ways to earn American Express points
If you’ve recently been approved for your first American Express Membership Rewards card, you may be wondering how you can earn points faster and maximize your rewards. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can use to rack up Amex points more quickly. In this article, we will explore some of the fastest ways to earn Membership Rewards points.
1. Take advantage of introductory bonuses: One of the best ways to earn a significant number of Membership Rewards points is by applying for American Express cards that offer introductory bonuses. For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express currently offers 125,000 points when you apply and meet the $8,000 spending requirement in the first six months. Keep in mind that American Express is strict on introductory bonuses, allowing you to earn the bonus only once per card. To maximize your points, it’s beneficial to monitor the bonuses for each card and apply when the offers are at their peak. Other American Express cards that offer introductory bonuses include the American Express Everyday Preferred card, American Express Green Card, American Express Gold Card, and the Business Platinum Card from American Express.
2. Look for targeted offers: American Express often uses targeted offers with larger introductory bonuses to attract customers. Instead of accepting the first offer you see, it’s worth doing some research and being patient to potentially score 50 to 100 percent more points than the advertised bonus. Check the American Express website regularly, as frequent visitors are more likely to trigger an offer. Additionally, keep an eye on your mail or contact American Express directly to inquire about any qualifying offers.
3. Earn referral bonuses: By referring friends to an American Express card, you can earn 5,000 points or more. While there is a cap on the number of points you can collect on each card, the limits are generally high, allowing you to earn between 70,000 and 200,000 points per card per year. Log in to your card account to see which referral offers you qualify for and determine if you’re eligible to refer others. Keep in mind that referral bonuses are only available to the primary cardholder, not authorized users.
4. Utilize Amex Offers: Unlike other credit card rewards programs with shopping portals, American Express offers Amex Offers, which is a list of special offers that allow you to earn extra points when you make a purchase from a participating merchant using your card. Amex Offers are targeted to each account holder, so it’s essential to log in regularly to see the offers you currently qualify for. Additionally, American Express occasionally offers limited-time promotions that allow you to earn additional points or redeem your points at a discount. These offers are constantly changing, so be sure to watch out for them.
5. Combine Membership Rewards cards: Signing up for multiple Membership Rewards cards and using them strategically in their respective bonus categories can significantly boost your rewards earning rate. By earning a large number of Membership Rewards points, you can redeem them for the highest value. For example, combining the American Express Platinum card with the Everyday Preferred card and The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express can more than double your overall rewards rate compared to using just one card. American Express allows you to have one Membership Rewards account, regardless of how many different credit cards you have, making it easy to pool points earned from different cards into a single account.
6. Purchase gift cards: Many cardholders successfully use credit cards, such as the Everyday Preferred card, to purchase gift cards from retailers, especially in categories not covered by their cards. For example, you can buy an Amazon gift card from a supermarket and essentially earn 3X points on your Amazon purchase when you use the gift card. This strategy is particularly useful for maximizing bonus categories on your card if you can’t reach the spending limit in those categories.
In conclusion, if you want to earn American Express points faster and maximize your rewards, there are several strategies you can employ. Whether it’s taking advantage of introductory bonuses, targeted offers, referral bonuses, Amex Offers, combining Membership Rewards cards, or purchasing gift cards, you can significantly increase your points earning rate and make the most out of your Amex cards.