Editor’s Note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
The American Express® Green Card is one of our top cards for travel purchases and featured in Best Amex credit card.
Currently, new cardholders can now get a 60,000 bonus welcome bonus Membership Rewards points after they spend $3,000 on a purchase on your new card during the first six months of being a card member. Plus, they’ll earn 20% cashback on eligible travel and transit purchases for the first six months you’re a card member (up to $200 cashback).
Amex Green earns 3 points for every dollar on travel, transit and dining at restaurants. For all other purchases you will earn one point. Terms apply.
But what exactly do purchases count as “travel” and earn 3 points for every dollar? Here’s what you need to know.
What is considered travel on an Amex green card?
Here are the travel purchases that will earn bonus points, under the terms of the Amex Green Card:
- Flight tickets.
- Car rental.
- Campground.
- Cruises.
- Many hotels.
- Third-party travel sites (e.g. Orbtiz, Expedia, Priceline).
- Tourism.
- Travel booked through amextravel.com.
- Vacation home rentals (with exceptions—see below).
What doesn’t count as travel on Amex Green?
The terms of Amex expressly state that buy timeshare will not be counted as tourism.
Also, whether something counts as travel depends on how the merchant codes when you make a purchase. On Amex’s terms:
Sellers are assigned codes based on what they primarily sell. Purchases will not be eligible for additional points if the merchant’s code is not eligible.
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This won’t be an issue for most purchases, but it can, depending on where you make the transaction. For example, if you buy an attraction ticket from a convenience store, the ticket may not be encoded as travel and will not earn any reward points.
Another common area of confusion when identifying travel purchases are home-sharing and vacation rental sites like Airbnb, away from home And VRBO. These will usually be coded as travel and earn rewards points, but some TPG employees and readers have reported inconsistent experiences with these purchases.
Related: American Express Green Card Review
bottom line
The Amex Green Card have great welcome offers and impressive bonus earnings on travel, transit and buy food and drink. But before you make a big travel purchase on this card, make sure it’s in the Amex travel category and know that vacation rentals are highly unlikely. Luckily, the travel category is broadly defined for the Amex Green card — great news for getting as many points as you can.
Official app link: Amex Green Card
Additional reporting by Emily Thompson and Chris Dong.
