gold travel card uk

In this guide

• Our verdict

Product overview

Fees and charges, application requirements, how premium is it, how does the lounge access work, how do the points work, what else can it do, is it right for me, how does it compare to other amex point-earners, frequently asked questions, your reviews, american express® preferred rewards gold credit card review.

If you're looking for a statement premium rewards card, it's hard to look past the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold credit card. As you'd expect from a card with this many adjectives in its name, it's a truly premium offering, with meaningful rewards and a hefty annual fee to match. If you're planning to stick with this card once the annual fee kicks in, you could benefit from an additional 5,000 points when you spend in month 15 of your membership.

As such, it's really designed for big-spending customers who are confident they'll not carry a balance from month to month, and who are serious about getting as much as possible from their credit card. For everyone else, there's plenty of other Amex options out there .

• No annual fee in first year
• Access to pre-sale tickets
• 4 complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge visits
• It's a gold Amex... enough said. OK, not enough said – a good credit card has to do more than just look the part – but it's certainly a card that raises a few eyebrows.
• The array of benefits the card offers is enormous. This could be Amex trying to keep customers on board after year one, because there's a decent chance cardholders will still be uncovering new benefits at 12 months in!
• Amex customer service is refreshingly good. When we put it to the test there was no waiting on hold and no being transferred from pillar to post.
• The app is better than many we've seen and gives you a good deal of control.
• Despite the network's recent "Shop small" campaign, if you're in the sticks and paying at a small independent merchant, Amex could well be off the table. To its credit, Amex is trying to fix this (you could earn cashback on your spending at participating small businesses ), but it's not going to change overnight. Carry a decent back-up option and it's not really a problem.
• Some of the card's perks take a bit of research and "activating" on your own part. It's all about getting cardholders engaged.
• That annual fee... it's not small. However you can use year one to try the card on for size, and to get an idea of the true value to you personally of all those perks, points and offers.

When we received this card at the Finder office, there were some murmurs of “I thought it would be more… gold”. It’s a sort-of deep gold – less bling than it could have been, but when it catches the light you’ll want your sunnies at the ready.

Plenty of card issuers throw the terms “gold” or “platinum” around without really meaning it, but Amex’s Preferred Rewards Gold Card does stay true to the original concept. It offers meaningful rewards for people who use their credit card heavily and aren’t deterred by an annual fee. This is the network’s preferred card: they’d prefer you to take this one over one of the more entry-level products.

New applicants will benefit from a waived fee in the first year plus a lump sum of Membership Rewards points (subject to a minimum spend) that could potentially be redeemed for a free flight. From then on, it’s points on all purchases, annual anniversary bonuses and ongoing benefits like American Express Experiences . Frequent travellers can take advantage of perks including hotel room or car hire upgrades and airport lounge access .

You can track your spending in real time and watch your points piling up (hopefully!) in Amex’s very respectable mobile app . The app also lets you turn on/off a range of handy alerts – you can get updates whenever a purchase is made, when you’re within a specified amount (you choose the amount) from your credit limit, when your statement is ready and when a payment is due (again, you get to specify how much notice you want). You can also browse and activate offers for nearby merchants.

You can also hook the card up to Apple Pay, or just use Amex Pay if you’re on Android, but in our opinion this is a card that deserves to be seen!

Within a few days of your new card landing you’ll be sent another – your Priority Pass membership card. This is the one you’ll need to get into a lounge (not your credit card – that won’t work). Amex has a network of VIP lounges covering 300+ airports worldwide. Your first four lounge visits each year are on Amex. After that you’ll need to pay a small fee.

We put the lounge access deal to the test at Gatwick’s No.1 lounge and had no problems at all.

Whenever you make purchases on the card, you’ll earn points – one for every pound. You’ll earn double points when you spend in a foreign currency (unfortunately the currency conversion fee of 2.99% will outweigh the effective 1% that you’ll earn in points) or directly with airlines and triple points when you spend through American Express Travel – the company’s in-house travel agency.

As well as all this there’s your hefty welcome bonus and anniversary bonus (both subject to a minimum spend requirement) plus a bonus if you refer a friend and they’re approved.

In terms of redeeming points, American Express Membership Rewards are perhaps the most versatile credit card points going. When you pay online using your card you’ll get the option to cash-in points or in the app you can just pick charges from your statement and pay them with points. Alternatively, you can even switch your points to partner programmes including those of British Airways, Hilton and Virgin Atlantic. You can book a hotel stay, car hire or a flight via the app (using your points or credit or a combination of the two) but be warned: it’s rather clunky.

However we were very impressed with Amex’s customer service, which you can contact if you have any questions about earning, redeeming or converting points. We’ve tested it several times. There’s real humans (!) at the end of the line, and they genuinely do seem to want to help you out and leave a good impression.

For more info on earning and redeeming Amex rewards, we’ve put together an in-depth guide:

Membership Rewards points overview

Rewards calculator

Expected monthly card spend, you’d earn 9000 points over the year. the value of points varies depending on redemption opportunities, but that's worth around £ 45 ..

Rather a lot! You’ll get access to American Express Experiences (discounts on event and film tickets), American Express Offers (discounts and cashback with specific merchants) and more.

There’s also travel accident insurance – although you’ll need to opt in to this one, as it’s not automatic.

Whether or not this card is a smart bet for you will come down to how much you stand to benefit from the card’s introductory and ongoing rewards. If you anticipate carrying a balance from month-to-month, it’s possible that the interest and fees could outweigh the value of the rewards. Big spenders who travel frequently and clear their balance in full each month stand to benefit the most because they’ll hit the minimum spend requirements that lead to lump-sum points bonuses and will also be able to take advantage of the complimentary lounge visits. Realistically, merchant acceptance of Amex remains a bit of an issue (but this is getting better), so your Amex shouldn’t be the only means of payment you carry around day-to-day.

Getting the very best out of this card takes a bit of active engagement on your own part. There’s a fairly mind-blowing spread of perks to be unlocked, and some – like collecting points – don’t require you to do anything other than just use your card. Others – like getting a free bottle of wine on your next meal, cashback at specific stores or a discount on your next gig ticket – require you to have a mooch around the app or to visit the website once in a while. It’s quite fun actually, if you’re into that sort of thing!

Some of the more ruthless credit card users out there might choose to ditch their Gold Amex after the first year, but the ongoing anniversary points bonuses, the complimentary lounge visits in each cardmembership year and the ever-changing partner offers are pretty persuasive reasons not to.

Case study: Red got an Amex as his first credit card when he started a new job after uni

I got this card as a financial cushion when I first moved to London after university and started a new job. It’s my first credit card and I pay it off every month. There is an annual fee but I got my first year for free. It can take a day or so for transactions or payments to show up, but the customer service is very good and they get back to you really quickly.

If there's one thing you'd tell a friend who's thinking of getting this, what would it be?

I would recommend this card if you properly take advantage of all the perks and benefits - you can also get special tickets to games and stuff like that.

What can I do in the app?

Fingerprint/face login

Provided your device has the tech, you could bypass the password and shave literally a couple of seconds off logging-in.

Quick overview

Once you're logged in, you'll be presented with your current balance.

Customise alerts

Want a push notification every time anything gets charged to the card? Prefer to just hear when you're nearing your credit limit? You're in charge.

Offers near you

Browse the discounts or cashback offers Amex has negotiated with its partners in your area.

Invite a friend

Bag yourself a lump-sum points bonus. Invite a friend or relative via the app.

Repayment options

You can make manual repayments through American Express's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0800 700 222). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.

A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score , getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) or losing any promotional rates as a result.

You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card. The table below shows the options available.

Choose from the following direct debit options for your monthly repayments:

Where do i sign-up.

First, you can use Finder's eligibility checker to find out if you'd be likely to get approved for the American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card. This won't impact your credit score. If it's good news, you can then proceed to American Express's online application, which takes 10–15 minutes to complete.

As you’d expect, credit limits are tailored to the individual applicant. You can apply for a credit limit increase (or decrease, for that matter) at any time, and again, this will be subject to Amex’s approval.

Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Moneyfacts.

Does the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold card offer airport lounge access?

Yes. While not quite boasting the same benefits as the Platinum card , it does nonetheless come with membership of the Priority Pass programme. Through Priority Pass you'll be able to access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. You'll enjoy two complimentary airport lounge visits per membership year, after which each additional visit to a lounge will cost £20. Your Priority Pass membership card will be arrive separately to your Amex card within 28 days, and it's the Priority Pass card (not your Amex) that you'll need to present at the lounge door in order to get in!

Does the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold card come with travel insurance?

Subject to enrolment, you'll benefit from travel inconvenience and travel accident protection with this card. If you're heading overseas, you may also want to consider a dedicated travel credit card to avoid non-sterling transaction fees when spending abroad.

Does your Amex Preferred Rewards Gold card balance have to be paid off each month?

There's no obligation to pay off your full balance each month (you only need to make a minimum monthly payment), but it's definitely a good thing to aim to do. This is because the card's interest rates and fees are likely to outweigh any benefits if your balance is carried over from month to month. If you're looking for a card with lower interest rates, here's our guide . As with most credit cards, the Preferred Rewards Gold card offers various options allowing you to set up automated repayments , ensuring you never miss a repayment.

Does the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold card have a credit limit?

While your credit limit will vary depending on your circumstances, the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card has a minimum credit limit of around £700 and an unspecified maximum limit. For more info, including details regarding annual and monthly fees, cash advances and an interest-free purchases period, here's our rundown .

How can I find out when my next Amex Gold account fee is due?

In your Amex app, go to "Statements and Activity", and download a PDF version of your latest statement. You'll find your "Next Cardmembership Fee Date" just above the breakdown of transactions. For the record, this is also where you can find your personal interest rates too. Amex doesn't seem to make this easy... We've fed back that it shouldn't be so difficult!

Finder credit card scores

Our experts score rewards credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like welcome bonuses, introductory and ongoing earn-rates, any caps or restrictions on the points you can earn, plus the potential costs involved with running the card both in the short and longer term.

You can read more about our scoring criteria on our credit card methodology page.

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use . When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.

Chris Lilly

Head of publishing

Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full profile

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Amex Gold vs Platinum: Which benefits work for you?

A merican Express has long had a reputation as a top-notch credit card for jet-setting travellers with a taste for the finer things in life. On top of providing a means for you to spend with all the protections that credit cards offer, Amex cards also offer a range of additional benefits including concierge services, spending rewards and even Deliveroo discounts.

Cardholders may also be able to get exclusive access to on-demand entertainment events and extra benefits when they travel.

American Express has a range of different credit cards available to individuals but two of the most popular are Amex Gold and Amex Platinum.

Here Telegraph Money explores the differences between the two cards, to help you work out whether Amex Gold or Amex Platinum is the right choice for you. 

Recommended

The best way to spend your Amex points, according to the experts

What is Amex Gold?

The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold credit card is all about the perks. For every £1 you spend, you get one membership reward point, rising to two points for every £1 spent on flight bookings and three points for spending with American Express Travel.

As an additional welcome bonus, new members can get 25,000 reward points when they sign up (up from 20,000), plus an extra 3,000 points if they spend £3,000 in three months. There’s a further 5,000 points up for grabs if they spend anything in month 15. However, this is part of a limited time offer which ends on 16 th July 2024. 

All Amex Gold card holders can also get four free Priority Pass airport lounge visits which can be used at airports across the world.

There’s also access to exclusive experiences, with previous events including a behind-the-scenes tour of the Tottenham Hotspur stadium and a cocktail-making masterclass.

Gold card holders don’t have to travel to make the most of benefits either, with two £5 credits a month when you order food with Deliveroo.

The annual fee for the Amex Gold is currently £195, but it is waived during the first year.

What is Amex Platinum?

The Amex Platinum card ramps the lifestyle benefits up a gear, with a variety of personal, lifestyle and travel perks.

New members get 40,000 membership reward points, plus an extra £5,000 points if they spend £6,000 in the first three months. 

Members earn one point for every pound they spend on the card or two for every pound spent at Amex Travel.

There is also complimentary access to airport lounges across the world and worldwide travel insurance for members and their families.

The Global Dining Credit gives up to £150 in discounts in partner restaurants in the UK plus a further £150 credit for dining overseas.

Luxury shoppers will also appreciate the Harvey Nichols shopping credit worth £50 twice a year.

Hotel benefits, meanwhile, include free room upgrades (when available) and late check-outs.

On top of that, if you sign up between now and 27 August 2024 you will be entered into a draw to win tickets to the 2025 Wimbledon tennis tournament. 

The catch is that the Amex Platinum comes with a hefty £650 annual fee.

How do I decide between Amex Gold and Amex Platinum?

The key to working out whether you should get Amex Gold or Amex Platinum is to look at the benefits and think about how much you will use each of them.

To make the most of rewards you will also need to spend large sums regularly. While it’s fine to put as much of your spending as you can on the card, you don’t want to then fall into the trap of spending just to get rewards.

For the majority of people a Gold card will provide a good introduction to the benefits of Amex – including some travel benefits such as 24/7 global assist (which can be helpful if you have an emergency overseas) and a limited number of airport lounge passes. 

For the Platinum option to stack up you will need to really unpick the details to justify the £650 annual fee. For example, look at the partner hotels and restaurants you’ll need to use to get maximum benefits from the perks and think about whether they are the sort of places you’d go. 

While it might look good in your wallet, it’s only likely to offer value for money if you’re a big spender, travel regularly and in style.

With either option, it’s essential you pay your outstanding balance off every month, otherwise interest charges will quickly erode the value of your perks. The interest rate on the Platinum card, at 704.6pc, is particularly high.

Is Amex Gold easier to get than Platinum?

There’s no published information to suggest that it’s harder to qualify for an Amex Platinum over Amex Gold. However, American Express does state that to get either, you need to be over 18, have a permanent UK address and have no record of bad debts – meaning you will need to have a good credit score.

Before you apply for either, it’s a good idea to use Amex’s online eligibility checker to find out if you will qualify before you make a formal application (as it won’t leave a mark on your credit record).

Why your credit score could cost you your mortgage (and how to boost it)

Is it worth upgrading from Amex Gold to Amex Platinum?

If you already have an Amex Gold card, you might be tempted to upgrade to Platinum. Amex will tempt you with the offer of extra member reward points when you do. Frequent flyers might also appreciate the value of unlimited lounge access at airports and enhanced travel rewards.

However, Platinum costs £455 more a year than Gold, so you’ll want to be confident that you will make the most of the benefits. It’s important not to get swayed by benefits you might not in reality use.

How can I use member reward points?

You can use member reward points to pay for shopping with a broad range of every day and luxury retailers from Boots to John Lewis via Homebase and Harvey Nichols. Alternatively you can spend your reward points on hotels or flights. 

You can even donate your points to charity if you wish through a partnership with JustGiving.

Do Amex Gold or Platinum pay cashback?

Amex does offer cashback rewards – but not on its Gold or Platinum cards.

If you would like a cashback benefit, it’s worth looking at its Cashback and Everyday Cashback credit cards.

Can I get air miles with American Express Gold or Platinum?

Neither Amex Gold or Platinum offer Avios points.

If you want to focus your rewards on flights, the British Airways American Express credit card pays one Avios point for every £1 spent on everyday purchases. There’s no annual fee and if you spend £12,000 over the year you can also earn a companion voucher.

'How I got a British Airways Gold Card for less than £3,000'

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Thrifty Points

A world of ideas and opportunities...

Amex Gold Card Review UK – American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card

March 2, 2020 By Ben @ Thrifty Points 2 Comments

An Overview of the Amex Gold Card UK

Welcome to my recently updated review of the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card (Amex Gold Card Review UK). Read on to find out why I think the Amex Gold card is one of the best cards in the market at the moment and why you’d be mad to miss out on the various American Express Gold card benefits on offer.

Let’s start off with the boring bits. The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is issued directly by American Express and has recently been changed from a charge card to a credit card.   The interest rate on the American Express Gold card is 22.9% APR variable with a 57.6% APR variable including the annual fee (although the Amex Gold credit card is free for the first 12 months).

You can hold up to 2 charge cards and 2 credit cards which have been issued by American Express at any one time, although this doesn’t include Amex cards which are provided by the likes of BA, Lloyds, TSB or Barclays.

The Amex Gold card is free for the first 12 months and £140 thereafter. Unless you are spending a significant amount on the card (say £15k+) it would make sense to cancel the American Express Gold card UK once you’ve achieved the sign-up bonus and the 12 month period is up.

Let's break this post down...

American Express Gold Card UK – The Sign-Up Bonus

The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card offers 10,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when you spend £3,000 in your first 3 months (presently increased to 30,000 MR points!).   

Membership Rewards points can be directly converted to Avios and with a number of other partners. If converted to Avios this would be enough for a return flight to Athens.   Use our Avios points calculator to see where your points could take you.

Even better, you can get a higher bonus of 12,000 points if you use this specific link for the Amex Gold card (currently 32,000!), helping you to fly even further. For those who have read my post about the value of American Express Membership Rewards points ( click here to read ) if converted to Avios, you’ll know that I value the points at roughly £0.01 per point. As such by using this link you’re making in the region of £20, with the total benefit somewhere in the region of £120. Worth considering! Just look out for the additional 2,000 points as shown below in red when you use the referral link.

What are the Other Amex Gold Card Benefits?

When you sign up to the American Express Gold card UK (and every year thereafter) you’ll receive 2 free airport lounge passes . These are offered by the Lounge Club  network and can be used at most airports throughout the UK – one great perk to complement the free flights. Have a look at the No.1 Lounge at London Gatwick North Terminal below.

Earn one Membership Rewards point for virtually every £1 spent on the American Express Gold card UK . These, again, can be converted to Avios, which if applied to the 12,000 sign-up bonus will help you reach those further-away destinations.

You’ll receive 10,000 bonus Membership Rewards points (currently increased to 30,000!)  when you renew the American Express Gold card UK after a year. I personally feel that the £140 charge for the card after 12 months does not merit the rewards offered. As such it may be beneficial to cancel the card once you’ve hit the bonus limits.

Further American Express Gold card benefits include:

• A  $75 hotel credit and room upgrades where available at over 350 hotels globally.
• Travel Inconvenience Protection and Travel Accident Protection benefits when you pay with your card.
• 10% off Hertz  based car-rental rates, plus a one car-class upgrade and additional driver fee waived.

Anything Else I Should Know About the American Express Gold Card UK?

American Express no longer has a minimum income requirement for the American Express Gold card UK.

Recent changes to American Express rules now mean that to qualify for the sign up bonus you cannot have held a personal or corporate American Express credit card in the last 24 months – learn more about the sign up bonus restrictions and our suggested strategy here .

Amex Gold vs Platinum UK

A question that is regularly asked by readers, is whether they should splash out for the Amex Platinum Card or alternatively settle for the free (for first 12 months) Amex Gold credit card. In my eyes the only way to answer this is to price up the various perks that the Platinum Card offers over the Amex Gold card benefits and see if these offset the £575 per year cost. A quick summary of these ( you can see my full review of the American Express Platinum card here ) additional perks are as follows:

• An additional 20,000 American Express Rewards points for signing up (boosted to a further 23,000 points using this link and scrolling down to the correct card).   Since the recent changes to the sign up bonuses the difference has got significantly larger (previously 10,0000 and 13,0000 if referred).
• Family Travel Insurance
• Full Car-Hire Insurance
• Two Priority Pass cards
• Eurostar lounge access
• Status in various hotel schemes: Gold in Starwood Preferred Guest, Club Carlson, Hilton Honors, Melia Rewards and Jade in Shangri-La Golden Circle

Now let’s look at the value of the individual benefits. If you were to transfer the 20,000 American Express Rewards points to say Amazon, you’d get a rate of 0.5p per point, resulting in the points being worth £100. Those that have read my post covering the value of an Avios point ( click here to read ) will know that if transferred to Avios, I estimate value to be in the region of 1p. As such this benefit of an additional 20,000 Membership Rewards points is worth say £200.

You’ll receive family travel Insurance with the Platinum card. I’ve just run a quick search and the cheapest annual family insurance I can find with similar terms is in the region of £223. If you’re a single traveller this reward would be worth nowhere near as much.

Full car-hire insurance is tricky to value. The vast majority of the time I rent a car it’s through work, so this wouldn’t be saving me anything. However if you rent a car on every holiday you go on this could be worth a considerable amount. Having undertaken a quick search you can buy a similar annual policy for £40.

The Two Priority Pass cards could have some significant value depending on how much you travel. For an independent traveller who only flies a couple of times a year, the two free lounge passes with the Amex Gold card may be adequate. However if you’re a family of 4 which travels 3 times a year and likes to use a lounge, this could offer a chunky saving. 4-guest visits occurring 3 times a year – less the two free visits available with the Amex Gold Rewards card – would result in 10 paid visits to a lounge. 10 visits would cost £200 if you were to use the benefits of the Lounge Club card provided with the Amex Gold credit card. A similar calculation can be undertaken for the Eurostar lounge access.

Whilst the various hotel schemes have value, it’s slightly more difficult to attribute a definitive value for the various benefits offered. For this example let’s say they are nice to have but provide no value to offset against the £575 cost for the Platinum Card.

So should you go for the Amex Gold or Platinum card? From the above you’ll see that an independent traveller travelling only 1 or 2 times a year will not benefit hugely from the Priority Passes, family travel insurance or car hire and as such the 20,000 Membership Rewards points (worth say £200) would not offset the £575 cost of the Platinum card. Therefore I’d strongly recommend the American Express Gold card UK. However if you’re a family of 4 and travelling regularly the £575 cost of the Premium card is more than offset by the benefits. It should also be highlighted that this example assumes you cancel the Amex Gold card after year one and do not incur the annual £140 fee. If you’re prepared to pay the £140 for the Amex Gold Rewards, then the saving is even greater!

You can read my full review of the American Platinum Credit Card here. 

Ways to spend your Amex Gold Rewards?

So you’ve signed up to the free (for first year) Amex Gold Rewards card, spent £3,000 in the first 3 months and now you’re looking for ways to spend your hard-earned 12,000 (10,000 if you don’t use this link – note this has been increased to 30,000 MR points for a short period of time) points.

If you wish, you could redeem the 12,000 Membership Rewards points against your Amex Gold card balance at a rate of 0.45p per point – valuing the points at £54. This would be your base-case scenario.

You can use the points to shop online via the American Express website. I would however note that the merchant rewards generally equate to less than 0.4p and as such you’d be better off to purchase the item on your credit card (earning additional points) and then write off at a cost of 0.4p as explained above.

You can use the points on Amazon.co.uk converting to 0.45p or alternatively 0.5p if you purchase an Amazon gift card. Similar 0.5p rates are offered on various other retailer gift cards.

Your Membership Rewards points can be used for hotel stays and generally work out favourably at between 0.5p and 1p per point. Hotel operators include Hilton, Starwood (providing access to the Marriott offering), Club Carlson and Melia.

Finally, my recommended method is to convert the points you’ve earned from the Amex Gold card to air miles. You can see how I value Avios points here , however I estimate the value to be in the region of 0.8p to 1.3p per point. See where you could travel using the British Airways calculator .

In the past I’ve combined the points I earned from the Amex Gold Credit card with the free night’s stay at ANY Hilton hotel as offered by the Hilton Honors Visa credit card ( see my full review of the card here ).

Alternatively you can convert the points to air miles, earn further rewards points and then combine with the 2-4-1 voucher offered by the British Airways Premium card (also read my BA Amex review here ). Read about my recent First-Class trip to Brazil, including Concorde Lounge at Heathrow T5, within my full review found here .

There are various ways in which you can spend the points you’ve earned with the Amex Gold credit card, with the initial sign-up bonus worth anywhere between £54 (at 0.4p per point) and £156 (at 1.3p per point).

Amex Gold Lounge Access

One great perk of the Amex Rewards Gold card is the access to Lounge Club. You’ll receive two free passes each year and further guests are charged at £20. In the UK this provides access to some 28 lounges and as such there’s good coverage.

I tend to quickly use up the two free American Express Gold Card lounge access passes, however even at £20 per guest thereafter, I find the offering good value. For that reason, I highly rate the Amex Gold lounge access offered by the card.

FAQs – The Amex Gold Card

I had the old amex gold charge card. can i now sign up for the credit card.

Yes. Whilst existing customers will retain the charge card, new customers will automatically be granted the Amex Gold credit card. If you already have the charge card you can actually cancel that card and sign up to the new credit card and receive the first year free. Worth thinking about if you’re paying £140 pa – although we’d usually recommend most people cancel before paying the annual fee! You won’t however receive the new joiners sign-up bonus.

What are foreign exchange fees with the American Express Gold card?

Unfortunately, similarly to all UK American Express cards, the Amex Gold card charges foreign exchange transaction fees of 2.99%. Therefore for those who are travelling abroad we’d recommend also carrying a 0% FX fee card such as the Revolut Card .

Does the Amex Gold card cover provide travel insurance?

No.  The Amex Gold Rewards card only offers Travel Inconvenience Protection and Travel Accident Protection when you pay with your card. These do not constitute travel insurance. What do these mean then?

Travel Inconvenience coverage provides up to £200 for missed departure due to accident or breakdown, travel delay, overbooking, or missed connection; up to £200 for baggage delayed by your airline for 4 hours or more; and up to £200 for extended baggage delay by the airline. You have to have booked on your American Express Gold card and there are numerous T&Cs so make sure you check the website.

Travel Accident Protection provides up to £250,000 for loss of life, limb, sight, speech or hearing, while travelling on a public vehicle if the ticket was purchased on your Preferred Rewards Gold card. Similarly there are numerous T&Cs so check the website.

What is the Amex Rose Gold card?

Alas – the Rose Gold version of the American Express Gold card was a limited-time offer to US citizens. You never know if, at some point, they’ll roll this out in the UK but you’ll just have to make do with the ‘standard’ Amex Gold card for the time being…

Does the Amex Gold card cover car-rental insurance?

No.  Unfortunately there’s only one UK Amex which provides ‘free’ car-rental insurance and it’s not the Gold American Express. If you’re after a credit card that offers free rental insurance then read my recent review on the Platinum Card (here) . Whilst it comes with a whopping fee of £575 pa sometimes the numerous perks will more than offset the fee.

How to upgrade the Amex Gold Rewards Card to Platinum?

With a fee of £575 pa American Express are keen to encourage existing American Express Gold UK cardholders to upgrade to Platinum. Unsurprisingly then, you’ll be offered a 20,000-point bonus for doing so.

Is the American Express Gold card made of metal?

No, I’m sorry to say it’s not! Not yet, anyway. Amex have been trialling a metal version of the Gold American Express in the US, however I’m afraid to say it hasn’t found its way to this side of the pond just yet.

Summary – Amex Gold Card Review UK

So, is Amex Gold worth it? The sign-up bonus of 10,000 points (12,000 if you use this specific link ) for the Amex Gold credit card is one of the most generous in the market at the current time.  This coupled with the various other American Express Gold card benefits (2 complimentary lounge passes, etc.) makes it my card of choice for anyone seeking to build up points quickly. The card is free for the first 12 months with a charge of £140 after that. I’d recommend that the card is cancelled once that bonus of 12,000 has been achieved.

If you’re looking for some ideas as to how to spend the 12,000 air miles you’ve earned from your American Express Gold card UK – take a look at my recent British Airways First Class Review which includes a step by step guide to enable a couple to redeem enough points for two First Class tickets.

I hope you’ve found this Amex Gold card review useful and as always please do comment if you have any queries. Please do share this post if you think friends would be interested.

A link to the application form for the free Gold Amex card can be found here .

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Reader Interactions

December 18, 2018 at 00:16

The Amex Gold Card is now a credit card and not a charge card.

Ben @ Thrifty Points

January 11, 2019 at 14:15

Hi Paul – thanks for reaching out and sorry for my delayed response. Article now updated to reflect the recent change to the Amex Gold Card.

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What is an annual gold card and how do i get one.

Available free only with an Annual Season ticket , an Annual Gold Card offers a host of great discounts, including:

• 1/3 off standard and First Class Anytime and Off-Peak tickets anywhere within the  Gold Card area  – and for up to three passengers travelling with you • 1/3 off Oyster Off-Peak Pay-as-you-go Single fares and a daily price cap (to qualify, simply load your Annual Gold Card onto your Oyster card and the discount will apply at London Underground, London Overground, TFL Rail and selected National Rail stations – just visit a ticket office for assistance) • A generous 60% off child fares – and for up to four children (£1 minimum fare). Ready to get hold of your Annual Gold Card? You can get it online (or via a ticket office); simply download  this form  and take it to a station, along with your photocard.

Note that there can be multiple Railcards selected, and a number value (Number of Passengers with Selected Railcard) must be sent for each one selected. The way it works is all selected "Railcards" are sent as a comma-delimited list in the rc field, and all the "Number of Passengers with Selected Railcard" are sent as a comma-delimited list in the rcc field which matches the order of the Railcards in the rc field. So if there are two "16-25 Railcards" and one "HM Forces Railcard" it will be sent as:

Also note that WebTIS doesn't handle Railcards very well, so this might not work well anyway. :(

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Why the AmEx Gold Card is the Dark-Horse Travel Card You Need in 2024

Sally French is a travel rewards expert who joined NerdWallet in 2020. She previously wrote about travel and credit cards for The New York Times and its sibling site, Wirecutter.

Outside of work, she loves fitness, and she competes in both powerlifting and weightlifting (she can deadlift more than triple bodyweight). Naturally, her travels always involve a fitness component, including a week of cycling up the coastline of Vietnam and a camping trip to the Arctic Circle, where she biked over the sea ice. Other adventures have included hiking 25 miles in one day through Italy's Cinque Terre and climbing the 1,260 steps to Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi, Thailand.

She lives in San Francisco.

Meghan Coyle started as a web producer and writer at NerdWallet in 2018. She covers travel rewards, including industry news, airline and hotel loyalty programs, and how to travel on points. She is based in Los Angeles.

Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

With big-time bonus points at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, the American Express® Gold Card is seemingly a card for everyone. But with a hefty $250 annual fee yet few-to-no bougie benefits like Centurion Lounge access to show for it, it sometimes feels like a card for no one.

The American Express® Gold Card has always been a bit of a conundrum when it comes to travel cards. Among its most touted perks:

4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year).

4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants.

3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmEx Travel.

A $10 monthly dining credit to select restaurants and delivery services like Grubhub and Goldbelly. Enrollment required.

Terms apply.

Compare that to some of the other premium travel cards out there like The Platinum Card® from American Express , which offers bigger rewards on travel, automatic hotel elite status, plus statement credits that in years past were worth more than the card’s annual fee. Terms apply.

Despite the money-making benefits of cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express , a 2017 Experian survey found that 54% of Americans look for no annual fee as a factor in selecting a card. It’s even less likely people would be willing to pay three-figure annual fees on two cards to try and reap benefits across multiple bonus categories.

As for the American Express® Gold Card , the $250 yearly sticker price already had the no-annual-fee crowd reaching for the barf bag. Yet for folks already paying $250 for a credit card that has a shortfall of shiny travel perks, why not pay more than twice that to get the shiny luxury benefits of a premium card like The Platinum Card® from American Express ?

Why not? Because while the annual fee on that card has gone up (it's currently $695 ), some of its travel benefits are going away. For example, guest access to the swanky Centurion Lounges has gone up to $50 per adult. Meanwhile, the The Platinum Card® from American Express continuously adds new benefits that can be hard to use (especially for folk who don’t live in major coastal cities) and have little to do with travel at all.

A lot of card experts, us Nerds included, consider the American Express® Gold Card a travel card . And sure, it lacks many of the top travel benefits people want (or at least think they want). But instead, this dark-horse card has the kind of travel benefits that you might not realize are absolutely perfect for people whose goal is to earn rewards for their spending — and to put those rewards towards a trip.

6 reasons the American Express® Gold Card is a top travel card in 2024

1. big earnings rates on food spending.

With the American Express® Gold Card , you’ll earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets, plus up to 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants. Terms apply.

And if you’re no longer traveling or going out to movies and concerts, you might find yourself with more room in your "treat yourself" budget. You likely don’t have any huge weekend plans, but Friday night takeout from your favorite restaurant might be the exact thing you need to look forward to.

If food is a big part of your budget — no matter whether you cook or dine out — this card is an excellent way to earn rewards on that spending.

2. Monthly restaurant statement credits

Speaking of takeout, you could get $10 toward your meal every month. Pay with your American Express® Gold Card , and you’re entitled to up to a total of $10 in statement credits on takeout or delivery through Grubhub or Goldbelly, as well as on orders made with The Cheesecake Factory, Milkbar, Wine.com and participating Shake Shack locations. Terms apply.

Travel might be on hold for the moment, but you can always get your dim sum delivered, bringing a little taste of your dream vacation to your dining room. Plus, you’ll get back $120 of value on the $250 annual fee. Terms apply.

If it’s money you would have spent anyway, that’s effectively like earning back $120 of value on the $250 annual fee. Terms apply.

Eligibility for this offer is limited. Enrollment is required in the Amex Offers section of your account before redeeming.

3. Uber Cash benefit

And the takeout deals still don’t stop. In 2021, American Express added a new benefit to the American Express® Gold Card : up to $120 per year in Uber Cash doled out in $10 monthly increments, which can be used toward Uber Eats or for traditional Uber rides in the U.S. This accounts for up to $120 of value.

Note that you must add the Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit. Enrolment required. Terms apply.

4. Car rental loss and damage insurance

If you’ve traded plane travel for road trips (and you’re not driving your own car), charging the rental car to your American Express® Gold Card can help pay for costs if you get into an accident.

While not quite as good as the primary insurance coverage you’ll find on some other travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , it still offers secondary rental car coverage, meaning it’ll pick up the cost not covered by your other insurance agreements, such as applicable deductibles. Terms apply.

5. The ability to transfer points

While you can exchange your Membership Rewards points for cash, they’re typically most valuable when exchanged for travel. What’s more, the AmEx Membership Rewards program has more than 20 travel partners to transfer points to.

With this card, you can transfer to any of the AmEx airline partners including Air Canada, Delta, JetBlue, British Airways, Emirates and Singapore. Or, send them to the hotel loyalty programs of either Choice Privileges, Hilton Honors or Marriott Bonvoy. Terms apply.

» Learn more: AmEx vs. Chase transfer partners

What’s great about the cheaper American Express® Gold Card is that transfer partner rates are the same on both cards. The ability to transfer AmEx Membership Rewards is one of the best benefits out there, so it’s delightful that you can get the same perk on this card, with a lower annual fee.

» Learn more: The five best AmEx transfer partners — and eight to avoid

6. You’re not paying for superfluous benefits

Increasingly, the The Platinum Card® from American Express has turned into a somewhat glorified coupon book .

Some of the perks are widely luxurious, like a $200 hotel credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection, the $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit, the $300 statement credit toward a SoulCycle at-home bike, and a $300 Equinox credit per calendar year. Enrollment required. Terms apply. 

Those perks can be delightful, but is that money you would have otherwise spent? If not, then it might not be fair to factor those into justifying the card’s annual fee.

Other perks like the Walmart+ credit, $20 monthly digital entertainment credit and cell phone protection might be more accessible, but still only provide value if you actually use them. If you only watch Netflix, well, too bad. The $20 monthly digital entertainment credit won’t cover it, though it will cover other services like Disney+. Hopefully you like Baby Yoda. Terms apply. Enrollment required.

In past years, you might have been envious of your friends toting The Platinum Card® from American Express , but increasingly, the card has become stressful to use — and ensure it delivers its full value. Terms apply.

Compare it with the small handful of perks on this card, which are far easier to use anyway.

The bottom line

If you’ve got big spending planned for this year — particularly when it comes to spending on dining and groceries, the American Express® Gold Card is one of the most efficient vehicles for earning rewards points. Its earnings rate is astonishingly high, and its rewards can be transferred to other airline and hotel partners, which can make them even more valuable. That’ll put you on your way to a free trip (or at least, help you pay for a big chunk of it).

Throw in the other benefits like Uber statement credits — which many people will find easy to use with little or no effort — and it’s easy to see how everyday spending can pay off by holding this card in 2024.

Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.

Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

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Got back tour 2024.

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With songs like ‘Hey Jude’, ‘Live and Let Die’, ‘Band on the Run’,   ‘Let It Be’ and so many more, the Paul McCartney live experience is everything any music lover could ever want from a rock show: hours of the greatest moments from the last 60 years of music – dozens of songs from Paul’s solo, Wings and of course Beatles catalogues that have formed the soundtracks of our lives.

To make your evening even more special, chose from a limited number of Official Premium Ticket and VIP Ticket Experiences , including an invitation to Paul McCartney's Soundcheck, Front Row, Hot Ticket and Premium Ticket and Hotel packages - see you there!

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NB: All Reserved Seated Tickets sold as seated together - For some venues Mobile Digital Tickets may apply - Full information will be provided to download the Mobile/Smartphone APP IMPORTANT: ANY PACKAGES FOUND TO BE OFFERED FOR RE-SALE WILL BE CANCELLED WITHOUT REFUND - TICKETS WILL BE INVALIDATED

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Exclusive Chase Sapphire Reserve® Olympics benefits

Should you get the chase sapphire reserve® for your olympics trip to paris, how to get the most from the reserve card , this chase card unlocks exclusive paris olympic perks.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a range of unique benefits for cardholders, including some special perks at this year's summer Olympics in Paris.

Holly Johnson

Contributor

Holly Johnson is a credit card expert and writer who covers rewards and loyalty programs, budgeting, and all things personal finance. In addition to writing for publications like Bankrate, CreditCards.com, Forbes Advisor and Investopedia, Johnson owns Club Thrifty and is the co-author of "Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You'll Love."

Evan Zimmer

Staff Writer

Evan Zimmer has been writing about finance for years. After graduating with a journalism degree from SUNY Oswego, he wrote credit card content for Credit Card Insider (now Money Tips) before moving to ZDNET Finance to cover credit card, banking and blockchain news. He currently works with CNET Money to bring readers the most accurate and up-to-date financial information. Otherwise, you can find him reading, rock climbing, snowboarding and enjoying the outdoors.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.

With the Summer Olympics set to start in Paris, France on July 26, 2024, many soon-to-be visitors are scrambling to piece together last-minute travel plans. 

If you’re heading to Paris this summer, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, comes with on-site perks that can elevate your trip to the next level. 

You can enjoy lounging along the Seine River, meeting former Olympic stars and get access to some of the most coveted dining spots in Paris. 

If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you’re already eligible for these benefits. If you don’t, there’s still time to apply for the card in time for the Summer Olympics.

Some of the Paris Olympics perks you get with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® are offered free of charge, whereas others get your foot in the door at exclusive restaurants and spaces.

Lounge access

Traveling to the Olympics is a once-in-a-lifetime event for many, and this Chase perk alone could make your experience even more unforgettable. Reserve cardholders will have access to a dedicated Visa Lounge at the Paris Olympics. This lounge will reportedly be located along the Seine River and will offer meet and greets with Olympic legends.

The lounge will also offer dining options, snacks, drinks and more, similar to the offerings available at Chase Sapphire airport lounges. You don’t need to make reservations for the lounge, but you will need your card to enter. Visa Lounge hours for Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders will be July 27 to Aug. 11, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time. You’ll also be allowed to bring one guest.

Exclusive dining reservations

You can also use your Chase Sapphire Reserve® to lock in lunch or dinner reservations at one of the most iconic restaurants in Paris, complete with a view of the Eiffel Tower. 

Located near the Parvis des Droits de l’Homme in Paris, the Chase Sapphire pop-up dining venue will feature an a la carte menu created by New York Chef Ignacio Mattos and Chef Charles Ducrocq.

Reserve cardholders can visit Chase Dining or log in here to make lunch or dinner reservations at the venue, which will be open to guests from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for lunch and 7 p.m. to midnight for dinner on select dates.

There’s also an exclusive Olympics kickoff event for cardholders, but as of this writing, it’s already sold out.

While the Olympics perks are appealing, it’s important to think beyond one-time benefits. But as one of the most popular travel credit cards on the market, it’s hard to go wrong with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. 

You can earn 60,000 bonus points worth $900 in travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠ after you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months of opening your account.

Beyond that, this card earns one of the most competitive rates on travel, airfare and dining purchases. You’ll earn 10x points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel℠, 5x points on airfare booked through Chase Travel and on Lyft rides (through March 2025), 3x points on dining worldwide and travel and 1x points on all other purchases.

If you travel frequently, this top-tier travel card’s additional perks might catch your eye. You’ll get:

• A $300 annual travel credit
• Priority Pass airport lounge membership
• A  credit toward Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA PreCheck membership
• 50% more value for your rewards when you book travel through Chase Travel℠ 

The Sapphire Reserve also boasts the broadest selection of travel insurance protections of any travel credit card, including trip cancellation and interruption coverage, emergency evacuation coverage, lost luggage reimbursement, insurance for delayed baggage and more. As we’d expect from a card at this price point, it also has no foreign transaction fees, which is standard across the best travel credit cards .

When you add up the first-year benefits alone, this card more than justifies its $550 annual fee. With up to $900 in travel from the welcome bonus, Priority Pass Select membership (worth $469) and the annual $300 travel credit, you’re at $1,669 worth of value.

But you can get even more value for your rewards when you transfer them to Chase airline and hotel partners . Chase partners with 14 different airline and hotel loyalty programs , including Southwest Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt. All partners let you transfer rewards at a 1:1 ratio.

If you’re considering the Sapphire Reserve to access new summer Olympics perks in Paris this year, here are a few tips to help you maximize the card’s value.

• Use the annual travel credit . The good news about the $300 annual travel credit on the Sapphire Reserve is that it’s applied automatically. So as you make eligible travel purchases with your card, the statement credit will be automatically deducted from your account balance over time. The card’s annual travel credit also applies to nearly any type of travel purchase you make, including hotels, airfare, car rentals and cruises.
• Take advantage of airport lounges . Whether you’re flying to the Paris Olympics, or you’re looking for more luxury on other trips, activate and use the Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership. This membership gets you entry into more than 1,500 airport lounges around the world, where you can enjoy free Wi-Fi, find a relaxing place to sit and take advantage of free drinks and food.
• Use your card for regular purchases to earn more rewards . Use this card for dining and travel purchases, especially ones you can make through Chase. Unless you have another card that earns better rewards in other categories, you can use it for all purchases to boost your travel rewards balance.
• Pay your credit card balance in full each month . Finally, remember that rewards are never worth it if you’re paying credit card interest. Pay your full statement balance on the card every month and you’ll never have to.

CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can’t review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive may impact how products and links appear on our site.