Rethinking Keeping the AMEX Business Platinum

I'm rethinking my AMEX Business Platinum. While I'd assumed I was going to cancel it later this year, after collecting the $200 in airline incidental credit, I'm sure now that I'll keep it at least another year. Why?

It's well known that until the recent improvements to the AMEX Business Platinum (see AMEX Business Platinum New Benefits: 5X on Flights and Prepaid Hotels with AMEX Travel and AMEX Business Platinum 50 Percent Points Rebate on Airfare Worth It?) there weren't any category bonuses for the card.

When the 100K Chase Sapphire Reserve appeared, with 3X Ultimate Rewards points on all travel and dining, I mentally wrote off the AMEX Business Platinum and Citi Prestige, since the latter, even though it earns 3X points, earns ThankYou points that I don't value as highly as Ultimate Rewards points due to the less valuable transfer partners and more restrictive points transfer and points retention policies.

But looking at the additional Membership Rewards points I've earned this year just from referral bonuses and AMEX Offers, I have to reconsider. I value AMEX Membership Rewards points at ~2.2 cents per point or more, given that we exclusively transfer out to airline partners and redeem for business class and first class awards.

• 55,000 Membership Rewards points from referrals = $1210
• 5000 Membership Rewards points earned from Marriott AMEX offers = $110
• 20,000 Membership Rewards points expected from other AMEX offers = $440