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Best Amex Credit Cards for Travel in 2024

American Express provides many appealing credit cards that serve different travel-related requirements. While some of these cards are co-branded, others are not. All the Amex travel credit cards we've selected offer reward points or miles.

Rajiv Baniwal

Finance Journalist

Rajiv Baniwal is a former finance writer at MoneyGeek, with more than 15 years of experience covering financial topics. His expertise includes mortgages, loans, credit cards, insurance and international money transfers. Baniwal has a bachelor’s degree in art studies from Delhi University.

Lee Huffman

Credit Card and Personal Finance Expert

Lee Huffman is a credit card and personal finance expert at MoneyGeek. He has spent 18 years as a financial planner and corporate finance manager, with 12 years of experience writing about early retirement, credit cards, travel, insurance and other personal finance topics. His writings are published on The Points Guy, Investopedia and NerdWallet. Huffman earned his business management degree from Pepperdine University and his master's degree in eBusiness from the University of Phoenix. He enjoys showing people how to travel more, spend less and live better through the power of travel rewards.

Updated: March 14, 2024

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MoneyGeek partners with leading industry experts and advertisers to help you get to your financial happy place. Our content is accurate when posted but offers may change over time. We may receive compensation for partner advertisements, but our editorial team independently reviews and ranks products. Learn more about our editorial policies .

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Travelers have multiple credit card options to choose from when they turn to American Express. If you favor using a particular airline or group of hotels over others, you might benefit by getting a co-branded Amex travel card. Irrespective of the card you choose from our selection, you stand to earn rewards in some form.

While some of the best Amex credit cards for travel come with annual fees, a few do away with them completely. This largely depends on the rewards and perks on offer. For example, while the benefit-laden Amex Hilton Honors Surpass Card charges an annual fee, the simpler Hilton Honors Card does not. However, it earns fewer points on bonus category purchases and includes fewer benefits. It is common for Amex travel cards to come with no foreign transaction fees.

• Our Top 5 Picks
• Summarized List of All Winners
• Tips for Comparing Credit Cards

This article is part of our larger series on Best Travel Credit Cards

MoneyGeek's Take: Top 5 Amex Credit Cards for Travel

Quick Summary

• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card : A great miles rewards card with no annual fees.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card : An excellent credit card for earning Hilton Honors points.
• Hilton Honors American Express Card : A good travel rewards card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card : An excellent card for earning Delta SkyMiles.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card : A great credit card for individuals looking for basic travel perks and more opportunities to earn miles.

The best Amex credit cards for travel offer a variety of travel-related perks and high points/miles earn rates on category-based spending, although these tend to come at a cost. We’ve selected the top five cards from this category based on factors such as annual fees, APRs, welcome offers and value of points/miles.

A great miles rewards card with no annual fees

• up to 2 Miles per $1* Rewards Rate
• 20.99% – 29.99% Variable APR
• $0 Annual Fee
• Good–Excellent Recommended Credit

WHY WE GEEK OUT

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is great for casual Delta travelers who want to earn miles without an annual fee. This basic travel card lets you earn 2X miles on Delta purchases and restaurants, plus 20% savings on in-flight purchases. While it lacks premium perks like free checked bags, its no-annual-fee structure and straightforward rewards make it a solid choice for infrequent Delta flyers.

PROS & CONS

• No annual fee
• Double the miles on Delta purchases and restaurants
• No foreign transaction fees
• No free checked bags
• No priority boarding

CARD DETAILS

• Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
• Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases,
• Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.

Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.

• Pay with Miles: take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
• Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• No Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply. See Rates and Fees

An excellent credit card for earning Hilton Honors points

• 3–12 Points per $1* Rewards Rate
• $150 Annual Fee

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a fantastic option for travelers, especially those with a penchant for Hilton stays. Imagine walking into a Hilton property and enjoying complimentary upgrades, thanks to the Gold Status that comes with this card. Whether you're dining out stateside or shopping online, you're racking up points at an impressive rate. And for the globetrotters, there's no need to worry about those pesky foreign transaction fees. The card does have an annual fee, and while the perks cater primarily to Hilton enthusiasts, its broad rewards system can offer value to many.

• Generous welcome bonus
• Purchases from Hilton get bonus points
• Complimentary Hilton upgrades
• No foreign transaction fees See Rates & Fees
• With annual fee
• Benefits mostly Hilton-centric
• Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in the first six months.
• Receive up to $200 back annually on eligible Hilton purchases.
• Earn 12X Points on Hilton purchases, 6X Points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, 4X Points on U.S. online retail purchases, and 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
• Earn a Free Night Reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status.
• Achieve Hilton Honors Diamond Status by spending $40,000 in a calendar year.
• Complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status.
• No foreign transaction fees. See Rates & Fees
• $150 annual fee. See Rates & Fees
• Terms apply.
• See Rates & Fees

A rewarding travel card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts

• 3–7 Points per $1* Rewards Rate

The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a traveler's dream come true. With no annual fee and a generous welcome bonus, it's a financial no-brainer for those frequenting Hilton properties or just seeking exceptional value. Whether dining out stateside or shopping abroad, you'll accumulate points seamlessly without those pesky foreign transaction fees. And here's the kicker — this card instantly boosts you to Hilton's Silver status! Want more perks? Just up your spending game, and Gold status awaits. This card truly embraces both the occasional and the dedicated traveler.

• No annual fee See Rates and Fees
• High earning rates with Hilton
• No foreign transaction fees See Rates and Fees
• Automatic Hilton Silver status
• Potentially high APR
• High credit requirement
• Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in the first six months.
• Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 5X Points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status. Spend $20,000 in a calendar year to upgrade to Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
• With no foreign transaction fees, you can make purchases abroad without any extra costs. See Rates and Fees
• Terms Apply
• See Rates and Fees

An excellent card for earning Delta SkyMiles

• 1–3 Miles per $1 Rewards Rate
• $350 Annual Fee

We recommend the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card to people who fly with Delta frequently. While this card comes with a $350 annual fee, it offers a number of Delta- and SkyMiles-specific benefits. A welcome offer gives you the ability to earn 50,000 bonus miles by spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months. All purchases made directly with Delta earn 3X miles, as do hotel bookings made directly with hotels. A couple of categories come with 2X miles and all others with 1X miles. Cardholders may check their first bags on Delta flights for free, and they receive one domestic main cabin round-trip companion certificate every year. You also get a fee credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck. Using this card outside of the U.S. makes sense as it comes with no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders stand to benefit through different travel insurance coverage and purchase protection.

• Generous welcome offer
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• Free first checked bag on Delta flights
• Get to the next Medallion membership status faster
• Complimentary travel insurance and purchase protection
• $350 annual fee
• Cannot transfer miles to other airline loyalty programs
• Penalty APR may apply in case of late/returned payments

Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.

Companion Certificate for domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after card renewal. Taxes and fees apply, up to $80 for domestic and $250 for international flights.

$2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year.

Earn $1 Medallion Qualification Dollar for each $20 spent on the card.

Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and hotel bookings.

Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.

Eligible for the Complimentary Upgrade list with an eligible ticket.

Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights

Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.

Enjoy 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.

Receive up to $120 in statement credits annually for eligible purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants.

Receive up to $120 in statement credits annually for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.

$100 statement credit for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck® application fees.

No Foreign Transaction Fees See Rates and Fees

$350 Annual Fee See Rates and Fees

Terms Apply.

A great credit card for individuals looking for basic travel perks and more opportunities to earn miles

• 1–2 Miles per $1 Rewards Rate
• 0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 Annual Fee

We like the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card because it comes with a sizable welcome bonus and multiple bonus categories for earning Delta SkyMiles. As a part of its welcome offer, you earn 40,000 Bonus miles if you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first six months.

This card offers 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

This card offers a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, after which it becomes $150. Additionally, it does not charge any foreign transaction fees. You receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year. You save 20% when you use this card to pay for Delta in-flight purchases. All cardholders get access to priority boarding on Delta flights.

• No foreign transaction fee
• $200 Delta flight credit
• Free first checked bag
• Priority boarding
• Annual fee of $150 after the first year
• No luxury travel benefits, like lounge access.
• Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
• Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 thereafter. See Rates and Fees
• 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app.
• $200 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year.
• Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. supermarkets, and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• Check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 per round-trip per person.
• Enjoy Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights.
• $100 back per year as a statement credit after booking prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
• Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles redeemed with Pay with Miles.
• 20% savings on eligible Delta in-flight purchases.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Terms apply. See Rates and Fees

Summary of the Best Amex Cards for Travel

Check this brief Amex travel card comparison table that’s based on aspects such as APRs, annual fees and welcome offers.

• Credit Card Best For Avg. Reward Rate Annual Fee Credit Needed

While many travelers gravitate towards cards with no annual fees, you are often better off choosing a card with a fee. The included perks, like a free checked bag or annual free night, often outweigh any annual fee that you pay. -- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com .

How to Compare Amex Credit Cards & Intro Offers

Features and benefits that you may find in one Amex travel card might be specific to the card in question. This requires that you pay attention to different aspects before arriving at a decision.

Co-branded or not

American Express offers co-branded cards in the form of Delta SkyMiles cards, Hilton Honors cards and Marriott Bonvoy cards. These cards might work well for you if you’re a frequent user of any of these brands. Otherwise, you can choose a card that earns Amex Membership Rewards points, which offer numerous redemption options.

Travel cards tend to come with higher APRs than cards that don’t offer any rewards/cash back. If you plan to carry balances from one month to the next, consider looking at what the top low-interest credit cards have to offer.

Annual fees

The annual fee you might need to pay depends on the features and benefits you’re after. For example, the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card comes with up to 2x miles on category-based spending. While the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card charges a $250 annual fee, it offers up to 3x miles on category-based spending. Besides, it comes with a more rewarding welcome offer as well as other perks such as an annual companion certificate, first checked bag free and credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees.

Welcome offer

All the top Amex travel credit cards give you the opportunity to earn bonus points or miles through different welcome offers. If you get the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card, you earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 miles by spending $500 on eligible purchases in the first three months. The Hilton Honors Card , on the other hand, offers 100,000 bonus points if you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months, and an additional 50,000 bonus points if you spend a total of $5,000 in the first six months.

Points/miles earn rate

The annual fee that you might or might not need to pay typically has a bearing on this aspect, so you need to weigh your options after accounting for your spending patterns. For instance, the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors Card lets you earn up to 7x points on category-based spending. This increases to 12x points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card , which charges a $95 annual fee.

Value of points/miles

If you get a card that offers American Express Membership Rewards Points, their value may vary from 0.5 cents to 1 cent per point or higher based on how to choose to redeem them. If you get a co-branded card that offers miles or points linked to an airline or a hotel loyalty program, you typically get the best value when you use them to pay for flight or prepaid hotel bookings. In such cases, aspects such as dates, routes and specific properties may also affect the value of your miles/points.

Additional features

You may expect various card-specific features and perks from our selection of the best Amex credit cards for travel. These include no foreign transaction fees, no preset spending limits , complimentary travel insurance coverage, status upgrades in loyalty membership programs, weekend night rewards, Priority Pass lounge access, annual companion certificates and additional savings on in-flight purchases.

Further Reading

Business vs. Corporate Credit Cards

About Rajiv Baniwal

Rajiv Baniwal is a former finance writer at MoneyGeek, with more than 15 years of experience covering financial topics. His expertise includes mortgages, loans, credit cards, insurance and international money transfers.

Baniwal has a bachelor’s degree in art studies from Delhi University.

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Benefits of the American Express Gold Card

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For serious foodies, the benefits of the American Express® Gold Card are tailor-made for your wallet.

If you can take full advantage of everything this card offers, you'll easily be able to offset the $325 annual fee ( see rates and fees ).

The main course: elevated rewards for dining in, dining out and grocery shopping. But the card also serves up healthy side portions of airline benefits and other perks.

Here are the benefits of the American Express® Gold Card :

» MORE: Complete card details for the American Express Gold Card

Points: Spending rewards

1. bonus rewards on dining, supermarkets and certain travel.

The American Express® Gold Card earns:

4 Membership Rewards points when you dine at restaurants, on up to $50,000 per year in purchases. This includes takeout. After that, 1X back.

4 points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 per year in purchases. After that, 1X back.

3 points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

2 points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel booked through American Express.

1 point on all other spending.

Terms apply.

» MORE: American Express card benefits you may not know you have

2. A sizable welcome offer

American Express describes it this way: " Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24. Terms Apply. "

3. Flexible reward redemptions

The Membership Rewards points you earn with the American Express® Gold Card can be redeemed several ways, including for statement credits, gift cards or on Amazon.com. But transferring points to AmEx's multiple airline and hotel partners will almost always net you the most value per point. AmEx features more such travel partners than any other major U.S. credit card loyalty program. Here’s the list of Membership Rewards partners and transfer rates.

» MORE: NerdWallet review of the American Express Gold Card

Travel and entertainment perks

4. dining credits.

Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com and Five Guys.

Get up to $7 per month in statement credits when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.

Get up to two $50 in statement credits semi-annually after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. Enrollment required.

5. Up to $120 a year in Uber cash

Add your American Express® Gold Card to your Uber account and automatically receive $10 per month in Uber Cash, good toward U.S. Uber Eats orders or Uber rides. Unused Uber Cash from this benefit does not roll over from one month to the next.

6. $100 "experience" credit

Book a room through American Express Travel that's part of the Hotel Collection , stay two consecutive nights and get a $100 hotel credit to spend on qualifying resort experiences. Terms apply, and experiences may differ by property.

7. Presale and preferred event tickets

For select events, cardholders will have access to presale and/or preferred seating tickets purchased with their American Express® Gold Card .

8. No foreign transaction fees

Some credit cards add an additional 3% to 5% for using your card outside the U.S., but the American Express® Gold Card does not.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best no foreign transaction fee credit cards

Benefits of the Alaska Airlines credit card

Benefits of the American Express Green Card

Benefits of the American Express Platinum Card

Benefits of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card

Benefits of the Capital One Savor cards

Benefits of the Capital One Venture card

Benefits of the Capital One Quicksilver card

Benefits of the Capital One Platinum card

Benefits of the Chase Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited cards

Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card

Benefits of the Citi Costco credit card

Benefits of the Citi Custom Cash Card

Benefits of Citi Double Cash Card

Benefits of Delta Air Lines credit cards

Benefits of the Discover it Cash Back

Benefits of Marriott Bonvoy credit cards

Benefits of Southwest Airlines credit cards

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Protection and insurance benefits

9. rental car insurance.

When you use your American Express® Gold Card to reserve and pay for your car rental, and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental car counter, you can be covered if the car is damaged or stolen. This coverage is secondary, meaning it kicks in after your personal auto insurance. Learn more about credit card rental car coverage. Terms apply.

10. Baggage insurance plan

You can be covered for lost, damaged or stolen baggage when you purchase your entire ticket on your card. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage. Terms apply.

11. Complimentary two-day shipping

If you enroll in AmEx's ShopRunner service and use your card to pay with a participating merchant, you'll get complimentary two-day shipping and free returns. Terms apply.

More about the card

Complete card details for the American Express® Gold Card

NerdWallet review of the American Express® Gold Card

Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.

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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Insurance Benefit: Baggage Insurance Plan

Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Eligible Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.

Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

American Express® Gold Card

Access over $400 annually in benefits value with the American Express® Gold Card on eligible dining and travel purchases. Learn more here.

Find the right credit card for you.

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• Amex Green Card

17 Benefits and Perks of the Amex Green Card [$2,300+ Value]

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Table of Contents

Earning amex membership rewards points, flexible redemption options, travel benefits and protections, shopping benefits and protections, final thoughts.

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The American Express ® Green Card is a strong all-around rewards card that offers a great combination of points on everyday purchases, flexible rewards, and travel perks.

If you’re trying to decide whether the Amex Green card is worth a spot in your wallet, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll provide a full breakdown of each of the benefits of the Amex Green card, and assign a value to each perk, to give you an estimate of roughly how much value the card could be worth to you.

The information regarding the American Express ®  Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

The Amex Green card comes with a wide variety of perks and point-earning opportunities to help you offset the annual fee. Keep in mind that our valuations for each benefit are based on moderate use throughout the year, and the actual amount of value you receive might vary based on how you use the card.

1. A  Great  Welcome Bonus Offer [$660 to $990+]

While the Amex Green card doesn’t usually come with as large of a welcome offer as the American Express ® Gold Card or The Platinum Card ® from American Express , it still is a great way to kickstart your Amex Membership Rewards balance.

Historically, the welcome offer on the Amex Green card ranges between 30,000 to 45,000 Amex points, which we value between $660 to $990 based on our 2.2 cents per point valuation of Amex Membership Rewards .

See the current Amex Green card welcome offer below:

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with  no credit score impact.

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The American Express ® Green Card is an excellent all-around travel rewards card thanks to earning 3x Membership Rewards ® points on eligible travel and transit purchases and at restaurants, access to American Express transfer partners, and a reasonable annual fee.

• 3x points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide, on all eligible travel purchases, and transit purchases
• Up to $199 per calendar year in statement credits after you pay for a CLEAR ® Plus membership with the Card.
• Up to $100 in statement credits annually when you purchase airport lounge access through LoungeBuddy with the Card.
• $150 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express ® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on travel, including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® Points on transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
• $199 CLEAR Plus Credit: Receive up to $199 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the American Express ® Green Card.
• $100 LoungeBuddy: No airport lounge membership? No problem! Purchase lounge access through the LoungeBuddy app using the American Express ® Green Card and receive up to $100 in statement credits annually.
• Payment Flexibility: When it comes to paying your bill, you have options. You can always pay in full. You also have the flexibility to carry a balance with interest or use Plan It ® to split up large purchases into monthly payments with a fixed fee, up to your Pay Over Time Limit. You may be able to keep spending beyond your limit – you’ll just need to pay for any new purchases in full when your bill is due.
• Trip Delay Insurance: If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per eligible account per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: No matter where you’re traveling, when you use your American Express ® Green Card there are no foreign transaction fees.
• $150 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.
• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

American Express Membership Rewards

2. Earn 3x Points per Dollar Spent on Restaurants [$240]

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the average U.S. household spends roughly $300 a month at restaurants. With your Amex Green card, you’ll earn 3x points on restaurant purchases , or an estimated 10,800 Amex Membership Rewards points per year, which we value at nearly $240.

Better yet, this category doesn’t just include dining at restaurants but also includes takeout and delivery in the U.S. as well.

3. Earn 3x Points per Dollar Spent on Transit [$80]

The card earns 3x points on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.

Depending on where you live, you might find yourself making purchases in these categories more often than others, but if you spend at least $100 a month on transit then you’ll earn approximately 3,600 Amex points each year, which we value at nearly $80.

4. Earn 3x Points per Dollar Spent on Travel [$265]

One of the best perks of the Amex Green card is that it earns 3x points on all travel purchases including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, travel purchases on third-party travel websites, and travel purchases on AmexTravel.com.

Depending on how often you travel, and how much you spend while traveling, you could really rack up the points here. For instance, if you spend $4,000 on travel annually, you’ll earn 12,000 Membership Rewards points for these purchases, which we value at nearly $265.

5. Transfer Points to Amex Transfer Partners [$300]

The reason we value American Express Membership Rewards points so highly is because of the value you can receive when using the Amex transfer partners . American Express offers some of our favorite programs as transfer partners , including Air Canada Aeroplan , Avianca LifeMiles , Air France-KLM Flying Blue , and Virgin Atlantic .

For instance, you can transfer 97,000 Amex points to  Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer  to fly one of the best first class experiences, Singapore Suites, one-way from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA). This ticket can often cost north of $10,000, which gives you incredible value for your points.

We value the ability to transfer your Amex points to partners at $300 due to the amount of value these redemptions can offer to you.

Check out our guide on the best ways to redeem your Amex points for inspiration on using your points.

6. Redeem Points Through the AmexTravel.com Portal [$50]

While using Amex transfer partners is our favorite way to redeem Amex Membership Rewards points, it doesn’t offer nearly as much flexibility as simply booking through the AmexTravel.com portal.

When you book through AmexTravel.com, you can use your points for virtually any flight, hotel, or other travel purchase you can think of. The downside is what you gain in flexibility you lose in value, as your points are worth just 1 cent per point when redeemed for flights and 0.8 cents per point when redeemed for other purchases.

We value this benefit conservatively at $50. While you can get far more value through transfer partners, it is great to have an option that offers more flexibility.

7. Redeem for Cash-back via Statement Credits [$25]

If you want to redeem your Amex Membership Rewards points for cash-back you can do so, but at a relatively poor value of 0.6 cents per point . Again, you can get far more value out of the other redemption options, but it’s great to have the opportunity to redeem for extra cash if need be.

8. Up to $199 Annual CLEAR Plus Credit [$199]

With your Amex Green card, you receive up to a $199 annual statement credit for a CLEAR Plus membership .

CLEAR provides an expedited security experience at select U.S. airports and stadiums using your biometrics. This allows you to skip the identity screening portion when at the airport so you can go straight to the front of the security line.

9. Up to $100 Annual LoungeBuddy Credit [$100]

Cardholders also receive an   annual LoungeBuddy credit of up to $100 , allowing you to pay to enter any of the 300+ lounges in the LoungeBuddy network in 50+ countries. Depending on which lounges you visit, this credit could get you 2 to 3 free lounge visits each year.

10. No Foreign Transaction Fees [$50]

Many credit cards charge upwards of 3% on purchases you make while overseas, so having a card in your wallet with no foreign transaction fees is a must ( rates & fees ).

This can save you quite a bit of money if you travel overseas often. Any travel rewards credit card worth its salt will have this as a benefit, and you may already have one in your wallet, so we value this perk at a modest $50.

11. Rental Car Insurance [Varies]

The Amex Green card offers secondary rental car insurance coverage for theft and damage of up to $50,000. This keeps you from needing to purchase the rental car insurance offered by the rental car company, but secondary rental car insurance only kicks in after your personal primary auto insurance.

12. Baggage Protection [Varies]

If items in your luggage are lost, damaged, or stolen during transit, then you can receive coverage for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage.

13. Trip Delay Reimbursement [Varies]

If your flight is delayed by more than 12 hours, you can receive up to $300 in coverage toward eligible expenses such as lodging, meals, and other necessary items.

14. Amex Offers [$100]

When it comes to credit card offers, Amex Offers are in a league of their own. With Amex Offers, you’ll receive discounts and opportunities to earn more points with 100 merchants each month. This is a great way to receive even more value out of purchases you were planning to make anyway.

We value this benefit at $100 because you can easily save by regularly adding Amex Offers to your card each month.

15. Purchase Protection [Varies]

If an item you’ve purchased gets stolen or damaged within 90 days of purchase, you can receive replacement coverage of up to $1,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per calendar year.

We value this benefit at $100 because, while you hopefully will not need to use it often, it can save you quite a bit of money if you have a mishap with a new purchase.

16. Extended Warranty Coverage [Varies]

When you purchase an item with an eligible warranty of 5 years or less, that warranty coverage is extended by 1 additional year .

Again, ideally, you will not need to use this perk, but it helps give you added peace of mind to know that it is there if you need it.

17. American Express Experiences [$25]

American Express Experiences gets you exclusive access to select ticket presales before the general public to increase your odds of landing highly sought-after tickets.

It goes without saying that the values quoted here may not be the same value you’ll receive from your card each year. After all, some perks like the welcome offer are one-time perks, while others like purchase protection and rental car insurance you hope you’ll never need to use.

Further, the amount of value you receive from many of the benefits, like the card bonus categories, will depend on how much you spend on your card each year.

In our view, the Amex Green card is a great all-around travel rewards card that is a great option for those getting started with points and miles, or those who are looking to supplement other cards in their wallet with the benefits it provides. If you’re still undecided, read our guide on the best reasons to get the Amex Green card .

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the American Express ® Green Card, the car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. 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.

The information regarding the American Express ® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here . For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Related Posts

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

A great card for free bags on Air Canada and no minimum income requirement

• Post author: Andrew D'Amours
• Post published: September 7, 2024
• Post category: Credit cards / Travel rewards Canada
• Post comments: 0 Comments

The main appeal of Aeroplan points is their value that’s so much higher than other reward currencies, but some Aeroplan credit cards also offer interesting travel benefits with Air Canada. The American Express Aeroplan Card is the only card that offers the popular free checked bag benefit AND has no minimum income requirement, so let’s look at it more closely.

For years, we’ve had our ranking of the best credit cards in Canada with many sub-categories, but we’ve recently shared a new, more detailed page with the best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada .

So here’s our review of the American Express Aeroplan Card , as it’s one of the very best for many travelers.

Overview of the American Express Aeroplan Card

Here’s our usual summary table with all the key information.

Getting 54,000 Aeroplan points so easily is truly a great deal !

You’ll get:

• 30,000 points (welcome bonus after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months)
• 20,000 points (renewal bonus after spending $1,000 in the first month after renewal)
• 4,000 points (minimum earn on the $4,000 minimum spend requirement)

Based on our Flytrippers Valuation, that’s worth ≈ $810, but it can be worth $1000+ easily if you want — Aeroplan points are rewards of the more lucrative type , with a value that is literally unlimited! 

You get those 54,000 points for just a $120 fee ( twice due to the renewal bonus), giving you a great valuation of ≈ $570 for the American Express Aeroplan Card ’s welcome bonus.

That’s an amazing ≈ 14.3% return on $4,000 in spending! A lot better than the pathetic 1-2% earn rate you might have thought was good before you knew the most important thing about travel rewards : welcome bonuses are the key!

Apart from that great welcome bonus, the American Express Aeroplan Card has a few very interesting benefits for Air Canada flights :

• Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 other travel companions
• Preferred pricing (discounts) on Aeroplan point redemptions

If you prefer getting those benefits and additional luxury benefits like unlimited access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges, priority boarding, priority check-in, perks for elite members, and more (including an even bigger welcome bonus), check out our review of the best premium-level Aeroplan card, the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card .

While other Aeroplan credit cards of the same level like the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card have this same free checked bag benefit, the American Express Aeroplan Card is the only one with no minimum income requirement (Amex Bank is the only one that never discriminates based on income; all their cards are available to all incomes).

It’s also the only Aeroplan card of this level with Amex benefits (like Amex Offers, Amex Experiences, and The Hotel Collection), but to be fair, you can (and should) easily get those by having another (or many others) of the best American Express credit cards in Canada .

Now, I’ll share more details about the highlights below, but as always, you also have 10+ tabs with all the information you could want about the card on our Flytrippers resource page for the American Express Aeroplan Card .

American Express Aeroplan Card

Welcome bonus structure

The American Express Aeroplan Card has a great welcome bonus .

While it’s true that there are cards with higher welcome bonuses right now , most of them are for points of the more simple type that can’t give you outsized value and don’t have the Air Canada free checked bag benefit. 

And other cards with points of the more lucrative type currently require a lot more spending to get the same amount of points (especially for Aeroplan points specifically) or have a much higher fee (premium cards).

You’ll get 33,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months (30,000 bonus + 3,000 at base earn rate of 1 pt/$). Then, after renewing your card in 1 year, you’ll get 21,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first month (20,000 bonus + 1,000 at base earn rate of 1 pt/$).

Aeroplan points

We’re finalizing our updated and very complete guide about the Aeroplan program, but in the meantime, you can read the basics in our post about the 40+ Aeroplan partner airlines .

Aeroplan points are the most valuable because a flight’s price in points is NOT tied to the cash price , giving you unlimited potential value — at least on partner airlines. That means there’s obviously a limited amount of available seats since the price is limited and fixed by the price charts.

You can also use the points for any seat on any Air Canada flight, but then the value is often lower since it’s much simpler obviously. For everything in life, you either get more simplicity or more value.

Here is the value of the 54,000 points you’ll have by unlocking the American Express Aeroplan Card ’s welcome bonus:

• ≈ $1134 to UNLIMITED: Specific flights in premium cabins (partners and Air Canada)
• ≈ $810 to ≈ $1134 : Specific flights in economy class (partners and Air Canada)
• ≈ $594 : Any flight on Air Canada
• ≈ $540 : Taxes on reward flights
• ≈ $540 : Seat upgrades
• ≈ $540 : In-flight Wi-Fi
• ≈ $540 : Vacation packages
• ≈ $540 : Hotels
• ≈ $351 : Rental cars and activities
• ≈ $351 : Merchandise and gift cards

You can see concrete examples of 18 good redemptions of Aeroplan points if you want some inspiration and our 2 extreme examples that give you $4000+ in value if you want to maximize.

Free first checked bag benefit

This benefit alone can save you a lot of money if you usually bring checked bags on Air Canada!

It’s very simple: you and up to 8 other travel companions on the same booking get the first checked bag free of charge on all flights where you check in with Air Canada.

No matter when you booked the flight (even if it was before having the American Express Aeroplan Card ) and no matter how you paid for the flight (even if it was in points or in cash without using the American Express Aeroplan Card ).

It’s a benefit offered to you as a cardholder ; it’s really not more complicated than that.

It’s an Air Canada benefit, though, so you won’t get a free checked bag if your itinerary starts with a partner airline and you check in with the partner airline. If you check in with Air Canada, you’ll get the Air Canada free bag benefit.

We’ve shared a teaser about this free checked bag benefit and we’ll have a detailed guide very soon .

Preferred pricing

You’ll get slightly discounted prices for flights booked with Aeroplan points on Air Canada only . As I just mentioned, the price of flights on partner airlines is fixed and guaranteed by the price charts, so that’s already a better deal most of the time.

But prices on Air Canada are dynamic and generally tied to the cash price, and by having the American Express Aeroplan Card you’ll get a discount of a few hundred to a few thousand points on many flights.

It varies, so it’s hard to quantify this benefit’s value, but it’s for sure better than not getting a discount at all by not having the card.

Questions about the American Express Aeroplan Card

Please first check our card resource page , which has 10+ tabs with the answers to 99% of the many questions we receive about cards. 

If your question is not answered there, it’ll be my pleasure to answer it; just fill out the question form at the bottom of that page!

Learning how to travel for less

Join over 100,000 savvy Canadian travelers who already receive Flytrippers’ free newsletter so we can help you travel for less — including thanks to the wonderful world of travel rewards!

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The American Express Aeroplan Card is one of the best Aeroplan credit cards for many travelers. It is the only card to offer the free checked bag benefit that has no minimum income requirement. Thanks to the welcome bonus, you can earn 54,000 points of the more lucrative type for just $4,000 in spending. That’s an excellent return of ≈ 14.3%, much higher than the sad 1-2% that many get!

What would you like to know about the American Express Aeroplan Card? Tell us in the comments below.

See the flight deals we spot: Cheap flights

Discover free travel with rewards: Travel rewards

Explore awesome destinations : Travel inspiration

Learn pro tricks : Travel tips

Featured image : New Zealand (photo credit: Pickpik )

Share this post to help us help more people travel more for less:

Andrew D'Amours

You might also like.

Extreme example of how to get $7000 for just $120 (and a more popular one: $4000 for $120)

Shortcut to extend your Aeroplan Elite status

Understanding The New Aeroplan Pricing System

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Curious about the American Express ® Aeroplan ®* Card? Find out how you could earn a ≈ $ 570 welcome bonus.

11 Best American Express Credit Cards of September 2024

The best American Express credit cards have earned high marks thanks to their stellar rewards and perks. Amex offers a card for almost every type of spender, including credit cards for beginners, casual travelers, road warriors and always-on-the-go business travelers. Whether you’re looking for a no-annual-fee card, global airport lounge access, generous cash back in specific categories or premium access to events, Amex has a card to fit your needs.

Below, check out TPG’s picks for the best Amex cards from our partners to compare and decide which is right for you.

Browse by card categories

Comparing the best american express credit cards, more details on the best american express credit cards, helpful tools.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for high-end benefits
• American Express® Gold Card : Best for U.S. supermarkets and restaurants
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for frequent business travelers
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express : Best for maximizing cash back
• American Express® Business Gold Card : Best for flexible earning on business expenses
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card : Best for occasional Delta flyers
• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express : Best for small businesses that spend under $50,000 each year
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express : Best for cash-back beginners
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card : Best for SkyClub access
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire : Best for Hilton loyalists
• American Express® Green Card : Best for Best mid-tier Amex travel card
• No Annual Fee

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Amex Platinum is unmatched when it comes to travel perks and benefits. If lounge access, hotel elite status and annual statement credits are important to you, this card is well worth the high annual fee. Read our full review of the Platinum Card from American Express .

• The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway.
• This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, and at least $1,400 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. (Enrollment required)
• The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. TPG values it at $1,600
• The $695 annual fee is only worth it if you’re taking full advantage of the card’s benefits. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost.
• Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning bonus rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories.
• The annual airline fee credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards.
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, 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 through American Express Travel using 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, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• 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.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $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. Terms Apply.
• $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• 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.
• 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.
• See Rates & Fees

American Express® Gold Card

This isn’t just a card that’s nice to look at. It packs a real punch, offering 4 points per dollar at restaurants (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar) and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar). There’s also an up to $120 annual dining credit at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys, plus it added an up to $120 annually ($10 per month) in Uber Cash, which can be used on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. The card must be added to your Uber app to receive this benefit. All this make it a very strong contender for all food purchases, which has become a popular spending category. Enrollment required for select benefits. Read our full review of the American Express Gold Card .

• 4 points per dollar on dining at restaurants (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar) and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar)
• 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel
• Welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first six months of card membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible restaurant purchases (up to $100) within the first six months of card membership.
• Weak on travel and everyday spending bonus categories
• Not as effective for those living outside the U.S.
• Some may have trouble using Uber/food credits; few travel perks and protections
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
• Get the American Express® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $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.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. 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, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The Business Platinum Card from American Express is a great card for frequent travelers looking to add a touch of luxury to their business trips. While the card does come with a high annual fee, you’re also getting a ton of valuable benefits in return. They include generous annual travel credits, unparalleled lounge access that includes Amex Centurion Lounges and more. Read our full review on The Business Platinum Card from American Express .

• Up to $100 credit for Global Entry every 4 years or up to $85 TSA PreCheck application fee every 4 1/2 years (enrollment required)
• Up to $400 annual credit for U.S. Dell purchases; Gold status in the Marriott and Hilton loyalty programs. (enrollment required)
• Access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program and Hotel Collection
• International Airline Program; and Cruise Privileges Program
• Steep annual fee
• High spend needed for welcome offer.
• Limited high bonus categories outside of travel
• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the 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, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card®, here.
• $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 the Card.
• $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the 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.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Preferred Card is one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. You’ll get a great return across a wide range of bonus categories, a solid welcome bonus and a low annual fee. Read our full review of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express .

• This card has one of the best earning structures out for among cash-back credit cards.
• The card comes with access to Amex Offers (activation required), which can save you even more money on specific purchases.
• There is a $6,000 spending cap on the U.S. supermarket bonus category, which may not work for those with large grocery budgets.
• You’ll have to pay a foreign transaction fee on international purchases, so it’s not a great choice when you’re traveling abroad.
• Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
• Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%.
• 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
• 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
• 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
• 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
• Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
• $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.

American Express® Business Gold Card

The Amex Business Gold card is a solid choice for high-spending small businesses with the flexibility to earn 4 points per dollar in the two categories where you spend the most. The card is ideal for businesses who value simplicity above all. Read our full review of the American Express Business Gold Card .

• You'll earn 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar in the top 2 spending categories each billing cycle (on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year; then 1 point per dollar).
• Hefty $375 annual fee.
• There may be better options for small businesses who don't spend a lot.
• Welcome Offer: 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.*
• 0% Intro APR ¤ for 6 months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time, then a 19.49% to 28.49% variable APR.*
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month 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 up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.*
• The Business Gold Card now comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and Limited Edition White Gold. White Gold design is only available while supplies last. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
• *Terms Apply

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex provides valuable elite-like benefits for causal Delta flyers including a first checked bag free and priority boarding. It can easily justify getting and keeping this card. Read our full review of the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card .

• 20% back in the form of a statement credit on in-flight purchases (not including Wi-Fi)
• First checked bag free for you and up to eight companions
• Priority boarding
• There are better Delta cards if you want lounge access or a boost to earn elite status
• Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
• Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
• Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
• Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
• Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
• With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

This  credit card  is good for two groups of consumers. First,  small business owners  who have under $50,000 in purchases and wants to minimize any extra costs will find tremendous value from this card’s straightforward point-earning approach. Or, if you already own other  Amex cards  that earn Membership Rewards points and want a card with an  everyday rewards rate , the 2x is helpful for all purchases (given that you spend less than $50,000 per calendar year). Read our full review of the  Blue Business Plus card .

• No annual fee
• Earn Membership Rewards points
• Transfer points to 22 airline and hotel partners
• 2x points capped at $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x
• No higher bonus categories for business-related spending
• 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.
• Terms Apply

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Everyday card is a good option for people who want a simple cash back structure with no annual fee. You’ll earn bonus cash back rewards on popular bonus categories, including U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations. Read our full review of the  Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express .

• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases
• Amex Offers, which earn you statement credits or extra points on purchases with a wide variety of merchants. (Enrollment required)
• 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets
• There is a $6,000 spending cap on the U.S. supermarkets bonus category, which may not work for those with larger annual grocery spend.
• You’ll have to pay a foreign transaction fee on purchases abroad, so it’s not a great choice to take with you when traveling outside of the U.S.
• Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• No Annual Fee.
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.24% to 29.99% variable APR.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
• 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.

Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

• Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday® Card. Enrollment required.
• Enjoy up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is the premier choice for Delta loyalists who value an accelerated path to elite status, Delta SkyClubs lounge access, an annual companion certificate and strong earning rates on Delta purchases. Read our review of the  Delta SkyMiles Reserve card .  Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.

• Statement credit for TSA PreCheck (Up to $85 every 4.5 years) or Global Entry fee (up to $100 every 4 years)
• Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
• High annual fee of $650
• Lower fee Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
• Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.
• Receive four Delta Sky Club® One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly Delta so you can share the experience with family and friends.
• Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• With your Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• $650 Annual Fee.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire * *The information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire has been collected independently by ThePointsGuy.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

• Automatic Diamond status
• Free-night certificate every year upon account renewal
• 14 points per dollar spent at eligible Hilton properties
• Various statement credits for select purchases
• High annual fee
• Many perks limited to Hilton properties
• Statement credits take effort to maximize

The Hilton Amex Aspire could be a perfect fit for even a casual Hilton Honors traveler, as the automatic Diamond status unlocks an array of on-property perks, and the free-night certificate you get every year can (in some cases) cover the card’s annual fee by itself.

American Express® Green Card * *The information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by ThePointsGuy.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

• Decent earning rates across popular spend categories
• Annual Clear Plus credit
• Annual LoungeBuddy credit
• No foreign transaction fees
• $150 annual fee
• May not offer much value if you’re not a frequent traveler

The American Express® Green Card is packed with value for the frequent jet setter who will maximize the travel credits and related perks that come with it. In addition to earning valuable Amex Membership Rewards points on purchases such as transit, flights, hotels and vacation rentals, this card offers a nice starter stash of points in the form of an attainable welcome bonus.

The perks on the Amex Platinum are almost too numerous to list out — but they include extensive airport lounge access and a variety of statement credits to make your travel (and select everyday purchases) more rewarding and less costly.

The Amex Platinum is ideal for someone looking for additional luxury on their travels, but the numerous lifestyle perks could make it a terrific choice for an even broader audience.

“Whilst this card has a high $695 annual fee (see rates and fees ), it more than justifies itself for frequent travelers like me. The lounge access options that come with the Platinum are unrivaled by competitors. I put all of my flights — whether bought with cash or points — on this card to earn 5 points per dollar spent (on up to $500,000 in these purchases per year) and to enjoy various travel protections. I also make sure to take full advantage of the array of statement credits. And, honestly, pulling a Platinum card out of your wallet to pay for something does feel pretty fancy.” — Matt Moffitt , senior editor

For luxury perks at a much lower price point, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card could be a great option.

The Amex Gold awards 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in spending each year, then 1 point) and 4 points per dollar at worldwide restaurants (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar), making it one of the more rewarding cards for everyday purchases.

Anyone who’s looking to maximize their grocery and dining purchases can get a ton of value from the Amex Gold.

“There's no better card for groceries and dining than the Amex Gold. I earn 4 points per dollar in both of these categories, and with additional perks like monthly statement credits and the ability to transfer my Membership Rewards points to valuable airline partners, the card is a mainstay in my wallet.” — Nick Ewen , director of content

For a much lower annual cost, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , which offers 5 points per dollar on purchases through Chase Travel℠; 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery delivery (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs); and 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases.

The Amex Business Platinum has a list of perks almost too lengthy to mention — including annual statement credits for various business-related expenses. But the most appealing aspects of the card involve the travel benefits, including automatic hotel elite status and access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts program. 

Small-business owners who want to add a bit of luxury to their travels while saving money on some essential purchases would be a great fit for the card.

“I find that the annual perks and credits provide a ton of value. By using the benefits with Priority Pass and Amex lounges, the airline incidental credits, plus the statement credits for Clear Plus, our cellphone plan and restocking my home printer with ink and paper from Dell, I get more value out of the card than it costs to keep it (enrollment is required for select benefits). Plus, it earns my favorite points — American Express Membership Rewards points — earning 5 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked with Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 in purchases each year).” — Ryan Smith , former credit cards writer

If you’re more focused on earning rewards rather than using benefits, consider the American Express® Business Gold Card , which offers 4 points per dollar on your top two spending categories each billing cycle (on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each year, then 1 point per dollar).

The Blue Cash Preferred offers solid cash-back rewards across a variety of categories, but you can also enjoy a lucrative welcome offer and additional statement credits for select purchases during the year.

Someone who doesn’t want to worry about maximizing travel rewards is a great fit for the Blue Cash Preferred.

“The Blue Cash Preferred Card is the card I recommended to my parents when they were looking for a new cash-back rewards card for their groceries. My parents prefer the simplicity of cash-back rewards and I knew they'd benefit from earning 6% cash back on up to $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets, then 1% after. Compared to the 1.5% cash back they were earning on these purchases, the elevated earnings easily justified adding the Blue Cash Preferred to their wallet.” — Katie Genter , senior writer

For similar perks at a lower cost, consider the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express , which has comparable cash-back rates for no annual fee (see rates and fees ).

Membership Rewards points are incredibly valuable, and the Amex Business Gold card lets small businesses earn a ton of them. You’ll earn 4 points per dollar on the two categories where you spend the most each billing cycle (on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each year, then 1 point per dollar). These points can go a long way toward your next luxury flight redemption.

Any small-business owner with significant spending in the eligible bonus categories — which include U.S. gas stations, U.S. restaurants, select technology providers and certain advertising purchases — can get great value from the Amex Business Gold card.

“No other card provides the earning potential and adaptability this card has. Sure, its $375 annual fee isn’t cheap (see rates and fees ), but I love the fact I don’t need to think about what purchases I put on this card. It will automatically adapt and provide 4 points per dollar in my top two spending categories each billing cycle.” — Ryan Smith , former credit cards writer

For a fixed earning rate and no annual fee (see rates and fees ), go for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express . You’ll earn 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on all purchases (on up to $50,000 in spending each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).

There’s a lot to love about the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex, thanks to perks like no foreign transaction fees, a free checked bag, priority boarding and a $200 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 or more on your card in a calendar year. It has an annual fee of just $150, $0 intro annual fee for your first year.

You’ll enjoy great airline-specific perks and travel benefits with a low annual fee, making the Delta Gold Amex a great option for casual Delta flyers and new travelers.

“As someone who likes flying Delta but doesn’t fly often enough to earn elite status, my Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex still gives me elitelike perks to help upgrade my travel experience.” — Madison Blancaflor , senior content operations editor

Those seeking Delta Medallion elite status may prefer the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card . This card can help you requalify for Medallion status based on your spending each year and also includes additional perks for frequent Delta travelers.

It’s rare that a card with no annual fee (see rates and fees ) awards fully transferable points, but that’s exactly what you’ll get with the Blue Business Plus. These points can be redeemed for travel directly with American Express, but for more value, you can transfer them to an eligible hotel or airline loyalty program.

Small-business owners who don’t want to worry about maximizing bonus categories can earn a ton of Amex points with the Blue Business Plus.

“There are very few no-annual-fee cards that award fully transferable points, but the Amex Blue Business Plus is one of them. Not only that, you'll earn 2 Membership Rewards points for every dollar you spend (on up to $50,000 each year, then 1 point). That's a fantastic return of 4% back based on TPG's valuations , making this a great option for your small-business needs.” — Nick Ewen , director of content

If you don’t want to worry about travel rewards and instead want to plow your earnings back into your small business, go for the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card — which also incurs no annual fee (see rates and fees ) and gives 2% cash back on every purchase (on up to $50,000 in spending each calendar year, then 1% cash back). These rewards are automatically applied to your card balance as a statement credit.

For no annual fee, you’ll enjoy up to 3% cash back on a variety of purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

Those looking for lucrative cash-back rates without an annual fee are great candidates for the Blue Cash Everyday.

“I added this card to my wallet shortly after my first travel card as a way to earn better rewards on U.S. gas and U.S. supermarket purchases. Three percent back on both categories (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then one percent after) was a great way for me to earn higher cash back on many of my everyday purchases without any added annual fee.” — Jack Markham, senior director

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers notably higher cash-back rates at select merchants, so depending on your spending habits, you could come out ahead — even once the card’s $95 annual fee kicks in, $0 intro annual fee for the first year (see rates and fees ).

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve provides cardholders with complimentary Sky Club access whenever they fly with Delta Airlines in addition to complimentary Centurion Lounge access as well. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.

Frequent Delta flyers who book travel and make purchases directly with the airline should carry this card in their wallets since it earns 3 miles per dollar spent in this category. Plus, with the SkyMiles Reserve card, your first checked bag is free on Delta flights.

If you enjoy complimentary upgrades, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card can help you access them. Even if you haven’t achieved Medallion status yet, this credit card adds you to the complimentary upgrade list (after Medallion-status members). You’ll also get a 20% statement credit on eligible inflight purchases when you use your SkyMiles Reserve card.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card features a lower annual fee of $350 (see rates and fees ) and still offers cardholders plenty of perks, including a Global Entry statement credit every four years and 15% savings when using miles to book award travel on Delta flights booked through the airline.

As the most premium product offering in the cobranded Hilton-Amex roster of cards, the Aspire offers a ton of value if you maximize all of the credits that come with it year after year.

The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Hilton Aspire is for Hilton loyalists who frequent the hotel chain and travel enough that they can offset the cost of the annual fee using the credits that come with it — primarily, the up to $400 annual property credit and the up to $200 annual flight credit (broken up as two $200 semi-annual credits and four $50 quarterly credits each year, respectively).

“I love that the flight credits and on-site credits automatically apply when I make eligible purchases using my Hilton Aspire. It’s one less thing to keep track of and offsets the cost of the hefty annual fee.” — Daisy Hernandez , Credit cards editor

Those who don’t mind paying an annual fee and are looking for a card that comes with great earning rates in common spend categories and that will provide automatic elite status should consider the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.

The Green Card is one of several offerings from American Express and is well-suited for those who want a travel card without the hefty annual fees of more premium products.

The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

This card offers solid earning rates in popular spend categories and is ideal for travelers who want to earn transferable Amex Membership Rewards points.

Whether you’re already in the Amex ecosystem or a newbie to it, the Green Card is an easy way to transition into earning Membership Rewards points, taking advantage of Amex Offers and generally getting acquainted with this issuer.

If you want a more premium product, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express. In addition to earning a large stash of Membership Rewards points, you’ll get access to Centurion Lounges as well as purchase protections like extended warranties**.

• Awards vs cash calculator Compare the cost in points or miles to cash.
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How we rate

Ask our experts, what's your favorite amex card — and why.

What TPG readers have to say about their favorite American Express credit cards

American Express is well known for its roster of cards that offer stellar perks and credits. Below, TPG readers share their favorite American Express cards and how they use their cards for general purchases and upgraded travel. 

Note: Reader-submitted responses have not been edited, reviewed or approved by the issuers nor reflect TPG’s opinions of these cards.

The Platinum Card® from American Express “The annual fee pays for itself .” — Chris B via Facebook

“Uber and GrubHub credits .* I use them every single month because they're offered every month.” — Chris H via Facebook

*Enrollment required. Uber Cash requires card be added to Uber app to receive this benefit.

“Transferring Amex Biz Platinum points to Delta Amex for 10 round trip Comfort+ flights between OMA-JFK that most have received automatic 1st class upgrades on.” — Tammy S via Facebook

How to choose the best Amex credit card

• 1 Sign-up bonus Go with an Amex that features a decent sign-up bonus — you can use the reward for future travel plans or to pay down a balance if you opt for a cash-back card. Select an option that has an achievable spend threshold and that you’ll earn the currency most valuable to you — whether it’s points, miles or cash back.
• 2 Annual fee While some of the Amex cards on our list feature high annual fees, they also offer stellar travel and shopping protections in addition to other benefits like credits in certain categories. We also included no annual fee cards for those who don’t want to worry about paying for a card each year.
• 3 Bonus categories The best Amex cards on this list feature several bonus categories, ensuring there’s a good fit for every type of consumer. If you want to earn rewards on grocery store purchases or flights booked through the Amex travel portal, it’s likely that one of our top-rated picks is well-suited to your specific needs.

Pros + cons of American Express cards

• American Express cards can earn points, miles or cash back on every dollar you spend, helping you maximize your reward-earning strategy
• Many American Express cards offer valuable shopping and travel protections
• Select American Express cards provide perks like statement credits, elite status and more
• The cost of borrowing on Amex cards is higher than traditional loans
• American Express may not be accepted by all merchants
• American Express typically only allows you to earn one welcome bonus per card once in your lifetime

American Express benefits

American Express cards have long held a reputation for lucrative benefits, though the extent of these perks depends on the card you have.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, American Express is a reliable issuer that offers a variety of lucrative cards. This includes a number of great cash-back options as well as many that award Membership Rewards points, which are some of the most valuable transferable points out there.

To start an American Express application, you can click on any of the links in this guide and follow the onscreen prompts. Be prepared with your Social Security number along with all of your contact information.

No, but the issuer has made strides in recent years. In fact, according to the February 2023 Nilson report, Amex is now accepted at 99% of U.S. merchants that take credit cards — putting it nearly even with networks like Visa and Mastercard.

There’s no single threshold to get approved for an American Express card, but most of them require good or excellent credit — which means a score of at least 670. However, even that may not be enough for a premium card like the The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Amex generally limits the number of personal cards you can have to five, though cards without preset spending limits — like The Platinum Card® from American Express and American Express® Gold Card — are typically excluded from this number, as are small-business Amex cards.

However, that’s not a license to apply for new cards with abandon, since American Express will consider your history of opening and closing accounts when deciding on your approval. You can read more information in the Amex section of our guide to credit card application restrictions.

There’s no one “best” American Express card for everyone. If you’re looking for more luxury when traveling, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be a great fit. However, if you just want simple cash-back rewards, you may prefer a product like the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.

Start by identifying the type of rewards you want — Membership Rewards points, airline miles, hotel points or cash back. Next, consider the types of purchases you make on a regular basis along with other benefits you value highly. Then, pick the card that offers your preferred rewards currency along with sufficiently lucrative benefits and earning rates based on your typical spending habits.