American Express Card Benefits
My wife and I are on the outs with Amex, but we’re still sticking around for a few reasons. Along the way, we continue enjoying a few American Express card benefits. While we’re having a grand time closing many of our cards, I figured it would be interesting to look at the benefits we easily, happily consume to this day. We’ll eventually shed even more cards for a variety of reasons, but let’s remember that many can easily justify holding onto certain cards while only taking advantage of a subset of card benefits. Here’s where we still focus.
Uber Cash
My wife and I consume the monthly Uber Cash provided by Amex Gold and Platinum cards without much effort. Our credits across them all easily aggregate in a user-friendly manner in my Uber wallet along with additions from discounted gift cards. While we primarily use Uber on rides and food delivery, the app’s utility continues to grow. In a pinch, we know we have plenty of balance to rely on. And, in my view, Uber Cash is a great complement to airline miles, hotel points, and cash back rewards – this benefit’s another way of deeply discounting or zeroing out certain travel costs.
Resy Credit
I was initially skeptical of this newer Amex Gold benefit but quickly became a fan after my first use. Amex doles out this $100 annual benefit as two semiannual $50 credits. That’s a handy amount for a lunch for two or a more indulgent meal alone. Even better, there’s no reservation or special planning required, beyond just checking to see if a given location participates. Just check on the Resy site, pay with your Amex Gold at the restaurant, and the credit should predictably appear. I’ve had no problems using credits this way. As a creature of habit, this credit has encouraged me to venture out to dining options I hadn’t previously considered. This next perk is similar.
Hotel Credit
The variety of Amex Platinum consumer versions provides a $200 annual credit for use with Amex’s Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel Collection. I focus on the former for its superior benefits. I’ve had fun over the years experimenting with this credit to try properties I otherwise wouldn’t have, all while obtaining a la carte elite status benefits.
It would be nice to see Amex raise this amount given that its static nature the past several years while nightly rates have increased. Regardless, I’ve enabled unique experiences thanks to FHR, even – gasp – going out of pocket a bit beyond the credit.
Flexible Business Credit
Picking up a “free” $240 annually in gift cards is a snap with the Business Gold’s Flexible Business Credit. Amex provides it in $20 monthly use-or-lose increments. I prefer to simply buy gift cards online at Staples but will swing by OfficeMax to do so in person when I’m already in the area. I parlayed this benefit to continue my “free” SiriusXM satellite radio subscription after they were removed as an Amex Platinum Digital Entertainment Credit partner. But that credit’s still valuable, as well.
Digital Entertainment Credit
Partners have evolved for this Platinum credit over the past few years, but I’ve had no problem using this credit. And the ability to stack with other maximization efforts is attractive – I do this every November. Currently-participating entities are Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. I’m intrigued to see if/how partners evolve, particularly with the upcoming launch of the new ESPN streaming service.
Invest with Rewards
Despite its most recent devaluation, I’m still a huge fan of the Amex Schwab Platinum’s Invest with Rewards benefit. I value cashing out one million Membership Rewards annually at 1.1 cents each, but I just can’t stick around for 0.8 cents per point beyond that threshold each year. While my wife closed her Schwab Platinum earlier this year and I plan to soon, I’m fairly confident we’ll return to the card in 2026 or later.
The Morgan Stanley Platinum offers Invest with Rewards at a 1 cpp valuation, but unlike the Schwab, that’s uncapped. I’ve never held this product but can understand why many do.
Buying Elite Status
Multiple Amex cards offer Hilton Honors Gold status, perhaps the best mid-tier hotel program status available. But right now, we’re more interested in keeping (wife) or returning (me) to Hilton Honors Diamond status with the Aspire. Also, we’ve each strategically obtained Platinum status with the Bonvoy Brilliant card and will probably do so again soon.
American Express Card Benefits – Conclusion
A newer kid on the block which I’m still processing is the quarterly Hilton credit on the Amex Business Platinum and Hilton Surpass/Business cards. I’ve been able to fully consume my Business Platinum and Surpass credits, but it’s taken more work than I’d prefer. Over time and with a bit more travel, I may come around on this benefit, but not yet.
Regardless, I’m confident in one thing – Amex will become even more convoluted. Perhaps there’s no more obvious example of this than the continuing iterations of American Express card benefits.
What’s your favorite Amex card perk these days?
