To mark its 60th anniversary, American Express has rolled out a refreshed benefits package on the Amex Gold Card for people who primarily put a lot travel and dining spend on their card. Let’s break down exactly what’s new, what’s changed, and whether this card deserves a spot in your wallet.
The Amex Gold Card
Welcome Bonus
With this current offer, you can earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points as a welcome bonus. You’ll earn the welcome bonus after you spend $8,000 in the first 6 months of card membership. Bear in mind that this welcome bonus is variable and Amex will show you an offer once you enter all your details.
Click Here To Earn Up To 100,000 Points
What’s New?
Updated $120 Dining Credit ($10 per month) — New Partners Added
The Dining Credit has been refreshed with new partners. Alongside existing options, Gold Card Members can now earn statement credits at:
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Wonder
This is a use-it-or-lose-it credit, so make sure you’re enrolled and spending at eligible partners each month.
New 5X Membership Rewards on Select Travel Bookings
The Gold Card now earns 5X Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotel bookings, a meaningful bump that puts it in serious conversation for travel spending. MR points are among the most flexible currencies in the game, transferable to dozens of airline and hotel partners. However, it only makes sense to book via Amex Travel if the rates you see are cheaper compared to booking direct.
New Hertz Five Star® Status
A small but genuinely useful perk for road warriors: Gold Card Members now receive Hertz Five Star® Status. That means you can skip the counter, choose your own car from the Five Star aisle and earn points faster with Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. If you rent even a few times a year, this pays for itself in convenience.
Limited-Time Amex Offers (Enroll Now)
These won’t last forever, and some require active enrollment, so act quickly:
- Uber One Membership Credit – offset the cost of Uber’s subscription tier
- Hilton Honors Points Transfer Bonus – stack your points by moving MR to Hilton at a boosted rate, with an extra 20%
- Amex Travel Offers at The Hotel Collection – statement credits at select properties when booked through Amex Travel
Here’s a table you can refer to which encapsulates some of the key details from this recent announcement:
| Benefit | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $325 | Unchanged |
| Dining Credit | $120/year at eligible partners | Amount Unchanged |
| New Dining Partners | Buffalo Wild Wings, Wonder | NEW |
| Prepaid Hotel Bookings Via Amex Travel | 5X Membership Rewards Points | NEW |
| Hertz Status | Five Star® Status | NEW |
| Limited-Time: Uber One Credit | Statement credit toward Uber One membership | LIMITED TIME |
| Limited-Time: Hilton Transfer Bonus | Bonus points when transferring MR to Hilton Honors | LIMITED TIME |
| Limited-Time: Hotel Collection Offers | Amex Travel credits at select Hotel Collection properties | LIMITED TIME |
The Pundit’s Mantra
These new benefits can be useful additions to shop frequently with Amex’s merchant partners. These credits are merchant specific as opposed to category specifc, that’s an important thing to always remember.
The 5X on travel is a nice addition, but only works well if you book frequently with Amex Travel and prefer it over booking directly. Paired with the existing 4X on dining (at restaurants worldwide) and 4X at U.S. supermarkets, this card is now a legitimate everyday earner and a travel card in one package. The Hertz status is a nice free upgrade for renters and the Dining Credit is more versatile with the new partners.
The limited-time Amex Offers are the cherry on top, if you’re an Uber One subscriber or planning a hotel stay, enrolling costs you nothing and could save you real money.
The welcome bonus, however, is variable. You can earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points. Are you looking to sign up right away after these recent changes? Tell us in the comments section.
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