21 Benefits of the Amex Business Platinum Card [$4,819+ Value]

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is one of the most — if not the most — premium cards for businesses. The popular metal credit card provides a slew of benefits for businesses, like lounge access, and a huge points bonus on AmexTravel.com purchases. With that, though, the card carries a hefty annual fee, which is definitely a large up-front investment.

Despite the steep fee, the Amex Business Platinum card is still worth considering, especially for business owners who travel frequently. Here are all of the benefits of the card and the cash value of each benefit. This will allow you to see the value of the card compared to the annual fee.

All of the values here are based on realistic usage of the benefits for business owners that travel moderately and have significant business spending. By the end of the article, you’ll be able to use this information to make an informed decision on if the Amex Business Platinum card is right for your business.

The Amex Business Platinum Card’s Benefits Summary

The Amex Business Platinum has been a stable for business for years. And after taking a look at the value of the benefits, it’s easy to see why. Here’s a quick summary:

Note: some benefits require enrollment through your American Express account. Terms Apply.

*The bonus value of the welcome offer as well as the value of benefits are an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

The Amex Business Platinum Card’s Travel and Points Benefits

Each of these perks makes your travel experience smoother, more luxurious, and in some cases, cheaper! Remember, though — the valuations you see below are based on moderate use, so you may get more or less value depending on how often you travel and how much you spend on your card.

1. A Huge Welcome Bonus [$1,100 to $2,000+]

The Amex Business Platinum card is notorious for having a high welcome bonus for new cardholders. In short, American Express offers a lump sum that’s awarded to new cardholders when they meet a certain spend threshold within a certain amount of time after opening an Amex Business Platinum card.

See the current Amex Business Platinum card welcome bonus below:

ELEVATED 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 in's and out's 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!

Learn More(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 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

150,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$3,300

Annual Fee

$695

APR

19.49% - 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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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 and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• 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 (cap applies)

Cons

• High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 5X Membership Rewards^® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on 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 everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
• 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. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card^®, here.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
• $189 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card^®.
• 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 03/2023.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 150,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Since the welcome bonus often fluctuates between 50,000 and 100,000 Membership Rewards points, we’ll value the welcome bonus at $1,100 for the purpose of this article. This is based on just a 50,000 Membership Rewards welcome bonus and our valuation of 2.2 cents per point.

For the most up-to-date valuation, check our monthly points and miles valuations.

2. Complimentary Access to Thousands of Airport Lounges Worldwide [Varies]

One of the most valuable Amex Business Platinum card perks is that the card has access to thousands of airport lounges worldwide. This is due to American Express’ vast lounge network — named the American Express Global Lounge Network — having partnerships with different lounge networks worldwide as well as some of its own lounges at major hubs.

Amex Business Platinum Cardholders have access to the following airport lounges:

• The Centurion Lounge Network
• Delta Sky Club
• Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner and Escape Lounges
• Lufthansa Lounges
• Plaza Premium Lounges
• Priority Pass Select

Do note that each of these lounges has different entry rules, though. Some will only allow entry when flying a specific airline, some allow guests, and others only allow the primary cardholder to enter the lounge. This affects how we value each lounge, so we’ll give you a breakdown of the various different lounge networks below and assign each their own value.

The Centurion Lounge Network

The Centurion Lounge is American Express’ premium lounge offering, with each lounge offering free chef-inspired meals, high-end local cocktails, and carefully designed seating areas with posh furniture and aesthetics. You’ll find locations for these lounges both domestically and overseas.

Even cooler, each of these lounges takes a cue from its locale. For example, if you’re at the LaGuardia Centurion Lounge, you’ll find local New York craft beer at the bar and food curated by a local chef. Likewise, at the Dallas-Fort Worth Centurion Lounge, you can often find BBQ at the buffet. Since each Centurion Lounge has such a unique feel, you’ll undoubtedly want to visit them all.

Make sure to have your Amex Business Platinum card, government-issued ID, and valid boarding pass in-hand when entering a Centurion Lounge as you’ll need them to enter. Amex Business Platinum cardholders can bring up to 2 guests into the lounge with them per visit after spending $75,000 in a calendar year. Additional guests cost $50 per day for adults and $30 for children ages 2-17.

We value Centurion Lounge access at $250 for anyone that travels with moderate frequency. Many U.S. hubs already have Centurion Lounges, and more are in the process of being built worldwide, so there’s no doubt that you can use them at least a few times per year. This perk is worth even more if you have a Centurion Lounge at your home airport or somewhere you travel to and from frequently.

Delta Sky Club

Amex Business Platinum cardholders also get access to all Delta Sky Clubs, but only when traveling on a Delta Air Lines flight. There are over 50 Delta Sky Clubs worldwide, with most of them being located at Delta hubs and other major airports in North America. You, unfortunately, can’t bring a guest with you into the Delta Sky Club for free — you’ll have to pay $29 per guest.

All Delta Sky Clubs have complimentary food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and Wi-Fi. Some of the newer Sky Clubs even have rooftop access and premium beverages for sale (think Champagne, etc.). So if you’re on a layover between Delta flights, or just need a place to relax before a big trip, the Delta Sky Club is a nice place to hang out.

We value Delta Sky Club access at $200. Despite there being a Sky Club at almost every major U.S. airport, you can only access it alone and when flying on a Delta ticket. However, those who often fly Delta anyway will get much more than $250 in value, especially when you consider that a Delta Sky Club subscription is well over $500 when purchased outright.

Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner and Escape Lounges

Escape Lounges have been slowly popping up around the world, with the U.S. being one of the lounge network’s main focus markets.

Nowadays, you can find Escape Lounges at midsized U.S. airports like John Glenn Columbus International (CMH), Oakland International (OAK), and Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), amongst others. American Express and Escape Lounges have partnered to offer Amex Business Platinum cardholders access to all U.S. lounges — all you need is your boarding pass and Amex Business Platinum card to enter.

Even better, you can bring up to 2 guests with you into the Escape Lounge, making it a good alternative for Delta Sky Clubs when traveling with a friend or family member. However, with such a limited number of lounges, we value the Escape Lounge benefit at $50 per year.

Amex Business Platinum cardholders also now have access to U.K. lounges, including locations at Manchester (MAN), London-Stansted (STN), and East Midlands (EMA).

Lufthansa Lounges

Amex Business Platinum cardholders can access select Lufthansa Lounge locations. If the member is flying business class, he or she can access the more premium Lufthansa Senator Lounges.

Unfortunately, you can only access these lounges if you’re flying on a Lufthansa group flight. This includes flights on Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, and SWISS. Because of this — and the fact that only “select locations” allow guest entry — we value Lufthansa lounge access at a modest $50 per year.

Plaza Premium Lounges

Plaza Premium is a Hong Kong-based lounge network with locations in various airports around Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. These lounges are known for having solid food and beverage options, sleek interior design, and fast internet, making them a dependable place to stop before a flight abroad.

All Amex Business Platinum cardholders can access Plaza Premium Lounges with their card and a valid boarding pass. Even better, you can bring up to 1 guest with you, letting you share the benefit with a lucky friend, family member, or co-worker.

We value this benefit at $100.While there are no locations in the U.S., those who travel abroad frequently will be able to make good use of the Canadian, Hong Kong, and various European lounges at least once a year. In many cases, these are better than standard airport lounges, too, so make sure to stop by if you stumble upon a Plaza Premium lounge during your travels.

Priority Pass Select

Priority Pass is the world’s largest lounge network. Priority Pass has over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, spanning every inhabited continent. Further, there are Priority Pass lounges at major U.S. airports like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) and John F. Kennedy International (JFK), giving economy passengers and those without airline status access to a pre-departure lounge.

The Amex Business Platinum card is easily one of the best credit cards with Priority Pass. You can request this on the Benefits page of your American Express account. When you do this, Priority Pass will mail you a physical Priority Pass membership card that you can use at any lounge in its network. Note that you must have your physical Priority Pass card or a digital card in the mobile app to access the lounge.

Note that American Express Priority Pass members are no longer allowed access to Priority Pass restaurants or other airport experiences, so you can only access traditional airport lounges with your included membership.

We value the Priority Pass Select benefit at $250 for most travelers. You’ll find Priority Pass lounges at most airports when traveling abroad, meaning that you’ll almost always have a place to work, relax, or eat before a long flight.

3. Earn 5x Points per Dollar Spent on Flights and Prepaid Hotels on AmexTravel.com [$100]

Another awesome Amex Business Platinum card perk is earning 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. You can book nearly every commercial flight and hotel through this portal, so depending on how often you travel, you can rack up some serious points.

There are a few downsides to booking with AmexTravel.com, though. Hotels booked through AmexTravel.com aren’t usually eligible for earning hotel points or using elite benefits. This isn’t a big deal for independent hotels but can make a difference if you have hotel status. Further, booking through an online travel agent (like AmexTravel.com) can make flight changes harder than if you booked directly through an airline.

We value this benefit at $100, but the value will vary depending on how much you spend on travel. Just make sure to compare the downsides to the elevated earning rate before booking through AmexTravel.com.

4. Earn 1.5x on Eligible Purchases and Purchases Over $5,000 [$50]

Further, earn 1.5x points on eligible purchases in key business categories (including electronic goods retailers, software and cloud system providers, U.S. shipping services, and U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers), as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, up to $2 million in purchases per calendar year. If you make large purchases frequently, this can help you rack up points quickly.

However, note that there are other Amex cards — namely The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express — that earn more points on all purchases no matter the cost. In the case of the Amex Blue Business Plus card, you earn 2x points on all purchases up to $50,000 per year (then 1x).

With that in mind, we value this benefit at $50. While the elevated earning ratio for large purchases is nice to have, we recommend using another business credit card for most large purchases. In the end, a card that earns bonus points in specific categories or more points on all purchases will give you a better return on your business expenses, such as the American Express^® Business Gold Card.

Hot Tip: Interested in how this card stacks up against The Platinum Card^® from American Express? This review pits these 2 cards head to head: The Amex Business Platinum Card vs. The Amex Platinum Card.

5. Get 35% Rebate When Redeeming for Airfare with Pay With Points [$50]

All American Express cardholders can redeem Membership Rewards points at 1 cent per point towards paid flights through AmexTravel.com. We generally don’t recommend this, however, as you can get more value by redeeming through American Express’ various transfer partners. However, Amex Business Platinum cardholders get a 35% rebate when using miles to book flights on AmexTravel.com.

This means that booking a $1,000 flight from New York (JFK) to London (LHR) would cost 100,000 Membership Rewards points. However, you’d get 35,000 Membership Rewards points back as a rebate. Unfortunately, you must have the full amount of points required in your Membership Rewards account in order to redeem for this award.

We value this benefit at $50. Even with the 35% rebate, it’s still a poor use of points if you take into account our valuation of over 1 cent per point for Membership Rewards. This benefit can still come in handy if you need to book a flight with no award space, though.

6. Save Money With the International Airline Program [Wild Card]

Amex Business Platinum cardholders can access the American Express International Airline Program. This program offers Amex Business Platinum cardmembers discounted airfare on international flights booked in premium economy, business, and first class through AmexTravel.com on select airlines.

The discount you’ll receive depends on the flight you’d like to book. To illustrate this, we ran a few sample searches in different classes of service.

The first search was for a round-trip flight from New York (JFK) to Tokyo (NRT) in business class. We found a Newark (EWR) to Toyko (NRT) via Detroit (DTW) ticket on Delta for $3,578 with the International Airline Program discount. The original cost of this ticket through AmexTravel.com was $4,371, meaning that that you save just over 18% by using this benefit.

We also searched for a premium economy ticket from New York (JFK) to Madrid (MAD). We found a non-stop option on Iberia priced at $857 through the International Airline program, bringing it down from $1,291 without the discount. This is a massive 44% discount, making the premium economy ticket nearly as cheap as flying standard economy on the route.

It’s hard for us to give this benefit a solid valuation based on how variable it is. After all, if you rarely book paid premium airfare, you will get significantly less value than someone that books it frequently. However, it’s clear that — based on the sample discounts presented here — there’s a ton of value to be had in this program, especially if you’re often booking premium international airfare for employees or contractors.

7. Airline Incidental Fee Credit [Up to $200]

The Amex Business Platinum card — like the Amex Platinum card — includes an up to $200 airline incidental credit. This can be used to cover things like baggage fees, seat assignment costs, and lounge passes for an airline of your choice.

Just charge your eligible purchase to your Amex Business Platinum card to use this credit. It will automatically be refunded to your account in the form of a statement credit within 4 weeks. However, you may need to call American Express if it takes longer. Just make sure to activate the benefit on your card’s Benefits page on the American Express dashboard before you make a qualifying charge.

We value this benefit at its face value of $200. While it isn’t as flexible as the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®‘s $300 travel credit, frequent travelers should have no problem using this credit every year.

Hot Tip: This benefit isn’t available with Amex Business Gold card. Wondering how else these 2 cards differ? Check out our piece: The Amex Business Platinum Card vs. The Amex Business Gold Card.

8. Complimentary Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Status [$200+]

Upon enrollment, Amex Business Platinum cardholders are entitled to complimentary Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status with their card membership. Both of these complimentary mid-tier elite statuses give cardholders nice benefits like complimentary space-available upgrades, late checkout, and bonus point earning.

Here’s a look at what benefits both statuses include:

Hilton Honors Gold Benefits:

• 80% points bonus
• Room upgrades (subject to availability)
• Continental breakfast at most full-service properties

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Benefits:

• 25% points bonus
• Welcome gift at check-in (points, etc.)
• Room upgrades (subject to availability)
• Complimentary in-room internet, even when not booking directly with Marriott
• Priority 2 p.m. late checkout

These benefits can be super valuable to road warriors, especially when you score an upgrade and can take advantage of free breakfast at Hilton properties. Further, it lets you switch between Hilton and Marriott hotels without worrying about losing status benefits or not re-qualifying for the next year.

We value this Amex Business Platinum card benefit at $200. If you stay at Hilton or Marriott hotels more than a couple of times per year though, you’ll easily find more than $200 in value from this benefit.

9. American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts Access [$150+]

Speaking of hotel benefits, you can use your Amex Business Platinum card to book hotels through American Express’ Fine Hotels and Resorts program.

This is an offshoot of AmexTravel.com for Amex Business Platinum cardholders that includes an array of exclusive benefits. In most cases, these benefits are either Amex-exclusive or similar to what you’d get with top-tier hotel elite status.

When you book through this portal, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar on your purchase and be entitled to the following benefits:

• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Daily breakfast for 2 people
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
• Noon check-in (subject to availability)
• Room upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability)
• A unique property amenity valued at $100

Just note that when you book through this portal, you won’t earn traditional hotel points on your stay. Further, you likely won’t be able to use your hotel elite status benefits, so make sure to compare those benefits with what’s included with your Fine Hotels and Resorts booking.

All in all, we value this benefit at $150 per year, but it can be much higher if you frequently book hotel stays through the portal. These benefits are particularly beneficial when staying at independent hotels that aren’t tied to a traditional hotel status program.

Hot Tip: Have you heard about Amex’s Fine Hotels and Resorts, but also the Hotel Collection? Explore our comparison of the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts vs. The Hotel Collection to see the differences and make sure you’re getting the most value out of both.

10. Complimentary Rental Car Status and Benefits [$200+]

Your Amex Business Platinum card includes car rental privileges at 3 major car rental companies: Avis, Hertz, and National. Some of these companies will give you full-blown rental car status and others will give you elite-like benefits and a hefty discount when you pay for your rental with your Amex Business Platinum card.

Here’s a look at all of the Amex Business Platinum card’s rental car benefits:

National Emerald Club Executive Status:

• Executive Area Access — Choose any car class (full-size and above) and only pay the mid-size rate.
• Guaranteed Upgrades — Guaranteed upgrades on mid-sized vehicle rentals in the U.S. and Canada.
• No Second Driver Fees — Add a second driver for no additional charge.
• Upgrades in Europe — Free 1-class upgrades at participating National locations in the U.K., Ireland, France, Spain, and Germany.
• Special Pricing on Premier Selection Cars — Get preferred pricing on upgrades to the Premier Selection cars at the rental lot.
• Faster Free Rentals — a free rental credit after 6 car rentals.

Avis Preferred American Express Benefits:

• Complimentary 1-Car Class Upgrade — Use coupon code #UUNA007 when making a reservation and you’ll get a 1-class upgrade when available. Unfortunately, this is not a guaranteed benefit.
• 25% Off Base Rates — Book directly with Avis and use Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) code #756900 for the discount.

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Benefits:

• 20% Off Standard Rates — You must use code #633306 to take advantage of this discount and other benefits.
• 25% off Premier Rentals When a Saturday Night Is Included — Available for U.S., Canada, and European Hertz Premier rentals.
• 4-Hour Grace No-Charge Period — You can return a rental up to 4 hours late with no penalty in most countries; select countries only offer a 2-hour grace period.
• 1-Car Class Upgrade — This benefit is based on availability, but unfortunately, it’s not guaranteed.

Our favorite set of benefits is the complimentary National Emerald Club Executive Status. This benefit essentially gives you free rein to choose whatever rental car you’d like from National. So if you need a minivan or pickup truck for a special event, you’ll only pay the mid-sized price. And if you fancy a sports car, you can rent one so long as it’s available in the Emerald Aisle.

The other benefits can be helpful as well. 20% to 25% off at Avis and Hertz can give you incredible savings, especially if you need to rent for an extended period of time. And depending on how often you rent cars for your business, these discounts can have a real impact on your business’ bottom line.

Because of this, we value these perks at $200 for moderate users. However — like most benefits we’ve outlined — it can quickly become worth much more with heavy use.

11. Global Entry Application and Renewal Fee Reimbursement [$100]

Your Amex Business Platinum card will reimburse your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application and renewal fees. The card grants you statement credit for Global Entry once every 4 years, and TSA PreCheck once every 4.5 years. If you already have either of these services, you can use your credit to cover a coworker, family member, or friend’s application fee, too — just make sure to use your Amex Business Platinum card when paying the application or renewal fee.

Hot Tip: We highly recommend using this benefit to cover Global Entry, not TSA PreCheck. When approved for Global Entry, you’ll automatically be eligible for TSA PreCheck when you add your Known Traveler Number to your ticket.

Again, we’ll value this benefit at its face value of $100. Just note that you’ll only receive this benefit once per 4 or 4.5 years.

12. Annual CLEAR Plus Credit — [$189]

CLEAR is an expedited security program available at select U.S. airports and stadiums. Amex Business Platinum cardholders now receive an annual statement credit for a CLEAR Plus membership.

13. Dell Statement Credit [Up to $400]

Get up to $400 in statement credits annually by getting up to $200 semi-annually for U.S. purchases with Dell. Note that enrollment is required through your American Express account.

The first credit of $200 is valid January through June and the other $200 credit is valid July through December. Once you activate the benefit on your card’s Benefits page, you can shop on dell.com, pay with your Amex Business Platinum card, and you’ll be automatically credited in the form of a statement credit.

Nowadays, Dell sells more than computers and monitors on its website, too. It has a huge selection of electronics from various brands, including products like Xbox, headphones, and printers. So whether you’re buying for business or pleasure, you should have no problem making the most of this credit twice a year.

With that in mind, we also value this benefit at a face value of $400 annually. Just make sure to activate it on your card’s Benefits page.

14. Indeed Statement Credits [Up to $360]

Indeed helps businesses with a variety of needs, including finding talent. Use your Amex Business Platinum card to purchase products and services related to hiring and recruiting and you’ll receive up to $360 per year in statement credits in the form of up to $90 back each quarter. Enrollment is required to take advantage of this benefit.

15. Adobe Statement Credits [Up to $150]

After you enroll your Amex Business Platinum card, you can receive up to $150 back annually on purchases made with the card for prepaid Adobe subscriptions, including Creative Cloud for teams and Acrobat Pro DC with e-sign for teams.

16. Wireless Phone Service Statement Credits [Up to $120]

We’ve grown accustomed to seeing Amex Offers on a number of cards for statement credits on wireless telecom services, but now they’re a fixture on the Amex Business Platinum card. Enroll for this credit on your card’s Benefits page and you’ll be entitled to receive up to $120 in statement credits per year when you use your card to pay for wireless phone services with a U.S. carrier. The credit will be distributed in the form of a $10 statement credit each month.

17. Complimentary ShopRunner Membership [$25+]

ShopRunner is a subscription service that gives members access to free 2-day shipping from hundreds of online merchants, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Soma, and Neiman Marcus. A subscription usually costs $79 per year, but Amex Business Platinum cardholders get an ongoing subscription free of charge with their card membership.

You can enroll in this benefit from the Benefits page on your American Express dashboard. We value this benefit at $25 as you’re unlikely to use it often, but it can be helpful for the times when you’re shopping at a participating merchant.

18. Amex Business Platinum Card Purchase Protection Benefits [Varies]

In addition to travel and points benefits, the Amex Business Platinum card comes with a number of purchase and travel protection benefits. These benefits give you peace of mind when buying new tools and products for work, oftentimes protecting them against damage and loss.

Here’s a look at all of the Amex Business Platinum card’s included purchase protection benefits:

Purchase Protection

All purchases you make with your Amex Business Platinum card come with free purchase protection.

If your item is accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost within 90 days of purchase, American Express will reimburse you for the full purchase price. So if you buy an employee a $1,500 new laptop and he or she spills a cup of coffee on it, American Express will pay for you to buy a new laptop.

Just note that all claims must be filed within 30 days of the product being lost or damaged. Further, there is a maximum of $10,000 in reimbursements per occurrence, and you can claim up to $50,000 in reimbursements per cardmember account per calendar year.

One last thing: this coverage is secondary to any personal insurance policies that may apply to your purchased items. You will be reimbursed by American Express for the amount remaining between what’s covered by your primary insurance and the actual purchase price of the product.

However, if you don’t have insurance on the product in question, American Express will reimburse the full amount.

We value this benefit modestly at $100 because you likely won’t use it often. However, when you do use it, it can be worth up to $10,000 per use, which can have a real impact on your business’ bottom line.

Return Protection

All purchases made with your Amex Business Platinum card are eligible for return protection within 90 days of purchase. If the merchant won’t accept your return within this 90-day window, American Express will cover up to $300 per item, up to $1,000 in reimbursements per calendar year.

We value this benefit at $100 if used at least once, but it can be worth up to $1,000 if you make returns often.

Extended Warranty

Even better, all purchases made with your Amex Business Platinum card are eligible for a complimentary extended warranty. So long as the product purchased with your card has a standard warranty of 5 years or less, American Express will add a year of coverage on top of the product’s standard warranty.

There are some limits on this benefit, though. This warranty will cover up to $10,000 per item with a maximum of $50,000 in claims annually. This can be super helpful for big-ticket business purchases like computers, servers, and tools, possibly saving you thousands of dollars from a claim alone.

For the purpose of this article, we’ll value the extended warranty benefit at $100. This is because you’re not super likely to have to use this benefit often, but it can save you a lot of money when you do. Just make sure to keep your card open and in good standing so you can use it when the time comes.

Cell Phone Protection

Amex Business Platinum cardholders now receive up to $1,600 in cell phone protection (2 claims per year with up to $800 for each claim) against theft and damage, including cosmetic damage (like a cracked phone screen). Each claim has a $50 deductible and your monthly phone bill should be paid with your Amex Business Platinum card to receive coverage.

19. Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

Further, rental cars booked with your Amex Business Platinum receive free secondary car rental loss and damage insurance. If you incur damage to a rental car, American Express will pay out whatever your primary insurance won’t pay. Just note that it will not pay out for damage to other vehicles, property damage, or injuries to you or a passenger.

For coverage to apply, you must decline the collision damage waiver when you rent your car. There are certain location and vehicle-type exclusions that can be found in the coverage terms, too. You can find these exclusions on American Express’ website or by calling the number on the back of your credit card.

Because this coverage is secondary, we value this benefit modestly at $50. However, it could come in handy if your primary insurance has low coverage on rental cars. Consider getting a credit card with primary rental car insurance if you want primary, as compared to secondary, coverage.

20. Checked and Carry-On Baggage Insurance

When you book a plane ticket with your Amex Business Platinum card, your baggage is insured against loss for the cardmember, the cardmember’s spouse, and the cardholder’s children under 23 years old.

The coverage limits are as follows:

• Up to $3,000 in reimbursements for your baggage while you are traveling to and from your carrier’s terminal
• Up to $3,000 in reimbursements for the cost of carry-on baggage
• Up to $2,000 in reimbursements for the cost of checked baggage
• Up to $1,000 in reimbursements for high-risk items such as jewelry, precious metals, electronics, etc.

If your loss includes both carry-on and checked baggage, a maximum of $3,000 total will be paid. Because you’re unlikely to use this benefit often, we’ll value it at $100 for the purpose of this article, but the peace of mind can be invaluable.

21. Travel Accident Insurance

Finally, travel booked with your Amex Business Platinum card is covered by American Express’ Travel Accident Insurance plan. This benefit pays out up to $500,000 if a covered person is killed or dismembered while riding as a passenger on, boarding, exiting from, or being struck by a common carrier.

Coverage is also available for passengers who suffer exposure or disappearance due to a common carrier’s vessel disappearing, wrecking, or sinking.

Just note that this coverage only applies if the entire fare for the trip was paid with your Amex Business Platinum card, and a loss of life occurs within 100 days after the accident or injury.

We value this benefit at $100 as you’re unlikely to ever have to use it. However, it can provide serious peace of mind when booking adventures and other types of risky travel.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Business Platinum card’s various benefits are worth over $3,700 — and that’s not factoring in the hefty welcome bonus.

With this in mind, the card’s various benefits significantly outweigh the card’s hefty annual fee, making it a great deal for business owners and employees that travel frequently.

Further, businesses that make frequent large purchases can take advantage of the card’s purchase protections and elevated points-earning rate on purchases that are $5,000 or larger.

If you decide to apply for an Amex Business Platinum card, take a look at this Amex Business Platinum offer, and make sure to activate your airline incidental benefit, hotel statuses, statement credits, and Priority Pass benefits on the card’s Benefits page when your card arrives. Further, you’ll need to call to activate your complimentary National car rental status, so don’t delay!

If you are looking at adding additional members to your card we would recommend reading our guide on the benefits of adding an Amex Platinum authorized user.