Amex Gold Card Trades Airline Credits for Uber Benefits
by Brittney Myers | Feb. 4, 2021
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A potentially valuable update to a popular favorite.
When the American Express® Gold Card was reimagined a few years ago, I was one of the many who jumped at the opportunity to earn big rewards on grocery and dining purchases -- and a big bundle of Membership Rewards points.
But even before air travel dropped to the bottom of my to-do list, I'll admit that I rarely took full advantage of the airline fee credit that came with my Gold Card. In fact, I used it so infrequently, I didn't even include the credit in my calculations when determining the overall value of the card to see if I should renew.
Apparently, I wasn't alone. In the latest Gold Card refresh, members will say goodbye to the airline fee credit and hello to new Uber and UberEats benefits.
What's coming: adding Uber Cash and UberEats Pass
Whether you needed a ride to the airport, a designated driver, or a meal delivered, chances are good you've used Uber or UberEats sometime in the last 12 months. Starting Feb. 4, 2021, you'll now earn up to $120 a year in credits when you use your Gold Card for Uber rides or UberEats deliveries.
Similar to the way the card's current dining credit works, your Uber credits will kick in as a $10-a-month credit, rather than a lump-sum annual credit. So, if you get $20 in UberEats delivered in March, you'll get $10 back -- but that's it for the month.
In addition to the purchase credit, cardholders will receive a complimentary 12-month UberEats subscription. With the UberEats Pass, you'll get free delivery and a 5% discount at eligible restaurants. Amex estimates the value of the offer to be worth up to $119 (based on the subscription cost of $9.99 a month).
Note that you'll need to claim the offer by the end of 2021 to be eligible. To get the offer, download the UberEats app and add your Amex Gold Card. Then you can claim your UberEats Pass right in the app. Keep in mind that the deal is only for the first 12 months of membership. Once your free membership expires, you'll be charged monthly, at whatever the current rate is at that time.
What's going: airline fee credits expire Dec. 31, 2021
While the new Uber benefits are likely going to appeal to a lot of folks, there will be those who miss the $100 airline credit. On the plus side, cardholders will have the rest of the year to make the most of their existing airline credits, as the benefit won't expire until the end of 2021.
In practice, this means that both new and existing cardholders can enjoy both the airline fee credits and the new Uber credits for the remainder of 2021. If you can maximize each credit, that's $220 in freebies for the year (and that's before you count the existing $120 dining credit).
What's staying: purchase rewards, dining credit, annual fee
So, in summary, we're losing the airline fee credit at the end of the year, but picking up new Uber credits starting in February. Other than that, everything else will stay the same, including:
- 4x points per dollar on groceries ($25,000 yearly cap)
- 4x points per dollar at restaurants (including UberEats)
- 3x points per dollar on air travel (booked through the airline or amextravel.com)
- 1x point per dollar on all other purchases
And, as we mentioned, the current annual dining credit is also sticking around. As before, you'll get $10 a month in credits for eligible purchases made with your Gold Card with Grubhub, Seamless, Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations.
The card's $250 annual fee is also remaining the same -- for better or worse -- as is the current sign-up bonus offer of 60,000 points when you spend $4,000 in the first six months.
All in all, for a card that already appeals to foodies of all kinds, the new credits are bound to add some extra value for a lot of users. If you can maximize both the Uber credits and the dining credits, you'll go a long way toward having the Gold Card pay for itself, which is really the goal for any rewards card with an annual fee.
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About the Author
Brittney is a credit expert and card strategist whose advice has been featured by major publications and financial sites across the web.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
