Deep Dive on Amex Credit Cards and Membership Rewards Points

Summary

Podcast Summary: All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins – Deep Dive on Amex Credit Cards and Membership Rewards Points

Episode Details:

Title: Deep Dive on Amex Credit Cards and Membership Rewards Points
Host: Chris Hutchins
Release Date: July 9, 2025

Introduction

In this comprehensive episode of "All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins," host Chris Hutchins delves deep into the expansive world of American Express (Amex) credit cards. With over 30 different consumer and business cards in the Amex portfolio, Chris aims to demystify the complexities surrounding these cards, helping listeners identify which ones truly add value to their wallets. Beyond reviewing and ranking each card, Chris provides invaluable insights into maximizing Membership Rewards Points, uncovering hidden credits, approval strategies, and retention tips.

Overview of Amex Credit Cards

Chris begins by sharing his extensive experience with Amex, “I got my first Amex card since 19 years old and I've been accumulating millions of AMEX points ever since” ([00:54]). He and his wife currently hold 15 different Amex cards, highlighting the diversity and potential within the Amex ecosystem.

Membership Rewards Cards

Amex Green Card
- Annual Fee: $150
- Earnings: 3x points on travel, transit, and dining worldwide; 1x on all other purchases.
- Signup Bonus: 40,000 points on $3,000 spend in six months ([02:25]).
- Ranking: A Tier
- Notable Quote: “3x travel, 3x transit, 3x restaurants for $150. Very few cards have this much going in for them in terms of earning.” ([02:25])
Amex Gold Card (Personal)
- Annual Fee: $250
- Earnings: 4x on groceries (up to $25,000/year) and dining (up to $50,000/year), 3x on flights.
- Signup Bonus: Up to 100,000 points for $6,000 spend in six months ([03:38]).
- Ranking: S Tier
- Notable Quote: “This is my primary dining and grocery card out there. I have other cards for more points on flights, but I use this a lot.” ([03:38])
Amex Gold Card (Business)
- Annual Fee: $375
- Earnings: 4x on top two business categories (e.g., advertising, electronics), 2x on prepaid travel through Amex.
- Signup Bonus: Up to 200,000 points for high spend ([04:45]).
- Ranking: S Tier (for high-spending business owners)
- Notable Quote: “If you are spending a ton of money ... the Amex Business Gold card is an S tier card.” ([04:45])
Amex Platinum Card (Personal)
- Annual Fee: $695
- Earnings: 5x on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel.
- Signup Bonus: Up to 175,000 points after $8,000 spend in six months ([17:02]).
- Ranking: A Tier
- Notable Quote: “You get 5x on flights and a lot of lounge access. So that's an A tier card, especially if you factor in the signup bonus.” ([17:02])
Amex Platinum Card (Business)
- Annual Fee: $695
- Earnings: 1.5x points on all spend over $5,000 and specific business categories.
- Signup Bonus: Up to 250,000 points after $20,000 spend in three months ([19:30]).
- Ranking: B Tier
- Notable Quote: “With the Business Platinum, you can transfer your points at about 1.54 cents, booking travel in the portal.” ([19:30])
Centurion Cards (Black)
- Initiation Fee: $10,000
- Annual Fee: $5,000
- Earnings: 1.5x points over $5,000 spend; access to exclusive lounges.
- Ranking: Personal: C Tier | Business: B Tier
- Notable Quote: “It's hard for me to put the personal version of this card any higher than the C tier. It's just so egregiously expensive.” ([38:10])

Cash Back Cards

Blue Cash Everyday Card
- Annual Fee: $0
- Earnings: 3% on groceries, online retail, and gas (up to $6,000/year); 1% thereafter.
- Signup Bonus: $200 after $2,000 spend in six months.
- Ranking: C Tier
- Notable Quote: “This card is not that exciting to me. Yes, it's a no annual fee card, but you're not getting access to Membership Rewards.” ([28:45])
Blue Cash Preferred Card
- Annual Fee: $95 (waived first year)
- Earnings: 6% on groceries (up to $6,000/year), 6% on streaming, 3% on transit and gas; 1x otherwise.
- Signup Bonus: $250 after $3,000 spend in six months.
- Ranking: B Tier
- Notable Quote: “6% on groceries is really high, but the extra $180 of value a year isn't enough to justify the $95 fee.” ([28:45])
Plum Card
- Annual Fee: $250
- Earnings: 1.5% back if paid within 10 days; otherwise acts as a 0% loan with 60 days to pay.
- Ranking: C Tier
- Notable Quote: “For the right business owner, they would rather get a kind of 60-day loan every single month on all of their spending over getting any amount of points.” ([31:20])

Co-Brand Cards

Delta Cards:

Delta Gold Card
- Annual Fee: $150
- Earnings: 2x on Delta purchases, restaurants, and groceries; 1x otherwise.
- Signup Bonus: Up to 90,000 points after $6,000 spend in six months.
- Ranking: C Tier
- Notable Quote: “They might earn more Delta points on a Amex Platinum card than any of the Delta cards.” ([33:50])
Delta Platinum Card
- Annual Fee: $650
- Earnings: 3x on Delta and hotels; 1x otherwise.
- Signup Bonus: Up to 110,000 points after $8,000 spend in six months.
- Ranking: B Tier (Business) | B Tier (Personal Reserve)
- Notable Quote: “The Business Platinum ... 35% of those points back, which makes it 1.54 cents.” ([19:53])

Hilton Cards:

Hilton Surpass Card
- Annual Fee: $150
- Earnings: 12x on Hilton, 6x on gas, groceries, and restaurants; 3x online retail; 1.5x otherwise.
- Signup Bonus: Up to 150,000 points with a free night certificate.
- Ranking: A Tier
- Notable Quote: “The Surpass card is definitely great for getting access to Hilton free night certificates.” ([35:30])
Hilton Aspire Card
- Annual Fee: $550
- Earnings: 14x on Hilton, 7x on flights, rental cars, and restaurants; 3x otherwise.
- Signup Bonus: Up to 175,000 points after $6,000 spend in six months.
- Ranking: S Tier
- Notable Quote: “The Hilton Aspire card is an S tier card. It's one of my favorite cards.” ([35:30])

Marriott Cards:

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card
- Annual Fee: $650
- Earnings: 6x on Bonvoy, 3x on flights and restaurants, 2x otherwise.
- Signup Bonus: Up to 150,000 points after $6,000 spend in six months.
- Ranking: A Tier
- Notable Quote: “If you stay at Bonvoy Properties enough, you've got a card with a high signup bonus and free platinum status.” ([35:30])

Maximizing Membership Rewards Points

Chris emphasizes the versatility of Membership Rewards Points, highlighting that the best value comes from transferring them to airlines and hotels rather than redeeming for gift cards or statement credits. Key transfer partners include:

Airlines: British Airways (Avios), Air France (Flying Blue), Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada (Aeroplan), and more.
Hotels: Hilton, with occasional bonuses making it a compelling transfer destination.

Notable Quote: “The best way to get the most value out of your Amex points is by transferring them to different airlines and hotel groups.” ([35:30])

Amex Perks and Benefits

Beyond points earnings, Amex offers a plethora of perks:

Amex Offers: Personalized discounts and bonuses that can accumulate significant value over time.
Referral Program: Earn additional points by referring friends and family.
Retention Offers: Possibility to receive bonuses or fee waivers when considering canceling a card.
Payment Flexibility: Features like Pay Over Time allow for long-term payments with interest.
Lounge Access: Exclusive access to Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, and more for Platinum and higher-tier cards.

Notable Quote: “Every single one of these Amex cards we've talked about has the ability to enroll in offers... I've earned over $2,000 in Amex offer rewards.” ([35:30])

Application Rules and Strategies

Chris outlines critical application strategies to maximize benefits and bonuses:

Checking Approval Without Hard Pulls: Use Amex’s “safe to apply” feature to gauge approval chances without impacting credit scores.
Lifetime Rules: Bonuses are typically one-time unless specified in targeted offers.
Card Limits: Charge cards are limited to 10, while credit cards are capped at five per individual.
Product Changing: Flexibility to switch between different Amex cards within the same family (e.g., Gold to Platinum) but not across different families.

Notable Quote: “Amex has a one in five rule. It doesn't affect charge cards, but if you're applying for credit cards, you can only get approved for one in five days.” ([36:25])

Conclusion

Chris Hutchins provides an exhaustive analysis of Amex’s extensive card offerings, categorizing them into a tier list based on their value proposition. Top-tier cards like the Amex Gold and Hilton Aspire stand out for their robust points earning and valuable perks, while others like the Blue Cash Everyday and Delta Blue fall lower due to limited benefits.

Key Takeaways:

Select Amex cards that align with your spending habits to maximize point earnings and benefits.
Transfer Membership Rewards Points to strategic partners for the highest value.
Leverage Amex Offers and referral programs to accumulate additional points.
Understand application rules to optimize bonus acquisitions without straining your credit.

For listeners seeking to enhance their financial strategies through smart credit card usage, this episode serves as an indispensable guide to navigating the intricate landscape of Amex credit cards and their rewarding Membership Rewards program.

Links & Resources:

Visit AllTheHacks.com for detailed reviews, referral links, and exclusive offers.
Explore CardPointers for automated Amex offer enrollments: allthehacks.com/card-pointers
Learn more about Membership Rewards Point Transfers and maximize their value.

Notable Quotes:

“[...] 3x travel, 3x transit, 3x restaurants for $150. Very few cards have this much going in for them in terms of earning.” – Chris Hutchins ([02:25])
“This is my primary dining and grocery card out there. I have other cards for more points on flights, but I use this a lot.” – Chris Hutchins ([03:38])
“The Hilton Aspire card is an S tier card. It's one of my favorite cards.” – Chris Hutchins ([35:30])

This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, structured to provide clarity and actionable information for both existing Amex users and those considering joining the Membership Rewards program.