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Introduction: Why I’m Obsessed With This Amex Combo

As a seasoned travel credit card enthusiast, I’m always on the lookout for the perfect pairings. After all, maximizing your rewards and travel benefits is the name of the game. So, let me tell you, the combination of the American Express Gold Card and the American Express Business Platinum Card might just be the ultimate Amex power couple. I’ve personally found this dynamic duo to be incredibly rewarding, and I’m excited to share why I think you should consider them too.

I understand that, in the world of points and miles, many experts advocate for diversifying your rewards portfolio across various programs. While that’s generally solid advice, there are times when focusing on a single program can yield exceptional results. For me, American Express Membership Rewards is one such program. Its versatility, coupled with the impressive earning potential of these two cards, makes this a combo I wholeheartedly recommend.

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Double the Cards, Double the Welcome Bonuses

Let’s face it, the elephant in the room is the annual fees. The Amex Business Platinum comes with a hefty $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), while the Amex Gold Card has a $325 annual fee (see rates and fees). That’s a combined total of $1,020 per year! However, I believe that the welcome bonuses and ongoing benefits can more than offset these costs, especially in the first year.

Currently, new Amex Business Platinum cardmembers can earn a substantial 150,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. Furthermore, new cardholders have the opportunity to earn a $500 statement credit after spending $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel within the same three-month period. The best part? You can potentially earn both these offers. Be mindful that this offer is set to expire June 30, so act fast!

In addition, new Amex Gold cardmembers can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first six months of card membership. That’s a significant boost to your Membership Rewards balance right from the start.

Therefore, by meeting the minimum spending requirements for both cards, you could amass at least 210,000 Amex Membership Rewards points. According to current valuations, Amex Membership Rewards points are worth around 2 cents apiece. This means those 210,000 points could translate to a value of approximately $4,200, not even considering how they could be worth considerably more by using transfer partners.

Moreover, you might even be able to snag a higher welcome offer for the Amex Gold Card through the CardMatch tool. However, offers vary, so it’s worth checking to see if you qualify for a better deal.

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Separate Business and Personal Finances

One of the smartest moves I made was separating my business and personal expenses with credit cards. This helps me stay organized, track business spending easily for tax purposes, and, crucially, keeps my personal credit report clean. Using the Amex Business Platinum for work-related expenses keeps that activity off my personal credit report. In turn, this can potentially improve your personal credit score by lowering your credit utilization ratio.

Additionally, the Amex Business Platinum offers specific statement credits and bonus earning rates tailored to business spending, incentivizing you to use it for those expenses rather than your personal card. I then reserve my Amex Gold Card for everyday essentials like U.S. supermarket purchases and dining expenses, allowing me to maximize rewards on those categories.

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Maximizing Your Earnings: A Point-Earning Powerhouse

The true genius of this combination lies in the way these cards complement each other’s earning structures. Here’s how I strategize to maximize my rewards:

Amex Gold Card:

* Dining: I consistently earn 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar). As someone who enjoys dining out, this is a significant earner for me. * U.S. Supermarkets: Similarly, I grab 4 points per dollar on groceries at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar). This is a category I consistently hit the max spend on. * Flights: Book flights directly with airlines or on amextravel.com and earn 3 points per dollar. * Amex Travel Hotels: Use this card to earn 2 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases through amextravel.com. * Everything Else: 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Amex Business Platinum Card:

* Amex Travel: When booking flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, I secure a stellar 5 points per dollar. * Select Business Purchases: I always keep the card handy because it provides 1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases in key business categories (on up to $2 million per calendar year total; 1 point per dollar spent thereafter). This includes U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers, U.S. electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and U.S. shipping providers. Additionally, you earn this rate on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more. * Everything Else: 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

If I book directly with an airline, I use my Amex Gold Card to take advantage of the 3 points per dollar. However, if I can shift travel bookings to Amex Travel, I leverage the Amex Business Platinum’s 5 points per dollar on both airfare and prepaid hotels.

While both cards give you access to Amex’s Hotel Collection program, the Business Platinum gives you access to even higher-end properties and more valuable perks through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts.

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Leveraging Pay with Points for Maximum Value

American Express offers a “Pay with Points” feature where you can redeem Membership Rewards for reservations made directly through Amex Travel. While the standard redemption rate is 1 cent per point for flights (and less for hotels), Amex Business Platinum cardmembers get a major boost: a 35% bonus when using Pay with Points in the following scenarios:

* First or Business Class Tickets: Apply the bonus to any airline, and any of your premium purchases become far cheaper. * Designated Airline Tickets: This is perfect for frequent flyers. If you purchase a ticket in any cabin on the same airline you designate for your up to $200 airline fee statement credit, you also get the bonus.

This benefit is capped at 1 million points per calendar year, but it’s still a fantastic way to stretch your points further.

While Pay with Points might not be for everyone, I find it especially useful for several reasons. First, you get a guaranteed value of 1 cent per point (or more with the Amex Business Platinum). Second, you sidestep the complexities of transfer partners, transfer times, and award availability. Finally, when you redeem via Pay with Points, it’s essentially like paying cash, so you’ll still earn elite miles for your travel. Just note that hotels may not always honor elite status or offer elite night credits for stays booked through travel portals like Amex Travel.

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Stacking Statement Credits: A Value Goldmine

Another reason I love this combo is the ability to stack the various statement credits offered by each card. This is where you can truly offset the annual fees and extract maximum value.

Amex Gold Card:

* Uber Cash: Up to $10 per month in Uber Cash towards rides or Uber Eats orders in the U.S. after adding your card to your Uber account (up to $120 per calendar year). * Dining Credits: Up to $10 per month in dining credits (up to $120 per calendar year). * Hotel Collection Credit: When using the card to make a Hotel Collection booking of two nights or more, you get a $100 on-site credit for qualifying activities. * Resy Credits: Receive up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year (up to $50 semi-annually) at Resy-affiliated restaurants in the U.S. and on eligible Resy purchases. * Dunkin’ Credit: Receive up to $84 in statement credits each calendar year (up to $7 a month) at U.S. Dunkin’ locations.

Amex Business Platinum Card:

* Dell Purchases: Up to $400 per calendar year in statement credits toward U.S. Dell purchases (up to $200 semi-annually). * Indeed Credit: Up to $360 per calendar year with Indeed (up to $90 per quarter). * Hilton Credit: Up to $200 per calendar year with Hilton (up to $50 per quarter). * Airline Incidental Fee Credit: Up to $200 in airline incidental fee credits per calendar year. * Clear Plus Membership: Up to $199 per calendar year in statement credits for a Clear Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal). * Adobe Credit: Up to $150 per calendar year with Adobe (subject to auto-renewal). * Wireless Phone Bills: Up to $120 toward U.S. wireless phone bills each calendar year (up to $10 per month). * Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: $120 toward Global Entry (every 4 years) or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck (every 4½ years).

Remember that enrollment is required for some benefits, and terms apply. Maximize these statement credits to dramatically reduce your annual fee burden.

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More Perks

While the Amex Gold Card is mainly focused on earning rewards and statement credits, the Amex Business Platinum provides a host of valuable benefits beyond those. These include:

* Airport Lounge Access: Access to a variety of airport lounges, including Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (with limitations), and Priority Pass lounges. * Hotel Elite Status: Automatic Gold elite status with Marriott and Hilton. * Rental Car Elite Status: Elite status with various rental car agencies. * International Airline Program: Discounts on premium cabin flights.

These perks, particularly lounge access and hotel elite status, are incredibly useful if you travel frequently.

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Conclusion: Is This Combo Right for You?

While I encourage everyone to explore different travel rewards options, I firmly believe that doubling down on Amex Membership Rewards with the Amex Gold Card and the Amex Business Platinum Card can be a game-changer. Ultimately, the right combination of Amex cards will depend on your individual spending habits and travel preferences. However, I’ve found that the Amex Business Platinum and Amex Gold offer a winning combination of valuable perks, bonus categories, and lucrative welcome offers. By strategically using these cards, you can earn a significant number of points, offset the annual fees with statement credits, and enhance your travel experiences.