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Here are the best ways to redeem Amex Membership Rewards points on flights, hotels and more

Amex Membership Rewards points can yield stellar value when you redeem them in strategic ways.

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Singapore Airlines A380 first class suites
Leslie Josephs | CNBC

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

American Express cards are well-known among credit card newbies and reward card aficionados alike for rewarding cardmembers with lucrative points, luxury perks and unique card designs such as the iconic rose gold American Express® Gold Card.

But perhaps the most appealing reason to love Amex cards is the versatile Membership Rewards® points cardmembers earn from everyday purchases like dining out, groceries and business expenses — then redeem for first-class flights, luxury hotels, cash back and more.

With some participating brokerage accounts, you can even use your Membership Rewards points to invest (more on that below), and transferring them to select airline partners can give you an even bigger bang for your buck.

Below, CNBC Select breaks down our favorite ways to redeem Membership Rewards points so you can maximize your Amex cards' value.

How to redeem your American Express points for maximum value

Best cards for earning Amex points

If you're ready to start earning top-notch rewards and VIP perks, check out a handful of our favorite Amex cards that earn Membership Rewards points (as opposed to Amex cash back cards):

  • American Express® Gold Card: You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership*.
  • American Express Platinum Card®: You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • 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.

American Express® Gold Card

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On the American Express site

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On the American Express site

Spotlight

The Amex Gold Card offers over $400 in statement credits every year.

Credit score

Good to Excellent

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Annual fee

$325

Welcome bonus

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points

See rates and fees, terms apply. Read our American Express® Gold Card review. The American Express Gold® Card Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.

The American Express Gold Card is great for earning valuable Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets.

  • You can earn $400+ in dining and rideshare credits every year (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
  • Exceptionally rewarding for eligible restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Larger annual fee
  • Credits are more complicated, you earn them monthly or semi-annually

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted. 
  • 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.
  • Earn 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.
  • New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. 
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. 
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. 
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay. 
  • Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required. 
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required. 
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. 
  • New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
  • Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
  • Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
  • Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

Foreign transaction fee

None

American Express Platinum Card®

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On the American Express site

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On the American Express site

Spotlight

The Amex Platinum Card provides access to Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs® , Lufthansa Lounges, Escape Lounges and more. (Enrollment required)

Credit score

Good to Excellent

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Annual fee

$895

Welcome bonus

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points

See rates and fees, terms apply. Read our Amex Platinum Card review. The American Express Platinum Card® Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $12,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.

The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)

  • Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
  • Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
  • Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
  • High annual fee
  • Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted. 
  • Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. 
  • With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025. 
  • $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply. 
  • $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required. 
  • $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay. 
  • $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
  • $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal. 
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details. 
  • Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out. 
  • $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required. 
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible. 
  • Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7. 
  • $895 annual fee. 
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

Balance transfer fee

N/A

Foreign transaction fee

None

On the American Express site

CNBC Select Rating
4.8

On the American Express site

Credit score

Excellent

Regular APR

16.74% - 28.49% Variable; APRs will not exceed 29.99%

Annual fee

$0

Welcome bonus

Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is a great option if you're starting a business because it's affordable, earns flexible travel rewards and offers an intro-APR on purchases for a year.

  • Valuable intro-APR offer for purchases for 12 months
  • Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20+ airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • No annual fee
  • Bonus rewards for purchases are capped
  • Few useful travel insurance benefits

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • 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, 16.74% - 28.49%, 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. 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 above 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.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

Balance transfer fee

N/A

Foreign transaction fee

2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Transfer your points to fly in business or first class

The best way to receive the most value for your American Express Membership Rewards points is to transfer them to an airline partner to book an international business- or first-class flight. By using this option, you can turn the welcome bonus from a single Amex card into a flight that normally costs thousands of dollars.

For example, you can transfer 68,000 Amex points to Iberia and book a round-trip off-peak business-class flight from New York or Boston to Spain. The cash price for the same flights generally starts at around $2,500.

To unlock even more premium-cabin award flight deals, you can take advantage of airline partnerships. Airline partnerships allow you to transfer points to one airline and book awards on a completely different airline.

By using this strategy, you can dramatically reduce the points you need because each airline has different award charts and prices. For example, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club only charges 50,000 miles plus taxes for a one-way Delta business-class nonstop flight from the U.S. to Europe (excluding the U.K., which has a different price). Meanwhile, Delta SkyMiles, also a transfer partner of Amex, operates a dynamic award chart and normally charges many times that amount for the same flight.

Other great business- and first-class awards you can book with Amex's transfer partners include:

  • Transfer 88,000 points to ANA Mileage Club for a round-trip business-class award from the U.S. to Europe
  • Transfer 60,000 to 70,000 points to Air Canada Aeroplan for a one-way business-class award from the U.S. to Europe
  • Transfer 80,000 points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for a one-way nonstop Delta business-class award from the Western U.S. to Asia
  • Transfer 102,000 points to Emirates Skywards for a one-way first-class flight from New York to Milan

To help you gauge how long it'd take to earn enough miles, let's look at how many points a popular Amex card bonus earns.

The American Express® Gold Card may earn qualifying new cardmembers as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. That's nearly enough for a round-trip business class ticket to Europe with Iberia. Plus, you'll earn points on purchases at the following rates:

  • New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
  • 4X Membership Rewards® points on 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 on 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 on flights through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. 
  • 1X points on all other purchases

Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.

Book flights to Hawaii

Amex points are great for booking flights to Hawaii because you're not bottlenecked into only one or two options. You can find excellent deals with airline programs like Singapore KrisFlyer, British Airways Executive Club and Air France/KLM Flying Blue.

Transferring your Amex points to Singapore Airlines is a good option since you can book flights to Hawaii on United or Alaska Airlines. Singapore Airlines has different award charts for Star Alliance partners (like United) and non-alliance partners like Alaska Airlines. You'll need 12,500 miles (or less) for a nonstop one-way flight to/from the mainland and Hawaii on an Alaska Airlines flight or 17,500 miles for a one-way flight on United (including connections).

You can also transfer to British Airways to book American Airlines or Alaska Airlines flights to Hawaii from only 13,000 points one-way (if you're flying from the U.S. West Coast) or book one-way Delta flights to Hawaii by transferring 17,500 points to Flying Blue. And if you find a cheap flight to Hawaii, you may even be able to book with fewer points (as you'll see below) by using the Amex Travel site.

Pay for travel booked through Amex

One of the easiest ways to use Amex points is to book travel through the Amex Travel portal.

Booking through Amex Travel works the same as with other third-party travel sites, like Expedia or Kayak, except you can use Amex points to pay for the booking. The advantage to redeeming Amex points this way is you can book any available flight without having to worry about the airline restricting award seat availability. As a bonus, flights booked through Amex Travel typically earn miles as they normally would on a paid ticket.

The downside is you may not get as much value for your points. When you pay with your points through Amex Travel, they are worth one cent each for airfare and 0.7 cents each for hotels, rental cars and cruises.

When cash prices are low, you may be able to use fewer points by booking through the Amex Travel portal. For example, if there's a fare sale to Hawaii and you can book a round-trip flight for under $350, that would cost fewer points than the 35,000 points you would need to transfer to book the same award flight with certain airline programs.

Card members with certain Amex small business cards are eligible for an even better deal when booking flights with points. When you book business or first-class flights through Amex Travel or any flight with your selected airline you receive a 35% points rebate with The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (up to 1,000,000 points back per calendar year).

On the American Express site

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On the American Express site

Spotlight

The Business Platinum Card from American Express' welcome bonus is one of the most valuable offers available right now.

Credit score

Good to Excellent

Regular APR

17.74% - 28.49% Variable

Annual fee

$895

Welcome bonus

You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points

See rates and fees, terms apply. Read our Amex Business Platinum review. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express is a premium business card loaded with statement credit offers for business services and travel that help justify its steep annual fee.

  • Access to 1,550 airport lounges, including Priority Pass (Enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
  • Hotel and rental car elite status perks
  • Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20+ airline and hotel loyalty programs (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned; Benefits may be subject to auto-renewal)
  • High annual fee
  • Limited bonus spending categories
  • Some statement credit offers are earned in small increments or only apply to purchases from a single brand

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. 
  • The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025. 
  • See how you can unlock over $4,000 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply. 
  • Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay. 
  • No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history. 
  • 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. Gift cards are not an eligible purchase. Benefit enrollment required. 
  • 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. 
  • Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal). 
  • Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travel™. 
  • Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year. 
  • Enroll and get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business* on the Business Platinum Card. *Subject to auto-renewal. 
  • Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card. 
  • Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required. 
  • Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required. 
  • 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus. 
  • 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com 
  • 1X points on other eligible purchases 
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

Book rooms with hotel partners

Just as airline partner transfers result in amazing deals, so do transfers with Amex hotel partners.

You can transfer Amex points to three hotel chains: Hilton, Marriott and Choice Hotels. Hilton offers the best transfer ratio value, at two Hilton points per one Membership Rewards point. Marriott and Choice Hotels offer a 1:1 ratio. Amex occasionally runs hotel transfer bonus promotions for 20% to 50% which increases the value of your points.

You'll typically yield more value by transferring your points to airline partners and booking flights, but using points for hotel stays can be smart too. You'll do well when redeeming points for luxury hotels or when demand for hotels is high which translates into high cash prices. You can book an overwater villa at the Conrad Maldives for 120,000 Hilton points a night.

Suilenroc | 500Px Plus | Getty Images

Invest with Charles Schwab

If you have an American Express Platinum Card® for Schwab, you can transfer your points to a qualifying brokerage account at a rate of 1.1 cents per point. This is an incredible deal, considering the normal cash-out rate to turn Membership Rewards points into a statement credit is 0.6 cents per point.

You can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points—down from the previous offer of 125,000—after spending $8,000 in purchases on your Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms apply.

In addition to the Amex welcome bonus, Charles Schwab account holders can receive additional cash boosts when their holdings reach certain thresholds at the time of account approval (and annually thereafter):

  • $100 card statement credit if your qualifying Schwab holdings are equal to or greater than $250,000
  • $200 card statement credit if your qualifying Schwab holdings are equal to or greater than $1,000,000

The Platinum card also comes with perks like airport lounge access, hotel elite status (enrollment required), up to $200 in Uber cash credit (enrollment required) plus $120 Uber One Credit (subject to auto-renewal), up to $209 in Clear+ credit (Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal) and $200 in airline incidental credits (enrollment required).

To qualify for the Amex Platinum Schwab card, you'll need to have an eligible account open with Charles Schwab.

Charles Schwab

  • Minimum deposit and balance

    Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No account minimum for active investing through Schwab One® Brokerage Account. Automated investing through Schwab Intelligent Portfolios® requires a $5,000 minimum deposit

  • Fees

    Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Schwab One® Brokerage Account has no account fees, $0 commission fees for stock and ETF trades, $0 transaction fees for over 4,000 mutual funds and a $0.65 fee per options contract

  • Bonus

    None

  • Investment vehicles

    Robo-advisor: Schwab Intelligent Portfolios® and Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium™ IRA: Charles Schwab Traditional, Roth, Rollover, Inherited and Custodial IRAs; plus, a Personal Choice Retirement Account® (PCRA) Brokerage and trading: Schwab One® Brokerage Account, Brokerage Account + Specialized Platforms and Support for Trading, Schwab Global Account™, Schwab Organization Account and Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade™

  • Investment options

    Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs and ETFs

  • Educational resources

    Extensive retirement planning tools

Terms apply.

What are Amex points worth?

The value you receive for your Amex points depends on how you redeem them. Generally, more straightforward redemption options have a smaller dollar value. So redeeming Amex points for cash back or gift cards is typically worth between 0.5 and one cent per point. That doesn't mean you should avoid these options because the flexibility and time you save can make them worth it.

However, to maximize the dollar value of redemptions, you'll want to transfer Amex points to airline or hotel partners. You could book a round-trip business-class flight to Europe for 100,000 points (or less), while the cash price could easily top $4,000. So it wouldn't be hard to receive a value of four cents per point with these types of award bookings.

Here's a full list of Amex's 21 airline and hotel transfer partners:

  • Aer Lingus AerClub
  • Aeromexico Premier
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • Air France/KLM Flying Blue
  • ANA Mileage Club
  • Avianca LifeMiles
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
  • Delta SkyMiles
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Etihad Guest
  • Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
  • Iberia Plus
  • JetBlue TrueBlue
  • Singapore KrisFlyer
  • Qantas Frequent Flyer
  • Qatar Airways Privilege Club
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • Choice Privileges
  • Hilton Honors
  • Marriott Bonvoy
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Bottom line

American Express Membership Rewards points are some of the most valuable travel rewards you can earn. You can use them to directly pay for flights, rental cars and cruises through Amex Travel. You can also transfer Amex points to partner loyalty programs, which can greatly increase their value. And you can also use Amex points for simple redemptions, like cash back or gift cards.

The best part is Amex points are easy to earn. Many of the best Amex personal and small business cards earn Amex points. These cards offer lucrative welcome bonuses and generous bonus points in select spending categories, such as groceries, dining and travel.

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For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.

For rates and fees of the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

*The American Express® Gold Card Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. 

Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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