The American Express® Gold Card (review), which is one of Amex’s most popular consumer cards, has just undergone a full fresh. The changes are a mixed bag — while the card’s annual fee is increasing, I’d argue that there are some new perks that help justify that increase. Let’s go over all the details.
In this post:
Details of Amex Gold Card changes
The Amex Gold Card has undergone a refresh as of July 25, 2024. Let’s cover each of the changes, starting with the bad news. Let me note upfront that the benefit of up to $120 in Uber Cash annually is not changing (As of 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.), so I won’t cover it below.
Amex Gold Card annual fee increasing
As of July 25, 2024, the annual fee on the Amex Gold Card has increased from $250 to $325 (Rates & Fees). This applies effective immediately for new cardmembers. For existing cardmembers, this takes effect on the next annual renewal date on or after October 1, 2024.
Amex Gold Card bonus categories tweak
As of July 25, 2024, the Amex Gold Card offers 4x points at restaurants globally (on up to $50,000 of spending per calendar year), 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 of spending per calendar year), 3x points on airfare booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and 1x points on other purchases.
The only thing that has changed here is that the 4x points at restaurants has a new cap of $50,000 per year, while previously there was no cap. This shouldn’t impact a vast majority of consumers, but if you spend a lot on dining, this is obviously not ideal.
Amex Gold Card up to $100 Resy credit
As of July 25, 2024, the Amex Gold Card offers up to $100 in annual Resy credits, and this is a completely new benefit.
This comes in the form of a $50 semi-annual credit (January through June and July through December), with eligible purchases being for U.S. Resy restaurants. If you dine at a restaurant that participates in Resy at least twice per year, then this should basically be good as cash. (Enrollment required)
Amex Gold Card up to $84 Dunkin’ credit
As of July 25, 2024, the Amex Gold Card offers up to $84 in annual Dunkin’ credits, a new perk. This comes as a $7 monthly Dunkin’ credit, valid for purchases at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. (Enrollment required)
Amex Gold Card up to $120 dining credit updated
The Amex Gold Card has long offered an up to $120 annual dining credit, in the form of a $10 monthly credit. This is sticking around, but is being modified. As of July 25, 2024, this can be used for eligible purchases with Five Guys, Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, wine.com, and Goldbelly.
What has changed here is that Five Guys has been added as a new option, while Milk Bar and Shake Shack have been removed. (Enrollment required)
Amex Gold Card white gold design option
As of July 25, 2024, the Amex Gold Card has a new white gold design option, complementing the existing gold and rose gold design options.
My take on the Amex Gold Card refresh
What’s my take on these Amex Gold Card changes?
- The value proposition of many Amex cards has increasingly been about offering credits that are split up monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually; that leads to breakage and isn’t ideal for the average consumer, though if you’re savvy and are willing to put in the effort, it could lead to outsized value
- Personally I value the up to $100 annual Resy credit at close to face value, and would consider that to entirely offset the $75 annual fee increase
- The $7 monthly Dunkin’ credit sort of borders on being comical, though it is something that some people will get use out of, and I’d view it as a bonus perk compared to the previous value proposition
- I’ve never been good about using the up to $120 dining credit, so I don’t have strong feelings about Milk Bar and Shake Shack being replaced by Five Guys
- The cap of 4x points on dining won’t impact a vast majority of people, though obviously that won’t be good for dining super users (who Amex presumably isn’t making much money on)
My general take is that even with these changes, the fundamental value proposition of the card hasn’t changed. This is a card that you get if you spend a lot on food (whether at restaurants or supermarkets), and if that describes you, then the value for the card should still check out.
Over time, I do think annual fee inflation causes some existing members to consider canceling their card. At the same time, there are probably just as many people (if not more) who apply when they see the amount of potential value.
Bottom line
The Amex Gold Card has just undergone a major refresh. The card’s annual fee has increased by $75, but the card has a new Resy credit of up to $100 per year, and a new Dunkin’ credit of up to $84 per year. We’ve seen some other minor tweaks, like changes to eligible partners for the up to $120 dining credit, plus some caps on spending where you can earn 4x points on dining.
What do you make of this Amex Gold Card refresh?
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees).
I just got an email saying I will be getting the Resy credit but the place isn’t even on the Resy app. Great if it posts, there’s only handful of places listed on resy near me and I don’t have interest in going to any of them.
RESY is useless to me, and I think most people. And I cannot drink DD swill, nor will I ever charge $7 for anything.
What about $120 Uber credit?
I finally received an Aspire card last fall and they instantly ended the unlimited priority pass and rsised the fees. The slashed to resort credit and flight credit into quarters or whatever reducing the value to only a fraction unless you stay in a resort 4 times a year
It seems Amex is trying to reach the bottom ford some reason.
All cards getting slashed!
What a shame. Adios
Resort credit: $200/6 months, made it easier to use. Food/spa prices at resorts are crazy, I personally don't value this at a full $200/$400. Resorts are also hard to find, so let's value this at $0.
Flight credit: $50/quarter. I just do $50 to united travel bank every 3 months to get full value.
Free night award: very easy to book at hotels with very high room rates. I average ~$700 in 4 years...
Resort credit: $200/6 months, made it easier to use. Food/spa prices at resorts are crazy, I personally don't value this at a full $200/$400. Resorts are also hard to find, so let's value this at $0.
Flight credit: $50/quarter. I just do $50 to united travel bank every 3 months to get full value.
Free night award: very easy to book at hotels with very high room rates. I average ~$700 in 4 years of using these award.
So if you are able to full use the flight credit, I view it as "pre-paying" a night at a really fancy hotel for $350 (think anniversaries, vacations, etc.). And that's giving a value of $0 to all other benefits (including being Diamond).
Gold is my most utilized card, but I'm not sure if I'm up to adding yet another task to my monthly routine just to use credits. I think it's time to let this one go. I downgraded my Citi Double Cash to a 2nd Custom Cash, will use one for Dining and one for Groceries. I also have Platinum and Green, but think I'm going to take an Amex break to determine if any of these cards still fit into my credit card strategy.
Switching Double Cash to a 2nd Custom Cash would be a great for me--never thought about that. Did you keep the same credit card number? Asking whether it counts under 5/24.
Eh. I love the CC card as much as the next guy, but you can’t seriously compare it to Amex Gold. CC caps at $500 per month. Those taking advantage of Amex Good are likely spending considerably more than that per month on groceries and/or restaurants.
That being said, for a no-AF card it is pretty awesome.
I had a good chuckle at your Freudian slip where you described the Resy credit as a newb benefit. Keep them coming!!
The dining credit is basically pointless - I never eat at those places (I think I'll call for delivery a few times per year - usually if I'm stuck someplace). Ditto Dunkin (I just don't "do" them much).
I'll give them credit on the Resy credit (no pun intended): $50 twice a year is, in some ways, more useful than $20 monthly (over at Delta Reserve).
@Gray have you run into any issues with Resy credits on the Platinum? Well over 90% of my Amex credits post within a few days without any issues, yet with Resy I keep running into trouble where the restaurant isn't coded properly or something -- requiring chats with Amex support. I may just be having bad luck with local restaurants though.
If the Resy credit is seamless, I agree it's the best addition of those advertised new perks.
*Reserve, I'm sorry
It's a great experience when you have to hit up the Amex chat and ask why credits haven't been posted. And then argue about coding and merchant categories.
Awesome experience for a card with an annual fee over $500. Time well spent.
Umm it's not a great experience at all -- that's my whole point.
Also @Alonzo I already replied to one of your posts explaining that I don't justify AF by credits -- the Delta reserve is kept around for the first class companion pass -- if that goes, the card goes. The Resy thing would be "icing on the cake" because we do have a few restaurants in my small town that amazingly are actually on Resy, and I would not be going out of my way to visit said restaurants.
I find it hard to have any strong opinions about this change. However, it wouldn't be the internet if commenters didn't turn it up to 11.
Using the $120 credit is actually pretty simple with GrubHub. There are so many restaurants that take it all over the place. But don't mind me, I'll be over here clipping coupons and collecting 4x points.
The Gold card's $325 AF puts it in the same price range as the Venture X card's $395 AF, albeit sans Visa Infinite premium travel benefits.
And the Venture X gives you $300 travel credit on their portal, and 10,000 points (value roughly $100)…
I don't see in the article mention of the Uber/Uber Eats credit, but it is referenced in the comments. Assume that hasn't been touched. I play the game with that and Grubhub and (usually) don't forget to use that free lunch or two a month.
"... this is a completely newb benefit..."
Unless it's a Freudian slip, I presume you mean NEW.
This article does a great job of putting lipstick on a pig!
In the uk the gold card includes not Uber credits but a discount at a taxi app nobody can effectively use outside London. Also twice a month £5 off discounts at deliveroo delivery app. Ok if you like very over priced greasy fast food, but the strategists are forgetting that unlike cashback, these things are only useful if you actually want to use them. Any more fee increase here and I am going down to the free card.
If you don’t live in an urban area, these credits are useless.
Eh. I live in an urban area and the Reay credits are useless. There are seven restaurants here on Resy's roster...
Simple math, it works!
$240 Uber and GrubHub credits at 90% = $216 (We order pick-up, no fees, but the menu items are on average are 10% higher when ordering using the App).
The $100 Resy credit works. I live in a small village and we have a very nice restaurant that is part of Resy. We dine there at least twice a year. Also, within a half hour drive is the "Big City"...
Simple math, it works!
$240 Uber and GrubHub credits at 90% = $216 (We order pick-up, no fees, but the menu items are on average are 10% higher when ordering using the App).
The $100 Resy credit works. I live in a small village and we have a very nice restaurant that is part of Resy. We dine there at least twice a year. Also, within a half hour drive is the "Big City" with many restaurants that we enjoy on our "staycations".
$216 + $100 = $316. The difference is about $9.
Old AF of $250 - $216 = $34
New AF of $325 - $316 = $9
The value of the 4 points / dollar at grocery and restaurants is more than enough to cover the $9 a year. Less if I buy a cup of DD coffee, which probably will not happen.
Simple math, it works!
The way I see it, I need to spend an additional $7,500 on dining or $3,000 on groceries per year to offset the higher fee compared to using sapphire reserve or freedom unlimited. I’m over the coupon book unless it’s an annual credit (none of this $x per month crap). Too much work to keep track of.
Done with it too. Gold was my top card for so long. Giving it up once AF hits. Fine with the Savor One when not working on a SUB. Works better internationally and no AF.
Brilliant post. That’s EXACTLY how you should look at the situation. Analyze the numbers without emotion, ignoring the coupon/credit stuff, and if you don’t come out ahead then cancel/downgrade the card. Simple as that.
Isn't Resy just a free restaurant reservation platform? How does one spend $100 a year with them?
Correct. First, you must activate the benefit. If you use the card that is on the Resy platform, the credit will trigger. Technically, you don't need to book through Resy. For some, the challenge is that the restaurants on the Resy platform are not ones the person might desire. Amex has seemed to move away from fine dining venues. Or, perhaps, the other way around. Ha.
If correct, that's great that you don't need to book through Resy to take advantage of the credit. There are so many restaurants on Resy (at least in my city) that I'm almost certainly going to spend $50 per half-year at some Resy-participating properties, without trying.
Yeah - I'm lucky in that one of my favorite restaurants in my hometown is part of Resy (I'm there about once a month - they have a honker of a charcuterie board that I'll order as dinner before going to a movie), so I use my two Delta Amexes to knock $40 off of the cost of dinner (I put $25 on each) and dump the rest to CSR. $480/yr vs those two AFs (one is deductible as a business expense) actually does make a dent.
American Express used to be the most prestigious card. As a card holder, you felt special. Now Card members feel like orphans. There are so many better products out there Capital One venture cards really good. Amex just is not what it used to be.
30% hike in the fee is really outrageous. I think mine renewed last month but I doubt I'll renew again unless they throw more value in. Only thing remotely of value in the new offering is Resy, and that's a bit of a stretch.
You have to stand on your head and whistle Dixie backwards to see any value delivered from the increased annual fee. My Amex cards are, one by one, being pitched in the dumpster.
I'm not sure who is doing the market research and analysis for the Amex Gold & Plat but they should be fired immediately. Be more creative. Dunkin and Five Guys credits are just a bad look for a brand that brand itself as prestigious and above the Visa's and Mastercard's of the world.
Immediately downgrade to Amex Green until that fuck that card up too.
If you are justifying this card based on perks alone it's probably not a great card for you in the first place, right? This isn't the Platinum.
For me it's as simple as this: do you spend enough annually on food that the 4X outweighs the 3x you could otherwise get on similar-ish cards, taking into account the annual fees? If so, keep the card. If not, downgrade. There's no need to overcomplicate things.
...If you are justifying this card based on perks alone it's probably not a great card for you in the first place, right? This isn't the Platinum.
For me it's as simple as this: do you spend enough annually on food that the 4X outweighs the 3x you could otherwise get on similar-ish cards, taking into account the annual fees? If so, keep the card. If not, downgrade. There's no need to overcomplicate things.
These perks should be viewed as "icing on the cake" rather than a core component of the fee-justification equation imho.
You justify fees differently than everyone else. Congratulations.
And the Platinum is an even worse card imo. More coupon clipping.
Umm that’s the financially responsible way to justify annual fees…. If you’re scrambling to use your Saks $50 and $75 hotel portal credits you’re just playing into the hands of these big banks.
Obviously there are certain exceptions to the rule. For example, CSR’s travel credit is so encompassing that it’s basically cash. But generally speaking my point stands.
And platinum isn’t worse. 5x on flights and access to Centurion Lounges alone can...
Umm that’s the financially responsible way to justify annual fees…. If you’re scrambling to use your Saks $50 and $75 hotel portal credits you’re just playing into the hands of these big banks.
Obviously there are certain exceptions to the rule. For example, CSR’s travel credit is so encompassing that it’s basically cash. But generally speaking my point stands.
And platinum isn’t worse. 5x on flights and access to Centurion Lounges alone can justify the AF for many travelers.
@Redacted,
I see the 4x points as "icing on the cake" after ensuring the card AF is free after all the coupon clipping is taken care of that I make sure to never miss.
Hey @Luke, if you can do that without going out of your way to change spending habits that is fantastic and good for you! But you’re in the minority — banks are shifting towards these coupon-style credits (or time-limited credits) precisely because they know most customers won’t use them to their full potential.
4x transferrable points on restaurants and grocery stores is still leading the pack, so I'll keep the card regardless, but this update is certainly a let-down.
Also... similar to the Delta 747 card, you can get the new white gold design right now by going to Replace Card.
The add of the Dunkin credit is disappointing. Would have loved to see a more creative addition in the food and bev category. Still a great card I use frequently and often pick up the tab when dining in groups (they Venmo me later of course ;) ).
My card just renewed, so I'll enjoy the new credits, but I hate the coupon style if this card and will look to cancel next summer. If they offer me a decent offer to stay I'll take it, but thismight be the end of my 15 year journey with them
I stopped using the Amex rewards ecosystem two years ago after they clawed back 85,000 MR points when I (accidentally forgot and) closed my gold card one day ahead of the AF coming due. I’ve been sitting at -81k points for some time and was terrified of being at the end of my road using Amex MR, but now I’m more satisfied with each passing refresh! These coupon clip cards are a joke, their lounges...
I stopped using the Amex rewards ecosystem two years ago after they clawed back 85,000 MR points when I (accidentally forgot and) closed my gold card one day ahead of the AF coming due. I’ve been sitting at -81k points for some time and was terrified of being at the end of my road using Amex MR, but now I’m more satisfied with each passing refresh! These coupon clip cards are a joke, their lounges are full of trash (people and garbage) if you can even get in, the Amex offers have become increasingly Delta centric, and their CS has taken a dive since the Ken Chennault days. Easily able to achieve everything I need with Citi Prestige, CSR and C1 Venture. Set yourselves free people, Amex has not been a prestigious wallet ornament for some time! Because, I mean, a wal mart + membership for a plat card next to the Saks credit really makes sense!
Adding $184 in credits (between resy & dunkin) with $75 increase in annual fee doesn't seem bad
Of course bad for those who don't go to dunkin
(You may want to fix “newb”)
No, it is also a newb benefit. Completely worthless. Amex invested all this time and money into Resy, only to realize the average person doesn't gaf about Resy.