Card Review: AMEX Green

American Express (AMEX) offers a very unique credit card product that not many issuers have: a charge card. It was first released in 1958 and later named the AMEX Green card, and it required payment in full at the end of every month. AMEX recently changed the language in their terms and conditions and re-categorized charge cards as a variation of credit cards. Since releasing the AMEX Green card, AMEX quickly expanded its portfolio by adding the Gold, Platinum, and Centurion cards to create the staple offerings we know and love today. Even though the AMEX Green card is one of the most foundational pieces of AMEX’s history, it didn’t have strong point multipliers until its recent revamp in late 2019. The newly renovated Green card targets young professionals and millennials by focusing on travel and restaurant expenses and could be deserving of a home in your wallet based on your spending patterns.

The new AMEX Green Card has unique benefits and upgraded multipliers for travelers and diners.

Current Bonus: Worth Up to $900

The AMEX Green Card is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards (MR) points after spending $3,000 in the first six months of account opening. On top of that, new card members can receive 20% back as statement credits on travel and transit purchases made in the first six months of card ownership, up to $200. I personally value MR points at 2 cents per point, and after adding the $200 statement card bonus, I value this sign-up bonus at $1,400.

If you live in New York City, earn 3X MR points on weekly or monthly subway passes using the AMEX Green Card. Photo by Unsplash.

The AMEX Green card earns 3X MR points per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on travel including flights, hotels, transit, taxis, tours, and ride-sharing services. 3X MR points translate to a 6% return on your dollar. I appreciate how extensive the transit and travel categories are, similar to the Citi Premier and Chase Sapphire Preferred. The transit category covers tolls and public transportation passes, while the travel category includes expenses related to travel agencies and campsites. All other purchases earn 1X MR points. With the vast array of dining and travel spending that fall under its multipliers, the AEMX Green card can cover a lot of ground in racking up MR points for a relatively low annual fee.

If you’d like to apply for the AMEX Green Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! Click HERE to access my referral link!

Annual Fee and Benefits

The AMEX Green Card is the cheapest charge card in AMEX’s lineup, but still has an annual price tag of $150. This fee isn’t waived during the first year but does come with some benefits to offset the expense. The two main perks are annual statement credits toward CLEAR membership and LoungeBuddy passes.

$100 Annual Statement Credit Towards CLEAR Membership

CLEAR is a biometric screening membership that scans and stores your irises and fingerprints to dramatically reduce the time you spend waiting in airports, sports stadiums, and event venues. The enrollment process only takes about 10 minutes to save your biometric data, which is securely encrypted. CLEAR can even be a useful perk for those who are enrolled in TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. As more premium travel cardholders receive a statement credit for these travel benefits, TSA Pre lines grow longer and more inconvenient at crowded airports like SFO and ATL. With CLEAR membership, travelers can bypass all TSA Pre passengers and CLEAR personnel will escort you straight to a TSA agent. I used my membership at busier hubs and saved hours of combined waiting, sometimes taking less than 5 minutes to go from the CLEAR gate to finishing the security check. I haven’t had a chance to use it at an event or sports venue, but I’d assume it saves time in a similar manner. Today, CLEAR is available in 34 airports and 31 stadiums across 21 states, as well as in Washington, D.C.

CLEAR can drastically expedite the airport security experience so travelers can literally save hours of combined waiting in airports and stadiums! Photo by CLEAR.

The convenience of skipping almost everyone in line comes with a price tag. CLEAR’s default annual rate is $179, but with frequent promotions, this can be lowered to $149. Additionally, Delta and United members receive substantial discounts: Delta Diamond Medallion members receive complimentary membership, while Platinum, Gold, and Silver Medallion members, as well as cardholders of AMEX Delta co-branded cards, pay $109 a year. General SkyMiles members pay $119. The same rules generally apply to United members: United 1k members receive complimentary membership, while Platinum, Gold, and Silver members and cardholders of Chase United co-branded cards pay $109. General United MileagePlus members pay $119 annually. Given that Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus memberships are free, AMEX Green cardholders can easily reduce their out-of-pocket costs to at most $20 a year.

Next time you visit Madison Square Garden for a sporting event or concert, use your CLEAR membership to skip the line! Photo by Unsplash.

Another caveat is that, as a relatively newer program, CLEAR is not available at all airports. Potential cardmembers should see if CLEAR is available at their home airports by visiting CLEAR’s website. I still think it makes sense for most people due to its growing presence, current availability in most major airport hubs, and immense value in saving time through security screening.

$100 Annual Statement Credit Towards LoungeBuddy

Unlike premium travel cards with higher annual fees, the AMEX Green card doesn’t come with Priority Pass Select lounge membership; instead, it offers up to $100 in statement credits towards LoungeBuddy every calendar year. Cardmembers need to directly purchase lounge passes in advance using LoungeBuddy’s app or website. LoungeBuddy offers single-use passes starting at $25, but some travelers, myself included, may prefer to access premium lounges such as those offered by Luftansa, which may cost up to $50 per visit. With the AMEX Green card’s $100 credit, you can squeeze anywhere from 2 to 4 lounges per year based on your comfort preferences.

Visit the Lufthansa Business Lounge at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) and relax before your flight using your LoungeBuddy credit! Photo by LoungeBuddy.

Although LoungeBuddy is owned by American Express, and this perk is a bit of self-promotion, I do like how they’re adding an original benefit. Priority Pass has lost its former luster as it quickly grew into a must-have perk for almost all premium travel credit cards. Their lounges have become very crowded, and the quality of service is compromised with the influx of users during peak hours at busier airports. There certainly are limitations to how far the LoungeBuddy statement credit can take more frequent travelers. However, it’s important to emphasize the AMEX Green Card’s target audience of younger professionals just getting into traveling, as well as its lower annual fee, which is a third of its premium-level counterparts.

The AMEX Green card is a perfect entry-level card for young professionals looking to travel and explore the world. Photo by Unsplash.

Aside from those two primary benefits, the AMEX Green card is also equipped with baggage insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty, car rental loss, damage insurance, and trip delay insurance.

Temporary Relief Measures for COVID-19

For a limited time, AMEX Green card members can receive up to $80 in statement credits when they use their card for select wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers. The statement credit earnings are maxed at $10 per month and are valid from May through December 2020. Though the AMEX Green Card’s relief measures aren’t as lucrative as those of other AMEX offerings, including the Platinum and co-branded airline and hotel cards, it scales accordingly with its comparatively lower annual fee. I appreciate AMEX stepping up to expand different bonus categories and statement credits to a wide variety of cards and accommodate members in need. If you’d like to learn more about temporary relief measures for other AMEX credit cards, check out our detailed article here.

Switch the payment method for your cell phone billing to get $10 off every month with the AMEX Green card until December 2020. Photo by Unsplash.

Summary

The AMEX Green card was the first charge card offered by AMEX . Since its much-needed revamp in late 2019, it has become more attractive for young professionals and beginner travelers. The card offers a sign-up bonus worth up to $1,400 and earns 3X MR points on broad dining and travel categories. It comes with a relatively low $150 annual fee, which can be effectively lowered if cardholders fully utilize the statement credits toward CLEAR and LoungeBuddy. It’s not as luxurious as other premium travel cards like the Platinum Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve, but it certainly deserves a spot in your wallet if you’re looking for a flexible, multi-purpose card.

If you’d like to apply for the AMEX Green Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! Click HERE to access my referral link!