Key takeaways

  • The Amex Business Platinum card offers valuable rewards, premium perks, and an attractive welcome bonus, making it a top choice for business owners.
  • The card comes with an impressive range of benefits that can help offset its hefty $695 annual fee, including airline fee credits, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck enrollment with statement credits, Clear membership statement credits, Priority Pass Select lounge access, wireless provider credits, Amex Offers, Dell statement credits, hotel elite status, and rental car elite status.
  • Adding an authorized user to the card can help earn more rewards, expedite the welcome bonus, and provide access to additional benefits.

When it comes to travel benefits, few cards top The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. The card has long been a favorite for business owners looking for valuable rewards, premium perks like elite status and airport lounge access.

At the moment, the Amex Business Platinum card is offering a welcome bonus of 120,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 within the first three months of account opening. Considering American Express has a once-per-lifetime rule regarding card welcome bonuses, this is a solid offer to take advantage of if you’ve thought about applying for this card.

If you do get an Amex Business Platinum Card, it’s important to use the card’s various benefits to offset the $695 annual fee. To ensure you’re getting your money’s worth, here are the 10 things you should do when you get the Amex Business Platinum card:

1. Select your airline for the $200 airline fee credit

Airlines are increasingly breaking up standard services into a-la-carte options. As a result, customers end up paying fees for virtually everything. Luckily, the Amex Business Platinum card offers up to $200 in annual airline fee credits. Simply choose an eligible airline and pay for any fees with your Amex Business Platinum card. You’ll automatically get a fee credit of up to $200 per year, taking a large chunk out of the card’s $695 annual fee.

Activating this benefit takes just minutes:

  1. Log in to your American Express account and navigate to the “Benefits” tab.
  2. Scroll down to the third row of tiles and select “$200 airline fee credit.”
  3. From the drop-down menu, select an airline.

While airline selections are final, there have been reports of American Express allowing changes for customers who have not utilized the benefit. It’s always worth reaching out to see if Amex’s customer service team will allow it. That said, it’s worth thinking through your options and choosing an airline based on your expected travel patterns.

2. Apply for Global Entry

If you’ve ever returned home from a trip abroad and wished you could avoid the long line at passport control, there’s an easy solution: Apply for Global Entry. Enrollment in this program allows you to skip the long line and use an automated kiosk instead. Then, you’ll simply cut to a shorter line at passport control and hand over your receipt.

Once approved, your enrollment in Global Entry is valid for five years and includes TSA PreCheck benefits. TSA PreCheck is great for domestic travelers who want to get through the security line faster. You’ll usually get access to a dedicated line and you’ll get to keep your shoes and jacket on while going through security.

With the Amex Business Platinum, you won’t need to pay for Global Entry — this perk is included with the card. Simply pay your $100 application fee with your Amex Business Platinum card and you’ll receive a $100 statement credit to cover the cost of membership. You can claim this benefit every four years. Alternatively, you can opt for just TSA PreCheck. Simply pay for your membership with your card and you’ll receive up to an $85 application fee credit. (Note that, specifically, you’ll get up to a $100 statement credit every four years to cover a Global Entry application or up to an $85 statement credit every four and a half years to cover TSA PreCheck application fees.)

Having Global Entry or TSA PreCheck can improve your travel experience immensely. Even if you’re only taking one trip a year, this benefit can take much of the stress out of airport transit. If you have the Amex Business Platinum card, claiming your credit is a must.

3. Claim the $189 Clear credit

In addition to Global Entry and PreCheck, the Amex Business Platinum card also offers up to a $189 statement credit for Clear membership each year. Clear is an expedited security program that operates at over 50 airports, stadiums and venues nationwide. Not only do members get access to a dedicated security lane, but they can use biometric data (rather than a physical ID) to get through.

Claiming the Clear credit is as simple as claiming the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit. All you have to do is pay your Clear application fee with your Amex Business Platinum card and you’ll receive a $189 statement credit.

4. Activate Priority Pass Select

There’s no need to pay for overpriced, subpar airport food when you can enjoy free drinks and food at an airport lounge. As an Amex Business Platinum cardholder, you’ll get free access to Priority Pass’s network of over 1,300 lounges worldwide. The best part? You can bring a guest with you.

Enrolling for Priority Pass Select membership is simple. All you have to do is follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your American Express account and navigate to the “Benefits” tab.
  2. Scroll down and look for “American Express Global Lounge Collection.” Select “Enroll in Priority Pass Select.”
  3. Read through the terms and scroll down to the checkbox indicating you agree to the terms. Click “Enroll.”
  4. Your enrollment will be processed within 72 hours and you’ll receive a physical card within 10 to 14 days.

Skip the long lines at Starbucks and enjoy a free latte at the airport lounge instead. You’ll often have a quieter space than the airport gate and save a few dollars on food.

5. Claim the $120 wireless provider credit

Whether you’re on a basic cellphone plan or have a business account with multiple lines, you can save up to $10 per month by charging your cellphone bill to the Amex Business Platinum card. This benefit is capped at up to $120 in statement credits per year. Unfortunately, bundled services are excluded and payments must be made directly with wireless phone service providers.

You will need to register for this benefit, but once you do, the monthly credit is automatically applied after your bill is charged to the card. Here’s how:

  1. Log in to your American Express account and navigate to the “Benefits” tab.
  2. Scroll down and select “$120 Wireless credit.”
  3. On the following page, select the checkbox under the terms and conditions and click “enroll.”

6. Check Amex Offers

One of the best ways to get value out of any Amex card — but especially one with a high annual fee like the Amex Business Platinum card — is to take advantage of Amex Offers.

After logging in to your account, you’ll see a tab featuring limited-time offers from popular retailers, ranging from cash back deals to bonus point offers. You’ll need to scroll through and select offers you’re interested in to activate them. Once you make a qualifying purchase, the offer will automatically be applied to your account (though the timing of when it’ll take effect may vary).

As you add offers to your account, additional offers will pop up. So if you’re not thrilled with the current lineup, simply select several offers, log out and log back in to get additional offers to choose from.

7. Claim the $400 annual Dell credit

Dude, you’re getting a Dell — and thanks to American Express, it will cost you a lot less. Every year, Amex Business Platinum cardholders can get up to $400 in statement credits on Dell purchases (up to $200 semi-annually). If you take advantage of this benefit fully, it will really help to offset the card’s $695 annual fee.

Here’s how to claim the annual Dell credit on the Amex Business Platinum card:

  1. Log in to your American Express account and navigate to the “Benefits” tab.
  2. Scroll down and select “Business Platinum Dell Technologies Benefit.”
  3. On the following page, select the checkbox under the terms and conditions and click “Enroll.”
  4. Make a purchase at www.dell.com/amex and you’ll receive a statement credit within two to four weeks.

8. Activate Hilton and Marriott Gold elite status

The Amex Business Platinum card offers mid-tier Gold elite status with two hotel loyalty programs: Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. It usually takes 28 nights or 14 stays a year to earn Hilton Honors Gold status, while Marriott Bonvoy Gold status requires at least 25 nights per year. You can skip right past this requirement by following these steps to claim your complimentary hotel status upgrade:

  1. Log in to your American Express account and navigate to the “Benefits” tab.
  2. Scroll down and select “Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status.” There is also a tile for “Hilton Honors Gold Status Enrollment.”
  3. Select “Enroll Now.”
  4. Enter your hotel loyalty program number and select “Enroll Now.” Note: You will need a Hilton Honors account and a Marriott Bonvoy account to enroll.

Both Hilton and Marriott Gold elite members receive valuable perks like complimentary room upgrades, bonus points on paid stays and a complimentary breakfast. These types of hotel benefits can make your next stay a little more comfortable while saving you money. The fact that you can get these perks just for being an Amex Business Platinum cardholder and filling out a quick form makes it a no-brainer.

9. Claim rental car elite status

The Amex Business Platinum partners with three major rental car companies to offer elite status. This includes Avis Preferred Plus, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status. Elite benefits vary by program, but you can generally expect complimentary vehicle upgrades and bonus points. These are nice perks that can make for a better car rental experience.

Once you have your new Amex Business Platinum card, it’s worthwhile to take a few minutes to claim your rental car elite status benefits. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  1. Log in to your American Express account and navigate to the “Benefits” tab.
  2. Scroll down until you see “Premium Car Rental Status.”
  3. Select “Learn More.”
  4. Under each of the three rental car programs, select “Enroll with [program name].” You’ll be prompted to create a loyalty account that will automatically include upgraded elite status.

10. Add an authorized user

Adding an authorized user to your Amex Business Platinum card has several benefits. For starters, it can help you earn more rewards on business expenses and earn the welcome bonus much faster.

Sometimes Amex even offers bonus points when you add an authorized user. In June 2021, for example, American Express offered up to 20,000 bonus points for each authorized user on the Amex Platinum who spent $2,000 within the first six months of account opening.

Aside from these incentives, authorized users also receive some benefits offered to primary cardholders. This includes Amex lounge access benefits, rental car and hotel program elite statuses, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and Amex Offers.

The bottom line

The Business Platinum Card from American Express offers an incredible number of benefits that you can take advantage of to save money — or gain luxurious perks — on business and travel expenses. Just be sure to use enough credits and perks to offset the card’s high annual fee.