When to consider (or avoid) using the Amex Gold Card

At TPG, we’re definitely fans of the American Express® Gold Card.

Though the card was updated in late July, it remains perfectly positioned between premium and entry-level cards, offering great rewards on dining and U.S. supermarket purchases, along with over $400 in annual statement credits that can help offset its $325 annual fee (see rates and fees). Enrollment is necessary, and conditions apply.

In this guide, we’ll explore techniques to help you accumulate thousands of bonus points annually by understanding when to — and when not to — use the Amex Gold Card.

Summary of the Amex Gold

The Amex Gold is an ideal "middle-ground card", particularly due to its substantial benefits and earning potential for the $325 annual fee.

With this card, you'll earn an impressive 4 points for every dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and at restaurants (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar), as well as 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or via amextravel.com.

In addition to this earning potential, the card offers substantial benefits. You’ll receive up to $424 in annual credits for dining, Dunkin', Resy, and Uber, along with travel perks like baggage insurance* and up to $100 in hotel credits for stays at The Hotel Collection properties (minimum two-night stay required). Enrollment is necessary for select benefits, and terms apply.

New Amex Gold cardmembers can score a welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $6,000 within the first six months of card membership. Additionally, new cardmembers will receive 20% back as a statement credit for eligible restaurant purchases during the first year (up to $100 back).

As per TPG's July 2024 valuations, this welcome bonus is valued at up to $1,300.

Utilizing the CardMatch tool may help you secure a more advantageous welcome offer for the Amex Gold (offer subject to change at any time). Since American Express allows cardmembers to earn only one welcome offer throughout their lifetime, it's crucial to secure the best offer available.

*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for further information. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

When is the right time to use the Amex Gold?

For dining

The Amex Gold isn’t the only card with a bonus category for dining at restaurants, but it could be among the most rewarding.

Cardmembers earn 4 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent on dining at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year (1 point per dollar after that). According to TPG's July 2024 valuations, this translates to an 8% return on your spending.

For this reason, it ranks at the top of our list of the best cards for dining out.

To fully leverage your Amex Gold in this category, it's essential to make the most of its dining statement credits.

Cardmembers can earn up to $10 each month (totaling $120 per calendar year) in statement credits when using the Amex Gold at the following dining partners:

• Grubhub
• The Cheesecake Factory
• Goldbelly
• Wine.com
• Five Guys

Moreover, cardmembers can enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash each calendar year (up to $10 per month) for use on Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, so make sure to link your Amex Gold to your Uber account.

The Amex Gold also provides up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at U.S. restaurants associated with Resy. These credits are divided into two bi-annual credits of up to $50 each.

Lastly, an annual Dunkin' Donuts credit of up to $84 is available each year, disbursed in increments of up to $7 monthly. Just use your Amex Gold to pay at Dunkin'.

For groceries

Food is central to the Amex Gold experience. In addition to dining at restaurants, this card offers 4 points for every dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases each calendar year (1 point per dollar thereafter).

Consequently, you should absolutely use this card for your next grocery trip, as it ranks at the top of our list for the best cards for groceries.

You might achieve a slightly higher return on supermarket purchases with The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express — it earns 3 points per dollar at U.S. grocery stores on up to $6,000 in purchases annually, and if you make 30 or more transactions each billing cycle, you receive a 50% bonus, bringing your potential to 4.5 points per dollar.

That said, the bonus categories on the Amex Gold don’t require any complicated steps, like a minimum number of transactions each month to qualify for the highest earning rates, and the annual cap for U.S. grocery stores is significantly higher than that of the Amex EveryDay Preferred.

The information regarding the Amex EveryDay Preferred card has been gathered independently by Dinogo. The card details provided on this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

For flights

While it may not be as robust as some of our top-rated travel cards, the Amex Gold is a solid choice for flights if you don’t have a more premium travel card in your wallet. Its 3-point-per-dollar earning rate on flights booked directly through airlines or on Amex Travel is quite beneficial.

Just remember, if you were to use The Platinum Card® from American Express, you could earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on flights booked through Amex Travel or directly with airlines, up to $500,000 in such purchases each calendar year (1 point per dollar thereafter).

That said, the Amex Gold costs over $300 less annually compared to the Amex Platinum (see Amex Platinum rates and fees), so I wouldn’t recommend getting the Amex Platinum solely for the additional two points per dollar on flights.

When shouldn’t you use the Amex Gold?

For everyday purchases

The Amex Gold offers only 1 point per dollar spent outside of its designated bonus categories. Other Amex cards and options from different banks may provide superior earning rates.

For example, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express could be a more advantageous choice if you run a business. It has no annual fee (see rates and fees) and earns 2 points per dollar on the first $50,000 in purchases each year (then 1 point per dollar thereafter).

Alternatively, a card like the Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) gives you 1% back when you make a purchase and another 1% when you settle your statement, effectively earning you 2% back.

If you also hold the Citi Prestige® Card, you can merge your points into fully transferable ThankYou points. According to TPG's July 2024 valuation, which values Citi ThankYou points at 1.8 cents each, this means you can achieve an effective 3.6% return when purchasing and paying with your Citi Double Cash Card.

The details for the Citi Prestige card have been gathered independently by Dinogo. The information on this page has not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

For travel expenses other than flights, such as hotels or rental cars

While the Amex Gold allows you to earn 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with an airline or via amextravel.com, it doesn't provide similar bonuses for other travel expenses and lacks the travel protections found in some competing cards.

Given this, opting for a different card for your non-flight bookings is a more sensible choice.

One of the leading travel rewards cards available is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which has an annual fee of $95. Regarding travel rewards, here are the current earning rates:

• 5 points per dollar on travel booked via Chase Travel℠
• 2 points per dollar on all other travel expenses

Additionally, you'll enjoy the following non-travel rewards:

• 3 points per dollar on dining
• 3 points per dollar on select streaming services
• 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)

Final thoughts

The Amex Gold stands out as one of the most rewarding cards available. However, to fully leverage its earning potential, you'll need to be strategic about where you use it.

With the dining, Dunkin', Resy, and Uber statement credits, the annual fee is effectively offset, allowing you to gain positive value. Combine this with its bonus categories, and you'll be maximizing your rewards in no time.

For more details, be sure to read our comprehensive review of the Amex Gold.