Membership Rewards is a credit card loyalty program operated by American Express for its cardholders. AmEx has the largest range of credit and charge cards in Australia, with all cards earning loyalty points.
If Membership Rewards doesn't suit your needs, you can easily compare more frequent flyer credit cards with other reward programs.
Why choose American Express Membership Rewards?
- American Express offers many cards, some with higher earning rates for certain categories, such as travel or supermarkets.
- Regular offers for statement credits or spending bonus points exist for certain retailers.
- Points remain active as long as your Membership Rewards account with American Express is active.
- Accrue points in a flexible program and transfer them to different airline or hotel partners as needed.
Hans Mast, a travel expert from Golden Rule Travel and a savvy point collector who once earned 1 million Delta miles in a single deal, praises American Express Membership Rewards as the ultimate in credit card loyalty programs.
According to Mast, "American Express Membership Rewards are the pinnacle of credit card points worldwide. Their breadth of transfer partners is unmatched, covering all major alliances with multiple choices. They excel both in how many points you earn per dollar and the value of their transfer bonuses. In short, you cannot consider yourself a true travel credit card guru unless Amex MR forms the cornerstone of your points strategy."
Where can I transfer Membership Rewards Points to?
Membership Rewards has many direct transfer partners, including Velocity Frequent Flyer, KrisFlyer, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, and Etihad Guest. Certain premium cards also provide Qantas Frequent Flyer as a transfer partner.
For most transfer partners, two Membership Rewards points convert to one frequent flyer point (or mile). American Express lists most transfer partners and their current conversion rates.
You can also transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to a range of other international frequent flyer programs, enhancing the Membership Rewards scheme's versatility.
How Membership Rewards credit cards work
Membership Rewards credit cards are issued by American Express and are only available in Australia. Not every AmEx card earns Membership Rewards points; some are linked with Qantas Frequent Flyer or Velocity Frequent Flyer programs.
Enrolling in Membership Rewards is free, but these credit cards typically have an annual fee. One significant benefit of earning Membership Rewards points is the ability to transfer them to other airline rewards programs, providing flexibility and enhancing the value of your points.
How to compare Membership Rewards credit cards
When comparing Membership Rewards credit cards, consider more than just the points you can earn. Evaluate the value of complimentary benefits like travel insurance, airport lounge access, and purchase protection, which can be worth hundreds of dollars. Not all cards offer the same benefits, so comparing the details of each card is essential to find the best fit for your needs.
Membership Rewards earn rate
The rate at which Membership Rewards points are earned varies by card. This rate is usually expressed as a ratio of one point per dollar spent on eligible purchases. Premium cards with higher annual fees typically have higher earning rates. Some cards, like the American Express Shop Small, may offer higher or lower rates depending on the purchase type or promotional offers.
Sign-up bonus points
Occasionally, AmEx offers large sign-up bonuses for new customers who apply for specific cards. These bonuses usually require meeting a spending target within the first three months, such as 80,000 bonus points for spending $1,500 in the first three months.
Membership Rewards earning caps
Unlike many competitors, AmEx cards do not have monthly earning caps or thresholds. The advertised points earning rate remains consistent throughout the month, regardless of spending levels. This allows cardholders to make significant purchases, such as technology or travel, knowing they will earn points at the initial rate.
Membership Rewards tiered earn rates for specific spending types
The points earning rate can vary by card and spending type. Cards with higher annual fees typically earn points faster. Some AmEx cards offer tiered earning rates based on where you spend, such as 3.0 points per dollar at supermarkets, 2.0 points at petrol stations, 0.5 points for government and telco spending, and 1.0 point for other purchases.
Earn points for government purchases
AmEx cards award points for government spending, unlike many rewards cards. However, the rate for government purchases, such as ATO payments or local government rates, is typically lower, usually 0.5 Membership Rewards points per dollar.
