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I use The Business Platinum Card® from American Express for all business travel. With many travel credits, protections, and perks—it’s a no-brainer card for travel.
$200 Airline Fee Credit
The Amex Business Platinum lets you choose a preferred qualifying airline—and offers up to $200 in airline incidental statement credits annually charged by the airline. This means I can pay for checked bags, onboard snacks and Wi-Fi and other airline charges and receive statement credits of up to $200 every calendar year (enrollment required).
I have maxed out this credit for the last few years, mostly traveling on Delta flights from the East Coast out west. Saving points by purchasing basic economy tickets and paying for checked bags if needed has saved me miles and money. I also indulge in meals and drinks on the plane, knowing they’ll be covered.
TSA PreCheck and CLEAR® Plus Credit
Flying can be stressful, but signing up for CLEAR® Plus and TSA PreCheck can make waiting in long lines a thing of the past. The Amex Business Platinum offers a statement credit that covers the annual cost of CLEAR® Plus service (currently $199), as well as TSA PreCheck (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) every four and a half years after you apply for a five-year membership or Global Entry ($100 credit) every four years.
I don’t do much international travel at the moment, so the CLEAR® Plus credit and TSA PreCheck credit help me save precious preflight minutes on domestic travel days. It’s nice knowing I’ll never have to wait in a regular TSA security line again.
Elite Status With Hotels and Rental Car Agencies
Several hotel and rental car agencies partner with American Express to offer elite status to Business Platinum cardholders with enrollment.
- Hertz President’s Circle
- National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive
- Avis Preferred Plus
- Hilton Honors™ Gold
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold
These different elite status levels offer benefits such as free upgrades, discounted services and more. Knowing I can pick any car I want with Hertz—or get a free room upgrade with Marriott—makes travel much more enjoyable.
Amex Premium Car Rental Protection
Renting a car can be expensive, but rental car insurance can cost hundreds extra. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express comes through with premium car rental protection³—offering secondary insurance included with the card and primary insurance for a flat fee of up to $24.95 per rental period (not per day).
This primary car rental protection covers cardholders for up to $100,000 in coverage for damage or theft, up to $100,000 of accidental death or dismemberment coverage ($250,000 for California residents), $15,000 in secondary medical expenses (per person) and $5,000 for personal property coverage ($15,000 for Florida residents). Coverage can be as long as 42 consecutive days—and you’ll still pay only $24.95 or less. I’ve used this coverage every time I’ve rented a card over the past few years and have easily saved close to $1,000 in unnecessary insurance costs.
Lounge Access
Let’s be real—traveling can be stressful. Long waits, noisy airports and subpar food can make the experience even worse. But since I picked up the Amex Business Platinum card a few years ago, I’ve been able to avoid all of those stressors by taking advantage of lounge access. Amex Business Platinum cardholders can access not only American Express Centurion Lounge locations worldwide, but also Priority Pass Select Lounges, Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium lounges and Delta SkyClub locations (restrictions and enrollment may apply). Effective 2/1/25, American Express Platinum card members will receive 10 Delta Sky Club visits per year; unlimited visits can be earned when total purchases exceed $75,000 in 2024 and each calendar year thereafter.
I fly to Seattle a few times per year and have been able to enjoy the very new Centurion Lounge at the Seattle-Tacoma airport (SEA). With free lattes, a delicious breakfast buffet (I travel early) and a quiet lounge area—travel days allow me to wind down, instead of stress out.
I also enjoy the Delta SkyClub at the Tampa airport (TPA) when I book an economy ticket or above (basic economy does not qualify). This lounge keeps me close to my gate and offers free food and coffee while I wait for my flight.
Amex Transfer Partners
American Express offers one of the best rewards programs of any card—including partner airlines and hotels that allow me to transfer Membership Rewards directly to these partner programs. This allows me to maximize my points by getting better value when booking flights and hotels directly with an airline or hotel chain.
And with the Business Platinum card, I have earned hundreds of thousands of Membership Rewards over the years—which in turn got me free flights and hotel stays. My favorite transfer partner is Delta, as there are many direct flights from Tampa to major airports around the country.
While not on a business trip, I recently booked a last-minute concert in New York City and was able to instantly transfer Membership Rewards to Delta for a rewards flight that cost only 19,000 miles total (round trip). The process was simple, and the flight was booked within a matter of minutes.
Business Purchase Credits and Protections
Some of the best perks of the Business Platinum card are the business purchase credits offered. Here’s a quick overview of these credits:
- Up to $400 annual Dell.com credit ($200 semiannually) through 12/31/24
- Up to $360 annual Indeed.com credit ($90 quarterly) through 12/31/24
- Up to $150 annual Adobe Creative Solutions credit through 12/31/24
- Up to $120 wireless statement credit ($10 monthly)
- Enrollment is required for select benefits
I have personally used the Dell.com credit for headphones, new monitors and other business tech purchases. I don’t utilize the Indeed credit, but I do subscribe to Adobe for video editing and save a bundle. The annual wireless statement credit gives me $10 per month back on my card to help offset my cellphone bill.
In addition to the purchase credits, the purchase protection provided by the Business Platinum card gives me peace of mind on all business purchases. With up to $10,000 in coverage in case an item is lost, stolen or damaged within 90 days of purchase—I don’t have to worry much about more expensive business purchases.
And the cellphone protection⁴ means I can get my phone replaced or repaired (up to $800 in coverage) and only have to pay the $50 deductible to be reimbursed.