Maximizing Amex Gold Travel Points: Earning, Redeeming, And Benefits

The American Express Gold Card is a great option for those who want to earn travel points. The card offers 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, and 4x points at restaurants, up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year. Additionally, cardholders can earn up to $120 in Uber Cash annually, up to $120 in annual dining credits, up to $84 in annual Dunkin' credit, and up to $100 in annual Resy credit. The Amex Gold card also provides travel benefits such as car rental loss and damage insurance, a lowest hotel rate guarantee, and a global assist hotline. With so many ways to earn and redeem points, the Amex Gold Card is a great option for those looking to maximize their travel rewards.

Amex Gold cardholders can earn up to $120 in Uber Cash annually

The American Express Gold Card is a great option for those who want to earn travel points and benefits without paying a premium annual fee. Amex Gold cardholders can earn up to $120 in Uber Cash annually, which is a significant benefit that adds value to the card. Here's how it works:

Amex Gold cardholders can receive up to $120 in Uber Cash each year, which is distributed as a monthly credit of $10. To take advantage of this benefit, cardholders need to add their Amex Gold card as a payment method in the Uber app. This can be done by going into the app's settings, adding a payment method, and selecting the credit or debit card option. Once the Amex Gold card is added, the $10 monthly Uber Cash will be automatically deposited into the user's Uber Wallet and can be used for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders in the US. This benefit is a great way for cardholders to save money on their Uber rides or food deliveries, enhancing the overall value of the Amex Gold card.

In addition to the Uber Cash benefit, the Amex Gold card offers several other perks that make it a compelling choice for those seeking travel rewards. Cardholders can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at US supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year) and 4x points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year). The card also provides 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel and 2x points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. Moreover, the Amex Gold card offers various statement credits, including up to $120 annually for dining at select restaurants and food delivery services, up to $84 annually for purchases at Dunkin', and up to $100 annually for eligible Resy purchases. These statement credits further increase the value proposition of the card, making it a strong contender in the travel rewards space.

The Amex Gold card's benefits don't stop there; cardholders also enjoy car rental loss and damage insurance when renting a car, providing secondary coverage for theft or damage to the rental vehicle. Additionally, the ability to transfer Membership Rewards points to various travel partners, including airlines and hotels, enhances the card's appeal for those seeking travel rewards. With its combination of points earnings, statement credits, and other benefits, the Amex Gold card is an excellent option for those seeking a travel rewards card without a premium annual fee.

The card offers 4x points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets

The American Express Gold Card is a great option for those who want to earn travel points through their regular food purchases. The card offers 4x points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, up to a certain amount per calendar year. This means that cardholders can earn rewards on their dining and grocery spending, which are often significant parts of their budget.

The 4x points at restaurants apply to both dining in and outside the U.S., making it a convenient option for those who travel frequently. Additionally, the card offers up to $10 in monthly statement credits for purchases made through select food delivery services and restaurants, such as Grubhub, Goldbelly, and The Cheesecake Factory. Cardholders can also benefit from up to $120 in annual Uber Cash, provided in $10 monthly increments, which can be used for Uber Eats or rides in the U.S.

It's important to note that the 4x points offered by the American Express Gold Card are subject to certain limitations and conditions. For example, the 4x points at U.S. supermarkets are limited to a maximum of $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, after which the rate drops to 1x. Similarly, the 4x points at restaurants worldwide are limited to a maximum of $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, with a rate of 1x point thereafter.

Furthermore, the classification of merchants as "supermarkets" or "restaurants" can vary, and this affects the points earned. For instance, some users have reported that purchases at certain grocery stores or corner stores coded as "convenience stores" or "specialty food stores" only earned them 1x points instead of the expected 4x. In contrast, some cafes, office vending machines, and highway rest area vending machines were reported to have coded as restaurants, resulting in 4x points for American Express Gold Card users.

Overall, the American Express Gold Card can be a valuable tool for earning travel points through food purchases, especially for those who frequently dine out or order takeout. However, cardholders should be mindful of the spending limits and merchant classifications to maximize their rewards.

Amex Gold has a $325 annual fee

The American Express Gold Card is a great option for those who want to earn rewards on their dining and travel purchases. The card has a $325 annual fee, but it offers over $400 in benefits value across dining and travel. Cardholders can earn Membership Rewards points on eligible dining and travel purchases, which can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, and more.

For dining purchases, cardholders can earn 4X points on restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the US, on up to $50,000 in purchases each year. Additionally, they can earn 4X points on groceries at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases each year.

When it comes to travel, cardholders can earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. They can also earn 2X points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel purchases booked through AmexTravel.com.

The annual fee for the Amex Gold Card is charged on the cardholder's Card anniversary date and appears on the monthly billing statement. Card Members can add up to five additional Gold Cards with no annual fee.

While the Amex Gold Card has a higher annual fee compared to some other cards, it offers a range of benefits and rewards that can outweigh the cost. The card is designed for individuals who frequently dine out or travel and want to maximize their rewards in these categories.

Cardholders can get up to $120 in annual dining credits

The Amex Gold Card offers up to $120 in annual dining credits, which can be used to offset the cost of dining out or ordering takeout. This benefit is available to both basic and additional card members, but there is a limit of $10 per month per card account, for a total of up to $120 per calendar year.

To take advantage of this benefit, cardholders must enrol in the dining credit programme and use their Amex Gold Card to make purchases at participating merchants. The current list of eligible merchants includes:

• Grubhub (including Seamless)
• The Cheesecake Factory
• Goldbelly
• Wine.com
• Milk Bar
• Select Shake Shack locations

It is important to note that purchases made through third-party apps or at locations inside other establishments (e.g. hotels or department stores) may not be eligible for the dining credit. Additionally, the credit cannot be used to purchase gift cards or merchandise.

Cardholders must enrol in the dining credit programme through their online Amex account or the Amex mobile app. Enrolment is a one-time process, and once enrolled, cardholders can take advantage of the dining credit each month. The statement credit typically posts within a few days of an eligible purchase but can take up to 6-8 weeks.

The Amex Gold Card dining credit is a great way for cardholders to save money on dining expenses and partially offset the card's annual fee. When combined with other benefits, such as the Uber Cash, Resy credit, and Dunkin' credit, cardholders can significantly reduce the effective cost of carrying the card.

Points can be redeemed for travel

The American Express Gold Card is a great option for those who want to earn rewards on their everyday purchases and redeem them for travel. The card offers 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (up to $50,000 and $25,000 per calendar year, respectively), making it an excellent choice for foodies and those who cook at home. Additionally, cardholders can earn 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com and 2x points on prepaid hotels and other eligible bookings made through AmexTravel.com.

When it comes to redeeming points for travel, cardholders have several options:

• Redeeming points with AmexTravel.com: Cardholders can use their Membership Rewards points to book flights, hotels, cruises, and vacation packages on AmexTravel.com. The value of 10,000 Membership Rewards points is highest when redeemed for flights, with fees of $6.99 for domestic flights and $10.99 for international flights.
• Transferring points to airline partners: Amex has several airline partners, including Air Canada, Delta, JetBlue, British Airways, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines. Transferring points to airline partners can offer good value, especially for short-haul flights or when transferring to domestic airlines.
• Redeeming points for select gift cards: Cardholders can redeem their Membership Rewards points for a variety of gift cards, including those from Air/Lodging, American Express, Car/Rail, Dining, Experience, and Retail categories.
• Paying for NYC taxis: Amex Gold cardholders can use their Membership Rewards points to pay for rides in New York City taxis, receiving a value of 1 cent per point.
• Making charitable donations: Cardholders can donate their points to charity through the American Express MembersGive program, receiving a value of 1 cent per point for donations up to 500,000 points per calendar year.

Overall, the Amex Gold Card offers strong rewards and redemption options for those looking to earn points on their everyday purchases and redeem them for travel.

Frequently asked questions