No Result
View All Result
Eye of the Flyer
  • BANK & Travel Cards ★
    • Credit Cards
    • Travel Rewards Cards
    • Airline Credit Cards
    • Hotel Credit Cards
    • Cash Back Credit Cards
    • No Annual Fee Credit Cards
    • Small Business Credit Cards
    • 0% Intro APR Cards
    • Balance Transfer Cards
    • Bad or Poor Credit
    • No Credit
  • Rookie
  • Elite Mileage Runs
  • Merchandise
  • αbout US ✉
  • BANK & Travel Cards ★
    • Credit Cards
    • Travel Rewards Cards
    • Airline Credit Cards
    • Hotel Credit Cards
    • Cash Back Credit Cards
    • No Annual Fee Credit Cards
    • Small Business Credit Cards
    • 0% Intro APR Cards
    • Balance Transfer Cards
    • Bad or Poor Credit
    • No Credit
  • Rookie
  • Elite Mileage Runs
  • Merchandise
  • αbout US ✉
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

Some of the Best Points Advice René Ever Gave Me

Chris Carley by Chris Carley
August 5, 2019 - Updated on November 16, 2022
in Credit Cards
9
Randee and Chris Carley seated in Delta One from LAX to Tokyo HND on an Airbus 330.
Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc. has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Eye of the Flyer and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.


I still remember the February 2017 phone call with René during which he gave me some of the best points advice I’ve ever received.

My father was recovering from shoulder replacement surgery. In about a week, I’d fly from Los Angeles to Fargo and help him recover for a few days in between my photo editing jobs.

My wife was seven months pregnant, though — and I’d miss our second session of birthing class.

“I want to fly back to LA for a few hours and surprise her at class that night,” I told René. “Then hop on a redeye and make it back to Fargo.”

Travel blogger Rene de Lambert poses at the ATL Atlanta B concourse Sky Club grand opening.
My mentor and friend, René.

“You have The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, right?” he asked.

“Nah,” I said. “I already have The Platinum Card® from American Express. Why pay for another Platinum card?”

“Get. The. Business. One,” he implored. “Use the 50% points rebate and buy first class. And because you’re redeeming Membership Rewards points directly through Amex and they’re paying the airline –” (In this case, Delta)

Then it dawned on me.

“The trip is a cash fare,” I finished. “So I earn MQMs, MQDs, and SkyMiles.”

“The card pays for itself,” he pointed out. I applied a minute later.

As a small business owner who travels, I value the heck out of this card.

 

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Learn how to apply for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Quick Primer on Paying with Membership Rewards Points

When booking flights through AmexTravel.com, American Express Membership Rewards-earning cardholders may apply as many (or few) available Membership Rewards points as they want towards flight purchases, at a rate of 1 MR = 1 cent. (For example, a $500 flight would cost 50,000 MRs.) Pretty much like Delta co-branded Amex cardholders can use SkyMiles to Pay with Miles to earn MQM or MQS.

Except paying with MRs is way better.

Amex pays the airline — meaning you earn all the benefits of a cash fare. So using Delta as our example, that means you receive not just MQMs and MQS but:

  • MQD
  • SkyMiles/RDMs
  • SkyBonus points (for companies that participate)

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, though, takes it to another, higher level.

35% Membership Rewards Rebate: The Gift That Keeps Giving — and Can Offset the Annual Fee

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders receive a 35% Membership Rewards rebate when paying with MRs for flights booked through Amex Travel that are either:

  • coach tickets aboard an airline the cardholder selects annually (i.e. Delta), or
  • first class on any airline flight bookable via AmexTravel.com

(The rebate originally was 50%. Alas, Amex reduced it to 35% a few years ago. Plus, up to 500,000 bonus points may be earned back per calendar year.)

For example, I paid with MRs for my trip to review the new Austin SkyClub.

The fare was $296.30. I kicked in $6.30 cash just so the point redemption was a nice, even 29,000 🙂

A little more than a month later, the 35% credited back to my Membership Rewards.

American Express Business Platinum Membership Rewards 35% rebate on flights.

Delta-wise, here’s what I received:

Miles earned on a Delta itinerary paid for with Membership Rewards, including an Amex Business Platinum 35% rebate.

(On top of all that, I received a $600 #Bumpertunity on my way home!)

50,000 Membership Rewards can be worth over 75,000 MRs if you redeem them, say, nine times for flights. (The benefit is valid for up to 500,00 bonus Membership Rewards points per year.)

How Much Did I Earn Back on Trip (Minus the Bump)?

Say we value everything at a penny each. (And that’s being conservative-ish regarding the MRs)

The 10,150 MRs comes out to $101.50 worth of points.

The 2169 SkyMiles equals $21.69.

So I earned back — at a minimum — $123.19 worth of points.

I just booked my Chicago Seminars flights the same way but am flying first class. I’ll get back about another $300 in MRs (and earn SkyMiles) — many of the MRs recycled from other 35% redemptions.

I still have a couple of other trips to book; the rebates and SkyMiles will easily offset the $595 annual fee.

And because The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a business credit card, its annual fee may be tax-deductible (I’m not a tax professional, so speak with yours about deductions).

**RELATED: Do you need an EIN number for business cards?**

Pool Your Membership Rewards from Other Amex Cards

Using the 35% Membership Rewards rebate is a great way to maximize points you earn from other Amex MR cards.

  • The Platinum Card® from American Express
  • American Express® Gold Card
  • American Express® Business Gold Card
  • American Express® Green Card
  • American Express Green Business Card
  • Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
  • Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
  • Amex EveryDay® Credit Card 

I use the American Express® Gold Card for dining spend because it earns 4X in both categories. Those MRs — and the points I earn from my personal The Platinum Card® from American Express and Business card — all pool together. That’s where the 35% MR flight rebate really comes in handy.

The Amex Business Platinum’s Other Benefits

The dining room at the American Express Centurion Lounge in Las Vegas.

  • Airport Lounge Access — which is a huge benefit to us independent contractors who don’t receive — or can save — our per diem.
    • Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta
    • American Express Centurion Lounges
    • Complimentary Priority Pass membership (Enrollment required.)
    • Escape Lounge access
    • American Express Global Lounge Collection
Food buffet at the Amex Centurion Lounge in Dallas DFW.
Why pay for expensive airport meals when your Amex Business Platinum card gets you into lounges where food is served?
  • $100 Global Entry or TSA Pre√ Credit Every Four Years.
    • I already have that taken care of through my personal Platinum Card® from American Express (learn how to apply). So I gave the Business Platinum’s Global Entry credit to my buddy Tim who loves it. (Remember, you can “gift” the Global Entry credit to anyone.)
  • $200 Airline Incidental Credit (enrollment required)
    • Though that’s getting interesting for some Delta flyers…
  • Complimentary Gold Status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
  • $400 Statement Credit ($200 Semi-Annually) for U.S. Purchases Made with Dell Computers.
    • I’m a Mac guy yet still use every cent of this credit. As René pointed out, Dell sells more than computers. Use your credit for mobile device cables, cases, monitors, or other accessories. And Dell is a Rakuten and TopCashback merchant, so you can make money on the credit!
  • Fine Hotels & Resorts Benefits:
    • Daily breakfast for two
    • Resort or spa credit
    • Guaranteed late checkout
    • Upgrades when available
    • …and more
The Fountains of Bellagio as seen from a "lake view" room upgrade on an Amex FHR reservation.
The Fountains of Bellagio as seen from a “lake view” room upgrade on an Amex FHR reservation.
  • Amex Offers For You (individual offer enrollment required)
    • Receive statement credit or earn cashback with select offers for which you register

The Amex Business Platinum Bonus Point Earnings

  • 5X for each dollar spent on flights and pre-paid hotels at AmexTravel.com
  • 1.5X for purchases over $5,000
  • 1X on everything else

Nothing special. Typical Amex Platinum benefits: non-flight spend bonuses are negligible — but the card’s travel benefits are awesome.

Should I Get the Card Even If I Hold the Personal Platinum Card?

I’ve held both cards for almost three years and make it work.

Yes, the $695 annual fee is a big chunk of change. (See rates and fees.) But it easily offsets, thanks to the:

  • 35% Membership Rewards rebate
  • $200 Dell credit
  • $189 CLEAR credit
  • Amex Offers

So Was My Wife Surprised?

Seeing the look on my wife’s face when I surprised her at birthing class was amazing. Through her happy tears, she demanded, “How did we pay for this?! We have a baby coming!” I explained the welcome bonus (whatever it was at the time) and Membership Rewards rebate.

We’ve been able to afford more trips — both for our business and personally — thanks to the rebate points and SkyMiles we’ve earned through the Amex Business Platinum card.

We love this card’s benefits — and highly recommend it.

–Chris

  • To see rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply.
  • To see rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply.
  • To see rates and fees for the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply.
  • To see rates and fees for the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
  • To see rates and fees for the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
  • To see rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
  • To see rates and fees for the American Express® Green Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
  • To see rates and fees for the American Express Green Business Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
  • To see rates and fees for the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, please visit this link.

 

Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc. has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Eye of the Flyer and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.


Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Related

Tags: American Express Business CardsCR
Previous Post

Family Books Trip Through Delta Airlines. Not Delta Air Lines.

Next Post

Delta/SkyTeam Weekend Elite Vacation Run: JFK to Madrid! $352, 9104 MQM at 3.9 CPM – Main Cabin!

Chris Carley

Chris Carley

Chris Carley is the owner, editor, and lead writer of Eye of the Flyer (formerly known as Rene's Points).

Next Post
Madrid, Spain at night

Delta/SkyTeam Weekend Elite Vacation Run: JFK to Madrid! $352, 9104 MQM at 3.9 CPM - Main Cabin!

Comments 9

  1. Pete says:
    4 years ago

    To do this 35% bump, do you need to book through Amex Travel?

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      4 years ago

      @Pete: Yes — the website.

      Reply
  2. Flyin Bob says:
    4 years ago

    Finally an awesome comprehensive write up for the amex bus platinum card. This will be easy now for me to explained in to friends who do not see the benefit in having the “high priced card”. Naturally I will include the link for you.

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      4 years ago

      @Flyin Bob: Thank you!!

      Reply
  3. William says:
    4 years ago

    I’m not please with Amex over the gutting of PP benefits, the AF fee hike, and the insulting rules that come with the $200 fee credit. I ditched the Amex Platinum and replaced it with the Hilton Ascend. I don’t use PP more than 10 times a year anyway, and it comes with Hilton Gold.

    Reply
  4. Dale R says:
    4 years ago

    Chris – I had the personal Platinum AMEX card for a number of years, but ultimately cancelled a few years back as it wasn’t providing me as much value once I held the Delta Reserve (and got the Delta SkyClub benefits from that card). I’m now considering the business Platinum, so thanks for this comprehensive write-up. But, I am surprised that you hold BOTH the personal and business versions. What benefits do you get from the personal that would justify holding this if you already have a business Platinum?

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      4 years ago

      @Dale R: The Uber and Saks credits help a lot. The authorized user fee is lower for the personal Amex Platinum: $175 for up to three total additional users. My wife, mother-in-law, and father-in-law are all AUs. The lounge access alone for four adults pretty much offsets the $175 AU fee (considering we’d spend about that at airport restaurants during the course of a year traveling together).

      Also, the 5X points on purchases made directly with airlines is certainly nice — but not a major gamechanger.

      All-in-all, it balances out.

      Reply
  5. HuntingtonGuy says:
    4 years ago

    With the traditional Amex Platinum, Amex Delta Reserve and Amex Delta Plat I feel maxed out on paying Amex fees. While I absolutely get good value using the cards strategically, adding another Amex Plat (Business) seems more than is right for my situation.
    Good article though, mostly reminders but definitely a few new things to keep in mind.

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      4 years ago

      @HuntingtonGuy: Thank you!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

➤ Search Eye of the Flyer

No Result
View All Result

Subscribe

Subscribe To Our NewsletterJoin our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

GREAT Travel and Cash Back Card Offers!

Eye of the Flyer may receive a commission from the links below. See our Privacy Policy

See CardRatings’ Top Credit Cards for This Month!

Ink Cash Credit Card

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Limited-time promotion: BEST EVER OFFER! Earn $900 bonus cashback (90,000 points) after spending $6,000 in purchases within three (3) months of card membership approval. Learn here how to apply.

Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Limited-time promotion: BEST EVER OFFER! Earn $900 bonus cashback (90,000 points) after spending $6,000 in purchases within three (3) months of card membership approval. Learn here how to apply.

Learn how to apply for the NEW Capital One Venture X card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the new must-have “it” card for travel lovers! Earn 75,000 bonus points (worth at least $750 in travel) after spending $4,000 in purchases within three months of card membership approval. Plus, enjoy up to $300 annually in statement credits for travel purchased through Capital One AND 10,000 bonus points every year, after the first anniversary. The $395 annual fee can EASILY be earned back (here’s how) — and then some! Learn now how to apply!

The Ink Business Preferred cardEarn 100,000 bonus Chase Ultimate Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on purchases during the first three months of being an Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card member! Earns 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. (Earn 1X per $1 on all other purchases.)

  Earn cash back with Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) Earn cash back with TopCashback! RebatesMe Earn cash back with DOSH!

✍ Editors Disclaimer | lock, login, protection, secure icon Privacy Policy | $ Advertisers Disclosure

 

Subscribe

Subscribe To Our NewsletterJoin our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

  • BANK & Travel Cards ★
  • Rookie
  • Elite Mileage Runs
  • Merchandise
  • αbout US ✉

Copyright © 2021 Eye of the Flyer

No Result
View All Result
  • BANK & Travel Cards ★
    • Credit Cards
    • Travel Rewards Cards
    • Airline Credit Cards
    • Hotel Credit Cards
    • Cash Back Credit Cards
    • No Annual Fee Credit Cards
    • Small Business Credit Cards
    • 0% Intro APR Cards
    • Balance Transfer Cards
    • Bad or Poor Credit
    • No Credit
  • Rookie
  • Elite Mileage Runs
  • Merchandise
  • αbout US ✉

Copyright © 2021 Eye of the Flyer

Cleantalk Pixel

Subscribe To Our Newsletter


Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!