What to do when you first get the Amex Gold card – The Points Guy
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with the latest information and offers.
A few years ago, I applied for the American Express® Gold Card and it has become one of my favorite rewards cards.
The card earns 4 transferable Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar spent both at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar for the latter). It also offers up to $120 in dining credits each calendar year. Enrollment is required.
Here are 5 things to do when you get your snazzy new card.
Enroll in the $120 annual dining credit
With the Amex Gold, you are eligible for up to $10 in monthly statement credits when you use your card at participating dining partners.
These partners include at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. This statement credit functions similarly to the up-to-$50 Saks credit on the Platinum Card® from American Express in that it isn’t allotted all at once. Instead, it is spread out across the year in monthly installments.
You need to enroll your card for this perk on the Amex site under “Benefits,” so do that as soon as you get your new card.
Related: How the Amex Gold pays for my lunch twice per month
Set up $120 in annual Uber Cash
The Amex Gold offers $120 in annual Uber Cash, doled out in up-to-$10 monthly increments. These credits can be used for Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S.
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Unlike the monthly up-to-$10 dining credit that operates as a statement credit when used, this credit deposits $10 monthly into your use-or-lose Uber account each month.
In order for this magic to happen, you need to set up your Amex Gold card in your Uber account in the payment section. Here’s a full story walking you through how to set up and use your Amex Gold Uber credits — it’s really easy once you get the card linked to your Uber account.
Add Amex Gold as payment with Grubhub
If you use the food delivery service Grubhub, set your payment card with them to the Amex Gold to earn 4 points per dollar on dining at restaurants and easily use the up-to-$10 monthly statement credit available at those eligible dining partners. Enrollment is required.
Memorize the bonus categories
The American Express Gold Card is sitting at the top of the pack for spending on both dining at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.
The card earns 4 fully transferable Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on dining and the first $25,000 spent per calendar year at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 point per dollar, terms apply). These 4 points per dollar equal an 8% return on spending based on our current TPG point valuations.
This includes earning 4 bonus points on grocery delivery services such as Instacart, just in case you prefer to have your groceries appear on your doorstep.
The Amex Gold is also a great card when you need to split a dining bill with friends, as you can be the one to swipe your card and earn 4 points per dollar for the whole bill — but then use the Amex Send & Split feature to get paid back by your friends without anyone having to pay Venmo or PayPal fees.
Related: These are the best credit cards for groceries
Start using the card to purchase flights
The Amex Gold also earns 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. That’s not the best earn rate for flight purchases, but it’s still a solid option, especially if this is one of the only cards in your wallet.
Bottom line
There aren’t as many tasks to complete when you get your Amex Gold Card as there are when you get an Amex Platinum, but there are still at least five things to do to reap the maximum rewards and perks from the powerful — and pretty lovely — credit card.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox and Chris Dong.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, please click here.
Apply here: The Amex Gold with 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. Check CardMatch to see if you are targeted for a higher offer. Alternatively, you might be able to earn a higher welcome offer through a friend or loved one’s referral link through June 7.
