How Do I Redeem My Points with American Express?

As an American Express cardholder and rewards member, you want to make sure you know how to redeem points and what redemption options give you the most return. Redeeming points online or through your mobile app is easy and convenient. Travel rewards are usually the best redemption option, but American Express offers a number of rewards to choose from.

As an American Express cardholder, you may have earned rewards points on your purchases, and now you want to cash in on those rewards. How do you redeem your points with American Express? Customer support representatives are here to assist you with information on the American Express rewards program. You can also keep reading for information on how to cash in your reward points.

How the American Express Rewards Program Work

Purchases with your American Express card can carry a 1 point per $1 spent value up to 10 points per every $1 spent, depending on the type of purchase and what bonus rewards are available at the time. As your points accrue, your potential rewards increase. You can redeem points as soon as you reach the minimum threshold, or you can let rewards build up for greater points.

How To Redeem Points

Redeeming points is easy with the American Express website or mobile app.

Redeeming Points Online

To redeem your points online, follow these steps:

Open the American Express website in your browser.
Log into your account.
Open your rewards page.
Choose your reward.
Select the number of points you want to redeem.
Confirm your selection and enjoy your reward.

Redeeming Points on the App

Do the steps below to redeem your points on the mobile app:

Open the American Express app on your smart device.
Log into your account.
Open the rewards link.
Tap on the reward you want to get.
Enter the number of rewards points you wish to redeem.
Confirm your selection and accept your reward.

Best and Worst Value for Your Rewards

When redeeming your rewards, you want to make sure you are getting the best value for your American Express points. Here is an outline of what rewards are the best and worst:

The best value for your rewards points is to redeem them for travel miles or hotel stays with American Express partners. This is especially useful when there are transfer bonuses to select partners.
Some less-valuable options for points redemption are discussed below:
- Points for purchases usually only carry a return rate of 60 cents on the dollar. Therefore, you are not getting full bang for your buck with this option.
- Shopping on Amazon carries a slightly higher return rate of 70 cents on the dollar; however, it's still not as valuable at the 1:1 ratio you can get with travel perks.
- Making charitable donations with American Express points is a good way to give back; however, American Express does charge a five percent fee to all donations.

Overall, being an American Express rewards member does have several perks. Point redemption is easy and convenient. If you are a frequent traveler, American Express reward points can help you go more places and enjoy more experiences. For more information or assistance, contact American Express customer support here.

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