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American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card Review

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Editor's Rating:
Intro Purchase APR Regular APR Annual Fee Credit Needed
N.A. Introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $175 Excellent
Feature Summary
  • Get 25,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $2,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn Fast: 3X points for flights booked with airlines, 2X points at US gas stations and US supermarkets, 1X points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
  • You can transfer points to over 20 frequent traveler programs or use points for gift cards at popular stores.
  • Use your Card for retail, dining, travel or groceries, then go online and use points towards your eligible charges.
  • As an added bonus, you can get 15,000 points after you spend $30,000 in purchases on the Card in one year.
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $175.
  • Terms and Restrictions Apply.
Executive Summary - One of the rare travel rewards credit card that allows you to earn triple points on airline ticket purchases (even the Platinum Card does not have these features). This card is especially great for people who travel with Membership Rewards airline partners. Would also serve as a great additional card for Platinum Card holders.

The American Express® Premier Rewards Gold Card is one card that allows you to earn triple points on flights booked with airlines and would suit those who fly a lot.

Rewards - The American Express® Premier Rewards Gold Card is one reward card that allows you to earn triple points when you use the card for flights booked with airlines. You can earn double points at for gasoline at US stand-alone gasoline stations and US stand-alone supermarkets and one point for every dollar you spend on other regular purchases.

You can earn as many points as you can with this card and Membership Reward Points do not expire.

New cardholders get 25,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.

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 the ability to earn triple points on flights booked with airlines.

Versus the Gold Card - One 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 makes sense to 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 flights booked with airlines(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 flights booked with airlines, 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 an 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 flights booked with airlines. And I also forgot to mention that earning double points on gasoline and groceries is a nice feature that very few rewards card have.
 

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