platinum card comes with trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay insurance, baggage insurance, and more travel insurance benefits.

Statement Credits That Add Tremendous Value

One of the most valuable statement credits is a new addition to the Amex Business Platinum card: the up to $600 annual hotel credit for prepaid bookings with The Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels + Resorts made through AmexTravel.com, delivered in 2 semiannual up to $300 statement credits.

When you book hotels with either of these programs, you receive benefits for your stay. This, coupled with the ability to save up to $600 over the course of a year, means you can receive tremendous value on applicable hotel stays throughout the year.

There are more ways to save while traveling, too. The Amex Business Platinum card offers up to $200 in annual statement credits with Hilton, a credit of up to $200 for airline incidental fees, and more (enrollment required). Since I travel frequently, these are no-brainer credits that allow me to get incremental value from numerous trips throughout the year.

Finally, the card also includes several business-owner-friendly statement credits for purchases from Dell, Adobe, Indeed, select U.S. wireless providers, and more. These help business owners save on purchases they often make, adding to the card’s overall value proposition.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Business Platinum card is, by far, one of the very best business cards on the market. After considering the card for years, the 2025 revamp added new perks and benefits that I’ll use regularly, and I’ve decided that 2026 is the year I finally add the card to my wallet.

And so I’m eligible for the fantastic welcome bonus offer, I won’t actually be upgrading any of my existing cards, but when I open a new Amex Business Platinum card, my wallet will certainly be receiving an upgrade.