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$200 hotel credit offered with The Platinum Card® from American Express applies to prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings made via Amex Travel. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
In the world of points and miles, you'll quickly find that not all currencies are created equal. For the most part, though, most people will agree that you'll find the best value when sticking with transferable points currencies. One of those currencies that we especially love here at AwardWallet is American Express Membership Rewards. Thankfully, you can find lots of cards that earn Membership Rewards.
Membership Rewards can be used in a variety of ways and are jam-packed with value. For example, you can transfer to airline and hotel programs, book through Amex's travel portal, and even add money to your investment accounts. If redeeming points is what you want to tackle first, read more about some of the best uses for Membership Rewards. Importantly, you should know that you can only use points if you earn them first.
You can find plenty of cards that earn Membership Rewards, both for personal use and if you run a business. In fact, you'll almost certainly find one that works for you. In this article, we'll cover all of them. So, buckle up as we cover the pros and cons of each.
Page Contents
- Personal Cards That Earn Membership Rewards
- Centurion® Card from American Express
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- American Express Platinum Card® by Charles Schwab
- The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley
- American Express® Gold Card
- American Express® Green Card
- Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
- Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
- Blue from American Express®
- Business Cards That Earn Membership Rewards
- Other Ways to Earn American Express Membership Rewards
- Ways to Redeem Membership Rewards
- Final Thoughts
Personal Cards That Earn Membership Rewards
Centurion® Card from American Express
The Amex Centurion Card, aka the Black Card, is an ultra-premium card that is available by invitation only. With this card, you'll access benefits like top-tier hotel status, airline elite status, a handful of annual credits, and even a personal concierge.
But, you'll also pay for the perks and prestige of the Black Card. First, this card comes with a one-time initiation fee of $10,000. Then, you'll pay an annual fee of $5,000 going forward. Finally, if you want to add an authorized user, you'll bust out another five grand per person.
Even if you want it, you'll find difficulty determining how to even qualify for this card. Most people who manage to receive an invitation are spending hundreds, thousands, or even millions of dollars annually on their American Express cards.
Overall, the card doesn't offer out-of-this-world perks — especially for an astronomical annual fee. Additionally, it has no welcome offer like other cards we're accustomed to. But rappers rap about it, celebrities brag about it, and it looks super sleek. If these things matter to you, then this could be a great card.
Pros:
- Up to 1.5 cents per point value when redeemed for flights through the Amex Travel portal.
- It's a status symbol, and you'll pretty much be the coolest person you know if you have the Amex Centurion Card.
- 50% points rebate on premium cabin flights booked using Pay With Points
Cons:
- Very few people are eligible for this card; it requires an invitation.
- One point per dollar on all purchases.
- It's crazy expensive!
- Considering the massive fee, the benefits really aren't that extraordinary.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
- $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
The Amex Platinum card is one of the best premium products on the market.
That being said, it does come with a hefty annual fee. But don't let that scare you away. If you play your cards right, you can receive significantly more value out of the card than the cost of the annual fee. Amex Platinum offers a wealth of annual credits, bonus points on travel, and a bunch of other benefits that add up for the savvy traveler.
Pros:
- Up to $200 annual airline incidentals credit.
- Up to $200 annual hotel credits.
- Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit.
- Earn 5x on travel for flights booked directly with the airline or bookings on AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Access to Amex's Global Lounge Collection.
- And more!
- Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Cons:
- Only earns 1x on everyday purchases.
- $695 annual fee (Rates & Fees).
- Many of the perks can be tedious to track and complicated to use.
Related: All About The Platinum Card® from American Express
Additionally, there are several “flavors” of the Amex Platinum card. For the most part, all of the benefits are the exact same as the “Vanilla” Amex Platinum card. Still, you can find a few notable differences.
American Express Platinum Card® by Charles Schwab
The so-called “Schwab Platinum” earns Membership Rewards at the same rate as the traditional Amex Platinum card. In fact, pretty much all other perks are the exact same. However, you can find two perks that cardholders receive over the traditional Amex Platinum card:
- Invest with Rewards: Transfer Membership Rewards points to Schwab investment account at a rate of 1.1¢ per point.
- Up to $200 annual statement credit: Receive a $100 annual statement credit if your qualifying Schwab Holdings are equal to or greater than $250,000. Receive a $200 annual statement credit if your qualifying Schwab Holdings are equal to or greater than $1,000,000. Values are measured following card account approval and annually thereafter.
The American Express Platinum Card® by Charles Schwab is available to any credit-worthy applicant. However, you must have a banking relationship with Charles Schwab in one of the following account types: Schwab One, General Brokerage, and specific IRAs. You can find details here.
The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley
The Morgan Stanley version of the Amex Platinum card also is exactly the same as the “Vanilla” Amex Platinum. The earning rates, benefits, and even the annual fee are all the same. Holding the Platinum Card from Morgan Stanley gives cardholders two additional and unique benefits:
- Complimentary First Additional Platinum Card: Normally, authorized user cards on the Amex Platinum cost $195 for each additional Platinum Card for Authorized Users (Rates & Fees). With the Platinum Card from Morgan Stanley, you get the first authorized user free.
- Invest with Rewards: As a Platinum Card from Morgan Stanley card member, you can use Membership Rewards points for deposits to your qualifying Morgan Stanley brokerage account at a rate of 1¢ per point.
The Platinum Card from Morgan Stanley is open to credit-worthy applicants who have a qualifying brokerage account with Morgan Stanley. Minimum investment amounts vary by account type. You can find application restrictions here.
American Express® Gold Card
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 1X on other eligible purchases
- Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
The Amex Gold card is a cult favorite, and not just because it comes in a rose gold option — although that does help. The Amex Gold card doubles as a travel card and a lifestyle option. It rewards members for booking hotels and flights but also offers a generous bonus for spending on groceries, at restaurants, and even offers monthly Uber Cash and dining credits. Among cards that earn Membership Rewards, this one can help you earn them quickly.
The annual fee is still a hurdle. While it's not as expensive as the Amex Platinum, $250 per year is still more than many credit cards (Rates & Fees). Still, for many people, it's worth it.
Pros:
- 4x at restaurants, including takeout and delivery within the U.S.
- 4x at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1x).
- 3x on flights when you book directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- $10 monthly Uber credits.*
- $10 monthly dining credit at select locations.
- Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
*Only applicable to US Eats orders and Rides, Amex Gold card needs to be added to the Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit
Cons:
- $250 annual fee (Rates & Fees).
- $10 monthly dining credit is difficult to use.
- Many of the other benefits can be tedious to use, as well.
If you can maximize the Uber Cash and dining credits, the Amex Gold pays for itself. If not, you'll need to do some math to see whether the extra points you earn are enough to justify the annual fee compared to similar cards.
Related: All About the Amex Gold Dining Credit
American Express® Green Card
- 3x Membership Rewards® on travel
- 3x Membership Rewards® at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 3x Membership Rewards® on transit including trains, buses, ferries, subway, and more
- 1x Membership Rewards® on other purchases
The Amex Green Card is a solid option for those looking for a Membership Rewards-earning card and without paying the higher annual fee for premium Amex cards. The bells and whistles of the Amex Gold and Amex Platinum are definitely missing from the American Express® Green Card. However, it still has a lot to offer — especially for travelers.
Pros:
- 3x on all travel and transit.
- 3x at restaurants worldwide plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- Up to $189 CLEAR Plus credit.
- Up to $100 Annual Lounge Buddy credit.
- Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Cons:
- $150 annual fee .
- Not many additional perks beyond what is mentioned above.
Related: Full Review of the Amex Green Card Card
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
- 3X points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year (then 1X)
- 2X points at U.S. gas stations
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
- Use your card 30 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 50% extra points on those purchases less returns and credits.
The Amex EveryDay Preferred card is exactly that: an everyday card with bonus categories to complement your day-to-day spending. Add in the option to earn 50% more points when you make 30+ purchases per month and this card can become an earning powerhouse.
Pros:
- 3x points at U.S. supermarket purchases ($6,000 yearly purchase limit, then 1x).
- 2x at U.S. gas stations.
- 50% bonus points when you make 30+ purchases per month.
- Affordable annual fee of $95.
Cons:
- Low annual spending cap on supermarket category.
- The card doesn't offer many benefits beyond those mentioned above (though that's offset by the earning capabilities and low annual fee)
Related: Best Credit Cards for Everyday Purchases
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
- 2x points at US supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x)
- 1x points on other purchases
- Use your Card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% more points on those purchases less returns and credits.
The Amex EveryDay card is the no-annual-fee version of the Amex EveryDay Preferred. The cards' overall structures are the same, but the Amex EveryDay card earns at a lesser rate. Overall, it still offers you great value — especially if you're averse to paying an annual fee.
Pros:
- 2x at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1x).
- 20% more Membership Rewards points when you make 20 or more purchases per month.
- No annual fee .
Cons:
- Lower earning threshold than the Amex EveryDay Preferred.
Related: Full Review of the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
Blue from American Express®
The Amex Blue is a great entry-level card. It's also great for those working on their credit. You won't see any other benefits beyond a basic travel points booster. However, if credit building is your ultimate goal, then this card could be an excellent option.
Pros:
- 2x on travel purchases when booked through AmexTravel.com.
- No annual fee .
- Those with average credit can qualify for this card.
Cons:
- Cannot transfer Membership Rewards to partners.
- Basic card that offers no additional benefits.
- 1x points on nearly everything.
Business Cards That Earn Membership Rewards
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that's an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
- Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Business Platinum Card®.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. shipping providers.
- 1.5X earning rates are subject to a cap of $2 million in purchases per calendar year.
The Business Platinum Card from American Express offers some outstanding perks. Beyond its elevated earning for spending in select travel categories, it comes with amazing insurance protections, access to Amex's Global Lounge collection, and so much more. The card's 35% points rebate on travel booked with Membership Rewards (up to one million bonus points per calendar year) is an excellent way to take advantage of premium cabin airfare sales.
But there is one big downfall: the card's massive annual fee. That being said, the benefits more than outweigh the fee and can even save you money in the long run.
Pros:
- 5x on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com.
- 1.5x on qualifying purchases of $5,000 or more or in select business categories (up to $2 million of these purchases annually, then 1x).
- 35% Pay With Points airline rebate benefit.
- $200 semi-annual credit for purchases at Dell.com.
- $200 yearly airline incidentals credit.
- So much more!
- Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Cons:
- Huge $695 annual fee (Rates & Fees).
- Many of the perks can be complicated and inconvenient to use.
Related: All About The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
American Express® Business Gold Card
- Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.
- Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
- Get $12.95 back in statement credits each month when you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. $12.95 plus applicable taxes.
- Your Card - Your Choice. Now choose from Gold or Rose Gold.
- *Terms Apply
- Rates & Fees
- Airfare purchased directly from airlines (through 1/31/2024)
- U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
- U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- U.S. purchases for shipping (through 1/31/2024)
- Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
The American Express® Business Gold Card is a step down from the Business Platinum Card. Although its annual fee is less than half what the Business Platinum Card charges, the Amex Business Gold‘s benefits are somewhat lackluster in comparison. Where the Amex Business Gold really shines is in its bonus earning categories. The flexibility it offers is a bit unique. Cardholders can earn 4x points per dollar in the two categories where your business spends the most, 3x points on prepaid airfare and hotels at AmexTravel.com, and 1x everywhere else. The 4x categories include:
- Airfare purchased directly from airlines (through 1/31/2024)
- U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
- U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- U.S. purchases for shipping (through 1/31/2024)
- Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
The 4x earning applies to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each year. After that, you earn 1x. The unique bonus categories make the card great for those who have significant business expenses in these categories. The uniqueness of some of these categories provides an excellent opportunity to earn up to 600,000 bonus points annually in categories where other cards earn just 1x.
Pros:
- 4x on the two categories where your business spends the most — up to $150,000 annually, then 1x.
- 25% of your points back when you book through American Express Travel and pay all or part of the bill with points — up to 250,000 points back per calendar year.
Cons:
- $295 ($375 if application is received on or after 2/1/24) annual fee (Rates & Fees).
- Little else is offered beyond bonus categories.
- Spending caps on bonus Membership Rewards.
Related: Full Review of the American Express® Business Gold Card
Business Green Rewards Card from American Express
- Earn One Membership Rewards® point for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases
The Amex Business Green Card is one of Amex's weaker cards, in my opinion. For a card with an annual fee, it doesn't offer much to justify charging it. The card's main perk is its increased earning rate (2x, to be exact) on flights booked through Amex Travel.
Pros:
- 2x on travel booked through American Express Travel.
Cons:
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 .
- No other bonus categories beyond the travel option.
Pretty much all other Amex cards outshine the Amex Business Green Card in terms of value. You can also find non-Amex cards that offer much more — and for no fee.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
- You've got the power to use your Card beyond its credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power.
- *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
The Blue Business Plus is a must-have card for all of your other, non-bonus-category expenses. All other Amex cards only earn a single point per dollar spent on “other” eligible purchases (outside the bonus categories), but the Blue Business Plus earns two points per dollar on everyday business purchases — up to $50,000 each year (then 1x). You can pair it with a card like the Business Platinum Card to get 35% back when you book travel through Amex Travel and use Pay with Points. Among the cards that earn Membership Rewards points, using this card is one of the simplest (and cheapest!) ways to rack up your points.
Pros:
- 2x on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners, on the first $50,000 worth of purchases each year (then 1x).
- No annual fee (Rates & Fees).
- Access to Amex transfer partners without an annual fee.
Cons:
- Cap on 2x points earning.
- No ongoing perks or benefits.
While some other Amex cards turn your head with their perks, the Blue Business Plus is the real workhorse. Its value within a portfolio of other Amex cards cannot be understated.
Related: Best No-Annual-Fee Business Rewards Credit Cards
Other Ways to Earn American Express Membership Rewards
You can earn American Express Membership Rewards in several other ways, such as:
- Promotional earning rates for cardholders: These are promotions that are tied to the purchases you make with your Amex credit cards. You'll need to first activate the ones you might use. Your rebates will post automatically after you meet the purchase requirements. Offers are targeted, so not everyone will receive the same promotions for bonus points on spending.
- Adding authorized users: American Express frequently sends out targeted offers that provide cardholders bonus points for adding an authorized user and spending a specified dollar amount. These offers can be quite significant, as well.
- Refer a friend / refer a business: — Amex will give you bonus Membership Rewards or bonus cash back (as a statement credit) each time you refer a friend or a business who successfully opens a new account with American Express using your referral link. The amount you can earn via referrals is capped, but the cap resets each year. Offers can vary by card. However, you can refer from your card with the best available offer, and the friend/business can apply for the card that best meets their needs.
Ways to Redeem Membership Rewards
Using your cards to earn Membership Rewards is only half of the fun. The other half is redeeming them. You can redeem your Membership Rewards in several ways. For example, you can redeem them for gift cards, statement credits, and even Amazon purchases. But the real value lies in Amex's 21 travel transfer partners, which include the following:
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Aeromexico Club Premier
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Executive Club
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Choice Privileges
- Delta SkyMiles
- Emirates Skywards
- Etihad Guest
- Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
- Hilton Honors
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
For full details, see our guide to American Express Membership Rewards transfer partners.
Final Thoughts
Membership Rewards is one of the best transferable currencies on the market. By knowing all of the cards that earn Membership Rewards, you can plan your strategy and truly maximize your earnings. Just make sure to familiarize yourself with Amex's application rules first.
Which is your favorite Amex card that earns Membership Rewards?
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), American Express® Business Gold Card (Rates & Fees), and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (Rates & Fees)
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I have been waiting to get into this post. I was right to. I liked to see on one page the layout of each card. Makes me think through which will really help me.