In this article
American Express Business Platinum Card – New 2021 Offers
We have heard rumors about this offer for the last few days, and the offers are now live. They are set up as Amex Offers, and you’ll need to opt-in to each category separately. Each is valid from now through June 30, 2021.
Note that the $20 monthly wireless credits and $20 monthly shipping credits ended in December. The Dell credit is (presumed to be) back to $100 per half year. If you have a personal Platinum card, there’s a new $30 monthly PayPal offer.
If you don’t see the offers, you probably have a new Business Platinum American Express Card. This offer is only for Cardmembers as of November 1, 2020.
5X Membership Rewards Points on Shipping, Wireless, Advertising, Gas, and Office Supplies
After opting in to each offer individually, you’ll be good to go, earning a total of 5X points (meaning it’s 4 bonus points) up to 80,000 total bonus points earned per category, meaning it’s on up to $20,000 in spend in each of the bonus categories between now and June 30, 2021.
Comparing This Offer to Other Best Available Cards
If you were to make a purchase in one of these categories for over $5,000 in one shot, you would earn 5.5 points, since the Amex Business Platinum card always earns 1.5X points on a purchase of over $5,000.
There are really no better cards to use for any of these categories if you have the Business Platinum.
The Chase Ink Cash earns an equivalent 5X Chase Ultimate Rewards points, making it generally the best credit card for office supplies and phone service. Pick which to use for this based on which points (UR or MR) you either value more or need more.
The best credit card for gas stations is normally the Amex Business Gold card at 4X followed by the Chase Ink Cash at 2X.
The best credit card for shipping is normally the Amex Business Gold card at 4X followed by the Hilton Business card (6X points = 3% equivalent yield).
And the best credit cards for advertising with search engines /social media are the Amex Business Gold card at 4X Membership Rewards and the Chase Ink Business Preferred, earning 3X Ultimate Rewards. Note that this is a widely inclusive category under the Amex Offer: An “eligible purchase” means the purchase of online, television, or radio advertising in order to promote a business. The Chase Ink Preferred only earns for search engines and social media (though I’ve had it cover advertising more broadly in practice), while this offer covers just about anything that is advertising.
A Word of Caution
Amex specifically notes that gift cards do not earn points. While in practice that is dependent on the store you shop at providing Level 3 shopping data to Amex, you should tread carefully. Both recent “big spend” offers by Amex (groceries on the Hilton card and the 3X bonus MR refer a friend offer) have resulted in account shutdowns for those that hit it hard. Amex has a pretty good sense over realistic organic spending vs. trying to game the system. So tread lightly.
Additional Note
A few readers have said that they got several of these offers but not all of them. I wonder if they’ll show up later, but please comment below if you don’t see all 5 of these offers.
Thoughts?
Let me know below in the comments, on Twitter, or in the private MilesTalk Facebook group. And don't forget to follow me on Instagram for all sorts of tips on miles, points, credit cards, and travel.
If this post helped you, please consider sharing it!
You can find credit cards that best match your spending habits and bonus categories at Your Best Credit Cards.
New to all of this? My “introduction to miles and points” book, MilesTalk: Live Your Wildest Travel Dreams Using Miles and Points is available on Amazon and at major booksellers.
