Updated October 12, 2026. Annual fee, earning rates and credits were checked against American Express’s card page on that date. Amex changes this card’s benefits often, so confirm the details before you apply.
The Business Platinum Card from American Express is one of the most expensive business cards you can carry, with a $895 annual fee. In exchange it offers 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, a long list of statement credits, and access to more than 1,550 airport lounges. Whether it pays off depends entirely on how many of those credits your business will actually use. Here is what the card offers today and how to work out if it is worth it for you.
Business Platinum at a glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $895 |
| Travel earning | 5X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel |
| Business earning | 2X on eligible key business categories and on single purchases of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year |
| Everything else | 1X |
| Pay with Points rebate | 35% of points back on flights booked through Amex Travel with your selected qualifying airline, up to 1,000,000 points back per calendar year |
| Lounge access | Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Select (enrollment required), 10 Delta Sky Club visits a year on eligible Delta flights, and other partner lounges |
How you earn points
5X on travel booked through Amex Travel. Flights and prepaid hotels, including Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection, earn 5 points per dollar when booked through Amex Travel. If your business books its own travel, this is where the card earns most.
2X on key business categories and large purchases. Eligible purchases in Amex’s key business categories, and any single purchase of $5,000 or more, earn 2X, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. This is an increase from the 1.5X the card used to pay, and it makes the card more useful for businesses with big-ticket equipment or inventory purchases.
1X on everything else. For everyday spending outside those categories, a flat-rate card such as the Chase Ink Business Unlimited (1.5% back, no annual fee) will earn more. See our Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash comparison.
Statement credits
Most of the card’s value is in its credits. Several are split into quarterly or semi-annual amounts and require enrollment, so the real value depends on whether the business already spends in these places.
- Hotels: up to $600 a year, as up to $300 semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through Amex Travel (The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum).
- Dell: up to $1,150 a year, as up to $150 on U.S. purchases made directly with Dell, plus $1,000 after $5,000 or more in those purchases.
- ChatGPT Business: $300 a year.
- Indeed: up to $360 a year, as up to $90 a quarter.
- Adobe: $250 a year after $600 or more in direct Adobe purchases.
- Hilton: up to $200 a year, as up to $50 a quarter on direct Hilton purchases.
- Airline fees: up to $200 a year with one selected airline.
- CLEAR+: up to $219 a year.
- Wireless: up to $120 a year, as up to $10 a month.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: an application fee credit every four years ($120 for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck).
High-spend credits. Businesses that spend $250,000 or more on the card in a calendar year unlock two further credits for the following year: up to $1,200 for flights booked on AmexTravel.com and up to $2,400 toward American Express One AP fees.
Travel perks
Lounge access is the headline perk. Cardholders get into Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Select lounges after enrolling, and other partner lounges, for access to more than 1,550 lounges worldwide. On eligible Delta flights, the card includes 10 Delta Sky Club visits a year, with unlimited access possible after meeting spending thresholds.
The 35% Pay with Points rebate also stretches your points further on flights with your selected airline booked through Amex Travel. Membership Rewards points can also be transferred to Amex’s airline and hotel partners. Not sure whether Amex or Chase points suit you better? Read Amex or Chase: which rewards currency is better for travel.
Is the Business Platinum worth $895?
Add up only the credits your business would use without changing its behavior. For example, a business that already pays for ChatGPT Business ($300), books two hotel stays a year through Fine Hotels + Resorts ($600), buys from Dell ($150 or more) and uses the wireless credit ($120) recovers about $1,170 in value before counting points or lounge access. That clears the fee.
A business that would only use one or two credits will not come out ahead. If your main goal is earning on everyday business spending, a no-annual-fee card earns more on most purchases, and you can add a premium card later if your travel grows.
The Business Platinum is a good fit if you
- Book flights and hotels through Amex Travel and want 5X points on them
- Already spend with several of the credit partners, such as Dell, Indeed, Adobe or ChatGPT
- Travel often enough to use lounge access
- Make large single purchases of $5,000 or more
Look elsewhere if you
- Will not track and use several credits each year
- Mostly spend in everyday categories that earn 1X on this card
- Rarely fly
Frequently asked questions
What is the annual fee on the Amex Business Platinum?
$895 a year, as listed on American Express’s card page on October 12, 2026.
How many points does the Business Platinum earn?
5X on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, 2X on eligible key business categories and single purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million a year), and 1X on everything else.
Does the Business Platinum include lounge access?
Yes. It includes Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Select after enrollment, 10 Delta Sky Club visits a year on eligible Delta flights, and other partner lounges.
Do I need a large business to qualify?
No. Sole proprietors and freelancers can apply for business cards. Approval depends on your credit and the information you provide about your business.
The bottom line
The Business Platinum is a strong card for business owners who travel regularly and already spend with its credit partners. At $895 a year, it only makes sense if you will use enough of the credits to cover the fee. Run the numbers on your own spending before you apply.
