Whatever your opinion on Amex Membership Rewards points, we can’t count them out completely. Yes, it’s more difficult to earn them with the once-per-lifetime rule in effect. And it doesn’t help that the line-up of Membership Rewards transfer partners is looking a little lackluster compared to Chase.
But the fact remains that there are lots of great uses for Membership Rewards points and having some on hand never hurts. Whether you’re saving up for a specific award or just a rainy day, here are 6 ways to earn more Amex Membership Rewards points:
Credit Card Sign-up Bonus
Amex membership Rewards-earning credit cards offer some terrific sign-up bonus. The problem is that sign-up bonuses are restricted to one per person, per lifetime. So if you picked up the American Express Platinum Card when the sign-up bonus was 40,000 points and the bonus increases to 100,000 points, you’re out of luck. You can re-apply for the card but you will not get the bonus.
To ensure you get the highest sign-up bonus possible, make sure you’re signed up to receive offers from American Express. You might receive a unique offer. And if you don’t, you might want to keep an eye out on the FlyerTalk forums or Reddit for the best offers out there.
Credit Card Category Bonus
Amex might be stingy with their sign-up bonus restrictions, but they do make up for it with their category bonuses. Every Amex credit card offers a category bonus of some sort and they tend to be pretty generous. Got a family reunion coming up? Charge everyone’s airfare to your Amex Platinum card and you’re in for 5x points if you manage to book it directly through the airline. The average Joe will appreciate earning bonus points in categories like U.S. grocery stores, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. Restaurants.
Authorized Users
The easiest way to earn more Amex Membership Rewards points is to add an authorized user to your credit card. Of course, it would have to be somebody you trust: A spouse or immediate family member. Some Amex card charge fees for authorized users, so be sure to approximate the number of points they’ll earn and compare their value to the cost of adding them to the account.
You won’t have to worry about that with a card like the The Amex EveryDay Credit Card from American Express, which not only has no annual fee but also doesn’t impose fees for authorized users.
Amex Offers
Not only is Amex Offers great for off-setting annual fees, but it’s also a nice way to stock up on extra miles. At times when I’ve really committed to it, I’ve managed to generate $90 worth of free cash towards eligible purchases. It’s not just $90 cash but 90 free Membership Rewards points. I know, that won’t get you very far. However, using Amex Offers regularly for things like gift cards (which you can turn around and sell) is a nice way to earn more Membership Rewards points with little out of pocket.
Uber
We all love using rideshare apps like Uber, which make it incredibly convenient (and affordable) to hail rides during our travels. American Express and Uber have partnered up to allow eligible cardholders to earn 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 on Uber rides in the U.S.
Refer a Friend
Got a bunch of friends and family interested in getting an Amex credit card? You can refer them and earn tons of extra Membership Rewards points. For example, you can earn 5,000 points (up to 55,000 per year) by referring friends to the Amex EveryDay or Starwood Preferred Guest Card from American Express. To refer a friend, simply log into the Amex referral website and enter your friend’s name and email. You’ll receive your bonus points 6-8 weeks after they are approved. If you have lots of friends and family who are getting into this hobby, you can earn quite a few Membership Rewards points this way.
What are some of the ways you manage to earn more Amex Membership Rewards points?
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Annual Fee: $95 fee waived for the first year
- Foreign Fees: No
- Card Type: Bank
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- Earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Named Best Credit Card for Flexible Travel Redemption - Kiplinger's Personal Finance, July 2016
- 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Earn 5,000 bonus points after you add the first authorized user and make a purchase in the first 3 months from account opening
- No foreign transaction fees
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $625 toward travel
- No blackout dates or travel restrictions - as long as there's a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Annual Fee: $95 fee waived for the first year
- Foreign Fees: No
- Card Type: Bank
| FTG Review | Reward Breakdown | Points Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
Breakdown
Earn (pt.)
Spend
First 3 months
50,000
$4,000
Travel Purchases
2.00
$1
Restaurants Purchases
2.00
$1
Coffee Shops Purchases
2.00
$1
Fast Food Purchases
2.00
$1
Alcohol & Bars Purchases
2.00
$1
All Purchases
1.00
$1
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Already have this card? Maximize your rewards.
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