One of the lesser known features of having an American Express card is Amex Offers. Amex Offers are special offers that can help save you money on travel and everyday expenses when you use your American Express card. They can also come in handy in helping to justify an Amex card’s annual fee if it has one.
I am fortunate to have my Business Platinum Card and Blue Cash Everyday Card as they both give me access to Amex offers. But only the former gives me offers that let me earn extra Membership Rewards (MR) points.
Shopping
These offers are for both everyday and discretionary expenses.
Dell
Offer: Get one additional MR point for each dollar you spend
Expiration: December 31, 2019
Restrictions: Only applies to Dell.com
This Amex offer is one of my favorites because it gives me opportunities to save even more by stacking. Stacking Amex offers is a great way to save even more money on certain purchases. Last spring, I used this offer, the Amex Dell credit, and another 10% offer together to purchase a new printer for my family. Such stacking let me get the printer for free, MR points for the original purchase price, and 10% of the purchase price back as a statement credit.
The 10% offer expired in June 2019 alongside half of the $200 annual Dell credit.
That single printer purchase provided me with about $120 in value! That’s almost 20% of the Business Platinum card’s $595 annual fee! The true power of Amex offers lies in saving money especially when its relative to the card’s annual fee.
Best Buy
Offer: Spend $250 or more, get $25 back
Expiration: September 15, 2019
Restrictions: Applies to BestBuy.com and brick and mortar locations
Best buy is a great alternative to Dell for technology purchases as well as appliances. $25 back on an appliance purchase is not much. However, relatively smaller purchases can save up to 10% with this offer.
Neiman Marcus
Offer: Spend $250 or more, get $50 back
Expiration: August 26, 2019
Restrictions: Applies to NeimanMarcus.com and brick and mortar locations
Those who love luxury will love this offer too! Oftentimes, Neiman Marcus has expensive goods. However, this offer is designed to soften the blow at the register.
Gas Stations
Those who travel by car frequently would love these Amex offers. They could be great for business commuting and family road trips.
Exxon Mobil
Offer: Earn one extra MR point for every dollar spent at Dell.com
Expiration: December 31, 2019
Restrictions: $1,000 spending limit (up to $100 in savings)
10% discounts on gas can be a huge, especially if you live in a state where gas is very expensive. California is the best example since regular gas is nearly $4.00 per gallon across the state. This offer will net you a second MR point for every dollar spent. Therefore, it makes the earnings on a Platinum Card more in line with many other gas cards such as the Chase Ink Business Cash.
BP & Amoco
Offer: Get two additional MR points for each dollar you spend
Expiration: September 10, 2019
Restrictions: None
This offer is great for earning MR points on a card that does not offer much for gas purchases. It also triples the number of points earned on a Business Platinum Card for these two gas station brands. Therefore, you can earn a total of 3x points, which rivals cards like the American Express Everyday Preferred (assuming you hit the 50% points bonus).
Hotels
Hotel offers are some of Amex’s most lucrative. Combining them with status could help save you hundreds on your next trip.
Marriott
Offer: Spend $200 or more, get $40 back
Expiration: September 3, 2019
Restrictions: Booking at marriott.com is required
This offer is nice for a quick summer vacation. Many Marriott properties have rooms that are at least $200 per night. Therefore, you can save $40 if you stay just one night. You can also use Marriott Elite status to possibly upgrade your room if you have it. Such upgrades combined with this offer will save you even more money.
Hilton (European Properties Only)
Offer: Spend $500 or more, get $100 back (I received this offer on both cards)
Expiration: September 30, 2019
Restrictions: Booking directly with Hilton is required, does not apply to advance purchase rates or gift cards
This offer is nice for a more extended European vacation. Oftentimes, staying at a hotel in Europe is expensive and this offer will soften the blow. Moreover, combining this offer with use of a Hilton Honors card is also a wise decision. The Hilton Elite Status, earning, and perks from the Hilton cards plus this offer will save you lots of money in Europe.
MGM Resorts (Two Offers)
Offer #1 (Select Locations): Spend $300 or more, get $60 back
Offer #2 (Las Vegas, Nevada): Spend $500 or more, get $100 back (I received this offer on both cards)
Expiration: August 29, 2019
Restrictions: Booking directly with MGM is required. You can book at https://www.mgmresorts.com/en/mlife-rewards-program.html, via their mobile app, or on the phone.
MGM fans (especially those who are bound for Las Vegas) would love these offers. You can save a total of $160 if you spend $500 because they are stackable for Las Vegas visitors. Furthermore, if you go to the MGM casino and play your cards right, you can win even more and help pay for your trip.
Alternatively, those who are not going to Las Vegas should be pleased with the first offer. It can be used at select locations around the world including New York-New York, Borgata, MGM National Harbor and MGM Springfield.
Kimpton Hotels
Offer: Spend $300 or more, get $60 back (I received this offer on both cards)
Expiration: September 30, 2019
Restrictions: Booking directly with Kimpton is required. You can book at kimptonhotels.com.
Kimpton Hotels is one of many brands owned by IHG (the InterContinental Hotel Group). Therefore, this offer can be a good one for Kimpton lovers, especially those who do not have the IHG Premier card or its predecessor. Furthermore, you can save a great deal of money if you combine this offer with IHG Rewards Club Status and the perks that come with it.
Final Draw
Amex Offers are one of my favorite ways to save money on travel and a plethora of other expenses. They come in handy when you truly need them. However, you must remember not to spend too much money just for the sake of getting an Amex offer. Getting an offer might feel great in the moment. But it is not worth any extra debt incurred. After all, rewards are negated by interest, late fees, and other avoidable fees.
Fortunately, most Amex cardholders are targeted for about 100 offers at a time. That gives cardholders lots of opportunities to save money and travel with less stress.
