Big Spenders With Premier Rewards Gold Card From American Express Face Changes in 2015

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Update:   One or more card offers in this post are no longer available.  Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers. Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express cardholders will no longer get bonus points for spending $30,000 in a calendar year.  This change takes effect in 2015.

So you WILL get the American Express Membership Rewards bonus points this year,  but you’ll no longer have the same incentive next year.

So is this card worth keeping or should you look for an alternative?

Reasons to Keep (or Get) the Premier Rewards Gold Card From American Express

Link:   Premier Rewards Gold Card From American Express

You still get:

• Sign-up bonus of 25,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $2,000 within 3 months
• 3X points for flights booked directly with airlines
• 2X points at US restaurants, US gas stations, and US supermarkets
• $100 airline incidental fee credit each year with an airline you choose
• You can transfer points to participating frequent traveler programs
• No foreign transaction fees
• Terms Apply

The $195 annual fee is waived for the 1st year.

But is the Premier Rewards Gold Card From American Express worth keeping when the $195 is due?

Reasons to Close the Premier Rewards Gold Card From American Express

Link:   AMEX EveryDay Preferred Credit Card 

Link:   AMEX EveryDay Credit Card 

There are other AMEX Membership Rewards credit cards with similar benefits but with a lower annual fee.  For instance:

The AMEX EveryDay Preferred Credit Card earns

• 3X American Express Membership Rewards points at US supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year in purchases
• 2X points at US gas stations
• 1X points on other purchases
• The annual fee is $95
• Terms & conditions apply

And the AMEX EveryDay Credit Card earns 

• 2X American Express Membership Rewards points at US supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year in purchases
• 1X points on other purchases
• No annual fee
• As always, terms & conditions apply.

Folks who want to cancel their AMEX Premier Rewards Gold card but keep their American Express Membership Rewards points, might consider the AMEX EveryDay and AMEX EveryDay Preferred cards.

That’s because those 2 cards earn American Express Membership Rewards points.  So you can keep the points you’ve earned with the AMEX Premier Rewards Gold.

And with the AMEX EveryDay Preferred, when you use your card 30+ times on purchases in a billing period you’ll get 50% more points on those purchases (less returns & credits).

I really like earning at least 1.5X American Express Membership Rewards points on all my purchases!  (That’s because you get 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases + 50% bonus points as explained above.)

And 4.5X American Express Membership Rewards points at US supermarkets is a terrific deal!  (You get 3 American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent + 50% bonus when using your card 30+ times in a billing period.)

The no annual fee AMEX EveryDay has a similar deal. When you use your card 20+ times, you get 20% more points on those purchases.

Bottom Line

You’ll no longer get bonus American Express Membership Rewards points for spending $30,000 with your Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express in a calendar year, beginning in 2015.

You might consider other cards with similar benefits that also earn American Express Membership Rewards points such as the AMEX EveryDay Preferred and AMEX EveryDay.

Will this change to the Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express influence your decision whether to keep it?

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

APPLY NOW

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®

• 2X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

• Get 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.

Intro APR on purchases

N/A

Regular APR

15.99%-22.99% Variable

Annual Fee

$95

Balance Transfer Fee

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee $95

Other

Credit Needed Excellent / Good

Issuer Chase

Card Type Visa

MORE INFO