Editor’s Note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
If you are considering applying for American Express® Gold Cardchances are you’ve been lured in by the incredible gourmet rewards – 4 Membership Rewards Points for every dollar dining at the restaurant.
The big picture highlights Gold Amex makes it a great card — from up to $240 in annual credit report almost completely offset the $250 annual fee (see rates and fees) to bonuses of 4 points per dollar, where TPG pricing at 8% ROI.
Enrollment is required.
Although the Amex Gold Card doesn’t have as many perks and benefits as some high-end competition, it offers some solid and underrated perks that help with the deal. Here are four of our favorites.
Amex Hotel Collection
While Amex chooses a more limited travel rewards category than Chase (which only offers 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel), they include a specific hotel benefits carried over from the old version of the Amex Gold Card.
When you use your Yellow card hotel reservation via Amex Hotel Collection, You’ll earn 2 points for every dollar and enjoy up to $100 in property credits and room upgrades for stays of two nights or more. This can be a good option if you don’t have a card that offers more rewards when booking a hotel. And for short, cheap stays, a property credit of up to $100 can be a pretty serious discount.
Related: Everything you need to know about The Hotel Collection
baggage insurance
The rest of the perks on this list fall under the “you hope you never need them” category, but if you do, you will. Therefore Thank you very much for having them.
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baggage insurance is one of those perks, especially as some airlines do a surprisingly poor job of remembering to put luggage on planes.
If you buy the full fare of the airline ticket with Amex Gold Cardyou will be eligible for reimbursement up to $1,250 if your carry-on baggage is lost, stolen or damaged and up to $500 if it is your checked baggage.*
There are two important things to point out here, the first is that there is no Baggage delay insurance. The second is that you must purchase the entire ticket with your card to qualify, so simply paying tax on an award ticket won’t count.
This is great for card bonuses, as anything other than buying the full fare (directly with the airline or through Amex Tourism) will only earn you a meager point per dollar.
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. The policies are underwritten by the AMEX Insurance Company.
Related: Everything you need to know about Amex baggage insurance
Car rental insurance
If you charge the car rental in Amex Gold Card and refuse to waive the counter collision damage waiver, Amex will cover you if your vehicle is damaged or stolen.**
This is secondary insurance Start later and supplement your own personal policy and there are exclusions to be aware of.
For example, rentals in Australia, Italy and New Zealand are not covered, some ATVs, limousines and exotic cars are not covered, and insurance only applies for the first 30 days of rental. . This also does not guarantee injury to you, your passengers or others, or damage to property.
**Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Not all types of vehicles or rentals are covered and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. The policies are underwritten by the AMEX Insurance Company. Coverage is provided through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Related: The best card for car rental insurance
Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty
The Amex Gold Card also comes with a host of purchase protections. For example, if you drop a newly purchased phone (in the last 90 days), you may be eligible for up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per calendar year to replace damaged items. lost, stolen or damaged.***
You will also like extended warranty when you use your Gold Card to make a purchase. You can add up to one year to a manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less. Terms and conditions apply.***
***Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. The policies are underwritten by the AMEX Insurance Company.
Related: Amex Gold Review
bottom line
You may not know about other perks, such as Free 2-day shipping when you sign up with Shoprunner and fancy seats at concerts. Many of the perks listed here are not unique to the Amex Gold Card and likely won’t be out of scale one way or another. decide if this card is right for you.
They actually act as a side bonus; if you make a financial commitment to American Express, they will respond and help you when your travel plans go wrong or your expenses increase unexpectedly in a month. Most of these perks will sit in the background and with luck you’ll never need them. But if and when things don’t go your way, knowing what you’re entitled to can save you a fair amount of money.
Sign up for Amex Gold with 60,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $4,000 on the card in the first six months of being a member of the card.
Check out the CardMatch Tool to see if you are targeted for the 60k-75k point Gold Card offer. These offers are subject to change at any time.
However, you can earn higher welcome offer through friend or relative’s referral link until June 7.
Additional reporting by Emily Thompson and Chris Dong.
For American Express Gold Card rates and fees, please click This.
