Benefits of the American Express Green Card

With a generous welcome offer, ample ongoing rewards and useful statement credits, this card is a contender for travelers.
Sara Rathner
By Sara Rathner 
Updated
Edited by Kenley Young

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The American Express® Green Card earns rich and flexible rewards on dining and travel at a relatively low cost compared with other American Express cards. Its annual fee is $150.

It also offers some unique travel credits, as well as side perks and protections for shoppers and those on the go.

Here’s what you can get with the American Express® Green Card.

Points: Spending rewards

1. A generous welcome offer

New cardholders are eligible for a welcome bonus, which American Express describes this way: “Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

2. Ongoing rewards

  • Earn 3 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on travel, including airfare, hotels, cruises, car rentals, campgrounds, trains, taxis, ridesharing, tours, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, subways, third-party travel sites and amextravel.com.

  • Earn 3 points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide.

  • Earn 1 point per $1 everywhere else.

  • Terms apply (see rates and fees).

Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for things like travel, statement credits, gift cards and merchandise. You can also transfer points to one of American Express’ hotel and airline partners, or pay with your points with select merchants including Amazon and PayPal. Point values may vary depending on how you redeem them.

Perks: Benefits for travelers

3. $100 Loungebuddy statement credit

You'll get up to $100 per year in statement credit when you use your American Express® Green Card to purchase airport lounge passes via LoungeBuddy. Terms apply. Single-use lounge passes are available at hundreds of airports and start at $25.

4. $189 Clear Statement credit

You'll also get up to $189 per year in statement credit to cover the cost of a Clear membership. Clear uses biometric information to verify your identity and speed you through eligible prescreening lines at participating airports and venues. An annual membership costs $189 for an individual, and an additional $50 for up to three adult family members (family members under 18 are free). Terms apply.

5. Travel coverage

  • Trip delay insurance: Receive up to $300 per trip (up to two claims per year) to cover unexpected expenses if your trip is delayed more than 12 hours for a covered reason, like weather delays or a stolen passport. Terms apply.

  • Baggage insurance: Receive up to $1,250 for a carry-on bag or $500 for checked luggage (or a $10,000 aggregate maximum for New York residents) in the event your baggage is lost, damaged or stolen. Terms apply.

  • Rental car coverage: This can help protect you if your rental car is damaged or stolen. As with all rental car insurance, there are terms, exclusions and restrictions to be mindful of. For example, not all countries or types of rental cars are covered.

  • 24/7 global assistance hotline: Get help with medical and legal issues, missing luggage, emergency cash wires and more when you travel more than 100 miles away from home. You’d be responsible for the cost of any third-party service providers needed to complete your request. Terms apply.

Payment options and protections

6. Purchase protections

Get up to $1,000 in coverage for up to 90 days (up to $50,000 per calendar year), plus an extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty, when you use your American Express® Green Card. Terms apply.

7. Payment flexibility

  • Pay Over Time feature: The American Express® Green Card allows you to choose between paying in full or carrying a balance with interest.

  • Divide up purchases between friends: Split the cost of a night out? Divvy it up evenly through the AmEx app. It’ll calculate the amount owed and send a PayPal or Venmo request for you. Once your friend pays you back, the money will be sent to your Venmo or PayPal account. Enrollment is required.

  • Terms apply.

Exclusive perks for cardholders

8. Exclusive entertainment access

Access to ticket presales means you can beat the rush for popular shows, concerts, sporting events and more. Terms apply.

9. Complimentary Shoprunner membership

Enroll at shoprunner.com/americanexpress for a free ShopRunner membership and get free two-day shipping on eligible items from more than 100 online stores. Terms apply.


All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The American Express® Green Card is no longer available through NerdWallet.

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