American Express Platinum Business Card

Pauline Hatch

Pauline is a personal finance expert at CreditCard.com.au, with 8 years in money, budgeting and property reporting under her belt. Ask Pauline a Question about this card.

Point calculations are accurate as of 21 June 2024 but may be subject to change without notice. All routes may have additional taxes and charges. Check on the official American Express page for the updated calculations.

Designed to reward businesses that want to maximise their points-earning potential while enjoying extensive travel features and practical business tools, the American Express Platinum Business Card now delivers a range of new and enhanced extras, 350,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points offered to new cardholders.

Known for its exceptional service and excellent travel and lifestyle benefits, the American Express Platinum Business Card has further elevated its membership experience with all-new extras such as Accor Plus membership, and up to up to 55 cash flow days, while enhancing existing features by adding Hotel Elite tier status, and access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting.

• BONUS OFFER: Earn 350,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points. T&Cs and minimum spend applies
• Earn 2.25 points per $1 spent excluding government spend in Australia where you’ll earn 1 point per $1 spent
• Flexible redemption options, including Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Enjoy an average AU$850 value based on Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings in 2022 for stays of two nights at over 1,500 world-class properties worldwide
• Accor Plus membership, valued at $399 per year
• Hotel Elite tier status - Hotel Elite Status partners include Radisson Hotel Group, Marriott Bonvoy™, and Hilton
• Access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting with the Global Lounge Collection for primary and Employee Card Members
• Complimentary Travel Insurance for both primary and Employee Card Members
• Get up to $125 back with Dell Technologies transactions. Benefit ends 31 December 2024
• Up to 55 cash flow days
• Up to 99 Employee Card Members at no extra cost

• To be eligible for the bonus points offer, you must apply for a new card, get approved, and spend a minimum of $12,000 in the first 3 months of approval
• Offer is only available to new American Express cardholders. Anyone who has held any other card issued by American Express within the previous 18 months is ineligible for this offer
• Annual fee: $1,750

This Card: The Lowdown

Aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, the American Express Platinum Business Card is the ideal option for business owners who want to earn more points on travel and business expenses, while also benefiting from an extensive range of travel and lifestyle features and a range of useful business tools.

As it is a charge card, not a credit card, the American Express Platinum Business Card has no pre-set spending limit as long as the balance is paid in full each month. Businesses can apply for up to 99 Employee Card Members on the account, with 55 days to pay. This can offer a flexible cash flow arrangement to businesses that want an alternative to a business credit card.

If you need more time to pay off your statement you can use Amex's Flexible Payment Option (FPO) to pay your a portion of your balance in instalments. When you apply, you'll be given a maximum amount you can use towards a FPO (much like a credit card limit, but for the amount you can allocate to flexible repayments). If you don't pay your statement in time, your interest-free days will be forfeit and an automatic FPO will be set up and charged interest until it's paid off in full. FPO's are charged at either the normal purchase rate or the rate specified on your monthly statement and may include other fees.

Digging Deeper

With the basics covered, it’s time to dig a little deeper into what’s on offer with the American Express Platinum Business Card, so you can decide whether this card is right for you.

Firstly, as of 15 February 2024, American Express launched its Amex Experiences App that gives you even more travel offers, events, and member benefits, including exclusives like Amex pre-sales and special event tickets. You'll be able to access information on booked hotels and find recommended businesses around the globe. Its an easy way to maximise your Amex Membership benefits in one place.

Just note that the new app doesn't replace the Amex App that you use to manage your banking. To download the new app, search for 'Amex Experiences' (available on Google Play and via the App Store).

This Card: As a Rewards Card

Helping to offset that annual fee – in the first year, at least – these bonus points could get you to New Zealand and back, with a return Economy Classic Flight Reward from Sydney to Auckland (plus taxes, fees, and carrier charges).

To be eligible for this offer, you must apply, get approved, and spend a minimum of $12,000 in the first 3 months. After that spend criteria has been met, the 350,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points will be deposited to your account within 8-10 weeks.

However, if you currently hold or have previously held any other card issued by American Express (not including bank-issued American Express cards), you will not be eligible for the offer.

Earning Points

As a Platinum Business cardholder, you can earn points on all your Business Card spend:

• Earn 2.25 points per $1 spent excluding government spend in Australia where you’ll earn 1 point per $1 spent

Spending Points

What attracts many cardholders to the American Express Platinum Business Card is the flexibility of its rewards program. Used to reward yourself, your clients, your employees or to reinvest within your business, the Membership Rewards points you earn can be redeemed within a number of categories.

If you want to earn points within a certain frequent flyer program, the Membership Rewards points you earn can be transferred to Qantas, Asia Miles or KrisFlyer, and many more, with the on-demand transfer of your points to the frequent flyer program of your choosing, at your request. To transfer your Membership Rewards points to a frequent flyer program, you must be a member of that frequent flyer program, and you must also be enrolled in Membership Rewards Ascent Premium.

Aside from frequent flyer redemption, there are many other redemption options open to you as a cardholder. You can use your points for travel, booking directly through American Express Travel Online. Here, you can book your next flight, hotel, or car rental using your points to pay, while enjoying no restrictions, no block-out dates, and no booking fees (T&Cs apply).

You can also save money on accommodation when booking with hotel partner programs, including Radisson Hotel Group, Marriott Bonvoy™, and Hilton. You can use your Membership Rewards points to pay when booking on Webjet, or a combination of points and pay when booking at Helloworld Travel.

You may also choose to boost your cash flow by paying off your eligible purchases with your American Express Membership Rewards points or a combination of points and payment, or you could enjoy some retail therapy using your points to shop at David Jones.

This Card: As a Travel Rewards Card

For most businesses, the American Express Platinum Business Card sells itself on its travel features. Here are some of the travel extras you can benefit from as a card member.

Accor Plus Membership

As a new feature for cardholders, the American Express Platinum Business Card is now offering Accor Plus membership, valued at $399 per year. Perfect for business travel, this valuable feature provides a complimentary night’s accommodation each year, up to 50% off dining within the Asia Pacific region, and 15% off beverages within Asia.

Lounge Access

This enhanced feature now offers access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting within the Global Lounge Collection. American Express has added access to an additional 400 lounges in the past five years, including The Centurion® Lounges at Sydney and Melbourne International Airports.

Happily, this feature is available to both primary and Employee Card Members, so all cardholders travelling on business can enjoy access to selected airport lounges by simply presenting their physical eligible cards to gain entry.

Luxury Hotel Benefits

Another enhanced feature now provides Hotel Elite tier status to cardholders at Marriott Bonvoy™, Hilton Honors, and Radisson Hotel Group. Plus, access to privileges and exclusive savings at over 1,500 luxury hotels worldwide with Fine Hotel + Resorts and The Hotel Collection.

With the American Express Platinum Business Card, you can benefit from an average AU$850 value based on Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings in 2022 for stays of two nights. These extras can include:

• An on-property benefit, often up to $100 USD in credit per stay (deducted from the final hotel bill)
• 12pm check-in, when available
• Room upgrade upon arrival, if available
• Free breakfast
• 4pm late checkout
• Free Wi-Fi

Travel Insurance

The American Express Platinum Business Card provides complimentary Travel Insurance (including limited cover related to COVID-19, T&Cs apply) that extends not only to primary cardholders, but to Employee Card Members as well. Another unusual feature of this card is that you don’t need to use the card for the travel purchase to be covered, you’re covered simply because you have the card.

In terms of travel-related insurance, this card offers Travel Insurance and Travel Inconvenience Cover, which will cover you for flight delays, missed connections, and delayed luggage. It’s also nice to know that alongside Employee Card Members, your spouse and dependent children (25 years of age or younger) are also covered.

Of course, you should always check a credit card’s insurance PDS for terms, conditions, and exclusions before you travel.

American Express Travel

While American Express Travel is available to all American Express cardholders, with the American Express Platinum Business Card in your wallet, you will receive additional value. For example, using American Express Travel, you will have access to competitive pricing on Business Class fares, and a wide range of discounts that may not be publicly available elsewhere.

Discounts are primarily seen across the card’s partner airlines, including British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, and more. You can also benefit from exclusive benefits from partner hotel chains, such as onsite extras to enjoy during your stay.

This Card: Extras on Offer

Yes, there is still more on offer from the American Express Platinum Business Card. You can also enjoy up to 55 cash flow days (extended from 51 days previously), which may make managing your business cash flow somewhat easier.

In terms of business tools, the card provides transaction data feeds to MYOB accounting software, as well as tools to easily keep track of expenditure using Quicken, MYOB® or Microsoft® Excel.

As for insurance covers, the card offers Buyer's Advantage Cover, giving an extended manufacturer’s warranty of up to 12 months on eligible purchases, alongside Card Purchase Cover, and Card Refund Cover. As for Travel Insurance Covers, card members will also benefit from Trip Cancellation and Amendment Cover, Public Transport Accident Cover, Travel Inconvenience Cover, Loss Damage Waiver Cover providing cover for loss or damage to your rental vehicle. And the list goes on.

On top of all that, you have access to Platinum's By Invitation Only program’s range of exceptional events and experiences not available to the general public, plus extras such as Emergency Card replacement, and American Express’s award-winning support.

This Card: The Essentials

One of the main factors to consider on the American Express Platinum Business Card is its annual fee. At $1,750 per year, this is not an insubstantial amount. However, as with any new card consideration, you need to think about the value of the features on offer, and whether they are worth more to you than the amount you pay out in annual fees.

As it is a charge card, not a credit card, you also need to be able to deal with it as such. You have no pre-set spending limit, but you have to be able to pay back the entire expenditure each month. It’s also worth noting that having no pre-set spending limit does not mean unlimited spending. Your purchases will be approved on a variety of factors, including your credit records and financial resources, your spending patterns, and your payment history.

As for eligibility, you must be:

• Over 18 years of age,
• Have a good credit history and no payment defaults,
• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident,
• Earn an annual business revenue of $75,000 or more, and
• Your business must have a valid ABN registered for GST.

Decision Time

There’s no denying the fact that the American Express Platinum Business Card has an abundance of features. As a new cardholder, you can benefit from 350,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points, while enjoying high points earned, backed by an incredibly flexible rewards program. American Express has added some nice new features to the card, while enhancing others, making this a very valuable card, not just for primary cardholders, but for Employee Card Members as well.