American Express Gold
AIRLINE PARTNERS:
Delta
Aer Lingus
Aero Mexico
Aero Plan
KLM - Air France
ANA
Avianca
British Airways
Cathay
Emirates
Etihad
Hawaiian
Iberian Plus
JetBlue
Qantas
Qatar
Singapore Air
Virgin Atlantic.
CURRENT OFFER: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership
ANNUAL FEE: $250 annually
For years, American Express led the premium card market with attractive benefits that provided genuine value. However, new competitors have demonstrated that these benefits are neither exclusive nor as challenging to offer to customers. Here are some of the benefits offered by the American Express Gold card that the bank unnecessarily complicates.
$120 Dining credit
$120 Uber cash credit
Hotel Collection
4X points at Restaurants Worldwide
4X points at U.S. Supermarkets
Pay over time option
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$120 Dining credit Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.‡
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$120 Uber cash credit: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you’ll automatically get $10 in Uber Cash each month for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.
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Hotel Collection:Delight your senses when you book a two-night minimum The Hotel Collection stay through American Express Travel. Get a $100 experience credit to use during your stay1.
1Experience credit varies by property. -
4X points at Restaurants Worldwide: plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.‡
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4X point at U.S. Supermarkets: on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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Pay over time option: 21.24% to 29.24% variable APR on eligible charges.¤
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American Express's approach to these benefits contrasts sharply with competitors like Chase and Capital One, which offer simpler and more flexible perks without the need for enrollment or restrictive conditions. While American Express continues to offer significant value, particularly for frequent travelers, its complex benefit structure can frustrate cardholders seeking straightforward rewards.