47. Breaking Down AMEX: Getting the Most Out of Your Membership Rewards

Welcome back! Do you have some American Express Membership Rewards points and aren't quite sure how to use them? Or have you heard about the program but aren't sure how it works? If so, this episode is for you. Keep listening as we cover all things American Express Membership Rewards. 

If you are a loyal listener, you know we've previously taken a deep dive into the realms of Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One Venture Miles. But today, we're turning our attention to another significant player—American Express Membership Rewards!

First thing you need to understand is AMEX's lineup. With a plethora of cards under its umbrella—from personal cards like the Gold, Green, and Platinum to business ones—knowing which card to snag can be a bit tricky. Our top picks? The personal Gold, personal Platinum, and the business Platinum. These cards not only earn you some major points but also come with perks that make the annual fees worthwhile.

This isn’t even scratching the surface of how many points and miles you can rack up in the AMEX world. And as with all travel tricks, knowledge is key! Want to delve further into the American Express narrative? Tap that play button! Learning how to navigate the AMEX landscape could be the next thing you need to unlock your dream trip or vacation! As always, if you need more help with award travel and where to start, follow the links below to connect with us!

 

Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad

 

Links For This Episode: 

• American Express Membership Rewards Explained: https://travelmomsquad.com/american-express-membership-rewards-explained/ 

• Using Airline Incidental Credits: https://travelmomsquad.com/using-airline-incidental-credits/ 

• Transfer partner cheat sheet: 

  https://travelmomsquad.ck.page/cheatsheet

• Alex’s Rakuten link: https://www.rakuten.com/r/ALEXPA114?eeid=28187 

• Pam’s Rakuten link: https://www.rakuten.com/r/PAMIOR?eeid=28187 

• Jess’s Rakuten link: http://www.rakuten.com/r/PWRJES?eeid=28187 

 

Episode Minute By Minute:

• 00:44 Getting into the different AMEX cards and how they stack up to competitors 

• 04:43 The pros and cons of the AMEX Gold card 

• 06:13 Here is the breakdown of the AMEX Platinum card

• 11:34 Jess talks about confusing new rules in regards to opening multiple AMEX cards 

• 16:24 Pam breaks down the public offers for the AMEX cards 

• 18:01 Alex talks about AMEX pop-up jail, what it means, and how to avoid it 

• 24:30 Jess talks about AMEX card offers

• 28:31 Using retail offers with shopping portals to save even more money

• 31:07 The pros of using a shopping portal like Rakuten 

• 32:29 Here’s the breakdown on combining points and points expirations 

• 34:42 Here are some of our favorite ways to use AMEX points 

• 41:34 Hotel options for AMEX rewards, but they are limited