The American Express Membership Rewards program is one of my all-time favorite programs because of its exceptional airline transfer partners, such as ANA, Iberia Avios, and Air Canada’s Aeroplan.
If you’re looking to earn Membership Rewards, Amex offers a great selection of credit cards, which I’ve ranked to help you decide better.
Piece of advice for frequent travelers – I suggest picking up either the personal or business Platinum Cards for the great airport lounge access and lots of extra points when booking flights.
Best for Airport Lounge Access: American Express Platinum Card® (review).
Best for Dining and U.S. Supermarkets: American Express® Gold Card (review).
Best for Everyday Spending: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (review).
1. American Express Platinum Card®
Best for Airport Lounge Access
American Express Platinum Card® (review) offers the most comprehensive airport lounge network available, giving you access to premium Centurion Lounges plus thousands of other lounges worldwide. You can easily offset the card’s large annual fee through generous credits for Uber, hotels, digital entertainment, Resy dining, and lifestyle brands like lululemon. Earning Points: 5x on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel®, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year; 5x points on on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com; 1x points on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
2. American Express® Gold Card
Best for U.S. Supermarkets and Restaurants
The American Express® Gold Card (review) is a great card for earning points at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and flights booked directly with airlines. Cardholders can also enjoy up to $424 in annual credits and nice travel and purchase protections. Earning Points: 4x points at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1x points); 4x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1x points); 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com; 2x points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com; 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Benefits: Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
3. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for Business Travelers
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (review) delivers premium travel benefits including extensive lounge access (access is limited to eligible card members) and valuable hotel elite status. This premium business card excels at making travel more luxurious, though you’ll need to use multiple statement credits and travel perks to maximize its value. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earn Rewards: 5x points for flights, prepaid hotels booked at AmexTravel.com; 2x points per dollar for purchases up to $2 million in spending per calendar year in these categories: purchases of $5,000 or more regardless of category, U.S. cloud service and software providers, U.S. construction materials and hardware suppliers, U.S. electronics retailers, and U.S. shipping providers; and 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
4. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Best for Everyday Spending
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (review) offers a strong 2x Membership Rewards points on the first $50,000 in purchases annually, making it an excellent no-annual-fee (rates & fees) option for small business owners. This card provides good value for everyday spending and access to Amex’s 20+ transfer partners, though it does have foreign transaction fees. Welcome Bonus: 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. Earning Points: 2 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar on the first $50,000 spent on the card annually (then 1 point per dollar). Card Benefits: Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Expanded Buying Power, and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, after that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
5. American Express® Business Gold Card
Best for Flexible Rewards
The American Express® Business Gold Card (review) offers tailored rewards, earning 4x points in your top two spending categories each billing cycle from a list of six options (capped at $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year). With up to $395 in annual statement credits and valuable redemption options through Membership Rewards transfer partners, this card can be a powerful earning tool for many businesses. Welcome Bonus: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Earning Points: 4x points in your top two categories each billing cycle up to $150,000 in combined purchases at 4x points (then 1x points) in the following purchase categories: US gas stations, US restaurants, US advertising in select media, transit and rideshare, monthly US wireless telephone services charges made directly with wireless service provider, U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers; 3x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked via AmexTravel.com; and 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: Up to $20 monthly credit upon enrollment when you use your card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores, Walmart+ credit, no present spending limit, trip delay insurance, baggage insurance plan, secondary rental car insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
6. American Express® Green Card
Budget Travel Card
The American Express® Green Card (review) offers generous 3x points on travel and dining, plus vannual credits for CLEAR and LoungeBuddy. This versatile mid-tier card is ideal for frequent travelers who want to maximize rewards on everyday spending categories.
(All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Deals Points and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.) Welcome Bonus: Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 within the first 6 months. Earning Points: 3x points on restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the US), travel (including flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, etc.), and transit (including tolls, parking, and rideshare); 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: Annual $199 CLEAR Plus Credit, annual $100 LoungeBuddy credit, no preset spending limit, trip delay insurance, baggage insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
7. Amex EveryDay® Preferred
The Amex EveryDay® Preferred (review) offers bonus rewards at U.S. supermarkets and gas stations, with a 50% points bonus when you make 30+ transactions per billing cycle. While it provides decent everyday earning potential, the card lacks premium benefits to fully justify its annual fee.
(All information about the Amex Everyday Preferred has been collected independently by Deals Points and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.) Welcome Bonus: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards Points After Spending $2,000 in the First 6 Months. Earning Rewards: 3x points at U.S. Supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year (1x thereafter); 2x points at U.S. gas stations; and 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Additionally, if you make 30 transactions using the card in a billing period, you will receive a 50% points bonus. Card Benefits: Secondary rental car insurance, return protection, and 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months after account opening, after that a 17.74% to 27.74% Variable APR applies.
8. Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card (review) provides access to the Membership Rewards program without an annual fee. It offers bonus points at U.S. supermarkets and a 20% points boost for frequent use, making it a good entry-level option for travel rewards beginners.
(All information about the Amex Everyday has been collected independently by Deals Points and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.) Welcome Bonus: Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® Points after Spending $2,000 in your first 6 months. Earning Rewards: 2x points U.S. Supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year (then 1x points); 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Additionally, if you use your card at least 20 times in a month, you will receiver a 20% points bonus. Card Benefits: Secondary rental car insurance and 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfer, after that a 18.24% to 29.24% Variable APR applies.
Redeeming Amex Membership Rewards Points
American Express Membership Rewards points are a versatile and valuable currency for travelers. The program offers numerous redemption options, with transfers to airline partners being the most lucrative way to use your points. Amex partners with 18 airlines and 3 hotel chains, allowing you to access a wide range of travel possibilities. Some of the best redemptions include booking business class flights to Europe through Air France-KLM Flying Blue for as low as 50,000 miles one-way. Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club offers excellent value for Delta One flights to Europe at 50,000 points, significantly less than booking directly through Delta. For those planning a trip to Asia, transferring to ANA Mileage Club can yield incredible value. Round-trip business class flights from the West Coast to Tokyo can be booked for just 90,000 miles. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is another great option, especially for their renowned long-haul flights like New York to Singapore. Domestic travelers can benefit from transferring to British Airways Executive Club for short-haul American and Alaska Airlines flights, with awards starting at just 8,250 Avios for distances up to 650 miles. While transferring to airline partners typically offers the best value, Amex also allows direct redemptions for flights through their travel portal. However, this option generally provides lower value at 1 cent per point. To maximize your Membership Rewards, focus on high-value airline transfers for premium cabin international flights. With strategic planning, you can unlock extraordinary travel experiences and significant savings on your next adventure.
Membership Rewards Transfer Partners [1 to 1]
Aer Lingus Avios
AeroMexico [1 to 1.6]
Air Canada Aeroplan
Air France/KLM Flying Blue
ANA
Avianca LifeMiles
British Airways Avios
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Delta SkyMiles
El Al [1,000 to 20]
Emirates
Etihad Guest
Hawaiian Airlines
Iberia Avios
JetBlue [250 to 200]
Qantas
Qatar Airways
Singapore KrisFlyer
Virgin Atlantic
Choice
Marriott Bonvoy
Hilton Honors [1 to 2]
Choosing the Right American Express Card for You
Deciding on the most suitable American Express card hinges on your lifestyle and spending habits, particularly if you’re inclined towards travel. The Membership Rewards program, while rich in travel perks like lounge access, primarily benefits those who travel frequently. For those who fit this profile and aim to maximize their points, here are some recommendations:
For Travel Enthusiasts: American Express Platinum Card® (review) offers substantial value through its travel credits and perks, justifying its large annual fee for frequent travelers. Business owners might lean towards The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (review).
For a Versatile Option: The American Express® Gold Card (review) is an excellent alternative for those hesitant about the Platinum cards’ annual fees. It effectively bridges travel and everyday spending, offering bonuses on flights, dining, and U.S. supermarket purchases.
For Non-Category Spending: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (review) is a smart addition to your collection, offering a 2x point bonus on everyday purchases that fall outside other bonus categories (up to $50,000 in spending per year).
An additional factor to consider is the timing of your application. American Express enforces a one-time policy for earning introductory offers on each card, making it crucial to apply when the introductory bonuses are particularly high to maximize your rewards.
In summary, selecting the right American Express card requires a balance of understanding your spending patterns, travel frequency, and the potential value of card perks and rewards.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business Plus® Credit Card from American Express, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For the rates and fees of the American Express® Green Card, please click here.
