American Express Membership Rewards points, often called American Express points or Amex points, are literally the most valuable rewards among all of those available in Canada. We’ll soon have a detailed guide, but we want to at least share this post that regroups all the details about how to use Amex points that were already on our resource pages for every card that earns Amex points.
This post is about how to redeem American Express Membership Rewards points, as in your available options to redeem your rewards. We’ll also share a separate post on the logistics and the step-by-step process on how to actually redeem them, with screenshots, very soon.
Here’s how to redeem American Express Membership Rewards points.
Best redemptions of American Express Membership Rewards points
Amex points are rewards of the more lucrative type.
That means they can be worth much more — if you want them to. But it all depends on how well you redeem them: the value of an Amex point varies greatly (even within the same redemption option). Some redemptions are phenomenal, many are great… and some are terrible. If this is news to you, read the basics of the 2 types of rewards that exist.
It’s frankly such a waste to redeem your Amex points at a fixed value of 1¢/pt for any travel expense, like so many people sadly do. We cannot recommend doing that. Our conservative Flytrippers Valuation of Amex points is 50% higher (meaning you get 50% more trips for the same amount of points): ≈ 1.5¢/pt. But they can easily be worth even more.
The best redemption of Amex points is almost always to transfer them to airline partner programs because airline points are the rewards that can provide the highest value. Their value is literally unlimited! Because the price of a flight in points is NOT tied to the price of a flight in cash, giving you the potential for outsized value.
The best transfer partner for Amex points is almost always the Air Canada Aeroplan program, but British Airways Avios points can also provide good value in some instances. Others are more rarely the best, but it can happen.
It DEPENDS. Everything always depends; it’s less simple, but that’s why Amex points can be way more lucrative.
Don’t miss our updated list of examples of the best redemptions of Amex points soon.
All redemption options for American Express Membership Rewards points
The goal is always to have the most rewards, but also to maximize the value of all your rewards. As rewards of the more lucrative type, American Express points are not as easy to understand, redeem, and maximize. They can also be used as rewards of the more simple type, but again, that’s such a waste.
Obviously, one of the basics of travel rewards is that all reward programs offer many redemption options, most of which give you a different value. With points of the more lucrative type, the value also varies enormously within the same redemption option, depending on the specific redemption chosen.
Here are all redemption options available for Amex points and the value per point with each option:
- ≈ 2.1¢/pt to UNLIMITED Specific flights in premium cabins with airline award charts
- ≈ 1.5¢/pt to ≈ 2.1¢/pt Specific flights in economy class with airline award charts
- ≈ 1.5¢/pt to 2¢/pt Any flights with the Amex award chart
- ≈ 1.1¢/pt Any Air Canada flights with the airline’s program
- ≈ 1.08¢/pt to UNLIMITED Specific hotels with hotel award charts
- 1¢/pt Any trips on any website
- 1¢/pt Any trips on the Amex website
- 1¢/pt Cash back as a statement credit
Unfortunately, many people don’t quite grasp how huge of a difference there is between 1¢/pt and 2¢/pt (100% more free travel). When the value is expressed in ¢/pt (the standard measurement unit for rewards value), the difference seems less major than it is.
So, for a concrete example, here’s the value of the 60,000 points you’ll have by unlocking the American Express Cobalt Card‘s current welcome bonus:
- ≈ $1260 to UNLIMITED Specific flights in premium cabins with airline award charts
- ≈ $900 to ≈ $1260 Specific flights in economy class with airline award charts
- ≈ $900 to $1200 Any flights with the Amex award chart
- ≈ $660 Any Air Canada flights with the airline’s program
- ≈ $648 to UNLIMITED Specific hotels with hotel award charts
- $600 Any trips on any website
- $600 Any trips on the Amex website
- $600 Cash back as a statement credit
And here’s a reminder of how many American Express points you can easily get with the best cards.
Best credit cards for Amex MR points |
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American Express® Gold Rewards Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Min. income (card): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Min. spend (bonus): $1k/mo for 12 mos. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WELCOME BONUS ( ![]() |
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Rewards: ≈ $1180 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Card fee: $250 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best for: 72,000 pts + 4 lounge passes and $100 travel credit |
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American Express Cobalt® Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Min. income (card): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Min. spend (bonus): $750/mo for 12 mos. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WELCOME BONUS ( ![]() |
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Rewards: ≈ $900 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Card fee: $156 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best for: 60,000 pts + 5X earn rate no increased offer |
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Platinum Card® from American Express | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Min. income (card): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Min. spend (bonus): $10k in 3 mos. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WELCOME BONUS ( ![]() |
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Rewards: ≈ $1451 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Card fee: $799 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best for: 110,000 pts + unlimited lounges and $200 travel credit |
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American Express® Green Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Min. income (card): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Min. spend (bonus): $1k in 3 mos. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WELCOME BONUS ( ![]() |
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Rewards: ≈ $165 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Card fee: $0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best for: 11,000 pts + no fees but way less value |
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American Express® Business Gold Rewards Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Card: no business required | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Min. spend (bonus): $7.5k in 3 mos. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WELCOME BONUS ( ![]() |
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Rewards: ≈ $713 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Card fee: $199 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best for: 47,500 pts + simpler min. spend structure |
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Business Platinum Card® from American Express | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Card: no business required | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Min. spend (bonus): $15k in 3 mos. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WELCOME BONUS ( ![]() |
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Rewards: ≈ $1922 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Card fee: $799 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best for: 168,750 pts + unlimited lounges different min. spend |
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With so many travelers who took advantage of the amazing offers on the American Express Platinum Card, the American Express Cobalt Card, and the American Express Gold Rewards Card, we’ll have a lot more content about this program.
Details of how to redeem American Express Membership Rewards points (8 options)
Here’s more information about each redemption option.
Value per Amex point: ≈ 2.1¢ to UNLIMITED
Flights in first class and business class are what can give you the best value. It’s a redemption of the more lucrative type. The value depends on the flight chosen. The amount of points required is not tied to the cash price of flights. On most airlines, the number of points is fixed by the award chart (prices are limited, so available seats are limited).
You can book flights on almost 100 different airlines by transferring Amex points to 6 airline partners (with varying transfer rates):
- Air Canada Aeroplan (1-to-1)
- British Airways Avios (1-to-1)
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue (1-to-0.7)
- Delta SkyMiles (1-to-0.7)
- Etihad Guest (1-to-0.7)
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1-to-0.7)
Here are examples of the number of Amex points required for one-way business class flights with Aeroplan (roundtrips are simply twice the price):
- 55,000 pts From Vancouver to Japan on partners
- 60,000 pts From anywhere in Canada to Southern South America on partners
- 60,000 pts From Eastern Canada to Europe on partners (up to 4,000 miles)
- 70,000 pts From Eastern Canada to Europe on partners (up to 6,000 miles)
- 75,000 pts From Western Canada to Asia on partners (up to 7,500 miles)
- 87,500 pts From Eastern Canada to Asia on partners (up to 11,000 miles)
Redeem American Express Membership Rewards points for specific flights in economy class with airline award charts
Value per Amex point: ≈ 1.5¢ to ≈ 2.1¢
Exactly the same principle and works the same as the previous option, but in economy class, so prices in the award chart are lower.
Here are examples of the number of Amex points required for one-way flights with Aeroplan (roundtrips are simply twice the price):
- 6,000 pts Up to 500 miles from Canada to the USA on partners
- 10,000 pts Up to 1,500 miles from Canada to the USA on partners
- 12,500 pts Up to 2,750 miles from Canada to the USA, the Caribbean, or Mexico on partners
- 35,000 pts Up to 4,000 miles from Eastern Canada to Europe on partners
- 40,000 pts Up to 6,000 miles from Eastern Canada to Europe on partners
- 60,000 pts Up to 1,1000 miles from Eastern Canada to Asia on partners
- 7,500 pts Up to 1,000 miles within Europe, Africa, and the Middle East on partners
- 8,000 pts Up to 1,000 miles within Asia and Oceania on partners
- 10,000 pts Up to 1,600 miles within South America on partners
Redeem American Express Membership Rewards points for any flights with the Amex award chart
Value per Amex point: ≈ 1.5¢ to 2¢
Another more lucrative type of reward redemption, with a variable value. But there’s a maximum base fare, so the value is not unlimited, unlike airline points. All flights and all seats are available, but bank flight reward charts give you the best value when the cash price of a ticket’s base fare is very high. Many routes have surcharges, so the value depends on that, too.
Here are examples of the number of Amex points required for roundtrip flights (one-ways are not allowed with the Amex award chart):
- 15,000 pts Specific routes like Montreal-Toronto, Calgary-Vancouver, etc. (maximum $300 base fare)
- 20,000 pts Within your province/territory or to adjacent provinces/territories/states (maximum $300 base fare)
- 40,000 pts Anywhere in Canada and the US, except Hawaii and Alaska (maximum $700 base fare)
- 50,000 pts Caribbean, Bermuda, Central America, Mexico, Hawaii, or Alaska (maximum $800 base fare)
- 60,000 pts Europe (maximum $900 base fare)
- 100,000 pts Anywhere else in the world (maximum $1700 base fare)
Redeem American Express Membership Rewards points for any flights on Air Canada with the airline’s program
Value per Amex point: ≈ 1.1¢
If you want it to be less complicated, with Aeroplan, flights on Air Canada are redemptions of the more simple type. The value doesn’t vary too much depending on the flight chosen and the amount of points required is mostly tied to the cash price of the flight. But all seats are available.
Here are examples of the number of Amex points required for simple discounts on Air Canada with Aeroplan:
- 10,000 pts Discount of ≈ $110 on Air Canada flights
- 25,000 pts Discount of ≈ $275 on Air Canada flights
- 50,000 pts Discount of ≈ $550 on Air Canada flights
- 100,000 pts Discount of ≈ $1100 on Air Canada flights
Redeem American Express Membership Rewards points for specific hotels with hotel award charts
Value per Amex point: ≈ 1.08¢ to UNLIMITED
Another of the more valuable type of reward redemption, with a variable value: the amount of points required is unrelated to the cash price of the hotel. The value depends on how many points are required (varies and isn’t fixed by a chart) and the cash price. The transfer rate means it’s rarely a good deal, but it could be.
You can book 15,000+ different hotels by transferring Amex points to 2 hotel partners (with varying transfer rates):
- Marriott (1-to-1.2)
- Hilton (1-to-1)
Here are examples of the number of Amex points required for completely free hotel nights with Marriott:
- ≈ 5,000 pts In a few destinations (if you book 5 consecutive nights)
- ≈ 6,250 pts In a few destinations (if you don’t book 5 consecutive nights)
- ≈ 8,333 pts In a few dozen countries (if you book 5 consecutive nights)
- ≈ 10,417 pts In a few dozen countries (if you don’t book 5 consecutive nights)
- ≈ 11,667 pts In hundreds of destinations (if you book 5 consecutive nights)
- ≈ 14,583 pts In hundreds of destinations (if you don’t book 5 consecutive nights)
- ≈ 25,000 pts In thousands of destinations anywhere
- ≈ 41,667 pts In hotels that can be very expensive in cash anywhere
Redeem American Express Membership Rewards points for any trips on any website
Value per Amex point: 1¢
The more simple type of rewards redemption, with a fixed value. It is worth less but gives you more flexibility. Amex points are really as simple as points can be, as you can use them to simply erase any travel expense booked on any site.
Here are examples of the number of Amex points required for simple discounts on any trip booked on any website:
- 1,000 pts Discount of $10 on any travel expense on any website
- 10,000 pts Discount of $100 on any travel expense on any website
- 25,000 pts Discount of $250 on any travel expense on any website
- 50,000 pts Discount of $500 on any travel expense on any website
- 100,000 pts Discount of $1000 on any travel expense on any website
Redeem American Express Membership Rewards points for any trips on the Amex website
Value per Amex point: 1¢
For flights, it’s always best to book directly with the airlines, so there’s no reason to do this since you don’t get more value than the option above. For hotels and the rest, the Amex Travel website is as good (or as bad, depending on your stance) as any other 3rd-party booking website.
Here are examples of the number of Amex points required for simple discounts on any trip booked on Amex Travel:
- 1,000 pts Discount of $10 on any travel expense on Amex Travel
- 10,000 pts Discount of $100 on any travel expense on Amex Travel
- 25,000 pts Discount of $250 on any travel expense on Amex Travel
- 50,000 pts Discount of $500 on any travel expense on Amex Travel
- 100,000 pts Discount of $1000 on any travel expense on Amex Travel
Redeem American Express Membership Rewards points for cash back as a statement credit
Value per Amex point: 1¢
If you’re going to waste your precious Amex points for any travel expense at a fixed value of 1¢/pt anyway, then just redeem them for the same value immediately for any expense. Considering all the government spending that has generated inflation, it’s best to redeem now because 1¢ today is worth more than 1¢ in 3 months.
Here are examples of the number of Amex points required for simple cash back as a statement credit:
- 1,000 pts Cash back of $10 on any expense
- 10,000 pts Cash back of $100 on any expense
- 25,000 pts Cash back of $250 on any expense
- 50,000 pts Cash back of $500 on any expense
- 100,000 pts Cash back of $1000 on any expense
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Summary
If you’re wondering how to redeem American Express Membership Rewards points, you actually have many options. That certainly doesn’t mean they’re all good, obviously. If you want to maximize the value of your Amex points, the best redemptions are almost always transfers to airline partner programs.
What would you like to know about how to redeem American Express Membership Rewards points? Tell us in the comments below.
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