Battle Of The AMEX Platinum Cards: Should You Have The Consumer Platinum And/Or The Business Platinum Card?

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American Express Platinum cards:

Do You Have An AMEX Platinum Card?

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The AMEX Business Platinum Card and the  AMEX Consumer Platinum card are 2 of the most benefit laden cards that exist. They also have the annual fees to back that up too!

AMEX overnights new Platinum cards, so you can still apply now and triple dip by taking advantage of benefits for 2021, 2022, and 2023 before your next annual fee is due!

AMEX Membership Rewards cards can transfer points into many different mileage programs, and there are often transfer bonuses as well.

AMEX transfer partners include:

  • Air Canada Aeroplan (Star Alliance) 1:1 instant transfer.
  • ANA (Star Alliance) 1:1 transfer.
  • Avianca Lifemiles (Star Alliance) 1:1 instant transfer.
  • Singapore (Star Alliance) 1:1 instant transfer.
  • AeroMexico (Skyteam) 1:1.6 transfer.
  • Air France/KLM Flying Blue (Skyteam) 1:1 instant transfer.
  • Alitalia (Skyteam) 1:1 instant transfer.
  • Delta (Skyteam) 1:1 instant transfer.
  • Aer Lingus (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer.
  • British Airways (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer
  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer.
  • Iberia (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer
  • Qantas (OneWorld) 1:1 instant transfer
  • Emirates 1:1 instant transfer
  • Etihad 1:1 instant transfer
  • Hawaiian 1:1 instant transfer
  • JetBlue 1:0.8 instant transfer
  • Virgin Atlantic 1:1 instant transfer (Currently with a 30% bonus)
  • 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. 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 Green cardholders:

These cards allow for Global entry credits once every 4 years.

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 500K 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 500,000 points per year.

Or you can transfer points into miles, which is how you can buy a $459 United ticket for 6,500 points.

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 at 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 2021,  $200 back in 2022, and $200 back in 2023. 

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 credit:

Winner: Tie


Walmart+ credit:

Winner: Consumer Platinum


Prepaid hotel credit:

Winner: Consumer Platinum


Equinox credit:

Winner: Consumer Platinum


Digital entertainment credit:

  • AMEX Business Platinum: None
  • AMEX Consumer Platinum: Cardmembers can enroll and get a $20 monthly credit for the following digital entertainment partners:
    • Peacock
      • Eligible purchases for Peacock include all Peacock subscriptions, including but not limited to Peacock Premium and Premium Plus.
    • Audible
      • All Audible purchases made directly through audible are eligible, including Audible subscriptions (Audible Plus and Audible Premium Plus) and audiobook purchases.
    • SiriusXM
      • Eligible purchases for SiriusXM include purchases made directly with SiriusXM online, through SiriusXM telephone sales or direct mail order purchase transactions.
    • 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.


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:

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.


Airspace Lounge Access:

Winner: Tie.


Escape Lounge Access:

Winner: Tie.


Global Entry/Pre-Check Refund:

  • AMEX Business Platinum: Primary and secondary Platinum, Gold, and Green cardholders can each get a full refund every 4 years.
  • AMEX Consumer Platinum: Primary and secondary Platinum, Gold, and Green cardholders can each get a full refund every 4 years.

Winner: Tie.


Car Rental CDW Coverage:

Winner: Tie


Car Rental Perks:

  • AMEX Business Platinum: A 4 hour late return fee-free grace period, exclusively discounted pricing, and fee-waived Gold Plus 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 fee-waived Gold Plus membership at Hertz and National Executive status guarantee upgrades and faster free award rentals.

Winner: Tie


Foreign Transaction Fees:

Winner: Tie.


Intro APR:

Winner: Business Platinum


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.

Winner: Tie.


Purchase Protection for items lost, damaged, or stolen within 90 days:

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.

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.

Winner: Tie.


Lost Luggage Insurance:

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 PlatinumReimburses expenses due to a flight delay, up to $500 of coverage for 6+ hour delays.

Winner: Tie.


Trip cancellation and interruption insurance:

Winner: Tie.


Travel Accident Insurance:

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 CardBusiness Platinum Card
Annual Fee$695$695
Additional Cardholder Fee-Up to 3 additional Platinum cardholders for a $175 fee ($58.33/card with 3 cards).

-No fee for additional Gold cardholders
-$300 for each additional Platinum cardholder.

-No fee for additional Green cardholders
Annual Airline Fee Credit$200$200
Points earned on airfare5 per dollar from airlines (including online travel agencies) and on AMEXTravel.com5 per dollar, but only if booked on AMEXTravel.com
Points earned on hotels5 per dollar, but only if booked on AMEXTravel.com5 per dollar, but only if booked on AMEXTravel.com
Points earned on eligible purchases of $5,000+1 per dollar1.5 per dollar
Points per dollar on bonus category purchases1 per dollar1.5 per dollar on electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, construction material and hardware suppliers, and shipping
Annual CLEAR credit$179 annual credit$179 annual credit
Walmart+ credit:$12.95/monthNone
Prepaid hotel credit:$200/yearNone
Digital entertainment credit:$20/month on Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York TimesNone
Wireless credit:None$10/month
Adobe Credit:None$150/year
Indeed credit:None$90/quarter
Equinox credit:$25/monthNone
Uber BenefitsVIP Status

$15 in monthly credit plus $35 credit every December
None
Dell BenefitsNone$200 credit every Jan-Jun and every Jul-Dec
Rebate on points redeemed for paid airfareNone-35% rebate on a US airline of your choice in coach.

-35% rebate on all airlines in business or first.

-Maximum rebate of 500K points per calendar year.
Card designMetalMetal
Elite statusHilton and Marriott Gold for primary and secondary cardholdersHilton and Marriott Gold for primary and secondary cardholders
Centurion lounge accessPrimary or secondary cardholder plus 2 guestsPrimary or secondary cardholder plus 2 guests
Priority Pass membershipPrimary or secondary cardholder plus 2 guestsPrimary or secondary cardholder plus 2 guests
Airspace lounge accessPrimary or secondary cardholder plus 2 guestsPrimary or secondary cardholder plus 2 guests
Escape lounge accessPrimary or secondary cardholder plus 2 guestsPrimary or secondary cardholder plus 2 guests
Delta SkyClub accessPrimary 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 cardholderOnce 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 WarrantyDoubles 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
Intro APRN/A0% for 12 months with Pay Over Time
Counts against your Chase 5/24 countYesNo
Foreign transaction feeNoneNone

Win count:

Both of these cards come laden with great benefits, but Business Platinum pulls out the win. Of course to determine the real winner, you’ll have to assign your personal value to each of these benefits and see which card comes out ahead!

What are your favorite AMEX Platinum perks and which card do you prefer?

Leave a Reply

45 Comments On "Battle Of The AMEX Platinum Cards: Should You Have The Consumer Platinum And/Or The Business Platinum Card?"

All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.

Marty

Dan, so if I’m understanding this correctly, if one has the AMEX Business card, does it makes sense to add an AU for an additional $300 to get the Dell and other credits rather than sign up for the AMEX Personal card??

BigAl

Dell credit is per account, not user

Dav

Is the personal platform being reported to the credit report? Or count towards 5/24?

E

What does “additional unique amenity” mean at fine hotel and resorts? Didn’t they used to offer a credit for anything like spa and food at the hotels?

Shmoe joe

Don’t they charge annual fee right away?

chaim

how do I sign up for a priority pass card? when I go to their website they have 3 tiers but amex site isn’t clear which one is covered by card benefit and don’t want to enter my CC in infor and get hit with a charge.Please let me now

bargain hunter

can these miles be used for a statement credit

yup

@dan you are missing the 10x points per dollar on the first $25,000 at small business for Consumer Plat. That could potential be 250,000 points. (Almost every non chain store is considered small business)

SMH

I tried using both cards at a delta sky club but was told I could only enter with a delta boarding pass. Is that correct info? Thanks!

mendel

Dan,
I have 3 of the platinum cards. Is there any way to pay now for CLEAR, for the next 3 years?

moshe

Thanks Dan for the comprehensive and clear post. Just have one question regarding the annual airline credit (business).

Can you elaborate how a business platinum member can use the 200 in 2021. Does the credit build up in your account from year to year?

I posted below the relevant text. thank you

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 2021, $200 back in 2022, and $200 back in 2023.

SAGGY

Hey Dan
I have the business version. If my AU’s are green cardholders, would each one trigger their own independent GE credit or just the primary which is platinum. Thanks

Valentin

My consumer platinum did not receive the one time $200 travel credit received by many. I decided to contact them to see if they offer it to me but the representatitive was adamant. I have escalated to the retention because I have been paying the annual fee for some years now and they offered me 40K points after spending $3,000. Not too bad!

UR

I own Delta Consumer platnium – which of the listed benefits do i get? CLEAR AND TSA precheck? one of them? Gym? cell? Fios? Uber? can you pls list by Delta plat card only?

Hey!

What are the advantages of benefits for 2021, 2022, and 2023 before your next annual fee is due? Is this only better if I decide to cancel my card after the first year? I mean if I will keep it I will still pay annual fee in 2023 so why is taking advantage of it in the 1st year better?

Free business platinum

So, I’ve been an Amex business platinum holder since 1999, and I don’t pay anything per year for my card, although this has the weird side affect of some perks not working with my card (i.e. won’t show up online, or link to enroll in perk leads to endless sign in loop or error pages). Is anyone else like this?

CB

I believe you forgot to put in the 10X points at Small Businesses and Dining which only the consumer card has.
Thanks!

rosen

Does the same benefits apply to The Amex Charles Schwab costumer card?

@Army Chaplain

Join the military and they waive the annual fee

nat

Do you have any tips how to use the amex hotel credit, there are barely any hotels in the tristate area, and they are very expensive.

Od

Dan which brand of lounges on business cc do you think is best to visit re: ewr, san diego, phoenix

Jb

Does anyone have any use for my business plat perks? All I’ve used is the $200 airline incidentals, 200 Dell and 10 cellphone credits. Everything else is on the table

Burt

If I make two charges for Clear $119 and $60, will I receive a credit totaling $179, or will Amex only reimburse one charge? Ty!

Clear

Worked for me

yosef768

I already used my $200 airline credit, which I used and was credit back for already. Come January 1, 2022, I will have another $200 airline credit available to me that I can use? Also, what happens if I use the credit and soon afterwards decide to cancel my card? My annual fee hit my December statement and is due for payment by 1/7/22. Trying to see if I can squeeze in a 2022 airline credit and then cancel?

Eliyahu Greenberg

@dan – Can I double dip clear enrollment purchase a year for me today and then recharge a full year in jan 2022 for my wife and get reimbursed on each ( does it go by calendar year…)

ed co

will the wireless credit work for a wifi bill from verizon?

wpDiscuz