American Express Membership Rewards points

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

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Chris Lilly

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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, Marriott Bonvoy.

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.

Amex app screenshot showing Membership Rewards points redemption opportunities

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 of Membership Rewards?

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
3 of 3 results
Updated daily
Finder Score Max. intro bonus Default earn-rate Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Incentive Representative example
9.4Excellent
N/A
1 point per £1 spent
£195 per year
85.8% APR (variable)
Access to tickets for must-see music, theatre and film events, often before they go on sale to the general public with American Express Experiences.
Representative example: Representative 85.8% APR variable. Based on £195 annual fee, assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 29.1% p.a. (variable).
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The American Express® Rewards Credit Card image
7.8Great
The American Express® Rewards Credit Card
Finder Award
7.8Great
10,000 points
1 point per £1 spent
£0
29.1% APR (variable)
New Cardmembers collect 10,000 bonus Membership Rewards® points when you spend £2,000 in the first 3 months of your Cardmembership. T&Cs Apply, 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: Representative 29.1% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 29.1% p.a. (variable).
Check eligibility More info
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The Platinum Card® image
9.9Excellent
The Platinum Card®
Finder Award
9.9Excellent
N/A
1 point per £1 spent
£650 per year
685.3% APR (variable)
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points + a £150 Selfridges eGift Card when you spend £6,000 in your first three months of Cardmembership. Offer ends 12 January 2027. Terms apply, 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: Representative 685.3% APR variable. Based on £650 annual fee, assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 29.1% p.a. (variable).
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Finder Score for credit cards

To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, perks and suitability across 120+ cards are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the card – simple.

Read the full methodology

Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent 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. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Defaqto.

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
  • Qantas Frequent Flyer
  • Singapore KrisFlyer
  • Hilton Honors
  • Radisson Rewards
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • Delta SkyMiles
  • Etihad Guest
  • Finnair Plus
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • Flying Blue (KLM and Air France)
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • Club Eurostar
  • Nectar
  • 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 through JustGiving:

  • NHS Charities Together
  • The Intensive Care Society
  • Imperial Health Charity
  • Oxford Hospitals
  • Trussel Trust
  • FareShare
  • Cambridge City Foodbank
  • The Felix Project
  • British Red Cross
  • The Irish Red Cross
  • Age UK
  • North London Cares
  • South London Cares
  • ALONE
  • Crisis
  • Shelter
  • Centrepoint
  • St Mungo’s
  • Refuge
  • Women’s Aid
Our “Best for” picks highlight top options in specific categories based on our independent evaluation (see our full methodology), while “Promoted” tags indicate sponsored placements. Selected products may not suit everyone. We track selected market offers, which may not cover every product. Products are listed in no particular order unless specified, and inclusion or ordering may be influenced by popularity or commercial agreements. Most comparison table data is provided by Defaqto or sourced directly from providers. Always evaluate your own circumstances and consider independent advice before making major financial decisions.
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Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full bio

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Chris has written 502 Finder guides across topics including:
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