10xTravel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. All values of Membership Rewards are assigned based on the assumption, experience and opinions of the 10xTravel team and represent an estimate and not an actual value of points. Estimated value is not a fixed value and may not be the typical value enjoyed by card members.
The American Express® Gold Card remains one of the most effective cards for earning transferable points, and the latest updates strengthen its position for both everyday spending and travel redemptions.
The core structure is unchanged where it matters most: you’ll continue earning 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 annually) and 4X at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 annually). Flights still earn 3X when booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ or directly through airlines, prepaid car rentals earn 2X when booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™, and cruises earn 2X when booked through AmexTravel.com, while all other purchases earn 1X. These categories are intentionally designed to capture the highest-spend areas for most households, making it easy to generate points consistently.
The biggest upgrade in this refresh is on the travel side. Card members now earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™, up from the previous 2X rate. This change meaningfully increases the card’s utility for booking travel.
Combined with existing travel protections and no foreign transaction fees, the Gold Card (see rates & fees) now has even more value as a travel credit card.
Earning Rates Breakdown
Here’s how the updated earning structure stacks up:
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 annually)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 annually)
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ (new)
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ or directly through airlines
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on cruises via AmexTravel.com
- 1X Membership Rewards® point on all other purchases
This combination creates a powerful “earn everywhere” setup, with high multipliers on both daily spending and select travel purchases.
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000
Membership Rewards® Points
after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Annual Fee:
$325
Statement Credits and Annual Value
The Gold Card continues to prove its worth of a $325 annual fee (Rates & Fees) with a strong lineup of credits, now totaling over $500 in potential annual value.
- Up to $120 Dining Credit: Up to $10/month in statement credits at Grubhub (including Seamless), Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and now Buffalo Wild Wings & Wonder. Enrollment required. Terms apply. Wine.com and Goldbelly will be removed from the partner list effective July 1, 2026.
- Up to $120 Uber Cash: card member must add Amex Gold card to Uber account to receive the benefit ($10 monthly)
- Up to $100 Resy Credit: earned after using your Amex Gold card at qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants or other Resy purchases; enrollment required (split $50 semi-annually)
- Up to $84 Dunkin’ Credit: only valid at U.S. Dunkin’ locations when you use your Amex Gold card; enrollment required (up to $7 monthly)
- $100 The Hotel Collection credit on eligible charges (with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™. Eligible charges vary by property.)
These credits require enrollment, but when used strategically, they can significantly reduce the effective annual cost of holding the card.
New and Enhanced Benefits
The refresh isn’t just about points—it also introduces meaningful lifestyle and travel upgrades. Card members now receive complimentary Hertz Five Star® status, unlocking perks like potential upgrades, expedited service, and additional driver benefits.
The card also continues to include access to The Hotel Collection, offering perks like room upgrades when available (certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade) for stays of at least two nights.
Additionally, the dining credit sees a refresh in partners, signaling a shift toward more frequently used, mainstream options. This increases the likelihood that card members will actually extract full value from the benefit rather than letting credits go unused.
Summary of Amex Gold Changes
| Category | Previous | New |
|---|---|---|
| Prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ | 2X Membership Rewards points | 5X Membership Rewards points |
| Dining credit partners | Included Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. | Credit remains up to $120 annually, but partners are updated to add Buffalo Wild Wings and Wonder, while Goldbelly and Wine.com exit. |
| Hertz benefit | No Hertz status listed in the prior Gold Card benefits referenced here. | Complimentary Hertz Five Star status is added. Enrollment required. |
Our Take
The addition of 5X on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ is the most important change, and it closes a long-standing gap in the Gold Card’s earning structure. Previously, you needed a premium card to maximize hotel bookings. Now, the Gold Card can handle both everyday spend and a meaningful portion of travel purchases, making it more versatile. If you regularly book through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™, this upgrade alone can materially increase your return on spend.
The Gold Card remains a keeper because it aligns perfectly with how most people naturally spend. You don’t need to change your habits to maximize value, just use the card for dining, groceries, and now select travel bookings. The enhanced credits and added benefits further reinforce long-term value, especially if you can consistently use them. This is a card built for people who spend more on dining and groceries but want those everyday purchases to translate into premium travel experiences.
10xTravel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. All values of Membership Rewards are assigned based on the assumption, experience and opinions of the 10xTravel team and represent an estimate and not an actual value of points. Estimated value is not a fixed value and may not be the typical value enjoyed by card members.
Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
bonus cash back
after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
miles
once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
bonus points
after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Membership Rewards® Points
after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
