The power of the Amex Trifecta: Platinum, Gold and Blue Business Plus
Editor’s word: This can be a recurring publish, repeatedly up to date with new data and presents.
Whether or not it’s the trio of legacy airways within the U.S. or the principle airline alliances, some issues simply work effectively in threes.
For instance, many people at TPG love the Chase Trifecta: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited®. Used collectively, these three playing cards supply a robust mixture of incomes charges, welcome presents and perks.
Thanks partly to Chase’s aggressive choices, Amex has constructed an analogous trifecta, with three playing cards that complement one another in practically each approach — offering outsize worth with an affordable price ticket.
Every of those playing cards is nice by itself, however they’ll unlock severe worth, even for rare vacationers, when mixed. Let’s dig a bit deeper.
Associated: Choosing the best American Express credit card for you
Amex Platinum
The Platinum Card® from American Express is without doubt one of the most respected playing cards on the market. That’s due to an extended record of luxurious journey perks and a precious welcome supply that may greater than offset its $695 annual charge (see rates and fees).
The Amex Platinum has essentially the most complete airport lounge benefits of any card. Along with a Priority Pass Select membership, you’ll additionally obtain entry to Amex’s international assortment of Centurion Lounges and access to Delta Sky Clubs when on same-day Delta Air Traces flights (restricted to 10 Sky Membership visits per 12 months). Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
And this is without doubt one of the best cards to book flights and hotels because it earns 5 factors per greenback spent on flights booked immediately with the airline or with American Express Travel (on as much as $500,000 on these purchases per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback) and on pay as you go lodges booked with American Specific Journey. In line with TPG’s March 2025 valuations, these purchases internet a ten% return.
Cardmembers additionally obtain an assortment of annual statement credits and advantages, together with a press release credit of as much as $199 for Clear Plus, as much as $100 for Saks Fifth Avenue ($50 semi-annually) and as much as $200 in Uber Money ($15 Uber Money every month, plus a further $20 in December after including your card to your Uber account and redeeming with an Amex card). Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
Resort stays are additionally extra rewarding with this card — you possibly can make the most of the complimentary Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite standing (enrollment required) or ebook by Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts to obtain property credit and room upgrades.
Lastly, you’ll get pleasure from a spread of shopping protections and travel coverage once you cost eligible purchases to the cardboard.
Associated: Are premium credit cards worth the annual fee?
Amex Gold
The second member of this trio is the American Express® Gold Card. This highly effective mid-tier possibility pairs profitable incomes charges with precious assertion credit.
That is the card to use for groceries and dining, incomes:
- 4 factors per greenback spent on eating at eating places worldwide (on as much as $50,000 in spending per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback)
- 4 factors per greenback spent at U.S. supermarkets (on as much as $25,000 in spending per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback)
The cardboard’s $325 annual charge (see rates and fees) is offset with as much as $424 in annual worth, together with as much as $120 in Uber Cash* and statement credits of as much as $84 at U.S. Dunkin’ places (as much as $7 month-to-month), an as much as $120 eating credit score (as much as $10 month-to-month at choose eating places) and as much as $100 at U.S. Resy eating places (as much as $50 semi-annually). Enrollment required for choose advantages.
These incomes charges and advantages make the Amex Gold a terrific selection for foodies, each those that cook dinner at house and those that wish to dine out.
*Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account once you add the Amex Gold as a cost technique and redeem with any Amex card.
Associated: 8 ways to make the most of the Amex Gold Card benefits
Blue Enterprise Plus
The ultimate member of the trio, the Blue Business Plus® Credit Card from American Express, is without doubt one of the high playing cards for everyday spending.
This no-annual-fee card (see rates and fees) earns 2 factors per greenback on the primary $50,000 in spending per calendar 12 months with no bonus classes to fret about; it earns 1 level per greenback after that.
As with the opposite playing cards on this record, you’ll additionally get entry to precious Amex Offers, which may also help you lower your expenses (or offer you bonus factors) on purchases you had been already planning to make.
You might be shocked to study that to be eligible for a business card, you don’t want a brick-and-mortar storefront. You may be eligible for a enterprise card even you probably have a aspect gig like promoting gadgets on-line, driving for a ride-hailing firm or working trip leases. You’ll be able to apply for a enterprise card as a sole proprietor and use your Social Safety quantity.
Associated: Here are some ways you might be eligible for a business credit card without realizing it
Software recommendation
You’ll obtain every card’s welcome bonus solely as soon as
You’ll be able to solely earn a welcome supply on every Amex card once in a lifetime, so that you’ll wish to get the very best bonus potential. Listed here are the present welcome presents:
- Amex Platinum: Earn 80,000 bonus Membership Rewards factors after spending $8,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership.
- Amex Gold: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
- Blue Business Plus: Earn 15,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 in purchases in your card in your first three months of card membership.
That’s a complete haul of 155,000 bonus factors, which is sufficient to fly around the world in business class.
Nevertheless, you could be focused for the next welcome supply by CardMatch, so make sure that to examine that first (focused presents are topic to vary at any time).
After which evaluate the bonus with the offer history to be sure you’re getting the perfect deal.
The order of purposes is essential
It’s essential to use for the Gold earlier than you get the Platinum. That’s as a result of when you get the Platinum first, you’ll be ineligible to earn the bonus on the Gold; that rule doesn’t apply the opposite approach round.
Associated: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions
Backside line
The Amex Trifecta means that you can supercharge your Membership Rewards points stability. Buy your flights and lodges on the Platinum, your groceries and eating on the Gold, and all the things else in your Blue Enterprise Plus. And make sure you maximize the assertion credit and journey perks on the Platinum and Gold to assist offset their annual charges.
To study extra about every card, learn our full evaluations of the Amex Platinum, Amex Gold and Blue Business Plus.
Apply right here: Amex Platinum
Apply right here: Amex Gold
Apply right here: Amex Blue Business Plus
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on here.
For charges and charges of the Amex Gold, click on here.
For charges and charges of the Blue Enterprise Plus, click on here.
