I receive compensation for content and many links on this blog. Citibank is an advertising partner of this site, as is American Express, Chase, Barclays and Capital One. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by my advertising partners. I do not write about all credit cards that are available -- instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same). Terms apply to the offers and benefits listed on this page.
The Blue Business℠ Plus Credit Card from American Express earns double points on purchases for the first $50,000 spent each year (one point thereafter). This isn’t double points in a particular category, this is double points across the board. (Specific offer for this card no longer available.)
The Amex Everyday is the only no annual fee personal card whose points transfer to a variety of airline miles. Now there’s a small business card that does, as well — the Blue Business℠ Plus Credit Card from American Express is a ‘real’ Membership Rewards card in that points transfer to its full slate of partners. You do not need another ‘full’ American Express Membership Rewards cards for your points to be eligible to transfer.
Transfer points to:
- Star Alliance: Aeroplan, ANA, Singapore
- oneworld: AsiaMiles, British Airways, Iberia
- SkyTeam: Aeromexico, Alitalia, Air France KLM, Delta
- Non-alliance: Etihad, Emirates, El Al, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Virgin America
- Hotels: Choice, Hilton, Starwood
Etihad First Class Apartment
Airline transfers are valuable, the ratio on hotel partners isn’t as attractive. In any case though it’s a no annual fee card. And it’s a small business card, which means you can sign up for it and it won’t even count against ‘5/24’ for Chase applications.
There have been several ‘Blue’-named American Express cards, but American Express clarifies – for avoidance of doubt – that this counts as a new product for signup bonus purposes. The signup bonus is 20,000 Membership Rewards points after $3000 in qualifying purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Cardmembership. (This is my referral link but it’s intended to be a better offer than is available through other channels, it’s also marketed as a ‘special offer’ so may not last.)
I value American Express points at 1.8 cents apiece so this card earns a 3.6% effective rebate on unbonused spend which is better than anything else currently in the market. Given the rate of return on the card it makes sense to pay bills like rent or mortgage using the card with Plastiq’s bill payment service.
Plus since it’s a business card it comes with Amex OPEN Savings from participating retailers.
This is a huge shot across the bow of the Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card which has a much stronger signup bonus, and earns up to triple points in certain categories, but doesn’t come close on everyday spend.
will points from this card combine with other MR points and can they be used with the Business platinum to book flights and get 50% back?
With MR, the total of your personal and business accounts show up together if you link the two accounts. I have one sign on name for all 3 of my Amex cards, the MR points from both accounts show up together.
I have this card but my signup offer was the old offer which was 10k points after first purchase with the card and 10x points per $1 on the first 2k spend on restaurants within the first six months. So my signup was 30k points plus I get the 2 pts per dollar in the first year as well. My card sees decent use as a result.
I’m trying to figure out if I can get this card without losing my stash of MR points or giving up other Amex cards that I want to keep. I currently have the following Amex credit cards: SPG, old Blue cash, second old Blue cash, Everyday, and Hilton Surpass. Does anyone see a way that I can get this card without losing my MR point if I want to keep all of my existing cards, except the Everyday? I’m usually good at these types of puzzles, but this one has me stumped. Thanks.
Eddy,
Did u read the article? Yes u can.
Oh I stand corrected. I don’t have this card this is a new blue business card. I have the older version. This is interesting indeed.
This is a winner. Applying now.
Can anyone tell me how they manage to put $1K a month on AmEx? I can’t use it for most of my normal spend, and it sure doesn’t work for most of my international travel. Any clues, beyond Hilton, Hertz and buying lots of airplane tickets?
@JR I’m sure your comment was not intended to be rude, or maybe you just had a bad day. Either way, would you care to explain how I can accomplish this in accordance with American Express’s various limitations and rules? Thanks.
Has anyone seen a better sign up MR offer for the free Amex cards? 20k seems low but I’m a little nervous as last year I signed up for the play at 40k mr bonus and two weeks later my wife got 100k offer. Trying not to make that mistake again. 🙂 any ideas or data points?
Signed up For the platinum I mean. (Not play) 🙂
Still not worth it for me, there are better options. Add in the transfer fee/tax/whatever it is from AMEX and value decreases.
Am I reading correctly – Does the Amex Everyday Card give me a way to get 2 Starwood miles (which can then translate to 2.5 airline miles on most airlines) per S of spend on everything?
Eddy,
Only way I can think of for you to get the card if you want to close the Everyday Card which houses all of your MR points since you have 5 cards with Amex already is to add a charge card first before applying for this card since it is my understanding charge cards do not count toward the limit. The charge card could be either a business or personal card but that is the only way I can think of.
Answering my own question – 1000 membership rewards points = 333 Starwood points. Therefore what I suggested doesn’t work. I’m only getting 2/3 of a Starwood point per $.
The article says 2x points across the board. The AMEX offer, included above, states business purchases such as client dinners and office supplies. Big difference.
I don’t understand your recommendation and evaluation. I can get 1 Starwood point per 1$ spent on any expenses using my Amex Starwood business card. Using your Amex Blue I can get 2/3 Starwood points per 1$ spent. How is that better?!
@JC Thanks! That’s the creative thinking that I was looking for! Well done.
@Mike W – You can get 1.25 ANA, Delta, Aeroplan, etc miles per dollar with the Starwood Amex, and 2 of each of those currencies per dollar with this card.
@Wondering – it’s a business card, it gives examples of business spend, it’s all purchases on the card up to the first $50k in spend
For anyone with the CSR @ 3x AND CFU @ 1.5x, the 2x on this new AMEX card is not that compelling. The problem with getting it when one already has the other two, as with having AND using multiple cards in general, is “currency dilution”. That is when one acquires points in so many different currencies that one ends up with not having enough points in any one currency, even after supplementation with transferable points, to be able to afford a high-end award. Thus, factoring in the inevitable “currency dilution”, I think of my 3x on the CSR and 1.5x on the CFU as equivalent to or better than the 2x that this card offers. I’ll pass…
With many AMEX Membership Rewards redemptions worth less than one cent per point from the AMEX website, it would appear that Citibank Double Cash or Chase Ultimate Rewards points at a minimum value of one cent per point may put more money in your pocket with less hassle.
Hi Gary – Can you please clarify? When I reviewed the Terms the 2X points seem to only apply to travel booked through amextravel.com for airfare and pre-paid hotel stays only, no non-prepaid hotels would qualify. Also, other non-prepaid hotels through other sites would not be eligible. Can you please clarify what is actually covered? The headline reads like all expenditures will receive 2X points. Thank you.
@KeninDFW double points on all items for your first $50k spend with this new business card