Update: This offer has expired. Congrats to those who got in on time!
Today marks the return of a limited time offer that is very much worth considering if you value Amex Membership Reward points anywhere close to how I do. The offer is for the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card that will award 75,000 Membership Reward points after spending $10,000 in the first four months. This is greatly increased over the standard offer of no sign-up bonus points, and even a substantial increase over the targeted 50,000 point offer that I got in on last year. In other words, 75,000 points is a big deal these days.
Application: The Business Gold Rewards Card® from American Express OPEN
Here are the official details:
- LIMITED TIME OFFER: Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $10,000 in the first 4 months of Card membership.
- 3X points on airfare
- 2x points on purchases in the U.S. for advertising in select media, gasoline at U.S. stand-alone gas stations, and shipping
- 1X points on other purchases
- Points are earned only on eligible purchases. Bonus points limitations apply.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $175
- Introductory annual fee for Additional Gold Cards in the first year is $0; then, $50 for the first Additional Gold Card and no fee for other Additional Cards
- Terms & Restrictions Apply. Offer expires January 28th, 2013.
I personally like this card not only for the very large sign-up bonus, but also for the 3x points it awards on airfare purchases (though I only use it for domestic airline purchases to award paying a foreign transaction fee). 3x on airfare can add up quickly if you purchase airfare with any regularity. The 2x bonus categories can also be helpful – I personally use the 2x for shipping a fair amount at the post office and at places like FedEx, UPS, etc.
Membership Reward points are flexible points than can either be used as cash, for gift cards, or transferred to a variety of hotel and airline partners. Here is a post with some of my favorite Membership Reward uses. I personally often take advantage of periodic transfer bonuses to the British Airways Avios program and use those points to fly on short American Airlines flights. A 30% transfer bonus to British Airways just ended, but the bonuses have been as high as 50% in the last year. Of course there is no guarantee of what will happen in the future, but those bonuses have been very helpful to my family in the past.
Here is a full list of hotel and airline partners:
While you cannot transfer Amex Membership Reward points to to United, you can go a round about way to use them on United flights (which is important for United fans like me). You can transfer to one of the Star Alliance partners like Air Canada’s Aeroplan progarm or Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program. With Aeroplan transfers are instant and the rates are 25,000 points for a round trip on United within the lower 48, Canada, or Alaska. If you want to go to Hawaii it will cost you 45,000 points round trip for economy. You can also use the points to fly in business or first class. Check out the Aeroplan award chart here.
Another option is to use Membership Reward points within Star Alliance is to transfer to Singapore Airlines to fly on United or US Airways flights. In fact, it can be an even better deal if you want to fly in a premium cabin, fly to Hawaii, or just book a one-way. Economy round trips within the US (other than Hawaii) and Alaska are still 25,000 miles, but one-ways are just 12,500 (they are more with Aeroplan). However, if you want to fly to one of those locations in business or first class on United (on a two-cabin plane) it is just 40,000 points (cheaper than Aeroplan, United, or US Airways). On a three-cabin plane first will cost you 60,000 points round trip on United via KrisFlyer.
The round trip rates to Hawaii on United via KrisFlyer are also very good at 35,000 points round trip for economy. 60,000 points for business (or first on a two cabin plane), or 80,000 points round trip on a three cabin plane. The one downside is that the transfers are not instant (typically up to a day or so) and you do have to book over the phone. Still, the redemption rates are very good for some routes, so it can be worth the extra trouble. Here is a link to using KrisFlyer miles to fly on a Star Alliance partner like United.
If I didn’t already have the American Express Membership Rewards Business Gold Rewards card I would be all over this one. If you want in on this offer, remember this is a very limited time deal that will expire on January 28th.
Disclosure: I do receive a commission if you are approved for this card using one of my affiliate links. As always, thanks for your support.
Mommypoints…so these points can be transferred 1:1 to Starwood Preferred Guest program? Frankly, we too are United flyers (out of IAD) and transferring to Aeroplan or Krisflyer just seems like too much of a hassle for us. BUT, if these can be transferred to SPG, well, I’ll be signing up! Finally, if I sign up, can I transfer the points to my hubby’s SPG account, even if the card is in my name? Could we both get cards and transfer the points into his account? Thanks!
If I had Krisflyer miles…they would get used on SQ…certainly not UA.
2 Questions
Can Membership award spouse points be combined ?
If I cancel an AMEX card can I transfer points to a spouse before canceling, in order to not lose points ?
† Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have had this product or any other Business Gold, Green or Platinum Card® account within the last 12 months
Mom, no the rates vary to each partner. I just listed the partners – that specific transfer rate isn’t great. They normally transfer 3:1 though there have been 50% transfer bonuses in the past that bring it to a more tolerable 2:1 rate. I’ve never tried transferring MR points, but I know you can deposit them into each other’s hotel and airline accounts.
Antonio, ha ha. I hope to do that some point as well, though most of our family trips are shorter journeys on UA.
Jerry, I’ve personally heard of that with MR (though anyone else feel free to chime in), but you could send them to a hotel/airline partner in each other’s names.
Do you know why Singapore Airlines did not list the mileage reedemption for travel to Zone 6(India)
Do the points go away if and when you cancel the card?
Will this show a hard pull on personal credit? Getting ready for a churn but do not want a pull yet.
You could also just google “Amex Business Gold 75k” and the sponsored link also gives you the same bonus. THat way bloggers don’t get the bonus and AMEX keeps the profit so it can offer you more deals!
Is there any chance that reload cards will not qualify to meet minimum spend in that they will not be deemed an eligible purchase? I recently received an Amex card on one of my husband’s accounts, and I believe cash equivalent purchases were not eligible for points.
Hope your daughter is better! A friend of mine said there’s travel, and there’s travel with children.! Have to agree. Both great, but definitely different! Thanks.
-Kolati, I saw Zone 6 on the award chart, so I’m not sure?
Joel, if you don’t transfer them out first and/or don’t have another card that earns Membership Reward points.
Mark, it will show a pull. It will then not display on your personal credit report (unless you stop paying or something).
Lauren, of course people can use any link they feel comfortable using, but Amex seems to have a profitable relationship with affiliates or they wouldn’t use them.
Katherine, they don’t see what you purchase at drug stores, grocery stores, etc. so don’t see why that would be an issue thanks for the well wishes for my daughter. She does seem to be on the mend.
MP: th first question on the app is “are you already a card member?”. Do they mean of this particular card, or of any Amex card? Thanks!
Jamie, any Amex card, though you can say no and just do the full application (which for whatever bizarre reason is often what I do), but it should work either way.
Transferring to Singapore Airlines can be a great option in terms of the miles you need to use for each flight, but does Singapore Airlines hit you with a fuel surcharge if you’re flying on a partner?
I know they do when you fly Singapore Airlines metal.
Also, AirCanada can be great if you can use them for United or USAirways because you won’t pay a fuel surcharge, but be careful using them on other Star Alliance partners, as they will charge a fuel surcharge for some others.
Hold on, this is all new to me. We’ve been redeeming 40K United points for coach tickets to Hawaii. Are you saying for the same amount in MR, we can get first class tickets to Hawaii. Is the availability the same as United’s site? Thanks, appreciate the help.
I got this card with the 50k for $5k in 3 months at the end of November and I’ve already met that spend requirement.
Anyone try or think that they’d allow switching to this offer which would yield an extra 25k if I spent $5k more in the next 2 months.
Trav, no YQ on domestic UA/US flights using KrisFlyer miles.
JS, for 40K MR you can get first class within the 48 and/or Alaska. Hawaii will cost you 60K for business on 3 class cabin or first on a two class plane on United via KrisFlyer. Yes, availability should be the same.
Mike, you can try but Amex isn’t very flexible with that type of stuff anymore.
Mommy- Thanks for the heads up on no YQ on domestic UA/US flights using KrisFlyer miles.
Any clue about for international flights on UA/US?