Review: American Express Business Platinum Card

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Business credit cards can often turn away potential customers who think they aren’t eligible as they aren’t self-employed or operate a brick-and-mortar business. However, even as a consumer, you are eligible to sign up for business credit cards as a sole proprietorship, as I’m sure there is something that you do on the side that generates income that could be called a business, no matter how small.

Related: How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card in Canada

Once you realize that you can open a business credit card, the most impactful card you should consider is the American Express Business Platinum card. This is a premium credit card that offers a wealth of benefits, high referral bonuses, and typically outsized welcome bonuses that can be transferred to frequent flyer and hotel loyalty program partners. Simply put, this is a card that we would recommend to most miles and points enthusiasts who are looking to improve their game.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about the American Express Business Platinum card and why it could be a great fit for your wallet.

Overview

Welcome Bonus

The American Express Business Platinum card currently has a welcome bonus in which new cardholders can earn up to 120,000 Membership Rewards points:

  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards upon spending $15,000 in the first 3 months
  • Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months
American Express Business Platinum Card
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American Express Business Platinum Card

The American Express Business Platinum card earns Membership Rewards points and offers cardholders benefits including complimentary airport lounge access, a $100 NEXUS membership credit, an annual $200 travel credit, and more.

Check out our American Express Business Platinum card review for more details.

BONUS
120,000 Membership Rewards
MINSPEND
$15,000
NET VALUE
$1,841+
ANNUAL FEE
$799
FOREX FEES
Yes
EXPIRY

This offer does not have an expiry date.

The American Express Business Platinum card does not have an annual personal income requirement or an annual household income requirement.

Earning Rates

The American Express Business Platinum card earns Membership Rewards points for all eligible purchases made on the card at the following rates:

  • 1.25 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on all purchases.

This card offers no bonus multipliers based on category spending, so it might be worth it to use a card that does earn bonus points when making purchases in certain categories, such as one of the best credit cards for grocery purchases to maximize rewards.

Annual Fee

The American Express Business Platinum card has an annual fee of $799

Since it is a premium card it makes sense that it has a higher annual fee, but this card also offers many benefits that can make the annual fee worth it.

Benefits

The American Express Business Platinum card has a ton of benefits including annual credits, complimentary airport access, a high referral bonus, and more that can make this card worth adding and keeping in your wallet.

$200 Annual Travel Credit

American Express Business Platinum cardholders receive a $200 annual travel credit upon approval, and every anniversary year thereafter. Note that this credit resets on the anniversary year, and not on the calendar year.

This credit can be applied towards a single travel booking made through American Express Travel online when using your American Express Business Platinum card. Eligible travel bookings include purchases such as flights, hotels, and anything else bookable via the Amex Travel portal.

Once the travel credit is redeemed, it will show up as a statement credit within a few business days.

$200 Annual Dell Credit

American Express Business Platinum cardholders will receive up to $200 in Dell credits per calendar year.

Cardholders will need to make a qualifying purchase on the Canadian Dell website and will receive up to a $100 credit in the first half of the year starting in January, and up to another $100 credit in the second half of the year starting in July.

$300 Annual Indeed Credit

American Express Business Platinum cardholders will receive up to $300 in Indeed credits per calendar year.

Cardholders will need to make a qualifying purchase on the Canadian Indeed website and will receive up to a $75 credit per quarter. A new quarter starts in January, April, July, and October.

If you don’t have a business where you are hiring staff through Indeed or utilizing any of their premium services, it can be hard to get any value from this credit compared to the other ones offered on the American Express Business Platinum card. I wouldn’t lose sleep over trying to use this credit.

$120 Annual Mobile Statement Credits

American Express Business Platinum cardholders will receive up to $120 in mobile statement credits per calendar year.

The credits are distributed as a $10 monthly allotment and require the card to be used at an eligible national mobile service provider or subsidiary to receive the statement credit. Simply put, use the American Express Business Platinum card to pay your phone bill and you will save $10 monthly!

$100 NEXUS Credit

Amerian Express Business Platinum cardholders are eligible to receive a $100 statement credit towards membership or renewal in the NEXUS program. This credit is available upon approval and renews every four years thereafter. While this won’t cover the entire cost of a NEXUS membership, it does cover a significant chunk, which makes it a much more palatable cost.

NEXUS membership is a must-have if you are a frequent traveler, as it saves time when it comes to airport security screening lines and customs lines. My NEXUS card is one of my favorite travel tools in my wallet, and I recommend the program to anyone who is willing to go through the steps to get approved.

Complimentary Airport Lounge Access

American Express Business Platinum cardholders receive unlimited airport lounge access to over 1,300 lounges that are part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection. This also typically includes access for a guest in addition to the cardholder, making it a great option for those individuals who tend to travel with a partner.

amex centurion lounge denver bar seating

Even better, this complimentary airport lounge access also includes access to American Express Centurion lounges for the cardholder and up to two guests. If you are unfamiliar with Centurion lounges and what they offer, the Frugal Flyer team has visited a number of them and published reviews:

In North America, Centurion Lounges are some of the best airport lounge experiences you can expect to have with gorgeously decorated spaces, curated cocktail menus, and excellent food choices. We definitely recommend taking the time to visit them if you come across one in your travels.

If you are a frequent traveler, the American Express Business Platinum card is one of the best credit cards for airport lounge access in Canada, and this benefit alone could make it worth adding this card to your wallet.

Complimentary Hotel Elite Status

Simply by holding the American Express Business Platinum card, cardholders will receive complimentary hotel elite status in two major hotel loyalty programs: Hilton Honors & Marriott Bonvoy.

American Express Business Platinum cardholders will receive Hilton Honors Gold status which is a meaningful status level as it grants access to complimentary breakfast for two when staying at eligible Hilton properties. The Hilton breakfast benefit can result in major savings during your travels, and some of the breakfast spreads can be quite impressive at higher-end hotels.

On the other hand, cardholders will also receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status which is far less valuable than the Hilton status. Holding this status can result in the potential for room upgrades and late check-outs, but nothing is guaranteed. Either way, it’s a free hotel status, so it is worth linking your Marriott Bonvoy account for the chance of some benefits during your next Marriott Bonvoy hotel stay.

20,000 Membership Rewards Points Per Referral

If you have friends or family members who are interested in adding a new American Express credit card to their wallet, referring them from the American Express Business Platinum card will earn 20,000 Membership Rewards points per eligible referral.

ultimate guide to credit card referrals featured image

The American Express Business Platinum card can refer to the Business Platinum card, in addition to the American Express Platinum card, the American Express Business Gold card, the American Express Cobalt card, and the American Express Gold card. Needless to say, the wide range of cards available makes it easy for anyone who you are interested in referring to find the card that is right for them.

Business Platinum cardholders can receive up to 225,000 Membership Rewards points via referrals per calendar year. If you are unsure how credit card referrals work and want to learn how you can maximize this benefit, check out our Ultimate Guide to Credit Card Referrals.

Access to American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts

American Express Business Platinum cardholders receive access to the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts booking platform.

amex fine hotels and resorts tag line

The Fine Hotels & Resorts booking platform includes many of the most exclusive and luxurious hotels and resorts in the world, and Business Platinum card members who book their stay through this platform will receive perks such as breakfast for two, early check-in (where possible), late check-out, room upgrades, and an additional benefit such as a property credit to be used on any purchase that can be charged to your room bill.

If you are interested in booking a hotel that is part of the Fine Hotels & Resorts program, using this benefit is an easy way to get more out of your stay for no extra cost.

Benefits at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)

If you are located in Toronto or tend to fly through Toronto Pearson International Airport often, the American Express Business Platinum card offers three benefits to cardholders.

Business Platinum cardholders can access priority security lanes in terminals 1 and 3, complimentary valet service at terminal 1, and a 15% discount on parking rates at the Express Park and Daily Park parkades, awarded as a statement credit after the charge has been posted to the credit card account.

You can learn more about these benefits here.

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star Tier Membership

American Express Business Platinum cardholders receive complimentary Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star Tier Membership.

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star Tier membership includes benefits such as a one-class car upgrade (subject to availability), discount on standard car rental rates, and up to a 4 hour grace period when returning the vehicle (location dependent).

Insurance Coverage

The American Express Business Platinum card offers twelve types of insurance coverage, covering both personal and travel needs:

  • Emergency medical insurance
  • Trip cancellation insurance
  • Trip interruption insurance
  • Travel emergency coverage
  • Travel accident coverage
  • Rental car theft and damage insurance
  • Lost or stolen baggage coverage
  • Baggage delay and flight delay coverage
  • Hotel burglary insurance
  • Purchase protection
  • Mobile device insurance
  • Buyers’ assurance protection

Refer to the American Express Business Platinum insurance certificate for additional details, including terms and conditions for eligibility.

Redeeming Membership Rewards Points

When it comes to flight and hotel redemptions, American Express Membership Rewards points are one of the best loyalty currencies in Canada as they can be converted to popular loyalty programs for redemption. Whether you are interested in earning Air Canada Aeroplan points, British Airways Avios, Flying Blue Miles, Marriott Bonvoy points, or Hilton Honors points, earning Membership Rewards points can make that happen.

The best use for Amex Membership Rewards points is to transfer them to these other loyalty programs if you want to maximize their value. However, this does mean that you will also need to understand the ins and outs of an additional loyalty program or two, so check out our loyalty program guides for all the details you need to know about the program that you are interesting in transferring points to.

For more details on where you can transfer your Membership Rewards points and what transfer bonuses are currently available, check out our Miles & Points Transfer Partner tool. If you are new to the idea of using miles and points to better your travels and save money, check out our Miles & Points Beginners Guide for more details.

Comparable Credit Cards

If you are interested in adding a premium credit card to your wallet that comes with significant perks, there are a few other options that are worth considering.

American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum card is the personal or consumer alternative to the Business Platinum card. Similar to the American Express Business Platinum card, this card is one of the most premium credit cards in Canada with benefits and an annual fee to match.

American Express Platinum Card
Apply Now Learn More
American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum card earns Membership Rewards and offers cardholders a variety of benefits including an annual $200 travel credit, complimentary airport lounge access, an annual $200 dining credit, and instant elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors.

Check out our American Express Platinum card review for more details.

In 2024, we awarded this card as the Best Credit Card for Airport Lounge Access.

BONUS
100,000 Membership Rewards
MINSPEND
$10,000
NET VALUE
$1,401+
ANNUAL FEE
$799
FOREX FEES
Yes
EXPIRY

The American Express Platinum card has a welcome bonus of up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points and offers many similar benefits to the Platinum card including an annual travel credit, NEXUS credit, complimentary airport lounge access, and much more.

American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card

The American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve card is a great option for cardholders who have a big interest in the Air Canada Aeroplan loyalty program or for those who find themselves flying on Air Canada flights often.

American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card
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American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card

The American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve card earns Aeroplan points and offers cardholders various Air Canada benefits including priority boarding, free checked baggage, and complimentary Maple Leaf airport lounge access.

BONUS
90,000 Aeroplan
MINSPEND
$14,000
NET VALUE
$1,291+
ANNUAL FEE
$599
FOREX FEES
Yes
EXPIRY

The American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve card has a welcome bonus of up to 90,000 Aeroplan points and includes benefits such as Maple Leaf airport lounge access and various perks on Air Canada flights such as priority boarding, free checked baggage, and more.

Conclusion

The American Express Business Platinum card is one of the best cards in Canada when you consider the welcome bonus and benefits it offers. While the high annual fee can initially be offputting for some, it is easy to garner enough value from this card to make the annual fee worth paying. 

Plus, Membership Rewards points are the best transferrable points currency in Canada, so no matter what your travel plans are, you will definitely be able to find a use for them when booking your next vacation.

Josh Bandura

Josh Bandura

Co-Founder at Frugal Flyer
Josh has been involved in the miles and points game since 2015 but has scaled up his knowledge and points earning potential in recent years. With a consistent attitude of "min-maxing" in many aspects of his life, Josh has transferred this mindset over to the miles and points game. Always looking for the next big opportunity, he aims to share content on a variety of topics including his travels, miles and points, and most importantly, how to get the most out of your credit cards

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FEATURED CREDIT CARD

Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
Apply Now Learn More Earn $100 in FlyerFunds upon approval.
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

The Scotiabank Gold American Express card earns Scene+ Rewards points and gives cardholders the opportunity to earn 5x Scene+ points on grocery, restaurant, and entertainment purchases. This card charges no foreign exchange fees.

Check out our Scotiabank Gold American Express card review for more details.

BONUS
40,000 Scene+
MINSPEND
$7,500
NET VALUE
$280+
ANNUAL FEE
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FOREX FEES
No
EXPIRY
Jul 1, 2025

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