{"id":20457,"date":"2023-05-30T21:00:41","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T21:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/30\/american-express-membership-rewards-the-ultimate-guide-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2023-05-30T21:00:41","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T21:00:41","slug":"american-express-membership-rewards-the-ultimate-guide-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/30\/american-express-membership-rewards-the-ultimate-guide-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"American Express Membership Rewards: The ultimate guide – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

American Express issues several dozen cards, including cobranded hotel and airline cards, and two editions (personal and business) of the invite-only Centurion card<\/a>. That\u2019s a dizzying array of cards to choose from. Still, only a handful of publicly available Amex cards grant full access to the company\u2019s lucrative Membership Rewards program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re looking to dive into Membership Rewards for the first time or you\u2019re looking to expand your portfolio, select a card for a family member or pair an existing personal card with a business card<\/a>, you\u2019ve come to the right place. Let\u2019s take a closer look at this program and analyze some of the top Amex points-earning cards, what they offer, how to redeem points and how to maximize Amex rewards and benefits.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What are Membership Rewards points?<\/h2>\n

Membership Rewards points are the points currency of American Express. If you have an Amex card that earns Membership Rewards points, you will earn them for everyday spending, just as you would earn airline miles with an airline-branded card<\/a> or hotel points with a hotel-branded card<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the world of points and miles, American Express Membership Rewards points are considered some of the most valuable and useful points you can earn because of their flexibility. They are valued at a respectable 2 cents each<\/a> per TPG valuations<\/a>, and can maximize your travel across myriad partners. The program has 17 airlines and three hotel transfer partners<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How do I earn Membership Rewards points?<\/h2>\n

The easiest way to earn a lot of Membership Rewards points is by applying for a Membership Rewards points-earning American Express card. Amex has several to choose from, ranging from premium cards with generous benefits (and high annual fees) to no-annual-fee cards that reward daily business spending.<\/p>\n

Earning Membership Rewards points from credit cards<\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s a look at the welcome offer, bonus-category structure, annual fee and benefits for each of the six most valuable Membership Rewards credit cards to help you choose which is the best Amex card for you<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Card<\/strong><\/th>\nWelcome offer<\/strong><\/th>\nBonus categories<\/b><\/th>\nAnnual fee<\/strong><\/th>\nPerks<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
The Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express<\/a><\/span><\/td>\nEarn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of account opening.<\/td>\n5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) and prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Terms apply.<\/td>\n$695 (see rates and fees<\/a>).<\/td>\nUp to $200 in annual airline fee credit; up to $200 total in annual Uber Cash (in the U.S.); up to $200 in hotel statement credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, with Amex Travel; up to $240 in digital entertainment statement credit for select providers; up to $300 in Equinox credit annually on select Equinox memberships; up to $189 in Clear Plus<\/a> statement credit; a fee statement credit for Global Entry (up to $100) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85); access to the Global Lounge Collection; complimentary Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status (enrollment required for select benefits).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Business Platinum Card<\/a><\/span>\u00ae<\/a><\/span> from American Express<\/a><\/span><\/td>\nEarn 120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership.<\/td>\n5 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com<\/a>; 1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases in select business categories and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year).
Terms apply.<\/td>\n		$695 (see rates and fees<\/a>).<\/td>\nUp to $400 in annual credit for U.S. Dell purchases; up to $200 in annual airline fee statement credit for one selected airline; a fee credit for Global Entry (up to $100) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85); access to the Global Lounge Collection; complimentary Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Gold elite status (enrollment required).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
American Express\u00ae Gold Card<\/a><\/span><\/td>\nEarn 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.<\/td>\n4 points per dollar on dining at restaurants<\/span><\/span>; 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar); 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com<\/a>. Terms apply.<\/td>\n$250\u00a0(see rates and fees<\/a>).<\/td>\nUp to $120 in annual dining statement credit at participating partners (enrollment required); no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees<\/a>).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
American Express\u00ae Business Gold Card<\/a><\/span><\/td>\nEarn 70,000 bonus points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership.<\/td>\n4 points per dollar on two select categories where you spend the most each month, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases from these two categories each calendar year (then 1 point per dollar). Terms apply.<\/td>\n$295\u00a0(see rates and fees<\/a>).<\/td>\n25% points back after you book a flight using Pay with Points (up to 250,000 points back per calendar year).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
American Express\u00ae Green Card<\/a><\/span><\/td>\nEarn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of account opening. \u00a0Plus, earn 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases made during your first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit.<\/td>\n3 points per dollar on virtually all travel purchases (including transit) and restaurants in the U.S. Terms apply.<\/td>\n$150 (see rates and fees<\/a>).<\/td>\nVery broad and generous definitions of travel purchases, including vacation rentals, tolls and public transport.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Blue Business\u00ae Plus Credit Card from American Express<\/a><\/span><\/td>\nEarn 15,000 points after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of account opening.<\/td>\n2 points per dollar on everyday business purchases up to $50,000 each calendar year with no category restrictions (then 1 point per dollar). Terms apply.<\/td>\n$0 (see rates and fees<\/a>).<\/td>\nNone.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Other ways to earn Membership Rewards points<\/h3>\n

Once you have one (or more) of the above credit cards, there are additional options for earning Amex points. The first is leveraging Rakuten<\/a>, one of TPG’s favorite online shopping portals. Formerly known as Ebates, the site once offered cash back to shoppers who clicked through to participating merchants from its dashboard. However, members can now earn cash back or Membership Rewards points.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have an account, you can sign up here<\/a> and enjoy a one-time bonus of $30 (or 3,000 points) when you spend at least $30 within 90 days of becoming a member.<\/p>\n

Another way to earn Membership Rewards points is by buying or selling your home<\/a> through a company called RBN<\/a>. This referral brokerage matches prospective buyers and sellers with participating agents \u2014 and then awards you up to 1 Amex point for every $1 of the purchase or sale price after closing.<\/p>\n

<\/mask><\/mask><\/g><\/mask><\/g><\/mask><\/g><\/mask><\/g><\/mask><\/g><\/mask><\/g><\/mask><\/g><\/mask><\/g><\/mask><\/g><\/mask><\/g><\/mask><\/g><\/mask><\/g><\/mask><\/g><\/g><\/lineargradient><\/lineargradient><\/lineargradient><\/lineargradient><\/lineargradient><\/lineargradient><\/lineargradient><\/lineargradient><\/lineargradient><\/lineargradient><\/lineargradient><\/lineargradient><\/lineargradient><\/lineargradient><\/lineargradient><\/defs><\/svg><\/p>\n
\n

Sign up for our daily newsletter<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

To learn more, check out this guide<\/a> \u2014 or you can visit RBN\u2019s site<\/a> to connect with a participating agent.<\/p>\n

Read more: How to use Rakuten to earn bonus cash back or Amex points<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Do Amex points expire?<\/h2>\n

Membership Rewards points do not expire, provided you keep at least one card that earns Membership Rewards points open.<\/p>\n

If you cancel all Membership Rewards Amex cards, you must redeem or transfer your points before closing the last card. Otherwise, you will forfeit the points.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Who are the Membership Rewards transfer partners?<\/h2>\n
\n