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How Does the American Express Platinum Card $200 Annual Travel Credit Work?

The American Express Platinum Card and the Business Platinum Card from American Express are two of the best travel cards in Canada, as they come with a bevy of travel-related perks and a hefty welcome bonus to help justify the high annual fees.

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What is the american express platinum card annual travel credit, how to use the american express platinum card annual travel credit, how to maximize the american express platinum card annual travel credit.

The American Express Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card from American Express ‘s $200 annual travel credit is exactly what it sounds like. Each year, cardholders are given a $200 credit that can be used to book flights, hotels, car rentals, or other travel through the Amex Travel portal.

Aside from being approved for the card and paying the $799 annual fee, you don’t have to do anything extra to earn the $200 travel credit. It becomes available as soon as you activate your card, and then once per year on your cardholder anniversary date.

For example, if you’re approved for the American Express Platinum Card in March 2024, you’ll have one $200 travel credit that must be used before March 2025. Then, in March 2025, you’ll have a new $200 annual travel credit available in your account, which must be used by March 2026.

The $200 annual travel credit can only be used for bookings made through Amex Travel. This means that you won’t be able to book travel on your own elsewhere, and then apply the credit against your own travel expenses retroactively.

The $200 travel credit has to be used all at once towards a single travel booking of $200 or more. This means that you won’t be able to use it if your travel booking is less than $200, and you won’t be able to spread it out over multiple bookings.

Lastly, you need to opt in to using the travel credit at the time of booking. Simply booking $200 in travel through Amex Travel isn’t enough to trigger the credit — rather, you have to specify that you want to use your $200 annual travel credit, which we’ll cover in detail below.

Once you’ve made a booking, you’ll receive $200 as a statement credit on your Platinum Card within two business days or so. This means that you’re charged the full amount of the booking first, and then you receive a separate $200 statement credit posted to your account.

On September 26, 2023, the $200 annual travel credit became available on the Business Platinum Card from American Express . This new benefit came in tandem with other changes to the cards, including increasing the annual fee.

If you’re already a Business Platinum cardholder, you’ll have access to the $200 annual travel credit on the next anniversary date that falls on or after September 26, 2023, and every year thereafter on your anniversary date.

There are two ways to use the $200 annual travel credit from the American Express Platinum Card : over the phone, or online.

If you choose to phone in to book travel and redeem your credit, make sure the Amex Travel agent knows that you’d like to make use of your $200 travel credit. You’ll also need to use your personal or business version of the Platinum Card to pay for the rest of the charges on your booking, so be sure to have it handy.

If redeeming online, you’ll have to first login to your American Express account, and then head to Amex Travel.

You can do this by clicking on the “Menu” tab after you’ve logged in, selecting “Travel”, and then “Book Travel Online”.

If you have multiple American Express cards, you’ll be prompted to select the card you’d like to use.

In order to use the $200 annual travel credit, you’ll need to choose a Platinum Card from the list. If you haven’t used the travel credit yet, it’ll indicate that it’s available on this screen, as well as its expiry date.

After selecting the Platinum Card, you can choose which type of travel you’d like to book. The options include flights, hotels, or car rentals, as well as combinations of those three in the “Bundles” tab.

Once you’ve found your desired travel booking, head to the payment screen, and then keep an eye out for the option to apply your $200 annual travel credit.

If you don’t select it as an option at this point, the credit won’t automatically be applied against your travel.

After you’ve opted to use the travel credit, you’ll still need to enter the rest of your Platinum Card information. Your card will then be charged the full amount of the booking, and the $200 credit will appear on your Platinum Card account shortly thereafter.

Even though American Express restricts the $200 annual travel credit in that it can only be used through Amex Travel, there are still ways you can make the most out of your credit, and elevate your travel.

Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts

One of the best ways to use the $200 annual travel credit is for a hotel stay with Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts , which gives you additional perks to enjoy during your stay.

You can use the $200 annual travel credit to get a free or very inexpensive night if the stay costs around $200, or you could use it to offset the cost of a more luxurious stay.

For example, a one-night stay at The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel , in Hobart, Tasmania might cost around $455 (CAD).

By booking through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, you’ll be able to use your $200 travel credit to reduce the cost down to $255 (CAD), and you’ll also have access to a number of additional perks.

You’ll receive a $100 (USD) property credit, free breakfast for two, guaranteed 4pm late check-out, and, when available, a room upgrade upon arrival and early check-in.

What’s more, if you have Marriott Bonvoy Elite status , you’ll still be able to enjoy your status benefits through hotels booked through Amex Travel, and you’ll also be credited with an elite qualifying night to work towards reaching a higher status, or retaining your status for next year.

If you have an upcoming trip planned and want to try out a luxury hotel, be sure to apply your $200 annual travel credit against the cost.

Amex Travel Amex Offers

American Express cardholders have exclusive access to Amex Offers , which are special opt-in promotions offered through your online account.

In the past, there have been specific Amex Offers available for spending on Amex Travel online.

One offer that’s popped up over the past couple of years has been a “Spend $800, Get $200” Amex Offer for bookings made through Amex Travel .

If you’ve been targeted with such an offer, you’d receive a $200 statement credit after making $800 worth of eligible prepaid hotel or car rental bookings through Amex Travel, which is separate from your $200 annual travel credit.

However, it’s also possible to stack the $200 annual travel credit with offers like this, which would effectively result in an out-of-pocket cost of $400 for $800 worth of travel.

Therefore, if you’re able to take advantage of both an Amex Travel Amex Offer and the $200 annual travel credit, you’ll end up with a significant discount on your booking.

A situation such as this can also be a great opportunity to try out a high-end property, such as the Four Seasons, Shangri-La, or Mandarin Oriental, without paying anywhere near the full price.

Offset the Annual Fee

Lastly, the $200 annual credit can be used as a way to offset the card’s annual fee.

If your plans fall through and you have to cancel a refundable travel booking, you’ll no longer have access to the travel credit.

As per the terms and conditions on the American Express Platinum Card :

If you cancel your travel booking after redeeming the Annual Travel Credit, you will not be able to use it again in the same year.

However, since you’re charged the full amount to begin with, you’ll still receive a full refund for the Amex Travel booking, even after the $200 annual travel credit has been applied to your account. 

For example, if you make a refundable hotel booking for $400, you’ll have two items post to your account: a charge for $400 (your hotel booking), and a statement credit of $200 (from your travel credit). At this point, the net cost to you is $200.

If you need to cancel the hotel booking, you’ll receive a full refund of $400, and the $200 statement credit will remain posted to your account. Therefore, if you had a $0 balance before you made the booking, you’d now have a balance of –$200, since the annual travel credit can’t be reversed.

Having to cancel a booking due to unforeseen circumstances may not be ideal; however, if it comes to that, it’s nice to know that at least your $200 credit doesn’t go to waste.

The $200 annual travel credit is a great perk that comes with every Canadian-issued American Express Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card from American Express .

Fortunately, the credit is easy to use through Amex Travel. While you’re limited to what’s available on the platform, you can use it to score a deal on a luxury hotel stay through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts , or to otherwise lower the cost of other expenses for a trip.

If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to stack the $200 annual travel credit with an Amex Travel Amex Offer to unlock even more value. And if your plans fall through, it’s nice to know that the statement credit will remain on your account even after your booking is refunded.

It doesn’t matter how you make use of the $200 annual travel credit — just be sure to use it up before it expires each year.

• Earn 70 ,000 MR points upon spending $10,000 in the first three months
• Plus, earn  30,000 MR points  upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder
• Also, earn 2x MR points on all dining and travel purchases
• Also, receive an annual $200 travel credit
• Also, receive an annual  $200 dining credit
• Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
• Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges
• Credits and rebates for daily expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
• Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
• Annual fee: $799

I won’t ever deal with Amex again after their petty and frankly pathetic actions when they cancelled their Air Miles program. Cancelled cards with one day notice but mailed that notice. Very poor customer relations..

Amex always charged me back for the $200 travel credit after I cancelled my booking in the past couple of years.

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Forget Chase and American Express -- These Travel Cards Will Surprise You

We've all heard of Chase, Amex and Capital One travel cards, but what about those lesser-known (yet just as rewarding) options?

Jason Steele

Credit card expert and founder of CardCon

As a freelance personal finance writer since 2008, Jason has contributed to over 100 outlets including Forbes, USA Today, Newsweek, Time, U.S. News, Money.com and NerdWallet. As an industry leader, Jason has spoken at dozens of conferences and is the founder and producer of CardCon, an annual conference for credit card media. Jason also consults with individuals and small business owners to create customized plans to help them earn and spend travel rewards. He can be reached via his website; JasonSteele.com and on LinkedIn.

Dashia Milden

Dashia is a staff editor for CNET Money who covers all angles of personal finance, including credit cards and banking. From reviews to news coverage, she aims to help readers make more informed decisions about their money. Dashia was previously a staff writer at NextAdvisor, where she covered credit cards, taxes, banking B2B payments. She has also written about safety, home automation, technology and fintech.

Evan Zimmer

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Evan Zimmer has been writing about finance for years. After graduating with a journalism degree from SUNY Oswego, he wrote credit card content for Credit Card Insider (now Money Tips) before moving to ZDNET Finance to cover credit card, banking and blockchain news. He currently works with CNET Money to bring readers the most accurate and up-to-date financial information. Otherwise, you can find him reading, rock climbing, snowboarding and enjoying the outdoors.

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It’s always amusing to see your favorite travel blogger taking trips of a lifetime. But you may wonder how they afford it. Most use credit card rewards to cut costs. But how? What perks are really saving them money and how much are they having to spend to make the rewards worthwhile?

Even though there are hundreds of different credit cards available from major card issuers, most of the buzz is generated by a few of the most popular products, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® or The Platinum Card® from American Express . 

But I’ve been traveling using credit card rewards and perks for years, and found a few unsung heroes that are just as rewarding as the big-name cards. If you look beyond those popular choices and consider some lesser-known options, you could get a card that holds more value and better perks. 

Wyndham Rewards Earner Card

Solid hotel and dining perks for no annual fee

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card

Next to hotel brands like Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt, Wyndham isn’t as well known. And even then, most people associate Wyndham with budget brands such as Days Inn, Super 8 and LaQuinta. These hotels are fine for their purpose, but most don’t imagine them as part of their ultimate dream vacation. 

However, Wyndham is partnered with Caesars Entertainment, a hotel and casino company with properties that dominate the Las Vegas strip. Wyndham also owns Vacasa, a vacation rental management company that has properties in Hawaii, Colorado and Florida. 

To earn stays in these areas, you can get the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card*. It’s a no-annual-fee credit card that offers a few perks including a cardmember booking discount and automatic Wyndham Rewards Gold status, which offers preferred room selection, late checkout and 10% more points on qualifying hotel stays. 

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card* is even better. It offers even higher reward rates, a better welcome offer and top-tier Diamond status with Wyndham and Caesars Entertainment. 

PenFed Pathfinder Rewards Visa Signature Card

All the premium travel perks with a $95 annual fee

PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card

The PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card has many of the benefits offered by premium rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card *. The card includes credits for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck , trip delay reimbursement and auto rental collision damage waiver. The card also comes with a few other perks, including a complimentary priority pass airport lounge annual membership. 

Here’s the best part: It only charges $95 annually, and even that’s waived for PenFed Honors Advantage Members. PenFed Honors Advantage Members are people with a (free) PenFed checking account, or current or former members of the military. 

At this price level, it’s an exceptional rewards card, especially with its 50,000-point welcome bonus after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days. And it’s a good pick if you need to transfer a balance since the card offers a 0% intro APR offer for 12 months (then 17.99% variable) on balance transfers made in the first 90 days, which is good considering the current average credit card APR of 20.66%. With all these features, you’ll be begging your friends to let you pay for dinner. 

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

Affordable flights, but few redemption options

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard®

Frontier has two reputations. The first is for low fares on flights– it’s often possible to book tickets for $19 each way. The other is for high fees for carry-on bags, checked bags and seat assignments. But when you have the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard®* -- which charges a $89 annual fee -- you can earn elite status that lets you waive the costs for these services. 

This card offers one Elite Status Point for each dollar spent on purchases, and you can reach their Elite Silver status with 10,000 points. Elite status unlocks free seat assignments and priority boarding.

You’ll reach Elite Gold status after 20,000 points. Elite Gold status offers premium seating and a free carry-on bag. The Frontier card also offers boosted rewards rates for dining and Frontier purchases to help you fast-track earning points.

But this card really stands out for its other perks, including a $100 flight voucher each account anniversary and a generous welcome bonus that can add up to two roundtrip flights. If Frontier is an option for most of your upcoming destinations and you try to travel on a budget, consider applying for Frontier’s co-branded card .

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

It’s good by itself, but even better with Wells Fargo’s cash rewards card

Wells Fargo doesn’t have a vast portfolio of rewards cards like its competitors, but its newest travel card -- the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card* -- is on par with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . It offers higher reward rates for hotels and flights booked with Wells Fargo compared to Chase’s card. Both cards have a $95 annual fee, but instead of the Sapphire Preferred’s $50 annual hotel credit when booking with Chase, the Autograph Journey has a $50 annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase when booking with Wells Fargo. 

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers a flat 2% cash rewards on purchases. Even though it’s a no-frills card, you’ll have cellphone insurance and you can transfer your rewards from the Active Cash to airline miles and hotel points and redeem them with your Autograph Journey card.

Read more: Move Over, Chase Sapphire Preferred. This New Travel Credit Card Is Turning Heads

Even though the travel partner list that you can transfer your rewards to for potentially more value isn’t extensive, the points can still offer more savings on trips. 

Despite its lack of transfer partners, credit card industry insiders are taking note of its compelling new offerings. So while this card may be flying under the radar now, it won’t for long. 

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*All information about the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card, the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® and the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can’t review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive may impact how products and links appear on our site.

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Frequently asked questions.

During this uncertain time, nothing is more important to American Express than the health and safety of our customers and colleagues. We want you to know that we’re here to help. Please visit our COVID-19 Support Page for more information. We will update this page as the situation continues to unfold.

Membership Rewards COVID-19 Support

Q. How will I be impacted if I cancelled a trip that was previously booked with Membership Rewards points through Amex Travel? 

A. If you cancel a flight directly with your airline that was booked with Membership Rewards points (Pay with Points), your cancellation will be handled by the airline in accordance with their policies.

If your flight is not refunded or you are issued a credit or voucher from the airline for future travel, you will not receive the points back in your Membership Rewards account, nor will you receive a statement credit in dollars on your Card account.

If your flight is refunded by the airline, then you will receive a statement credit in dollars on your Card account in the amount equivalent to the refund by the airline. You may be able to convert it back into points by contacting Membership Rewards at 1-800-AXP-EARN (297-3276). 

Q. How will I be impacted if I cancelled a trip that was previously booked with an airline after I transferred Membership Rewards points to the partner airline’s loyalty program?

A. If you cancel a flight directly with your airline that was booked via the airline’s loyalty program, you will be reimbursed according to the airline’s policy. Points transferred from the Membership Rewards program to an airline’s loyalty program cannot be transferred back.

Q. I normally redeem for travel, but don’t plan on travelling soon. Do Membership Rewards points expire?

A. Membership Rewards points do not have expiration dates. However, you may forfeit points depending on your Card product and payment status. Refer to the Membership Rewards Terms & Conditions for more information.

Q. I normally redeem for travel, but don’t plan on travelling soon. How can I best use Membership Rewards points in the current environment?

A. The Membership Rewards Program offers many ways to redeem points for everyday value. We recognize that travel is not an option right now, and encourage our Card Members to try our many great redemption options, including:

• eGift Cards : You can redeem for eGift Cards to one of our merchant partners to pick up at-home essentials. View our Gift Card partners here .
• Pay with Points at Checkout : You can support local restaurants by ordering food delivery, stock up on groceries or purchase other essentials online through one of our many merchant partners .
• Shop with Membership Rewards Points : You can redeem points for essential at-home merchandise through our Shop with Membership Rewards Points program.

Q. Can I use Membership Rewards points to cover my Card charges, including my Card annual fee?

A. Yes, you can use points to cover the Card annual fee by using the “Cover Your Card Charges” redemption option. This redemption option can also be used to cover other eligible charges on your account. Please note that using this redemption option does not satisfy the minimum due payment amount on your account. 

Q. How can I expect my Membership Rewards redemptions to be impacted as a result of COVID-19?

A. Membership Rewards continues to offer a variety of different redemption options but there may be minor changes as a result of COVID-19.

• Gift Card : Due to the evolving nature of this crisis please be prepared for delays in physical gift card delivery. We encourage you to redeem for digital gift cards if available.
• Point Transfer : As a result of COVID-19 and the subsequent CARES Act passed in the United States on March 28, 2020, we are temporarily waiving all excise tax fees on point transfers to domestic airlines. 

Earn Points

Q. How do I earn Membership Rewards® points?

A.Generally, you can earn one point for every dollar you spend on eligible purchases made using your Membership Rewards-enrolled American Express Card. Some Cards will earn extra points for purchases in certain categories or at certain merchants.There are conditions for earning points and extra points. For more information, reference the “Earn Points” section of your  Membership Rewards Program Terms & Conditions .

Q. What are ineligible purchases? Why am I not earning points on certain purchases?

A. Certain purchases are not eligible to earn Membership Rewards points. These purchases include cash-equivalent transactions and fees. For more information on which purchases are not eligible to earn Membership Rewards points, visit the “Earn Points” section of your Membership Rewards Program Terms and Conditions. 

Q. How can I see my Membership Rewards points balance?

A. When you log in to manage your Card Account, you can see your total Membership Rewards point balance. You can see your total balance and detailed breakdown on the  Point Summary  Page. 

Q. Why am I earning more points on certain purchases than others?

A. Some Cards allow you to earn extra points on purchases at certain merchants or within certain categories. Conditions may apply based on the merchant. To learn more about merchant conditions for earning extra points, reference the “Earn Points” section of your Membership Rewards Program Terms & Conditions . To learn more about which Card Products allow you to earn extra points, visit the “Compare Cards” section of your Membership Rewards Program Terms & Conditions .  

Q. What are "pending points? How long until the pending points are available?

A. When you earn Membership Rewards points, they initially appear as pending. These points will be added to your Points Balance and available for use if your minimum payment is received by the Payment Due Date, typically within 24–72 hours after the payment is applied to your Card account.

Q. What are “points available on payment”? How do these differ from “pending points”?

A. On the Point Summary page, you may see two different values: pending points and points available on payment. Points available on payment are points that you will earn for eligible spending shown on your most recent billing statement once we receive your payment. When we receive your payment, these are the points that will become available within 24-72 hours. “Pending” points are points that you can earn for your latest purchases. When your statement that includes your latest purchases is ready, pending points for those purchases on that statement will be available on payment.

Q. How can I use Membership Rewards points?

A. Membership Rewards offers a variety of different ways to use points. You can redeem for Gift Cards (electronic and physical), book travel, cover your card charges, transfer points to partner loyalty programs, shop with points at top brands, use points for a charitable donation and more. To get started on redeeming Membership Rewards points, visit MembershipRewards.com .

Q. What is the value of Membership Rewards points?

A. The value of Membership Rewards points varies according to how you choose to use them. To learn more, go to  www.membershiprewards.com/pointsinfo .  

Q. Where can I transfer Membership Rewards points to?

A. Certain Card Members can transfer Membership Rewards points to a variety of different frequent customer programs. In order to transfer points to a frequent customer program, you must link your Membership Rewards program account to a frequent customer program account that is in either your name or the name of an Additional Card Member on your Linked Card Account. Points may be transferred to the frequent customer program account of an Additional Card Member beginning 90 days after we issue an Additional Card to that Additional Card Member. For more information, visit  Transfer Points .

Q. How can I use points for my purchases?

A. You can use Membership Rewards points for purchases when you checkout online or in-store with select merchants. A variety of different merchants participate in Pay with Points. For more information, visit Pay with Points at Checkout .

Q. Can I use Membership Rewards points for statement credit?

A. You can use Membership Rewards points to cover eligible purchases and receive a statement credit. Points can be used for eligible purchases that appear in your online current statement or recent activity. The statement credit will be reflected on your upcoming statement. It is important to remember that using points for your charges will not count toward your minimum payment due, and a minimum payment due will still be required for that billing cycle. 

Q. How can I use Membership Rewards points for travel?

A. You can use Membership Rewards points when booking eligible travel (flights, prepaid hotels, vacation/cruise bookings) on American Express Travel . When completing your reservation, you will have the option to use points for the partial or entire travel purchase.

Q. How do I redeem Membership Rewards points for gift cards?

A. We offer a variety of different restaurant, retail, entertainment, and travel gift cards that you can use when redeeming Membership Rewards points. Depending on your selection, you may be able to receive an eGift Card or a physical Gift Card. Most physical Gift Cards will arrive by mail within 7 business days. EGift Cards can be accessed at ecerts.americanexpress.com and you’ll receive an email notifying you when it’s ready for use.

We additionally offer American Express Gift Cards. To view our Gift Card offerings, you can click here .

Q. Why can’t I redeem Membership Rewards points?

A. We’re sorry you are having issues redeeming Membership Rewards points. First, make sure there are enough Membership Rewards points in your account for your preferred redemption option. Next, make sure your account is not past due.

We also may have temporarily suspended your ability to redeem points if we have determined you have engaged in abuse or misuse in connection with earning or using points. For more information, review the "Lose Points" section of the Membership Rewards Program Terms & Conditions .

Account Management

Q. How do I manage my Membership Rewards account online?

A. In order to manage your Membership Rewards account, you must first create an online account with your American Express Card. Once completed, you can log onto www.membershiprewards.com  with your user ID and password to review your point activity, redeem points, learn new ways to earn and receive special offers. 

Q. What can I see on my statement for Membership Rewards?

A. On your monthly statement, you can review the total Membership Rewards Point balances as well as your recent charges. We also share program news and notification of any point forfeiture in your statement.  

Q. Do points have expiration dates?

A. Membership Rewards points do not have expiration dates. However, you can lose them under certain circumstances.

For example, if you have a Consumer Card account or a Blue for Business Credit Card account, a Blue for Business Plus Credit Card account, a Platinum Business Credit Card account, a Business Management Credit Card account, or a Business Membership Rewards Credit Card account, you must pay the amount due or the minimum payment due on your Linked Card Account statement so that we receive your payment by the payment due date. If you do not, you may forfeit all the points that you earned during the billing period covered by that statement.

If you have any other kind of Business Card account or a Corporate Card account, you must pay the amount due on your statement so that we receive your payment by the closing date of the next billing period. If you do not, you may forfeit all the points that you earned during the billing period covered by that statement. If the points are

forfeited, you can reinstate them for a fee of $35 once you have returned your Card account to not past due. Points must be reinstated within 12 months of being forfeited.  To learn about how you can lose Membership Rewards points, please refer to the Membership Rewards Terms & Conditions .

Q. I have more than one Card enrolled in the Membership Rewards program. Will the points I earn on my Cards be combined in a single program account?

A. If you have more than one Membership Rewards-enrolled American Express Card(s) and/or Additional Card Members that earn Membership Rewards points on your account, you will earn Membership Rewards points in one program account. We do not permit the sharing or consolidation of Membership Rewards accounts between family members or friends.

Q. If I cancel my Membership Rewards program account, what happens to the points I haven't redeemed?

A. If you choose to cancel your Membership Rewards account and do not have another American Express Card, the points you have not redeemed will be forfeited immediately. To learn more about what happens to points upon cancellation, please review the "Lose Points" section of the Membership Rewards Terms & Conditions. 

See the value of Membership Rewards points 

Terms and Conditions for the Membership Rewards program apply. Visit  membershiprewards.com/terms  for more information. Participating partners and available rewards are subject to change without notice. 

The value of Membership Rewards points varies according to how you choose to use them. To learn more, go to  www.membershiprewards.com/pointsinfo .

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Your 2024 Credit Card Checklist for Summer Travel

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Checklists are a key step in travel preparation for many people. Passport — check. Phone charger — check. But have you checked to make sure you’re fully utilizing the travel perks offered by your credit card?

Whether you’re a seasoned jetsetter or a novice traveler seeing the world for the first time, benefits from the right credit card can make a trip more convenient and more comfortable. That’s good news for the 50% of Americans who plan to travel more in 2024 than 2023, according to a survey by IPX1031, a Fidelity National Financial Company.

Here’s a credit card checklist to review before you hit the road this summer.

1. Bring a card

First things first — be sure to bring a credit card! Many airlines, and even entire airports, are now cash-free. That means you’ll need a card to pay for that pre-departure drink or in-flight snack. You might even earn bonus rewards.

For example, if restaurants are a bonus category for your card, sit-down establishments within the airport will usually still earn that higher rewards rate. If your card earns a bonus on travel purchases, you'll usually earn that bonus for in-flight purchases.

2. Register for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Clear

Airports are more crowded than ever, with air passenger growth up 6% and foreign travel up 24% year over year, according to a study conducted by the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics.

To ease the burden of long lines, check if your card offers a credit that covers the cost of TSA PreCheck , Global Entry or Clear . These programs allow you to speed through the line at security or customs, but since they all require a background check and an in-person interview, you'll need to register well before your trip. Even if you haven’t been verified for this trip, register today to prepare for your next trip.

3. Register for lounge access

Airport lounges offer a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the airport terminal, with most offering free food and drinks. If your card offers access to Priority Pass lounges, you’ll need to register for that benefit before you hit the road.

Don’t forget your physical membership card, or even easier, download the Priority Pass app and use your phone to access the lounge.

4. Notify your issuer of your travel plans

Few things can create issues like having your card unexpectedly stop working when you’re away from home, especially internationally. With rates of credit card fraud increasing, it’s possible your card could stop working if you’re spending outside of your normal patterns or locations. To preempt this, notify your issuer before you travel. Often you can do this online or through the app, but just in case, be sure to travel with at least two cards .

5. Avoid paying foreign transaction fees

If you’re traveling abroad, make sure you have a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees . If your card does levy those fees, try to get a different card before you leave the country.

6. Pay with your most rewarding card

Be sure to identify opportunities to leverage your trip and earn outsized rewards. For example, if you know you’ll be staying at a Hilton brand hotel, you might consider applying for one of the Hilton credit cards offered by American Express and earn up to 14 Hilton points per dollar you spend at the hotel. Those points can stack up fast and easily defray costs for your future travel.

But you'll need to bring the physical card with you. Many hotels aren't able to accept digital wallet payments, so if you can't swipe your card, you'll miss out on those heightened rewards.

7. Check your card’s money-saving offers

Many issuers have programs, such as AmEx Offers, Chase Offers and BankAmeriDeals from Bank of America, that let you add rotating promotional offers to your card and earn additional points or cash back for making purchases at specific merchants. Be sure to review these offers for any merchants where you might spend during your travels. Just be aware of the fine print — often these offers exclude, or only include, international merchants.

On a similar note...

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Chase Sapphire Reserve® Review 2024

T he Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a leader in the travel rewards card space for a reason, including its top-tier rewards rates and a long list of travel perks.

Expert take: If you’re consistently booking flights and hotel stays and are ready to make some luxury upgrades to your travel experience, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® might be the card for you. Its annual fee is one of the highest on the market, but you can recoup that value and much more if you actually use the perks.

• High rewards rates, especially on travel
• Lots of luxury travel perks
• Significant first-year welcome bonus
• High annual fee
• Lounge access is limited to Priority Pass lounges and Chase Sapphire Lounges

Vault’s Viewpoint on the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

With a $550 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® isn’t a card most people apply for on a whim. However, you can make up the cost of that fee and more if you’re traveling often and utilizing the perks. 

Not only does the Reserve earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points at high rates—it also gives you 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through the Chase Travel. Perks like airport lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS fee credit and more bolster the offer. 

This card works even better when paired with another Ultimate Rewards-earning card, particularly a no-annual-fee card like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ or Chase Freedom Unlimited® . Here’s why: Chase lets you pool points from your other Chase cards into one account. As such, you can take advantage of a wider variety of bonus categories (like groceries or drugstores), and then redeem your rewards for 50% more value with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. 

Chase Sapphire Reserve Highlights

Annual fee: $550, plus $75 for each authorized user

Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (worth $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel)

Earning Rewards With the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card

• 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel*
• 10X points on Chase Dining purchases through Ultimate Rewards
• 5X points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Travel*
• 3X points on other travel (not purchased through Chase)*
• 3X points on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
• 1X points on other purchases

*Travel-related rewards kick in after the $300 annual travel credit is spent each year.

Redeeming Rewards

You can get the best bang for your buck (or punch for your points, we should say) by redeeming your Chase Sapphire Reserve rewards for travel through the Chase Travel portal. You can also get great value by transferring your points to one of Chase’s hotel and airline partners, which include British Airways, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy and more. 

Lower-value redemption options include cash back, merchandise and gift cards.

Rates and Fees

Here’s a list of the rates and fees you should be aware of before applying for the Chase Sapphire Reserve:

• Annual fee: $550
• Intro APR: None 
• Regular APR: 22.49% – 29.49% variable
• Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
• Foreign transaction fees: None
• Late fee: Up to $40
• Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%
• Cash advance fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
• Cash advance APR: 29.99%

Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits

Here are some leading benefits offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve—from travel perks to partner benefits. 

Travel Benefits

• Airport lounge access: Enroll in Priority Pass Select at no cost and get access to over 1,300 lounges in 500 cities worldwide. Also get access to Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club.
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS credit: Charge the application fee to your card (up to $100), and you’ll be automatically reimbursed. Applies once every four years. 
• $300 annual travel credit: Automatically get up to $300 in statement credits as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. 
• Access to The Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection: Book a stay at one of the 1,000 hotels in this collection and get perks like room upgrades and daily breakfast.
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: Chase will reimburse your flight cost, hotel stay or tour costs if your trip is cut short due to sickness, severe weather or other covered situations. This applies to up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses.
• Trip delay reimbursement: If your common carrier travel is delayed more than six hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket.
• Baggage delay insurance: If your bags are delayed for over six hours, you can get up to $100 per day for five days to cover necessary purchases.
• Auto rental waiver: Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement of up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage to rental cars in the U.S. and abroad. You must decline the rental company’s coverage and charge the entire rental cost to your card.
• Lost luggage reimbursement: If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you’re covered for up to $3,000 per passenger.
• Emergency evacuation and transportation: If you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip far from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you’re covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000.

Shopping and Lifestyle Benefits

• Purchase protection: Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year.
• Extended warranty: Extends the time period of the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
• Reserved by Sapphire: Get access to exclusive experiences in sports, music, dining and entertainment.

Partner Benefits

• DoorDash DashPass: Receive a complimentary, one-year DashPass membership when you activate by December 31, 2024. This also includes $5 in DoorDash credits per month.
• Instacart+ membership: Activate by July 31, 2024, and get one year of complimentary Instacart+ membership. This includes up to $15 in monthly statement credits.
• Points on Peloton purchases: Get 10X points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases through March 31, 2025. Note, purchases must be over $150, and you can earn a maximum of 50,000 points.

Who Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Best For?

Travel enthusiasts—particularly those who enjoy a “first-class” experience—are the ideal Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card holder. The annual fee may be jarring, but if you make use of the $300 annual travel credit, that brings the effective cost of holding the card down to $250 per year. Add in perks like lounge access and the ultra-high rewards rates, and it’s easy to see how this card makes up for its cost and more for the right cardholder. 

It’s an especially great card for someone who already has a Chase Ultimate Rewards card, like the Chase Freedom Flex or Chase Freedom Unlimited. Since you can pool your points between Chase Ultimate Rewards cards, it makes a lot of sense to have a card that earns bonus points on everyday purchases, and then transfer the points to the Reserve for a higher redemption value. 

Who Should Consider an Alternative to the Chase Sapphire Reserve?

To state the obvious, this isn’t the card for someone who doesn’t care much about premium travel perks or who’s tentatively starting out with travel rewards. 

If you aren’t traveling enough to make use of perks like the boosted earning rate on travel purchases, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry/NEXUS credit or lounge access, for example, it might make more sense to look for a travel rewards card with a lower annual fee. 

Another consideration is whether your home airport has a Priority Pass lounge. If not, that could be a big detraction from this card’s value, since the lounge access only applies to Priority Pass lounges (and Chase Sapphire Lounges, many of which aren’t yet open).

How Does the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Stack Up to Its Competitors?

Few travel credit cards can compete with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but those that do promise a similar premium travel experience.

Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express

If you can believe it, the Platinum Card from American Express outdoes the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee, charging $695 per year ( see rates and fees ). The difference in annual fees per year gets you a slew of perks, including over $1,500 of value in statement credits and merchant offers, including a $200 annual credit for airline incidentals (with an airline you select) and access to the famed Centurion Lounge network. 

Still, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers better rewards rates. The Amex Platinum offers 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or via American Express Travel on up to $500,000 spending per calendar year (then 1X), plus 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel. All other purchases earn 1X points, which is somewhat disappointing compared to the Reserve’s variety of bonus categories, including general travel purchases and dining worldwide.

Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

In the showdown of the Chase Sapphire cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is likely the better option for occasional travelers. Comparing the rewards rates head to head, the Sapphire Preferred actually offers more. The Reserve’s 10X categories might catch your eye, but they aren’t categories most people (even frequent travelers) are going to spend the most in: Chase Dining purchases through Ultimate Rewards, and hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel.

Both cards earn the same 5X points on air travel through the Chase portal and 3X points on dining. But while the Preferred also earns 3X points on online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) and select streaming services, the Reserve earns just 1X points in those categories.

The Reserve does offer a higher redemption value for travel through Chase (the Preferred offers 25% more value compared to the Reserve’s 50% boost through Chase Travel). Further, the Reserve offers benefits that the Preferred lacks, including airport lounge access, a TSA PreCheck/Global Entry/NEXUS credit and an annual travel credit. Whether these perks are worth the $455 difference in annual fees between these cards depends on your travel style. 

Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Capital One Venture X Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X is a premium travel rewards card with a reasonable annual fee. For $395 a year, it’s a bit cheaper to carry than the Reserve, and it’s a bit simpler to use too. The Venture X earns 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One (very similar to the Reserve’s 10X points on the same categories when booked through Chase). Both cards also offer 5X points/miles on flights booked through their travel portals. The differences are in the remaining categories: The Venture X awards 2X miles on all other purchases, while the Reserve offers 3X points on travel and dining not booked through Chase, plus 1X points on everything else.

In the way of benefits, both cards offer airport lounge access, credits toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and a $300 annual travel credit (though the Venture X requires the purchase to be made through its travel portal). The Reserve offers better travel protections, though. 

The bottom line is, you can probably squeeze a bit more value out of the Chase Sapphire Reserve since its point values tend to be higher. However, if you value a slightly simpler rewards structure and redeeming process (plus a lower annual fee), you’ll probably fare better with the Venture X. 

Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Worth It?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve can definitely be worth it if you value premium travel perks and make use of them year after year. The $300 annual travel credit makes it a bit easier to justify too. What’s more, the welcome offer alone is worth $1,125 in travel when you redeem through Chase Travel, so that’s already a notable first-year value—before even considering any rewards you’d earn through spending in the card’s bonus categories.

The 75,000-point welcome bonus (after spending $4,000 in three months) is potentially even more valuable if you transfer your points to hotel and airline partners instead of redeeming them through the Chase Travel portal. 

With 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points, you could fly business class to Europe via Air France/KLM Flying Blue (starting at 55,000 miles one-way ) or enjoy a luxurious weekend at an all-inclusive Hyatt resort (from 12,000 to 42,000 points per night on off-peak dates, depending on the property). 

It’s also worth noting that the current bonus is the highest welcome bonus we’ve seen on the card for some time. The welcome bonus many would call standard on the Chase Sapphire Reserve usually is 60,000 points. We don’t know exactly how long this elevated welcome bonus will last, so if you’re planning to get this card, right now may be one of the best times to apply.

On the flip side, if you’re more of a budget traveler, an occasional traveler or aren’t that interested in premium perks, you can probably find a card just as rewarding with a smaller price tag. 

Valuations by Vault: Our Thoughts on the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s Value

Newsweek values Chase Sapphire Reserve points at up to 1.62 cents apiece when redeemed toward Chase transfer partner travel—higher than competitors like American Express Membership Rewards points (1.19 cents apiece) and Capital One Venture miles (1.21 cents apiece). This means that, if you transferred your points to a Chase airline partner like JetBlue or United, for example, your rewards could be worth up to 1.62 cents per point in value.

Point valuations are based on a sampling of the face values of the most usable Chase Sapphire Reserve redemption options. We ignore low-value redemptions and redemptions requiring extensive knowledge of international airline programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the chase sapphire reserve a luxury card.

Yes. The card’s travel perks, like airport lounge access, various travel insurance benefits and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credits, are considered luxury benefits.

What Credit Score Do You Need for the Chase Sapphire Reserve?

Chase doesn’t publicly state its credit score requirements, but it’s generally a good idea to only apply if you have good to excellent credit (or a FICO Score of 670 and up).

Can I Transfer My Chase Sapphire Reserve Points?

Yes. Chase has 14 airline and hotel travel partners, including Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. 

How Long Will the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s Elevated Welcome Bonus Last?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is currently offering a 75,000-point welcome bonus (earned after spending $4,000 in the first three months), up from the previous 60,000-point bonus offer. We don’t know for sure how long this welcome bonus will stick around, and Chase typically won’t announce that news until the bonus is about to be updated, but past trends indicate that bonuses like these tend only to last a few months. If you’re interested in the Chase Sapphire Reserve, now may be the best time to get the card.

The post Chase Sapphire Reserve® Review 2024 first appeared on Newsweek Vault .

How long do American Express Membership Rewards take to transfer?

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

American Express Membership Rewards points are one of the most useful, flexible loyalty currencies out there. And they're fairly easy to earn if you have cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express or the American Express® Gold Card in your wallet.

While not your only redemption option, you'll generally get the most value from your points by transferring them to a travel partner. The program offers 17 airline and three hotel transfer partners, including at least one useful option in each of the major alliances — SkyTeam , Star Alliance and Oneworld . All but three of the partners have a 1:1 point-to-mile transfer ratio.

Transfer times vary by partner, so the TPG team routinely performs tests for each one. Not leaving yourself enough time to transfer points from your Membership Rewards account to the affected program could leave you high and dry.

Your experiences may vary, but here's what we found.

New to the points and miles game? Sign up for our daily newsletter and check out our beginner's guide for a crash course.

American Express Membership Rewards transfer times

Note that the times listed above represent our personal experiences and shouldn't be taken as hard-and-fast rules. However, others have reported a similar timeline when transferring points from Membership Rewards. Your transfers may be faster or slower, but you can use these times as guidelines when planning your trips.

Instant transfers are obviously always preferred, and Amex does a good job of making that happen compared with competitors like Citi ThankYou . If you haven't done so already, link all of your different transfer partner accounts to your Membership Rewards account. This prevents delays in the future when you may need to make a quick transfer.

Related: How long do Citi ThankYou Points take to transfer?

Before transferring Membership Rewards

The greatest risk when transferring points is that award availability can change while you're waiting for points to show up in your account. Transfers are irreversible, so in the worst-case scenario, you'll be stuck with thousands of points in a program you have little use for beyond your originally-intended award ticket or hotel night. Here are a few tips for how to avoid that situation:

1. Put your award reservation on hold before transferring . Very few programs allow you to put award tickets on hold , but those that do make things much easier. For example, Singapore KrisFlyer allows you to hold an award reservation so long as you have 50% of the necessary miles in your account.

2. Choose flights that have more than one available award seat. This is helpful in case someone else books before your miles show up. Use tools like ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG's parent company, Red Ventures) to find out how many award seats are available on a flight. You can also do a single search for three or four passengers — that way, you can determine precisely how many seats are available.

3. Select uncommon routes. You can improve your chances of finding award space by choosing less popular routes or originate from non-hubs. Those often have better award availability. One example is a transatlantic flight from Raleigh-Durham to London on American Airlines. For a transpacific flight, check out ANA's flight from San Jose to Tokyo-Narita.

4. Let availability determine your destination. If your original itinerary is no longer an option because availability has dried up and you have some flexibility, one solution is to choose your destination based on which awards are still bookable. If you want to fly six people in business to Hawaii for Christmas, I'd keep in mind the difficulty of that task and search for other destinations with availability — perhaps finding a diamond in the rough.

If your original flights have disappeared, don't panic. Remember that award availability changes frequently and can increase dramatically as you get closer to your departure date. Check regularly and be ready to act quickly when seats do open up.

Related: Current transfer bonuses

Can you transfer Membership Rewards points to someone else's account?

Unlike Chase and Citi , American Express doesn't allow for transferring Membership Rewards points to other accounts, even for family members living under the same roof. However, there is a workaround for this: add them as authorized users.

Although you won't be able to transfer the points to another Amex account, you can transfer points to someone else's travel loyalty account by adding them as an authorized user . American Express allows authorized users to be added to all of its Membership Rewards-earning cards. You can add practically anyone as an authorized user on your account — even if you don't share the same address — but you will be responsible for their spending.

The Platinum Card® from American Express charges $175 to add authorized users to an account (see rates and fees). In addition to transferring points to their loyalty accounts, authorized users receive all of the card's benefits , like lounge access and hotel elite status. However, if the benefits don't matter and all you want is the ability to transfer points, you can also add up to 99 Gold Card authorized users (on a Platinum account) for no fee (see rates and fees).

On the American Express® Gold Card, the first five authorized users are free to add, costing $35 for each person after that (see rates and fees). The American Express® Green Card doesn't charge any fees to add authorized users (see rates and fees).

Related: Everything you need to know about authorized users

Is there a fee for transferring Membership Rewards points?

American Express charges an excise fee of 0.06 cents per point (capped at $99) when you transfer points to a U.S. airline. For example, if you transfer 30,000 Membership Rewards points to Delta, you'll need to pay an $18 fee. This is in addition to any taxes and fees you may be charged by the airline when redeeming your miles.

To minimize these fees and maximize your Amex points, transfer your points to foreign frequent flyer programs like Avianca LifeMiles or British Airways Avios .

Which cards earn Membership Rewards points?

You have a few strong options for earning Membership Rewards points on a variety of common spending categories. The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express earns 3x points at U.S. supermarkets on the first $6,000 spent annually, along with 2x points at U.S. gas stations and 1 point per dollar on everything else. During each month you make 30 eligible transactions, you receive a 50% point bonus.

The American Express Gold Card earns 4x points at restaurants. On the first $25,000 spent each calendar year at U.S. supermarkets (then 1x) and 3x points on all airfare purchased directly with the airline, in addition to 1 point per dollar on everything else. If you're purchasing flights and want to earn Amex points, however, your best bet is the Platinum Card from American Express, which earns 5x points on airfare purchased directly or through Amex Travel (starting Jan. 1, 2021, earn 5x points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year).

Related: The ultimate guide to Amex Membership Rewards

Here's a quick glance at the welcome bonus, bonus category structure, annual fee and benefits for some of the most valuable Membership Rewards cards. The points earned with each of the cards below are fully-transferable. You can click on the card names to learn more about the benefits they offer or visit this guide for more information.

The information for The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express and The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Choosing the best American Express credit card for you

Bottom line

American Express Membership Rewards transfers are instant for the vast majority of partners. Even the laggards only take 48 hours at most to transfer, which is significantly better than some other programs. Just keep in mind that the transfer times listed above are based on what we saw and may vary from one person to another.

With the large variety of Membership Rewards transfer partners, it's tough to pick out just a few of the best options. Some sweet spots include transferring 70,000 Membership Rewards via Singapore KrisFlyer to fly Singapore-Tokyo on the A380 Suite . Transferring to Choice Privileges for award stays in Europe and Etihad Guest to book flights on partners such as American will also get you terrific value. Check out our guide on redeeming Amex points for maximum value for all of the best-value transfers.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Green Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold Card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Blue Business Plus Card, please click here.