Benefits of the American Express Green Card
When you travel abroad, having the right credit card can save you lots of money on things like foreign transaction fees. The American Express Green Card is a great choice for cases like this, offering travel insurance, 24/7 support, and free access to airport lounges.
Even though AmEx is still behind Visa and Mastercard in terms of popularity, it’s growing steadily. In 2024, the company’s revenue even surpassed its two closest competitors. So, if you are eager to explore the benefits of AmEx Green Card and how it can make your travels smoother, this article is for you.
Key Benefits of American Express Green Card
Although the card requires an annual fee of $150, the initial bonus and statement credits offer you some compensation. The AmEx Green Card will give you 3X points for each dollar spent on travel, transit, and dining at restaurants. Additionally, the card earns 1X points on almost every other purchase.
1. An Appealing Welcome Bonus
The card comes with an initial bonus in the form of Membership Reward points. After you spend $3,000 on selected purchases during the first six months of owning a Green Card, you will earn 40,000 bonus points.
2. Getting Membership Rewards
Lots of opportunities to earn bonuses are among the chief American Express Green Card benefits:
- 3X Points on Traveling: Customers will receive 3 reward points for every $1 spent on qualifying travel-related products, such as airlines, hotels, cruises, excursions, car rentals, campsites, and vacation rentals;
- 3X Points on Transportation: This includes trains, fares, taxis, rideshare services, ferries, parking, buses, and subways;
- 3X Points on Dining: Points are awarded for restaurant orders worldwide and takeout delivered across the US.
Furthermore, the card allows you to earn one point for every dollar spent on additional eligible purchases. These points can be later exchanged for statement credits, gift cards, and future trips. Your points can be transferred to any of American Express’s hotel and airline partners or used to pay for purchases at select online merchants, such as Amazon. The exact value of bonus points depends on how they are used.
3. No Foreign Transaction Fees
When people go overseas, they frequently have to pay foreign transaction fees. There’s usually nothing you can do about it. Fortunately, one of the American Express Green benefits is the complete absence of such payments unless a merchant requires them. This will save you lots of unwanted expenses overtime.
4. Travel Insurance
Travelers are often at risk of force majeure events. The flights are frequently delayed due to severe weather or other circumstances, which can ruin your plans. Trip Delay Insurance is one of the AmEx Green Card travel benefits that can be used if you pay for your ticket with this card. If your journey is delayed for at least twelve hours due to a covered reason, you may be eligible for up to $300 in compensation. However, keep in mind that it can be used no more than twice per 12 months for each qualifying card.
5. Baggage Insurance
Traveling will be much more relaxed knowing your luggage is covered in case of loss, damage, or theft. In addition to common carrier insurance, you can insure carry-on luggage up to $1,250 and checked baggage up to $500. Note that this type of American Express Green Card travel benefits has limitations for New York state residents, as they can have a maximum of $10,000 of coverage per trip.
6. Purchase Protection
Losing a recent purchase can be incredibly frustrating. Fortunately, the already extensive list of AmEx Green benefits also includes Purchase Protection, covering eligible lost or stolen items worth up to $1,000 for 90 days after purchase. By using your AmEx card for shopping, you can get up to $50,000 in purchase protection annually.
7. Events with AmEx
All AmEx cardholders enjoy exclusive access to presale tickets for sports events, concerts, and theatrical performances. They can also get special Fan Experiences at these events, like resting at private lounges at select venues or meet-and-greet opportunities with artists and athletes. Imagine meeting your favorite singer or football player in person! Additionally, AmEx clients can sometimes take guests to these activities, but remember to check the terms before bringing your whole family with you.
8. Adaptable Options for Payment
Like with any other credit card, it’s better to pay the balance fully to maintain a healthy credit score and avoid excessive interest rates. But if you can’t do that for some reason, AmEx Green has additional payment options. Pay Over Time allows you to carry a debt with interest up to your Pay Over Time Limit. Alternatively, you may use the Plan It function, which divides costly purchases into a set of monthly payments.
9. ShopRunner Membership
AmEx clients get a free ShopRunner Membership, meaning they can order goods from hundreds of online retailers in one place and get free returns. Moreover, there’s an option to receive additional perks on qualifying goods at dozens of the top brands and get a free two-day delivery.
10. Lounge Buddy Credit
Last but not least among the AmEx Green Card benefits is quick entry to airport lounges. You may earn a $100 bill credit per year if you pay for airport lounge passes through LoungeBuddy with AmEx Green. For $25, you may get a single-use lounge pass at hundreds of airports. You can usually do it on the Lounge Buddy website right at the airport. After that, visit the lounge within one hour of your reservation time and provide your confirmation to the front desk personnel to get the credit.
AmEx Corporate Green Card Benefits
The American Express Corporate Green Card offers several perks tailored for business use, such as complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status for hotel perks and access to the Global Assist Hotline for emergency responders when traveling more than 100 miles away from home. Also, there is an opportunity to earn 3% Uber Cash on US Uber rides and Uber Eats orders.
Conclusion
Overall, the AmEx Green card is a perfect choice for those who travel, go shopping, and dine out a lot. Strong membership bonuses along with Purchase and Travel protections make it a versatile tool for daily purchases. Some of its benefits are truly exceptional. These features, combined with the total removal of international transaction fees, allow American Express Green to meet your every need, from travel and adventure to everyday spending.