How much your American Express Membership points are worth will ultimately depend on how you use them. You can get anywhere from 0.5 cent per point to — according to The Points Guy calculations — 2 cents per point in rewards value, and potentially more. The most lucrative ways to redeem your points are for airfare and point transfers.
Whether you have one Amex credit card or several, you’ll need to know how redemptions work and how much value you’ll get in return for spending.
Read more: Best Credit Cards for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry
CNET’S PICK
- Intro Offer
-
Earn 80,000 points
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Annual fee
- $695
- APR
- See Pay Over Time APR
-
Recommended Credit
A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
5x
– 5x
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.; Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
5x
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
5x
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
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
The Platinum Card from American Express point values
| Redemption Method | Value |
|---|---|
| Statement credit | 1 point = 0.6 cent |
| Amazon (pay with points at checkout) | 1 point = 0.7 cent |
| Flights (booked through American Express Travel) | 1 point = 1 cent |
| Prepaid rental cars (booked through American Express Travel) | 1 point = 0.7 cent |
| Prepaid hotels (booked through American Express Travel) | 1 point = 0.7 cent |
| Gift cards | 1 point = up to 1 cent |
For more information, check out our full review of The Platinum Card® from American Express.
CNET’S PICK
- Intro Offer
-
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Annual fee
- $250
- APR
- See Pay Over Time APR
-
Recommended Credit
A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
3x
– 4x
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.; Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).; Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
4x
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
3x
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
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 Gold Card points value
| Redemption Method | Value |
|---|---|
| Statement credit | 1 point = 0.6 cent |
| Amazon (pay with points at checkout) | 1 point = 0.7 cent |
| Flights (booked through American Express Travel) | 1 point = 1 cent |
| Prepaid rental cars (booked through American Express Travel) | 1 point = 0.7 cent |
| Prepaid hotels (booked through American Express Travel) | 1 point = 0.7 cent |
| Gift cards | 1 point = up to 1 cent |
See our full review of the American Express Gold Card for more details.
CNET’S PICK
- Intro Offer
-
Earn 40,000 points
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Annual fee
- $150
- APR
- See Pay Over Time APR
-
Recommended Credit
A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
3x
– 3x
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.; Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.; Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
3x
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
3x
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
3x
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
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
All information about the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
American Express® Green Card point values
| Redemption method | Value |
|---|---|
| Statement credit | 1 point = 0.6 cent |
| Amazon (pay with points at checkout) | 1 point = 0.7 cent |
| Flights (booked through American Express Travel) | 1 point = 1 cent |
| Prepaid rental cars (booked through American Express Travel) | 1 point = 0.7 cent |
| Prepaid hotels (booked through American Express Travel) | 1 point = 0.7 cent |
| Gift cards | 1 point = up to 1 cent |
CNET’S PICK
- Intro Offer
-
15,000 Points
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $2,000 in qualifying purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership
- Annual fee
- $95
- APR
- 18.24% – 28.24% Variable
-
Recommended Credit
A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
800 – 850
Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1x
– 3x
3x points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x); 2x points at U.S. gas stations; 1x points on other purchases
3x
3x points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x)
2x
2x points at U.S. gas stations
1x
1x points on other purchases
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
Amex Everyday® Preferred Credit Card* point values
| Redemption method | Value |
|---|---|
| Statement credit | 1 point = 0.6 cent |
| Amazon (pay with points at checkout) | 1 point = 0.7 cent |
| Prepaid flights (booked through American Express Travel) | 1 point = 1 cent |
| Prepaid rental cars (booked through American Express Travel) | 1 point = 0.7 cent |
| Prepaid hotels (booked through American Express Travel) | 1 point = 0.7 cent |
| Gift cards | 1 point = up to 1 cent |
CNET’S PICK
- Intro Offer
-
10,000 Points
Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you use your new Card to make $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 18.24% – 28.24% Variable
-
Recommended Credit
A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1x
– 2x
2x points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x); 1x points on other purchases
2x
2x points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x)
1x
1x points on other purchases
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
Amex Everyday® Credit Card* point values
| Redemption method | Value |
|---|---|
| Statement credit | 1 point = 0.6 cent |
| Amazon (pay with points at checkout) | 1 point = 0.7 cent |
| Flights (booked through American Express Travel) | 1 point = 1 cent |
| Prepaid rental cars (booked through American Express Travel) | 1 point = 0.7 cent |
| Prepaid hotels (booked through American Express Travel) | 1 point = 0.7 cent |
| Gift cards | 1 point = up to 1 cent |
How to get more from your Membership Rewards Points
Redeeming Amex Membership Rewards points for airfare through Amex’s travel portal will net you a per-point value of 1 cent. However, using points to book prepaid hotels, cruises and prepaid car rentals through American Express will only net you 0.7 cent per point.
Other nontravel options offer even lower point values, so your best bet is redeeming Amex points for airfare through Amex Travel or transferring points to partners for potentially even greater value.
Point transfers allow you to transfer your Membership Rewards Points to one of American Express’s 21 airline and hotel partners, typically at a 1:1 ratio. Then, you can use your transferred points to book flights or hotel stays directly through the airline or hotel’s own loyalty program.
By transferring your points to a partner, with the right deal you could increase how much they’re worth. In some instances, you may even get a per-point value of 2 cents or more. To figure out how much your points are worth in a given redemption, divide the dollar cost of the booking by the point cost. To maximize your value when booking award travel, try booking well in advance to access the best availability. It also helps being flexible about your desired dates and itinerary to take advantage of deals.
Amex airline transfer partners
While you can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to three hotel loyalty programs — Choice Privileges, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy — Amex airline transfer partners offer the most potential value when it comes to maximizing rewards.
In fact, you can frequently get 2 cents per point or better when you transfer points to airlines and redeem miles for a premium flight redemption like an international business class fare.
Amex lists the following airline partners and transfer ratios, but keep in mind that airline transfer bonuses are offered from time to time. Also, the ratios below represent the base transfer rate, but you’ll often get an even better per-point value depending on the transfer deal.
| Amex airline partners | Transfer ratio (Amex points to transfer partner points/miles) |
| Aer Lingus AerClub | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| Aeromexico Rewards | 1,000 : 1,600 |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| Air France (Flying Blue) | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| ANA Mileage Club | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| British Airways | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| Cathay Pacific | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| Delta SkyMiles | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| Emirates | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| Etihad Airways | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| Iberia Plus | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | 250 : 200 |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 500 : 500 |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| Singapore Airlines | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| Virgin Atlantic | 1,000 : 1,000 |
The bottom line
How you choose to redeem your Membership Rewards points will impact the overall value you get in return. For travel cards, the most lucrative way to use your points is by transferring your points to one of Amex’s travel partners. Otherwise, redeeming for travel through Amex’s own travel portal for airfare will let you secure a rewards value of 1 cent per point.
Unfortunately, you’ll only get 0.7 cent per point in value for prepaid hotels, prepaid car rentals and cruises booked directly through Amex. Redeeming for statement credits or using your points with select merchants won’t provide a good value in comparison, either.
If you’re not interested in redeeming your credit card rewards for travel, consider getting a cash-back card that offers better value when redeeming for direct cash back or a statement credit.
*All information about the Amex Everyday Preferred Credit Card and Amex Everyday Credit Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of the American Express Green Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card, click here.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
Source: CNET
