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Today, American Express has adjusted their offer for the Business Platinum Card. This card currently has the highest signup bonus in Canada, so is a fantastic value if you are looking to earn points quickly.
American Express Business Platinum Card – Priority Pass
The American Express Business Platinum Card now offers improved lounge access benefits. This is in the form of a full Priority Pass membership that includes unlimited visits for the cardholder and one guest. Previously, it would cost $27 per visit. The card now has the best lounge access benefits in Canada along with the Platinum Card, which includes Delta SkyClubs, as well as Centurion, Plaza Premium, and Priority pass lounges.
The lounge membership is very useful if you don’t already have the Platinum Card or other cards granting Priority Pass memberships. Even if you value lounge access conservatively, it can still be worth a lot. I’ve used my Priority Pass at least 20 times last year, so even valuing a lounge visit at $10 would make the membership worth $200+ for me. Priority Pass also covers restaurants at various airports in the US and abroad, which can be worth even more than a lounge visit.
Priority Pass – Restaurants
To compensate, the annual fee for this card is now $499. In my opinion, this makes sense given the improved lounge access benefit. The hidden benefit is for existing cardholders. My understanding is that everyone will get the full membership. This is not automatic, so you’ll have to call in. I’m not sure if existing cardholder are grandfathered in at the previous annual fee, so I guess we’ll see.
The welcome bonus of 75,000 points with after spending $5,000 remains the same through a referral. The public offer of 40,000 points also remains the same. Overall, this card remains a fantastic deal. After completing the minimum spend, you earn 81,250 points for a cash outlay of $499. You can transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Aeroplan and Avios, and makes the price of each point 0.61 cents. Along with the Platinum Card and the SPG American Express, this card is one of the best for non-bonused everyday spend.
Earn 75,000 points with the American Express Business Platinum here – limited time offer.
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Haven’t heard boo from Amex Bus Plat about any upcoming changes…..
Hope they re-introduce back Platinum FMP Club status..most likely FM cancelled as opposed to Amex removing it.
I understand you have a relationship with Amex but please don’t become their advertising platform. How can +$100 the annual fee be a positive thing for people who don’t travel often enough to take advantage of the added priority pass status?…
I have been in the priority pass lounge in JFK terminal 6, which is truly sub par, and I would never pay for it out of pocket anyway so this “improvement” is much less of an improvement and not worth the $100.
Of course to each their own but you should touch on benefits and disadvantages equally…
The offer is still really good even at $499. I don’t think the article is trying to claim that the change is an improvement, just that the card is still worth getting if you haven’t yet.
But this change is particularly good for cardholders like me who recently got the card and have already paid the earlier annual fee 🙂
You don’t think the article is trying to claim that the change is an improvement? Are you sure you read the TITLE of the article?
@William, Fairmont President’s Club will merge with Accor’s own elite program as of July 2018. If anything, we might see AMEX introduce some sort of elite status from the newly merged Accor/Fairmont.
So which is the better card to keep, Business or Personal. Will have to make a decision soon on which one to keep or cancel
I feel like if you value the $200 credit at face value (which I would), that reduces the annual fee from $699 – $499 anyways, so I am leaning more towards the personal platinum.
My application got declined. Don’t have an active business so used the name of what I used to have. Have an excellent credit score, never been declined any other credit applications. Had an event that Amex decreased my credit limit few years ago after I carried high balance in my MBNA m.c to use 0% interest promotion. I canceled Amex thereafter. Did it make me to have a bad credit with Amex so that they will never give me new credit cards? If so how long?
My problem is getting a $5000 spend for the Platinum . They are offering that at the moment via a small business canada post link. There are no Manufacture spend in Canada correct ? Any suggestions to Spend, and get my money returned ?? thanks so much ! Susan
You could use PayTM or Plastiq.
Agree but nothing big to pay .