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Amex Rewards

By Richard Greenwood

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 24Feb2009
Word count: 522
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American Express is an acknowledged master in taking charge of your travel and entertainment finance needs. To make sure you are able to maximize your travel and entertainment dollars, American Express has determined at the outset that its credit cards will provide the best rewards programs you can find in every class where American Express credit cards are represented.

Amex Rewards schemes are designed to accomplish that objective. American Express credit cards continually get feedback from rewards program members on the rewards items that matter to them or not. The Amex Rewards programs are the product of this dialogue between American Express and the cardholders.

American Express credit cards are available in several categories. Among the more interesting Amex Rewards programs are the following:

Membership Rewards:

Most American Express credit cards offer the chance to join the Membership Rewards program; there is a special Membership Rewards First program for American Express platinum cards and the Membership Rewards Express program for the Blue from American Express.

Membership Rewards give you 1 point per dollar of spending. This multiplies into 3 points per dollar when you use the card for purchases at BonusPointsMall.com or 2 points per dollar for purchases at American Express Travel. For Platinum cards, the multiple is 4 points per dollar.

You can redeem Membership Rewards points when you travel, entertain, shop or dine. Platinum cards are offered an exclusive Access First Collection of rewards that include luxury goods, jewelry, fashion items, and world-class travel.

Points can be transferred to participating frequent flyer programs (such as Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines, Aeroplan, and Cathay Pacific) or to hotel partners (such as Starwood Hotels) or for car rentals at your travel destinations.

Cash Back Rewards:

Cash-back rewards cards have a very simple concept: you get a rebate on every purchase. The Blue from American Express is simply tops in this category, and card experts will tell you so. The Blue gives you 5% rebate on things you buy at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations — which is very helpful since these account for a lot of your necessary purchases. The rebate goes down to 1.5% on all other purchases. The rebates are credited to your account automatically, a feature unique to this Amex rewards scheme.

For co-branded American Express cash-back cards, the rebate rates may be 3% for gas and restaurant purchases, 2% for travel and 1% on other purchases. Cash rebate coupons are issued each year, for redemption in cash or merchandise at the cooperating retailer (like Costco).

Travel Rewards:

Aside from the usual Membership Rewards points described earlier which you can redeem for travel rewards, there are Amex rewards cards offered in cooperation with Delta Airlines and Starwood Hotels.

The Delta Amex rewards cards offer 1 mile per dollar of spending plus MQM credits toward Delta Airlines status programs. Use your earned points to get flights with Delta's Pay with Miles scheme and/or to attain Medallion status.

The Starwood Amex rewards card offers 1 point per dollar of spending and 2 points when you stay at Starwood hotels and resorts. The earned points can be redeemed for free stays at Starwood hotels or exchanged for travel miles with cooperating airlines.

Richard Greenwood is Director of the Click 4 Group who operate an network of finance comparison websites which compare products including American Express credit cards and provides tips on comparing and applying for a new credit card.

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