Amex Green Card Benefits Guide

The American Express® Green Card* includes a $150 annual fee and a bonus rate focused on food, travel and transportation. If you’re looking for your first travel card, these travel benefits make it a clear leader alongside other entry-level travel cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

There are many travel credit cards out there, but which one is right for you? Here’s what you need to know about the benefits of an American Express green card, including how to get the most out of it.

Amex Green Card Benefits

Whether you’re a frequent flyer or a regular at your favorite restaurant, the Amex Green Card offers many rewards, benefits and perks. Earn and redeem Amex Membership Rewards points, enjoy expedited airport security checks and airport lounge access, and use flexible card payment options to pay your bill in full or split large purchases into multiple payments.

Here is a quick overview of the benefits of the Amex green card:

3 times more points for travel, transit and meals worldwide

You’ll earn 3x Membership Rewards points on travel, transportation and meals worldwide (all other purchases earn 1X points). You’ll also get 3x more points, for example, for ordering takeaway food from your favorite pizzeria, as well as for booking a flight to a brand new city and taking a taxi to a restaurant you’ve never been to before.

Welcome bonus 30,000 points

New Amex Green cardholders have the opportunity to earn 30,000 bonus points during their first year of card membership. All you have to do is spend $2,000 shopping for the first three months of membership (that’s only about $666 a month for three months).

$100 net credit

Want to get through airport security? Your Amex green card benefits include up to $100 in yearly Clear membership credits, allowing you to get through expedited airport security. A Clear membership will also help you quickly navigate the safety of sports venues, concert venues, and more. Plus, it’s a safe and secure way to store your immunization information.

$100 LoungeBuddy credit

You’ll receive up to $100 in yearly credits towards LoungeBuddy purchases. Frequent flyers can pay to access any of LoungeBuddy’s lounges with no membership or elite status requirements – and you can use Amex Credits to cover the cost.

No fees for foreign transactions

Like other useful travel cards, the Amex Green Card does not charge any foreign transaction fees on purchases you make outside of the United States. This makes it a good option for those who travel abroad frequently and would like to earn rewards on the go.

Flexible payment options

You will have three different ways to pay your Amex Green Card bill. You can pay your bill in full every month, use American Express Pay Over Time to pay off your balance with interest, or use Plan It to split large purchases into monthly installments and pay them at a fixed fee.

Making the Most of Your Amex Green Card

If you are signing up for an American Express green card, follow these tips to make the most of your benefits:

• Spend at least $2,000 in the first three months to receive your Welcome Bonus.
• Put all travel, transit and meals on the map.
• Make a plan to pay off your balance in full each month.
• Consider joining United MileagePlus or Delta SkyMiles for a discounted Clear membership so your Amex Green credit covers most of your expenses.
• Find LoungeBuddy locations at your favorite airports to help you decide how best to spend your credit.
• Learn the best ways to spend your American Express points to get the most out of your points. In many cases, they can cost up to 2 cents each when you exchange them for trips through American Express transfer partners.

bottom line

The American Express Green Card is a great entry-level travel credit card, especially if you take advantage of all the benefits it has to offer. Want to know more? Read our full American Express Green Card review or check out our list of the best travel credit cards for more options.

*All American Express Green Card information has been independently collected by CreditCards.com and has not been verified by the issuer. This offer is no longer available on our website.

Emily Sherman is a senior editor at CreditCards.com, specializing in news and product recommendations. She is also a founding member of To Her Credit, a two-week series of women’s financial advice for women. When she’s not writing about credit cards, she’s spending her points and miles planning her next big vacation.

Nicole Dicker is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance and habit formation. She spent five years as a writer and editor on The Billfold, a personal finance site where people talk candidly about money, and she regularly teaches classes on how to increase your income as a freelancer.