Latest news with #MembershipRewards
Zawya
14-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
American Express Middle East celebrates 30 years of the Platinum Card with new exclusive benefits
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – American Express Middle East is celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Platinum Card® in the region unveiling exclusive benefits designed to align with the evolving aspirations of its Card Members. To celebrate this milestone, Platinum Card Members are invited to enjoy two exclusive benefits until December 31, 2025 — a new dining experience and an enhanced retail offer, providing even greater value: Platinum Card Members can enjoy up to US $200 dining credit per year at more than 300 restaurants across the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait. Platinum Card Members with a passion for fashion can now enjoy a US$ 200 statement credit per year at Net-A-Porter and Mr. Porter— double the previous value of US$ 100). All new Platinum Card Members who successfully apply for and receive their Card in 2025 will also enjoy a welcome offer of a statement credit of up to US$ 250 and a bonus of up to 50,000 Membership Rewards® points[1]. "For 30 years, The Platinum Card has set the bar for premium cards in the Middle East," said Mazin Khoury, CEO at American Express Middle East & North Africa. "We're marking this milestone by introducing exclusive Card benefits across dining and retail, designed to enhance the lifestyle of Platinum Card Members and connecting them to what they love." Three Decades of Defining Premium Experiences While the new benefits celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Platinum Card®, its legacy in the Middle East over the past three decades remains defined by a suite of existing premium privileges. These benefits reaffirm ThePlatinum Card's commitment to delivering convenience and extraordinary experiences for Card Members. Complimentary Airport Lounge Access: Eligible Card Members can access over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide through the American Express Global Lounge Collection. Eligible Card Members can access over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide through the American Express Global Lounge Collection. Comprehensive Insurance Coverage : Offers up to US$ 1 million in travel insurance coverage. : Offers up to US$ 1 million in travel insurance coverage. 24/7 Concierge Service : Dedicated concierge service available 24/7 to assist with travel planning, reservations, and more. : Dedicated concierge service available 24/7 to assist with travel planning, reservations, and more. Fine Hotels + Resorts Program: Exclusive benefits in 1,600 properties worldwide such as daily breakfast for two, room upgrade upon arrival when available, $100 credit towards eligible charges (which vary by property), guaranteed 4pm late checkout, and noon check-in when available. Exclusive benefits in 1,600 properties worldwide such as daily breakfast for two, room upgrade upon arrival when available, $100 credit towards eligible charges (which vary by property), guaranteed 4pm late checkout, and noon check-in when available. Membership Rewards Program: Points never expire and can be redeemed across a wide range of partners. Points can also be used toward eligible purchase made on the Card and can be used for redemption at any time. Discover the exclusive benefits of the American Express Platinum Card: Terms and Conditions apply. About American Express Middle East American Express began operations in the MENA region in 1959 and set up its first office in Bahrain in 1977. In 1992, AEME was established in Bahrain as a joint venture company owned by American Express and Mawarid Investment Limited. Today, AEME provides consumer card, corporate and merchant payment solutions across MENA, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business. Learn more at download Amex MENA app or connect with us on and [1] Terms and Conditions apply
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Earn 150k points and a $500 statement credit with this Amex Business Platinum limited-time offer
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has a limited-time offer of 150,000 points and a $500 statement credit. This offer is interesting because, depending on whether you meet the offer requirements, you can earn one or both aspects of the two-tiered bonus. Here's the full offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card within the first three months. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your card within the first three months. The offer ends June 30, 2025. This offer is worth at least $2,000 toward flights, though it could be worth much more with specific transfer partner redemptions. This is a two-tiered offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card within the first three months. Earn a $500 statement credit after spending $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your card within the first three months. You can earn one or both parts of this Amex Business Platinum offer. We don't like leaving any part of a welcome bonus on the table, so we recommend working at least $2,500 worth of flights into the $20,000 you have to spend in the first three months. Then, you'll qualify for both the 150,000 points and the $500 statement credit. Of course, this strategy only makes sense if you need to book upcoming flights. The offer could still be worth it if you can only earn the 150,000 points, but it loses much of its value if you only qualify for the $500 statement value of 150,000 Membership Rewards points can vary in value depending on the redemption option. Here are some examples of how much 150,000 points are worth for different redemptions: Book flights: $1,500 Reserve prepaid hotels: $1,050 Cover card charges: $900 Receive an Olive Garden gift card: $1,500 Receive a The Cheesecake Factory gift card: $1,275 Receive a Starbucks gift card: $1,050 Using this sampling of possible redemptions, the bonus is worth up to $2,000 (including the $500 statement credit) toward flights or certain gift cards. It's worth significantly less if you choose any of the low-value redemption options, such as covering card charges or reserving prepaid hotels. However, there's no set redemption value if you transfer points to one of over 20 Amex travel partners, including Air France-KLM, Singapore Airlines, or Virgin Atlantic. From our experience, you can receive well over $1,500 in value when transferring 150,000 points to a transfer these examples of transferring points to different Amex travel partners to get more value from your rewards. Singapore Airlines has a route from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA), where you can book a business class flight for 81,000 miles plus a small amount of taxes and fees. This flight is on one of the best airlines in the world and can cost over $2,600, giving you plenty of value for your points. Singapore Airlines offers frequent discounts with its KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes promotions, which could lower the award flight cost to only 56,700 miles. This redemption will be even more worthwhile if you can snag this deal. Either way, you'd still have points left over for other redemptions. How does a business class flight to Paris (CDG) from Seattle (SEA) sound? With only 60,000 points transferred to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, you can make that dream a reality. You have to cover some taxes and fees, but it's still worth it, considering this flight can cost over $3,000. Even better, you would still have 90,000 Membership Rewards points to use after this redemption. If you would rather stretch your points for more flights, there's plenty of opportunity to do so. Consider this economy flight on Aer Lingus from Chicago (ORD) to Dublin (DUB), which only costs 13,000 Avios miles and some taxes and fees (about $131). This flight would cost $685 if you were to pay cash. With 150,000 points to work with, you could cover 11 of these flights (worth over $7,500). That's a lot of solo visits or at least a few family trips, depending on how many 'family members' turn up once they hear you're booking heavily discounted flights to Ireland. The Amex Business Platinum charges a hefty $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), which means you need to get enough value from the card's benefits each year to offset that amount. Otherwise, it might not be worth hanging onto this card year after year. Without considering the value of its welcome offer, here are a few simple steps to see if a card is worth it for you: See how much you must pay for a card membership or annual fee. Review a card's benefits and calculate their value. Don't consider benefits you won't use. If the value of a particular benefit is difficult to quantify, this can require educated guessing. See if the sum of the values of the benefits you would actually use is more than the annual fee. Here are a few Amex Business Platinum benefits and their potential value: Rewards rate: If your business spends $50,000 on the card annually, that's at least 50,000 points (worth $500 toward flights). You can earn more points if you spend more or qualify for a higher earning rate. Airport lounge access: Paying for airport lounge access can cost between $35 to $50 or more at locations that allow paid guests. Buying a meal at an airport can cost over $15. With airport lounge benefits, you can avoid paying an entrance fee and frequently receive complimentary food and drinks. $200 Hilton statement credit (enrollment required): For eligible Hilton purchases, you can receive up to $200 in statement credits annually ($50 per quarter). $200 airline fee credit (must select a qualifying airline): You can receive up to $200 in credits per calendar year for incidental purchases, such as baggage fees, made with your selected airline. $199 CLEAR Plus credit: You can receive up to $199 back per calendar year on eligible CLEAR Plus memberships. You can more than offset the annual fee each year by using these and other benefits, many of which we didn't mention here. Depending on your business expenses, you might earn enough from purchases alone to offset the fee. This article was edited by Alicia Hahn. Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank's website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amex Business Platinum review: Plenty of premium benefits for frequent business travelers
Traveling for business can be a drag as you move from city to city to meet clients, generate leads, and visit vendors. But adding a little luxury to the process can improve your travel experience and help you feel refreshed during long travel days. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers numerous travel benefits, including travel and dining credits, airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and more. Learn more about this premium business travel card to decide if it suits your business needs. Beyond earning and redeeming Membership Rewards points, the Amex Business Platinum Card includes numerous perks to add extra value to cardholders. Here is a sample of the benefits you'll receive. Enjoy over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including travel, dining, technology, recruiting and more: Up to $400 in annual statement credits (up to $200 semi-annually; enrollment required) on U.S. purchases with Dell Technologies (through June 30, 2025) Up to $360 in annual statement credits (up to $90 quarterly; enrollment required) on purchases with Indeed (through June 30, 2025) Up to $150 in annual statement credits for select auto-renewing Adobe business subscriptions (through June 30, 2025; enrollment required) Up to $120 in annual statement credits for purchases with U.S. wireless telephone service providers (enrollment required) Up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees with one qualifying airline of your choice Up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) Fee credit for Global Entry (every four years) or TSA PreCheck (every 4.5 years) Link your card to receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status (enrollment required) for as long as your card is open. Additionally, when you book rooms in the Fine Hotels & Resorts collection through Amex Travel, you can receive benefits like room upgrades when available, a $100 toward eligible charges, late checkout, and more. Related: The best hotel credit cards Receive complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges that participate in the American Express Global Lounge Collection. Eligible lounges include Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Lounges (enrollment required), Escape Lounges, and more. Cardholders also receive access to the Delta Sky Club when flying Delta. When booking travel with your Amex Business Platinum, you'll receive automatic travel protections at no extra charge. These protections include trip delay insurance, trip cancellation or interruption insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, baggage insurance, and more. Read more: How credit card travel insurance works Using your card to make regular purchases also provides protection on eligible items. Purchase protection covers new purchases that are stolen, accidentally damaged, or lost within 90 days from the purchase date. Extended warranty coverage provides up to one additional year to U.S. manufacturer warranties of five years or less. Cell phone protection reimburses you for repair or replacement costs up to $800 twice every 12 months (after a $50 deductible). Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company. 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel 1.5x points on select business categories (U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers, U.S. electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers, and U.S. shipping providers) and on purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per card account per calendar year) 1x points on all other spending Purchases you make that are eligible for multiple bonus categories will only receive the highest eligible bonus rewards. Amex Business Platinum cardholders have several ways to earn Membership Rewards points on purchases, limited-time offers, and successful referrals. As a new cardholder, you can earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $20,000 during the first three months. That's equal to business spending of about $6,667 per month or more. The welcome offer is in addition to the points you'll earn on each transaction. When booking flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel, you'll earn 5x points per dollar. This allows business owners to maximize points on travel purchases booked through Amex's travel portal. There's no annual limit to the 5x rewards you can earn on these travel business purchases and large transactions are eligible to earn 1.5x points for every dollar spent. Eligible business categories include: U.S. construction material suppliers Hardware suppliers U.S. electronic goods retailers Software and cloud system providers U.S. shipping providers Because these bonus categories are designated solely for U.S. spending, this isn't the best card for you if your business buys the majority of supplies and materials abroad. Additionally, all purchases of $5,000 or more qualify for these bonus points, regardless of the type of retailer. If you make a lot of bulk purchases for your business or office space, this could be a great way to rack up extra points. Bonus points are available on up to $2 million of spending each year. You'll earn 1x points on everyday spending that does not earn bonus points. If you want the perks of the Platinum Business Card but spend outside of bonus categories, consider pairing the Amex Business Platinum with the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express to earn 2x points on everyday purchases (up to $50,000 per year, then 1x) that don't qualify for a bonus category. Amex Offers are limited-time promotions with select retailers and in specific categories that you must manually activate to use. Offers are based on your customer profile, card type, spending patterns, and other factors. The offers typically provide a statement credit, bonus points based on the purchase amount, or a flat number of points for making a qualifying purchase. When you add employee cards to your account, you'll earn points based on their spending. These points add to your rewards balance to accelerate your ability to make a redemption. You can set individual spending limits for each card to limit their ability to make purchases. Be aware that some employee cards charge annual fees, so make sure the benefits outweigh the cost. American Express allows cardholders to earn additional points by referring friends and family through a custom link. When your referral uses your link and is approved, you'll earn bonus points (up to an annual maximum) based on which card they are approved for. Unlike points earned from purchases, Amex will issue a Form 1099 for your taxes based on the value of these points. American Express offers numerous ways to redeem rewards. However, not all of them offer the same value to cardholders. If you have a Business Platinum Card, these options have the highest redemption value: Flights booked through Amex Travel. When booking a flight through Amex Travel, you'll get 1 cent per point in value. But when you pay with points using the Business Platinum Card, you'll get even more of a boost — a 35% airline bonus when you use points to book Business and First Class tickets on any airline, and the same 35% bonus for any ticket on your selected qualifying airline. Fine Hotels & Resorts reservations. Amex Business Platinum Cards offer exclusive benefits at select properties. Additionally, you can redeem points for 1 cent per point in value instead of using cash. Airline and hotel transfer partners. Transferring points to an Amex partner loyalty program can unlock significantly higher value for flights and hotels, depending on how the points are used. Select gift cards. Redeeming points for gift cards from select retailers also provides 1 cent per point in value. However, numerous retailers offer a lower redemption value. Read more: Should you use credit card points for shopping or travel? The American Express Business Platinum Card is an ideal rewards card for business owners who want luxury travel benefits. Frequent business travelers can earn 5x points when booking flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. The card also includes complimentary airport lounge access, Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors Gold elite status, and several other travel benefits. While it has a high annual fee, business owners who utilize all of the card's annual credits will come out ahead. However, if your business spending isn't already focused in the categories that can help you earn annual credits (both travel purchases and business spending), you may be better served by a different business credit card. Related: Are travel credit cards worth it? Earn up to 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Flexible Membership Rewards points have numerous redemption options Valuable annual credits across a range of spending categories Complimentary airport lounge access and other travel benefits $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), plus additional costs for employee cards No 0% intro APR offer Some redemption options have a value under 1 cent per point Credits only help offset annual fee if you use them regularly The Business Platinum Card from American Express can be used to make purchases at any retailer that accepts Amex cards. In the U.S., 99% of all retailers that accept credit cards take Amex cards. However, when traveling internationally, you may find that Amex cards are not as widely accepted. When making purchases outside the U.S., the Amex Business Platinum does not charge foreign transaction fees. This benefit waives currency conversion charges of up to 3%, which some banks charge. Make payment online through the Amex mobile app Set up recurring payments Call (800) 472-9297 to make a payment by phone Mail payment to: American ExpressP.O. Box 96001Los Angeles, CA, 90096–8000 Customer service is available 24/7 Phone number: (800) 492-3344 Business Platinum Card login page This embedded content is not available in your region. The Amex Business Platinum Card is an excellent travel card for business owners who have a lot of expenses and can save money from annual credits. For businesses looking to earn rewards for a lower price tag, these alternatives offer significant value. Why we like it: The American Express Business Gold Card rewards business owners with 4x points on the top two eligible spending categories each month (among six possible categories). You'll get the 4x bonus points on the first $150,000 you spend each year, then 1x points. Plus, get 3x points on flights and prepaid hotels when booking through Amex Travel and 1x on all other purchases. The Amex Business Gold Card also earns Membership Rewards points, so you have the same flexible redemption options, including transferring to airline and hotel partners. Annual statement credits, including up to $240 for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores (up to $20 per month; enrollment required) and a Walmart+ monthly membership credit (subject to auto-renewal) can help offset the card's $375 annual fee (see rates and fees).Why we like it: Business owners who value flexible points and airport lounge access should also consider the Capital One Venture X Business card. It earns an unlimited 2x miles on everyday purchases, plus 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 10x miles on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel. Cardholders also get airport lounge access, travel protections, benefits when you book Premier Collection hotel stays, free employee and virtual cards, and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credits once every four years. The card has a $395 annual fee, which can be easy for business travelers to offset when factoring in the $300 annual travel credit for Capital One Travel bookings and 10,000 annual bonus miles starting after your first anniversary. Why we like it: The Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card is an all-purpose business rewards credit card that earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. It is an ideal choice for business owners who want to earn rewards without paying an annual fee. The card also comes with an intro 0% APR on new purchases, which can help give you extra time to pay off business purchases. Over time, you can even pair it with other Chase credit cards to unlock additional redemption article was edited by Kendall Little. Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank's website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What is the Amex trifecta? How to get more value from your Membership Rewards Points.
If you're a fan of the American Express Membership Rewards program, you probably already know how valuable Amex points can be. A great Amex rewards card can offer plenty of annual savings for any budget. But if you really want to upgrade your rewards value — especially if you're a frequent traveler with regular travel spending — you can use a specific trio of Amex cards to get the most from every dollar you spend. The Amex trifecta is made up of three American Express rewards cards: The Platinum Card® from American Express American Express® Gold Card The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Together, these cards can offer even more dynamic savings on future travel, everyday spending, and more. Here's more about the three cards that make up the Amex trifecta: Why we like it: The Platinum Card from Amex is one of the most premium rewards cards available today. Its only bonus categories are focused on travel, and you'll get the best value if you're willing to book through Amex Travel, the issuer's travel portal. But the best feature of the Platinum Card is its benefits — specifically if you're a frequent traveler. Amex says the Platinum Card offers over $1,500 in annual value with credits for hotel stays, airline fees, digital subscriptions, and much more. You'll also get access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across the world (including Centurion Lounges) through Amex's Global Lounge we like it: On its own, the Amex Gold offers incredible savings on everyday purchases, with an unbeatable 4x points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (up to limits). It also offers hundreds of dollars in value on purchases you can make at home or on the go, including dining and rideshare credits. In fact, the Amex Gold card is one of our best travel card picks from any issuer. As part of this Amex trifecta, it's a great tool to supplement the Amex Platinum's travel rewards and still earn plenty of points when you're not traveling. If you're able to max out the $25,000 annual spending cap for earning 4x at U.S. supermarkets, for example, you'd net 100,000 Membership Rewards Points each year — at a value of 1 cent per point, that could get you up to $1,000 in travel we like it: The Amex Blue Business Plus Credit Card is the only business card in the trifecta, so you will need a business to qualify. You could be eligible whether you do freelance work, have a side gig, or you're a brick-and-mortar small business owner. It's a pretty straightforward no-annual-fee credit card (see rates & fees) on its own, with a solid 2x points on every purchase up to the first $50,000 annually, then 1x points. Beyond rewards, there are a few added benefits. But if you're considering the Amex trifecta, the Blue Business Plus card adds a lot of flexibility. You can use this card for all of your non-bonus spending and get 2x points on each purchase until you meet the annual limit. If you max out the $50,000 spending cap, you could earn a total of 100,000 Membership Rewards Points with the card each the right strategy, you can make the most of each dollar you spend using the Amex trifecta. One of the main benefits of using the trifecta is the ability to get top rewards rates across a range of categories — so you'll have more Amex Membership Rewards to redeem when you're ready to book a trip. First, start with the Amex Platinum for your travel spending: 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or (up to $500,000 per year), then 1x 5x points on eligible prepaid hotels booked through If you spend beyond the $500,000 max on eligible flights in a calendar year with your Amex Platinum, you can still use your Amex Gold to earn an unlimited 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through The Amex Gold card can cover some additional travel methods, too: 3x points on other eligible travel (prepaid car rentals, prepaid cruise reservations) booked through with Amex Gold Beyond travel, look to Amex Gold for the best rewards on groceries and dining out: 4x points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 spent per year), then 1x 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 spent per year), then 1x For all other expenses, you'll get bonus points with the Blue Business Plus card at its flat rewards rate: 2x points on all other purchases (up to $50,000 spent per year), then 1x This includes all of your regular purchases that don't fall into the above bonus categories — gas or EV charging, utility payments, tourist attractions, event and concert tickets, online shopping, and more — up to the annual limit. If you have a large budget, it can also include spending across otherwise eligible bonus categories after you max out those annual spending caps. The other major component of the Amex trifecta that makes it worthwhile for travelers is all the added benefits* and annual credits. Most of your annual perks will come from the Amex Platinum card — especially for travel. This card is loaded with everything from airport lounge access to airline fee credits, credits for airport security programs (like TSA PreCheck and Clear), and more. Plus, you'll get automatic elite status with a few partner travel brands: Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status; Hilton Honors Gold Status; and premium status with Avis, Hertz, and National car rental companies. You'll get some travel benefits with the Amex Gold card, too. But like its rewards, this card's most valuable perks are on food spending. You can get over $300 in annual value just from various Amex Gold dining credits: Up to $84 in statement credits ($7 per month, with enrollment) at U.S. Dunkin' locations Up to $100 in statement credits ($50 semi-annually, with enrollment) when you dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible purchases with Resy Up to $120 in statement credits ($10 per month, with enrollment) at participating dining partners including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Five Guys Another major benefit of both cards is annual Uber Cash** for food delivery or rideshares. Here's the breakdown of the combined $320 you can use toward Uber spending each year with both the Amex Platinum and Amex Gold: Up to $200 Uber Cash ($15 per month and a bonus $20 in December) with the Amex Platinum Up to $120 Uber Cash ($10 per month) with Amex Gold *Terms apply for each of these American Express card benefits; many also require enrollment. Make sure you check your card's terms and your online account for specific benefit offers.**To receive this benefit you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber app and your eligible American Express Platinum Card or American Express Gold Card must be selected as the payment method. The Amex benefit may only be used in the United States. You can get a lot of potential value with the Amex trifecta, but it will take some effort to figure out where and how to make each purchase. For example, many of these cards' top reward categories have annual spending caps; after you meet these maximums, you'll earn just 1x point per dollar in the category. If you're a big annual spender (or even think you could get close to a category's spending max), it's important to track when you're approaching the cap. Benefits also require some strategizing. These card perks are incredibly valuable, but they can also be difficult to keep up with. Some renew each month, some are semi-annual, and some reset once per calendar year. Ensure you track your benefits on your own or within the Amex app regularly. Always remember to keep your card statements and monthly payments organized, too. The quickest way to lose reward value is by accruing interest charges on a card balance. Know your due dates and track your spending so you can pay on time and in full each month to avoid interest and cards can save you a lot of money on travel and other expenses, but they also come at a cost: The Platinum Card has a $695 annual fee (see rates & fees), the Amex Gold has a $325 annual fee (see rates & fees), and the Blue Business Plus (see rates & fees) has no annual fee. Altogether, that's $1,020 in annual fees for the three cards. No matter your budget, spending over $1,000 in annual fees is a high price to pay. If you travel often and spend a lot of money in the eligible rewards categories, it is possible to make up that cost. Just make sure you compare your own potential value based on your spending before you welcome offers: Each of these cards offers valuable welcome bonuses for new cardholders. Make sure you time your applications so you can both meet the spending thresholds within the given time periods (without overspending) and minimize any effects on your credit score. Valuable points: With the Amex trifecta, you'll have plenty of opportunities to maximize the points you earn when spending across multiple categories. When it's time to redeem your rewards, you can choose between multiple options within the Membership Rewards program, including booking flights through or transferring points to Amex's airline and hotel transfer annual fees: The annual fees you'll pay for the Amex trifecta are pricey. While you may be able to easily recoup that cost through rewards and benefits, you'll still pay a lot of money each year to keep these cards. Make sure you look at how you spend and travel before you apply to ensure this card strategy is right for you. Other card combinations may work better for you: The Amex trifecta isn't the only option for combining rewards cards to maximize your earnings. If these reward categories and benefits don't align with how you already like to travel and where you spend money, another card combination may work better for your financial Amex trifecta can be a great solution for fans of American Express Membership Rewards. You can use the different reward categories and benefits to maximize your points and save money at home and abroad. But first, decide whether this card strategy fits with how you already travel. If you don't use the services included in the cards' annual benefits or you prefer to book travel outside of the eligible bonus categories, you may not get the best value with these cards. Also, remember that one of the cards in this trifecta is a business card, which may not work for you if you cannot qualify. Instead of the Blue Business Plus, you could keep your trifecta to all consumer cards and choose the American Express® Green Card. This card isn't quite the catch-all you'll get with the Blue Business Plus, but you can diversify your rewards a bit with 3x points on transit (including trains, rideshares, tolls, parking, buses, and more) as well as an additional annual credit for Clear Plus membership (up to $199 in statement credits, subject to auto-renewal). Before you apply for any new rewards card — or decide to use a card combination like the Amex trifecta — always look back at your regular spending habits and redemptions. With the right cards for your budget, spending, and travel preferences, you can ensure you make the most of your rewards now and in the embedded content is not available in your region. This article was edited by Alicia Hahn Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank's website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Bloomberg
10-03-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Eight Easy Ways to Earn and Burn Credit Card Points for Travel
With airline loyalty offering diminished rewards, it might be time to rethink your points and miles game—especially if you're prone to swiping credit cards that are co-branded with your carrier of choice. Take the American Express Platinum Card. The Delta Air Lines Inc. version of that card earns miles; the nonbranded one earns 'Membership Rewards points.' Even before miles depreciated, the unspoken rule was that they were far more valuable, given that you can move them around to various hotel or airline partners with different exchange rates.
