Get the Most out of Membership
Rewards Points
Going the extra mile with your Rewards Points.
Goal focused: How to make your Rewards Points more rewarding.
With a variety of rewards programs nowadays, there are so many jumping-off points. There are Credit Card Rewards points, airline Frequent Flyers points, hotel membership points and each comes with different rewards, special offers and benefits.
When you come to American Express®, deciding on which Credit Card to get and how to maximise and use your rewards points shouldn’t be head scratching. We can help answer some of the most commonly asked questions like: How do I earn reward points? What’s the best way to use points? How do I redeem everyday rewards points? How come on some purchases I can earn more points?
We’ve set out some pointers (pun intended) to help you get the most out of our Rewards Cards and the partner programs we work with. Whether you're saving your rewards points with a goal in mind or not, you’ll find some helpful advice and tips to get the most out of your daily spending and the best way to use points to maximise your rewards.
Partner up:
Transfer rewards points to hotel & airlines partners.
Lavish overseas holiday? Or exploring closer to home? Whatever your travel goals, American Express’ Credit Card Membership Rewards points can help get you there.
The great news is that American Express is one of the world’s most connected Cards to a number of airline and hotel Frequent Traveller Partners1. This makes points transfers to your preferred airlines easy and will have you taking off sooner. Depending on the type of Credit Card you are holding, you can transfer your Membership Rewards points to up to 9 different airline partners and 2 hotel partners. Discover the transfer rates and more details here.
American Express also has a special relationship with our national carrier, Qantas. With the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card, the points you earn will be directly credited to your Qantas Frequent Flyer Account2. These Qantas Points can then be redeemed directly with Qantas for thousands of amazing rewards ranging from a flight upgrade, a memorable rail journey, a food and wine indulgence, or something from Qantas’ Rewards store which stocks brands like Apple, Bose, Sony, Samsonite and Dyson.
One-Stop shop: Book flights, hotels & cars.
American Express Travel Online also offers one of the most comprehensive online booking services for flights, hotels, cars - putting it all together for you in convenient bundles.
Once you’ve earnt Membership Rewards Points, log in to the American Express Travel Online portal. Here you can pay, or part pay, for travel with your Membership Rewards points3. On top of that, if you hold an American Express® Platinum Card, Explorer Credit Card or Platinum Edge Credit Card, you can also use your annual Travel Credit4 towards the booking. You’ll also be able to access exclusive travel benefits and enjoy selected offers only available to American Express Cardholders.
ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO USE YOUR POINTS AND GET MAXIMUM MILEAGE FROM THEM IS TO PLAN AHEAD. USUALLY, AIRLINES AND HOTELS START MAKING REWARD SEATS AND ROOMS
One of the best ways to use your points and get maximum mileage from them is to plan ahead. Usually, airlines and hotels start making reward seats and rooms available to book about a year in advance. Another way is to be flexible with your travel dates. Just shifting around your departure and return dates by a few days can save you money and points.
Landing now: Special offers, perks & protection
When you shop and travel with American Express®, the Card you hold may entitle you to a range of special offers, privileges, and, in some cases, higher points earning rates. For example, with an American Express® Platinum Edge Credit Card, you can earn 3 points for every dollar you spend at supermarkets and petrol stations5, tripling your points earning potential.
Some American Express® Cards also include domestic and international Travel Insurance, Shopping and Purchase Protection, and/or Smartphone Screen Insurance. Check insurance with your Card6 for more information.
Presents sorted: Gift Cards.
When it comes to gifts for special occasions, you could travel all over the city looking for presents for friends and family or get the job done thanks to Membership Rewards points, without ever leaving home.
From Apple to Amazon, Xbox to Coles & Myer, you can redeem points to find the perfect gift card for everyone. Discover dining, entertainment, wellness, retail, travel and more gift cards here.
WITH MORE OF US CHOOSING TO SHOP FROM HOME, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND ONLINE EARNS REWARD POINTS.
Always open:
Online shopping with American Express partners.
With more of us choosing to shop from home, it’s important to make sure every dollar we spend online earns Reward Points.
Turn online stores into rewards stores by setting American Express as your preferred payment option at the checkout. American Express is accepted at major retailers like Amazon, Apple, David Jones, Coles and Woolworths, so you can enjoy earning Rewards Points while doing your everyday shopping.
From time to time, Amex Offers also rewards Card Members with cashback or a percentage off at participating businesses, just for spending with your Card. To view current Amex Offers, simply log into your Online Account or the Amex App.
American Express: Playing your Cards right.
If you’re still thinking, ‘how can I get the best value for money from my rewards points?’, our best tip is to stay goal focused. Have an end goal in mind and then work towards it. But first, you’ll need to choose the right Card. Check out our range of rewards earning Cards here.
MORE FINANCIAL WELLBEING ARTICLES
Find the Right Credit Card for You
Build Emergency Fund
EXPLORE MORE POSSIBILITIES
CHECK OUT OUR TRAVEL CONTENT
From getting out of town for the day to getting away from it all for a well-earned break, see what great things you can do on your travels.
CHECK OUT OUR LIFESTYLE CONTENT
From the tastiest places to dine out to activities that keeping the kids active and happy over the holidays, discover what great things you can do day in, day out.
CHECK OUT OUR LIFE MOMENTS CONTENT
From helping you get prepared to bring a new puppy home to guiding you through buying your first home, find out what great things you can do for the moments that matter most.
- Partner Programs. To transfer Membership Rewards points into an airline rewards or frequent guest partner program you must be a member of the partner program. Membership of the partner program is the Card Member's responsibility and is subject to the Terms and Conditions of the applicable program. A joining fee may apply.
- Qantas Points. You must be a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program to earn and redeem Qantas Points. A joining fee may apply. Membership and the earning and redemption of points are subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program available at qantas.com/frequentflyer. Qantas Points and bonus Qantas Points are earned in accordance with and subject to the Qantas American Express Cards Points Terms and Conditions, and exclusions apply. Eligible purchases do not include annual Card fees, cash advances, interest, fees and charges for traveller's cheques and foreign currencies - these do not earn Qantas Points. For the full list of exclusions, please refer to the Qantas American Express Cards Points Terms and Conditions. You will earn 0.5 point per dollar spent with Merchants classified as 'government', including the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Postal Corporation (Australia Post), Federal/State and Local Government bodies, including where you use a payment account, payment aggregator, services of a third party or online retailers that sell goods for another merchant.
- American Express Travel. To earn or redeem Membership Rewards points, Cards must be registered to the American Express Membership Rewards program, and be active and current in their payments. When paying with a combination of your American Express Card and Membership Rewards points, only the value applied to the Card is eligible to earn Membership Rewards points. Membership Rewards Terms and Conditions apply when booking on the American Express Travel website. Please visit the Membership Rewards website to view the full Terms and Conditions(membershiprewards.com.au/termsandconditions)
- Annual Travel Credit.
Platinum Travel Credit. Book through americanexpress.com.au/travel or by phone through Platinum Travel Service for flights, hotel or car hire. You may be able to use the Travel Credit on the American Express Travel website as payment towards Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection, if the selected hotel and room type provides you the option to prepay in advance. Benefit available for the Primary Card Member only to redeem in a single booking. For bookings less than $450, any unused portion of the Travel Credit will be forfeited. The Travel Credit cannot be carried forward to any subsequent year. To check the expiration date of your Travel Credit if you have not already redeemed it, please visit americanexpress.com.au/travel; log in and click Travel Credit Details in the top right hand corner. No refunds, including cancelled bookings. Travel Credit spend will not earn Membership Rewards points. For full Travel Credit Terms and Conditions visit americanexpress.com/australia/platinumtravelcreditterms. Please note Additional Cards are referred to as Supplementary Cards in some Terms and Conditions and marketing material.
Explorer Travel Credit. American Express Explorer® Credit Card Members are eligible for one Travel Credit of $400 per year. Subject to Travel Credit terms and conditions, to redeem the Travel Credit, you must have paid the annual fee and minimum payment by the due date. The Travel Credit can be redeemed for any eligible travel booked and paid online through American Express Travel in a single booking. For bookings less than $400 any unused portion of the Travel Credit will be forfeited. Eligible travel includes Flight, Hotel and Car Hire bookings only and may not be used towards Cruises. The Travel Credit can be used for 365 days from the anniversary date and cannot be carried forward to any subsequent year. Your Travel Credit for that year will be forfeited if you cancel your booking, subject to supplier’s terms and conditions plus applicable fees.
Platinum Edge Travel Credit.To redeem the Travel Credit, you must have paid the annual fee and minimum payment by the due date. The $200 Travel Credit can be redeemed against any single eligible travel booked and paid online through americanexpress.com.au/travel. The Travel Credit can be used for 365 days from the anniversary date and cannot be carried forward to any subsequent year. For bookings less than $200 any unused portion of the Travel Credit will be forfeited. Terms and Conditions apply. - Membership Rewards Program. Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards program available here. The following merchants have been classified as major supermarkets: Bi-Lo, Coles, Fishers, Food For Less, Fresh Provisions, Harris Farm Markets, IGA, Macro Wholefoods, Safeway, Supabarn, Thomas Dux, Woolworths. The following merchants have been classified as major petrol stations: Ampol, BP, Caltex Woolworths, Gull, Metro, Peak, Safeway Petrol, Shell, United, Woolworths Petrol, 7 Eleven. Exceptions may apply if an individual merchant trading as one of the above named retailers does not accept American Express as a form of payment. Purchases at major supermarket & major petrol station retailers are only eligible for additional points if the transactions are made in Australia. Certain transactions will earn 2 points per dollar spent, including the use of foreign currency overseas and overseas online payments. Additional points for major supermakets, petrol stations and foreign currency may not apply when you use a payment account, payment aggregator, services of a third party or online retailers that sell goods for another merchant. For example a payment made to a major supermarket processed through a payment aggregator may not earn the additional points.
- Insurance with your Card.The insurance on American Express Cards is subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits). You must use your American Express Card to pay for your trip in order to be covered under the travel insurance and pay for eligible items for those items to be covered under the retail insurance benefits. It is important you read your American Express Card Insurance Terms and Conditions and consider whether the insurance is right for you. We do not provide advice about the insurance or whether it is appropriate for your objectives, financial situation or needs. This insurance is underwritten by Chubb Insurance Australia Limited (ABN 23 001 642 020, AFSL No. 239687) under a group policy of insurance held by American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085, AFSL No. 291313). Access to this insurance is provided solely by reason of the statutory operation of section 48 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth). Card Members are not a party to the group policy, do not have an agreement with Chubb and cannot vary or cancel the cover. American Express is not the insurer, does not guarantee or hold the rights under the group policy on trust for Card Members and does not act on behalf of Chubb or as its agent. American Express is not an Authorised Representative (under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)) of Chubb. American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085). AFSL No. 291313. ® Registered Trademark of American Express Company