9 things to do when you get the Amex Business Platinum Card

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the best premium business cards currently available, thanks to its slew of perks and ability to earn flexible and highly valuable Membership Rewards points. You can currently earn 150,000 Membership Rewards …

May 14, 2025 - 20:04

9 things to do when you get the Amex Business Platinum Card

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the best premium business cards currently available, thanks to its slew of perks and ability to earn flexible and highly valuable Membership Rewards points.

You can currently earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. Plus, new applicants can also earn a $500 statement credit after spending $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel in the first three months of card membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends June 30.

According to TPG’s April 2025 valuations, Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents apiece, making this bonus worth up to $3,500 (including the statement credit).

If you’ve taken advantage of this offer and just received your card, make sure you complete these nine tasks to fully utilize your new Amex Business Platinum.

Select your airline for the $200 credit and 35% bonus

One of the many perks of the Amex Business Platinum is the annual up-to-$200 airline fee statement credit for a single airline. Since you get this credit every calendar year, you can use it twice during your first year as a cardmember, effectively giving you $400 back in the first 365 days. (Enrollment required, terms apply).

The credit can be used toward airline lounge passes, checked bag fees and much more.

Delta planes — ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Technically, you can’t purchase tickets or use the credit for award taxes and fees; however, depending on how the airline codes your purchase, you may get reimbursed.

Note that while you’re technically limited to the airline you select for the entire calendar year, reports indicate that you might be able to change your selection by contacting customer service. You can choose your airline on the Amex website.

The Business Platinum card also features a 35% Airline Bonus that allows you to get 35% of your Membership Rewards points back when you use them to pay for all — or a portion of — an eligible flight through the Amex Travel portal. This includes business and first-class tickets plus any cabin fare when you book a flight with your preselected preferred airline (the same airline you chose for the up to $200 airline fee statement credit mentioned above). Note that you’re limited to a maximum of 1 million points per calendar year.

This is a great benefit because you’re not constrained by award space. In addition, flights booked with points are treated as revenue flights by the airlines, earning elite-qualifying and redeemable miles.

Register for credits with Adobe, Indeed and wireless services

The Business Platinum also offers a list of valuable perks for small-business owners to utilize.

Young man holding cell phone waiting for car — NISIAN HUGHES/GETTY IMAGES

Those benefits are mostly in the form of statement credits that require enrollment to be used. Here are three highlights:

Credit	Annual amount	How it works
Indeed	Up to $360	Annual statement credit on all Indeed hiring and recruiting products and services to post open positions and find talent, up to $90 per quarter. Enrollment required; terms apply.
Adobe	Up to $150	Annual statement credit on select purchases, including Adobe Creative Cloud and Acrobat Pro DC. Enrollment required; terms apply. This benefit will change on July 1.
Wireless telephone services	Up to $120	Annual statement credits for purchases made directly from any U.S. wireless telephone provider; up to $10 per month. Enrollment required; terms apply.

These three credits alone amount to $630 per year, which covers the vast majority of the $695 annual fee (see rates and fees).

To enroll, go to the “Benefits” tab when logging in to your Amex Business Platinum account online. Note that the Adobe benefit will change on July 1.

Apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

When you apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck with your new Business Platinum Card, you’ll get a credit to your account to cover the cost once every four years ($120 for Global Entry or up to $85 for PreCheck). However, once you have Global Entry, you automatically get TSA PreCheck for expedited security, so that’s your best option.

Note that receiving the statement credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck with the Amex Business Platinum does not require enrollment, so you can immediately utilize it. You do, however, still have to enroll in whichever program you choose by completing an application to get access to Global Entry/TSA PreCheck.

This is a perk you’ll definitely want to take advantage of as soon as possible, especially given that this access allows you to zip through U.S. Customs and Border Protection when returning to the U.S. from international destinations. And remember, you can use the credit for anyone if you already have this perk through another card.

You simply need to charge the application fee to your Business Platinum card, and the statement credit will automatically post.

Enroll in Clear Plus

A Clear Plus membership typically costs $199 per year. The Amex Business Platinum offers an up to $199 Clear Plus statement credit each calendar year, meaning you can receive a completely complimentary membership. (Enrollment required; terms apply).

Oakland Clear Boarding Gate Alaska Digital Bag Tag — CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

If you have a Clear Plus membership, you enter a dedicated lane at the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint, input your biometric data into a kiosk and head toward the gray carry-on bins.

This can be a huge time-saver, especially since most airports allow you to use both Clear Plus and TSA PreCheck.

Note that you could enroll through either Delta SkyMiles or United MileagePlus, as all members of those programs enjoy discounted fees. And since it costs $119 to add an adult family member to a Clear Plus membership (children under the age of 18 can accompany a member for free), using one of these options will ensure the credits on the Business Platinum cover the fees for you and your spouse, domestic partner or another family member.

Register for Marriott and Hilton Gold status

You must enroll with each chain to get the Gold status benefits from Marriott and Hilton. That being said, it’s not that difficult to do. You can get your Marriott Bonvoy Gold status by enrolling on the Amex site, and you can get Hilton Honors Gold by doing the same.

You’ll get some solid perks from each. We value Marriott Gold status and Hilton Honors Gold status highly, assuming you spend a certain number of nights at each chain’s hotels.

Enroll for complimentary car rental elite status

The Amex Business Platinum offers complimentary status and additional perks with the following car rental programs (enrollment required; terms apply):

rental cars next to a sign for Hertz President's Circle members — SCOTT MAYEROWITZ/THE POINTS GUY

The perks depend on the program, but you could get upgrades, priority service and more.

These benefits can make all the difference in today’s rental car market, so don’t forget to enroll in these elite status opportunities.

Keep an eye out for your Priority Pass card

The Priority Pass membership that comes with your Business Platinum Amex card allows you and two guests access to more than 1,700 airport lounges worldwide. (Enrollment required; terms apply).

Wingtips lounge in St. Louis — KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

You should receive your Priority Pass card in the mail within 4-6 weeks of enrolling. If not, call the customer service number on the back of your card and request that the card be sent to you.

Additional guests beyond the two allowed will cost you $35 each and will be automatically billed to your Amex account. Make sure you keep the letter that came with your Priority Pass card long enough to use the security PIN in the letter to register for an online account, which will enable a mobile membership card.

Earn hotel and airline status the smart way

As mentioned earlier, flights booked through the Amex Travel portal and paid for with points will be treated (the vast majority of the time) as paid airfares and thus will earn elite-qualifying miles and dollars.

This means you can earn airline elite status while flying “free” flights. I took advantage of a targeted shortcut to American Airlines Executive Platinum status last year and booked tickets paid with points through Amex Travel, giving me American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum status for only the cost of my time flying.

Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto - Noh stage — BANYAN TREE

For hotel status, beyond Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold, you can book hotels through the Fine Hotels + Resorts program. In addition to the great added benefits you’ll get during hotel stays, like free nights at select properties and complimentary breakfast, you’ll earn redeemable hotel points and elite nights toward status.

FHR rates are often in line with publicly available rates on a property’s website, so you might as well book with Amex, receive the tremendous added benefits and earn your points and elite credit in the process.

While you can earn 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotel stays booked through Amex’s regular travel portal, you generally won’t earn elite credits or hotel points on those bookings.

Shop for new technology at Dell

Business Platinum cardholders receive up to $400 in annual statement credits for U.S. purchases with Dell. This breaks down to up to $200 for purchases made between January and June and up to $200 for purchases made between July and December.

Only U.S. purchases are eligible for this credit (Dell has canceled every order I’ve tried to place from abroad) and you do need to enroll on the Amex website before you can start shopping. This benefit will change on July 1.

Bottom line

The Amex Business Platinum offers thousands of dollars in value beyond the welcome bonus — but only if you take full advantage of its perks.

Remember to take advantage of these nine perks as soon as you get your card, as they will help you recoup the $695 annual fee in no time.

Apply here: Amex Business Platinum with a 150,000-point welcome offer after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership, plus a $500 statement credit after spending $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel in the first three months of card membership. Offer ends June 30.

For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, please click here.