Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Free global wi-fi for American Express Platinum cardholders

Links on Head for Points may support the site by paying a commission.  See here for all partner links.

Earlier this year, American Express Platinum launched a new benefit for its US and corporate UK Platinum cardholders.  Through a tie-up with a company called Boingo, you can receive free wi-fi when you are out and about in most parts of the world.

Boingo is everywhere.  They have over 1 million hotspots globally.  In the UK they seem to work mainly with BT OpenZone / BT Fon and you receive free access to that network.

There has been no official announcement about Boingo becoming a benefit for UK personal Platinum charge card holders.  However, you can now sign up.

All you need to do is visit this Boingo / American Express website.

Type in your Amex Platinum number and your account will be verified.  You can then create a Boingo account.

There is a Boingo app that you can download if you want to see where you can find a hot spot.  Even if you don’t use the app, what I have found with my iPad is that – when I look at the wireless networks I can access – the relevant ones are now marked as Boingo members.

Want to earn more points from credit cards? – April 2024 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus card

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

15,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Earning miles and points from small business cards

If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 12th May 2024, the Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa card is offering a bonus of 30,000 points, convertible into 30,000 Avios. You must have a Limited Company to apply. Click here to learn more and click here to apply.

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

American Express Business Platinum

40,000 points sign-up bonus and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

Huge 30,000 points bonus until 12th May 2024 Read our full review

For a non-American Express option, we also recommend the Barclaycard Select Cashback card for sole traders and small businesses. It is FREE and you receive 1% cashback on your spending.

Barclaycard Select Cashback Business Credit Card

1% cashback uncapped* on all your business spending (T&C apply) Read our full review

Category

American Express Platinum card

Comments (43)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • James67 says:
    16 Nov16 November 07:31

    Not sure this is much of a benefit at all other than it may speed sign in. I cannot recall, other than on a train, the last time I was unable to access free wifi when and where I wanted it. It is true signals were not always the best but this one will be no different. I think vast majority of us probably already have access to free wifi anyway via home entertainment, telecoms or mobile telecoms. I read recently there is now a hotdpot for about every 50 people on Earth so doubt we will have much problems.

  • Johnny5a says:
    16 Nov16 November 07:32

    This is brilliant! Quite a few countries it’s still paid WiFi

  • mike sanders says:
    16 Nov16 November 07:43

    My experience with Boingo is that once you even get close to them they never let go and you practically have to flush and rest all settings just to get rid of them. The will be the first on the list every time you are looking for wifi and will elbow out all the others if you let them. I don’t know about this deal and living in Hong Kong I guess my Platinum is no good but if this is for free then it is a major first for this money grubbing outfit.

    • Johnny5a says:
      16 Nov16 November 07:57

      that’s more likely to do with the device than them, i had a problem with BT WifI on my Android since I’ve upgraded my phone not a problem since.

  • Johnny5a says:
    16 Nov16 November 07:55

    Just signed up – had to use the primary card holder, would’t accept supplementary card holder – mentions not eligible

  • Emily says:
    16 Nov16 November 08:14

    This is brilliant – thank you for telling us!

  • JF says:
    16 Nov16 November 08:22

    Is the benefit for platinum charge card or credit card holders?

  • :-) says:
    16 Nov16 November 08:36

    In 2015 Amex will include free wifi with all FHR bookings

    • Alan says:
      16 Nov16 November 08:52

      Ah, that sounds like a nice improvement to FHR. If they can also maintain the number offering F&B rather than spa credits that would be great too!!

    • Col A-B says:
      18 Nov18 November 09:55

      What’s an FHR booking? I don’t recognise that acronym.

      • Rob says:
        18 Nov18 November 11:54

        Fine Hotels & Resorts, the Amex Platinum hotel booking service. Offers guaranteed 4pm check-out, guarantee free breakfast, a $100 credit towards spa or food and often an extra amenity. Works well on weekends away because of the 4pm check-out.

  • JF says:
    16 Nov16 November 08:37

    Does the benefit apply to platinum credit card holders or charge card?

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

New to Head for Points?

Welcome!  We’re the UK’s most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Let us improve how you travel. Got any questions? Ask them in our forums.

Latest Forum Posts

Get 40,000 bonus points (worth 40,000 Avios) and £300 dining credit with The Platinum Card

Check reward flight availability instantly for free!

See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Get £10 when you spend £150 on your free Currensea card

Booking a luxury hotel?

Our luxury hotel booking service offers you GUARANTEED extra benefits over booking direct. Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. We've booked £1.7 million of rooms to date. Click for details.

SME? SPECIAL OFFER TO 12TH MAY EARN POINTS WORTH 30,000 AVIOS WITH CAPITAL ON TAP

Get 20,000 bonus points, four airport lounge passes and your first year free with American Express Gold

The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. Our privacy policy is here.

Got it!