I love the new version of the American Express Gold Card and I really wanted it with its very lucrative Membership Rewards bonus points (4X!) at U.S. restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, two categories that I will reap in the American Express Membership Rewards. However, the bonus to me was light, it is currently 25,000 Membership Rewards BONUS POINTS offer after you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months. I had read some people were being targeted with 50,000 bonus point offers and I wanted to hold our for that. Also, I used to have this card years ago, and I was unsure if I would be prohibited by the Amex limiting lifetime language, but I was hopeful because this kind of is a new card.
Amex didn’t disappoint. I got the 50,000 bonus offer (WITHOUT THE LIMITING LIFETIME LANGUAGE) in the mail a few weeks ago and jumped at it. I got my entire family additional cards as there is no fee for the additional cardholders. I anticipate all of us using this card at restaurants all the time (my kids are old enough where they dine out without us) and me and Rob using it for our numerous trips to the grocery store. Watch for targeted offers for this increased bonus. If you don’t get, reach out and I will see if I can refer you to a 50K bonus offer if you really want the card.
I received my card the other day but…..
I had requested the latest Rose Gold card, but just got the Gold colored (metal) card instead. I know this is silly, but I really want the pretty limited edition rose gold one (see above) so I called Amex and they are resending new cards in the pretty rose gold color. Yay. Note, the rose gold card is only available till January 9, 2019.
Also, noteworthy, when I went to register my card online, Amex surprised me with another bonus offer.
In the meantime, we can still use the new gold cards that we have and we will! It is going to be weird not breaking out my Chase Sapphire Reserve anymore at restaurants, but 4X points are just too good to pass up (I was earning 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards Points with my Chase Sapphire Reserve at restaurants). As for groceries, I had already been using an Amex card for 2/3 of the year as I was using my American Express Everyday Preferred Card from January to about August each year and earning 3x Membership Rewards points on groceries. However, usually about August, I would max out at the $6,000 cap on grocery spend (after which I would only earn 1X point) and then would switch my grocery spend to my American Express Blue Business card where I would earn 2X points on groceries. (You earn 2x points on all purchases with the Amex Blue Business card, up to $50K a year). However, I will not max out anymore, as this new version of the Gold Card has a cap up to $25,000 per year in purchases at grocery stores. Even I, with a family of five, don’t spend $25K on groceries.
Yes, I have a new annual fee of $250. However, the first year is a no brainer as I got 50,000 Bonus points with the card. Valuations of Membership Rewards come in at about 1.9 cents per point. So that 50,000 bonus is worth $950, much greater than $250. Also, since I will no longer be using my Amex Everyday Preferred anymore on groceries or even on gas (the other Everyday Preferred bonus category), I have downgraded my $95 Everyday Preferred to the NO FEE regular Everyday card, so I am looking at only an additional outlay of $155.
As for all of they years after year 1, at 1.9 cents per point, I only need to spend $2,039 on groceries each year (um I do and much more!) and we make up the $155 additional outlay. (2,039 * 4 points per $ = 8,156 points) then (8,156 points * .019 = $155). So based just on our grocery spend, this card’s fee for us is worth it. Also, this quick calculation does not even account for the fact that we will now be earning 4x points at U.S. restaurants.
Recall a bit more about the card….in addition to the 4x points at U.S. restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases), you 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). You earn 1 point for every dollar you spend on all your other purchases.
You pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card on purchases made outside the United States. You earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with The Gold Card at participating partners. Note, enrollment required. At the time of this post, participating partners are Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and participating Shake Shack locations. However, it excludes Shake Shack locations in ballparks, stadiums, airports and racetracks.
You get a $100 Airline Fee Credit which means you select a qualifying airline and then receive up to $100 per calendar year in statement credits when incidental fees, such as checked bags and airport lounge day-passes, are charged by the airline to your Premier Rewards Gold Card Account.
You get a $75 Credit if you stay a minimum of two nights at a Hotel Collection resort on qualifying dining, spa, or resort activities.
