What you need to know about American Express credit card benefits

Perhaps you’d like to return some defective sneakers, but the retailer refuses to refund you. Or you order from UberEats relatively often because you work from home. Some American Express credit cards can help cover these expenses for you.

In fact, many of the American Express credit card benefits are tremendously valuable. Common Amex card benefits like extended warranties, travel protections and access to pre-sale tickets to concerts and sporting events can justify a pricier annual fee. In addition, Amex cardholders enjoy ongoing benefits like a complimentary ShopRunner membership and special offers on the American Express Experiences hub.

Whether it’s travel insurance or purchase protection, all American Express cards carry benefits, though the exact ones available to you depend on the card. Here are American Express credit card benefits and how to maximize them.

What benefits are available to American Express cardholders?

American Express continues to raise the bar when providing offers and services for cardholders. You very well may have an Amex card in your wallet, so here are some perks you can begin to enjoy today.

Travel protections

When booking travel, American Express credit card benefits include its travel benefits. These valuable perks protect you so you can often opt out of purchasing travel insurance to insure your trip. The best part: Amex’s travel protection is included in the cost of your annual fee.

Protections vary by your specific American Express card, but they include perks such as trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance, trip delay insurance, baggage insurance and car rental protections. You can find the specific terms for your protections in your Amex credit card benefits guide, but premium cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express will always get you the most value.

Retail protections

American Express retail protection benefits also vary by card. The suite of insurance benefits includes purchase protection, return protection and extended warranty. Depending on your card, American Express will cover a damaged or stolen item or reimburse you for something the merchant refuses to refund. American Express’s premium cards take these protections to the highest level.

One of the best picks with generous coverage offered is the American Express® Gold Card, which has a $250 annual fee. Cardholders get up to $10,000 of purchase protection per incident (capped at $50,000 per year).

Pre-sale ticket access

Snag tickets before the general public with American Express pre-sale ticket access. American Express cardholders are given special access to pre-sale tickets for thousands of events, such as theater showings, concerts and music festivals like Coachella and sports events like Wimbledon.

In addition, eligible American Express premier and elite cards may have preferred seating benefits. These offers vary by card and event.

Complimentary hotel nights and property credits

Cardholders with the Amex Platinum, American Express® Business Gold Card and Centurion Card can enjoy The Hotel Collection benefits when they book two consecutive nights or more through American Express Travel. These American Express card benefits may include complimentary nights or property credits.

Additionally, eligible cardmembers can get complimentary nights or hotel credits of $100 or more when booking Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection properties through the issuer’s portal.

Lifestyle credits with Amex partners

Those with elite American Express cards like the Amex Platinum and Amex Gold can enjoy a variety of lifestyle statement credits thanks to numerous partnerships American Express has with brands, such as Uber, Saks Fifth Avenue, Disney, Equinox and Walmart+.

Existing loyal customers of these partner brands, such as Uber and Equinox, can save a bit on their usual spending with these additional statement credits. New cardholders of the Platinum Card, who are dipping their first toe into luxury, can utilize the statement credits to treat themselves and enjoy the finer things in life.

Free ShopRunner membership

American Express and ShopRunner offer eligible cardholders a complimentary, two-day free shipping membership benefit on eligible purchases — a value of $79 a year (enrollment required).

Eligible cardmembers can enjoy quick shipping and free returns on all eligible items at more than 100-plus popular online retail partners, including Neiman Marcus, Brooks Brothers, Saks Fifth Avenue and Kate Spade, among others.

American Express Experiences hub

American Express cardmembers can enjoy curated dining experiences from the American Express Global Dining Collection chefs, in-home cooking tips and recipes from favorite Resy restaurants and sports and entertainment experiences, all on the refreshed American Express Experiences hub.

Limited-time retail offers

American Express offers no shortage of other valuable limited-time perks, through either the American Express Experiences hub or Amex Offers. You’ll have to check your American Express app or desktop account for offers targeted to you, but here are some examples of top-notch deals we’ve seen recently:

• Get a one-time $6 statement credit using your card to spend $30 or more in purchases at stumptowncoffee.com by June 15, 2023.
• Receive a one-time $100 statement credit purchasing a minimum of $500 or more with your American Express credit card in-store at Avocado Green Mattress or online at avocadogreenmattress.com by July 27, 2023.

How to maximize Amex card benefits

The first step to reaping all the American Express credit card benefits is to download the American Express mobile app, where a dashboard will outline your benefits. Travel protections and retail protection benchmarks can be easily accessed from your membership page.

You can also find Amex Offers on the mobile app or online account so you can track the deals that matter to you. Remember you have to enroll in Amex Offers to see them and add the offers to your eligible card account to take advantage of them.

Don’t forget that rewards and benefits vary from card to card. Some offer perks like spending bonus categories, extra product protection and cash back special offers. Get acquainted with American Express card offerings to see the best fit depending on your tolerance to pay annual fees, your spending limit, whether you are a frequent traveler and your credit score.

Some of the ultra-premium American Express cards have particularly high annual fees, but they might offer more valuable benefits to offset this cost.

Bottom line

No matter which card you carry, odds are your American Express credit card is packed with valuable benefits — including travel protection, retail protection and surprising perks and unexpected services.

It’s important to understand that premium American Express cards offer higher thresholds of benefits and protections, but these cards are subject to higher annual fees. The trade-off is a personal decision. If the value-added benefits exceed the hefty annual fee, it can justify the extras.