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Recently, a neighbor of ours emailed to ask some advice about a credit card offer. They started their own business and received a targeted offer to get the Business Platinum Card from American Express with a 100K signup bonus. Not only were they wondering whether this was a good deal for them or not, but they wondered if there were better options out there.
Of course, since I know this all depended on their travel goals, I asked them what they hoped to do right away. They said, ideally, they wanted to transfer points to Delta to fly from Indianapolis to Paris. And since they found a ton of availability form IND to CDG on Delta for 60,000 miles round-trip, they thought the Business Platinum Card from American Express was their best bet. But, was it?
Reasons to Get the Business Platinum Card from American Express
For starters, I told my neighbor I thought the 100K offer (or even a lesser 75K or above offer) from the Business Platinum Card from American Express is a good deal. Sure, the card comes with a $450 annual fee but you get a lot in return. Some of the card’s best amenities include:
- a $200 airline fee credit
- 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com and 1x points on everything else
- Airport lounge access, including Centurion lounge access
- And up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck
Reasons to Also Consider the Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card
Since I wasn’t sure they were huge on paying a $450 annual fee for a credit card, I also made an alternate suggestion – the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card. This card charges only a $95 annual fee, albeit with fewer perks.
Once you sign up for the card, you earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 within three months of account opening. Other perks include:
- Earn 3x points on travel, select online advertising, cable, phone, and internet, and shipping, and 1x points on all other purchases
- Easy 1:1 transfers to the popular Chase Ultimate Rewards loyalty partners
The Bottom Line
Sure, paying a $450 annual fee for a credit card can make sense if you travel all the time. But, if you only fly a few times per year and won’t take advantage of lounge access or airline credits, you may be better off seeking card with a lower out-of-pocket cost.
Personally, I would be inclined to get both cards for the signup bonuses alone.
Which business credit card would you get in this situation? Why?
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Delta® Reserve for Business
- Annual Fee: $450 fee
- Foreign Fees: No
- Card Type: Travel
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- Earn 40,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs after you spend $3,000 in purchases with your new Card in the first 3 months.†
- Earn 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and 15,000 bonus miles after you reach $30,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in the calendar year.
- Earn 2 Miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
- Settle into your seat sooner with Priority Boarding and enjoy 20% savings on eligible in-flight purchases in the form of a statement credit.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas.‡
- Complimentary Delta Sky Club® Access.‡
- Terms and limitations apply
- See Rates & Fees

Delta® Reserve for Business
- Annual Fee: $450 fee
- Foreign Fees: No
- Card Type: Travel
FTG Review | Reward Breakdown | Points Breakdown |
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Breakdown
Earn (pt.)
Spend
3 months
0
$3,000
Per dollar on eligible purchases with Delta Purchases
2.00
$1
All Purchases
1.00
$1
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