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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 |
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40K Points ⓘ Friend-Referral 40K after $3K spend in first 6 months. Terms apply. See Rates & Fees$150 Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. Recent better offer: 60K after $3K spend in first 6 months + 20% off travel and transit purchases for first 6 months. [Expired 8/21/23] FM Mini Review: This card is worth considering as your go-to travel card, but only if you value its CLEAR and Lounge Buddy credits. Also note that Amex cards continue to have limited acceptance in many international destinations. Click here for our complete card review Earning rate: ✦ 3X on travel & transit (including flights, hotels, taxis, and rideshares) ✦ 3X dining ✦ 1X points on other purchases. Terms apply. See Card Info: Amex Pay Over Time Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Noteworthy perks: $189 CLEAR credit annually ✦ $100 LoungeBuddy credit annually Terms Apply. |
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 |
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Those other high Amex offers have since expired 1-2 months ago
Should I start with this Amex card if I have never had an Amex card? Since it’s the lowest downgrade option in the family of cards anyways (for future downgrades). And then I guess open a blue business as a separate application within the year so I have a no annual fee card that will keep my MR active? Or is there a better Amex card to start with? Thank you
IMO Green card is for travel with 3X on everything – cruises to cabs (Uber). Blue business is excellent. Go to card for everyday spend.
Never had it and yet not eligible. Too bad
Ironically I would have put about $5000 in travel alone over the next 6 months. But I’m in pop up jail.
[…] Update 8/21/23: This offer is ending sometime on Wednesday, August 23rd, according to FM reporting. […]
[…] Update 8/21/23: This offer is ending sometime on Wednesday, August 23rd, according to FM reporting. […]
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.
You can pay taxes on award tickets and that should count. When you get to/from airport from those flights/hotel stays, you can use this 20% credit for Uber/taxi/public transit tickets/airport parking, etc. when you travel and stay at hotels that charge resort fees even on award stays, you can pay that with this and get 20% back. I can go on and on…
You can pay taxes on award tickets and that should count. When you get to/from airport from those flights/hotel stays, you can use this 20% credit for Uber/taxi/public transit tickets/airport parking, etc. when you travel and stay at hotels that charge resort fees even on award stays, you can pay that with this and get 20% back. I can go on and on…
I travel with a family of 5 and it easy to rack up $1000 on a trip even if my flights and hotels are paid for using points.