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Amex Membership Rewards points are some of the most valuable credit card rewards you can earn because they're flexible — you can redeem them for a wide variety of rewards, including travel, or cash them in for other redemptions like gift cards or statement credits.
Many of the best cards, like The Platinum Card® from American Express, the American Express® Gold Card, and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express earn Membership Rewards (MR) points, and each has different bonus categories and benefits to suit your spending and travel habits.
Whether you're just getting started with American Express cards or are looking for new ways to use rewards, here's everything you need to know about earning and redeeming Amex points.
Business Insider pegs Amex points value at 1.8 cents each, on average, based on our latest points and miles valuations. That being said, the exact value you'll get depends on how you redeem your rewards.
Amex Membership Rewards points are some of the most highly valued credit card rewards. They are extremely flexible and can be redeemed for high travel value, as cash back, or used toward gift cards or statement credits.
You earn Membership Rewards points through Amex credit cards, many of which come with lucrative travel and shopping benefits that can make paying their annual fees more than worthwhile.
For example, the Amex Platinum charges an annual fee of $695, but you get a slew of valuable benefits in return. Other Amex cards without such a high annual fee don't come with as many benefits, but still offer perks like secondary rental car insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty, and more.
Amex issues a number of business and personal credit cards, many of which earn Membership Rewards points. For more information, read our supplemental posts comparing American Express Membership Rewards cards and our Membership Rewards transfer partners guide.
Any of the Amex personal cards that earn Membership Rewards allow you to transfer points to airline and hotel partners. Our favorites are listed below:
Best for frequent travelers The Platinum Card® from American Express Apply now lock icon An icon in the shape of lock. On American Express's website Rates & Fees Insider’s Rating Info icon Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals. A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection. Perks Annual Fee Info icon See Rates and Fees$695
Intro APRN/A
Regular APRSee Pay Over Time APR
Intro Offer Info icon 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membershipEarn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
Recommended CreditGood to Excellent
ProsIf you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, complimentary hotel elite status, and more.
Amex Platinum Card Product Details$325
Intro APRN/A
Regular APRSee Pay Over Time APR
Intro Offer Info icon 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership plus 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first six months of card membership, up to $100 back (Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24)Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points plus 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide, up to $100 back (Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24)
Recommended CreditGood to Excellent
ProsFoodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.
Amex Gold Card Product Details$150
Intro APRN/A
Regular APRSee Pay Over Time APR
Intro Offer Info icon 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership and earn 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases, up to a total of $200 back, made during your first six months of card membershipEarn 60,000 points
Recommended CreditGood to Excellent
ProsThe American Express® Green Card might not be as flashy as other premium American Express cards, but it's an affordable starting point for folks who want to start earning credit card rewards for free travel.
Amex Green Card chevron down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down.Best with no annual fee Amex EveryDay® Credit Card Insider’s Rating A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection. Perks Info icon Earn 2x Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on all other purchases. Annual Fee$0
Intro APR0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening
Regular APR12.99% - 23.99% Variable
Intro Offer Info icon 10,000 Membership Rewards® Points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months.Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Recommended CreditN/A
ProsThe Amex EveryDay® Credit Card is American Express's entry-level card for earning valuable Membership Rewards points. Beyond the ability to earn Amex points without paying an annual fee, the Amex Everyday card's standout feature is a 20% points bonus when you make at least 20 transactions in a billing cycle.
Amex EveryDay Card chevron down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down.Best bonus categories for families Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card Insider’s Rating A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection. Perks Info icon Earn 3x Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 2x Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. gas stations. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on all other purchases. Annual Fee$95
Intro APR0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (made in the first 60 days) for 12 months from the date of account opening
Regular APR15.99% - 25.99% Variable
Intro Offer Info icon 15,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of account openingEarn 15,000 points
Recommended CreditExcellent
ProsThe Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card is worth considering if you want to earn valuable Amex Membership Rewards points — especially if you spend a lot on groceries, gas, or travel — without incurring a high annual fee. But you'll need to use the card at least 30 times a month to make it worthwhile.
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card chevron down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down.Card | Welcome bonus offer | Review |
The Platinum Card® from American Express | 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership | American Express Platinum card review |
American Express® Gold Card | 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership plus 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first six months of card membership, up to $100 back (offer ends 11/6/24) | Amex Gold card review |
American Express® Green Card | 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership and earn 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases, up to a total of $200 back, made during your first six months of card membership | Amex Green card review |
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card | 10,000 Membership Rewards® Points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months. | Amex EveryDay credit card review |
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card | 15,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening | Amex EveryDay Preferred card review |
Amex issues some of the best small business cards on the market. The American Express business cards below earn Membership Rewards points:
Best no-annual-fee business card The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Apply now lock icon An icon in the shape of lock. On American Express's website Rates & Fees Insider’s Rating Info icon Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals. A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection. Perks Annual Fee$0
Intro APR0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months from account opening
Regular APR18.49% - 26.49% Variable
Intro Offer Info icon 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the card within your first three months of card membershipEarn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points
Recommended CreditGood to Excellent
ProsIf you're a small-business owner looking for a credit card that offers flexible rewards points without paying an annual fee, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is an excellent option. You don't need to own a full-time business to be eligible to apply, either — even freelancers and those with side gigs can qualify for a small-business card.
Amex Blue Business Plus Card Product Details$695
Intro APRN/A
Regular APR19.49% - 28.49% Variable
Intro Offer Info icon 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the card within the first three months of card membershipEarn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points
Recommended CreditGood to Excellent
ProsThe Business Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the best small-business cards with an elevated bonus and top-notch benefits (and a premium annual fee to match). It's an excellent offer if you like earning Membership Rewards points and you can maximize the bonus spending categories and perks — but be sure to assess whether the annual fee is worth it for you before you commit.
Amex Business Platinum Card Product Details$375
Intro APR0% intro APR for six months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time
Regular APR19.49% - 28.49% Variable
Intro Offer Info icon 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membershipEarn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points
Recommended CreditGood to Excellent
ProsThe American Express® Business Gold Card is a good choice if your business spends a lot in certain categories and you want to earn Membership Rewards points for travel or other redemptions. It's got a high annual fee, but if you can use the card's benefits to your advantage, it can be well worth it.
Amex Business Gold Card Product DetailsCard | Welcome bonus offer | Review |
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express | 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the card within your first three months of card membership | Amex Blue Business Plus credit card review |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the card within the first three months of card membership | Amex Business Platinum card review |
American Express® Business Gold Card | 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of card membership | Amex Business Gold card review |
Many Amex credit cards earn bonus points on specific categories of spend. The American Express® Gold Card, for example, earns 4x points on the first $50,000 you spend each year on restaurants worldwide, then 1x. This multiplier adds up quickly if you frequently dine out.
Our guides to the best American Express credit cards and the best American Express business credit cards break down each card's benefits and earning rates so you can easily compare which one is best for you.
When you open an American Express card, you can often earn a large welcome bonus offer, in addition to being able to rack up points quickly through your normal, everyday spending. This initial boost, often called a sign-up bonus, can jumpstart your way toward building a stash of Amex points for exciting redemptions we'll outline below.
Some of the options below offer the potential for fantastic value, but most non-travel choices aren't the best ways to redeem Amex Membership Rewards. We'll tell you why in each section below.
Amex Travel is essentially a travel-booking website operated by American Express. It works similarly to travel booking sites like Expedia or Orbitz. The American Express Travel portal allows you to book flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more with your Membership Rewards points.
Airfare is the best option when you're paying with points. When you book a flight through Amex Travel, you'll get a value of 1 cent per point. You may also find "Insider Fares," which generally offer a slightly better value — a lot of these fares are on Delta.
Unfortunately, if you want to book anything else through the Amex Travel portal — like hotels, cruises, rental cars, or vacation packages — you'll only get 0.7 cents per point. The exception is Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts, which gets you 1 cent per point.
This is in contrast to Chase, which offers the same price for anything through its Chase Travel℠ Portal — 1 cent per point if you have a basic card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® or Chase Freedom Flex® , 1.25 cents per point if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, or 1.5 cents per point if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
American Express lets you use points to bid for discounted upgrades to first class, business class, and premium economy on participating airlines.
A number of airlines offer an option to place cash bids on upgrades before your flight — if there are available seats in premium cabins, you can snag them at a potentially steep discount. Most airlines that offer this manage it through a third-party service called Plusgrade.
Under the Amex partnership with Plusgrade, you can use Membership Rewards points to place bids on over 20 airlines, including Aeromexico, Air Canada, Etihad, Qantas, Ethiopian Airlines, and TAP Portugal.
Each Membership Rewards point is worth $0.01 toward a bid. So 10,000 points are worth $100 — a solid valuation. The best value from points, however, can be had by transferring them to one of Amex's airline or hotel partners, and booking flights or hotel stays that way.
To bid for an upgrade using your Membership Rewards points, visit americanexpress.com/upgrade and enter your reservation details. If your bid is accepted, you'll receive an email.
When you check out online at a growing list of major retailers and enter your American Express card number, you can opt to pay in part or in full with points.
Merchants that currently let you pay with Amex points at checkout include:
You can exchange Membership Rewards points for cash or gift cards, but keep in mind that this is usually a pretty terrible value compared to other redemption options.
Different merchant gift cards have different prices and values for your points. Some offer a not-horrible 1 cent per point — meaning a $25 gift card costs 2,500 points — but the others are as low as 0.5 cents per point — so that $25 gift card would cost 5,000 points.
You can also redeem points as statement credits against specific charges — essentially, cash back used to pay your card. However, this is a similarly poor value, only offering 0.6 cents per point.
Amex offers a shopping portal that has a wide range of different products, all of which can be purchased with Membership Rewards points. However, you'll only get 0.5 cents per point (unless there's a promotional offer), so if you were set on using points for merchandise, you'd be better off going through a shopping partner like Amazon, or possibly buying a gift card.
To redeem points at Ticketmaster, you'll need to call Amex after using your card to pay for your Ticketmaster purchase, then use points at a rate of 0.5 cents each to cover the charge.
There are a few other, little-known options for redeeming your American Express rewards, including:
Maximizing value with American Express Membership Rewards can be extremely easy. These are some of our favorite ways to stretch your points.
As with any transferable points program, the best potential value you can get is from transferring your Amex points to a partner program. You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to 17 airline and three hotel loyalty program partners, mostly at a 1:1 ratio. Amex occasionally runs transfer bonuses that let you get even more value for your points when you move them to certain partners.
This is particularly valuable for flying, as opposed to hotel stays. In many cases, the cash price and the miles price of a ticket aren't linked, so it's possible to get exponentially increased value from your points by transferring them and booking an award ticket instead. That means potentially being able to fly long-haul in first or business class with points, among other things.
Ultimately, remember to compare pricing between the Amex Travel Portal and how many points you would need to transfer to a frequent flyer program for an award flight. Because award tickets sometimes have cash taxes and fees — occasionally rising into the hundreds of dollars — it's good to compare.
From time to time, Amex offers some limited-time promotions that can help you get even more value out of your points. Sometimes you can save up to $80 at Amazon by using a single Membership Rewards point at checkout, or Amex offers transfer bonuses where you can send points to airline or hotel partners at an elevated rate of 20% to 30% more value.
Amex Membership Rewards are among the most valuable travel rewards you can earn. These points offer a high upside thanks to Amex's lucrative roster of 17 airline and three hotel transfer partners, as well as a respectable value floor for eligible cardholders who book travel directly through Amex.
These features give Membership Rewards points an average redemption value of 1.8 cents per point in Business Insider's most recent valuations. Read on to learn which redemption options you should target and avoid in order to maximize your return.
Amex Membership Rewards are extremely popular, but they aren't the only good loyalty program "currency." Here are some other major players you should know about, as well as what makes them stand out.
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Amex is most frequently compared to Chase, which operates the popular Chase Ultimate Rewards loyalty program.
Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards are extremely similar in scope and flexibility, and share the same average and high point values by our calculations. Both rewards programs share many of the same hotel and airline partners including Air Canada, Air France/KLM, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines as well as Marriott.
Business Insider estimates that Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards are both worth 1.8 cents apiece, on average, or 2.2 cents apiece for a high-value redemption.
Points cannot be used interchangeably between the two programs, since Amex and Chase are competitors and do not share currencies.
That being said, cardholders who earn rewards under both programs can leverage them together very efficiently in many cases. For example, both airlines partner with Air Canada as a points transfer partner. If you need a certain number of miles for an award ticket but don't have enough in one account, you can top up your Air Canada mileage account using points from the other credit card program.
Chase Ultimate Rewards can also be redeemed many other ways, just like Amex points.
Citi ThankYou Points
Citi is the third member of the original trifecta of credit card loyalty programs, before Capital One, Bilt Rewards, and Wells Fargo joined the scene. Citi-branded credit cards earn Citi ThankYou points worth 1.6 cents apiece according to Business Insider valuations. Citi points can be transferred to 19 different airlines and hotel partners or used for many of the same alternative redemptions as the programs mentioned above.
Citi ThankYou Rewards are worth 1.6 cents apiece on average, according to our valuations.
Capital One
Capital One was one of the newer credit card issuers to enter the transferrable rewards currency game after the three major players began decades ago. Capital One-branded consumer and business credit cards earn Capital One Miles, which can be transferred to more than a dozen airlines and hotel chains. Once again, Capital One Miles can also be redeemed in many other ways including for gift cards, statement credits, and more.
Capital One Miles are unique because they also can be used to "erase" travel-related purchases on Miles-earning credit cards. Just pay for a flight, hotel, or similar eligible expense using the rewards card, then choose the "pay with Miles" option when you go to pay your credit card outstanding balance. You'll see the points as a credit on your statement, effectively negating your out-of-pocket cash flow.
Capital One Miles are worth 1.7 cents apiece on average, according to our valuations.
Bilt
Bilt is a newcomer on the credit card rewards currency scene, but the Bilt Rewards program is already a robust competitor to the ones listed above. Bilt boasts well over a dozen airline and hotel transfer partners as well, and offers loyalty program members many fun ways to earn Bilt Points including free trivia contests and rotating promotions on Bilt Rent Day, which falls on the first of each month.
Bilt offers a few unique opportunities that competitors do not. Bilt members don't have to be Bilt cardholders to earn points, and Bilt Points can be used to pay rent on a Bilt Mastercard® or saved toward a down payment on a home through select mortgage lenders.
Bilt Points are worth 1.65 cents apiece on average, according to our valuations.
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo is the newest issuer to join the ranks of flexible credit card reward currencies. The Wells Fargo Rewards program is brand-new as of April 2024, so little information is known yet beyond the five airline and one hotel partner transfer opportunities. Cardholders who earn Wells Fargo Rewards points can redeem them through new transfer partners, pool their points between friends and family, or continue to use them as cash back.
Wells Fargo points are worth 1.3 cents apiece on average, according to our valuations.
Amex Membership Rewards hold their own against these competing rewards because Amex has a reputation for luxury in the travel space. Amex cardholders can use their points to offset cash purchases through American Express Travel, and some popular Amex credit cards come with generous travel benefits such as complimentary access to the famous Amex Centurion Lounges.
Travelers who value luxe, exclusive experiences while on the go tend to gravitate toward American Express cards and Membership Rewards.
Amex Membership Rewards points are relatively forgiving, but there are some basic rules you should know. Here's how to earn more Membership Rewards points and protect the ones you earn.
Amex points do not expire as long as you remain an Amex credit cardholder. But if you close an Amex credit card that earns Membership Rewards, make sure you use or transfer out your points before you terminate your account because you will lose any points when the account closes.
The best ways to quickly earn Amex Membership Rewards is by signing up for new credit cards, earning the welcome bonuses on each card, and strategically spending on whichever card offers the best bonus category for the purchase you're about to make.
You can also double-dip on rewards by using a shopping portal when making purchases online.
You can earn Membership Rewards points with certain American Express credit cards. The rate at which you earn points varies based on the card and category of spend such as dining, travel, or groceries.
Can Membership Rewards points be transferred to airlines or hotels? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Yes, one of the most valuable ways to use Membership Rewards points is by transferring them to Amex's large network of airline and hotel partners. You'll often get the best redemption rates by using your points for business- and first-class international flights.
Are there any fees associated with transferring points? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.American Express sometimes charges a nominal fee for transferring points to U.S. airlines. The dollar amount will always be disclosed during the transfer process, when you need to agree to the fee and hit "confirm" in order to complete the transaction.
David E. Slotnick Senior Reporter David is a Senior Transportation Reporter for Business Insider. He primarily covers airlines and air travel. A native New Yorker and avid photographer, David previously covered travel, credit-card rewards, and frequent-flyer programs. Before joining Business Insider, David was a freelance writer and editor — before that, he worked in public affairs. He earned his bachelor's degree from Muhlenberg College and his master's from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, UK. You can follow him on Twitter or Instagram, or send him an e-mail at dslotnick@businessinsider.com. Read more Read less Katherine Fan Senior Editor, Credit Cards Katherine Fan is a personal finance expert, journalist, and public speaker with nine years of industry experience. Before joining Personal Finance Insider as Senior Editor of Credit Cards, Katherine covered aviation, award travel, loyalty programs, and credit cards as a senior reporter for The Points Guy, and small business finances as a lead writer for Nerdwallet. ExperienceSince 2015, Katherine has published 1,800+ articles, guides, and reviews covering credit card benefits and rewards, small business finances, points and miles travel, loyalty programs, and real estate investing. Katherine has also freelanced for CNN Underscored, Forbes Advisor, Wall Street Journal Buy Side, Bankrate, CreditCards.com, the Dallas Morning News, LendingTree, Upgraded Points, Fortune Recommends, Newsweek, and Slickdeals Money. Her work has been syndicated by Nasdaq, MSN and Yahoo. Katherine is a guest speaker at TravelCon, and has been featured on multiple podcasts including NPR Life Kit, Expedia's Out Travel the System, and The Points Guy's Miles Away. In her spare time, Katherine moonlights as a photojournalist covering Formula 1, Austin City Limits, and SXSW for the Austin American-Statesman and other media outlets. When she's not jetsetting around the world, you'll likely find her in Austin cooking up a batch of spicy Chinese food.ExpertiseKatherine's expertise encompasses:For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, please click here.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
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Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Reference
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