American Express Green Business
Apply now Award System
Bank
Reconsideration Phone
800.492.3344
Breaking Points
| Bonus Points | Minimum Spend | Point Value | Annual Value | Annual Fee | 1st Year Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15,000 | $3,000 | 1.4 ¢ | $0 | $95 | $157 |
| Best Value | Differentiating Perks | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Delta & Hilton transfers | 2x points on restaurants,entertainment and Grocery stores | No CR , Amex 3/90 , No 5/24 , Amex 1/10 |
Spend Categories
2X points
2.8¢ Per Dollar Spent
1X points
1.4¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.8¢ Per Dollar Spent
Card Benefits
Using this card gives you secondary car rental insurance coverage up to $50,000 in collision damage and theft per incident.
Lost luggage insurance up to $3,000 per person and trip delay protection up to $300.
A complimentary 24-hour dispatch hotline that can send a tow operator or locksmith to assist in an emergency situation. Cardholder will be charged for any services or goods provided.
You're covered up to 90 days, up to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per year.
Enjoy up to 1 additional year on the original manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less.
Point Transfer Options
Transfer To Spouse/Partner No
Transfer To Friends No
Travel Partner Transfers
Amex Member Rewards Outside Point System
Transfers Out To
1:1 86% value retained
1:1 107% value retained
1:1 71% value retained
1:1 71% value retained
1:1 79% value retained
1:1 86% value retained
1:1 86% value retained
1:1 86% value retained
1:2 86% value retained
1:0.8 69% value retained
1:1 43% value retained
1:1 93% value retained
1:1 93% value retained
1:1 107% value retained
Bottom Line
Why You Might Want This Card
Exceptions To The Rule
About Amex Member Rewards
American Express points are relatively easy to earn and use. The rub is, it takes a little more strategy to maximize value.
The simplest option is using the travel portal, which works similarly to Chase. Unfortunately each point is worth only 1 cent toward airfare, making it similar to Capital One valuation if used this way. But if you have the Business Platinum card, your points become worth 1.54 cents each (although it is through a points rebate, not for the current booking), making it a solid valuation with a ton of flexibility. Two quick notes:
- If you don’t see a desired flight (e.g. Southwest) you can call 800-297-2977 as Amex has access to more flights and you can still pay with points
- Bookings through Amex travel generally DO NOT show as award travel, so you should receive miles for the flight with the carrier’s system. In this way, it is better than Chase.
Buying gift cards through the Amex Portal will also yield 1 cent per point, sometimes slightly better if there’s a special offer.
Generally, 1 cent is a poor return on Amex points. So if you don’t have the Platinum card, the best way to maximize value is to transfer to a partner. Here are the top choices:
- Delta Airlines is a 1-to-1 transfer partner of Amex, making your points worth about 1.3 cents each. The trick here is to use Virgin Atlantic (A star alliance partner of Delta) to book international business class and Delta for U.S. domestic flights.
- Air France via Flying Blue is a great option for International Business Class Flights. You’ll pay some surcharges, but they are relatively small for business class seats.
- Singapore Airlines, if your destination aligns with theirs, could be a great value for your seats. Here’s why: Singapore’s coach is better than most other carriers' “comfort” seats but cost fewer points.
- Other potential transfer partners which are slightly more complicated include:
- British Airways
- Etihad (booking partners through their site)
- Avianca (booking partners through their site)
Where American Express Green Business Fits In This Point Ecosystem
Personal Experience
Application Rules
This business card will not show on your personal credit report, so it won't count against your 5/24 status
You'll be declined if you apply for a fourth Amex card in 90 days
Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule
Amex allows only 1 bonus per specific card per lifetime (yours or that version of the card)
