8 American Express card benefits you may not know about

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

American Express cards are known for offering lucrative features like generous rewards, valuable statement credits and extensive airport lounge access. But beyond these flashy benefits, Amex offers a variety of under-the-radar perks that can add surprising value to your everyday life.

Whether you’re already a cardholder or considering becoming one, these lesser-known benefits might be reason enough to give Amex cards a closer look. With a little legwork, you’ll discover extra protections, discounts and other deals that make these cards even more rewarding.

Eligible Amex cardholders can enroll in a complimentary ShopRunner membership, which gets you free two-day shipping and returns on eligible items at 100+ stores. This includes eligible purchases with American Eagle, Neiman Marcus, Allbirds, Kate Spade, Saks Off 5th and many more.

You can also take advantage of additional benefits at Walmart with The Platinum Card® from American Express. This card offers a monthly statement credit of up to $12.95 for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal). Walmart+ members review free delivery from your store ($35 minimum) and free online shipping with no order minimum.

If you want to maximize your cash back on your ShopRunner purchases, consider the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. It earns 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases.

One of the easiest money-saving perks to overlook is Amex Offers, which are special deals for bonus points or cash back after you make eligible purchases. According to American Express, card members who enrolled in Amex Offers added the potential to earn an average of $150 back in statement credits on qualifying purchases in 2023.

To take advantage of an Amex Offer you have to log in to your account and add it to your card. These deals are targeted, and if you have multiple Amex cards, the offers can differ for each card.

Statement credit offers are typically available on all eligible cards, and you may also receive deals to earn additional rewards based on the type of rewards your card earns. If you have a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards points or Hilton Honors points, some Amex Offers may reward you with bonus points instead of cash back.

Amex issues many top travel cards, and benefits like airport lounge access, travel credits and valuable travel rewards tend to grab the headlines. But you could miss out on a lot of value if you aren’t aware of your card’s other benefits. Eligible Amex cards also offer:

• Hotel benefits: Some Amex cards grant elite status with a specific hotel chain or chains (enrollment required). Eligible cards also offer additional perks when you book eligible stays through Amex Travel with The Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels & Resorts. Benefits can include room upgrades (when available), on-property credits and more.
• Cruise privileges program: With The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or Amex Platinum Card, you can receive additional perks when you book an eligible cruise through Amex Travel. The cruise must be at least five nights, and you can receive $100 to $300 in onboard credit per room and an additional onboard amenity per room.
• Rental car status: Eligible Amex cardholders can receive complimentary status with Avis, Hertz and National (enrollment required). The benefits vary but can include upgrades and faster checkout lines. Terms and limitations apply.
• Global assist*: Eligible Amex cards offer access to a Global Assist Hotline or Premium Global Assist Hotline when traveling more than 100 miles from your home in the United States. This service is available to help coordinate travel and solve issues you encounter while traveling.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

When you’re looking for a card that can help you maximize your return on purchases, the rewards you earn are easy to attach value to. However, the retail protections available with select Amex cards may provide even more value if you ever have to make a claim. Eligible cards provide extended warranty protection, return protection*, purchase protection* and cell phone protection*.

The specific protections available vary by card, but many of Amex’s premium cards offer all of the previously mentioned shopping protections, including the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Cell phone protection is underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Purchase protection and extended warranty are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

American Express Membership® Rewards points can help you book all sorts of travel, including posh hotels and luxury flights. With the right Amex card, you can also give your peace of mind with additional travel protections, including baggage insurance*, trip delay insurance*, trip cancellation and interruption insurance* and car rental loss and damage coverage*.

You’ll need a premium Amex card to get access to trip interruption or cancellation coverage, but the American Express® Gold Card is exceptionally rewarding and also offers trip delay, baggage insurance and car rental loss and damage coverage.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/ benefitsguide for more details. Trip delay insurance and trip cancellation and interruption insurance are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. Baggage insurance and car rental loss or damage coverage are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Eligible Amex cards offer presale and reserved tickets to select events. This includes concerts, sporting events, dining experiences, theater shows and more. At venues part of the Amex Venue Collection™, you can take advantage of dedicated entrances and receive 10% back on qualifying concessions purchases (up to $250 back per calendar year).

If you want to take advantage of Amex’s event perks and earn cash back on all of your other purchases, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a solid choice, especially for groceries and streaming subscriptions. (Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout)

Finding a dealer that will allow you to purchase a car with a credit card isn’t always easy, but all dealers that participate in the Amex Auto Purchasing Program let you charge at least $2,000 of the vehicle purchase price on your eligible Amex card (terms apply). This allows you to earn rewards on your car purchase, but there are significant caveats to pay attention to. If you can’t pay off your card balance, you could end up paying a significantly higher interest rate on your balance compared to an auto loan.

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If you want to maximize your rewards and simplify your financial life by keeping your card and bank accounts under one roof, American Express has you covered with checking and high-yield savings accounts.

With an American Express® Rewards Checking account, you can earn rewards for debit card purchases at a rate of one Amex Membership Rewards point for every $2 in eligible spending. On top of that, your checking account balance will earn 1% in interest. You get all of that with no monthly fees to worry about.

The American Express® High Yield Savings Account offers an impressive 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as of 10/24/2024. You don’t have to jump through any hoops to qualify for this account’s high interest rate. Plus, all the money you earn is yours to keep because you won’t pay any monthly fees, overdraft fees or excessive transaction fees.

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For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees for the Hilton Honor Surpass Card, click here.