DansDeals will receive compensation if you are approved for a credit card via a link in this post. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers, visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Update: If you apply for these cards now, you can still take advantage of stacking 2024, 2025, and 2026 credits before your 2nd annual fee is due in mid-January 2026!
On the AMEX Business Platinum Card, assuming the current credits continue as they are now, that will include:
- $800 in Dell credits ($200 in December 2024, $200 from January-June 2025, $200 from July-December 2025, and $200 in January 2026)
- $600 in airline fee credits ($200 in December 2024, $200 in 2025, $200 in January 2026)
- $597 in CLEAR credits ($199 in December 2024, $199 in 2025, $199 in January 2026)
- $540 in Indeed credits ($90 in December 2024, $90 in 2025 Q1, $90 in 2025 Q2, $90 in 2025 Q3, $90 in 2025 Q4, $90 in January 2026)
- $450 in Adobe credits ($150 in December 2024, $150 in 2025, $150 in January 2026)
- $300 in Hilton credits ($50 in December 2024, $50 in 2025 Q1, $50 in 2025 Q2, $50 in 2025 Q3, $50 in 2025 Q4, $50 in January 2026)
- $140 in wireless credits ($10 monthly from December 2024 through January 2026)
On the AMEX Consumer Platinum card, assuming the current credits continue as they are now, that will include:
- $900 in Equinox credits ($300 in December 2024, $300 in 2025, $300 in January 2026)
- $600 in airline fee credits ($200 in December 2024, $200 in 2025, $200 in January 2026)
- $600 in prepaid Hotel credits ($200 for hotel stays booked in December 2024, $200 for hotel stays booked in 2025, $200 for hotel stays booked in January 2026)
- $597 in CLEAR credits ($199 in December 2024, $199 in 2025, $199 in January 2026)
- $280 in digital entertainment and newspaper credits ($20 monthly from December 2024 through January 2026)
- $250 in Uber/UberEats credits in the US ($35 in December 2024, $15 monthly from January through November 2025, $35 in December 2025, $15 in January 2026)
- $200 in Saks credits ($50 in December 2024, $50 from January-June 2025, $50 from July-December 2025, and $50 in January 2026)
- $181+tax in Walmart+/Paramount+ credits ($12.95+tax monthly from December 2024 through January 2026)
American Express Platinum cards:
The Business Platinum Card® and the The Platinum Card® from American Express consumer card are 2 of the most benefit-laden cards that exist. They also have the annual fees to back that up too!
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AMEX Membership Rewards cards can transfer points into many different mileage programs, and there are often transfer bonuses as well.
AMEX transfer partners include:
- ANA (Star Alliance) 1:1 transfer.
- Aer Lingus (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer.
- AeroMexico (Skyteam) 1:1.6 transfer.
- Air Canada Aeroplan (Star Alliance) 1:1 instant transfer.
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue (Skyteam) 1:1 instant transfer.
- Alaska (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer via Hawaiian
- Avianca Lifemiles (Star Alliance) 1:1 instant transfer.
- British Airways (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer.
- Delta (Skyteam) 1:1 instant transfer.
- Emirates 1:1 instant transfer
- Etihad 1:1 instant transfer
- Finnair (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer via BA
- Hawaiian 1:1 instant transfer
- Iberia (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer
- JetBlue 1:0.8 instant transfer
- Qantas (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer
- Qatar (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer via BA
- Singapore (Star Alliance) 1:1 instant transfer.
- Virgin Atlantic 1:1 instant transfer
- Choice Hotels 1:1 instant transfer
- Hilton 1:2 instant transfer
- Marriott 1:1 instant transfer
I aim to receive a value of 1.5 cents or more per point when I transfer them into airline miles or hotel points. That’s especially easy with transfers to Alaska Airlines! But sometimes the value of an airline mile or hotel point can be under 1 cent each. In these cases it’s great to have a card that allows you to redeem points for paid travel at a value that beats the 1 cent per point level where you can cash the points out.
Which AMEX Platinum card should you have:
There is no obvious answer as to which you should have, but personally I prefer the Business Platinum card as it features hybrid points, as I’ll describe below.
Let’s walk through the benefits to see which cards is best for you.
Annual fee:
Winner: Tie
Annual fee for additional Platinum cardholders:
These cards allow for lounge access, elite status, Global entry, and AMEX protections, but not for additional monthly and annual credits.
Winner: Consumer Platinum
Annual fee for additional companion cardholders:
These cards allow for Global entry credits once every 4 years, an incredible benefit for cards with no annual fee!
Winner: Tie
Points rebate on paid airfare:
- AMEX Business Platinum: 35% rebate on a US airline of your choice in coach, 35% rebate on all airlines in business or first class. Maximum rebate of 1,000,000 points per calendar year, though this can be increased through targeted offers.
- AMEX Consumer Platinum: None
You can combine points from all of your American Express Membership Rewards cards onto your most valuable card, so that they are worth the most for travel.
The reason why I value the business card more that the consumer card is that it allows you to use your AMEX points as hybrid points. The Business Platinum card allows you to choose between using your points for paid airfare at an increased value per point, or transferring your points into miles.
If you redeem for a premium cabin ticket on any airline or in coach on the airline of your choice, you’ll get a 35% points rebate, which will mean you’ll get a value of at least 1.54 cents per point. The value can be even higher if AMEX has a discounted insider fare available on your route. You can get a rebate of up to 1,000,000 points per year.
Or you can transfer points into miles, which is how you can buy a $459 United ticket for 6,500 points or a $459 AA ticket for 4,500 miles.
I call that ability to choose between the best of both worlds “hybrid points.” It’s something you won’t get on the consumer Platinum card. If you have the no annual fee Blue Business Plus AMEX you’ll earn 2 points per dollar everywhere on up to $50K in annual spending. If you also have an AMEX Business Platinum card that means you’ll earn a minimum of 3.08% back towards airfare thanks to hybrid points!
The increased value of points set a minimum value you can get from your points. You can get a higher value for your points by transferring them into airline miles and hotel points, but having the ability to use your points at an increased value for paid travel makes them into “hybrid points.” You can choose to redeem them for either paid travel or award travel, depending on which provides a better value.
Winner: Business Platinum.
Annual airline fee credit:
The AMEX airline fee credit isn’t as straightforward as the Chase credit, but there are still plenty of valuable uses for it.
Every calendar year, you can get a $200 credit for airline fees. If you apply now that means you’ll get back $600 in fees during your first cardmembership year with $200 back in 2024, $200 back in 2025, and $200 back in 2026.
Winner: Tie.
Points per dollar on airfare:
Winner: Consumer Platinum.
Points per dollar on hotels:
Winner: Tie.
Points per dollar on eligible $5,000+ purchases:
Winner: Business Platinum
Points per dollar on bonus category purchases:
- AMEX Business Platinum: 1.5 per dollar on electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, construction material and hardware suppliers, and shipping providers, up to $2 million in annual spending combined with large purchase bonus.
- AMEX Consumer Platinum: 1 per dollar.
Winner: Business Platinum
Annual CLEAR Plus credit:
Winner: Tie
Walmart+ credit:
Winner: Consumer Platinum
Paramount+ credit:
Winner: Consumer Platinum
Prepaid hotel credit:
Winner: Consumer Platinum
Equinox credit:
Winner: Consumer Platinum
Digital entertainment credit:
- Disney+/Disney Bundle
- ESPN+
- Hulu ($6.99/month)
- Hulu ad-free
- Peacock Premium/Ad-Free
- Wall Street Journal (include WSJ, Barrons, MarketWatch, and/or Investor’s Business Daily print and digital subscriptions)
- The New York Times
- Eligible purchases for the New York Times include any subscriptions (including digital or print news, NYT Cooking, and New York Times Games). Eligible purchases do not include advertising services, NYT conferences, gift cards, the TimesDigest or purchases from the NYTimes company store.
Winner: Consumer Platinum
Dell Spending Credit:
Dell allows you to split a charge among 3 credit cards at checkout. If you have multiple Business Platinum cards that means you can get a $200 credit on each one by splitting the charge among multiple cards.
You can find Dell deals that we have posted here.
Winner: Business Platinum
Uber Spending Credit:
Just add your Consumer Platinum card to your Uber app to receive the monthly credit. The credit expires on the last day of each month. You can use the credit for Uber and UberEats.
Winner: Consumer Platinum.
Saks Spending Credit:
You can also buy $50 gift cards in Saks Fifth Avenue stores and those will be reimbursed in full based on my experience. Gift cards are valid for use at Saks and Saks OFF 5TH.
Winner: Consumer Platinum.
Hilton credit:
This is identical to the 4 credits of $50 every quarter on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, which allows you to get the credit on Hilton gift cards sold online here.
During your stay, you can have the front desk add the value of your gift cards against your folio balance. Just tell them to run the gift card as a credit card for the full $50 value per gift card.
Winner: Business Platinum
Wireless credit:
Winner: Business Platinum
Adobe Credit:
Winner: Business Platinum
Indeed credit:
Winner: Business Platinum
Hotel Elite Status:
You can enroll online here for Hilton Gold status.
You can enroll online here for Marriott Gold status.
You can also enroll additional Platinum cardholders for Gold elite status, but that needs to be done over the phone.
Hilton Gold status gets you upgrades, bonus points, 5th night free on awards, late checkout, breakfast, and bottled water. Free breakfast doesn’t usually do much for me as a kosher traveler, but at the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem the fantastic daily kosher breakfast is free for Hilton Gold members. There is a mind-boggling quantity of awesome kosher food there, from dozens of daily hot dishes to hard cheeses, fresh fruits and pastries to fresh squeezed juices and espresso drinks, as well as on-demand dishes like french toast, pancakes, waffles, and eggs.
Marriott Gold status gets you late checkout, more points per dollar spent at Marriott hotels, room upgrades, enhanced in-room WiFi, and a points amenity on stays, even when redeeming points.
Winner: Tie.
Centurion Lounge Access:
It costs $50 to guest in adults or $30 for kids. If you do spend $75,000 on your Platinum account during the prior calendar year you can still bring in free guests. In other words, if you spend $75K on your Platinum account in 2025 by March you’ll be able to bring free guests from March 2025 through January 2027.
Winner: Tie.
Priority Pass Membership:
You can enroll here for a Priority Pass membership on a consumer card here or on a Business card here. Note that this is not valid for use at Priority Pass restaurants.
Winner: Tie.
Delta SkyClub Access:
You can access Delta lounges for free with a Platinum card when flying on Delta. You don’t get any free guests, but additional Platinum cardholders can access Delta lounges for free as well.
Select Delta SkyClubs, such as JFK, have complimentary hot kosher meals upon request. Others have kosher snacks upon request as well.
Winner: Tie.
Escape Lounge Access:
Winner: Tie.
Plaza Premium Access:
Winner: Tie.
Lufthansa Lounge Access:
You can access Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa as found here.
Winner: Tie.
Global Entry/Pre-Check Refund:
- AMEX Business Platinum: Primary and secondary Platinum, and expense cardholders can each get a full refund every 4 years.
- AMEX Consumer Platinum: Primary and secondary Platinum, and companion cardholders can each get a full refund every 4 years.
Winner: Tie.
Car Rental CDW Coverage:
- AMEX Business Platinum: Secondary, upgrade to primary for $19.95/rental.
- AMEX Consumer Platinum: Secondary, upgrade to primary for $19.95/rental.
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Winner: Tie
Car Rental Perks:
- AMEX Business Platinum: A 4 hour late return fee-free grace period, exclusively discounted pricing, and President’s Circle membership at Hertz and National Executive status guarantee upgrades and faster free award rentals.
- AMEX Consumer Platinum: A 4 hour late return fee-free grace period, exclusively discounted pricing, and President’s Circle membership at Hertz and National Executive status guarantee upgrades and faster free award rentals.
Winner: Tie
Foreign Transaction Fees:
Winner: Tie.
Extended Warranty Coverage:
- AMEX Business Platinum: Doubles the manufacturer’s warranty up to 2 additional years. Covers up to $10,000/item and up to $50,000/year.
- AMEX Consumer Platinum: Doubles the manufacturer’s warranty up to 2 additional years. Covers up to $10,000/item and up to $50,000/year.
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Winner: Tie.
Purchase Protection for items lost, damaged, or stolen within 90 days:
- AMEX Business Platinum: $10,000/item and up to $50,000/year.
- AMEX Consumer Platinum: $10,000/item and up to $50,000/year.
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Winner: Tie.
Cell Phone Protection:
- AMEX Business Platinum: $800 coverage for a damaged or stolen phone if you paid the previous month’s cell phone bill on your card.
- AMEX Consumer Platinum: $800 coverage for a damaged or stolen phone if you paid the previous month’s cell phone bill on your card.
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Winner: Tie.
Return Protection:
- AMEX Business Platinum: Covers items up to $300 within 90 days of purchase if the store won’t take a return or charges a restocking fee, up to $1,000/year.
- AMEX Consumer Platinum: Covers items up to $300 within 90 days of purchase if the store won’t take a return or charges a restocking fee, up to $1,000/year.
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Winner: Tie.
Lost Luggage Insurance:
- AMEX Business Platinum: $3,000 per person per trip (limit of $1,000 per person for jewelry and electronics)
- AMEX Consumer Platinum: $3,000 per person per trip (limit of $1,000 per person for jewelry and electronics)
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Winner: Tie.
Trip delay insurance:
- AMEX Business Platinum: Reimburses expenses due to a flight delay, up to $500 of coverage for 6+ hour delays.
- AMEX Consumer Platinum: Reimburses expenses due to a flight delay, up to $500 of coverage for 6+ hour delays.
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Winner: Tie.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance:
- AMEX Business Platinum: $10,000 of coverage per trip and $20,000 per rolling 12 month period.
- AMEX Consumer Platinum:$10,000 of coverage per trip and $20,000 per rolling 12 month period.
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Winner: Tie.
Travel Accident Insurance:
- AMEX Business Platinum: $500,000 per person
- AMEX Consumer Platinum: $500,000 per person
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Winner: Tie.
Fine Hotels & Resorts:
- AMEX Business Platinum: Early check-in, a room upgrade, daily breakfast, Wi-Fi, guaranteed 4pm late checkout, and an additional unique amenity valued at $100.
- AMEX Consumer Platinum: Early check-in, a room upgrade, daily breakfast, Wi-Fi, guaranteed 4pm late checkout, and an additional unique amenity valued at $100.
Winner: Tie.
Adds to 5/24 count of cards:
Winner: Business Platinum.
Spending affects credit utilization ratio:
Learn more about business card spending and applying for a business card in this post.
Winner: Business Platinum
Comparison chart of the card benefits:
| Consumer Platinum Card | Business Platinum Card |
| Annual Fee | $695 | $695 |
| Additional Cardholder Fee | -$195 for each additional Platinum cardholder.
-No fee for additional companion cardholders | -$350 for each additional Platinum cardholder.
-No fee for additional expense cardholders |
| Annual Airline Fee Credit | $200 | $200 |
| Points earned on airfare | 5 per dollar from airlines (including online travel agencies) and on AMEXTravel.com | 5 per dollar, but only if booked on AMEXTravel.com |
| Points earned on hotels | 5 per dollar, but only if booked on AMEXTravel.com | 5 per dollar, but only if booked on AMEXTravel.com |
| Points earned on eligible purchases of $5,000+ | 1 per dollar | 1.5 per dollar |
| Points per dollar on bonus category purchases | 1 per dollar | 1.5 per dollar on electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, construction material and hardware suppliers, and shipping |
| Annual CLEAR credit | $199 annual credit | $199 annual credit |
| Walmart+ credit: | $12.95/month | None |
| Paramount+ subscription: | Yes | No |
| Prepaid hotel credit: | $200/year | None |
| Digital entertainment credit: | $20/month on Peacock, WSJ, and The New York Times | None |
| Wireless credit: | None | $10/month |
| Adobe Credit: | None | $150/year |
| Indeed credit: | None | $90/quarter |
| Equinox credit: | $25/month | None |
| Uber Benefits | VIP Status
$15 in monthly credit plus $35 credit every December in the US
| None |
| Dell Benefits | None | $200 credit every Jan-Jun and every Jul-Dec |
| Hilton Benefits | None | $50 credit every quarter |
| Rebate on points redeemed for paid airfare | None | -35% rebate on a US airline of your choice in coach.
-35% rebate on all airlines in business or first.
-Maximum rebate of 1M points per calendar year. |
| Card design | Metal | Metal |
| Elite status | Hilton and Marriott Gold for primary and secondary cardholders | Hilton and Marriott Gold for primary and secondary cardholders |
| Centurion lounge access | Primary or secondary cardholder only. | Primary or secondary cardholder only. |
| Priority Pass membership | Primary or secondary cardholder plus 2 guests | Primary or secondary cardholder plus 2 guests |
| Airspace lounge access | Primary or secondary cardholder plus 2 guests | Primary or secondary cardholder plus 2 guests |
| Escape lounge access | Primary or secondary cardholder plus 2 guests | Primary or secondary cardholder plus 2 guests |
| Delta SkyClub access | Primary or secondary cardholders only. Must be flying Delta. | Primary or secondary cardholders only. Must be flying Delta. |
Global Entry/Pre-Check Fee Refund
| Once every 4 years for Primary and for each secondary cardholder | Once every 4 years for Primary and for each secondary cardholder |
Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits
| Early check-in, room upgrade, daily breakfast, Wi-Fi, late checkout, and an additional special amenity. | Early check-in, room upgrade, daily breakfast, Wi-Fi, late checkout, and an additional special amenity. |
Lost/Stolen/Damaged Item Protection
| Covers items up to $10,000 for losses within 90 days of purchase, up to $50,000/year. | Covers items up to $10,000 for losses within 90 days of purchase, up to $50,000/year. |
Return Protection
| Covers items up to $300 within 90 days of purchase if the store won't take a return or charges a restocking fee, up to $1,000/year. | Covers items up to $300 within 90 days of purchase if the store won't take a return or charges a restocking fee, up to $1,000/year. |
| Extended Warranty | Doubles the manufacturer's warranty up to 2 additional years. Covers up to $10,000/item and up to $50,000/year. | Doubles the manufacturer's warranty up to 2 additional years. Covers up to $10,000/item and up to $50,000/year. |
| Travel Accident Insurance | $500,000 per person | $500,000 per person |
| Lost Luggage Insurance | $3,000 per person | $3,000 per person |
| Car Rental Perks | -4 hour late return fee-free grace period at Hertz.
-National Executive | -4 hour late return fee-free grace period at Hertz.
-National Executive |
| Trip delay insurance | $500 of coverage for 6+ hour delays. | $500 of coverage for 6+ hour delays. |
| Trip cancellation and interruption insurance | $10,000 of coverage per trip and $20,000 per rolling 12 month period. | $10,000 of coverage per trip and $20,000 per rolling 12 month period. |
| Cell Phone Protection | $800 coverage | $800 coverage |
| Counts against your Chase 5/24 count | Yes | No |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
Win count:
Both of these cards come laden with great benefits and for many people, it may pay to have both to take advantage of these benefits. To determine your winner, I’d suggest assigning your personal value to each of these benefits and see which card comes out ahead of the annual fee for your needs!
What are your favorite AMEX Platinum perks and which card do you prefer?
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