Best Amex Cards Membership Rewards Points

It’s no wonder that American Express’ Membership Rewards is one of the most, if not, the best transfer rewards program to see the light of day. American Express MR Points can be used or redeemed several ways with the most attractive option in terms of value being transferring your points between partnering airlines or hotels. So, this post would basically be a breakdown of points between redemptions and transferring partners and prove what is the most optimal method in maximizing your Membership Rewards Points.

Editor’s Note: Be sure to also check out our article on “How To Pick The Best Amex Card For You” and see what card is most suitable towards your lifestyle!

Recommended AMEX Credit Card Bonuses:

• Platinum Card® from American Express
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express

Point Redemption:

Point Transfer-ables:

American Express’ Membership Rewards Points are perfectly dynamic and lucrative with over 17 different airlines transfer partners including Delta, SPG, Hilton, and much more. Note that transferring points between various partners may yield different/better redemption value.

• AeroMexico Club Premier:
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points =  1,600 Premier points
• Air Canada Aeroplan:
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points = 1,000 Aeroplan miles
• Air France/KLM: 
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points = 1,000 Flying Blue miles
• Alitalia MilleMiglia: 
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points = 1,000 Alitalia miles
• ANA: 
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points = 1,000 ANA Mileage Club miles
• Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific): 
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points = 1,000 Asia Miles
• British Airways:
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points = 800 Avios
• Delta SkyMiles: 
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points = 1,000 SkyMiles
• El Al: 
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points = 20 Matmid points
• Emirates Skywards:
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points = 1,000 Skywards miles
• Etihad Guest:
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points = 1,000 Etihad Guest miles
• Hawaiian Airlines: 
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points = 1,000 HawaiianMiles
• Iberia Plus: 
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points = 800 Avios
• JetBlue TrueBlue: 
  • 5:4; 1,000 MR points = 800 TrueBlue points
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: 
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points = 1,000 KrisFlyer miles
• Virgin America Elevate:
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points = 500 Elevate points
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club:
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR points = 1,000 Flying Club miles
• Best Western:
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR Points = 1,000 BW Points
• Choice Privileges:
  • 1:1; 1,000 MR Points = 1,000 Privilege Points
• Hilton Honors:
  • 1.5:1; 1,000 MR Points = 1,300 MR Points
• Starwood Preferred Guest:
  • 3:1; 1,000 MR Points = 333 SPG Points

The Business Platinum® Card from American Express OPEN:

The Business Platinum® Card from American Express OPEN may very well be the epitome of Amex’s hard work. If you’re a business professional who travels frequently and can afford the annual fee ($450), then this card is a no-brainer. In this post, we made it a criteria as to what card racks up the most MR Points easily and more efficiently.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has a welcome offer of 250,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You'll earn: • 5X Membership Rewards Points on Flights, and Prepaid Hotels Booked through AmexTravel.com. • 1X points on other eligible purchases. • 1.5X points (that's an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus. • Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card • Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals. • $199 CLEAR Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card. • NEW! Make the Business Platinum Card work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required. This card does come with a $695 annual fee. (See Rates & Fees) Terms Apply. Learn More About This Card

Platinum Card^® from American Express:

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers 125,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. You'll 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 Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card(R). The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay. • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required. • With American Express Global Lounge Collection you can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder. • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month. • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card. • $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues. • Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost. • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required. This card comes with a $695 annual fee.¤ (See Rates & Fees), but you cardholders can enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only. Terms Apply. Learn More About This Card

The Blue for Business Credit Card from American Express:

Blue for Business® Credit Card from American Express allows you to get rewarded for business as usual. Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners (2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter).

With the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership. 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99% Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. You'll earn 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply. You've got the power to spend beyond your credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited. There card comes with no annual fee (See Rates & Fees). Terms Apply. Learn More About This Card

American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card Summary:

The American Express® Premier Rewards Gold Card is definitely on our list on the premise that the rewards is and always will be pretty attractive. 3X points for flights booked directly with airlines, 2X points at US gas stations and US supermarkets, and 2X points at US restaurants with an attractive rewards rate of 1%-3% and $100 airline fee credit each calendar year. This card has always been quite popular for regular travelers with up to 3X the MR earnings that could represent a solid 6% return on your spending.

The American Express® Gold Card offers 75,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. You'll earn: • 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. • 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. • 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. • 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. • 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. Other benefits: • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That's up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply. • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express(R) Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express(R) Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required. • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express(R) Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required. • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property. This card has an annual fee of $325 with no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees). Terms Apply. Learn More About This Card

Conclusion:

American Express’ Membership Rewards Points are perfectly dynamic and lucrative which is why the MR Rewards Program is valued so highly. Summing up this post, you’ll notice that transferring your points could provide you the most optimal value on your Points depending on the transfer partner of your choice.

Note that we also mentioned cards that offer the most MR Point earning capability with the Business Platinum® Card from American Express OPEN being our first mention and the Personal Platinum Card coming in second. Of course, it’s to your ability as to how much you value your points, and we hope this guide helped!  Don’t forget to check out our complete list of Credit Card Promotions today! Be sure to also check out our article on “How To Pick The Best Amex Card For You” and see what card is most suitable towards your lifestyle!