Redeeming Amex Membership Rewards®
A Guide to a Premier Flexible Points Currency
How to Earn Membership Rewards Points
Amex offers a wide range of personal and business cards that earn valuable Membership Rewards points. The key is to use the right card for the right purchase.
| Key Earning Card | Description |
|---|---|
| The Platinum Card® | Earn on flights and at AmexTravel.com. Unlocks premium travel benefits. |
| American Express® Gold Card | Excellent for earning on dining at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| American Express® Green Card | Good for general travel, transit, and restaurant purchases. |
| Blue Business® Plus Credit Card | A favorite for earning 2x points on all business purchases up to $50,000 per year, with no annual fee. |
Redemption Options & Value
The value of your Amex points depends entirely on how you redeem them. Transferring to partners is king.
| Redemption Method | Typical Value (per point) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer to Airline Partners | 1.5 - 2.0+ cents | Highest potential value, especially for international business and first-class flights. |
| Book via AmexTravel.com | ~1.0 cent (flights), ~0.7 cents (other) | Fixed value. Good for economy flights or when transfer options are poor. |
| Upgrade with Points | Varies | Can offer good value for upgrading a cash ticket on select airlines. |
| Statement Credits / Gift Cards | ~0.6 - 1.0 cent | Low value. Should be avoided if possible. |
Key Transfer Partner Sweet Spots
Watch for Transfer Bonuses
Amex frequently offers transfer bonuses of 15-40% to select partners, which can make these sweet spots even sweeter.
- ANA Mileage Club: The ultimate sweet spot. Fly round-trip to Japan in business class for 75k-90k points or First Class for 110k-120k points.
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue: Look for monthly Promo Rewards for discounted flights to Europe, often as low as 15,000 points one-way in economy.
- Avianca LifeMiles: No fuel surcharges on most partners. Great for booking premium cabins on Lufthansa to Europe without the high fees.
- British Airways Avios: Excellent for short-haul, non-stop flights on partners like American Airlines and Alaska Airlines in the US.
- Delta SkyMiles: Good for domestic flash sales and when there are transfer bonuses to offset Delta's dynamic pricing.