AmEx Green Card Review | NextAdvising with TIME

The American Express green credit card is worth considering if you like the American Express Membership Rewards program and are looking for a travel card that won’t cost you too much when it comes to paying the annual fee. You’ll earn flexible reward points on meals, transit, and travel, annual fees are lower than more premium travel cards from American Express, and annual statement credits can help offset the cost for them. regular travelers.

In one look

• Earn 30,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $ 2,000 on your card within three months of opening the account
• Earn 3x points at restaurants (including take out and delivery)
• Earn 3x points on transport and travel purchases
• Earn 1x points on other purchases
• Up to $ 100 annual statement credit for CLEAR membership
• Up to $ 100 annual statement credit for lounge access through LoungeBuddy
• $ 150 annual fee
• Variable APR from 15.99% to 22.99%, depending on solvency (see Prices and fees)

Additional card details

The American Express Green Card comes with a few additional benefits that can make your travel experiences easier.

To get started, you’ll receive a free Uber Eats Pass for 12 months after account opening, for unlimited $ 0 shipping and $ 5 off Uber Eats orders of $ 15 or more (through December 2021 ). Longer term, you’ll get an annual credit of $ 100 for membership in CLEAR, a TSA PreCheck alternative that can help you clear security lines at eligible airports faster. You’ll also receive up to $ 100 in annual credits for LoungeBuddy lounge access, which can come in handy if you don’t have a Priority Pass membership through another travel credit card.

Other cardholder benefits include no overseas transaction fees, travel delay insurance, secondary auto insurance coverage, baggage insurance plan, purchase protection against damage or loss. theft and extended warranties.

Should you get this card?

The American Express green credit card is a good option if you want to earn American Express Membership Rewards points but are not prepared to pay the $ 695 annual fee on the American Express Platinum Card® or the annual fee. $ 250 for the American Express® Gold Card. Amex Green offers fewer benefits, but you only have to pay $ 150 per year to be the cardholder.

If you already have one of these cards, take a close look at your spending and rewards before adding the Green to your wallet as well. While it can be useful to aggregate Membership Rewards points from multiple cards, these cards yield rewards in many of the same categories. Make sure you are reaping enough value each year from the additional perks and unique reward categories to exceed the cost of the two annual fees.

The American Express Green Card alone offers a competitive rate if you’re looking for rewards on travel and meals – it earns 3X points in these categories, which is more than the similarly priced Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2X points in the same categories). In addition, you will get 3X points on public transport. This not only includes metro and bus tickets, but also ridesharing services, taxis, tolls, etc. which can be a valuable benefit both at home and while traveling.

The Amex Membership Rewards program can also be of great help. If you aren’t already earning points for a rewards program, this card can be a great entry point into Amex’s flexible rewards. But if you have another point-generating card, like a card that earns Chase Ultimate rewards, you might want to stick with a program to maximize your spending more effectively.

How to use the American Express green credit card

Once you are approved for the American Express Green Credit Card, spend $ 2,000 within three months of opening the account so you can start with 30,000 American Express Membership Rewards points. From there, use your card for dining, travel, and transit spending to accumulate 3X point rewards.

When you’re ready to cash in your rewards, you can choose to redeem your points for purchases, gift cards or merchandise, book travel through AmexTravel.com, or transfer to Amex partner airlines and hotels like Air France / Flying Blue, Hilton Honors and Delta SkyMiles. You’ll get the best value for money for travel trade-ins, either by booking with Amex or by transferring to partners.

Also, be sure to use your statement credits each year. Sign up for CLEAR using your card to earn up to $ 100 for annual fees. This is not enough to cover the full cost of the CLEAR membership, which will set you back $ 179 per year, but it can help you save money if you are already a CLEAR member or are considering becoming a member. To earn LoungeBuddy credit, simply pay with your Green Card each time you purchase lounge access through the LoungeBuddy app or website.

Keep in mind that credits like this only save you money if they are used for purchases you would have made anyway. If you’re not interested in airport lounge access or a faster option through security, you shouldn’t be spending money there just to earn rewards. And this is true for all purchases you make with this card. Use your green American Express credit card only for purchases you can afford to pay each month. If you keep a balance, the interest you pay will erase your rewards, and then some.

American Express green credit card compared to other cards

Final result

The American Express Green Credit Card is a good standalone rewards card for dining and travel expenses, especially if you want to participate in the Amex member rewards program. As long as you can use the annual statement credits and the reward categories match your spending, you can exceed the cost of the annual fee with the card benefits. You may also want to consider pairing this card with other American Express travel credit cards to increase your transportation rewards or qualify for a broader set of benefits.

If you aren’t already earning Amex points on another card, comparing rewards cards from other programs, including Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards, doesn’t hurt. Do your research to determine which rewards program best suits your lifestyle before you apply, in order to maximize your purchases.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)