American Express has just increased the welcome offer on the Green card. New cardmembers will now receive 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 on the card within the first 6 months. New cardholders will also get 20% back on all travel and transit purchases for the first 6 months as well, with a maximum total statement credit of $200.
This new offer is the best that we’ve seen on this card and it’s also available via referrals.
Offer and Key Card Details
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
Quick Thoughts
We value the average redemption of Membership Rewards points at 1.55 cents each. If we factor in the $200 statement credit at 80% of its face value, it would make this welcome offer worth ~$900, good enough for the top ten consumer cards on our Best Offers Page. We don’t add any value for the Lounge Buddy and Clear credits, but if you can use them, it makes the first-year value even better.
The Green card used to be a snoozer but, right before the pandemic, it was given a refresh that actually made the card interesting for regular spend as it now earns 3x on travel, transit and dining. This isn’t as good as the Amex Gold card’s 4x in dining and it doesn’t have the 4x grocery category bonus that makes the Gold especially tasty (although its travel category is much more expansive than the 3x Amex Gold version, which is for flights only). However, it does make you feel better about spending in those categories, especially with the welcome offer and the $200 statement credit.
Even though this is the “best ever” offer on the Green card, it’s worth noting that Amex has A LOT of appealing offers right now. The consumer Platinum is at 150K + $200, the Business Platinum is at $150K and the Gold card is at 90K+$200. These are all easily superior offers, in our opinion. But, for folks who’ve already had them, and/or who can manage a household referral, this is a very good bonus on a card with a $150 annual fee.
Related Cards
| Card Offer |
|---|
Want to learn more about miles and points? Subscribe to email updates or check out our podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
Does Amex know if a charge goes to a hotel stay or an event in that hotel? The T&C explicitly excludes events held in hotels. I was wondering if I can get the 20% back for my wedding venue.
Tim: Unless there are different flavors of the Gold card, it’s only restaurants & grocery (and that does not include Walmart or Target) that’s 4x. The Green card is 3x on all travel and I’ve tried it on everything the past 3 years. Cruises can be the big one. Just used an Amex offer for 25K and final cruise payment (3x) or 24K+ so almost 50K on the puny Green card. If you travel, it beats the Gold card and really the Platinum most of the time and have all three, but not for long.
You’re right, that wasn’t clear. I’ve edited it to say that the Gold’s 3x is only good for flights, not the broader travel category that the Green can be used for.
what else qualifies for travel besides the obvious like fights and hotels? do uber and uber eats qualify?
Uber for sure. Can’t say on Uber Eats. Otherwise, trains, buses, Viator, hotels, taxis, cruises, etc. Can’t think of any travel I haven’t gotten 3x.
Air bnb?
Have not used
Anyone know if you can use the 20% travel credit on Uber Eats? I don’t know if I’ll spend $1,000 on travel in the next year since I have a lot of miles to use up.