Below, I outline the main ways in which to earn and accumulate American Express Membership Rewards points.
1. Points can be earned by using one of a variety of American Express credit cards that earn Membership Rewards
Each credit card gives some sort of bonus on spending that you are likely already doing (and are probably doing on just any old credit card earning at most 1 to 1 points on the dollar). For example, are your buying groceries? Filling up your gas tank? Buying plane tickets? Booking travel through American Express? If you are doing these things, why not use a card or cards to complement your family’s spending habits that maximize points? Below are a few examples of American Express cards that earn Membership Rewards points and on what purchases.
American Express Gold Card-Earn 4 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants. Earn 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per year in purchases. Earn 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines and airfare charged directly with amextravel.com. (directly means not thru an intermediary like Expedia or Kayak). Earn 1 point for every dollar you spend on all your other purchases.
American Express Platinum Card (and the Business Platinum Card)-
Earn 1x Membership Rewards point for every dollar you spend on purchases. Earn 2x Membership Rewards points for each dollar of eligible purchases made when you book on the American Express Travel website. Earn 5x Membership Rewards points on airfare booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel and earn 5X Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels (including Fine Hotels and Resorts) booked with Amex Travel. Both must be paid for with your Platinum card.
American Express Business Gold Card-Your two top monthly of six categories will earn 4x Membership Rewards points per $1. These categories are…
Airfare purchased directly from airlines
Advertising (online, TV, radio)
Computer hardware, software and cloud computing purchases.
You earn 1x Membership Rewards points in the remaining four categories and on all other purchases.
4X points applies to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year then earn 1 point per dollar.
American Express Everyday Credit Card-Earn 2X Points at US Supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x); you earn 1x points on other purchases. If you use your card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period you get 20% more points on those purchases.
American Express Everyday Preferred Credit Card-Earn 3X Points at US Supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x);, earn 2x Points at gas stations, you earn 1x points on other purchases. If you use your card 30 or more times on purchases in a billing period you get 20% more points on those purchases.
American Express Blue Business Plus Card-Earn 2x Points on up to $50,000 annually.
American Express Green Card-You earn 3x Membership Rewards points on on travel including flights, hotels, transit, taxis, tours, and ridesharing services. AND Earn 3x points per dollar at restaurants WORLDWIDE.
2. Points can be earned by using American Express Checking Rewards
Amex introduced Rewards Checking which is an Amex checking account that earns a small interest rate (like other online bank accts). BUT… You get a DEBIT card with the account, and when you pay for things with the debit card, you CAN EARN MEMBERSHIP REWARDS POINTS.
3. Points can be earned when you book travel through American Express Travel
You can earn one extra Membership Rewards point on each dollar spent when you book eligible travel using one of your Membership Rewards program-enrolled American Express Cards on the American Express Travel website.
Eligible purchases are all travel purchases, excluding car reservations, non-prepaid hotels, ticketing services or other fees.
Don’t forget about the new 5x point earning opportunities on airfare and hotels booked thru Amex Travel when you have a Platinum or Business Platinum.