Approval for any credit card will depend 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.
American Express Membership Rewards points
American Express Membership Rewards is probably one of the most versatile rewards schemes on the market.
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 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
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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
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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