Amex Business Platinum Devalues Airline Bonus: What You Need To Know
American Express is making changes to its popular Business Platinum card, specifically impacting the 35% airline bonus for first and business class flights. Starting September 18, 2025, cardholders will only receive this bonus when booking flights with their selected qualifying airline through American Express Travel's Membership Rewards Pay with Points program. Previously, the 35% rebate applied to any airline, making it a highly attractive perk for maximizing points redemption on premium travel. This limitation represents a significant devaluation of the card's benefits. While cardholders can modify their chosen airline one or two times annually, this added step increases complexity and reduces the perk's overall convenience and value. This change follows an announcement of upcoming updates to both consumer and business Platinum cards, set to be revealed this fall, leaving some to speculate whether September 18th might mark a broader wave of changes. The 35% bonus was a key feature for many cardholders, allowing for substantial savings on expensive first and business class tickets. Now, the benefit is significantly restricted, potentially impacting the card's overall appeal. The change highlights the dynamic nature of credit card rewards programs and the importance of understanding the terms and conditions before applying. The limited flexibility in choosing airlines and the potential for further changes raise concerns among cardholders who valued the previous, more generous, program. This shift underscores the need for ongoing monitoring of credit card benefits to ensure they align with individual spending habits and travel preferences. American Express has not yet detailed the specifics of other upcoming changes to the Platinum cards, creating further uncertainty for current and prospective customers.
(Source: https://dannydealguru.com/amex-business-platinum-to-limit-35-bonus-to-selected-airline/)
