Amex Calculator for Membership Rewards Points Redemptions
American Express Membership Rewards points are among the most valuable transferable currencies. But not all redemptions are good value.
To help cardholders understand what their points are really worth, American Express has a handy Membership Rewards Redemption Value Calculator.
The calculator lets you quickly compare the value of your Membership Rewards points across the program’s various redemption options. Amex offers plenty of ways to use points, including travel, gift cards, statement credits, shopping and more recently Apple Pay. But one thing is clear from looking at this calculator, redemption options provide poor value compared to transferring points to travel partners.
The tool lists Pay with Points at Amazon, Apple Pay, Best Buy, Dell, Grubhub, PayPal, Seamless, NYC Taxi, statement credits, gift cards, travel bookings, and more. For example, 1,000 Membership Rewards points are worth $7 at most Pay with Points merchants. NYC Taxi redemptions, some gift cards, and select Amex Travel bookings will get you $10 in value for 1,000 points.
If you’re looking for a simple cash-out option, eligible cardholders can do much better. Those with the Charles Schwab Platinum Card® can redeem Membership Rewards points for 1.1 cents per point, while Morgan Stanley Platinum Card® cardholders can redeem at 1.0 cent per point.
Of course, the best value generally comes from transferring points to airline and hotel partners. Depending on the redemption, it’s often possible to get 1.5 cents per point or more by booking premium cabin flights or high-value hotel stays.
