American Express Business Platinum: Spend $1MM-$3MM & Increase Your 35% Points Back Cap For 2019

One of the benefits that the American Express Business Platinum offers is 35% points back on any business class airfare and economy class on your selected airline when using pay with points. You can receive a total of 500,000 rebated points per calendar year. Previously there was no cap and you actually received 50% back in points, but that was negatively changed in June 2017. American Express has sent out an e-mail to cardholders offering the following deal:

  • Spend $1,000,000 in 2018 and get up to 1,000,000 back in points for 2019
  • Spend $3,000,000 in 2018 and get up to 3,000,000 back in points for 2019

I don’t think most people should be spending anywhere near that much on this card. The base earning rate is 1 Membership Rewards point per $1 spent, although purchases over $5,000 do earn 1.5x membership rewards points and travel through amextravel.com does earn 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent so there probably are some cardholders that this increase could be useful for. Somehow I doubt those cardholders are also reading this blog though.

Hat tip to Mark & Austin

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zalmy
zalmy (@guest_588657)
May 1, 2018 14:40

Actually, lots of business owners put large amounts of business spending on credit cards while still trying to maximize their rewards earnings. Large spend doesn’t necessarily equal large profit margins, and squeezing side income like credit card points on those purchases can make all the difference. Think about the exponential benefit of earning an extra point per dollar when you’re doing millions annually. I think you’re underestimating your reach, Doc.

NinjaX
NinjaX (@guest_588365)
April 30, 2018 22:24

i want to see DP of people who MS huge amounts that got this offer vs legit biz spend. why? i wanna see what the dirty nasty RATs are thinking…

Russ
Russ (@guest_588555)
May 1, 2018 11:23

No RATs involved. Amex wants to lure spend away from VISA/MC over to them. Increasing the cap on the 35% bonus is a pretty inexpensive way to do it.

Robert
Robert (@guest_588269)
April 30, 2018 20:29

“Somehow I doubt those cardholders are also reading this blog though”
@Doc, please don’t under estimate your Blog!
Thanks!

Abdol Chogi
Abdol Chogi (@guest_588432)
May 1, 2018 02:22

lol

Austin
Austin (@guest_588249)
April 30, 2018 19:54

Oh, damn. I read this as get 1M extra bonus points for spending $1M. This is much less interesting than it originally read as

Matt B
Matt B (@guest_588309)
April 30, 2018 21:17

Count me as one of those

Alex
Alex (@guest_588248)
April 30, 2018 19:53

This card doesn’t earn 5x booking directly with the airlines. Personal version does.

kevin xie
kevin xie (@guest_588256)
April 30, 2018 20:08

It does, it has same earn rate as personal platinum, the only one doesnt is corporate platinum with 395 af iirc

Justin K
Justin K (@guest_588305)
April 30, 2018 21:13

I too was under the impression that this doesn’t earn 5x directly with the airlines.

If it does, that’s great news! But it’s also not what the card’s fine print says…

Lukas
Lukas (@guest_588332)
April 30, 2018 21:30

My direct airline purchases only got 1x, I just checked.

Rob
Rob (@guest_588246)
April 30, 2018 19:48

“Negatively changed in June 2018”
I think you meant 2017

Ezmoney
Ezmoney (@guest_588240)
April 30, 2018 19:34

Ugh I guess I have to spend 3 mil now…