With fall in full swing, many of us are looking at our budget as we book holiday travel and plan for our holiday gift purchases.
At TPG we often report on Amex Offers that give you bonus points or cash after spending a certain amount in a spending category or at a specific retailer. In the final months of 2022, these offers could help offset some of your year-end travel costs or other expenses that tend to pile up.
You could also tap into some offers to earn a nice haul of Membership Rewards points through your travels that could help offset the cost of future trips.
Sign up for our daily newsletter
Here are some Amex Offers to look out for that may save you money right now.
Travel
Keep in mind that, unlike award travel, there are no blackout dates to worry about with Amex Offers so you can book trips to your heart’s content. Add the offer to your card and make a qualifying purchase with your American Express during the time frame the offer is available.
Related: Best credit cards of 2022
While specific offers are targeted and vary by card, quite a few are floating around. Motivated travelers could plan entire trips by combining several deals since we currently see statement credits and bonus points toward airfare, hotels, rental cars, cruises and more.
Airline Amex Offers
One of the best offers we’re seeing right now is for Flying Blue partners Air France and KLM. If you’ve received this targeted offer, you can earn 20,000 Amex Membership Rewards points when you spend $1,000 or more with either airline.
Since TPG values 20,000 Amex points at around $400, that’s a nice return on a big airline expense. Take advantage of this one-time offer by Nov. 6 to earn those bonus points.
If Alaska Airlines’ route map fits your itinerary needs, consider flying with the Seattle-based carrier. Targeted members can get $100 back when they spend $500 more with the airline between now and Nov. 14.
Note that this applies to trips booked on the airfrance.us or klm.us websites, and trips must originate in the U.S. and be paid for in U.S. currency.
Planning a trip to Italy? Targeted Amex customers can get $200 back when they spend $1,250 or more on Italian carrier ITA Airways. This offer expires on Nov. 22.
Car rental Amex Offers
Car rentals are still expensive right now, in large part due to an ongoing rental car shortage. You can use your Amex Offers to shave a little off your next rental car bill.
Check your account for an offer from Amex for Hertz car rentals. When you spend $200 or more, you can get $40 back as part of this offer, which expires Nov. 15. That essentially shaves as much as a fifth off the cost.
Cruise Amex Offers
If you’re returning to the seas, check your Amex Offers first.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Amex Offer gives $150 back when you spend $500 or more. Be sure to take advantage of this offer by Nov. 7.
Hotel Amex Offers
There are also many good hotel offers — so many that we can’t give a full overview of them here, but let’s look at a few of the top offers this month.
Targeted members can get $100 back after spending $500 or more at some of the top hotels within both the Marriott and Hilton portfolios.
For Marriott Bonvoy, this includes luxury hotel brands and expires at the end of the year.
Hilton has a similar offer for Conrad, Waldorf Astoria and LXR properties. Take advantage of this offer by the end of 2022, for stays before the end of the year.
Hilton guests can also get $100 back when spending $500 or more at any properties within the portfolio in Las Vegas and, in fact, throughout Nevada.
Speaking of Vegas, Caesars Rewards Las Vegas offers $40 back when spending $200 or more. MGM Rewards also has Amex Offers at its select and luxury brands. This could be a great way to save on a Las Vegas getaway this fall.
Here’s an offer from Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in Mexico where you can save $100 on a purchase over $500. If you find yourself staying at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico, make sure to stack this offer with the current Hyatt Bonus Journeys promotion, which lets you earn double points and elite nights on stays between now and Dec. 20. Just make sure that you register here for the Hyatt Bonus Journeys promotion by Nov. 15.
If you’re staying at a Marriott property in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean, look for this Amex Offer that takes $60 off a $300 purchase.
Lesser-known hotel chains like the Opal Collection, Hotel Casa del Mar, Sonesta and the Sunset Tower Hotel offer between $50 and $100 back at select purchase levels.
Remember, Amex Offers depend on the date you charge the purchase to your card and not necessarily the travel date. That can be helpful in the case of airfare, for example — buy now and fly later. However, it can be a challenge for hotel stays, rental cars or other travel purchases where you sometimes don’t pay until the trip ends or begins.
In some cases, you may be able to prepay services to ensure your transaction date falls within the promotional period. In other cases, buying a gift card to use on a later stay might trigger the credit, but you’ll need to read the terms of each offer carefully.
If you (or a partner) have another American Express, look on all your cards and add offers. In some cases, you may be able to split purchases onto two targeted cards to get two statement credits and make the deal even sweeter.
Everyday spending
In addition to easing the cost burden of your travels, Amex Offers can also help offset some of your everyday spending, as well as purchases you might make, say, for holiday gifts.
Amex is targeting some cardholders with additional Membership Rewards points (up to 5,000 points) at Best Buy, which can be a great way to save on buying holiday gifts or revamping your work-from-home setup.
Several wine offers are valid into 2023. Lots of these are on the shopping portals, so I recommend ordering wine through one of the shopping portals and using your Amex card with an offer added at checkout to stack your rewards.
Zazzle is another option that works well for gifts. If you’re unfamiliar with Zazzle, the company sells personalized gifts that can make the perfect present. With the current offer of $20 off $100 up to two times, it could be worth getting a gift for a loved one now.
Sometimes the brands in Amex Offers don’t align perfectly with stores you normally frequent, or perhaps you’ve never even heard of them. However, they can lead to tremendous savings.
Double dipping with a shopping portal can make for a fantastic deal. Clothing, personal care products and flowers are great gifts and frequently overlap with Amex Offers and seasonal sales.
Related: Guide to using Amex Offers
Here’s another way to save money on your travels beyond airfare or hotel rates. With this offer, you can get $10 back when you spend $40 more at HMSHost sit-down restaurant locations in airport terminals.
This covers a wide range of restaurants at airports across the country, including Soho Bistro and The Local at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Tuscany Grill, Goose Island and Macaroni Grill (among others) are eligible locations at O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, and Outback Steakhouse, City Pub and Macaroni Grill (among others) are options at Orlando International Airport (MCO). Check this list to see if there’s an eligible location at an airport and terminal you’re visiting.
Most Amex Offers are for specific merchants or categories, so it’s rare to see Amex give additional points across many different types of spending. Amex has even targeted select cardholders with additional Membership Rewards points after hitting certain spending thresholds without requiring that those purchases be in a specific category.
If you prefer to pay for your purchases through a virtual wallet, here’s an Apple Pay offer through Amex to consider. Get $15 back when you make five Apple Pay purchases between now and the end of November.
Since these are based on regular spending (rather than specific to a merchant), look for retailers participating in an online shopping portal. For Amex cardholders, Rakuten could be a perfect option thanks to earning either Membership Rewards points or cash back. Also, new Rakuten members can currently earn a reward of either $30 or 3,000 Amex points by spending $30 within 90 days of joining.
Related: How to use Rakuten to earn bonus cash back or Amex points
American Express Membership Rewards cards
Before you can even think about which Amex Offers to add to your account, you need to have an Amex card — and there are several to choose from.
Related: Choosing the best American Express credit card for you
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card from American Express is one of the most valuable cards available, thanks to a hefty welcome bonus and a long list of luxury travel perks that can more than offset its $695 annual fee (see rates and fees).
The current welcome offer is 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. TPG values Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, making the bonus worth $2,000.
Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express (100,000-point bonus offer after spending $6,000 in the first six months). Also, use the CardMatch tool to see if you’re targeted for a better offer (after meeting minimum spending requirements). CardMatch offers are subject to change at any time.
American Express® Gold Card
The American Express Gold Card is my go-to card for eating out, ordering in or shopping at the supermarket (and pretty much everyone can maximize at least one of these categories). The earning rate of 4 points per dollar on dining at restaurants equals a stellar 8% return on your spending, according to TPG’s most recent valuations. Factoring in up to $120 in annual dining credits and $10 monthly Uber Cash credit, this card effectively costs just $10 per year.
Enrollment is required. For more related content, visit our Amex Gold card hub. Terms apply. The annual fee is $250 (see rates and fees).
Apply here: American Express Gold Card (60,000-point welcome offer after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first six months of cardmembership). Also, use the CardMatch tool to see if you’re targeted for a 75,000-point offer (after meeting minimum spending requirements). This targeted offer is subject to change at any time.
The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express
The Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card from American Express has a relatively low annual fee compared to the cards I mentioned above ($95) and offers 15,000 Membership Rewards points after you use your new card to make $2,000 in purchases within the first six months.
You’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar), 2 points per dollar spent at U.S. gas stations and 1 point per dollar spent everywhere else. If you make 30 or more purchases in a billing period, you’ll earn 50% more points on those purchases. Terms apply.
The information for the Amex EveryDay Preferred card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Read our full Amex EveryDay Preferred card review.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card from American Express has a slew of perks for business travelers. Cardholders will enjoy automatic Gold status in both the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programs along with numerous other benefits. They include Centurion Lounge access, Priority Pass lounge access, Delta Sky Club access (when flying Delta), up to $200 in annual airline fee statement credits on one selected airline and a 35% points rebate for flights booked through Amex Travel in first or business class on any airline, or economy on the airline of your choice each year (up to 1 million points back per calendar year). Terms apply. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
There’s a 120,000-point welcome offer after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership, valued by TPG at $2,400. The card has a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). For more details, check our American Express Business Platinum Card review.
Apply here: American Express Business Platinum Card
Bottom line
Although there are targeted offers on your Amex cards all year, we’re seeing lots of promotions right now that have the potential to overlap with other retail sales and bargains for even greater savings. This could help offset some of your costs as you plan for your budget for the final three months of 2022.
Check your Amex Offers regularly to see if any are relevant for you and pocket those savings for travel in the future.
For the rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For the rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here.
For the rate and fees of the Amex Gold card, click here.
Additional reporting by Ariana Arghandewal, Andrew Kunesh, Katie Genter, Madison Blancaflor, Victoria M. Walker, Kyle Olsen and Sean Cudahy.
Discussion about this post