47. Breaking Down AMEX: Getting the Most Out of Your Membership Rewards

Welcome back! Do you have some American Express Membership Rewards points and aren't quite sure how to use them? Or have you heard about the program but aren't sure how it works? If so, this episode is for you. Keep listening as we cover all things American Express Membership Rewards.  If you are a loyal listener, you know we've previously taken a deep dive into the realms of Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One Venture Miles. But today, we're turning our attention to another significant player—American Express Membership Rewards! First thing you need to understand is AMEX's lineup. With a plethora of cards under its umbrella—from personal cards like the Gold, Green, and Platinum to business ones—knowing which card to snag can be a bit tricky. Our top picks? The personal Gold, personal Platinum, and the business Platinum. These cards not only earn you some major points but also come with perks that make the annual fees worthwhile. This isn’t even scratching the surface of how many points and miles you can rack up in the AMEX world. And as with all travel tricks, knowledge is key! Want to delve further into the American Express narrative? Tap that play button! Learning how to navigate the AMEX landscape could be the next thing you need to unlock your dream trip or vacation! As always, if you need more help with award travel and where to start, follow the links below to connect with us!   Links: Free Gifts and Resources To Start Your Points and Miles Journey: Award Travel Academy: Award Travel Academy I https://travelmomsquad.teachable.com/p/thmata?coupon_code=THMWEB150   Our Website: https://travelmomsquad.com   Connect With Us: Newsletter signup: https://travelmomsquad.com/newsletter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelmomsquad/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@travelmomsquad Facebook group: Travel Mom Squad: Travel on Points | Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelmomsquad Links For This Episode:  American Express Membership Rewards Explained: https://travelmomsquad.com/american-express-membership-rewards-explained/  Using Airline Incidental Credits: https://travelmomsquad.com/using-airline-incidental-credits/  Transfer partner cheat sheet:  https://travelmomsquad.ck.page/cheatsheet Alex’s Rakuten link: https://www.rakuten.com/r/ALEXPA114?eeid=28187  Pam’s Rakuten link: https://www.rakuten.com/r/PAMIOR?eeid=28187  Jess’s Rakuten link: http://www.rakuten.com/r/PWRJES?eeid=28187    Episode Minute By Minute: 00:44 Getting into the different AMEX cards and how they stack up to competitors  04:43 The pros and cons of the AMEX Gold card  06:13 Here is the breakdown of the AMEX Platinum card 11:34 Jess talks about confusing new rules in regards to opening multiple AMEX cards  16:24 Pam breaks down the public offers for the AMEX cards  18:01 Alex talks about AMEX pop-up jail, what it means, and how to avoid it  24:30 Jess talks about AMEX card offers 28:31 Using retail offers with shopping portals to save even more money 31:07 The pros of using a shopping portal like Rakuten  32:29 Here’s the breakdown on combining points and points expirations  34:42 Here are some of our favorite ways to use AMEX points  41:34 Hotel options for AMEX rewards, but they are limited