Best Rewards Card
Premium rewards credit card earning Membership Rewards points on every purchase. 20,000 point welcome bonus. Convert points to airline miles or use for shopping.
The American Express Gold card sits in an unusual place: a rewards card with a serious points currency, aimed at people who will actually use the travel and dining benefits rather than just hold it.
Membership Rewards points transfer to a range of airline and hotel schemes, which is where the value is. Redeemed as statement credit they are worth considerably less than redeemed through a well-chosen transfer partner.
Who it suits. Regular spenders who travel and will engage with points transfers. If you would redeem for cashback, a straightforward cashback card will serve you better with less effort.
Worth knowing. Amex acceptance in the UK is good but not universal — smaller independents still decline it, so this works best as a second card rather than an only card. The annual fee means the card only makes sense above a certain spend level, and the introductory bonus usually requires a minimum spend within the first few months.