Table Of Content
The American Express® Gold Card offers a range of benefits and rewards for cardholders, including membership in the Membership Rewards program, which allows cardholders to earn points for every dollar they spend that can be redeemed for a variety of rewards.
The card also provides up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $100 hotel credit for qualifying activities through The Hotel Collection, as well as travel insurance benefits and exclusive access to entertainment experiences and presale tickets (terms apply).
It has no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) and requires cardholders to pay their balances in full each month. It has a higher annual fee than some other credit cards.
The Main Benefits Of The Amex Gold Card
The Amex Gold Card offers various rewards that can benefit your spending habits, personal life, and financial independence in various ways:
Earn Points On Travel And Everyday Spending
The American Express gold offers 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases.
In addition, there is a welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- How To Redeem Points?
The Membership Rewards program is a loyalty program offered by American Express to cardholders of certain credit and charge cards, including the American Express Gold Card. Cardholders can earn points for every dollar they spend using their Amex Gold Card, which can then be redeemed for a variety of rewards.
Some of the ways in which points can be redeemed include:
- Travel: Cardholders can use their points to book flights, hotels, and car rentals through the Membership Rewards portal or transfer their points to one of Amex's travel partners.
- Gift cards: Points can be redeemed for gift cards from a variety of retailers and restaurants.
- Statement credits: Points can be applied to cardholders' account balances as statement credits.
- Merchandise: Points can be redeemed for a wide range of merchandise, including electronics, home goods, and more, through the Membership Rewards catalog.
- Experiences: Points can be used to book exclusive experiences, such as private cooking lessons or sporting events.
- Membership Program: What Should Amex Gold Cardholders Know?
The value of Membership Rewards points can vary depending on how they are redeemed. For example, points may be worth more when used to book travel through the Membership Rewards portal than when redeemed for gift cards.
Cardholders can also transfer their points to one of Amex's travel partners at a 1:1 ratio, which may allow them to get even more value out of their points.
There are some restrictions and limitations of the membership rewards program. Points earned through the Membership Rewards program may expire after a certain period of time if they are not used or if the cardholder's account is not in good standing.
Additionally, the number of points that can be earned on certain categories of purchases may be capped, and the value of points may vary depending on how they are redeemed.
Dining And Travel Credits
Cardholders can receive up to $120 in annual dining credits, as well as up to $100 in annual airline fee credits.
Here's how the dining and travel credits work:
- Dining Credits
Amex Gold Cardholders can earn up to $10 in statement credits each month (up to $120 per year) when they use their card to make purchases at participating restaurants. This includes places like Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, wine.com, and more (enrollment required).
The credits are automatically applied to your account, so there’s no need to track them or redeem them separately.
- Annual Credit Limitations
The dining and travel credit benefits come with a few limitations. These perks are exclusive to American Express Gold Card holders and are not available with other Amex cards.
Additionally, dining credits apply only to purchases at participating restaurants, while travel credits are limited to a pre-selected qualifying airline
Sign Up for
Our Newsletter
and special member-only perks.
Sign Up for
Our Newsletter
and special member-only perks.
Travel Benefits
The Gold card also offers travel benefits such as no foreign transaction fees, concerirge services, hotel perks and entertainment benefits.
- Entertainment benefits: Cardholders have access to exclusive experiences and presale tickets for concerts, sporting events, and theater performances through the American Express® Gold Card Entertainment Access program. The entertainment benefits offered through the American Express® Gold Card Entertainment Access program are subject to availability and may not be available for all events.
- No foreign transaction fees: The Amex Gold Card does not charge any fees on purchases made abroad. While this is the case, other fees, such as ATM fees may still apply. If cardholders do not pay their balances in full, they may incur interest charges.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Receive one Global Entry statement credit ($100) for every 4 years or one TSA Pre statement credit ($85) every 4.5 years for an application fee charged to an Amex Gold Card.
- No pre-set spending limit: The Amex Gold Card does not have a pre-set spending limit, but cardholders are required to pay their balances in full each month.
- Luxury hotel perks: Cardholders have access to the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program, which offers perks such as room upgrades, free nights, and daily breakfast for two at participating hotels. The American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program is subject to availability and may not be available at all hotels.
- High-end concierge service: The Amex Gold Card includes a concierge service that can assist with booking travel, dining reservations, and more. The concierge service offered by the Amex Gold Card is subject to availability and may not be able to fulfill all requests.
If you're looking for a travel rewards card with a mid-high annual fee, you may want to compare the Amex Gold card with the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Travel Insurance
The Amex Gold Card provides a range of travel insurance benefits, including trip cancellation and interruption coverage, baggage insurance, and emergency assistance.
The travel insurance benefits offered by the Amex Gold Card are subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions. It's important to carefully review the coverage provided and to ensure that it meets your needs.
Rewards Plan
Welcome Bonus
Credit Rating
0% Intro
Annual Fee
APR
- High rewards rate
- No foreign transaction fees
- Annual Fee
- No lounge membership
Rewards Plan
Welcome Bonus
0% Intro
PROS
- High rewards rate
- No foreign transaction fees
CONS
- Annual Fee
- No lounge membership
APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Annual Fee
$325
Balance Transfer Fee
N/a
Credit Requirements
Editorial Note: Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollments may be required for select benefits. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
How to Maximize Amex Gold Card Benefits?
If you have the Amex gold card, you might as well maximize the benefits you receive from the card. Here are 7 tips to make the most of your card’s rewards.
- Use the card for all eligible purchases: To earn points through the Membership Rewards program, it's important to use the Amex Gold Card for all eligible purchases. This includes dining, travel, and everyday purchases.
- Take advantage of the dining and travel credits: To get the most value out of the dining and travel credits offered by the Amex Gold Card, it's important to use the card for eligible purchases at participating restaurants and for incidental fees charged by the selected qualifying airline.
- Use the card for international travel: The Amex Gold Card does not charge any foreign transaction fees, making it a good choice for use abroad. Cardholders can also take advantage of the card's travel insurance benefits while traveling internationally.
- Use the card for entertainment: The Amex Gold Card offers access to exclusive experiences and presale tickets through the American Express® Gold Card Entertainment Access program. Taking advantage of these opportunities can help cardholders get more value out of their card.
- Take advantage of the concierge service: The Amex Gold Card includes a concierge service that can assist with booking travel, dining reservations, and more. Using this service can save cardholders time and help them get the most out of their card.
- Use the card for luxury hotel stays: Cardholders can take advantage of the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program, which offers perks such as room upgrades, free nights, and daily breakfast for two at participating hotels. While there are less luxury benefits compared to the Platinum card, it still offers a variety of perks.
- Pay the balance in full each month: To avoid interest charges, it's important for cardholders to pay their balances in full each month. This will allow them to take advantage of the Amex Gold Card's benefits without incurring additional costs.
Top Offers
Top Offers
Top Offers From Our Partners
How To Get an Amex Gold Card?
To get an American Express Gold Card, you will need to apply for the card and be approved by American Express. Here are the steps to follow:
- Gather the necessary information: To apply for the Amex Gold Card, you will need to provide some personal and financial information, such as your name, address, social security number, and employment information.
- Choose the right card: American Express offers a range of credit and charge cards, so it's important to choose the one that best meets your needs. Consider factors such as the annual fee, rewards program, and benefits offered.
- Check your credit score: American Express considers your credit score and credit history when evaluating your application for a credit or charge card. It's a good idea to check your credit score and make sure it is in good shape before applying.
- Apply online: You can apply for the Amex Gold Card online by visiting the American Express website and completing the online application or checking if you're already pre-approved. Alternatively, you can call American Express and apply over the phone.
- Wait for approval: After you submit your application, American Express will review it and decide whether to approve your request. If your application is approved, you will receive your card in the mail along with instructions on how to activate it and start using it. If your application is not approved, American Express will send you a letter explaining the reason for the denial.
It's important to note that the Amex Gold Card has a higher annual fee than some other credit cards and may not be the best choice for everyone.
Before applying, consider whether the benefits and rewards offered by the card are worth the annual fee and whether you will be able to pay the balance in full each month.
Related Posts
Review American Express Credit Cards
American Express Everyday
American Express Platinum Card
Delta SkyMiles Reserve
American Express Green Card
American Express Blue Cash Preferred
Delta SkyMiles Blue
American Express Gold Card
Delta SkyMiles Gold
Hilton Honors American Express
Review American Express Credit Cards
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
