| by Mr Credit Card |
The American Express® Premier Rewards Gold Card is one of the best travel rewards credit card because it is one of the rare cards that allows you to earn triple points on airline ticket purchases and would suit those who fly a lot.
Rewards – The American Express® Premier Rewards Gold Card is the only general reward card that allows you to earn triple points when you use the card to purchase an airline ticket. You can earn double points on gasoline and grocery purchases and one point for every dollar you spend on other regular purchases. You can purchase the tickets from anywhere (an online travel site, directly from the airlines or from amex travel).
You can earn unlimited points with this card and Membership Reward Points do not expire.
New cardholders get 15,000 bonus miles after your first $1,000 in purchases.
Fees – The annual fee is $175 and is waived for the first year. There is no additional fee for the first five additional cards. Thereafter, it is $35 per card.
How American Express Membership Rewards Work For Travel? – The key to deciding if this card is for you is to understand how the Membership Rewards program work for travel. The points you earn can be transferred into frequent flier miles of their airline partners (see below). However, you can also book your flights directly online with their travel site or with their travel customer representatives. Amex’s travel site is powered by travelocity, but being a travel agent themselves, they also have access to flights that travel agents have and hence, you have access to more inventory than many credit card travel bookings.
Premier Rewards Gold Card Compared to Other Amex Charge Cards
This card is actually pretty unique in the reward credit card space because of the ability to earn triple points on airline tickets.
Versus the Gold Card – This is the huge advantage it has over the regular Gold Card (and even the business Gold Card). Yes, it has a higher annual fee ($175) vs $125 for the regular Gold Card. But for the true frequent flyer, it is probably worth the upgrade to the Premier version simply because of the triple points.
Versus the Platinum Card – Though this card lacks all the extra features of the Platinum Card like the concierge service, Fine Hotels & Resorts program, access to airport lounges, International companion ticket program, Platinum Starwood membership, Gold Hertz membership etc, it ironically beats it in the ability to earn miles from airline ticket purchases (triple points versus just one point for the Platinum Card).
Verdict – This card is specifically suited to people who are frequent fliers of airlines that are part of the Membership Rewards program. Because you can earn triple points on airline tickets, you can rack up miles very quickly. And because you earn points even booking directly with the airlines, you can earn “qualifying miles” with this card. If this profile describes you, then the American Express® Premier Rewards Gold Card would be the ideal card to get.
In fact, I think this card is even better than the American Express Platinum Card for earning points because you can triple points on airline purchases. And I also forgot to mention that earning double points on gasoline and groceries is a nice feature that very few rewards card have.
Update – Platinum Card Hack – Here’s a tip for Platinum Card holders. The advantage that this card has over the Platinum Card is that you can earn triple points on airline tickets and double points on gasoline and groceries. Here’s how you can benefit from the Premier Rewards Gold Card even if you have a Platinum Card. If you have an additional card member for your Platinum Card, you have to pay a $175 annual fee for the additional member. This is the same annual fee as the Premier Rewards Gold Card. What you can do is to get the Premier Rewards Gold Card and get an additional card (total annual fee is $175 – same as Platinum additional card fee). Then cancel the Platinum additional card.
Your membership rewards will be linked and to the higher version (ie Membership Rewards First).
Hence, this card will also be great for Platinum Card holders who have additional card members.
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January 8th, 2011 at 14:22
You feel that this card may be better than the AMEX Platinum Card. Given that the Platinum Card offers airport lounge access, late check-out times, has a baggage fee allowance, and other misc travel benefits, I would appreciate you expanding your statement that this is a better card than the Platinum Card.
January 9th, 2011 at 00:27
Harris
It is better in terms of ability to earn triple points on airline ticket purchases and double points on gasoline and groceries (as stated in the review). Obviously, the platinum has other features that this card does not have.
I also just got off the phone with Amex and they gave me a great suggestion for Platinum Card holders with additional cardholders. And that is to cancel the additional Platinum card but get the Premier Rewards Gold Card instead (same annual fee), but can earn more points! (see updates on the review).
January 13th, 2011 at 01:34
I know you can’t provide an exact answer to my situation, but maybe you can shed some more insight. I am a recent college graduate starting work for a very large consumer products company as a well paid engineer. I will be traveling about 25% of my time for the company, but on their dime and with a company charge card (Amex actually) for incidentals during my trips. I know the corporate card is greenish, but does not look like a normal green Amex. Any chance you know what this card would be and if it would get me access to lounges or hotel upgrades?
Outside of work I will be traveling some for personal use, but not too much, especially at first. I currently have the Amex Clear, but want a better card, between this Gold Premier Rewards and the Platinum. As much as I want the lounge and concierge, I certainly don’t need them as a recent graduate and don’t know if I can justify the fee as reasonable when I am getting unneeded perks. Plus the Gold card can get better rewards on travel, gas, and groceries. Thoughts between my options?
January 13th, 2011 at 01:40
Oh and I also believe that I may be staying at Starwoods hotels while on business travel, though I am not completely sure. However, I do not want the Starwoods card as I do not pay for enough hotels to merit the loss rewards vs Gold.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:26
The card you have is an Amex Corporate Green Charge Card – not the “small business version”.
You also want to check if you are the one that earns the Membership Rewards Points that you charge on your corporate card. Some companies allow employees to get the points, some don’t.
It seems like the Premier Rewards Gold Cards is the way to go even if you not travel too much. That is because (IMO) you can earn more points with airline tickets, gasoline, as well as supermarket shopping.
February 1st, 2011 at 15:07
Thanks for the reply! That is what I was thinking, but was still hoping I could find a reason to excuse the $450 annual fee. I figure I can also try the Gold Premier for a year for free and calculate how many bonus miles I actually get and go from there.
Interesting comment on the reward points from the corporate card. I’ll have to look into that once I’m settled. I feel like I won’t be able to get them as it is a huge company but it is worth looking into.