Why the Amex Green is great for points and miles beginners
Editor's Note
We've been recommending the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for a while now to anyone who wants to dive into travel rewards cards. The card makes it easy to earn and redeem points with one of the most valuable rewards programs out there. However, the American Express® Green Card can be another great option for points and miles beginners.
The Amex Green Card comes with generous bonus categories and travel benefits. You'll earn 3 Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar on eligible travel (including transit) and at restaurants worldwide (takeout and delivery only in the U.S.).
The card also provides two annual travel credits each calendar year: up to a $199 statement credit toward a Clear Plus membership and up to a $100 statement credit for LoungeBuddy purchases (this benefit will end on Jan. 13, 2025).
New cardmembers can earn a welcome bonus of 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases on their new card in the first six months of cardmembership.
Here's what makes this card particularly great for points and miles beginners.
The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
High-value bonus categories
The bonus categories of the Amex Green Card are common expenses for almost anyone, not just frequent flyers. The Amex Green Card defines the travel bonus category broadly to include transit, home rental sites like Airbnb, campsites, taxis, ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft and more.
This allows beginners to earn rewards on more than just airfare and hotels, the two travel expenses other Amex cards typically focus on. The card also provides bonuses for dining out worldwide — including food delivery and takeout services in the U.S.
The Amex Green Card's bonus categories are comparable to those of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, a premium credit card that also earns 3 points per dollar on travel and dining (elevated earning on travel purchases is received after the first $300 on travel is spent annually).
However, the Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee, while the Amex Green Card only charges a $150 annual fee.
It's more than the mid-tier Chase Sapphire Preferred charges ($95 annual fee), but the Sapphire Preferred only earns 2 points per dollar on travel. If you spend enough on travel, you can easily earn enough to offset the annual fee of the Amex Green Card.
Perks built for beginner travelers
The benefits offered by the Amex Green still don't compare to The Platinum Card® from American Express or the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but that's to be expected from a mid-tier card.
The two annual travel credits you'll get with the Amex Green aren't meant to compete against premium cards that target luxury travelers and frequent flyers. These are benefits that are built for beginners.
LoungeBuddy is an airport lounge booking and reviews platform that was acquired by Amex in 2019. The up to $100 statement credit each calendar year will most likely get you two passes per year into choice lounges (although you could stretch it out to three or four passes if you only book budget lounges). Effective Jan. 13, 2025, the LoungeBuddy statement credit will no longer be offered.
This isn't as valuable as a Priority Pass Select membership or the Amex Platinum's unmatched lounge access, but many beginners don't travel enough yet to need more comprehensive access. Two passes a year are a great bonus for less-frequent flyers. Enrollment is required.
The up to $199 per calendar year Clear Plus statement credit is something all travelers can appreciate. A Clear Plus membership helps expedite the ID authentication process at participating airports and select live event venues, and it can be a great companion benefit to TSA PreCheck.
There are plenty of cards out there that will cover your TSA PreCheck application fee, but it's rarer to find a card that covers your Clear Plus membership fee. Even if you don't have TSA PreCheck, a Clear Plus membership can still help you shave time off of your wait at airport security.
Membership Rewards is a great program to get started with
At TPG, we are constantly advising readers to keep a diversified portfolio of points, and you have to start somewhere. Amex Membership Rewards is one of the top rewards programs available, offering flexible redemption options, valuable transfer partners and plenty of opportunities to maximize earnings with Amex Offers.
According to TPG's November 2024 valuation, Amex Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each.
While this is a great program for beginners, Amex Membership Rewards will become even more valuable as you travel more and maximize transfer partners and bonuses. There are also multiple cards in Amex's lineup geared to travelers, so you can sign up for complimentary cards that also earn Membership Rewards.
Bottom line
The Amex Green Card can be a compelling choice for your first foray into the world of credit card points and miles. With 3 points per dollar on assorted travel purchases and at restaurants worldwide (takeout and delivery in the U.S.) — as well as great travel credits — the Amex Green may be a great addition to your wallet.
Learn more: Amex Green Card
Related: Amex Gold vs. Amex Green