American Express Membership Rewards: Program Guide

For those who wish to earn rewards for their spending, the Amex EveryDay Credit Card and the premium Amex Platinum Card, among other American Express cards, are popular options since they earn Membership Rewards points. The number of points you earn depends on your card and spending habits. And there are multiple ways to use your points — although transferring them to a participating airline loyalty program often offers the best value. Given the flexibility cardholders enjoy through the American Express rewards program, it qualifies as one that’s worthy of your attention.

American Express Membership Rewards is a loyalty program offered by American Express to its cardholders. The specific ways you can earn Membership Rewards points might vary slightly based on the region or country in which you have your account. However, generally speaking, here are some of the most common methods to earn points:

• American Express Membership Rewards: This is a loyalty program offered by American Express to its cardholders. The specific ways you can earn Membership Rewards points might vary slightly based on the region or country in which you have your account. However, generally speaking, here are some of the most common methods to earn points:
• Credit Card Spending: The primary way to earn Membership Rewards points is by using an eligible American Express card for your purchases. The number of points you earn per dollar spent will depend on the specific card and category of purchase. Some cards may offer bonus points for spending in certain categories such as travel, dining, or supermarkets.
• Special Promotions: American Express will occasionally run promotions offering bonus points for spending in certain categories or with specific merchants.
• Amex Offers: Check your Amex online account or mobile app for "Amex Offers" These are targeted promotions where you can earn extra points or get cashback for shopping at certain merchants.
• Shopping Through the Amex Portal: American Express may have an online shopping portal that allows cardmembers to earn extra points when shopping through their links.
• Refer a Friend: Some American Express cards have a referral program. You can earn bonus points if you refer friends or family members and they get approved.
• Travel: Booking travel, including flights, hotels and car rentals, through American Express Travel or with certain partners may also allow you to earn extra points.
• Adding Additional Card Members: Some promotions might offer bonus points for adding authorized users to your account.
• Partnerships with Retailers and Services: Occasionally, American Express forms partnerships with various businesses, allowing you to earn points when purchasing their goods or services.
• Special Events: American Express sometimes hosts or sponsors events where members might have opportunities to earn bonus points.
• Charging Recurring Bills: Setting up automatic payments or charging your recurring bills, like utilities or subscriptions, to your Amex card can also accumulate points over time.
• Buying Points: In some circumstances, American Express might allow you to purchase Membership Rewards points, though this usually isn't the most cost-effective way to obtain them.

Remember to always read the terms and conditions associated with your specific card and the Membership Rewards program. Point values, redemption options and earning rates can vary based on the card and region. Also, make sure to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges and maximize the value of your points.

What you need to do to redeem Amex points depends on the desired redemption method. Remember that while the value of Membership Rewards points from all sources are the same, their worth varies based on how you use them.

You need to use the Membership Rewards website to redeem your points for gift cards, cover your card charges, make charitable donations and transfer them to an Amex travel partner. If you wish to use the Pay With Points at Checkout method, you might need to link your eligible Amex credit card with the partner merchant first. You may also use the Amex Shop With Points platform to purchase through various merchant partners.

The value of your Membership Rewards points depends on the redemption method you select, so looking at how to make the most of the points you earn might be worthwhile. While the number of points you earn depends on the card you have, their worth remains the same across all cards. For instance, the value of 1,000 Amex Platinum points is the same as that of 1,000 points you earn through the EveryDay Preferred Card, provided you redeem them in the same manner. The American Express points calculator helps give you an indication of the worth of your Membership Rewards points.

• Pay With Points at Checkout: 10,000 Membership Rewards points are worth $70 in most instances. They are worth $100 when you use them with New York City taxis and $50 through Ticketmaster.
• Redeem for Gift Cards: 10,000 Membership Rewards points can get you a gift card of up to $100.
• Cover Card Charges: 10,000 Membership Rewards points are worth $60. Book or Upgrade Travel: The value of 10,000 Membership Rewards points typically varies from $70 to $100. If you use your points to cover excise tax offset fees when transferring points to a U.S. airline frequent flyer program, 10,000 points are valued at $50.
• Shopping: When you use your Membership Rewards points to shop through any Amex merchant partner, or if you use them to cover all or part of your purchases, you get $50 in value for 10,000 points.
• Transfer to a Travel Partner: In most cases, transferring points to an Amex travel partner comes at a 1:1 ratio. Exceptions include the JetBlue rewards program, where you get 200 TrueBlue points for 250 Membership Rewards points; the Aeromexico Club Premier, through which you get 1,600 Premier points per 1,000 Membership Rewards points; and the Hilton Honors program, which offers 2,000 Hilton Honors points for 1,000 Membership Rewards points. Bear in mind that you need to pay a fee of $0.0006 per point when transferring your points to a U.S. airline’s frequent flyer program. While most such transfers take place at a 1:1 ratio, the value of your points also depends on the loyalty program you transfer your points to and other variables such as travel dates and routes. Some popular Amex transfer partners include British Airways Executive Club, Delta SkyMiles, Emirates Skywards and Singapore KrisFlyer.

More: How Much Are American Express Membership Rewards Points Worth?

One distinct advantage of the American Express Membership Rewards program is that it allows you to earn additional points in different ways. For instance, if you use Rakuten, an online shopping portal, you may choose to earn Membership Rewards points instead of cash back as long as you have an eligible Amex card. You need a minimum of 500 points before you may carry out a transfer from Rakuten to your Membership Rewards account. You may also earn points faster when you use your card at participating merchants and by signing up for Amex offers.

However, the fact that you don’t get any bonus points when you redeem your points through the Amex Travel Center works as a drawback.

Now that you know how the American Express rewards program works, determine if you might benefit by becoming a member. If you decide to move forward, consider which Amex card linked to the Membership Rewards program suits you best based on factors such as annual fees, reward rates, welcome bonuses and added perks.

Go through answers to other commonly asked questions about Membership Rewards from American Express to determine if this rewards program might work well for you.