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American Express Membership Rewards points

American Express Membership Rewards is probably one of the most versatile rewards schemes on the market.

Chris Lilly
Chris Lilly

Updated

Fact checked

You can earn points as you spend on your credit card, which can be redeemed on a range of shopping, travel and entertainment experiences, or even donated to charity.

You can transfer Membership Rewards points to any of the American Express airline and hotel partner programs, including British Airways, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, Hilton Honors and Radisson Rewards programs.

In addition to American Express Membership Rewards cards, the American Express network is also available with other rewards credit cards, such as British Airways, Nectar, Starwood Preferred or CostCo.

How do I earn American Express Membership Rewards?

You can earn one American Express Membership Rewards point on every full £1 spent. Certain cards will increase your earn-rate to two points per £1 spent on American Express Travel.

Some cards offer the chance to accrue large chunks of bonus points in the first few months after opening or on your account anniversary if you spend a specified amount on purchases.

You can earn points on most of your spending, with the exceptions being card fees, interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, travellers cheques or foreign currency transactions.

What are American Express Membership Rewards points worth?

Amex don’t clarify exact point value, but they tend to work out at 1p = 2 points or £1 = 200 points. For example, if you want to redeem points at one of Amex’s partner retailers, then normally 10,000 points could be transferred for a £50 voucher.

How do I redeem American Express Membership Rewards?

American Express has an extensive online catalogue which allows you to redeem rewards either partially or outright, or exchange to other points systems. Simply enrol online to set up a Membership Rewards account.

You can use your points to pay or part-pay or upgrade your next holiday, shop direct from the Amex site or exchange rewards points for vouchers for retailers or subscriptions. Over 1,000 retailers accept American Express Membership Rewards points. Amex also feature special offers that change every month, which allow your points to go further on specific purchases.

If you need more points, you can buy more, but only in increments of 1,000 points with a minimum purchase of 1,000 points. There is a maximum limit of 10,000 a year.

What are the pros and cons?

Pros

  • Versatile and flexible.
  • Charitable donations option.
  • Can purchase points.
  • Wide variety of cards to choose from.
  • Travel benefits.
  • Generous introductory offers of 0% or bonus points.

Cons

  • Amex is less widely accepted than Mastercard or Visa.
  • Annual fee. Some Amex cards charge an annual fee, which could go up to £450.

Compare credit cards that earn American Express Membership Rewards

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
Data indicated here is updated daily
Name Product Max. intro bonus Default earn-rate Annual/monthly fees Rep. APR Link Incentive Representative example
American Express Rewards Credit Card
American Express Rewards Credit Card
5,000 points
1 point per £1 spent
£0
22.2% (variable)
Go to site
More Info
As a new Cardmember, earn 5,000 Membership Rewards® points when you spend £2,000 in your first 3 months of Cardmembership.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 22.2% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 22.2% APR (variable).
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card
20,000 points
1 point per £1 spent
Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £140 per annum
56.6% (variable)
Go to site
More Info
New Cardmember offer: Earn 20,000 Membership Rewards® points when you spend £3,000 in your first three months of Cardmembership.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 22.2% (variable) p.a. with an annual fee of £140 (£0 in first year), your representative APR is 56.6% APR (variable).
The Platinum Card
The Platinum Card
30,000 points
1 point per £1 spent
£575 per annum
N/A (this product is a charge card).
More Info
As a new Cardmember, earn 30,000 Membership Rewards® points when you spend £4,000 in your first 3 months of Cardmembership.
The American Express Green Card
The American Express Green Card
N/A
1 point per £1 spent
£60 per annum
N/A (this product is a charge card).
Go to site
More Info
1 point earned for virtually every £1 spent. Rewards points can be used as currency to buy flights and package holidays through American Express Travel. Reward points can also be redeemed for a wide range of products, experiences, travel and hotel stays. If you're an existing Cardmember, invite your friends to join American Express and you'll get 5,000 points if they are approved.
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Approval for any credit card will depend on your status. The APR shown represents the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.

American Express Membership Rewards partners for redeeming points

Amex’s rewards scheme is incredibly flexible and reaches a wide range of travel and retail partners. You can spend your points directly through American Express’ online catalogue and buy more points if you need them. Alternatively, you can easily convert your Membership Rewards points to spend with Amex’s partners.

Who are American Express Membership Rewards travel transfer partners?

  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Alitalia MilleMiglia
  • Asia Miles
  • Iberia Plus
  • SAS EuroBonus
  • Singapore KrysFlyer
  • Hilton Honors
  • Radisson Rewards
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • Delta SkyMiles
  • Etihad Guest
  • Finnair Plus
  • Flying Blue (KLM and Air France)
  • Club Eurostar
  • Starwood Preferred Guest (Marriott Rewards and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards)

Who are the American Express Membership Rewards charity partners?

You can choose to donate your rewards points to one of the following charities:

  • Breast Cancer Now
  • Great Ormond Street Hospital
  • NSPCC
  • Save The Children
  • The Global Fund

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.

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