Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
American Express Membership Rewards® is a flexible rewards program for Amex cardholders that allows you to earn points and redeem them for cashback, gift cards, nearly-free travel, and more.
You’ll need to get an Amex credit card that earns Membership Rewards® to join, but there are many cards to choose from. And some cards earn more points than others, depending on how you normally spend your money.
Erika Taught Me
- Amex Membership Rewards® can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, cashback, and more.
- Your Membership Rewards® get the most value from transferring to the right travel partners.
- Membership Rewards® don’t expire as long as you have a valid open credit card that earns them.
. . .
How Amex Membership Rewards® Work
Amex Membership Rewards® can be earned simply by signing up for an American Express credit card. You can then use those points in a few different ways, including:
- Airfare
- Hotel rooms
- Other travel
- Gift cards
- Cashback
- Experiences
- And more
When you make purchases with your Amex credit card, you will accumulate points in your Membership Rewards® account. Different cards may offer category bonuses that earn more rewards for specific types of spending.
You can access your Membership Rewards® and redeem them through your American Express account online or through the Amex app.
You can also redeem points through the American Express Travel portal for trips and experiences.
READ MORE: How To Use Credit Card Points for Travel
How To Earn Amex Membership Rewards®
You can earn Membership Rewards® points by using one of several Amex credit cards, including:
- American Express® Gold Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
There are also several business credit cards and co-branded cards from American Express that earn rewards.
Each of these cards earns Membership Rewards® for spending, and some even have bonus categories that earn up to 5x rewards on specific purchases.
If you want to earn even more, it’s a good idea to sign up for a card that has a high welcome offer. After you meet the spending requirements, you could earn up to 60,000 bonus points (or more).
You can also earn additional bonuses for referring others to sign up for an Amex card.
READ MORE: How To Earn Credit Card Points Fast for Travel
American Express® Gold Card
Rewards Rate
- 4x points at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x points for the rest of the year
- 4x points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x points for the rest of the year
- 3x points for flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 1x points on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months
Annual Fee
$325 (rates and fees)
. . .
The Platinum Card® from American
Rewards Rate
- 5x points on directly booked flights and hotels booked through American Express Travel (up to $500,000)
- 1x on all other spending
Welcome Offer
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months
Annual Fee
$695 (rates and fees)
. . .
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Rewards Rate
- 3% cashback at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retailers (up to $6,000 in purchases per calendar year in each category, then 1%)
- 1% on all other purchases (cashback is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout)
Welcome Offer
Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 6 months
Annual Fee
. . .
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Rewards Rate
- 6% cashback on purchases at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) and on select streaming services
- 3% on U.S. gas station and transit purchases
- 1% on all other spending (cashback is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout)
Welcome Offer
Earn $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first six months
Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (rates and fees)
. . .
How To Redeem Amex Membership Rewards®
There are many ways to redeem your Membership Rewards®, with some offering more value than others.
Cashback options
You can redeem your rewards for cashback in several different ways:
- Pay with Points: Many retailers partner with American Express and allow you to pay with points at checkout. For example, you can add your Amex card to your Amazon account. The redemption value for Pay with Points is 0.7 cents per point (this may vary by retailer).
- Cover charges: You can cover specific charges on your Amex card with your Membership Rewards® balance. The redemption value for this is 0.6 cents per point.
- Cashback: You can redeem your rewards for straight cashback, which can be credited to your account as a statement credit, or deposited into your bank account. The redemption value for cashback is 0.6 cents per point.
Gift cards
Amex Membership Rewards® can be redeemed for dozens of different gift cards, including for large retailers and online stores.
The value of gift card redemptions ranges from 0.5 cents per point, up to 1 cent per point, depending on the store.
You can redeem for physical or digital gift cards, with values ranging from $25 up to $500.
Amex Travel
American Express has its own travel site at AmexTravel.com, and you can earn Membership Reward® bonuses for booking travel through it.
You can also redeem your rewards to book travel through the Amex Travel site, including flights, hotels, cruises, rental cars, and activities.
Flights booked through Amex Travel are typically valued at 1 cent per point, while other travel options are valued at 0.7 cents per point.
READ MORE: How To Use the Amex Travel Portal for Free Travel
Travel partners
One of the best available redemptions is transferring Membership Rewards® to one of the 21 American Express travel partners.
Not all travel partners offer great deals, though, so see what the redemption rates are before transferring points. Some of the best options may be Delta, Marriott Bonvoy, or Air France KLM (for international flight deals).
Here’s a full list of Amex Travel partners, including the conversion ratio from Membership Rewards® to partner points:
| Partner | Membership Rewards® | Partner Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | 1,000 points = | 1,000 Avios |
| AeroMexico | 1,000 points = | 1,600 AeroMexico Rewards Points |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1,000 points = | 1,000 Aeroplan® Points |
| AIR FRANCE KLM | 1,000 points = | 1,000 Flying Blue® Miles |
| ANA Mileage Club | 1,000 points = | 1,000 ANA Mileage Club Miles |
| avianca lifemiles | 1,000 points = | 1,000 lifemiles |
| British Airways Executive Club | 1,000 points = | 1,000 Avios |
| Cathay Pacific™ | 1,000 points = | 1,000 Asia MilesTM |
| Choice Privileges® | 1,000 points = | 1,000 Choice Privileges® |
| Delta Air Lines | 1,000 points = | 1,000 miles |
| Emirates Skywards | 1,000 points = | 1,000 Skywards Miles |
| Etihad Guest | 1,000 points = | 1,000 Etihad Guest Miles |
| HawaiianMiles® | 1,000 points = | 1,000 HawaiianMiles® |
| Hilton Honors | 1,000 points = | 2,000 Hilton Honors Points |
| Iberia Plus | 1,000 points = | 1,000 Avios |
| JetBlue TrueBlue® | 250 points = | 200 TrueBlue points |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 1,000 points = | 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 500 points = | 500 Qantas Points |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | 1,000 points = | 1,000 Avios |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1,000 points = | 1,000 KrisFlyer® Miles |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1,000 points = | 1,000 Virgin Points |
How Much Are Amex Membership Rewards® Points Worth?
Amex Membership Rewards® can be worth anywhere from 0.5 cents per point to over 4 cents per point, depending on how you redeem them.
Here are a few examples of different redemption options and values for Membership Rewards®:
- Cashback: Points are worth between 0.6 and 0.7 cents per point.
- Amex Travel: For hotels, rental cars, and other activities on AmexTravel.com, your points are worth 0.7 cents per point; flights through Amex Travel are 1 cent per point.
- Gift cards: Points range between 0.5 and 1 cent per point, depending on the card.
- Travel partners: By far the best value, worth 2 cents per point — or more. Some redemptions, such as international flights, can be worth up to 4 cents per point or more.
Here’s a quick look at how American Express compares with its chief competitors:
| Number of Transfer Partners | Travel Portal Redemption Value | Statement Credit Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Membership Rewards® | 21 | $0.007 to $0.01 per point | $0.006 per point |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards® | 14 | $0.01 to $0.015 per point | $0.01 per point |
| Capital One miles | 15+ | $0.01 per mile | $0.005 per mile |
| Wells Fargo Rewards | 7 | $0.01 per point | $0.01 per point |
| Citi ThankYou® Rewards | 19 | $0.01 per point | $0.01 per point |
READ MORE: When To Use Points vs. Cash for Booking Travel
FAQs
Do Amex Membership Rewards® expire?
Amex Membership Rewards® don’t expire as long as you have an open and valid Amex credit card that earns Membership Rewards®.
If you close all of your rewards-earning credit cards, your points will expire within 30 days if not used.
How much are 10,000 Amex points worth?
The value of 10,000 Amex points depends on how you choose to use them.
For example, you could redeem the 10,000 Amex points for a gift card that gives you 0.5 cents per point — in this case, it would be worth $50.
But if you transfer 10,000 Amex points to a travel partner and get 2 cents per point worth of value, then 10,000 Amex points are worth $200.
Where can I transfer my Amex Membership Rewards® to?
You can transfer your Amex Membership Rewards® to any of the 21 travel partners that American Express has a relationship with.
Redemption values vary, and sometimes one Amex point is worth more or less than one partner program point.
You can view the Amex travel partner redemption details on the Amex website.
TL;DR: Are Amex Membership Rewards® Worth It?
Amex Membership Rewards® points are super flexible — you can use them for travel, gift cards, or cashback. You can also transfer points to travel partners like Delta and Marriott for even more value.
Your points never expire as long as you keep an eligible card open, so there's no pressure to spend them right away.
Pick a card that matches your spending habits (like one that gives extra points on groceries if that's where you spend most), and you'll be stacking up rewards before you know it!
Learn With Erika
- Free Travel Secrets Workshop
- Learn how to get your next vacation for practically free with Erika’s step-by-step system
- Free 5 Day Investing Challenge
- Learn how to get started as a beginner investor and make your first $10,000
- Free 5 Day Savings Challenge
- Discover how you can save $1,000 without penny pinching or making major life sacrifices
- Join Erika Kullberg Insiders
- Ask investing questions, share successes and participate in monthly challenges and expert workshops
. . .
Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
