Are You Making the Most of Your American Express Benefits?

Update:   One or more card offers in this post are no longer available.  Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers. 

Did you know that all American Express credit cards offer helpful services such as extended warranties, purchase protection, and baggage insurance?

Here’s how to make the most of your American Express benefits!

All American Express cards (except prepaid cards like Bluebird and Serve) give you extra perks.

So folks approved for the American Express SimplyCash business card (now with a $250 statement credit after spending $5,000 in the first 6 months) will also get helpful services like roadside assistance.

Extra Perks You Get With an American Express Card

All American Express cards (except prepaid cards like Bluebird and Serve) offer cardholders extra perks like:

• Car rental loss and damage insurance
• Extended warranty
• Purchase protection
• Return protection
• Event ticket protection plan
• Baggage insurance plan
• Global Assist hotline
• Roadside assistance
• Travel accident insurance
• Employee card misuse protection

Update:  Thanks to Million Mile Secrets readers Andrew and brteacher for pointing out that event ticket and employee misuse protection are no longer available.  Benefits change often, so always read the most current terms and conditions!

But, not all cards offer the same services.  You can check here to see which perks your American Express card offers.

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

Link:   Car rental loss and damage insurance

Unlike some credit cards that offer primary car rental insurance coverage, American Express offers secondary car rental insurance coverage.  This means your personal or business car insurance company pays 1st.  So you have to pay your insurance deductible which could increase your insurance rates!

But you can pay for optional primary insurance coverage.  You’ll pay ~$25 (~$18 for California residents) for rentals up to 42 consecutive days (30 consecutive days for Washington State residents).

Extended Warranty

Link:   Extended warranty

You can get 1 extra year on the manufacturer’s warranty on things you buy with your eligible American Express card.

Purchase Protection

Link:   Purchase protection

American Express will reimburse you for your purchase if your item is stolen or accidentally damaged within 90 days of purchase when you pay with your American Express card.

Return Protection

Link:   Return protection

You could get up to a $300 per item refund if a store won’t accept your return within 90 days of purchase, IF you paid with your American Express card.

Note:   The American Express SimplyCash card does NOT offer return protection.  But cards such as the American Express Platinum do.

Event Ticket Protection Plan

Link:   Event ticket protection plan

You can get reimbursed up to $2,000 for the cost of event tickets IF you cannot attend because of a medical emergency.  So you should use your AMEX to buy event tickets because the other cards don’t offer this protection.

Note:  The American Express SimplyCash card does NOT offer the event ticket protection plan.

Baggage Insurance Plan

Link:   Baggage insurance plan

If your bags are lost, damaged or stolen when traveling, American Express will provide additional coverage.

Global Assist Hotline

Link:   Global Assist hotline

If you need help when you’re traveling, American Express can get you in touch with the right people.

Note:  You have to pay for any services you use, like medical treatment.

Roadside Assistance

Link:   Roadside assistance

As an American Express cardholder, you can call for roadside assistance to send someone to help when your car breaks down or you get lost.

Note:  You have to pay for services used such as towing.

Travel Accident Insurance

Link:   Travel accident insurance

When you use your AMEX to pay for cost of your travel transportation (air, train, etc.), you (or your beneficiary) will receive up to $100,000 if within 100 days of the accident while traveling you have a:

• Loss of life
• Loss of both hands or both feet
• Loss of 1 hand and 1 foot
• Loss of entire sight of both eyes
• Loss of entire sight of 1 eye and 1 hand or 1 foot
• Loss of 1 hand or 1 foot ($50,000)
• Loss of entire sight of 1 eye ($50,000)

American Express states,

To be covered, you must pay the Entire Fare** with your eligible Card on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, bus, helicopter, except charters). Entire Fare** means the cost of the full fare for a Covered Trip on a Common Carrier. You can pay for all of the cost in U.S. dollars, or use both dollars and American Express Membership Rewards® Points. But if you use frequent flyer miles or points from another program to pay for all or part of the fare, you will not be covered, except for New Hampshire residents. Please read important exclusions and restrictions.

Note:  Rental cars are excluded.

Employee Card Misuse Protection

Link:   Employee card misuse protection

American Express will reimburse your for unauthorized employee charges on your American Express card.

Note:  The American Express SimplyCash card does NOT offer employee card misuse protection.

Bottom Line

Paying with your American Express card gives you extra protection on things such as lost baggage, manufacturer warranties, and serious injuries while traveling.

So when you use your AMEX SimplyCash card to buy an iPhone or computer at an office supply store, you get you more than 5% back.  You also get purchase protection to reimburse you in case of theft or accidental damage.

What has been your experience with using these American Express benefits?