American Express Membership Rewards American Express Plum Card
Issued by American Express
Reviewed by the CardCurator Editorial Team
Earning Categories
Statement Credits
Pay your balance early (within 10 days) and get a 1.5% discount on eligible charges — no fixed credit amount, it's a discount on spend
Card Perks
Maximize Your American Express Membership Rewards Points
Expert tips to get the most value from this program
Program Overview
American Express Membership Rewards is one of the largest transferable points ecosystems with 20+ airline and hotel partners. Points are earned through personal and business Amex cards (Platinum, Gold, Green, Blue Business Plus, etc.). Key strengths: - Largest number of transfer partners of any program (20+ airlines and hotels) - Amex Offers provide statement credits that effectively reduce annual fees - Gold Card is one of the best everyday spending cards (4x dining, 4x groceries) - Business Platinum offers 1.5x on purchases over $5,000 - Points don't expire as long as your account is open - Transfer bonuses to partners happen frequently (often 20-40% extra)
Earning Tips
Card stacking strategy for maximum earning: Premium cards: - Platinum: 5x flights booked directly with airlines, $200 hotel credit, $200 Uber credit, $155 Walmart+, lounge access - Gold: 4x dining worldwide, 4x US supermarkets (up to $25K/yr), $120 dining credit, $120 Uber credit - Green: 3x travel, 3x transit, 3x dining Everyday earning: - Blue Business Plus: 2x on everything up to $50K/yr (best everyday business card) - Everyday Preferred: 1.5x-4.5x (up to 50% bonus for 30+ transactions/month) Business cards: - Business Platinum: 1.5x on purchases over $5K, 5x flights, extensive travel benefits - Business Gold: 4x on top 2 spending categories each month (from 6 options, up to $150K/yr) Key tips: - Gold + Blue Business Plus covers most spending: 4x dining/groceries, 2x everything else - Amex Offers can save hundreds per year across all your cards (check weekly) - Self-referrals between cards can earn bonus points - Amex popup: If denied a signup bonus, try different browsers or wait a few months - Business cards don't appear on personal credit report
Redemption Tips
Best redemption values: ANA first class via Virgin Atlantic: - 120,000 VS miles round-trip US to Japan in first class (worth $25,000+) - 60,000 VS miles one-way, or look for 2-for-1 promos - Book 355 days out for best availability Air Canada Aeroplan sweet spots: - 75,000 pts round-trip in business to Europe via Star Alliance - Free stopovers on round-trip awards - Use for Lufthansa first class availability British Airways Avios short-haul: - 7,500 Avios for AA flights under 1,151 miles one-way - 13,000 Avios for AA domestic up to 2,000 miles - Great for flights between major US cities Air France/KLM Flying Blue promos: - Monthly promo awards with 25-50% off standard pricing - Business class to Europe from 50,000 miles one-way during promos Hilton (via 1:2 transfer): - Premium resorts can yield good value when Hilton rates are high - 5th night free on 5+ night stays at high-category properties Avoid: - Pay with Points at checkout (usually 0.7 cpp) - Gift card redemptions - Delta transfers when other options available (unless Delta is the only option for your route)
Transfer Strategy
Transfer partners and strategy (most are 1:1): Top airline partners: - ANA Mileage Club: Premium cabin sweet spots, especially first class (1:1) - Air Canada Aeroplan: Strong Star Alliance options, stopover rules (1:1) - Virgin Atlantic: Delta flights + ANA first class bookings (1:1) - British Airways Avios: Short-haul sweet spots on AA/Alaska/BA (1:1) - Delta SkyMiles: Only option for Delta awards, ratio varies (1:1 for MR, but SkyMiles value is lower) - Air France/KLM Flying Blue: Monthly promo awards to Europe (1:1) - Singapore KrisFlyer: Singapore Airlines premium cabins (1:1) - ANA: Round-trip first class for 55,000 miles via Virgin Atlantic (transfer MR to VS) Top hotel partners: - Hilton Honors: 1:2 ratio (1 MR = 2 Hilton pts), decent for aspirational stays - Marriott Bonvoy: 1:1 ratio, best for 5th-night-free benefit on long stays - Choice Privileges: 1:1, niche use for budget stays Strategy tips: - Watch for transfer bonuses (Amex runs them frequently, especially to Avios and Virgin) - ANA via Virgin Atlantic is one of the best redemptions in travel rewards - Delta transfers are 1:1 but SkyMiles value is typically lower; use only when needed - Hilton 1:2 is decent when Hilton runs point promotions on stays - Never transfer speculatively; always book awards first when possible
American Express Membership Rewards Program
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the annual fee for the American Express Plum Card?
- The American Express Plum Card has an annual fee of $250 per year.
- What is the best category to use the American Express Plum Card for?
- The American Express Plum Card earns 1.5x on All Purchases, making it the strongest earning category for this card.
- Does the American Express Plum Card charge foreign transaction fees?
- No, the American Express Plum Card does not charge foreign transaction fees, making it a good choice for international purchases.
- How much are American Express Membership Rewards points worth?
- American Express Membership Rewards points are worth approximately 1.10¢ per point on average, with premium redemptions reaching up to 2.00¢ per point. Values based on industry estimates including The Points Guy and NerdWallet.
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