Thread: American Express Business Platinum: They Finally Convinced Me

I finally made the plunge for the Amex Business Platinum; they had been bugging me for quite a while. I'm hoping to take good advantage of it. I'm not a HUGE spender, maybe 200k in a year or so.

Do you get the 20% points back when you purchase a flight only if you buy through American Express, or also if you transfer your points to a FF program through someone like Delta, and then purchase through Delta? Or can you redeem a Delta ticket through the Amex site, while using your FF points and getting credit that way, and still get the 20% back? As you can see I'm very confused on that one.

Does your American Express Business Platinum card automatically enroll you in any of this or do you manually have to go and register at all these things, ie. any and all frequent flyer program you might want, the three different rental car places individually, the separate fine hotel & resort thingy (Starwood?), etc. etc.

I travel mostly United, so are there still lounges I can use? Do you know which ones, and do I have to register somehow, or just show up with your platinum card in hand? What about that 'something pass' club thing people are talking about that gets you lounge access... does that come with the platinum card or is that totally separate?

Things like the 100k travel insurance, baggage insurance, no foreign transaction fees, roadside assistance, car rental collision, return protection, extended warranty etc. etc.

Final question (sorry), in regards to hotels, what do you actually do to get the benefits. Do you just show the platinum card when you get to the hotel and they upgrade your room, or does something happen when you register, or does Amex take care of it because you always have to book through them? Same with the breakfast, the $100 coupon, etc.

Thanks for any help on these guys.

most of your questions are to difficult for me since I don't travel I can't help you.
But i do know about the lounges on united and continental your platinum card doesn't get you in the lounges for free anymore.

how ever if you want to charge 50 dollars and go to 1 of these lounges when your traveling you can do that. same as with a Discover card, Chase visa American express green , you go to any united guest operations and tell them you want to charge 50 dollars on your American express platinum business card to a 1 pass priorty this will get you into the lounge.

as far as hotels goes who takes care of all your travel plans? does your company have everybody that does travel do it themselves on there computer? does an online company do it? your do you go through somebody like liberty travel? or do you make your travel plans through American express?

Thanks for the answers. So in regards to lounges... Probably crazy to ask but are there any lounges that you can go to for free whether you are traveling with them or not? Also, I do also fly Delta, US Airways and American Airlines sometimes. Any free lounges for those? Is that '1 pass priority' thing you're talking about $50 per time you visit the lounge or is it good for a whole year? And are you saying if you pay that then you can use both United and Continental, regardless of if you're traveling with them, or only if you're traveling with them?

As for travel, actually up until now I just do my own booking and always have gone through something like travelocity, never booked through American Express as the Platinum card is new to me (haven't even received it yet, probably on Monday).

US Airways lounge is what you are looking for. Problem is there are not too many of these around.

Priority Pass lounges are also open regardless the airline you are flying, and they are free for the cardholder, and there is a $27USD fee for companions.

Thanks 4Runner. So just to be clear, I checked the two airports I spend the most time at, Los Angeles and Phoenix, and they both seem to have a US Airways lounge, and I found those airports on the Priority Pass website as well. Does that mean that with my Platinum business card ALONE, I can enter those lounges, and no cost? So does the platinum card get you a priority pass for free as well?

nloquecido, that's mostly correct, you need to enroll with Priority Pass Select program.

From the webpage: In addition to your existing lounge privileges, you now have access to Priority Pass™ Select, which offers entry to more than 600 participating airport lounges worldwide, no matter what class or airline you fly. Enroll on our website to receive your complimentary Priority Pass Select membership card.

I think everything that has been said here is true but I have a few comments:

First, American Express does not play well with United. United lounges (and now Continental) will no longer accept the Priority Pass.

I think you only get the 20% mileage bonus if you buy through American Express.

With the Fine Hotels and Resorts program you generally need to make the reservation through the FHR website or by phone. You can't expect to book the cheapest room at the hotel and get a bunch of perks. The FHR rates are usually about the same as what you get directly from the hotel except that you don't get any advance purchase specials and that kind of thing. I have used the program a few times this year and have always gotten a good deal in the end. But I might have paid $30 extra a night in order to get a third night free, $100 credit, and other benefits. So, it is still a good deal.

When you book travel on the American Express web site you are using a Travelocity engine so you will get the same rates etc. There is also a platinum travel service that you will have access too by calling.

If you rent cars you'll like the Hertz Gold membership you get and the 20% discount. That alone saves us the annual fee. The hotel and lounge access are almost like gravy.