American Express® Gold Card: Benefits for Military Members

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The card_name’s unique combination of spending category bonuses and additional benefits makes it one of the best credit cards for military members who want travel rewards and dining and grocery perks. 

Overview of the American Express Gold Card

The card_name is highly recommended for those looking to earn significant rewards for travel, dining, and grocery purchases. Although it comes with a hefty $250 annual fee, using the card frequently to maximize redemptions can create sizable and flexible user benefits.

American Express has partnered with two dozen air travel partners so you can tailor your reward redemptions based on your personal preferences. The card also offers perks through American Express Travel for several hotel experiences at home and abroad.

This card offers Plan It and Pay Over Time payment options that allow service members to finance some purchases over time. However, this is not a traditional credit card because some charges must be paid in full. 

Although there is no introductory APR for purchases, you can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.

»MORE: Learn more about the American Express® Gold Card here

How the American Express Gold Card Supports Service Members and Veterans

Military members and veterans will reap the most benefits from this card if they travel frequently. A robust offering Membership Rewards program allows cardholders to earn up to 4x points on restaurant and grocery purchases, a generous 3x Membership Rewards for flights booked directly with airlines or Amex, and signature perks at select upscale hotels when booking with American Express Travel.

Service members may find the travel partner loyalty program particularly appealing, with more than two dozen air and hotel partners that give travelers a lot of flexibility to use points in ways that suit them best.

And for those service members traveling overseas, there are no foreign transaction fees, a potentially large savings compared to other cards that often charge 3%.

With American Express Preferred Access, cardholders can access premium seats for select cultural and sporting events based on availability.

Under the Military Lending Act, service members receive waived annual and other fees (except late fees and insufficient fund fees). Although the Disney Visa Card has no annual fee, you may benefit from other fees being waived while you are a cardholder.

While it doesn’t apply here, it’s also good to know the Military Annual Percentage Rate (MAPR) must not exceed 36%, and any introductory promotional interest rates must be honored.

»MORE: Learn more about American Express® Gold Card benefits for military

Selected Benefits & Perks of the American Express Gold Card for Military Cardholders

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.
• Earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, takeout, and delivery in the U.S.
• Earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases. The point rate drops to 1x after that amount. This doesn’t include purchases at superstores like Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s.
• Earn 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel.
• $120 in Uber Cash annually when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account. Each month you automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. 
• $120 Dining Credit with up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations.
• $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Secondary car rental damage and loss insurance on eligible rentals.
• Baggage Insurance provides coverage for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage⁠.
• Global Assist Hotline includes 24/7 access for medical, legal, financial, and other select emergency assistance and coordination services when more than 100 miles from home.

Plan It and Pay Over Time payment options allow service members to finance some purchases over time. However, this is not a traditional credit card because some charges must be paid in full. 

Plan It lets you set up a payment plan for eligible purchases, during which you pay a monthly fee instead of interest charges. Pay Over Time lets service members finance eligible purchases over a term with interest. There is a limit to the amount you can finance with a Pay Over Time plan.

»MORE: See all American Express® Gold Card perks here

How to Earn and Redeem Rewards with the American Express Gold Card

Earning Rewards

The card_name has the following rewards structure: 

• 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. 
• 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar
• 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

Up to $120 in annual dining credits at eligible restaurants, including The Cheesecake Factory, Wine.com, Milk Bar, Goldbelly, select Shake Shack locations, and delivery service Grubhub. This credit has to be spent monthly in $10 increments, and you must enroll in the benefit.

Up to $10 in monthly Uber Cash when you add an eligible Gold Card to your Uber account, which can be used for Uber Eats or rides in the U.S.

»MORE: Learn more about the American Express® Gold Card rewards program

Redeeming Rewards

American Express Membership Rewards points are flexible. 

The points can be transferred to almost two dozen airline and hotel partners, most at a 1:1 ratio. American Express also offers frequent transfer bonuses which allow you to maximize your earnings.

When you redeem Membership Rewards points for flights at 1 cent per point via American Express Travel, the flight booked with points will count as a “cash” flight in the eyes of the airline and may earn miles depending on the fare code and cost of the ticket.

You can also redeem Membership Rewards for various travel, retail, and restaurant gift cards. Rates vary depending on the vendor and fluctuate between 0.5 cents and 1 cent per Membership Reward point. You can also pay with points at several vendors.

The card_name offers redemption flexibility by partnering with travel loyalty programs. Cardholders can transfer rewards with travel loyalty programs at the following travel partners.

• Aer Lingus
• AeroMexico
• Aeroplan
• Air France/KLM
• ANA
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Delta Air Lines
• Emirates
• Etihad Airways
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Iberia
• JetBlue
• Qantas
• Singapore Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic
• Choice Privileges
• Hilton Honors
• Marriott Bonvoy

When transferring to U.S. airlines, you’ll also have to pay a fee of $0.0006 per point, with a maximum fee of $99.

»MORE: Compare the American Express® Gold Card to other top rewards cards here

American Express Gold Card Credit Limit

If you have an American Express Consumer or Business Green, Gold, or Platinum Card, your card does not have a preset spending limit unless you have been previously notified otherwise. 

No preset spending limit means the spending limit is flexible, and spending power is determined on a month-to-month basis, depending on the cardholder’s previous spending habits, income, payment history, and other factors.

Annual Fees and Rates for the American Express Gold Card

• $250 annual fee
• Cash Advance Fee is $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
• 29.99% variable APR for cash advances and American Express charging interest on cash advances on the transaction date.
• $0 foreign transaction fee
• No introductory purchase APR 
• Late Payment
• Up to $40 late payment fee
• Up to $40 returned payment fee

The card_name may not let you carry a balance from month to month on all of your purchases. You may be able to use the Pay Over Time benefit for a portion of your purchases. Your due date is at least 25 days after the close of each billing period. 

American Express will not charge you interest on charges automatically added to a Pay Over Time balance if you pay your Account Total New Balance each month on your billing statement.

»MORE: Compare the fees and rates of all top rewards cards here

How to Get Approved for the American Express Gold Card

To qualify for the Amex Gold card, you’ll need at least a good to excellent credit score. A good credit score is generally considered a FICO score of 670 to 700 or higher.

Other factors that are considered include your income, debts, number of open accounts, current employment, housing status, and payment history as part of the overall approval process.

American Express performs a hard credit inquiry to determine your creditworthiness. 

How Does the American Express Gold Card Compare With Other Cards for Military Members?

This is how the card_name compares to other similar cards.

Conclusion: Is the American Express Gold Card Right for You?

Membership Rewards are a powerful and versatile tool for military members and veterans who travel frequently for work or pleasure. You’ll need to be an active card_name user to balance out the somewhat high $250 annual fee.

Pros

• High rewards earnings possibilities
• Points transfer option to many partners
• $0 foreign transfer fee
• 60,000 intro bonus points with $4,000 spent in the first 6 months

Cons

• Limited options to carry a balance
• High APR for Pay Over Time feature
• No introductory purchase APR 
• $250 annual fee

»Next Step: Learn how to apply for the American Express® Gold Card

_{Veteran.com has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Veteran.com and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on Veteran.com are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear, but does not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations. Veteran.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers.}