The Amex Business Platinum & 325,000 Points?!
Let's cut right to the chase: there's a buzz in the points and miles community about an all-time high sign-up bonus for one of American Express's best premium travel cards – the American Express Business Platinum Card. And this isn't just any high; we're talking a rumored 325,000 Membership Rewards points!
Yes, you read that right. Three hundred and twenty-five thousand points! To put that in perspective, I snagged an incredible 250,000-point offer last year (after spending $20,000 in 3 months), and that was considered massive. Now, while there's already a potential for a 300,000-point offer today, the talk of 325,000 points coming down the pipeline is truly groundbreaking.
Key details of this rumored offer:
Bonus: Up to 325,000 Membership Rewards points.
Spending Requirement: $20,000 within the first 3 months (this is standard for Business Platinum offers).
"No Lifetime Language" (NLL): This is HUGE. The rumor, first spotted by US Card Forum and reported by Danny the Deal Guru via a screenshot of offer terms, suggests this could be an NLL offer. This means even if you've had the Business Platinum card before, you might still be eligible for this bonus. While it's not live yet, it seems to be coming soon!
Amex Business Platinum vs. Capital One Venture X Business: A Spend Showdown
This news naturally brings up comparisons, especially with other high-value business cards on the market. Let's look at the Capital One Venture X Business card, which also boasts an impressive sign-up bonus:
Venture X Business Bonus: A staggering 400,000 Venture Miles.
Annual Fee: $395 (significantly lower than the Business Platinum's $895).
Spending Requirements: This is where the difference becomes astronomical:
Earn 200,000 miles after spending $30,000 in the first 3 months.
Earn an additional 200,000 miles after spending a total of $150,000 in the first 6 months.
While 400,000 points certainly sounds more than 325,000, the spending required for the Venture X Business is immense for most small businesses. The Amex Business Platinum's $20,000 spend for 325,000 points (once live) is far more achievable for many.
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Is the Amex Business Platinum Right for You? A Deep Dive into Benefits
Now, let's explore whether the Amex Business Platinum, with its $895 annual fee, truly earns its keep beyond the initial sign-up bonus. I personally picked up this card in April to cover a $21,000 tax bill, and I had those 250,000 points in my account almost immediately – totally worth it!
Here's a breakdown of the incredible benefits that make this card a powerhouse for business owners:
Annual Credits & Travel Perks:
$600 FHR/Hotel Collection Benefit: This is split into two $300 credits every six months. You can use it for one-night stays at Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) or two-night stays at Hotel Collection properties. My wife and I plan to use this, along with her personal Platinum FHR credit, for essentially four "free" nights at the Caledonian in Edinburgh, Scotland, next year (rooms are $300-350/night!). This alone significantly offsets the annual fee.
Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy unparalleled access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Delta SkyClubs (when flying Delta), and more.
$200 Hilton Credit: Received as $50 quarterly statement credits for any Hilton purchase. This is super easy to use – you can even pre-pay for rooms up to a year in advance directly through Hilton.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select your preferred airline and receive up to $200 in statement credits for incidental fees. I used mine for my United Travel Bank to plan for a family trip.
CLEAR® Credit: Receive a statement credit for your CLEAR membership. My wife and I each used one Platinum card (personal and business) to get both our CLEAR memberships for free.
Earning & Redemption Sweet Spots:
35% Points Back on Pay with Points: When booking flights through Amex Travel and using your points, you can get 35% of your Membership Rewards points back (up to 1,000,000 points back per calendar year). This applies to your selected airline for the airline fee credit or any first- or business-class ticket. This can be a fantastic way to maximize value, especially for domestic economy flights.
5x Points on Flights & Prepaid Hotels: Earn 5x Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel.
2x Points on Large Purchases: Earn 2x points on purchases over $5,000. This is fantastic for significant business expenses, including specific categories like construction equipment. For example, we earned 1.5x points on our tax payment and our first baby deposit because they were large purchases, adding tens of thousands of extra points!
Additional, Niche Credits (Can be useful for the right business):
$150 Dell Credit: Statement credits for Dell purchases.
$1,000 Dell Credit: Spend $5,000 annually at Dell and get $1,000 back in statement credits.
$250 Adobe Credit: Spend $600 annually on Adobe products.
$120 Wireless Credit: $10 monthly statement credit for wireless services (note: some carriers, like Spectrum Mobile, may not code correctly).
$360 Indeed Credit: $90 per quarter for Indeed services, great for hiring businesses.
High-Spend Bonuses: For businesses spending $250,000+ on the card annually, you can unlock $2,400 in Express One AP statement credit and $1,200 in Amex Travel online flight statement credits.
The Verdict: A Powerful Tool for Businesses
The American Express Business Platinum card, especially with this rumored 325,000-point bonus, presents an incredible opportunity. While the annual fee is high, the substantial credits and earning potential, particularly for those with significant business expenses or who travel frequently, can easily outweigh the cost.
Compared to the personal Platinum, the Business Platinum often has more straightforward, travel-centric benefits and stronger earning multipliers for large business purchases.
What do you think? Does this rumored bonus make you consider getting the Amex Business Platinum? Let me know in the comments below!
Until next time, happy travels and smart spending!