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Note: Offer has Changed Since Time of Publication – Please View Updated Terms on Application Page
The American Express Business Platinum Card has the highest signup bonus in Canada, at 75,000 Membership Rewards points. The current public offer is 40,000 points. There is no public expiry date for this offer, which means it could change at any time.
American Express is my favourite credit card issuer in Canada. They have the best range of cards, and incredible benefits and offers. For example, there is a ongoing Duty Free Shopping promotion where you could get up to a 100% rebate for purchases. Furthermore, American Express ran the one of the best promotions ever last month, where you could earn 10x the points on Dining and Groceries with the Cobalt Card.
American Express Business Platinum Card Review
Welcome Offer
After spending $5,000 in the first three months, you earn 75,000 Membership Rewards points, transferrable to Aeroplan and British Airways at a 1:1 ratio. You can also transfer to Starwood Preferred Guest for hotels. I value Aeroplan points at a minimum of 1.6 cents, which means the signup bonus is worth $1,280 after completing minimum spend.
Redeeming Points
My favourite Aeroplan redemption is Lufthansa First Class, which costs only 70,000 miles from Europe Zone 1 to North America. A ticket at retail prices would cost over $6,000. With this bonus, you can redeem a one-way ticket with points to spare.
Alternatively, you could book 5 round-trip short-haul flights by transferring to British Airways. This could be from Vancouver to Los Angeles or Toronto to New York City, which cost 7,500 each way. There are also some incredible values using Avios for short-haul flights worldwide.
ransfer American Express MR to Aeroplan for Lufthansa First Class
If you have trouble completing minimum spend, I suggest using PayTM, a mobile app to bill pay hundreds of merchants. It’s a great tool because there are no additional fees when using a credit card instead of a bank account. I paid my property taxes through this app which helped me complete the majority of the spend required. For first time users, input promo code PTM9462620 to get a $10 bonus after paying more than $25 on your first bill.
This card is one of the best available options for everyday non-bonused purchases, earning 1.25 Membership Rewards points per dollar. Other options include the personal version of the Platinum Card, as well as the SPG American Express Card and SPG Business American Express. For purchases in categories like Groceries, Dining, and Gas, I will use the Cobalt Card or the Scotiabank Gold American Express card which earn up to 5x points per dollar.
Applying For the Card
This American Express Business Platinum is a charge card, with no pre-set spending limit. There is no minimum income requirement, as they improved their eligibility criteria last May. American Express pulls TransUnion to check your credit.
You can get approved even if you don’t have a registered business. You don’t need an existing business bank account or any other business bank relationships. In nearly all cases, they use your personal credit score in their lending decision.
Source: AMEX Global Transfer
With this card, you will be able to complete a Global Transfer with AMEX after being a cardmember for at least three months. This gives you a chance to use your Canadian AMEX history to get a US credit card, many of which have much better signup bonuses.
Travel Benefits
This card is a good in-between the American Express Platinum Card, the best card in Canada for travel benefits, and the typical $120-150 annual fee premium card. It is the cheapest card that gets you access into Centurion Lounges, Delta SkyClubs, and Plaza Premium lounge worldwide. The only difference from the personal Platinum Card is that you don’t get a free Priority Pass membership. However, this is perfect if you already have a Priority Pass membership.
Park Hyatt New York – Bookable with AMEX FHR
You can book luxury hotels with American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts which gives added benefits on bookings. You also get wit this card SPG Gold status (which matches to Marriott Gold), and Hertz Five Star status.
In terms of insurance, the card also has one of the best trip delay insurance policies available – up to $1,000 for just a four hour or more delay. Just having one qualifying delay would mean that you could get more value than the annual fee from this insurance policy alone.
There is also the same coverage associated with a premium card, including car rental, emergency medical, extended warranty, and purchase protection insurance. For a complete list, visit the application page.
Conclusion
The American Express Business Platinum card is a fantastic addition to any wallet. This card has the highest signup bonus in Canada, which by itself already makes it one card you should get. For anyone who likes luxury travel, applying should be a no-brainer.
Application Link: American Express Business Platinum Card
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Paytm now charges 3% fee with Amex payment 🙁
That’s still pretty reasonable and definitely still worth it in some scenarios.
Plastiq charges 2.5%. Not sure why that is not mentioned in this post. Now what I am wondering is does AMEX offer the three supplier choice for the Platinum card that they offer for the Gold Business card to earn 2x the points. You can choose Plastiq as one of the preferred merchants, which reduces the effective Plastiq fee to 0.5%.
Does the the duty free $200 credit apply for this card?
Unfortunately not.
I read that today. But I care about is can I still get points with the transaction? With my Amex? Thanks
Yes you can. It’s just visa that will code as cash advance.
After you have held the card dont expect them to offer a retention bonus. I spent over $100K with them over the last 24 months.
When I asked for a retention bonus or I would cancel the operator basically told me “no – bye bye”
Not necessarily. I got a 10k retention bonus last September.
What is the annual fee for this credit card?
399 I believe.
Have you failed to mention the main perk of this card? You get 25,000 bonus points for each referral made from this card (self and to others).
Hi there! Looking into signing up for this card, but as you mentioned the bonus is 75000 and subsequently that the public offer is now 40000. So essentially it is the latter offer now, but when was it the former bonus? Do you think there is a likelihood that it will revert back to 75K?
Thanks!
It wasn’t. The public offer has always been 40 k and the 75k offer has always run concurrently with that.
I was going directly from the public link… thanks for clarifying!
Enjoy your 40k points!
what did you guys write for the business name on the application? I don’t have a business
You can use your own name as sole proprietor
Thanks that’s what I did. I thought the application process would be automated but looks like they r going to review my application. I have a good credit score FYI.
So is it worth paying 399 to get the 75000 points? Or do I have to make sure that I’m getting that value out of other benefits that the card provides?
Thanks
It’s pretty much a no-brainer if you use up the $200 x 2 credits.
Thanks for posting. Business gold card offers 40k points and the first year is waved. Isn’t it a better deal since no annual fee? You mentioned don’t need to have a registered business or bank account to apply. Even no min personal income requirement? I am doing a small bookkeeping business on side which is not really active. I will be still qualified for the business card? Thanks!
You should be qualified. I like the Biz Plat more because it has airline lounge access including centurion lounges, and earns 25% more than the gold per dollar.
I previously had personal amex gold card and canceled it. It will affect if I apply to gold business card?
No. The personal and business cards are considered separate products.
I’m trying to find a 70k first class travel on Aeroplan’s Lufthansa as quoted in the article. I can’t find that anywhere on Aeroplan. What Am I missing? Thx
You can only book Lufthansa first Class within 2 weeks of departure.
I have a very good credit score and currently have no Amex (canceled previously). I applied this card about a year ago and I didn’t get an answer (no response even decline or anything) and I took it as decline. Not sure what happened but if I apply again, what is the chance to get this card this time?
I do not have an active business and they asked the business name so I put the business that I used to do but not active anymore.
Hello,
I am new to the Amex world and I have a few silly questions.
1. How much do you pay for two supplementary cards? Will these supplementary cardholders get the same gold spg status and access to airport lounge with their guests?
2. I have heard from people taking benefits of welcome bonus by enrolling in personal and business platinum cards at different times. If you decide to close the personal card after a year and then switch to business platinum card, how do you transfer the points over to your business account?
3. If you previously have gold business card but close the account. Are you eligible to get the welcome bonus for business platinum.
4. Similar question as 3, but the case applies to personal card.
Many thanks to Amex experts
1. You pay $199 per supplementary plat cardholder. They get gold spg status and airport lounge access.
2. You can call AMEX to transfer points between your accounts.
3. Yes.
4. Yes.