2016-12-20

I was excited to recently get The Enhanced Business Platinum® Card from American Express OPEN because of the limited time 100,000-point sign-up bonus and card perks like 50% points back on paid airfare.

But there are so many other benefits with the card like automatic elite status at certain hotel chains.  And concierge services that can help you with exclusive dining reservations and much more!

Plus, I also love the card earns flexible AMEX Membership Rewards points.  Because there are many ways to redeem these for Big Travel!



The AMEX Business Platinum Card Can Help Folks Get Big Travel! But The Card Has Lots of Other Perks You Can Use to Save Time and Money or Book Fantastic Experiences!

Here are 15 things you can do with the AMEX Business Platinum card!

1.   Earn 115,000 AMEX Membership Rewards Points

Link:   40+ Powerful Ways To Complete Your Credit Card Minimum Spending Requirements

Link:   My Review of the 100,000 AMEX Membership Rewards Points Offer

Link:   The Enhanced Business Platinum® Card from American Express OPEN



The current sign-up bonus on the Business Platinum card is 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points after meeting minimum spending requirements.  This is a limited time offer through January 25, 2017.

Note:   Here’s how to use “Pay with Points” turn those 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points into $2,000 worth of flights with NO blackout dates!

You’ll earn 50,000 AMEX Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.  And an extra 50,000 AMEX Membership Rewards points after you spend an additional $10,000 on qualifying purchases within the same timeframe.

So you’ll need to spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening your account to earn the full bonus.



With 115,000 AMEX Membership Rewards Points, You Can Book a Lufthansa First Class Award Ticket, Which Is an Amazing Flying Experience!

But between the sign-up bonus and the minimum spending requirement, you’ll earn at least a total of 115,000 AMEX Membership Rewards points!

Here’s how to use 110,000 American Express Membership Rewards points for 2 round-trip flights to Europe.

2.   Transfer Points to Airline and Hotel Partners

Link:   The Trick to Travel Flexibility:  Transferable Points

AMEX Membership Rewards points are terrific for Big Travel because you can transfer points to fantastic airline and hotel partners.

And sometimes AMEX offers bonuses on certain transfer partners.  This can make it easier to book award travel!

Transfer AMEX Membership Rewards Points From the Business Platinum to 17 Airline Transfer Partners

And there are 3 AMEX hotel transfer partners.

Choose From 3 AMEX Hotel Transfer Partners

Don’t forget, you can indirectly move points to other airlines and hotels that are not direct AMEX partners.  For example, you can transfer AMEX Membership Rewards points to Starwood.  Then, convert the Starwood points to Marriott or Ritz-Carlton points at 1:3 ratio.

3.   Use Pay With Points for Airfare

Link:  $2,300+ Worth of Airfare With 1 Sign-Up Bonus!

Link:   Selecting an Airline With the AMEX Business Platinum & Why I Chose Southwest

One perk exclusive to the Business Platinum card and not other AMEX Platinum cards (like the personal version) is the 50% points back benefit.

That is, you can use AMEX Pay With Points to purchase paid airfare.  And you’ll get 50% of your points back for coach airfare on your selected airline.  And 50% of your points back on ANY Business or First Class ticket.

I calculate this perk alone makes the sign-up bonus and minimum spending points worth at least $2,300 in paid airfare!

Plus, you can combine points from other AMEX Membership Rewards cards to increase the value of your existing points!

The 50% Points Back Perk Is Exclusive to the Business Platinum Card and Is an Amazing Way to Book Paid Airfare!

4.   Earn $200 Airline Credit

Link:   4 Easy Steps to Select Your $200 AMEX Airline Credit

With the Business Platinum card, you’re eligible to receive a $200 airline incidental fee credit on an airline of your choice each calendar year.

This can save you money on things like:

Checked baggage

In-flight food or beverages

Lounge day passes

Change or cancellation fees

Seat assignments

And many other additional airline fees!

I’ve also had success purchasing airline gift cards for $50 or less to get the airline credit reimbursed.  Technically, these are excluded from AMEX terms, so only do what you’re comfortable with.

Purchasing an In-Flight Meal on Your Selected Airline? Use Your Business Platinum Card and You’ll Get an Automatic Credit Up to $200 per Calendar Year!

Remember, you can select your airline immediately after activating your card and then only in January of each year after.

5.   Earn Bonus Points on Large Purchases

If you’re making a large purchase, you can benefit by using the Business Platinum card.

Because you’ll earn 1.5X AMEX Membership Rewards points per $1 on purchases of $5,000+.

This is a nice perk for small business owners who are making large purchases on new equipment.  Or paying taxes like Million Mile Secrets reader John did.

Remember, you might pay fees when using credit cards to pay income or property taxes.  So do the math to see if earning the extra rewards is worth any fees.

6.   Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

The Business Platinum card offers a statement credit once every 5 years for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

I like Global Entry because you can avoid the long lines at US Customs and Immigration when you return to the US from overseas.  And when you have Global Entry, you’ll also be approved for TSA PreCheck on most flights.

If you already have Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, you can pay for someone else’s application and still earn the statement credit!

Speed Through Airport Security With TSA PreCheck, Which You Can Get for Free With the Business Platinum Card!

7.   Airport Lounge Access

Link:   How to Find AMEX Platinum Airport Lounges

With the AMEX Business Platinum card, you can get access to lots of airport lounges throughout the world.

Folks can get complimentary access to AirSpace Lounges or Centurion Lounges.  And you can bring immediate family or 2 guests.

Business Platinum Cardholders Can Access Any of the 7 Centurion Lounges

And if you have a Delta flight on the same day, you can use your AMEX Business Platinum card to access Delta Sky Club lounges.

With the Business Platinum card, you also get a Priority Pass Select membership.  Priority Pass is an independent lounge network with over 1,000 locations around the world.

It’s free for the primary cardmember to enter, but $27 per person for all guests.

Relax and Enjoy Snacks in a Variety of Airport Lounges Thanks to the Business Platinum Card

8.   Save Money With AMEX Offers

Link:   How to Register Your American Express Card for AMEX Offers

I love AMEX Offers because they can help folks save money or earn extra points on everyday purchases.  And you can combine them with other discounts and coupons for more savings!

Plus, they’re constantly updating the offers with new deals!

Just be sure to add the offer to your card before making a purchase.

Use AMEX Offers to Save Money or Earn Bonus AMEX Membership Rewards Points

9.   Elite Hotel Status

Link:   AMEX Platinum Cards Now Give You Hilton Gold Status

Link:   How AMEX Platinum Cards Boost Your Starwood Card & Stays to the Next Level

The Business Platinum card can get you elite status at Hilton and Starwood hotels.  This is a great perk to get late check-outs, room upgrades, and extra bonus points.

To get Starwood Gold elite status, you can enroll online or request a complimentary upgrade by calling 800-525-3355 and select option 3.  Give the representative your Starwood loyalty number (it’s free to join!), and your upgrade will be processed the same day.

To activate your Hilton Gold elite status, you’ll need to register online.  Remember, with Hilton Gold status you get free breakfast at many of the chains’ hotels.

Even if you don’t stay at these hotel chains, it can open up elite status at other hotels.  For example, you can use the hotel statuses with the Business Platinum to get a status match at Best Western.

Or you can link your Starwood Gold status to your Marriott or Ritz-Carlton account to get an instant status match.

Starwood Gold Status Means Late Check-Outs and Extra Bonus Points at Hotels Like the St. Regis Bali

10.   AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts Program

Link:   How to Get Big Travel With Small Money Using the AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts Program

When you have the Business Platinum card, you can book hotel rooms at over 900 hotels that participate in the AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts program.

And you’ll get perks, including:

12:00 pm check-in, when available

Guaranteed 4:00 pm late checkout

Room upgrades when available

Free daily breakfast for 2

Free in-room Wi-Fi when available

A benefit unique to your hotel, like a $100 dining credit, free meal, or spa service

3rd or 4th night free at certain hotels

Book a Stay at The Bellagio in Las Vegas Through the AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts Program to Get Extra Perks!

11.   Exclusive Dining Reservations and Experiences

You’ll have access to the American Express Platinum Concierge service when you have the Business Platinum card.

You can contact the helpful concierge folks if you need assistance getting reservations at a popular restaurant or are searching for tickets for a special event.

For example, Million Mile Secrets team member Keith contacted AMEX Concierge to get tickets for his parents to see Hamilton, the musical on Broadway.  It was an amazing deal because AMEX had exclusive access to regular-priced tickets.

Use the AMEX Platinum Concierge to Book Reservations at Popular Restaurants Like Nobu Malibu

12.   Free In-Flight & Airport Wi-Fi

Link:   3 Easy Steps to Free Boingo Wi-Fi Access With AMEX Platinum & Starwood Cards

Link:   Gogo AMEX Registration

The Business Platinum card gets you access to 2 types of Wi-Fi.

First, you can register for the free Boingo American Express Preferred Plan.  This plan includes:

Access to 1 million hotspots worldwide, including 200+ airports

Access on up to 4 devices

Unlimited Wi-Fi access at global hotspots

And exclusive to the Business Platinum card, you get 10 free Gogo internet passes.  These can be used in-flight on many major airlines, like Delta or United Airlines.

13.   Car Rental Savings

With the Business Platinum card, you can register for elite status and automatic discounts with car rental programs, which can save you money.

The Business Platinum card gets you savings and status with:

Avis Preferred

Hertz Gold Rewards

National Emerald Club Executive

Once you’re enrolled, you can save up to 25% off of your rental.  And because of the status you’ll get with the rental programs, you can enjoy perks like:

Bonus points

Free upgrades

Waived fees

You might even get upgraded to a Ford Mustang, like I recently did on a trip to San Francisco!

With the AMEX Business Platinum Car Rental Partnerships, You Can Save Money on Your Next Rental! Or Maybe Even Get Upgraded to a Sweet Ford Mustang!

14.   AMEX OPEN Savings

Link:   How to Save Money and Earn Extra Points With American Express OPEN Discounts

One of the additional benefits of AMEX Business Platinum card is the AMEX OPEN discount program.

You get discounts of up to 5% or earn up to 2 extra Membership Rewards points per $1 at these merchants:

FedEx

Hertz

HP

1-800-Flowers

You can also combine the OPEN savings with other promotions or discounts for your purchases at these merchants.

Use AMEX OPEN Savings With the Business Platinum Card to Save Money or Extra Points at Partners Like FedEx or Hertz!

15.   Organize Business Receipts

Link:   How to Use ReceiptMatch With AMEX Small Business Cards

ReceiptMatch with AMEX is a helpful way to link business expense receipts directly to credit card purchases.  This means you won’t have to keep physical copies of receipts.  And the electronic copies will be saved and organized in your AMEX account.

This is helpful for small business owners who need organized receipts for:

Accounting

Flexible spending or health savings accounts

Reimbursement from your employer

Tax deductions

Bottom Line

The AMEX Business Platinum card is fantastic because it comes with a 100,000-point sign-up bonus after meeting tiered minimum spending requirements, which can be used for Big Travel with AMEX airline and hotel transfer partners.

But the card comes with other amazing perks too, like access to AMEX Platinum Concierge, which can help you book reservations at top restaurants.  Or even get tickets to sold-out Broadway musicals.

Remember some of these benefits require enrollment.  For example, you’ll need to register online to get Hilton Gold elite status.  Or to get 10 free Gogo Wi-Fi passes.

What’s your favorite AMEX Business Platinum perk?

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