One of the things I’ve given my wife, Sharon, a hard time about since I started collecting points and miles was her insistence on keeping her American Express Green Card. No matter what, it always had a place in her wallet.
Her reasoning?
She knew the card number by heart.
That never made sense to me. Why pay a $150 annual fee for familiarity, especially when there were so many other cards that offered better value? But I didn’t push it. The Green Card was her oldest account—and as anyone who understands credit scores knows, that kind of long history matters.
And let’s not forget: this is the same woman who once maxed out her FICO score. (Note from Sharon: Ta-da!)
Annual Fee
The AMEX Green Card has a $150 annual fee. That used to be tough to justify—but as you’ll see below, there are now enough benefits to offset it if you use the card strategically.
Sign-Up Bonus (With a Catch)
AMEX is offering a welcome bonus of 40,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first six months. That’s a decent runway—and if you use our referral link, we’ll get a bonus too.
But there are two big caveats to know before you apply:
-
The AMEX “Family Rule”
You won’t get the bonus if you’ve ever had any AMEX personal charge card—including the Green, Gold, or Platinum. Even if it was a decade ago, you’re out. We wrote more about that here. -
AMEX Pop-Up Jail
You may apply and receive a message stating that you won’t receive the bonus, even if you qualify on paper. It’s AMEX’s way of flagging people they think are gaming the system. We’ve seen the dreaded pop-up firsthand—here’s what it looks like.
Bonus Categories: 3X Where It Counts
The Green Card earns 3X Membership Rewards points per dollar in three major categories:
- Travel – Includes airfare, hotels, cruises, car rentals, campgrounds, tours, and purchases made through third-party sites, as well as travel purchases on amextravel.com.
- Transit – Covers taxis, ride shares, subways, trains, tolls, ferries, buses, and parking.
- Dining – Earn 3X at restaurants worldwide.
A word of caution from AMEX’s fine print:
You won’t earn 3X at restaurants inside hotels, casinos, or other establishments. And bars, nightclubs, and convenience stores are excluded. Third-party, non-U.S. food delivery services may also not trigger the bonus.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
This one’s straightforward—and essential if you travel.
The Green Card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, so you can use it internationally without getting dinged on every purchase.
Credits That Help Offset the Fee
To help justify the $150 annual fee, AMEX offers a recurring statement credit:
- CLEAR Plus Credit
You’ll receive up to $199 per calendar year when you use the Green Card to pay for CLEAR. That’s enough to cover the membership entirely, especially if you stack it with other discounts like Delta or United elite status.
Membership Rewards: Real Value If You Know How to Use Them
Points earned on the Green Card go into AMEX’s Membership Rewards program—arguably one of the most versatile out there.
While you can redeem points for flights through AmexTravel or gift cards and merchandise, you’ll usually get the best value by transferring them to travel partners.
We’ve used our Membership Rewards for some of our most memorable redemptions—like our $25,000 trip to Australia and Japan, and the best award trip I ever booked (for someone else)
Airline Programs
- Are Lingus Aerclub
- Aeromexico Club Premier
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France / KLM Flying Blue
- ANA Mileage Club
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Executive Club
- Delta SkyMiles
- Emirates Skywards
- Etihad Guest Miles
- Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
- Iberia Plus Miles
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Singapore KrisFlyer Miles
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Hotel Programs
- Choice Privileges Rewards
- Hilton Honors
- Marriot Bonvoy
Travel Insurance & Protections
The AMEX Green Card doesn’t compete with premium cards on travel protections, but it does include a few solid perks:
- Trip Delay Insurance
If your round-trip trip (booked entirely with the card) is delayed by 12+ hours due to a covered reason, you can be reimbursed up to $300 in eligible expenses, such as meals or lodging. You’re limited to two claims per 12-month period. - Rental Car Insurance
Coverage is secondary, meaning it takes effect after any primary insurance you have, such as your own auto policy. You must decline the rental agency’s coverage to be eligible. - Lost, Damaged, or Stolen Baggage
If your luggage is lost or damaged, you may be covered for part of the loss. Note that this does not include baggage delay protection—that’s a different benefit and not included here.
Final Thoughts
For years, the Green Card was overlooked, but now it stands on its own.
Earning 3X on travel, transit, and restaurants puts it squarely in competition with premium cards that charge two or three times as much. No, it’s not replacing my Chase Sapphire Reserve anytime soon (I still want that primary rental coverage). But it does have a regular role in our spending strategy—especially for tolls, trains, and those random meals out.
(Note from Sharon: And I get to keep my green card without grief anymore!)
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