An American Express Card is an essential tool for any discerning Point Hacker. Apart from the hefty sign-up bonuses, American Express offers some of the best ongoing perks and points earning rates in the industry, making certain cards very valuable indeed. After all, sign-up bonuses are fleeting but earn rates are forever.
Whether you’re putting flight tickets or groceries on your American Express, having the highest earn rate possible will see you enjoying your rewards sooner. And some American Express Cards even offer bonus points for things such as flight tickets or groceries! You just have to play your cards right.
This guide is brought to you with support from American Express, a Point Hacks commercial partner. Please note that while American Express provided the factual information required for this article, all opinions expressed are solely those of Point Hacks.
1. Earn points on (just about) anything
It’s pretty disappointing when you reach tax time and you find out most of the cards in your wallet won’t earn any points on ATO transactions. But that’s no issue when you hold an American Express. American Express Cards earn a reduced rate at government bodies in Australia, so you’ll always earn points at Australia Post, the ATO and similar places.
In fact, the only things you won’t earn points on include charges such as cash advances, annual fees, interest, and balance transfers – that’s the same across all lenders.
And some American Express Cards even offer bonus points with certain categories. For example, the American Express Platinum Edge card rewards you with an elevated three Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at major supermarkets and petrol stations.
2. No caps on how many points you can earn
If you’ve got a big bill coming up, or you’re a lavish spender in general, don’t let your card hold you back. Some bank cards have monthly or annual points caps, restricting how much you can earn. But American Express doesn’t have any caps at all, so you’ll earn every point that’s rightfully yours.
3. It’s getting easier to use American Express
American Express is being accepted in even more places. Major players include Coles and Woolworths, JB HiFi, Apple, Bunnings, David Jones and many more.
Plus, thanks to accessible payment processors such as PayPal and Square, your American Express Card will earn you points at plenty of smaller businesses. That morning coffee from the local farmer’s market just got a lot more rewarding.
Learn more about American Express acceptance →
4. Bonuses when you refer your friends
Getting your friends and family to sign up for an American Express Card is the ultimate win-win. If they’re eligible for a sign-up bonus, they’ll get that and you’ll also pocket a hefty referral points bonus – up to 45,000 additional points for every successful referral you make (capped at 200,000 points per year) depending on the card you hold! That’s a big chunk of points for very little effort. Terms and Conditions apply.
5. Membership Rewards points don’t expire
If you’re earning Membership Rewards points directly through American Express, those points won’t expire as long as you remain an active Card Member. Membership Rewards is the perfect ‘bank’ for your hard-earned points, sitting there until you decide to transfer them out to up to ten major airline partners such as Velocity Frequent Flyer and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
There’s flexibility, and then there’s Membership Rewards.
American Express is a Point Hacks commercial partner. The earning and redemption of Membership Rewards points is subject to the terms and conditions of the American Express Membership Rewards program.
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