Utilizing the Welcome Offer of American Express Business Platinum Card for an Exquisite Summer European Vacation
Amex Business Platinum Cardholder Leverages Welcome Bonus for Luxurious Rome Stay
A savvy cardholder has successfully maximized the benefits of the Amex Business Platinum Card from American Express, recently earning a 150,000 Membership Rewards points welcome bonus. To meet the minimum spend requirement of $20,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months, the cardholder prepaid 3 months of rent with the card.
With 70,000 Amex points in hand, the cardholder transferred them to Hilton Honors to secure a 2-night stay at the Palm Suite in Rome, an exclusive Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) property adjacent to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. The Standard Room Reward rate for the Palm Suite was 95,000 Hilton Honors points per night, requiring 190,000 points for a 2-night stay. The room was selling for €608 (approximately $691) per night, making the value of the points used for the stay about $475.
The cardholder also redeemed 70,000 points for a one-way business class flight from Rome to Chicago via Dublin, costing just over $2,500. The cardholder plans to use the $500 statement credit for airfare booked directly with the airline or through AmexTravel.com.
The Amex Business Platinum card offers access to 1,400 lounges worldwide, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, select Virgin Clubhouses, select Lufthansa Lounges, and 10 visits to Delta Sky Clubs.
The total value of this welcome bonus offer, including the statement credit, is $3,800 based on a valuation of Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents apiece. The cardholder came out ahead by using points for this hotel stay, as the value of the points used was less than the cost of the room.
However, changes are on the horizon for the Amex Business Platinum Card benefits. Starting July 1, 2025, the Dell Technologies credit will offer up to $150 total per calendar year, down from $200 per half-year periods previously. The Adobe credit increased from up to $150 per year to $250 per year but requires spending at least $600 on direct Adobe purchases.
Perhaps the most significant change is the Pay With Points rebate that offered a 35% rebate on first- and business-class tickets booked through Amex Travel. Starting September 18, 2025, this 35% rebate will only apply to flights booked with a single selected qualifying airline. For other airlines, including premium cabins, the rebate will drop to 20%, reducing point redemption value from about 1.54 cents per point to approximately 1.25 cents per point for non-selected carriers.
These changes reflect a mix of reduced flexibility and tightened benefit conditions, especially affecting premium travel redemptions and credit allocations on business purchases. Cardholders should carefully consider these changes when deciding to apply for or renew the Amex Business Platinum Card.
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The Amex Business Platinum Cardholder utilized the welcome bonus points to book a luxurious stay in Rome and a business class flight. With 150,000 Membership Rewards points, the cardholder transferred 70,000 points to Hilton Honors for a 2-night stay at the Palm Suite and redeemed the remaining points for a flight to Chicago.
The cardholder enjoyed a significant savings by using points for the hotel stay, as the value of the points used was less than the cost of the room. The cardholder also looks forward to using the $500 statement credit for airfare, but changes in the card's benefits may affect the redemption value of points in the future.
From September 18, 2025, the Pay With Points rebate will only apply to flights booked with a single selected qualifying airline, reducing the point redemption value for other airlines. Additionally, the Dell Technologies credit will offer $150 total per calendar year, down from $200 per half-year periods previously, and the Adobe credit increase may come with stricter spending requirements.
Cardholders should carefully consider these changes when deciding to apply for or renew the Amex Business Platinum Card, as they potentially impact premium travel redemptions and credit allocations on business purchases.
[1] luxury travel news [2] credit card finance [3] business lifestyle investing [4] future changes news [5] airfare and lounge benefits
