There are dozens of travel credit cards on the market, with a dizzying array of benefits, points bonuses, perks, and more. But we're just going to say it: The *amex gold card* is one of our favorite travel rewards cards, period.
Even after a recent facelift – complete with a higher annual fee and new credits – it's still a card that virtually any traveler should consider having in their wallet … especially if earning points is your priority.
It's packed with solid benefits and a worthwhile welcome bonus offer. But what really makes it shine is that it's so rewarding for everyday spending: The points you earn when buying groceries or out to eat at restaurants is practically second to none, helping you rack up more and more points from the money you're spending anyway.
Add in some relatively easy-to-use statement credits and you can easily come out ahead even with the card's higher $325 annual fee (see rates & fees). So let's break down everything you need to know about the Amex Gold Card and whether or not it's right for you.
Full Benefits of the Amex Gold Card
It may not unlock a boatload of premium travel perks like *amex platinum card*, but we consider the Amex Gold Card one of the best for earning points for travel. And that goes far beyond a big, one-time welcome bonus but for the points you'll earn on an ongoing basis.
Here's a closer look at what you get with the Amex Gold Card.
- Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points, plus 20% back on restaurant spending worldwide (up to $100), after spending $6,000 within the first six months of card membership.
- Earn 4x points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. (now capped up to $50,000 per year)
- Earn 4x points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year)
- Earn 3x points per dollar spent directly with airlines or at amextravel.com
- Earn 2x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels, car rentals, and cruises at amextravel.com
- Earn 1x point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases
- Changed! $120 Dining Credit: Enroll and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly (up to $120 annually) when you pay with the Gold Card at Five Guys, Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory®, wine.com, and Goldbelly
- $120 Uber Cash: Add the U.S. Consumer Gold Card to your Uber account to receive $10 in monthly Uber Cash credits (up to $120 annually) towards Uber Eats or Uber Rides.
- New! $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $50 in semi-annual statement credits ($100 total per year) after you enroll and pay with the Gold Card at U.S. Resy restaurants or on other eligible Resy purchases.
- New! $84 Dunkin' Credit: Get up to $7 per month ($84 per year) in statement credits after you enroll and pay with the Gold Card.
- No foreign transaction fees
- Increased! Annual fee: $325 (see rates and fees).
Learn more about the *amex gold*
Welcome Offer Bonus
These days, most Amex cards come with a variety of welcome offers … depending on where you look.
Here's the new-and-improved standard offer: bonus_miles_full But it can get much, much better.
Here's how to find the biggest bonus available on the American Express Gold Card:
- First, you can potentially find a targeted offer to earn 75,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first three months via CardMatch.
- Next, some (but not all) travelers have been able to get a 100,000-point bonus for the same $6,000 in spending over the first six months by applying through a personal referral link.
- Finally, you can also find an offer to earn 75,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership via Resy. This offer through Resy also gets you 20% back as a statement credit on purchases made at U.S. restaurants, getting you up to $250 back in your first year of card membership. That's enough to cover most of your first-year annual fee.
Just remember: Credit cards are serious business. No matter how many points you earn through a welcome bonus, they're not worth digging yourself into debt if you can't afford to pay off every single charge you make.
Learn more about the welcome bonus offer on the Gold Card through Resy (this is not an affiliate link).
Earn 4x Points Per Dollar Spent at Restaurants Worldwide
The American Express Gold card earns 4x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, then 1x). For the average American, dining out is one of the biggest expenses – especially for the younger crowd that Amex is increasingly catering to.
Whether you're eating at a five-star, Michelin restaurant, at your favorite fast food spot, or stopping for coffee, you'll earn 4x points for every dollar you spend.
Related reading: The Best Credit Cards to Use For Dining
Earn 4x Points Per Dollar Spent at U.S. Supermarkets
The American Express Gold card also earns 4x points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year, then 1x) – making this card a go-to for not only dining out but cooking at home, too.
But keep in mind that not all stores that you buy groceries at will be eligible for bonus points. For example, wholesale clubs like Sam's Club and Costco will not earn you bonus points. Walmart and Target typically do not count either.
It's one of the best returns you'll find for spending. That alone can easily make the Gold Card a mainstay in many traveler's wallets and a go-to card any time you're buying groceries.
Related reading: The Best Credit Cards to Use for Your Grocery Shopping
Earn 3x Points Per Dollar Spent on Flights
American Express Gold Card users with 3x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline, as well as airfare booked through American Express Travel.
Outside of spending on dining, this is a great way to continually get value out of this card and maximize the potential amount of points you could earn to book even more travel. There is no limit to the number of bonus miles you'll earn in this category.
Earn 2x on Prepaid Amex Travel Purchases
While airfare gets a bigger bonus through amextravel.com, it's not alone. Prepaid hotels, rental cars, and cruises purchased through amextravel.com will earn you 2x points per dollar.
Other eligible spending on the American Express Gold card will earn 1x point per dollar spent.
Up to $120 in Annual Uber Cash
Much like *amex platinum card*, the Gold Card comes with a monthly allotment of Uber Cash. Just be sure to add your Amex Gold card to your Uber account as a payment option.
You'll get up to $10 per month in Uber Cash for use on either Uber or Uber Eats. But just as with other credits on top American Express cards, this is a use-it-or-lose-it benefit: If you don't spend $10 with Uber or Uber Eats in one month, it won't carry over to the next month.
Sure, a $10 monthly discount on your Uber ride is nice, but the fees that Uber Eats charges on top of tips can make these orders quite expensive. I personally like the prospect of a free meal, and if you opt for pick-up instead of delivery for your Uber Eats order, it can be much cheaper.
Related reading: Maximize Your Uber (& Uber Eats) American Express Benefits
Up to a $120 Annual Dining Credit
There's a separate credit of up to $120 a year for dining, which is doled out in $10 installments. It's also fairly easy to use, as it will kick in for orders through the below merchants:
- Grubhub
- The Cheesecake Factory
- Goldbelly
- Wine.com
- Milk Bar (until Sept. 25, 2024)
- Five Guys
- Select Shake Shack locations (until Sept. 25, 2024)
Enrollment is required for this benefit. GrubHub alone makes it relatively easy to use this credit each and every month.
But remember, this is a use-it-or-lose-it benefit. If you don't use your $10 dining credit within the calendar month, it won't roll over to the next.
Related reading: Amex Reshuffles Dining Credit Options on Amex Gold Card
$100 Resy Credit
Amex first introduced Resy statement credits when it refreshed the suite of Delta SkyMiles cards earlier this year. Thankfully, the credit that comes with the Amex Gold is far easier to use.
Each year, cardholders can get up to $100 in statement credits when dining at U.S. Resy participating restaurants. The statement credit is broken up twice a year: You have $50 to use from January through June and another $50 from July through December.
Read more: How to Use Amex Resy Credits
One important detail: You'll need to enroll in this benefit online through your Amex account before dining at one of these restaurants. And like most other credits, this one is also a use-it-or-lose-it benefit. If you don't spend the full $50 in the first half of the year, it won't roll over to the next six months.
And only U.S. restaurants will qualify for these new credits, so don't count on putting them to use on your international travels, either.
$84 Dunkin' Credit
Gold cardholders now get up to $84 per year at Dunkin' – the coffee chain formerly known as Dunkin Donuts. But that's split into installments of $7 a month.
Much like the Resy credit, you'll need to enroll your card in this benefit before taking advantage of it. Once you do, simply swipe your Gold Card when purchasing your morning coffee at Dunkin', and you're all set. Amex will automatically reimburse you up to $7 per month.
That means a free coffee or two every month!
Annual Fee
The Amex Gold Card has a $325 annual fee (see rates & fees). That's up from the previous $250 annual fee.
Additionally, the card waives foreign transaction fees.
Learn more about the *amex gold card*
Using American Express Membership Rewards Points
When it comes time to redeem your American Express Membership Rewards points, using the stable of American Express Membership Rewards transfer partners is your best bet.
With nearly two dozen Amex transfer partners at your disposal between airlines and hotel chains, the ability to transfer American Express points opens up a world of travel opportunities. But whether you're a newbie to points and miles or an old hand, these transfers are a whole new can of worms with confusing twists and considerations to keep in mind.
Here are the current options, as well as how long it takes to move points from your American Express account to an airline or hotel brand.
| Program | Type | Transfer Ratio | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| AeroMexico | Airline | 1:1.6 | 3-5 days |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Air France/KLM | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| ANA | Airline | 1:1 | 1-2 days |
| Avianca | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| British Airways | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Cathay Pacific | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Delta | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Emirates | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Etihad | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Hawaiian | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Iberia | Airline | 1:1 | Up to 24 hours |
| JetBlue | Airline | 1.25:1 | Instant |
| Qantas | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Qatar Airways | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Singapore | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Virgin Atlantic | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
Related reading: 10 Amazing Ways to Redeem Amex Membership Rewards Points
Final Amex Gold Card Review: Our Take
Now more than ever, the Amex Gold Card is a solid choice for those who spend a lot on groceries & restaurants … and that's most of us, isn't it? In fact, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better option in either category – major expenses in almost every household.
Here's a powerful example.
Let's say your household spends $500 on groceries at U.S. supermarkets a month and another $200 at restaurants monthly – a fairly conservative estimate for many. Thanks to the 4x points you earn on both categories, you'd earn nearly 34,000 points a year. Even with the most conservative estimates, those points are worth at least 1 cent apiece – so 34,000 points equates to $340. That's easily enough to justify the card's annual fee.
But realistically, those points are worth much, much more than 1 cent apiece – especially if you are utilizing the right American Express Membership Rewards transfer partners.
There are few other cards that can compete with how many points you'll earn in these categories, which makes it an immediate winner. Add in the ability to earn a big welcome offer and this card could be a must-open, then a mainstay in your wallet.
Read more: Which Amex Card is Right for You?
Plus, you'll also get up to $120 in dining credits each year, an $84 Dunkin' Credit, a $100 Resy Credit, and up to $120 annually in Uber cash to use at both Uber and Uber Eats.
Maximizing these credits alone will cover all your $325 annual fee and then some. These credits and bonus categories are a big reason why we feel the card is still worth the $325 annual fee.
Finally, Membership Rewards points are one of our favorite transferable points currencies as they are incredibly flexible. They can be transferred to airlines like Delta, Virgin Atlantic, and Air France/KLM, and hotel partners like Marriott and Hilton.
Read more: Is the Amex Gold Card Worth the Annual Fee?
Bottom Line
Foodie card. Travel card. Grocery card. Need we say more?
Even with a higher $325 annual fee, I've been able to squeeze far more value out of this card. The Amex Gold Card is well worth having a place in your wallet as the initial welcome bonus, earning categories, and included credits help you get way ahead of that annual fee.
Learn more about the *amex gold card*