American Express has added a search bar within the AmEx Offers interface to easily pull up Available or Saved offers. I only see it in the online login, not in the Amex mobile app.
American Express is notoriously secretive about the details of the Centurion Black Card. For many years, the company didn’t acknowledge the existence of the Black Card. And there’s some evidence that the card became a part of pop culture lore before becoming an actual product.
But today, the Centurion Card very much exists as a product for a select group of high net worth individuals willing to shell out a generous sum of money to carry perhaps the most exclusive credit card out there.
Here are 10 things we know about the AmEx Centurion Card.
1. The Centurion Black Card is invitation-only
You don’t get the Centurion Card by applying for it.
If you want to join the exclusive club of cardholders who carry the Centurion Black Card, you must get an invitation from AmEx. And a Centurion Card invitation isn’t something AmEx hands out lightly. While AmEx services over 100 million cardholders, there are estimates that AmEx only has 100,000 Centurion cardholders worldwide.
2. It will cost you $10,000 to get one
The Centurion Card carries a hefty initiation fee. Reports vary, but the most recent information is that AmEx charges $10,000 to become a Centurion member.
You might think paying a five-figure fee would be enough to grant you a lifetime of benefits, but not with the Centurion Card.
If you want to keep the card, you’ll have to shell out $5,000 per year. And that annual fee is not waived in the first year.
3. You can request a Centurion Card invite online
While the Centurion Black Card is invite-only, it is possible to request an invitation online. You must have an AmEx card to make the request. AmEx also clearly states that an invitation request does not mean you will receive an invitation.
4. You need to be a big spender to get a Centurion Black Card
It is widely accepted that you need to be a big spender for AmEx to give you a Centurion Card.
Reports on the internet range from requiring $250,000 to over a million dollars of annual spending. AmEx has not confirmed any specific spending requirements, and there’s no known threshold at which Platinum cardmembers receive an invitation.
While the exact amount you need to spend on your cards is a matter of speculation, you probably need to spend at least six figures annually on an AmEx card to get a Centurion Card.
5. Centurion Cardmembers still get to bring guests into the Centurion lounge
Centurion cardmembers didn’t suffer this cut and still retain expanded access. Centurion cardmembers may bring in two guests or immediate family members. Eligible immediate family members include a spouse, a domestic partner and children under 18.
6. The Centurion Black Card offers an unbelievable level of concierge service
For the multimillionaires and billionaires who carry the AmEx Centurion Card, probably the most helpful benefit is the Centurion concierge.
The concierge service offered on The Platinum Card® from American Express is limited to helping with travel reservations, getting event tickets, making restaurant reservations and fulfilling shopping requests. The concierge service offered by the Centurion Card offers seemingly unlimited service.
Centurion cardholders report using the Centurion concierge for things you might expect. One cardholder says that his concierge makes travel bookings considering his seat preferences based on the airline cabin configuration. His concierge also contacts hotels to inform them of the cardmember’s arrival time.
But Centurion concierges have also handled requests such as arranging elaborate tours, getting front-row tickets for in-demand concerts, locating personal items lost during travel and even arranging emergency evacuations.
For someone who might not have a full-time personal assistant, the Centurion concierge can offer an alternative.
Like many other things about the Centurion Black Card, the card’s perks are shrouded in secrecy. AmEx doesn’t provide much information about the card on its website and most reports about the card’s perks are based on third-hand accounts and speculation.
However, we have confirmed a partial list of benefits offered to Centurion cardmembers. Here are some of these exclusive benefits:
An auto program that allows cardmembers to anonymously negotiate prices on luxury automobile purchases through a members-only website.
Global chef partnerships, which grant access to daily table reservations at fine dining restaurants around the world.
Exclusive seating in ticket blocks reserved for Centurion cardholders at many major events worldwide.
Various onboard credits, excursion credits and vouchers are available exclusively to Centurion cardmembers through Centurion Cruise Partners.
Private jet arrangements can be made for Centurion cardholders through the AmEx Private Jet program.
8. Yes, you can buy a mansion or a private jet on a Centurion Card
Like many aspects of the Centurion Black Card, the card’s purchasing power has been the subject of much speculation. The card offers no preset limit, but how far does that go? While there are no credible reports of someone buying a Gulfstream or even a Cessna Citation (private jet) with a Centurion Card, the card has been used for some substantial purchases.
In 2015, The New York Times reported that Chinese billionaire Liu Yiqian purchased a Modigliani painting at Christie’s auction house in New York. The price? $170.4 million. If you can put a $170 million painting on an AmEx card, why not a jet or a mansion?
9. You can get many of the Centurion Card’s perks from The Platinum Card® from American Express
Many of the perks offered by the AmEx Centurion Card can be had with The Platinum Card® from American Express, a card that carries a much more affordable $695 annual fee compared to its counterpart. Here are some of the perks that the Centurion Card shares with The Platinum Card® from American Express:
The Global Lounge Collection grants access to 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries.
The AmEx International Airline Program offers preferred airfares with participating airlines.
Presale ticket access.
And just like The Platinum Card® from American Express, the Centurion Card earns Membership Rewards, which can be transferred to any of AmEx’s transfer partners.
Terms apply.
10. You can get better rewards on many other cards
The AmEx Centurion Card isn’t the card to get if you want to earn the maximum rewards on your spending. And even if it were, you’d have to chase a lot of category spending to compensate for the card’s annual fee.
If you’re looking for generous rewards on your spending, consider a card that earns 2% cash back on all purchases. Many of these cards have no annual fee.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:
Asking me to pick my favorite credit card would be like asking a father of 22 to pick his favorite child. And yes, I do have that many open, active credit cards (but only one child).
However, there’s one card that I use more frequently than any other in my wallet — and that’s my American Express® Gold Card.
Here’s why the Amex Gold has been (and will remain) a mainstay in my wallet.
Lucrative earning rates
The most appealing feature of the card is a pair of lucrative bonus categories:
4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide
4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases every year, then 1 point per dollar)
I often eat out with my family, but we also love to cook at home. While it sometimes seems like our grocery bill is high, we never come anywhere near the Amex Gold’s yearly spending cap ($25,000 a year, equating to $480 a week.) And since the card waives foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees), I can confidently swipe it at restaurants abroad to still earn those bonus points.
These bonus categories alone make the Amex Gold a perfect fit for me.
Read more: The best credit cards for dining
Uber and Grubhub benefits
Beyond the everyday earning rates, I’m a big fan of the card’s extra benefits.
I’m not a power Uber user, but we easily find ways to use the $10 in Uber Cash each month that the Amex Gold offers, which is valid for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders in the U.S. I also typically treat myself to lunch through a participating dining partner to receive up to $10 in statement credits each month. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
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By maxing out both benefits, I effectively reduce the annual fee on the card from $250 (see rates and fees) to just $10.
Targeted offers
In my opinion, one of the most underutilized perks of travel cards is access to targeted discounts and offers. And of the major issuers, Amex Offers are my favorite.
In the past three years, I’ve received a total of $265 in statement credits by adding these offers to my Amex Gold card. In addition, I’ve been targeted for a 20,000-point bonus for activating Amex Pay Over Time on the card (worth $400 to me), and I also referred a friend to the card earlier in the year, resulting in a one-time bonus of 20,000 points along with three months of an extra 5 points per dollar on U.S. supermarket purchases (since expired).
These offers help boost my Membership Rewards points balance.
Related: How to refer friends and earn points, miles or cash credits
Valuable transfer partners
Finally, I love redeeming American Express Membership Rewards points. We value Amex points at 2 cents apiece here at TPG, thanks to the program’s valuable transfer partners — including Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles and British Airways Avios.
Earlier this year, I booked round-trip, business-class flights on Philippine Airlines from the U.S. to Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) by transferring just 95,000 points to ANA Mileage Club. These flights would’ve set me back more than $6,000 had I paid out of pocket.
I also frequently convert my Amex points to Avios to book Iberia business-class tickets to Spain. On off-peak dates, nonstop flights are just 42,500 Avios from nearby Miami International Airport (MIA) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) — though they start at just 34,000 Avios from Boston Logan International Airport, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD).
In fact, thanks to the current 30% transfer bonus, you can snag these flights for as little as 27,000 Amex points each way.
Related: The best American Express cards
Bottom line
I get a ton of value from my 22 travel cards, but the Amex Gold card stands out. I love earning 4 points per dollar on a large part of my everyday spending, and Amex’s transfer partners help me and my family travel the world. The added perks and targeted offers are just icing on the cake.
If you’re not yet a cardholder, you can apply today to earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. However, you should also check the CardMatch tool to see if you’re targeted for an even higher welcome bonus (offer subject to change at any time).
Official application link: American Express Gold Card
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, click here.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
As you load your cart in celebration of Amazon’s annual Prime Day event this July 11-12, make sure you’re maximizing your purchases by paying with a credit card that earns rewards on top of your killer savings.
However, determining which card is right for you for Amazon purchases requires looking beyond just points-earning rates and considering other factors, such as rewards currencies, purchase protection and extended warranties. In some cases, you might even want to consider different cards depending on the specific purchase. Additionally, your best option may vary based on whether you’re a Prime member and what other cards you already carry.
And even if you don’t actually use a participating card, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 50% on your purchase by applying just 1 American Express or Chase point to your purchase.
With all those things in mind, here’s a look at the best credit cards to use when shopping at Amazon.
Best credit cards for Amazon purchases
The information for the Prime Visa and Discover it Cash Back 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.
Prime Visa
At first glance, Amazon’s own Prime Visa appears to be the most exciting option — and for most people, it probably is. The Prime member-exclusive card, which should not be mistaken for the basic Amazon Rewards Visa Signature, does not charge an annual fee (though you do need to pay for Prime membership, obviously).
It offers an impressive 5% cash back on all Amazon and Whole Foods purchases; 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores; and 1% back on all other purchases.
Plus, cardholders will enjoy bonus earnings on Prime Day this year. On July 11-12, Prime Visa cardholders will earn 6% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market.
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The biggest drawback is that the high return on spending is all this card really has to offer. While it comes with purchase protection (it covers items up to $500 in value if they’re damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase) and extended warranty protection, it doesn’t include important purchase benefits like price protection and return protection, so it’s not ideal for large purchases.
The other drawback is that you need a Prime membership ($139 per year) to qualify. Although with so many U.S. households already subscribed to Prime, that’s probably not much of an issue for the card’s target demographic.
For more details, check out our full review of the Prime Visa.
Capital One Venture X and Venture cards
If you want transferable points on your Amazon purchases, a pair of cards from Capital One could be good options. That’s because both the Venture X Rewards card and the Venture Rewards card offer 2 miles per dollar spent on everyday purchases — including Amazon.
Based on TPG’s most recent point valuations, that’s a very respectable 3.7% return (valuations are an estimate and not provided by the issuer).
Beyond that, both cards offer identical sign-up bonuses (75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening).
Check out our comparison of the two Venture cards for additional details.
Official application links: Capital One Venture X and Capital One Venture, each with 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 in the first three months.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
If you’re not a Prime subscriber and still want a solid return on your spending from a card with no annual fee, your best bet may be to go with the Chase Freedom Unlimited. The Freedom Unlimited provides 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, and 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining. All other purchases will earn 1.5% cash back.
While that’s a solid return on its own, you could potentially double the value of your rewards by pairing the Freedom Unlimited with a Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.
By doing so, you can convert your cash-back points into full-fledged transferable Ultimate Rewards points, worth 2 cents each based on TPG’s monthly points valuations.
Related: The power of the Chase Trifecta: Sapphire Reserve, Ink Preferred and Freedom Unlimited
Additionally, the Freedom Unlimited also offers 120-day purchase protection and extended warranty protection that extends eligible manufacturer’s warranties by an additional year. Like the two Amazon cards, this one does not have an annual fee.
For more details, check out our full review of the Freedom Unlimited.
Official application link: Chase Freedom Unlimited with an additional 1.5% back on all purchases up to $20,000 spent in the first year.
Discover it Cash Back
Amazon’s Prime Visa isn’t the only card to offer 5% cash back on purchases — the no-annual-fee Discover it Cash Back does, too (on rotating categories, up to $1,500 each quarter you activate, and 1% cash back after that) — and this one doesn’t require you to be a Prime member. However, this earning rate is typically only available on Amazon purchases just one quarter out of the year, and even that isn’t guaranteed to come around every year.
The most recent times Amazon was a rotating category were in the last quarter (Q4) of 2021 and 2022.
Keep in mind that while this card is great for Amazon purchases during any quarter when Amazon is among the retailers that count toward bonus earning, it isn’t the best card to use year-round. When Amazon is not a part of the quarterly cash-back bonus category, your purchases will only receive 1% back.
However, what makes the card shine is that Discover will match your rewards at the end of your first cardmember year, so you could get up to 10% back on Amazon.com purchases from a quarter when it’s a bonus retailer.
Unfortunately, the card has discontinued other benefits, including extended product warranty, return guarantee, purchase protection and price protection.
For more details, check out our full review of the Discover it Cash Back.
American Express® Gold Card
This card is a good choice for those who make many high-value purchases on Amazon.
With the Amex Gold Card, you’ll earn 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar on Amazon purchases, yielding a return of 2% based on TPG’s valuations. Unless there’s an Amazon deal available through Amex Offers, this won’t be the best card from an earning perspective.
The biggest benefit of using the card is its generous purchase protection policy. While many cards include a similar perk, the Amex Gold Card provides an astounding $10,000 in protection per incident and up to $50,000 for all incidents in a calendar year.*
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Related: Best credit cards for purchase protection
The Amex Gold Card has a $250 annual fee (see rates and fees), but its benefits — including up to $120 in dining credits each calendar year at participating restaurants/locations and up to $120 in Uber Cash each year ($10 monthly credits) — make the card worthwhile. The card must be added to your Uber account to receive the Uber Cash benefit. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
For more details, check out our full review of the Amex Gold.
Official application link: American Express Gold Card with a 60,000-point welcome offer after spending $4,000 in the first six months of card membership. However, you may be targeted for a higher welcome bonus through the CardMatch tool (offer is subject to change at any time).
Bottom line
As you can see, picking a card for Amazon purchases isn’t as simple as going with the one at the top of this list.
The best rewards credit card for you depends on your personal habits and priorities. So, while the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card offers a high return on Amazon purchases, it’s not everyone’s best option, as it’s only available to Prime members and lacks key shopping protections, which you’ll want for larger purchases.
Card benefits such as return protection have proved extremely valuable and may be worth sacrificing 2%-3% in rewards in the long run. Additionally, if you’ve been saving up transferable points for a specific redemption, it may make sense to earn rewards in that currency rather than cash back so that you can top off your account and book that award trip you’ve been dreaming about sooner.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.
Additional reporting by Emily Thompson, Ryan Wilcox, Stella Shon and Benét J. Wilson.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
It’s time for Amazon Prime Day — one of the best times of the year to save money on everything from headphones to household staples. Whether you are gearing up to save some cash on Prime Day purchases or looking for deals on any of the other days of the year, here are ways you may be able to save money on your next Amazon “add to cart” moment.
Related: These are the best credit cards for shopping at Amazon
Use points
You might have noticed the “Shop with Points” option when you check out. This is not always the best use of your credit card points from a monetary value perspective, as you can often get better value from your points when redeeming for travel.
But sometimes, there are promotions that award you money off your Amazon order for using a small number of points.
Currently, there is an offer for some Amazon accounts that will save 50% on Amazon orders using as little as 1 Amex Membership Rewards point. These offers can vary, but the concept remains relatively the same. This can be a great way to save on your next Amazon order if one of these offers is available for your account.
You can check these links for some of the latest Amazon points-related offers:
Here’s another offer for American Express cardholders. If you add a new Amex card, you can get up to $15 off so long as you use your American Express card at checkout. Click on this link to see if you are eligible.
New to TPG? Read our ‘Getting started with points, miles and credit cards’ guide
Earn bonus points with the right credit card
If you have an American Express card, you can take advantage of targeted Amex Offers. These offers vary from account to account and can be a great way to rack up bonus Membership Rewards points or save money on purchases you would make anyway.
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Amazon periodically appears in Amex Offers. For example, you may be able to earn 5 points per dollar on your Amazon purchases with current Amex Offers.
The trick here is to check your Amex account frequently to see if you’re eligible to earn bonus points or additional savings. You need to manually add these offers to your Amex account and then use that card to pay for your Amazon orders.
TPG values Amex Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, so getting 5 per dollar spent at Amazon is like earning 10 cents in rewards per dollar spent. To start accessing these Amex Offers, a couple of good American Express cards to consider that don’t even come with annual fees are:
Use an Amazon credit card
While we’re on the subject of the best credit cards for Amazon purchases, let’s talk about Amazon’s own card — the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card.
The information for the Prime Visa 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.
It doesn’t have an annual fee, and new cardholders will receive a $200 Amazon gift card immediately upon approval. You can use the gift card straight away for Prime Day purchases. The card is only available to Prime members, so factor that in when deciding if it is the right match for you.
Read our full review of the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card.
The card usually awards 3% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods Market, as well as 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations and 1% cash back on everything else. However, you’ll earn 6% back at Amazon and Whole Foods Market on July 11-12.
Related: Is the Amazon Prime Rewards credit card still worth the cost?
Use coupons
This tip won’t come as much of a surprise, but if you see a coupon available on Amazon, be sure to click on it. With coupons, you can save money with the literal click of a button.
You’ll know if there’s a coupon available for your item, as there will be an icon that says “Coupon” below the price. The coupon will be activated if you check the box next to it. Coupons are sometimes only for a few cents or dollars, but saving money is saving money.
Some items will also let you save by subscribing for repeat deliveries.
Track prices and set price alerts
It’s hard to know just how good a sale is if you haven’t been pricing a certain item for a while. One site that can tell you the historical price of an item on Amazon — and even alert you to price drops — is CamelCamelCamel.
This will help you gauge just how good a sale is. If it’s not an urgent purchase, you can also use this site to help you decide whether or not to hold off until your item is potentially on sale for a better price if you see it’s been lower in the past.
Related: These credit cards come with welcome bonuses worth $1,000 or more
Get credit for no-rush shipping or pickup
If you have time to spare, you can opt for no-rush shipping on your items and cluster them for an “Amazon Day Delivery.” This way, you’ll earn a credit that you can use for future purchases such as select e-books, digital music, videos and apps. The amount of the credit varies, but it has often been a couple of dollars in my tests.
You’ll find this option during checkout when you’re prompted to enter your shipping information.
There is also sometimes a promotion if you pick up the order at an Amazon pickup point. Right now, my account has an offer where I’ll get a $10 credit on a future $20 Amazon order if I use the code 10TRYPICKUP and retrieve my order at an Amazon Hub, such as an Amazon Locker or Locker+.
Sign up for a free Amazon Prime trial
You also might be able to sign up for a free, 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. This is a great free way to try out the service if you haven’t already. You’ll be able to receive free, two-day shipping on eligible items, as well as get access to Prime Video, etc. After that, the plan increases to $14.99 a month if you don’t cancel.
Purchase Amazon gift cards
If you don’t have any points or cash-back bonuses for Amazon purchases on one of your credit cards, you can also purchase Amazon gift cards at grocery stores with a credit card that gives bonus rewards at that type of retailer.
For example, if you pick up a $100 Amazon gift card at the grocery store and pay for that purchase with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, you can earn 6% cash back on that purchase at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases).
Get bonus credit for your Amazon reload
Valid through Monday, you may be able to get a $5 Amazon promotional credit with a $50 reload to your Amazon account balance. This is an easy way to prepare for Prime Day with a $5 bonus credit in your account.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
One of our favorite online shopping portals is back with its annual Big Stack promotion. From July 10 to 12, Rakuten is offering up to 10 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar (or 10% cash back) at participating retailers.
If you want to get the best deal for your online shopping, click through Rakuten first (yes, that same company with the very fun “Clueless”-themed Super Bowl commercial.).
To use the portal, begin your online shopping trip on the Rakuten website, and search for your desired store. You’ll be redirected to the retailer’s website. After you make your purchase, Rakuten will track your transaction and add bonus rewards to your account — generally within just a day or two.
Better yet, if you’re a new Rakuten shopper, you can also earn a $30 cash bonus when you spend at least $30 on a qualifying purchase within the first 90 days.
Here’s what you need to know about this deal.
Increased cash back with Rakuten
Earning up to 10% (or more) cash back is newsworthy. However, earning up to 10 Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar can be even better for those looking to earn transferable points.
TPG values Amex points at 2 cents each when used toward travel. That means you’ll effectively get up to a 20% return on spending when making purchases during this promotion. So if you’re getting your credit cards ready for the upcoming summer holidays, this is the deal for you.
Related: How to use Rakuten to earn bonus cash back or Amex points on your purchases
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Just note that you must update your earning preference from cash back to Amex points in your Rakuten account before completing your purchase. Also, be aware that switching from Amex points back to cash back is permanent, so think carefully before making that change.
Here are some of the stores participating in this promotion:
Bloomingdale’s
Dermstore
Finish Line
Glossier
Indochino
Macy’s
PetSmart
Ray-Ban
ULTA
Viator
At most merchants, you’ll want to pay with a credit card that earns bonus points and miles on everyday purchases. Some good options include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees), which earns 2 Capital One miles per dollar on all purchases, and the Citi® Double Cash Card (see rates and fees), which earns 2% back on all purchases — 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill. These rewards can be converted to full Citi ThankYou points if you have a higher-end card like the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees).
However, on Viator purchases, consider using a card that earns well on general travel purchases, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve, which earn 2 and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel purchases, respectively.
And remember that the 10% back (or 10 Amex points) will be in addition to any earnings on the credit card you swipe.
Related: How to redeem American Express Membership Rewards for maximum value
Stack with credit card offers
Historically, Dell.com has offered bonus points via Rakuten, and it’s one of the participating merchants in the Big Stack promotion. This means now could be a great time to spend your Dell credit from The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
As a reminder, the card provides cardholders up to $400 in annual statement credits per year toward U.S. purchases with Dell in the form of $200 back in January-June and the second $200 from July-December. Enrollment is required in advance.
In addition to computers, Dell sells projectors, laptop bags, headphones, monitors, video games and more.
Alternatively, if you have The Platinum Card® from American Express, you’ll enjoy up to $100 in annual statement credits for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue ($50 from January-June and another $50 from July-December). Enrollment is required in advance. While Saks isn’t participating in this promotion, you can still earn more on your purchase by going through Rakuten.
Related: 11 things you can buy with the Amex Platinum $50 Saks credit
Finally, be sure to see if any of the participating merchants also have offers through your favorite credit cards. You may be eligible for discounts or bonus points through Amex Offers, Chase Offers or Citi Merchant Offers, so it’s worth checking those platforms before making an online purchase.
Bottom line
This week, you can earn up to 10% cash back — or even better, up to 10 Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at Rakuten.
Between this excellent earning rate and the $30 new customer bonus, now’s a great time to earn a bunch of points toward free flights to your next vacation spot with surprisingly little effort.
Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh, Ehsan Haque, Summer Hull, Kyle Olsen and Ryan Smith.
Purchasing airfare can be a complicated process, and it can take considerable skill and patience to find the best possible ticket prices. To demystify the process and help you snag a great price on your next trip, we gathered 11 of our tried-and-true strategies for finding the best prices on airfare.
Every situation is unique, so you may not be able to apply every single one of these strategies every time you fly. Your mileage may vary based on your desired route(s) or planned date(s) of travel.
Regardless of where or when you’re going, bookmark this story so you can easily reference these strategies for finding cheap airfare.
Start with Google Flights
When shopping for a flight, the first thing you’ll want to do is figure out which airlines operate a given route and get an idea of the average prices.
Instead of visiting each airline’s website individually, start by searching a site like Google Flights that will produce results from numerous airlines. Google Flights is a robust search tool that not only shows you pricing based on your date and route but also displays alternate pricing via a date grid and price graph that can help you save money.
You can even set up tracking alerts to receive email notifications if the price for your desired route drops.
Related: What you need to know about using Google Flights for award flight searches
Keep in mind that Google Flights is not a booking platform, so you can’t actually make a reservation or pay for your ticket through the site. When you click on a flight you want to book, it will take you to that airline’s website to complete your booking.
Check carriers that don’t appear on third-party sites
One of the main weaknesses of online search engines is that they often won’t list the flights of all carriers, such as Southwest and some ultra-low-cost carriers, like Allegiant and Frontier.
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The best way to find out which of these carriers serves a particular airport is to search for the route map on each airline’s website (or Google the airline name with “route map”). Once you know about any alternate carriers, you can check their pricing and compare it to the pricing you found for the airlines listed on Google Flights.
Search one-way and round-trip flights
More often than not, round-trip tickets are cheaper than purchasing two one-way flights, but we all know there are exceptions to every rule.
For example, JetBlue and Southwest typically price their tickets on a one-way basis; a round-trip flight is simply the sum of the two one-way prices. Occasionally, though, you may get the best round-trip deal by pairing two one-way tickets, potentially on two different airlines.
Remember, Google Flights is a terrific tool to show you when separate one-ways could be the cheapest option.
Just be aware that booking two one-way flights does carry some risk if you need to cancel or change your trip. If you book your outbound and return flights on different carriers and both charge $200 change or cancellation fees, you’ll be hit twice if you need to adjust your travel plans. Changing both ends of a round-trip flight booked on a single airline would only incur that fee once.
Related: How to avoid airline change and cancellation fees
Search one seat at a time
There’s a little-known quirk in how airlines price seats that can result in much higher prices when searching for multiple passengers versus a single ticket. Airlines place their inventory in fare classes (sometimes called “buckets”) that aren’t always clearly visible to consumers.
For example, there might be only three seats left in a fare bucket for $300 each, and the next higher bucket might be $400 per ticket. However, if you were to search for four seats, everyone would fall into the $400 fare bucket.
By searching for a single seat, you’ll see one of the three remaining $300 tickets. With a little trial and error, you’d then know to book one reservation with three tickets at $300 each and another reservation for the fourth ticket at $400. In this example, applying this simple strategy would save you $300 from what you’d pay by booking all four seats on a single reservation.
To make this a bit easier, many airlines will even tell you how many are left at that price, like this example from Miami International Airport (MIA) to New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) on Delta.
If you had searched for three or four tickets, the price of that one-way flight jumps to $249.30, an increase of $56 per passenger. This trick also works when you need to book multiple award flights that aren’t all available at the lowest mileage levels.
Search alternate airports
Sometimes the cost of a flight is just so high that it can make sense to use your second or perhaps third choice of airports. Many airlines allow you to search all airports in a region by specifying the destination as the city (e.g. New York City) instead of a particular airport.
For example, the New York area has three large airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and LGA. However, you’ll find even more flights if you expand your search to nearby Long Island McArthur Airport (ISP), Westchester County Airport (HPN) and Stewart International Airport (SWF).
When you use Google Flights, for example, you can enter your origin and destination cities instead of a specific airport name. This opens up more – and possibly cheaper – flight options.
Leverage elite status
Having elite status won’t get you discounted tickets, but you might be able to use it to save money another way. Having elite status with most carriers will allow you to stand by for earlier flights or perform same-day confirmed flight changes.
This could allow you to book a discounted flight at an inconvenient time, only to change it to the flight you want at no additional cost. Even if you don’t have elite status, the charge to stand by or make a same-day confirmed flight change might be less than the fare difference between the flight you want and the cheapest option that day.
For details on the major airlines’ elite status programs, check out the following guides:
Use the right credit card
The right credit card can offer you significant savings on airfare in a variety of different ways. For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express offers 5 points per dollar on all airfare purchases made directly with the airline or through the Amex travel portal (up to $500,000 in annual purchases), worth 10 cents per dollar spent, according to TPG’s latest valuations.
Related: The best credit cards for airfare purchases
Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can earn 5 points per dollar on flights booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. You can also use your $300 annual travel credit toward airfare purchases because they typically code as travel.
Other cards, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the American Express® Green Card and American Express® Gold Card, also have elevated points earnings for flights.
Check first class
Don’t ask us why, but once in a blue moon, you may find that a first-class ticket can be very close to the price of one in economy class — or sometimes even less. Some possible explanations are that people forget to check the price of first class and that many companies don’t allow their employees to book first class, even when it’s less expensive. Also, discounted first class fares might exist when only full-fare economy class tickets are for sale.
Related: Are first-class tickets worth the splurge?
Either way, always check the price of a first-class ticket before paying for an above-average economy class fare. When you factor in the additional miles you will receive as well as the free baggage allowance, lounge access and in-flight amenities, it may justify a modest premium in fare.
Look for coupons and other offers
Like any business, airlines occasionally offer coupons and other discounts. For example, your Amex Offers could feature airline rebates, or you could save money with an all-you-can-fly pass like those offered by Frontier. Other low-cost carriers like Southwest often offer flight deals that can save you hundreds of dollars on airfare.
Buy miles
When faced with an expensive fare and a shortage of miles, consider buying the miles you need for an award ticket, especially when they are on sale. It rarely makes sense to purchase miles without a bonus and without a specific award in mind, but when you can save money by purchasing miles and immediately redeeming them for an award flight, it can be a great idea.
Reprice, reprice, reprice
Many airlines allow you to rebook your airfare if the price drops after you book your flight. For example, if the price of your Southwest flight drops after your initial booking, you can rebook your flight and receive a credit or a cash refund, depending on your fare type.
Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines also have a “no-change-fee” policy for most flights and fare types. Once you book, check for fare drops on a regular basis and snag that refund if the price drops.
Bottom line
Purchasing airfare can be a complicated endeavor, with so many carriers competing for customers and adjusting prices frequently.
Thankfully, there are several simple strategies you can use to minimize your out-of-pocket expense for booking flights. Even if you pick two or three of these as a starting point, you’ll be well on your way to finding the best flight prices for your next trip.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
Remember extreme couponing? Avid couponers would pour over weekly ads and find ways to maximize their savings by stacking coupons on top of other offers.
Merchant offers are a more convenient version of couponing. These programs are entirely online and allow you to save money on the things you’re buying anyway, with no scissors required.
Every issuer’s merchant offer follows the same basic structure: Log into your card account online or through your banking app, review the offers available to you, add the ones you want and make a qualifying purchase using the card the offer is registered to.
Offers are typically targeted, but someone with multiple cards will have access to dozens of offers from various retailers at any given time. Though every little bit helps, some programs are more valuable than others. Here’s how the programs stack up.
Amex Offers
Nearly everyone with an Amex card is familiar with Amex Offers, where you’ll often find 100 or more potential discounts for each card you have. Not all of them will be relevant to your purchasing needs, but the law of large numbers says a few will probably make sense.
From a traveler’s perspective, Amex Offers are frequently a good fit. Hotel offers are relatively common and often span multiple brands. For instance, here’s one that can save you $80 on an MGM Resort stay:
Sometimes you’ll find other good travel deals, too, like this one for $20 back on an airport parking service:
In addition to the sheer quantity of offers available, Amex also tends to field some of the highest cash-back deals. Rebates of $100 or more are relatively common, and you can sometimes stack Amex Offers with other discounts and promotions as long as your final purchase price is high enough to trigger the deal.
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Another great advantage to these offers is that Membership Rewards-earning cards sometimes proffer bonus points on eligible purchases rather than cash back. For example, you may find an offer for 10,000 bonus points instead of $100, or 5 extra bonus points per dollar instead of 5% cash back, on certain types of purchases or from specific retailers.
Since TPG values Membership Rewards at 2 cents each, earning your rebate in points can make it an even sweeter deal.
One major downside is that Amex usually structures deals to require a minimum spending amount (as you might imagine, the higher rebates require higher spending to qualify), and taxes and fees are generally not included in that amount. So if you spend even just one penny short of the amount stated in your Amex Offer, you could miss out on the deal entirely.
Further, note that some Amex Offers have restrictions around what purchases are eligible, so read through the terms and conditions before you make a purchase. Also note that you can only add a particular Amex Offer to one Amex card, so try adding it to the card that earns the most points on your purchase.
Interested in using Amex Offers? Consider applying for one of these Amex cards:
American Express® Green Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points and get 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases made during your first six months of cardmembership (up to $200 back) after you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first six months of cardmembership. Earn 3 points per dollar on dining at restaurants, travel and transit (including flights, hotels, cruises, taxis, tours and more) purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases ($150 annual fee; see rates and fees).
American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first six months of card membership. Earn 4 points per dollar on dining at restaurants, 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar), 3 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly from airlines or American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases ($250 annual fee; see rates and fees).
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Earn 5 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and 1 point per dollar on other purchases ($695 annual fee; see rates and fees).
Related: These Amex Offers will help you save money and make life easier right now
Chase Offers
Since so many of our favorite travel cards are issued by Chase, there’s a good chance you have access to Chase Offers in your wallet.
Chase Offers are targeted and may vary by card. You’ll need to check each card in your account to see which ones you can access. Sometimes, you’ll find the best deals on cards you rarely use, which might give you an incentive to pull them out of the sock drawer.
Chase Offers are nearly always a percentage back instead of a flat rate dollar amount, with a few exceptions for subscription-based products. That makes these offers easier to use since you can spend normally without worrying about hitting a minimum threshold in your shopping cart. Everyday brands (rather than stores you’ve never heard of) are often featured, with recent offers from places like Starbucks, McDonald’s and Best Buy.
On the flip side, Chase Offers are generally not as valuable as Amex Offers. Instead of getting triple-digit rebates, you’ll find quite a few that are far less exciting. For example, this Office Depot offer has a maximum savings of $11:
Here are some of our favorite Chase cards:
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Its earning rates include 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on dining and 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel purchases.
Chase Sapphire Reserve: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Its earning rates include 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and dining purchases.
Related: Your ultimate guide to Chase Offers
BankAmeriDeals
Bank of America also has a cash-back program with a great extra twist: Bank of America debit cards can also activate offers on their account (though we at TPG think credit cards are usually the smarter choice for most). Either way, it can take up to 30 days to see offers on your account after enrolling, so you’ll need to be patient before you can start saving.
The offers on your Bank of America cards may overlap with your Chase Offers since the same backend system seemingly powers both programs. Bank of America does have an extra way to save through their BankAmeriDeals.
Note that these bonuses post to your account later than the initial earnings – but they can be a nice bonus if you regularly use your Bank of America credit card.
Related: How to maximize your earning with the Bank of America Premium Rewards card
Citi Merchant Offers
Like Amex, the Citi Merchant Offers program includes offers from a huge volume of merchants. Offers are conveniently sorted by category, making it easy to scroll through and add anything that catches your eye.
With Citi offers, the devil is in the details. The fine print of each offer is often very specific, so make sure your purchase is in line with the terms and conditions. For example, chain restaurants may only be valid at specific locations rather than nationwide and sometimes travel discounts only apply to prepaid bookings. Still, if you see a deal like $250 off a $1,000 Carnival cruise purchase, the savings are significant enough to be worth your time.
If you’re looking for a new Citi card, consider applying for the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees). It’s currently offering 60,000 ThankYou points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, which you can use for many great redemptions.
Related: 4 reasons the Citi Premier Card should be on your short list
U.S. Bank cash-back deals
U.S. Bank’s version of a rewards program was introduced without fanfare in 2021 and uses the same backend system as you see on Chase and BankAmeriDeals.
Though that means you might not see something new or noteworthy, it does mean you have another opportunity to load an offer to your account, especially since so many discounts are capped at low dollar amounts.
Unlike Chase, U.S. Bank doesn’t require you to load an offer to a specific U.S. Bank-issued card. Once you activate an offer, it’s valid for any of the cards on your account, but you can only use it once.
Related: How to choose the right credit card for you
Stack with a shopping portal
Barring some specific Amex Offers, the bulk of these merchant-specific offers trigger when you make an eligible purchase with your credit card. You do not always need to click through a special link to use your offers, meaning you can stack with a popular airline, hotel or cash-back shopping portal to earn even more points.
Shopping portals reward you with bonus points when you click through the portal before making a purchase with a specific merchant. For example, the United shopping portal currently offers 1 mile per dollar at Home Depot. So if you have a Home Depot Amex Offer, you can click through the United portal first, pay with your Amex and earn bonus United miles and Membership Rewards points on your purchase.
Most of the major airlines, many major hotels and even some transferable points currencies have their own shopping portals. One of our favorites is Rakuten — it’s technically a cash-back portal, but you can opt to earn Amex Membership Rewards points instead. The portal sometimes offers new members up to $40 (or 4,000 Membership Rewards points) bonus after spending a certain amount within 90 days of opening your account.
Consider using a shopping portal aggregator to earn the most rewards on your purchases. These will show you earning rates for all the major portals side-by-side, so you always get the highest possible return on your purchases.
Related: Don’t want to miss out on earning bonus points? There’s an extension for that
Bottom line
You might have access to a plethora of different discounts or bonuses to enjoy across your credit card portfolio. Amex tends to have the most headline-worthy rebates, but realistically, the best offers will be those at retailers you shop with anyway.
Try and make it a habit to look through all your available offers and add the ones you might use. There’s no harm in not using a linked offer; you might as well save money where possible. Just make sure to use the card with the linked offer when you pay for your purchase.
For rates and fees of the Amex Green, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available.
In 2020 and 2021, many major hotel companies offered some of their most generous promotions. That’s how some TPG staffers achieved top-tier Hyatt Globalist with just 10 nights. But those days are far behind us.
Overall, hotel promotions aren’t quite as generous as they once were. But from helping you accrue additional points to earning elite status faster, they certainly should be on your radar.
However, keeping track of the latest hotel bonuses can be difficult — especially if you’re juggling points and elite status with multiple programs. With that in mind, we’ve created this guide to track current promotions across the major hotel chains.
Most of these promotions require you to book directly with the hotel chain. Bookmark this page for regularly updated offers, links and other information about your favorite hotel programs. We’ll also discuss which offers will get you the most bang for your buck.
This article focuses on limited-time promotions, excluding ongoing offers like AAA and AARP member discounts. Further, the list doesn’t include ongoing offers on cobranded hotel credit cards, but you can check out the following links for details on these cards:
Related: 6+ unexpected travel discounts that can save you money
Limited-time credit card hotel discounts
Amex Offers, Chase Offers and Citi Merchant Offers can offer significant hotel discounts. While we didn’t find any current Citi hotel offers, here are a few targeted offers that TPG staff found on their credit cards — check your cards and see if you have them too.
Amex Offers
American Express is currently offering several hotel promotions for select cardholders via its Amex Offers program, including:
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7,500 bonus points after spending $2,000 or more on your card (expires March 31). TPG values 7,500 Marriott points at $63.
Caesars Rewards Las Vegas: $40 back after you spend $200 or more (expires May 31).
Hilton properties in Mexico: $150 back after spending $750 or more (expires April 30).
Hilton’s in the US, Mexico, Caribbean, Colombia, Honduras and French Polynesia (select properties only): $200 back after you spend $1,000 or more (expires May 31).
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts Canada: $100 back after spending $500 or more (expires May 15).
IHG Hotels and Resorts: $40 back after you spend $200 or more (expires June 16).
Lotte Hotel: $100 back after you spend $500 or more (expires Aug. 1).
Lotte New York Palace: $150 back after you spend $750 or more (expires July 23).
Mandarin Oriental: $100 back after you spend $500 or more (expires March 31).
Marriott Bonvoy properties in the U.S., Caribbean, Mexico and Canada: 20% back, up to a total of $50 back (expires March 31).
Marriott Bonvoy properties in the U.S., Caribbean, Mexico and Canada: $60 back after spending $300 or more (expires March 31).
Marriott Homes & Villas: $200 back after spending $1,000 or more (expires May 31).
Riggs Washington, D.C.: $120 back after spending $600 or more (expires April 30).
Sonesta: $60 back after spending $300 or more at properties in the U.S. and U.S. territories (expires April 30).
Staypineapple: $50 back after you spend $250 or more (expires April 3).
The Line Hotels: $60 back after you spend $300 or more (expires April 30).
The Ned NoMad Hotel: $100 back after you spend $500 or more (expires Sept. 4).
Viceroy Hotels & Resorts US & Mexico: $200 back after you spend $1,000 or more (expires May 31).
Remember that Amex Offers are targeted. So, you should check your offers and enroll in any that interest you.
Related: Which is the best American Express credit card for you?
Chase Offers
Chase Offers are targeted. Several of our staffers have this Chase Offer:
Thompson Hotels: Earn 15% back when you spend $100 or more, up to $37.95 (Expires April 21).
Related: Check your Chase Offers to save money with Marriott, Lyft and Carnival
Accor Live Limitless
Accor Live Limitless has a couple of promotions that might help you earn extra points and qualify for status. These promotions require you to register.
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
4x points at new hotels
Earn 4 times the points at new Accor Hotels.
Deadline passed.
Through May 5, 2023.
Earn bonus status nights with fast track
This targeted promotion isn’t open to members with a U.S. primary address.
Classic members will earn f5 status nights toward Silver.
Silver members will earn 7 status nights toward Gold.
Gold members will earn 10 status nights toward Platinum.
Deadline passed.
By May 2, 2023.
Related: The award travelers guide to Accor Live Limitless
Best Western Rewards
Best Western’s promotion allows you to earn up to 16,000 bonus points, which requires registration. Here are the details:
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
Stay two nights and get 8,000 bonus points (up to two times).
Complete two separate or consecutive eligible nights to earn 8,000 bonus points following completion of the eligible nights.
Valid only on Best Western-branded U.S., Canada and Caribbean stays.
N/A.
Stay by May 7, 2023.
Related: Your ultimate guide to Best Western Rewards
Choice Privileges
Choice Privileges is back with a promotion advertising a gift card, but cashing out your points for the gift card isn’t required. You can read more about their ongoing deals here.
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
Bonus points after two paid stays
Earn between 5,000 and 8,000 bonus points on the second paid stay. Choice advertises this promotion as being enough points for a $50 gift card, but you can keep the points instead.
N/A.
Stay by June 30, 2023.
Related: The best hotel credit cards
Hilton Honors
Hilton has been generous with its recent promotions. Note that the Double Up + Explore promotion requires you to register. For more details, visit this page.
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
Double Up + Explore
Earn double points and 1,000 bonus points (worth $6 at TPG’s valuations) for each of Hilton’s 18 brands you stay at during the promotional period.
N/A.
Stay by April 30, 2023.
Free bonus points at Hilton’s newest properties.
Earn 1,000 Hilton Honors points per night at select properties.
Earn 5,000 Hilton Honors points per three-night stay or longer at select properties.
N/A.
Ongoing promotion.
Related: How to choose the best Hilton credit card for you
IHG One Rewards
You can earn bonus IHG One Rewards points with the loyalty program’s latest promotion, but you must register
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
2,000 bonus points every 2 nights
Earn 2,000 points for every two nights of eligible paid stays.
N/A
Feb. 9 to April 14, 2023.
Related: 7 ways to earn more IHG One Rewards points for your next redemption
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott is offering an appealing promotion for points and elite status seekers. Check your “promotion central” to see if you have any targeted promotions.
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
Delight in the unexpected: Earn twice each night
Earn 1,000 bonus points (worth $8.40 based on TPG’s valuations) and one elite bonus night for each night you spend at a Marriott Bonvoy-branded property at a qualifying rate (award stays are excluded.).
April 9, 2023.
Feb. 7 to April 23, 2023.
Related: The award travelers guide to Marriott Bonvoy
Radisson Rewards Americas
Here’s one noteworthy promotion from Radisson Rewards Americas. Make sure to register.
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
First time’s a charm
Earn 3,000 bonus points for your first booking in the app.
N/A.
Ongoing promotion.
Related: Here’s why Radisson Rewards is the best loyalty program for earning free nights
World of Hyatt
World of Hyatt recently launched its latest Bonus Journeys promotion. Here’s a high-level overview of Hyatt’s promotions.
Related: The most award-friendly hotel program: Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt
Wyndham Rewards
Wyndham Rewards has two generous promotions now — both require you to register. Here’s an overview.
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
Stay 3 nights, earn 2 free
Book three qualifying nights at participating hotels in Europe, Africa, Eurasia or the Middle East and you’ll earn 15,000 Wyndham Rewards bonus points (enough for two nights at some Wyndham properties).
April 30, 2023 (also the book-by date).
By Sept. 30, 2023.
Earn 1,500 bonus points
Targeted promotion.
N/A.
Ongoing promotion.
In addition, there are limited-time offers through Wyndham’s member month promotions — including property credits and a broader free-night offer.
Additional reporting by Ehsan Haque, Ariana Arghandewal, Katie Genter, Ryan Smith, Caroline Tanner and Benji Stawski.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
There are exceptions to every rule.
In the credit cards industry, changes to credit cards are typically called a “refresh” — that’s usually a code word for “your annual fee is going up.” And many credit cards with low annual fees don’t offer many perks.
Enter the exception: the American Express® Green Card. The card has gained additional benefits over the years, with perks that easily justify its annual fee, yet the annual fee is still a modest $150 (see rates and fees).
But that doesn’t answer whether the Amex Green Card’s annual fee is worth it. What do you get for that $150? Let’s take a look.
Welcome bonus
Right now, new applicants can earn 60,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of cardmembership. They’ll also get 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases in the first six months, up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit. TPG values this bonus at $1,400 (including statement credit), and you only need to spend $500 monthly for six months to achieve it.
This is the best-ever publicly-available offer we’ve seen on this card, meaning now is a great time to apply.
Membership Rewards points have numerous uses, including cashing out your points (not the best value) or redeeming with hotel and airline partners (can provide incredible value, depending on the partner.)
Related: Transfer and maximize: The ultimate guide to Amex Membership Rewards
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Excellent uses of Membership Rewards points include domestic flights on Delta Air Lines and flights to Canada with WestJet, a Delta partner. Flights to South America with LATAM can also provide excellent value, as can transferring your points to Virgin Atlantic for redemptions with ANA on flights to Japan.
American Express has its own set of application rules and restrictions when applying for a credit card. The most notable of these rules is the once-in-a-lifetime rule. The Amex Green Card has the following terms:
Welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had this Card or previous versions of the American Express® Green Card. We may also consider the number of American Express Cards you have opened and closed as well as other factors in making a decision on your welcome offer eligibility.
Thus, you may not be eligible for the bonus if you’ve had this card previously (or previous versions of it before its makeover in 2019). Amex may also consider how many other cards you’ve had in the past and sometimes uses a pop-up window during the application to say you’re not eligible for the bonus.
Clear credit
Clear is an airport security program that can help you speed through the checkpoint by using biometrics to prove your identity.
Membership costs $189 per year, and you can get this reimbursed the full amount by paying for your Clear Plus membership with your Amex Green Card. There’s no prior enrollment required with Amex to use this benefit, but you will need to sign up with Clear Plus and complete your enrollment to use Clear security lanes at a growing number of venues and airports.
Even better, select Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus cobranded credit cardholders can get a Clear membership at a reduced price of $149. Since your annual benefit maximum on the Amex Green Card is $189, that’s enough to cover this reduced price and some of the cost of adding a loved one.
LoungeBuddy credits
LoungeBuddy is a lounge network of more than 200 lounges around the world. You can book a lounge visit in advance, a great feature to beat long lines at overcrowded lounges.
While this feature doesn’t provide free, unlimited access as you get with a Priority Pass Select membership offered on other credit cards, you can be reimbursed when paying to visit LoungeBuddy lounges each year.
Use your Amex Green Card to pay for these visits, and you’ll receive up to $100 in statement credits to offset these purchases each calendar year. There’s no need to enroll for this benefit in advance with Amex, though you do need to enroll with LoungeBuddy for a membership.
Related: Maximizing LoungeBuddy passes with the Amex Green
Earning rates
One of the best features of the Amex Green Card may be how you can earn points.
Cardmembers earn 3 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, 3 points per dollar on takeout and delivery services in the U.S., 3 points per dollar on transit (including trains, buses, ferries and subways), 3 points per dollar on travel and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
With broad travel and transit categories, this is one of the best credit cards for travel purchases and dining expenses. TPG values Membership Rewards points at 2 cents apiece, meaning you can earn a 6% return on spending for your travel, commuting and dining expenses.
Related: Amex Green Card review
While the Amex Green Card earns less at restaurants than the 4 points per dollar provided by the American Express® Gold Card and doesn’t offer bonus points at U.S. supermarkets as the Gold Card does, the Green Card provides much better earning rates for commuting and travel.
Related: Credit card showdown: Amex Gold vs. Amex Green
Cardmember benefits
Cardmembers also have access to other benefits. Amex Offers can provide rebates or bonus points on your upcoming purchases through targeted promotions, plus there are built-in shopping and travel protections that can provide both peace of mind and security during mishaps at home and abroad.
It’s also worth pointing out that the Amex Green Card is not a traditional credit card. Credit cards have a preset spending limit; you cannot spend more than that until you pay down your balance. You also can carry a balance (you shouldn’t, though, since you’ll pay interest) from month to month.
Conversely, the Amex Green Card doesn’t have a preset spending limit. How much you can spend on the card can change depending on your payment history and credit score, for example, and you need to pay your bill in full each month. Pay Over Time can be used on some Amex cards, but cards like the Amex Green, Amex Gold and The Platinum Card® from American Express are designed for you to pay your entire bill in full each month.
This can be a positive or a negative feature, depending on how you see it and whether you plan to make a large purchase on a card and pay it off over time.
Bottom line
As cardmember benefits have improved on the Amex Green Card in the past few years, the annual fee has remained steady at a moderate $150. If you can use the Clear benefit and LoungeBuddy passes each year, you can easily offset the annual fee.
However, you might not use these perks if you already have another credit card that provides lounge access and/or a card that reimburses your Clear Plus membership. The question at that point would be whether the earning structure on the Green Card provides enough extra Membership Rewards points each year to make keeping the card worthwhile.
Related: Who should (and who shouldn’t) get the Amex Green card?
Learn more in our full review of the Amex Green card.
Official application link: American Express Green Card with a best-ever 60,000-point bonus and 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases (up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit) in your first six months.
For rates and fees of the Amex Green Card, click here.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox and Benét J. Wilson.