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The Business Platinum Card® from American Express remains a go-to for business owners. While its annual fee is steep (Rates & Fees), generous welcome offers and a long list of valuable perks often justify the cost, especially for frequent travelers who know how to maximize the benefits.
One of these benefits is the ability to earn 5X Membership Rewards on select travel booked through the American Express Travel portal. Until last week, this bonus was limited to flights and prepaid hotel stays. But, on April 17, 2025 American Express quietly expanded the eligible categories — and it’s good news for anyone who books vacation rentals or travel packages.
Here's what you need to know.
Business Platinum Card Now Earns 5X on More Amex Travel Bookings
An update to Amex's marketing materials last week unveiled two new 5x earning categories for travel booked through the Amex Travel portal:
- Short-term vacation rentals
- Select prepaid hotel + flight packages
If you log into the Amex Travel portal now, you may notice that there are two new tabs at the top of the page: Vacation Rentals and Hotel + Flight. It’s a nice update, especially for Business Platinum Card members who frequently book travel through the portal.
You’ll also see tabs for cruises and rental cars, but those still don’t earn 5X points.
Before booking, it's worth comparing rates across other platforms. Portal bookings can be convenient, but they don’t always offer the lowest prices or best cancellation terms. Still, if the price is right, this is a solid way to earn more points on a trip you were going to take anyway.
Related: All About The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Fine Print
To earn 5X Membership Rewards, you’ll need to book and pay with your Business Platinum Card. The bonus only applies to prepaid reservations, so you won’t earn extra if you pay at the property or later on.
When browsing the Amex Travel portal, you’ll see indicators that flag eligible bookings; look for a small blue corner on the listing noting “get 5X points”:
For short-term rentals, it’s important to note that you can’t change the dates after booking. If your plans change, you’ll need to cancel and rebook entirely, so be sure to confirm that your dates are set in stone before completing your booking.
Bottom Line
If you’re a business owner who often books vacation rentals or bundled hotel + flight packages, these enhanced earning rates should come as welcome news. Being able to earn 5X Membership Rewards points on more types of travel gives Business Platinum Card members even more ways to make the most of their spend, especially when the benefits match how you already like to travel.
- Limited Time Travel Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. 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 Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 10/2024.
- Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
- Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
- NEW! Make the Business Platinum Card® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights, prepaid hotels, and short-term rentals and prepaid flight + hotel packages booked at AmexTravel.com. 1X points on other eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that's an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card®.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. shipping providers.
- 1.5X earning rates are subject to a cap of $2 million in purchases per calendar year.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
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