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The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Review

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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Over the past nineteen years as a business owner, I’ve used countless business cards. Some have been amazing and elevated both my travel and my business. Others have been…well, lackluster.

One of the best? The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. It comes with a lot of world-class perks and benefits, quality customer care, and a solid rewards structure (especially on large purchases).

While the annual fee is pretty high ($695, pay over time available. See Rates and Fees), for me, the travel benefits, along with all the statement credits, make the card worth carrying. I think it’s a great choice for business owners who travel frequently.

In this breakdown, I’ll detail the card, what you get, and why I like it.

What is the Business Platinum Card® from American Express?

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a travel rewards card geared towards business owners. (Remember: even side hustles and freelancing count as businesses so you can get this card even without being an LLC.) First, let’s go over some of the best things you get when you sign up, which make it a no brainer to get for the first year:

  • Limited Time Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights, prepaid hotels, and short-term rentals and prepaid flight + hotel packages booked at AmexTravel.com. 1x points on other eligible purchases.
  • 1.5x points per dollar on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
  • Complimentary access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection®, featuring more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries. Access is limited to eligible Card Members.
  • Up to $120 in statement credits for Global Entry or TSA Pre-check every 4 years.
  • Up to $199 yearly CLEAR® Plus credit (subject to auto-renewal)
  • Up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline.
  • Up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties. (Distributed in up to $50 increments per quarter. Hilton for Business program membership is required.)
  • $150 credit with Adobe on eligible annual prepaid business plan purchases of Adobe Creative Cloud for teams or Adobe Acrobat Pro for teams on the Business Platinum Card through 6/30/25.
  • Up to $120 per calendar year in statement credits for purchases made directly from any U.S. wireless telephone provider (up to $10 back per month).
  • Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite status (enrollment required)
  • Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment required)
  • No foreign transaction fees

Using Your Membership Rewards Points

You’ll earn Membership Rewards points with The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Since Amex has a well-rounded suite of travel partners, Membership Rewards points are some of the most valuable points out there.

These are Amex’s current travel partners:

  • Aer Lingus AerClub (1:1 ratio)
  • Aeromexico Rewards (1:1.6 ratio)
  • Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1 ratio)
  • Air France-KLM Flying Blue (1:1 ratio)
  • ANA Mileage Club (1:1 ratio)
  • Avianca LifeMiles (1:1 ratio)
  • British Airways Club (1:1 ratio)
  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1 ratio)
  • Choice Privileges (1:1 ratio)
  • Delta SkyMiles (1:1 ratio)
  • Emirates Skywards (1:1 ratio)
  • Etihad Guest (1:1 ratio)
  • HawaiianMiles (1:1 ratio)
  • Hilton Honors (1:2 ratio)
  • Iberia Plus (1:1 ratio)
  • JetBlue TrueBlue (250:200 ratio)
  • Marriott Bonvoy (1:1 ratio)
  • Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1 ratio)
  • Qatar Airways Privilege Club (1:1 ratio)
  • Singapore KrisFlyer (1:1 ratio)
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1 ratio)

Most transfers are instant, though some can take up to 48 hours.

You can also use your Membership Rewards points to book flights and hotels in the Amex Travel portal. I generally wouldn’t do this though as it’s not the best use of your points. It’s always better to transfer them out to one of their partners. However, you can get 35% points back when you do book via their portal so just compare the points costs between both before making a decision.

Breaking Down the Business Platinum’s Credits and Benefits

Amex cards are well-known for their plethora of perks and benefits. They’re a big reason I love their cards. And, if you can take advantage of all that it has to offer, the Business Platinum boasts over $1,700 worth of value. But, with so many categories and so much fine print, it can be hard to keep track of whether a benefit is actually useful for your spending habits. So, to help you decide if the card is right for you, I want to break down some of the major categories of benefits:

Airport Experience Credits (Lounge Access, CLEAR Plus, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck)
One of the best things about this card — and what makes it a standout for frequent travelers — is the unbeatable airport lounge access. You’ll get into some of the top lounges worldwide, including the excellent Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when you’re flying Delta, with up to 10 visits per year).

On top of that, you’ll get complimentary access to the huge Priority Pass network. If having a quiet space to relax, grab a drink, or get some work done is a priority when you travel, this card has you covered pretty much anywhere.

I also appreciate that the Business Platinum helps you get through the airport faster. It offers up to $199 in statement credits each year for a CLEAR® Plus membership, which speeds you through security lines.

You’ll also get a credit for Global Entry (up to $100 every 4 years) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85 every 4.5 years), depending on which one you choose. I personally recommend going for Global Entry. It takes a little more effort (there’s an interview), but it includes TSA PreCheck too. It’ll save you a ton of time if you travel internationally.

Airline and Hotel Credits
Another travel-related benefit is the up to $200 airline credit. Unfortunately, it comes with a fair number of restrictions, making this credit a bit more annoying to use. It can only be used on one (pre-selected) airline, and you can only use it for incidentals, not airfare. But if you don’t have an airline credit card that offers free baggage, it can be useful to have. You can also use the credit for airline expenses like paid seat selection or on-board food and drink.

The Business Platinum also offers a few Hilton-related benefits. First, you can receive up to $200 in statement credits at Hilton properties when booked directly. Since these credits are distributed in quarterly $50 increments, you’d have to stay in a Hilton property at least four times a year to get the full value of this credit. But if you’re on the road a lot, that can be easy to do.

Second, the Business Platinum offers complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold Status (as well as Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite status), which offer extra perks and benefits when staying at these properties.

Business-Related Statement Credits
The Business Platinum card comes with some great perks to help lighten the financial load of running a business. Expenses can really add up if you’re managing a business while traveling, so I appreciate that the Business Platinum helps offset these costs.

You can get up to $400 in statement credits on U.S. Dell purchases (through June 30, 2025, split into $200 chunks every six months). There’s also up to $360 back per year on Indeed ads (up to $90 each quarter), which is great if you’re hiring as your business grows.

If you use Adobe tools, there’s a $150 credit available when you prepay annually for eligible Adobe Creative Cloud or Acrobat Pro plans for teams. And to keep you connected on the go, you’ll get up to $120 a year for purchases made directly with U.S. wireless providers — that’s $10 back each month.

Amex Offers
On top of all those valuable statement credits, the Business Platinum gives you access to Amex Offers, an easy way to save some cash or rack up extra points with a wide range of retailers. These deals rotate regularly and are personalized, so what shows up for you might be totally different from what another cardholder sees. Most of the time, it’s a simple setup like “spend X, get Y back.” I always check Amex Offers before I purchase. (The personal card offers this too.)

The Business Platinum’s Travel Insurance
The Business Platinum also comes with great travel insurance. While I still recommend buying a standalone policy for medical, this card includes strong built-in coverage like trip delay, trip cancellation, emergency evacuation, and medical transport. It also includes cell phone protection for damage or theft, a rare but valuable perk. For a maximum of $800 per claim, with a limit of two approved claims per 12-month period, when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month’s wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim.

So, while you could get away with the card’s insurance if you book the trip on the card, I wouldn’t rely on it completely. But it’s better than most!

Should you get this card?

The Business Platinum is ideal for frequent travelers who can make the most of perks like smoother airport experiences and hotel elite status. If you can take advantage of a few of the business-related statement credits, the statement credits alone make the high annual fee worth it. I get a lot of value from the card through the statement credits that make carrying the card after the first year really worth it.

While it’s true you only get 1x point per dollar spent on anything under $5,000 (which isn’t as good as many other cards), the points back on redemptions and the tons of statement credits, elite status, Amex offers, and partners you don’t find anywhere else make this card essential for any business owner.

Click here to learn more and sign up!

 

Stop paying full price for travel!

Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It’s how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I’ll show you:

  • How to Pick a Credit Card
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Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

Want to Travel for Free?
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need a Rental Car?
Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Far-right Israelis storm Al-Aqsa, UNRWA compounds amid Jerusalem Day march | Occupied East Jerusalem News

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Some Israelis chant, ‘Death to Arabs’ and ‘May your village burn,’ as they march through Jerusalem’s Old City.

Right-wing Israelis in Jerusalem have stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and a United Nations facility for Palestinian refugees as an annual march took place marking Israel’s conquest of the eastern part of the city.

Some Israelis chanted, “Death to Arabs” and “May your village burn,” as they marched through the alleyways of Jerusalem’s Old City on Monday, going through the Muslim quarter to mark “Jerusalem Day”, which commemorates the Israeli occupation and annexation of East Jerusalem after the 1967 war.

Thousands of heavily armed police and border police were dispatched in advance because settlers regularly assault, attack and harass Palestinians and shops in the Muslim quarter. The settlers live in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem in settlements and outposts, which are illegal under international law.

Groups of young people, some carrying Israeli flags, were seen on Monday confronting Palestinian shopkeepers, passers-by and schoolchildren as well as Israeli rights activists and police, at times spitting on people, lobbing insults and trying to force their way into houses.

Police detained at least two youths, according to AFP journalists at the scene.

A small group of those rallying, including an Israeli member of parliament, stormed a compound in East Jerusalem belonging to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA.

Israel has banned the agency from working in occupied Palestinian territory and in Israel, impacting the life-saving work that it has been carrying out for more than 70 years in areas that include the besieged and bombarded Gaza Strip.

UNRWA West Bank coordinator Roland Friedrich said about a dozen Israeli protesters, including Yulia Malinovsky, one of the legislators behind an Israeli law that banned UNRWA, entered the compound, climbing its main gate in view of Israeli police.

Last year’s procession, held during the first year of Israel’s assault on Gaza, saw ultranationalist Israelis attack a Palestinian journalist in the Old City and call for violence against Palestinians. And four years ago, the march contributed to the outbreak of an 11-day war in Gaza.

 

Earlier on Monday, Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and other politicians were among more than 2,000 Israelis who stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and surrounding areas.

Ben-Gvir released a video on his X account from the site – Islam’s third holiest – saying he “prayed for victory in the war, for the return of all our hostages, and for the success of the newly-appointed head of the Shin Bet – Major General David Zini”.

Negev and Galilee Minister Yitzhak Vaserlauf and Knesset member Yitzhak Kreuzer were among those accompanying the ultranationalist minister.

Backed by armed police, Ben-Gvir has carried out similar provocative moves in the compound before, often at sensitive junctures in Israel’s war on Gaza, to advocate for increased military pressure and to block all humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

The Jerusalem Waqf – the Islamic authority that oversees the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) – decried the storming of the compound by Ben-Gvir and other members of the Israeli Knesset and called for a halt to all “provocative activities” in the area.

Under the management of the Jordan-appointed Waqf, only Muslims are allowed to pray at the compound.

Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim said the march is aimed at asserting Israeli dominance over the city.

“Videos show Israeli citizens inside the Old City of Jerusalem attacking Palestinian shops and throwing objects at them,” Ibrahim said, reporting from Doha, Qatar as Al Jazeera has been banned from reporting in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem.

“This is again a reminder that no one has immunity.”

Austria’s ex-chancellor wins appeal against perjury conviction

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Austria’s former chancellor Sebastian Kurz has won his appeal against a conviction for giving false testimony to a parliamentary committee.

The court’s ruling overturns last year’s judgement and eight-month suspended prison sentence for the former political star.

Once hailed a wunderkind of Europe’s conservatives, the 38-year-old resigned as chancellor in 2021 and quit politics amid a series of allegations.

Monday’s acquittal removes a key obstacle to a potential political comeback, but he still faces investigation on separate corruption allegations.

Last year, Kurz was found guilty of perjury for giving false testimony to a parliamentary committee.

The case against him centred over allegations that he had been involved in the selection of executives on a newly-created state holding company when he was chancellor, as opposed to being merely kept informed.

Kurz told a parliamentary probe in 2020 that he was “involved in the sense of informed”. But the first trial judge deemed that declaration false and ruled that Kurz had played a more active role.

However in his appeal Kurz argued that the judge who had convicted him was biased.

The appeal bench of three judges ruled in his favour on Monday, reading out in their judgement that Kurz “was acquitted because the objective offence of giving false evidence was not fulfilled”.

Speaking to reporters outside court on Monday, Kurz said the years of accusations against him had “now all collapsed”.

“There have been numerous court hearings – a huge amount of confrontation with these accusations. You have all witnessed how much this has been celebrated and that it has now all collapsed,” he said.

He has also denied wrongdoing on the corruption allegations for which he is being investigated.

Prosecutors are yet to decide whether to charge him over the allegations that he used public money to pay for favourable media coverage and to fund polls which exaggerated support for him.

Kurz has not publicly voiced an intention to return to politics yet.

Since quitting in 2021, he has been involved in several business ventures including the high-profile Dream cybsersecurity company, which he co-founded in 2023 with partners including the former boss of Israel’s NSO firm that developed the controversial Pegasus spyware product.

Kurz had previously headed the conservative Austrian’s People’s Party, leading the party to victories in 2017 and 2019 on a hardline immigration stance.

The People’s Party is still in charge in Austria after it managed to form a three-party coalition with the Social Democrats and a liberal party after elections last September.

However that vote was won by the far-right Freedom Party, who seized on voter frustrations on the economy and migration. Despite topping parliamentary elections for the first time, they failed to form government.

President Macron’s Wife Pushes Him in the Face

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A video showed President Emmanuel Macron of France being pushed in the face by his wife, Brigitte, moments before they stepped off a plane in Vietnam.

Soccer Legend Pelé Has Died At Age 82

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The Brazilian “King of Football” had been treated for colon cancer since 2021.


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Thousands of people celebrate toddler’s cancer recovery in Istanbul | Newsfeed

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NewsFeed

After a long fight against leukaemia, three-year-old Ali Asaf Demir is now cancer-free. Thousands of people in Istanbul heeded his father’s call on social media to gather to release balloons in celebration of his return to health.

WATCH: Towns Leads Knicks To Stunning Game 3 Comeback Win Over Pacers – Basketball Insiders

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The New York Knicks produced a stunning comeback to overturn a 20-point deficit in Indianapolis and beat the Pacers 106-100 in Game 3.

Indiana looked to be riding the momentum of the first couple games in jumping out to a 20-point lead in the second quarter. New York steadied the ship a bit by cutting the lead to 13 at halftime.

The Knicks defense was immense in changing the momentum of the game and the Pacers offense became increasingly passive. Tyrese Haliburton was mysteriously passing up opportunities to attack.

Considering his heroics all playoffs, it was shocking to see Haliburton not attempt a single field goal in the final three minutes.

Seizing the moment, though, was Karl-Anthony Towns. After receiving a healthy dose of criticism after the first two games, Towns erupted for 20 points and eight rebounds in the fourth quarter alone to lead the final rally. He finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau also kept Jalen Brunson on the bench for much of the fourth quarter as he struggled with foul trouble.

Thibodeau made a change to the starting lineup that didn’t reap rewards early, inserting Mitchell Robinson for Jason Hart. The latter was tremendous in his role, collecting eight points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and a steal in 34 minutes. He also knocked down a pair of clutch free-throws after a huge rebound late.

Game 4 will be back in Indianapolis at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Knicks, Pacers Taking Turns Proving Comeback Credentials

After the Pacers showed their comeback chops in Game 1, the Knicks finally decided it was time to show theirs.

This was the third time these playoffs that New York overturned a 20-point deficit to win. The first two came against the defending champion Celtics in Boston.

These two teams are proving to be very evenly matched and, cumulatively, only two points separate them through three games.

Indiana’s role players were surprisingly quiet in this one. In the fourth quarter, Pacers players not named Pascal Siakam or Haliburton shot a combined 0-for-10. They also had three turnovers.

Again, credit the Knicks defense but it was jarring just how much the Pacers lost their flow relative to the first half.

Worth noting is that Aaron Nesmith did leave the game in the third quarter after twisting his right ankle on a drive. He returned late after the Knicks had taken the lead but his absence certainly aided the comeback. Bennedict Mathurin received additional playing time and did not impress.

It will be quite something to look back on if the Pacers go on to lose the series from here. Carrying a 2-0 series lead and then a 20-point lead on its home floor in Game 3, that will leave some scarring. Not to mention, Brunson had four fouls at halftime.

There’s still a long way to go for that, and for now they will refocus on taking a 3-1 lead in a couple days.

Update on the FSA DS

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Hi all, as of right now I have no further information about our site, and I am assuming we will be unable to offer the game for 2025. But! If you stop by our Reddit page there is discussion of potential alternatives. I apologize for this mess, I thought we had an understanding about keeping the game going, but I guess not.

BTW the game has nothing to do with SBNation, who have been extremely gracious and supportive throughout, including leaving the lights on in the Cafe for now. I really enjoyed the closeout period with the Cafe, all the joy rehashed from the past. One more round of the VDS would have been a nice way to cap it off. If anything changes, I’ll post something. And if we get an alternative mechanism going, I will definitely let you guys know. I encourage you to carry on with this, via MOUA’s post or in comments here. Thanks!

Why CFP shifting to straight seeding makes sense

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After watching multiple blowouts in the first 12-team College Football Playoff last season, the selection committee is making a reasonable call. 

On Thursday, the committee unanimously voted to move to straight seeding this upcoming season. In the tweaked format, the top four seeds and first-round byes will go to the selection committee’s top four teams. In the old model, these went to the four highest-ranked conference champions.  

“After evaluating the first year of the 12-team playoff, the CFP management committee felt it was in the best interest of the game to make this adjustment,” CFP executive director Rich Clark said in a statement, per ESPN’s Heather Dinich. “This change will allow guaranteed success for the playoff by rewarding teams for winning their conference championship, but it will also allow us to construct a postseason bracket that recognizes the best performance on the field during the entire regular season.” 

Schools in the Big Ten and the SEC should benefit the most from the change. 

In 2024, the Boise State Broncos earned the CFP’s No. 3 seed, while the Arizona State Sun Devils clinched the No. 4 seed. Meanwhile, the Texas Longhorns (SEC) had the No. 5 seed, and the Penn State Nittany Lions (Big Ten) held the No. 6 seed. 

Had the committee used the new format last season, Texas would’ve had the third seed, while Penn State would’ve held the fourth seed. Boise State would’ve been seed No. 9, and Arizona State would’ve been seed No. 11.