American Express Membership Rewards Program: Your Complete Guide

Credit cardholders with select American Express credit cards can earn points in the Membership Rewards program. As a member, you’ll get a long list of redemption options, but values are mostly low if you redeem directly with Amex. That said, leveraging transfer partners can help you maximize value.

What Is the American Express Membership Rewards Program?

American Express Membership Rewards is the card issuer’s flagship rewards program. It offers flexible rewards points that you can use for a variety of different redemptions. You’ll automatically join when you open a card that’s part of the program.

Credit Cards That Offer Amex Membership Rewards

• Blue from American Express
• Amex EveryDay Credit Card
• Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card
• American Express Green Card
• American Express Gold Card
• Platinum Card from American Express
• Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express
• Business Green Rewards Card from American Express
• American Express Business Gold Card
• Business Platinum Card from American Express

How to Earn Membership Rewards

The Amex Membership Rewards program provides multiple ways to accumulate rewards through welcome bonuses and spending.

1. Earn a New-Cardholder Bonus

With the exception of the Blue from American Express, each credit card in the Membership Rewards program comes with a welcome offer. Values of these offers can range depending on the card and whether there’s a limited-time promotional offer that exceeds the base offer.

In general, though, you’ll need to spend a certain amount within a predetermined period to qualify for the one-time bonus. Once you meet the spending requirement, you’ll receive your points within eight to 12 weeks.

For example, the American Express Gold Card offers 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on the card in the first six months after opening your account.

Amex welcome offers can be an excellent way to earn rewards fast, especially if you want to transfer your points to one of the bank’s airline or hotel partners.

2. Use American Express Cards for Groceries, Dining, and Travel

Each card within the Membership Rewards program comes with its own flavor of rewards-earning possibilities based on your spending. That being said, many of the cards offer bonus rewards on everyday spending categories such as travel, groceries, and restaurants.

Also, consider each card’s annual fee, as that cost can offset the value you’re getting from a card’s rewards and other perks.

3. Shop Through Amex Offers

Through Amex Offers, you can earn statement credits or additional rewards on purchases made with select merchants. You can access your offers through your account and choose which ones to add to your card.

One example we found is the chance to earn 5 additional points per dollar spent at Olive Garden restaurants, up to 5,000 points in total. Keep in mind that these offers expire, so you’ll want to make sure you take advantage of them before they’re gone.

4. Refer Friends and Family Members

Cardholders can share a referral link with family members and friends, who can use it to apply for any American Express personal or business credit card. If they get approved, you’ll receive bonus points based on the card you have. In some cases, the person you refer may earn bonus rewards, too.

In one example we found, Blue Business Plus cardholders could earn 15,000 points for each approved referral, up to 55,000 points per year. If the person who used your referral link got the Blue Business Plus, they could earn 10,000 points when they spend $3,000 in the first three months, a nice perk considering the card doesn’t normally offer sign-up bonuses.

Do Amex Membership Rewards Points Expire? 

There’s no expiration date on your points. However, if you miss a payment on your account, you may lose all the points you earned during that statement period. You can get those points back if you get current on your account and pay a $35 fee for each billing period affected.

What Are Amex Membership Rewards Points Worth?

How much your points are worth varies depending on how you use your rewards. In general, though, Membership Rewards points are worth 1.11 cents apiece on average, according to The Balance’s research. Here’s how each redemption option breaks down:

• Transfer points to travel partners: As much as 2.04 cents each, on average, if transferred to a partner airline frequent flyer program, or 1.05 cents per point when moved to a partner hotel program.
• American Express Travel: 1 cent per point on flights, including upgrades, and 0.7 cent per point on all other travel redemptions.
• Gift cards: Between 0.5 cent and 1 cent per point, depending on the merchant.
• Pay with points at multiple retailers: Between 0.5 cents and 1 cent per point when you use your points to shop at 15 different retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Grubhub, NYC Taxi, Rite Aid, and Ticketmaster.
• Statement credits: 0.6 cent per point.
• Merchandise: 0.5 cent per point when you shop in Amex’s catalog.

How to Use Amex Membership Rewards Points

The best way to use your Membership Rewards points is to transfer them to an Amex travel partner. From there, you can determine the value of your points by dividing the value of the flight or hotel stay by the number of points or miles required to book.

Transfer Points to Travel Partners

Membership Rewards may be worth as much as 2.04 cents apiece, based on The Balance's average value calculations, when you transfer them to an airline partner and 1.05 cents each when transferred to a hotel partner.

You can submit your transfer request through your online account as long as you have an account with the transfer partner before you make your request. The ratio is 1:1 for most partners but can vary.

Transfers to Aeroplan and Delta SkyMiles are instant, but you may need to wait up to five days for transfers to other programs. The program terms don’t list a maximum number of points you can transfer, but you can’t reverse a points transfer once it’s been completed.

Book Travel Through American Express

You can use your points to book flights, flight upgrades, prepaid hotels, prepaid rental cars, cruises, and vacation packages through American Express Travel. You can also use your points to pay when you book hotels and flights through Expedia.com.

The Balance values travel redemptions for flights at 1 cent per point and hotels at 0.7 cent per point. We recommend using your points for flights, as they offer the minimum value you should get out of travel redemptions. If you don’t have enough points to cover the full cost of your reservation, you can pay the remaining balance with your card.

One of the benefits of this option is that you don’t have to worry about blackout dates or award restrictions, which can occur with airline and hotel rewards programs. You can go through this entire process using your online account, too.

Redeem for a Statement Credit

You can use your points to cover charges you’ve already made with your card at a rate of 0.6 cent per point. Review eligible charges on your current online statement, redeem, and you’ll get a statement credit within 48 hours. There is a 1,000-point minimum on these redemptions.

Other Ways To Use Membership Rewards Points

There are a few other ways you can use your American Express Membership Rewards points, but we don’t recommend them unless you can get 1 cent per point in value:

• Redeem points for gift cards at a rate of 0.5 cent to 1 cent per point, depending on the merchant.
• Shop with points at online retailers and services including Amazon, Best Buy, Boxed, Dell.com, Grubhub, JustGiving, and Walmart (redemption values range from 0.5 cent to 1 cent per point).
• Shop for merchandise in Amex’s catalog at a rate of 0.5 cent per point.