6 Things to Do When You Get the American Express Gold Card

Lissa Poirot
By Lissa Poirot 
Published
Edited by Mary M. Flory

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You finally got your shiny new American Express® Gold Card. You read about the card before applying and know it's worth the annual fee for you. Now what?

Now it’s time to start earning rewards — and working toward the welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Here are six things you should do when you get your American Express® Gold Card.

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1. Go away for the weekend

Use American Express’ Hotel Collection of more than 600 properties around the globe and you’ll benefit from American Express-negotiated rates. This often means cheaper prices than booking through hotel websites or sites like Expedia, though it makes sense to compare. Hotels can be searched around the world, from big brands to small boutiques, and when you prepay for your getaway with your American Express® Gold Card you’ll earn two times the points. Terms apply.

Plus, when you stay two nights or longer at an American Express Hotel Collection property, you’ll receive a $100 hotel credit — it’s like getting one extra night if you’re sticking with budget properties. Or at the very least it will help pay for a nice dinner at the hotel. Better yet, this isn’t a once-a-year deal; you’ll get the award every time you book a hotel stay for two nights or more. Terms apply.

When you book your hotel through American Express Travel, you’re also eligible for a complimentary room upgrade, if available. Terms apply.

2. Grab some grub

You have to eat, so why not use your American Express® Gold Card? Every time you spend at participating grocery stores or restaurants, you earn 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar — this is one of the highest dining bonuses available on any credit card. Terms apply.

While we’re talking about food, don’t forget to use that monthly $10 dining credit AmEx provides its American Express® Gold Card holders. It’s valid on orders through Grubhub, Wine.com and Goldbelly, as well as dining out at The Cheesecake Factory, Milkbar, and participating Shake Shack locations. Terms apply.

Cardholders also get a monthly $10 in Uber Cash (up to $120 annually), which can be used for Uber Eats orders (or rides) in the U.S. once you add your American Express® Gold Card to the Uber app. Terms apply.

3. Book your next flight using your AmEx

You might as well use your card for all of your travel needs, especially when American Express will give you 3 points per dollar if you book flights online directly with the airline or through AmEx Travel. Terms apply. If you're booking flights for the entire family or friends, each dollar you spend is going to add up really quickly.

4. Take advantage of the complimentary global travel agency

American Express® Gold Card members are just a phone call away from all the advice needed to plan a trip. Using the personalized travel services available, American Express agents can help you with flights, hotels, transportation and more. Terms apply. If you choose to book with the service, you'll have to pay some fees, but you aren’t required to book and can let the agents do all of the research and planning for you to book on your own. (Shhh. This is our little secret.)

5. Enroll in and bookmark the Entertainment Access page

American Express offers member-only events, premium seating and pre-sale ticket sales for pretty much anything that floats your boat. Interested in catching a Broadway show in New York? How about a football game? Favorite band coming to town? Make sure you are enrolled in any alerts AmEx may send out to notify you of limited-time offerings, and visit the website to ensure you aren’t missing out on anything fun. Terms apply.

6. Shop AmEx Offers to earn money back for your spending

Log into the American Express website for your AmEx Offers. Here, deals for restaurants, retailers, and travel companies are highlighted. Terms apply. For example, if you spend $25 at ChowNow for food delivery, you may receive two times the points, as well as $5 back. Spend at Sam’s Clubs and get 10 percent back on your entire purchase. AmEx Offers change often, so keep an eye on ways to get some cashback on your expenses.

Whatever you do now that you are an American Express® Gold Card member, be sure to stay on top of every offer to make the most of your card. From transferring points to hotels and airlines, to scoring deals, there are many ways to get more out of your American Express® Gold Card.


How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:

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