americanexpress com rewards info: Everything You Need to Know About Rewards

American Express rewards can be a bit overwhelming, but don't worry, I've got you covered. The American Express website, americanexpress.com, is the best place to start learning about your rewards.

You can access your rewards account on the American Express website, where you can view your rewards balance, redeem points, and even check your rewards expiration dates. This is also where you can find information on how to earn more points.

One of the best things about American Express rewards is that you can earn points on everything from everyday purchases to travel bookings. In fact, you can earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel.

You can take advantage of various benefits with your American Express card, making your travel experience more rewarding.

Travel credits are available with many cards, allowing you to earn points or dollars towards your next trip.

These credits can be a significant help when booking flights or hotel stays.

To review and activate your benefits, go to the menu bar and click on Rewards & Benefits.

Select Benefits from the drop-down menu to see a benefits summary screen.

From this screen, you can review everything your card offers and find links to sign up for applicable benefits.

This makes it easy to stay on top of your benefits and make the most of your card.

You can earn American Express Membership Rewards points by using your enrolled American Express Card for purchases, or through special promotions and offers. Points can be earned on a wide range of purchases, including everyday expenses like groceries and gas.

To earn points, simply use your enrolled American Express Card for purchases, and the points will be automatically added to your account. This makes it easy to rack up points over time.

You can redeem your points for a variety of rewards, including statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.

To earn points, you can take online surveys that pay between 100 and 500 points each.

The amount of points you earn for taking a survey depends on the length and complexity of the survey, as well as the site's reward structure.

You can also earn points by watching videos, which typically pay between 50 and 200 points per video.

Some sites offer points for referring friends to their platform, with rewards ranging from 100 to 500 points per referral.

You can also earn points by shopping online through partner merchants, who offer rewards in the form of points or cash back.

To redeem points, log into your account on the airline's website or mobile app, then click on the "Redeem" or "Use Points" button.

You can also call the airline's customer service number to redeem your points over the phone. The phone number can be found on the airline's website.

Before redeeming, check the airline's rewards chart to see how many points are required for a specific flight or travel reward. The chart can be accessed through the airline's website or mobile app.

To book a reward flight, select the "Reward" or "Points" option when searching for flights on the airline's website or mobile app. This will show you the available reward flights and the number of points required.

Once you've selected your reward flight, review the terms and conditions, including any blackout dates or restrictions on travel. Be sure to read the fine print before finalizing your redemption.

American Express Membership Rewards points are automatically combined across all eligible cards someone holds. This includes business cards and personal cards.

You can't combine points earned from one card with points earned from another card member's account.

Points can only be transferred to hotel or airline program accounts in the card member's name.

American Express offers a range of rewards and offers through their Amex Offers program, which appears on individual accounts and can include saving a set dollar amount or percentage on a purchase in the form of a statement credit or earning extra Membership Rewards points.

These offers must be added to the eligible Membership Rewards-earning card before the purchase is made, and the conditions of the offers vary, so be sure to check the terms.

You can earn statement credits or additional rewards on purchases made with select merchants through Amex Offers, such as earning 5 additional points per dollar spent at Olive Garden restaurants, up to 5,000 points in total.

Here are some examples of Amex Offers:

If you're wondering how much your rewards points are worth, it's a great question to ask. American Express Membership Rewards points are worth an average of 1.11 cents apiece, according to The Balance's research.

You can increase the value of your points by transferring them to Amex transfer partners, which can be worth as much as 2.04 cents each. This is a great option if you're planning to book a flight or stay at a hotel through one of their partner programs.

The value of your points also depends on how you redeem them. For example, if you use your points to book a flight through American Express Travel, they'll be worth 1 cent per point. However, if you use them to shop at certain retailers, like Amazon or Best Buy, you can get a value of 1 cent per point as well.

Here's a breakdown of the average value of American Express Membership Rewards points across different redemption options:

Keep in mind that these values can vary depending on the specific redemption option you choose.

You can take advantage of other American Express benefits, such as travel credits and complimentary hotel elite status, by reviewing and activating them through your account summary screen.

Many cards have specific benefits, and your American Express account makes it easy to review and activate these benefits right from your account summary screen.

To access these benefits, go to the menu bar and click Rewards & Benefits and select Benefits from the drop-down menu to see a benefits summary screen.

From this screen, you can review everything your card offers and find links to sign up for all applicable benefits.

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express offers purchase protection and extended warranty protection, which can be valuable for business owners.

Here are some of the other benefits of the Amex Blue Business Plus card:

The Blue Plus is a great option for those looking for a rewards credit card without an annual fee. You can earn 2X points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per calendar year, and 1X point on all other purchases.

The Blue Plus card also offers a unique feature called Amex Offers, which can include saving a set dollar amount or percentage on a purchase in the form of a statement credit or earning extra Membership Rewards points.

To maximize your rewards, you should add specific American Express Offers to the eligible Membership Rewards-earning card before making a purchase. Some offers may require qualifying purchases to be made only online, so make sure to check the terms.

Here are some of the Membership Rewards-earning cards that offer Amex Offers:

You can use Membership Rewards points to book travel directly through American Express via the AmEx Travel site, where you can find flights, hotels, and vacation packages.

The American Express Travel portal allows you to pay for flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and other forms of travel using your Membership Rewards points.

Booking travel through the Amex Travel portal is a straightforward way to redeem your Membership Rewards points, and it's worth noting that you can book airlines that are not transfer partners with Amex.

You can use any American Express-issued card to pay the remaining balance through the American Express Travel portal, even if it's not a Membership Rewards-earning card.

To pay with a combination of points and cash, you must apply at least 5,000 points to the booking.

American Express collects Membership Rewards points as payment and pays air travel providers cash for reservations, making it similar to a cash booking for the airline.

If you need to make changes or cancellations to your reservation, you must do so through American Express Travel and be prepared for potential fees.

Here are the key things to keep in mind when booking through the American Express Travel portal:

Managing your American Express rewards account is easier than ever. You can access your account information, view your rewards balance, and redeem points directly from the American Express website.

To get started, simply log in to your account at americanexpress.com, using your username and password. From there, you can view your rewards balance and track your points.

American Express allows you to link multiple cards to a single account, making it easy to manage your rewards across all your cards. This feature is particularly useful if you have multiple cards with different rewards structures.

If your American Express card isn't earning Membership Rewards, it might be because it's not eligible for the program. Some cards, like the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, earn cash back instead.

Not all Amex cards are created equal, and some are co-branded to earn rewards points with specific travel partners. This can be a great perk if you frequently stay at certain hotels or fly with specific airlines.

Here are some cards that don't earn Membership Rewards:

These cards have their own unique rewards structures, so it's worth exploring what each one offers to see if it's a good fit for your spending habits.

Using your points to pay off statement balances directly is a convenient option, but it's essential to know that points are only worth 0.6 cents apiece.

To take advantage of this feature, you can review your current online statement to see which charges are eligible for redemption.

You'll need a minimum of 1,000 points to initiate a redemption, and you can expect a statement credit within 48 hours.

Redeeming points for a statement credit is a great way to offset existing charges, but keep in mind that points are only worth 0.6 cents apiece.

Amex cards offer welcome bonuses for new cardmembers, which can be a great way to rack up a lot of Membership Rewards points quickly. These bonuses typically require you to spend a specified amount of money on your new card within a certain time period after account opening.

To qualify for a welcome bonus, you'll need to meet the spending requirement, which can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the card. For example, the American Express Gold Card offers 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on the card in the first six months.

Amex also offers targeted offers, known as Amex Offers, which can provide bonus points when you use your Amex card to make purchases from certain merchants. These offers are typically sent via email, but you can also log in to your American Express account to see all available offers and add them to your card.

Here are some cards that offer Amex Membership Rewards:

Welcome bonuses are a great way to rack up Membership Rewards points quickly, and they typically involve spending a specified amount of money on your new card within a specified time period after account opening.

You can earn a large sum of points, such as 75,000 bonus points, after spending a certain amount, like $4,000, on your card in the first six months after opening your account.

Amex offers targeted bonuses, known as Amex Offers, that can be found in your American Express account under the "Amex Offers & Benefits" tab, and you can add them to your card to receive bonus points.

These offers are typically sent via email, but you can also seek them out on your own and add them to your card to receive the bonus points.

Not all Amex Offers are available to all cardholders, as they are targeted and available only to certain cardholders at Amex's discretion.

Transfer bonuses can also provide a ton of value, especially if you're willing to be flexible with your travel plans, and they involve transferring Membership Rewards points to specific transfer partners.

For example, Amex offered a 30% bonus for transfers made to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, allowing you to receive 13,000 miles for transferring 10,000 points.

Invest with your American Express Membership Rewards points is a great way to add value to your rewards. You can redeem points into your eligible Schwab account at a rate of 1.1 cents per point, up to one million points per year.

This feature is only available to cardholders of The Platinum Card from American Express for Charles Schwab, which comes with a hefty annual fee of $695. You'll also need to be a Schwab customer with an eligible account, such as Schwab One, General Brokerage, or select IRAs.

If you have 100,000 Membership Rewards points, you can send them to your Schwab account and end up with $1,100 available to invest. This can be a great option if you're not planning to use your points for travel anytime soon.

Here are some key details to keep in mind:

Shopping with American Express can be a lucrative way to earn rewards, especially when combined with online shopping portals like Rakuten. You can earn Membership Rewards points for shopping with Rakuten, which is a great alternative to cash back.

If you're already a Rakuten user, you can switch your earnings preference to Membership Rewards points, but be aware that this change is permanent. Once you switch, you won't be able to go back to cash back.

To make the most of your rewards, consider each card's annual fee and rewards earning rate. For example, the Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card earns 3 points per dollar on up to $6,000 spent annually at U.S. supermarkets, while the American Express Gold Card earns 4 points per dollar at restaurants.

Here's a breakdown of some popular American Express credit cards and their rewards earning rates:

By choosing the right card and using online shopping portals like Rakuten, you can maximize your rewards earnings and make the most of your American Express membership.

Shopping with Rakuten is a great way to earn Membership Rewards points on your online purchases. Rakuten is an online shopping portal that allows you to earn points for shopping with over 2,500 online retailers.

If you're an Amex cardholder, you can earn Membership Rewards points instead of cash back on your Rakuten purchases. This is a big deal because Membership Rewards points can be worth far more than 1 cent per point when redeemed certain ways.

To switch to earning Membership Rewards points on Rakuten, you'll need to change your earnings preference in your Rakuten account. Just be aware that if you've already earned cash back on your Rakuten account, you won't be able to convert it to Membership Rewards points.

If you change your earnings preference to Membership Rewards points, you won't be able to switch back to cash back later. So, make sure you're positive about earning Membership Rewards points before making the switch.

If you're an American Express cardholder, you're in luck because you have access to two amazing programs: Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection. These programs offer increased benefits at over 1,600 properties worldwide.

Fine Hotels + Resorts is available to Platinum or Centurion-branded card members and provides benefits like breakfast for two, a $100 experience credit, 4 p.m. checkout, and when available, 12 p.m. check-in and a room upgrade.

The Hotel Collection, on the other hand, is open to members with Gold, Platinum, and Centurion-branded cards and offers a $100 credit toward eligible charges and a room upgrade when available on stays of two nights or more.

To book reservations through Fine Hotels + Resorts, you can use the American Express Travel portal, which can sometimes earn hotel loyalty program points and elite credit. When booking through Fine Hotels + Resorts, points are worth 1 cent each toward the cost of the room.

Here are the benefits you can expect from Fine Hotels + Resorts:

And here are the benefits you can expect from The Hotel Collection:

Groceries, Dining, and Travel are some of the everyday spending categories where you can earn bonus rewards with American Express cards. The Blue from American Express card offers 1 point per dollar on all purchases, while the Amex EveryDay Credit Card earns 2 points per dollar on up to $6,000 spent annually at U.S. supermarkets.

If you spend a lot on groceries, the Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card is a great option, earning 3 points per dollar on up to $6,000 spent annually at U.S. supermarkets. Additionally, you'll earn 2 points per dollar at U.S. gas stations and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

The American Express Green Card earns 3 points per dollar on restaurants, transit, and travel. This card has an annual fee of $150, but it's a great option if you frequently dine out or travel.

Here's a comparison of the rewards earning rates for the Amex EveryDay Credit Card and the American Express Green Card:

The American Express Gold Card takes it a step further, earning 4 points per dollar at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and on up to $25,000 spent annually at U.S. supermarkets.

You can redeem your points for gift cards through the AmEx site at several dozens of retailers, from Home Depot to iTunes.

The point value varies by retailer, so it's worth checking the value before making a purchase.

At Target, a $25 gift card costs 3,572 points, making each point worth about 0.7 cents.

At Tiffany, a $250 gift card costs 25,000 points, making each point worth 1 cent.

Redeeming points for gift cards from brands like Adidas, Airbnb, and Apple can provide a value of between 0.5 cent and 1 cent per point.

For example, Amex is currently offering a $25 Walmart gift card for 3,572 Membership Rewards points, which works out to a value of about 0.7 cent per point.

It's worth doing some math to calculate the value per point for each gift card option before finalizing your purchase.

Some gift cards, like the $100 Gap gift card, offer a value of 1 cent per point, while others, like the Apple gift card, provide a lower value of 0.85 cents per point.

You can bid on seat upgrades with your points at over 20 participating airlines via the Membership Rewards portal.

The Upgrade with Points feature is a convenient option for long flights where you might be cramped.

Membership Rewards are worth at least 1 cent per point, depending on how you redeem them.

Be aware that your points can lose value as your bid escalates, so it's essential to make informed decisions.

If you're not getting the equivalent amount on your bid, it may not be the best use of your rewards.

Traveling with American Express rewards is a breeze, and you can use your points to book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and vacation packages through the American Express Travel portal.

The portal offers a straightforward way to redeem your Membership Rewards points, and flights booked through it are worth 1 cent each. Fine Hotels and Resorts bookings through the portal also offer a 1 cent per point value, a great deal for cardholders.

You can pay for travel with a combination of points and cash, with a minimum of 5,000 points required. The remaining balance can be charged to any American Express-issued card, not just a Membership Rewards-earning card.

Here are some American Express airline and hotel transfer partners:

As a Business Platinum card member, you have access to the International Airline Program (IAP), which offers special fares on international first, business, and premium economy tickets booked through American Express Travel.

These fares are annotated by a banner that states the fare is part of the IAP benefit. To book through IAP, the process is the same as booking any travel through Amex's portal.

Business Platinum cardholders can receive a 35% rebate, up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year, when booking with American Express Travel. This rebate is valid for any first- or business-class flights and for flights in any class on the airline you've selected for your $200 airline incidental credit.

For example, if you redeem 100,000 points for a $1,000 first-class ticket, you'll be refunded 35,000 points. This effectively makes the ticket cost 65,000 points, with a redemption value of 1.5 cents per point.

The cardholder must have the points in their account when booking, and the rebate will be credited six to 10 weeks after purchase.

Here's a breakdown of the IAP benefits:

Booking through the American Express travel portal is a great way to redeem your Membership Rewards points. You can use your points to book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and vacation packages.

The portal allows you to pay with a combination of points and an American Express card. You'll need at least 5,000 points to apply, and any number of points over 5,000 can be used up to the total available in your account or the ticket cost.

If you book flights through the portal, your points are worth 1 cent each. However, if you book prepaid hotels, rental cars, cruises, or vacation packages, your points are only worth 0.7 cents each.

Some American Express cards, like the Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card, offer a higher redemption value. For example, the Business Platinum Card offers a 35% Pay With Points rebate when booking select flights through AmexTravel.com, effectively getting you a redemption value of ~1.54 cents per point.

You can also earn points by booking travel through the portal. Most American Express Membership Rewards cards will earn 2x points per dollar, while the Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card will earn 5x points per dollar.

Here's a breakdown of the earning potential:

Keep in mind that some bookings, like car rentals and non-prepaid hotels, may not be eligible for the 2x points per dollar earning potential. However, the portal offers a low-price guarantee for prepaid hotel rooms, so you can get a refund for the difference if you find a better deal elsewhere.

You can share a referral link with family members and friends to apply for any American Express personal or business credit card.

The referral link can be found at the bottom of your account summary screens in the Amex Offers & Benefits section.

Clicking on the Refer Now button will take you to a screen where you can enter multiple emails and choose which card you want to refer to.

You can earn up to 30,000 Membership Rewards points when a referral is approved, depending on the card that is referred.

In some cases, the person you refer may also earn bonus rewards, such as 10,000 points when they spend $3,000 in the first three months.

The number of points you can earn via referral in a year is limited to 100,000 points, but this limit resets annually.

This limit is per card, not per account holder, so you can refer multiple friends to different cards.

The referral program is unique in that it allows you to refer a new user to apply for any available American Express business or personal card.

Your American Express Membership Rewards points are safe, as there's no expiration date on them.

If you do miss a payment, you might lose the points you earned during that statement period, but you can get them back if you pay up and a $35 fee for each affected period.

To cancel your Membership Rewards account, you'll actually need to cancel the coinciding card first, and it's a good idea to redeem your points beforehand to avoid losing them.

Canceling your account can be a straightforward process, but there are some things to consider first. You can't cancel your Membership Rewards account without also canceling the coinciding card.

To cancel your card and thus your Membership Rewards, it's best to redeem all your points beforehand to avoid forfeiting them. If you don't have any points to redeem, you can close your account by calling the phone number on the back of your card.

There's no expiration date on your points, so you don't have to worry about them running out over time.

Missing a payment on your account can be a problem, though - if you do, you may lose all the points you earned during that statement period.

You can get those points back if you get current on your account and pay a $35 fee for each billing period affected.