The American Express® Gold Card is one of our favorite cards for anyone who spends money on food. The card offers phenomenal earning rates whether you’re dining out at restaurants globally or making purchases from U.S. supermarkets.
Even after the changes the card underwent in July 2024, this card’s stellar rewards and impressive statement credits can help you save throughout the year. If maximizing value from your everyday spending is a priority, the Amex Gold deserves serious consideration.
I’ve had the American Express Gold Card for three years, and it’s been a staple for my dining and grocery spending. With over 10% back on most dining expenses, the rewards add up quickly and, when combined with the card’s statement credits, easily justify the annual fee. This card has become an essential part of my wallet. For anyone who values exceptional rewards on food purchases, the Amex Gold is hard to beat.
As a cardholder, you earn:
The Amex Gold Card has notable benefits for foodies and travelers. Here are the key perks (enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply):
You can track your progress toward earning and using statement credits in the benefits tab on the Amex app or website.
If you maximize the Uber, dining, Dunkin’ and Resy credits, these credits can deliver up to $424 in annual value. That’s a great way to effectively offset the $325 annual fee and leave you with a net positive of $99 in value — all for spending on things you may already enjoy. And, of course, you also earn valuable Membership Rewards points for your purchases which we’ll discuss in the next sections.
In addition to the statement credits, the Amex Gold includes several other benefits. Here’s a look at some of the most notable:
You can redeem Membership Rewards points for:
Amex has 17 airline partners and three hotel partner programs. By strategically transferring your points to airline and hotel partners, you can often greatly increase their value.
While Delta and JetBlue are Amex’s only direct U.S. airline partners, you can still use your Amex points to book award flights on American Airlines and United Airlines through their partner airlines. For example:
Additionally, Amex frequently offers transfer bonuses of 15% to 40% to various partners. That increases the value of your points even further.
Here are some of our favorite ways to use Amex points by using Amex partner program sweet spots:
Just remember that point transfers are one-way and cannot be reserved. As such, we recommend confirming award space and ideally putting your ticket on hold before transferring your Amex points as you will not be able to send them back to Amex.
If you’re considering alternatives to the Amex Gold, here are two comparable cards with varying annual fees, earning structures and travel benefits that may better suit your preferences:
For those who frequently dine out, order in and travel, the Amex Gold’s rewards and credits can easily offset the annual fee.
The American Express Gold Card offers a strong combination of dining and travel rewards. It’s a great choice for those who can maximize its benefits. While the annual fee is substantial, the card’s credits and earning potential can provide significant value for the right person.
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