American Express Gold Card Travel Protection
For existing Cardmembers, for expert, friendly advice on Travel, your American Express Gold Card looks out for you.
Whether you´re visiting an exotic location or looking for the perfect gift, with Travel Inconvenience, Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty, enjoy peace of mind and rewards to do even more.
Our Featured No Annual Fee Card: Blue Cash Everyday Card From American Express
American Express offers several credit cards that donât have an annual fee, which could be a good fit if you donât expect to regularly use the card or you simply donât like the idea of paying a fee to have a credit card. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express could be a good option if you often shop at supermarkets or department stores and commute by car.
Important Note : On the American Express application page, you will have the option to click “I don’t have credit history in the U.S.” in the Social Security Number field of the application page. When clicking this, you may be able to qualify for the card using your credit history from Canada, the UK, Australia, India or Mexico. No need to have built U.S. credit.
Loading…
Pros:
Terms Apply.
Cons:
-
Amex doesnât include warehouse stores, specialty markets, or superstores in the U.S. supermarkets category. Youâll only earn 1% cash back on purchases at these stores.
-
Thereâs a 2.7% foreign transaction fee.
-
Depending on how youâll use your credit card, you may be able to earn more rewards with other cards that have an annual fee.
Prequalifying Does Not Guarantee Approval
Prequalifying for a credit card offer is a great way to know whether or not you will be approved, but remember its not a guarantee. You may receive a prequalified card offer only to be denied for the card. Nevertheless, your chances are significantly improved by prequalifying first. And if you get a preapproved offer, your chances are even better.
One more important thing to note here: American Express is notorious for offering different introductory offers through different avenues. That means the offer you get on CardMatch or in the mail might not be the same as what you see on the website. In many cases, you can score a larger welcome offer by applying through a prequalified or preapproved offer but you should always compare to make sure you are getting a good deal.
Read Also: Spectrum Gold Vs Silver Package
American Express Gold Card Review: Dining Rewards Royalty
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list ofour partnersandhere’s how we make money.
The Annual Fee Could Easily Be Covered By Taking Advantage Of Monthly Credits
The card does have a $250 annual fee, which can seem like an intimidating amount of money for someone who has never paid a fee for a credit card before. However, After seeing that the card basically pays for itself after I take advantage of the $120 dining credit and $120 Uber credit, not to mention the cash back and deal offers for shopping at brands I already love, I felt that it was enough to offset the $250 cost.
You May Like: How Much Does 18k Gold Sell For
Who Is This Card For
If youre a foodie and eat out frequently, this card is a no-brainer. Thats because it earns 4 points per dollar at restaurants, including takeout and delivery with services like Grubhub or Seamless. If youre a home cook, this card also earns 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year . Thats potentially a lot of bonus Amex Membership Rewards points that you can maximize for travel and other redemptions.
Cardholders also receive up to $120 in annual statement credits toward dining and up to another $120 per year in Uber Cash toward U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders after enrolling their card. Together, those bring the out-of-pocket cost of the cards $250 annual fee closer to a mere $10.
In short, the Amex Gold is great for anyone looking to leverage their everyday spending for excellent rewards while also enjoying useful statement credits for things like dining and ride-hailing services.
Up To $120 In Uber Cash
American Express® Gold Card members also get up to $10 per month in Uber Cash that can be used to pay for U.S. Uber rides or U.S. Uber Eats purchases. Your Uber Cash will automatically show up in your Uber account each month once you add your American Express® Gold Card to the app. If you don’t use the full credit by the end of the month, you’ll lose it. However, if you’re able to maximize the American Express Gold Uber benefit, that’s up to another $120 in savings.
Don’t Miss: How Much Is One Gold Brick Worth
Hilton Honors American Express Card: Best No
Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of card membership. Plus, you can earn an additional 50,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend a total of $5,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months.
Earning rate: 7 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio 5 points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations 3 points per dollar spent on other eligible purchases.
Annual fee: $0
Why we chose it: Earning a 4.2% return on Hilton stays and 3% return at restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations is impressive for a no-annual-fee card . Youll also enjoy complimentary Silver elite status with the card and the ability to upgrade to Gold status by spending $20,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year. Silver status is enough to get you a fifth night free on award stays, meaning you can spend as little as 20,000 points total for a five-night stay. The Hilton Surpass or Hilton Aspire will provide better value for most travelers but if youre opposed to paying an annual fee, the Hilton Amex is a solid card. Enrollment required for select benefits.
American Express Business Gold Card: Best For Flexible Earning On Business Expenses
Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership.
Earning rate: Earn 4 points per dollar on the two categories you spend most on each month . The choices include airfare purchased directly from airlines, U.S. advertising purchases in select media , U.S. purchases made from select technology providers of computer hardware, software and cloud solutions, U.S. gas stations, U.S. restaurants and U.S. shipping purchases. Earn 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.
Annual fee: $295
Why we chose it: Unlike the Platinum Business Card, the Business Gold Card offers some valuable spending bonuses on categories that are popular for small businesses, so this is ideal for those of you wanting to boost your Membership Rewards balance. The flexible rewards structure that automatically chooses your top categories also makes it easier to maximize rewards each month. This card also functions the same as the consumer and Business Platinum cards in that it allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all.
Read Also: War Thunder Cheats Golden Eagles
The American Express Platinum Card
The Platinum Amex card offers members five points for every dollar spent on flights booked directly through airlines or through the American Express travel site, five points for prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com, and one point for every dollar spent on other purchases.
The Platinum welcome bonus as of February 2021 gives cardholders 75,000 points when they spend $5,000 or more in the first six months of account membership. This is the equivalent of $855 for flights booked through the Amex travel website. However, if you decide to add up to three additional cards on your Platinum account, expect to pay an extra annual fee of $175. Each card after that will be billed a $175 annual fee, as well.
The Platinum card is great for people who love to travel. There are obviously many more perks that come with the Platinum card than with the Gold, especially when you consider the higher annual fee. Rewards can be used for merchandise, gift cards, dining, shopping, entertainment, or for use at the Amex travel website. Points can also be transferred to other frequent flyer programs.
The Platinum card offers Uber ride credits in the United States, giving cardholders a maximum of $15 in credits each month. The card also comes with an annual $200 incidental airline fee credit on the eligible airline of your choice, giving passengers complimentary checked baggage and an in-flight meal with qualifying airlines.
Alternate Rose Gold Card Art
In February 2021, American Express brought back the fan-favorite Rose Gold alternative card art for both new applicants and current cardholderspermanently. This rose gold tint was previously only available for limited times and only through referral offers. You can choose either the traditional Gold or the Rose Gold art prior to submitting your application, or you may be eligible to request the Rose Gold art if youre already an Amex Gold cardholder.
Although the Rose Gold card is the exact same card as the normal American Express Gold , this rosy finish could be a quaint benefit if the previously limited-time opportunities slipped through your fingers.
Read Also: 400 Ounces Of Gold
Gold Vs Platinum Amex Card: An Overview
Lets face it, theres a secret pleasure attached to American Express precious metal cards, whether Gold or Platinum. Whether it’s from decades of tv brand advertising or simply because you know your boss carries one, you have decided to join the club because membership has its privileges. You can imagine your restaurant server or local merchant taking notice when you hand over the iconic card brand with the metallic sheen. Perhaps the status buzz comes from the cards being charge rather than credit, which means the bill is paid off in full at the end of the month. The subtle message it conveys is: I can afford to spend freely on everything I want and need and not go into long-term debt to pay for it.
But when it comes time to choose a premium Amex card, how do the gold and platinum cards compare? The American Express Gold card carries a $250 annual fee while the Platinum card has an eye-popping $550 annual fee, as of June 2020.
Over 10 years of use, the Platinum will cost you an additional $5,500, and a side-by-side comparison confirms that the Platinum card is basically a Gold card with some attractive add-ons. As a result, it’s best to make your decision based on whether you will value and use the additional features year in and year out. If so, the Platinum card may well be worth the higher annual fee.
How Much Are The Rewards Worth
American Express Membership Rewards points are prized as some of the most valuable travel rewards you can earn, thanks in part to a diverse list of travel partners.
They hold a 2-cent market value on average for some Amex transfer partners based on The Points Guys analysis, but you should use Amexs rewards calculator before redeeming just in case. Points are best used for booking flights or upgrading your airfare class through the American Express Travel portal since theyre worth 1 cent each that way. However, your points value could shrink by up to half if theyre used for other reward options, so its worth hoarding your points till you plan to hit the skies.
For example, choosing a statement credit to cover your card charges waters down your points to 0.6 cents apiece, but most redemption options outside airfare only provide a 0.7-cent value. Points are even reduced to 0.7 cents when reserving other travel through Amex, like hotel stays, prepaid rental cars, cruises and vacations.
Also Check: 19.99 Ring At Kay
Apply For Amex Gold Scra Benefits
Or you can go directly to the Amex Request SCRA Benefits Now page, located here.
Please follow these instructions here for active duty military and these instructions here for Guard and Reservists. Guard and Reservists on Title 10 should be eligible for Amex SCRA benefits.
Upgrade Amex Gold To Amex Platinum
While the Amex Gold card is great, you can upgrade this card to the even better Amex Platinum after 1 year of card membership.
I recently upgraded my Amex Gold card to another Amex Platinum card. I then opened another Amex Gold card account to continue to have access to the 4x points on worldwide restaurants and US supermarkets.
Please note, you are not eligible for the welcome offer on this card if you have ever received a welcome offer before on an Amex Gold card or an Amex Premier Rewards Gold card.
Because I had previously opened an Amex Gold card account and received a welcome offer, I will not be eligible for future welcome offers on new accounts.
After another year I will upgrade my new Gold card to another Amex Platinum card and the open another Amex Gold card. This process should be able to continue until I leave active duty or I hit the Amex charge card limit. Maybe I’ll even get more than 11 Platinum cards!
Bottom line, the Amex Gold card is perfect for traveling military servicemembers and spouses who eat out at restaurants either at home or on the road or grocery shop. The Gold Card should be your go to card for all food purchases, whether it’s making food at home or letting someone else do the cooking and clean up!
Apply for the military annual fee waived Amex Gold Card today!
Recommended Reading: 400 Oz Gold Bar Worth
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Many credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee of 3% on all purchases made overseas, which means that for every $1,000 you spend while traveling abroad, youd have to pay a $30 fee. However, the American Express® Gold Card doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees, so you won’t have to worry about them eating into your travel budget.
For rates and fees of American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
American Express Gold Card Vs American Express Green Card*
With an annual fee of $150, the American Express® Green Card is one of the starter Membership Rewards cards. It offers 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible travel and restaurants and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. The American Express Green Card could be a better fit then the Amex Gold if more of your budget is spent on getting around, particularly for those who commute and road-trip more than they fly.
Recommended Reading: How Much Does A Gold Bar Weigh In Lbs
Who Can Benefit From Getting The American Express Gold Credit Card
Frequent supermarket shoppers and foodies would be the ideal applicants for the American Express® Gold card. The card can also be a good option for frequent travelers considering you get the most value from reward points by transferring them to partner airlines and hotels. AmEx Travel® offers extra perks for frequent flyers as well as the number of travel-related insurances.
You’re Rewarded Most For Spending On Food
Groceries are a necessary expense so I figured I might as well get a card that rewards me for my weekly trips to Trader Joe’s and any instances where I go out to eat with friends. This card lets you earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants and on takeout and deliveries and at U.S. supermarkets . Spending on food allows you to earn the highest amount of rewards points for this card.
Keep in mind, though, that many credit cards have a limit as to which supermarkets you can earn additional rewards at. I looked up the list for American Express prior to applying for the card to make sure I would earn the maximum amount of points for the grocery stores I frequented.
Don’t Miss: 1 Brick Of Gold
Should I Get Amex Gold Or Amex Platinum
Both cards are great choices if you will use the many benefits that come with each. To get a clearer understanding, lets look at the perks of each. This is a general overview, but more detailed information can be found in our Amex Gold vs Amex Platinum review.
American Express Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card is the better option if you want to maximize dining and grocery purchases plus pay a smaller annual fee of $250 .
The Gold Card earns bonus points on these purchases:
- 4x points on restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- 4x points at U.S. supermarkets
- 3x points on flights booked from airlines or on AmexTravel.com
- Terms apply
Plus, new American Express® Gold Card cardholders can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months.
This card also offers up to $120 in dining credits at select restaurants .
The Platinum Card from American Express
Choose The Platinum Card® from American Express for frequent traveler perks.
Cardholders 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, and earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Cardholders can get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when paying with their Platinum Card®.
Contents
