| Last updated on February 22nd, 2024
American Express® Green Card
American Express® Green Card
American Express® Green Card
- See Pay Over Time APR Regular Purchase APR
- 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
The American Express® Green Card is a solid rewards card for those who frequently travel or dine out. The card earns triple points for every dollar spent on many travel and transit expenses (such as flights, hotels, taxis, rideshares, and more) as well as on restaurant purchases. For every other dollar spent, the Green Card earns a single point. Points are applicable to a wide array of redemptions, including travel, purchases with major retailers, and more.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on all eligible travel, from subway swipes and window seats to hotel stays and city tours.
- Earn up to $189 in annual statement credits to help you get through security faster with CLEAR®.
- Earn up to $100 in annual statement credits to access 750+ airport lounges globally through LoungeBuddy.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $150 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Regular Purchase APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Penalty APR: 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Annual Fee: $150
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- You want to earn triple points on flights, hotels, taxis, mass transit, tours, rideshares, and more
- You also want to earn triple points when dining out along with takeout and delivery, as well as single points on all other purchases
- You travel often, and can make best use of $100 in statement credits for both lounge access and CLEAR security fast-pass
- You don’t mind paying $150 in annual fees
In-Depth Review: American Express® Green Card
If you’re looking for an uncomplicated credit card that makes it easy to earn points when making travel arrangements, the American Express® Green Card may be a viable option The card charges an annual fee of $150 but no foreign transaction fees.
Who Can Benefit from the American Express Green Card?
The American Express® Green Card is a prestigious credit card that offers its cardholders a wide range of benefits and perks. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or enjoy dining out, this card has something for everyone.
This card is ideal for someone who travels a few times per year and wants an elevated travel experience, thanks to comprehensive travel insurance and purchase protections, statement credits for lounge access, and CLEAR security fast pass.
How to Earn Membership Rewards Points
Welcome Offer
The American Express Green Card offers 40,000 Membership Rewards® points to cardholders who spend $3,000 on purchases with their new card in the first 90 days of opening the account.
How to Earn Rewards
Cardholders earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel purchases and dining out worldwide, plus 1X points on other eligible purchases, which is as easy to remember as the points are to redeem. Eligible travel categories with the Green Card include flights, hotel stays, mass transit options, taxis, timeshares, and tours.
How to Redeem Membership Rewards
American Express Membership Rewards® service provides members with points to apply towards an impressive array of perks, including gift cards, flights, immersive experiences, and more. Members also benefit from no limits on how many points they can earn or expiration dates on points earned.
Membership Rewards have an average value of $0.01, but Amex points usually have a higher average value when transferred to partners. American Express Membership Rewards are exceptional because they transfer to other airlines and hotels. These include:
| AeroMexico (Club Premier) | Avianca (LifeMiles) | Emirates (Skywards) |
| Air Canada (Aeroplan) | British Airways (Executive Club) | Etihad (Guest) |
| Aer Lingus (AerClub) | Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles) | Air France/KLM (Flying Blue) |
| All Nippon Airways (ANA Miles) | Delta Air Lines (SkyMiles) | Hawaiian Airlines (HawaiianMiles) |
| Iberia Plus | Choice Privileges | Hilton Honors |
| Marriott Bonvoy | JetBlue (TrueBlue) | Marriott Bonvoy |
| Marriott Bonvoy | Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club) |
Travel Benefits
Limited Lounge Access
The Green Card benefits from a few helpful travel features. Chief amongst these features is the $100 LoungeBuddy statement credit. Use your American Express® Green Card to purchase airport lounge access through LoungeBuddy and get up to $100 in statement credits per year on your LoungeBuddy purchases. That credit is good for approximately four lounge visits, which is a very generous amount for a card with a fairly low price point.
CLEAR Credit
Cardholders also enjoy up to $189 per calendar year in statement credits when they pay for a CLEAR Plus membership with their Green Card. CLEAR is a security program that offers expedited security access at over 60 airports and stadiums across the United States. This perk and the lounge access offer significant value for the frequent traveler and more than make up for the $150 annual fee (see terms).
Other Card Benefits
With the American Express® Green Card in your wallet, you’re also privy to other travel-centric perks that add conveniences and peace of mind to each trip: car rental loss and damage insurance, baggage insurance, roadside assistance, and even 24/7 assistant services. When you’re far from home and need cash wired to you or a passport replacement, it’s comforting to know that medical, legal, and financial services are just a phone call away, thanks to your American Express® Green Card.
The American Express® Green Card also gives cardholders the confidence of cell phone protection in case of a dropped phone, a lapsed warranty, or any other similar incident. The card offers Purchase Protection for the theft or accidental damage of eligible purchases, as well as an additional two years of warranty coverage for select items bought with the card. It offers manufacturer warranties of 5 years or less. Purchase Protection provides a valuable benefit to members not commonly found in other travel reward cards.
Comparisons
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | Capital One® Savor® Rewards | American Express® Gold Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards rate | Earn 5X on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 2X on all other travel purchases, 3X on dining, 3X on groceries and streaming services, and 1X on all other purchases | Earn unlimited 4% back on dining & entertainment, plus 3% back on groceries, and 1% on all other purchases | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., plus at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex, and 1X on all other purchases |
| Credits | $50 hotel | $9.99/month Postmates | $240 (dining/ Uber Eats) |
| Annual fee | $95 | $95 | $250 |
Amex Comparison
| The Platinum Card® from American Express® | American Express® Gold Card | American Express® Green Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $695 | $250 | $150 |
| Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with Amex and prepaid hotels booked at amextravel.com, and 1X on all other purchases | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., plus at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex, and 1X on all other purchases | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on global restaurants, including takeout and delivery, plus 3X on all eligible travel, and 1X on all other purchases | |
| Statement credits | Up to $1500 | Up to $240 | $100 |
| Lounge access | Priority Pass Select | N/A | $100 Loungebuddy credit |
What We Like About the Green Card
The Green Card is the most accessible of the American Express proprietary charge cards thanks to its modest annual fee and lucrative rewards. The card provides solid (but not exceptional) 3X Membership Rewards points on global dining, delivery, and takeout orders, plus 3X points on eligible travel purchases – including local commuting and rideshares.
If you are looking for an entry-level “Pay in Full” card, the Green Card is a solid option. It offers a quality welcome offer to help supercharge your Membership Rewards earnings, plus reliable travel benefits to smoothen your sailing. These features include a LoungeBuddy statement credit good for up to four lounge visits, a CLEAR statement credit, and no foreign transaction fees.
Things to Consider
While the annual fee is modest compared to other premium American Express personal cards, the $150 annual fee with the Green Card is still high. Better options are available for those looking for a reliable travel card but unwilling to spend the $150 to unlock the credits with the Green.
Unless you use the statement cr5edits, the value might not be there at all with the Green Card. That’s because similar points can be found elsewhere at a much lower price point, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Capital One Savor Rewards Card – both with a $95 annual fee.
American Express Ratings
How does American Express rate as a bank and issuer? Here is a selection of ratings for the bank from consumers and experts:
| BestCards | Better Business Bureau | TrustPilot |
|
3.5/5 |
2/5 |
1.5/5 |
Should You Apply for the American Express® Green Card?
Overall, the American Express Green Card is an excellent entry-level addition to the American Express family of travel-oriented cards, which also features the American Express® Gold Card and the American Express Platinum Card. The $150 annual fee may seem steep. Still, the ability to earn triple points on travel and dining, plus the statement credits for lounge access and fast-track security, offers exceptional value – both in terms of saving time and money. The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Citi Premier® Card are other options with a similar annual fee.
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