Is Your Company Missing Out on This 35% Airline Points Rebate?

We'll show you a unique way to save on flights, and which businesses will benefit the most. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.You are now subscribedYour newsletter sign-up was successfulWant to add more newsletters?Delivered dailyKiplinger TodayProfit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more delivered daily. 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Business flights are often unavoidable, yet they carry substantial expenses that can erode profit margins.But what if you could unlock a hidden strategy that fundamentally changes how much your business spends on travel? This could be the solution to transform your corporate travel budget from a source of stress into a competitive advantage.I'll break down a simple trick that can save your company on flights. I'll also outline things to keep in mind before using this approach, and when it doesn't benefit your business.Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special IssuesProfit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.The answer lies in your wallet. Business credit cards offer a variety of perks, but is yours matching your needs?To illustrate, if your company spends heavily on travel, consider the Business Platinum Card® from American Express. This card provides significant value by earning you five times the membership points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel.Business Platinum Card® from American ExpressEarn a 35% airline points rebate on all flights using your Business Platinum Card® from American Express. See rates and fees.As you rack up membership points, you might wonder where the best place is to redeem them. This is where the card really displays its value.Use Membership Rewards points to book flights through Amex Travel. You’ll receive 35% of the points back when booking business or first-class flights on any airline, or economy flights on your selected airline.Here's how it works: This won't be the best travel solution for all businesses. To start, there's the card's $895 annual fee. And if your employees need cards, it's $400 per card. These fees alone might not be worth the switch if your company has a no-fee or low-fee card that offers satisfactory rewards.Additionally, you have to select only one airline to qualify. If you have employees traveling internationally, you might not be able to maximize the rewards enough to justify the fee, though codeshare flights are eligible. This is where an airline sells tickets for another airline's flight.Here are the qualifying airlines:Another thing to keep in mind is that booking travel through Amex's Travel portal might not lead to the best flight deals. Research from The Points Guy found portal bookings can cost about 10.32% more on average than booking directly with airlines, though the difference varies depending on the route, fare class and how points are redeemed.While there are many things to consider before deciding whether the card is right for you, you might be surprised to learn that it doesn't cost much to justify the annual fee with the 35% rebate.Assuming a redemption value of about 1 cent per point, the 35% rebate could offset the card’s $895 annual fee after roughly $2,557 in flights booked with points. Actual savings will vary depending on how points are earned and redeemed.MetricValueAnnual Fee$895Rebate Percentage35%Minimum Required Flight Spend (in Points)$2,557This isn't a high bar for many businesses. The key is building up to the point where you can use points regularly to book flights.On top of this, you'll earn an annual $200 airline credit for incidentals, a $200 Hilton credit for stays and a $209 Clear Plus membership. Considering you're already traveling, you can use the card to earn membership points on things you'll use anyway and statement credits to justify the fee in no time.Overall, saving on travel is a key consideration for many businesses. Using the Business Platinum Card from American Express can help you earn 35% of your points back on flights booked using your points. Over time, this could save you significantly.While the annual fee is high, the spending threshold needed to justify it is not. However, if your business doesn't travel often, there are better card options available without the higher annual fees. Here's a good one:Capital One Venture X BusinessIf simplicity is your aim, this card delivers. Earn double the points on all purchases and a $300 annual travel bonus when you book trips through Capital One Travel, which can cushion the card's $395 annual fee. You'll also receive 10 times the miles on hotels and five times the miles on plane tickets booked through the portal. We may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. We may not cover every available offer. Our relationship with advertisers may impact how an offer is presented on our site but our editorial selection of products is made independently. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. We calculate a typical annual reward for each card, assuming $36,000 spent annually and less any annual fee. Interest rates, fees, rewards and other terms listed in this article are subject to change. Before you apply for a credit card, check its current terms and conditions with the issuer.Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.Sean is a veteran personal finance writer, with over 10 years of experience. He's written finance guides on insurance, savings, travel and more for CNET, Bankrate and GOBankingRates.