The Amex Reserve Card is a premium card aimed at high-spending travelers and business owners
The American Express Reserve Card (officially the American Express Business Platinum Card) is a premium card designed for people who spend heavily on travel, dining, and business expenses. Unlike entry-level cards, it charges an annual fee — currently $695 — and in return offers benefits like statement credits for specific purchases, airport lounge access, and concierge services. The card is not designed to be a general-purpose card; it's built for someone who will use its specific perks enough to offset the annual cost.
The card reports to business credit bureaus, not personal credit bureaus, so it won't directly affect your personal credit score. You'll need to be a business owner or have a business tax ID to open one, though American Express has a relatively loose definition of "business" — a sole proprietorship or freelance work counts.
Key Takeaways
- The Amex Reserve Card charges a $695 annual fee and is designed for people whose spending on travel, dining, and business expenses will generate credits that offset that cost.
- The card offers statement credits for airfare, hotels, restaurants, and shipping, but each credit has specific rules about what purchases may have access to and how much you can earn per year.
- You get access to airport lounges through the Centurion lounge network and partner lounges, plus a concierge service that can book travel and make reservations.
- The card requires a business structure to open, though American Express accepts sole proprietorships and freelance work as may have access to businesses.
- Rewards are paid as Membership Rewards points, which you can redeem for travel, gift cards, or transfers to airline and hotel partners.
Statement Credits and How They Work
The Reserve Card offers several statement credits that reduce what you actually pay, rather than earning points you redeem later. The largest is the $200 annual airline fee credit, which covers the cost of one airline ticket, baggage fees, seat upgrades, or other airline purchases. You choose which airline to register, and the credit applies once per calendar year. If you spend $300 on a flight, the credit covers $200 of it.
The card also includes a $200 annual hotel credit for stays booked through American Express Travel or certain hotel partners. This works the same way — you register a hotel chain or use the credit on any may have access to booking, and it applies once per year. A third credit, the $100 annual dining credit, covers restaurants and food delivery services in the US, though it's capped at $100 per calendar year.
There's also a $100 annual shipping credit that covers UPS, FedEx, and other shipping services. Each credit is separate, so you could theoretically use all four in a single year if your spending hits those categories. The credits don't roll over — if you don't use the airline credit in a given year, you lose it.
Lounge Access and Travel Perks
The Reserve Card includes access to Centurion Lounges, which are American Express's own lounges located in major US airports. These lounges offer food, drinks, showers, and quiet workspace. The card also grants access to Priority Pass Select, a network of thousands of airport lounges worldwide, though some lounges charge a per-visit fee even with Priority Pass membership.
Beyond lounges, the card comes with a concierge service available 24/7 by phone. The concierge can book flights and hotels, make restaurant reservations, and handle travel planning. This is a real person on the phone, not a chatbot, though the quality and speed of service can vary. The concierge cannot negotiate prices or override airline policies, but they can research options and handle the legwork of booking.
The card also offers trip delay reimbursement (covers meals and lodging if your flight is delayed 12+ hours), baggage delay insurance, and lost luggage reimbursement. These are insurance benefits that cover specific travel mishaps, though they come with limits and exclusions — read the fine print before relying on them.
Membership Rewards Points and Redemption
Purchases on the Reserve Card earn Membership Rewards points at varying rates depending on the category. Airfare, hotels, and car rentals booked through American Express Travel earn 3 points per dollar. Restaurants, shipping, and certain business services earn 1.5 points per dollar. Everything else earns 1 point per dollar. These rates are lower than some competing cards, which is one reason the card is designed around its credits rather than its points.
You can redeem Membership Rewards points for travel through American Express Travel, transfer them to airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio, or convert them to gift cards and other merchandise. The travel redemption option typically offers the best value — a point is worth roughly 1 cent when redeemed for flights or hotels, though this varies by booking.
Points don't expire as long as your account remains open and active, but closing the card forfeits any remaining points. If you're considering canceling, you can transfer your points to a partner before you do.
Annual Fee and Whether It Makes Financial Sense
The $695 annual fee is the card's biggest hurdle. To justify it, you need to use the statement credits — the airline, hotel, dining, and shipping credits total $600 in potential value per year. If you spend money in those categories anyway, the credits reduce your net cost to $95. If you don't use the credits, the card costs you $695 for the rewards points and lounge access alone, which is a poor deal.
The math works best for people who travel frequently and spend on restaurants and shipping regularly. A business owner who books flights and hotels several times a year, eats out regularly, and ships products can easily hit the credit thresholds. Someone who rarely travels or doesn't eat out much will struggle to justify the fee.
American Express sometimes offers a sign-up bonus — typically 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend a certain amount in the first few months. That bonus is worth roughly $1,000 to $1,500 in travel value, which can offset the first year's fee. However, you should not open the card solely for the bonus; you need to plan to use it long-term for the credits and perks to make sense.
Who Should Consider This Card and Who Should Skip It
The Reserve Card is built for business owners, consultants, and frequent travelers who spend heavily on the categories it rewards. If you book multiple flights per year, stay in hotels regularly, dine out often, and ship products or materials, the credits and perks can deliver real value. The concierge service and lounge access add convenience that some people find worth the fee on their own.
You should skip this card if you rarely travel, don't eat out much, or don't ship anything. The rewards rate is not competitive for everyday spending, and without using the credits, the annual fee is pure cost. You should also skip it if you're trying to build personal credit — this card reports to business credit bureaus, not personal ones, so it won't help your personal credit score.
If you're interested in a premium American Express card but don't have a business, American Express also offers the Platinum Card, which is the personal version. It has a similar annual fee and similar credits, though the specific benefits and earning rates differ slightly.
How to Open an Account and What to Expect
To open a Reserve Card account, you'll need a business structure — a sole proprietorship, LLC, S-corp, or C-corp all may have access to. You'll provide your business tax ID (EIN) or Social Security number if you're a sole proprietor. American Express will pull your business credit report and may also check your personal credit, depending on your business structure.
The process takes about 10 minutes online. American Express typically approves or denies applications within a few minutes, though some applications go to manual review and take a few days. If approved, your card arrives within 7 to 10 business days.
Once you have the card, register your preferred airline and hotel for the statement credits. You'll need to do this through your American Express online account. The credits are automatic once registered — you don't need to do anything else to claim them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this card for personal expenses, or only business expenses?
You can use it for both. The card is issued to a business, but there's no restriction on what you buy with it. Many business owners use it for personal travel and dining because the credits and perks explore regardless of whether the purchase is business-related.
What happens to my points if I cancel the card?
Your points are forfeited when you close the account. If you're thinking about canceling, transfer your remaining points to an airline or hotel partner first. You have until the account closes to do this.
Do I have to use all four statement credits every year?
No. Use whichever credits match your spending. If you don't fly much but eat out constantly, you'll use the dining credit but not the airline credit. Unused credits don't roll over to the next year.
Is the concierge service really available 24/7?
Yes, but response times vary. During business hours, you'll typically reach someone within minutes. Late at night or on weekends, wait times can be longer. The concierge cannot override airline policies or negotiate prices, but they can research options and handle bookings.
Will this card hurt my personal credit score?
No. The Reserve Card reports to business credit bureaus, not personal credit bureaus, so it won't appear on your personal credit report or affect your personal credit score. This is actually a benefit if you want to keep your business and personal finances separate.