Why Is American Express So Good? A Detailed Look at Their Standout Credit Cards

American Express credit cards have developed a reputation for being some of the best rewards cards available. While they do come with higher annual fees the value provided by Amex cards often more than makes up for the cost. In this detailed guide we’ll look at why American Express cards stand out and are worth considering.

Amex Offers Lucrative Welcome Bonuses

One of the biggest reasons Amex cards are so desirable is that they come with very generous welcome bonuses These bonuses can be worth hundreds of dollars in statement credits or points

For example, new cardholders of the Platinum Card from American Express can get 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on the card in the first six months. Based on my estimates, those 100,000 points are worth about $1,500 in travel. That’s a huge return just for meeting a minimum spending requirement.

Many other Amex cards also offer large welcome bonuses. If you spend $3,000 in the first six months with the Blue Cash Preferred Card, you’ll get a $350 statement credit. After spending $4,000 in 6 months, the American Express Gold Card gives you 60,000 points.

For the first one to two years you have a card, these big bonuses can cover the annual fee.

Excellent Earning Rates on Bonus Categories

In addition to the welcome bonus, American Express cards earn bonus points or cash back on common spending categories. The Blue Cash Preferred Card earns an industry-leading 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases). This is twice as much as what you would earn with most other cash back cards.

The Platinum Card earns an impressive 5x points on airfare purchased directly with the airline and flights booked through Amex Travel. It also earns 5x on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel.

Other cards like the Gold Card and Green Card earn 4x and 3x points respectively on dining, groceries, travel, and more.

To get the most out of your Amex card, you need to make the most of the bonus categories. Spend most of your money on the things that earn you points faster to pay for the annual fee.

Amex Offers Premium Travel Protections and Benefits

American Express membership has its privileges, especially when it comes to travel benefits. The Platinum Card offers some of the best luxury travel perks of any rewards card.

Cardholders receive up to $200 in annual airline fee credits, up to $200 in Uber Cash annually, access to Amex Centurion Lounges, a Global Entry/TSA Precheck fee credit, automatic elite status with hotels like Hilton and Marriott, and more.

Other Amex cards provide useful benefits like rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, and purchase protection as well. Make sure to take advantage of these perks to increase the value you get from the card.

Excellent Customer Service and Support

Speaking from personal experience, American Express customer service is top-notch. Their phone agents are based in the U.S. and are both friendly and knowledgeable.

Amex also has one of the best mobile apps among credit card issuers. You can quickly view transactions, redeem points, access benefits, make payments, and more.

The Amex mobile app also utilizes push notifications well. You’ll get notified when a large purchase is made on your card or when a payment is due soon.

Good customer service and technology features enhance the overall cardholder experience.

Wide Array of Cards for Different Needs

While Amex is known for premium travel cards, they actually offer a diverse lineup of credit cards. This includes cards optimized for:

• Cash back – Blue Cash Preferred, Blue Cash Everyday, Cash Magnet
• Travel rewards – Platinum, Gold, Green
• Small business – Blue Business Plus, Business Gold, Business Platinum
• Balance transfers – EveryDay Credit Card
• Students – Blue from American Express

There’s a good chance American Express has a card that aligns well with your spending habits and financial needs. Be sure to review all their cards before applying to find the best fit.

Excellent Co-Brand Credit Card Options

Co-branded credit cards issued in partnership with airlines and hotels can provide even more value. American Express issues co-brand cards with Delta Air Lines, Hilton, Marriott Bonvoy, and British Airways.

The Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex offers priority boarding on Delta flights, a first checked bag free, and 2x miles at restaurants worldwide.

Hilton credit cards like the Hilton Honors Amex provide instant elite status, weekend night rewards annually, and bonus points on Hilton stays.

For frequent guests of a specific brand, the co-branded Amex cards provide elite-like benefits and brand-specific perks.

Ability to Transfer Points to Airline/Hotel Partners

A unique feature of American Express Membership Rewards points is the ability to transfer them to airline and hotel partners. This includes programs like Delta SkyMiles, Emirates Skywards, and Hilton Honors.

By transferring points to partners instead of redeeming for cash back or gift cards, you can often get increased value from Amex points.

I frequently transfer my Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic to book partner award flights on ANA, Singapore Airlines, and other carriers. The value is much higher compared to erasing points for statement credits.

Just make sure to compare transfer ratios and award availability before moving points.

Centurion Lounges Provide Luxury Airport Oasis

One of the most coveted benefits of the Platinum Card is access to Amex’s own Centurion Lounges. These lounges provide an upscale oasis in airports like Las Vegas, Dallas, Denver, Miami and more.

Amenities include premium food and cocktails, high-speed WiFi, quiet work spaces, showers, and more. These lounges rival what the best airline lounges offer.

The Platinum Card also grants access to partner lounges like Delta Sky Clubs and Priority Pass Select. But the Centurion Lounges are the crown jewel.

World-Class Concierge Service to Assist You

American Express offers complimentary concierge service that can help you plan anything from a dream vacation to scoring tickets to a sold out concert. The Platinum concierge service is available 24/7.

While most people don’t need full-time concierge assistance, it can come in handy for planning complex trips or gaining access to exclusive events or restaurants. Think of them as your personal assistant.

During travel disruptions, the Amex concierge team can also assist with rebooking flights and hotels as needed.

Rental Car and Purchase Protections Provide Peace of Mind

All American Express cards come with an excellent suite of consumer protections. One of the most valuable is rental car insurance. When you rent a car and charge it to your eligible Amex card, you get coverage for theft and collision damage. This can save you money on both rental car insurance and your own auto policy.

Amex cards also offer extended warranties, return protection for eligible purchases, and purchase protection against theft and accidental damage.

Don’t overlook these cardholder protections as they can end up saving you a lot of money.

Ability to Pre-Qualify for Cards Without Dinging Credit

American Express allows you to pre-qualify for credit cards without impacting your credit score. This is extremely useful for seeing if you may get approved for a given Amex card.

The pre-qualification tool asks for basic information like name, address, income, and last 4 digits of SSN. It performs a soft credit check that isn’t visible to others.

After entering your details, you will get a decision on whether you pre-qualify for any Amex cards. This allows you to zero in on the best option before formally applying.

Top-Notch Mobile App and Digital Experience

As mentioned previously, American Express has one of the most polished mobile apps among credit card issuers. It’s streamlined, intuitive, and provides timely notifications on account activity and upcoming payments.

The American Express online account management experience is similarly world-class. Account details, statements, benefits, and transactions are easy to access on desktop.

Digital experience is crucial for millennials and Gen Z. American Express gets high marks in this area.

Excellent Welcome Offers on Business Cards Too

While this article has focused on personal Amex cards, many of the benefits like rewards and protections extend to small business cards too.

For example, the Business Platinum Card from American Express offers 120,000 Membership Reward points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months. The Business Gold Card provides 70,000 points for $10,000 spend in 3 months.

Business credit card welcome offers are not as generous as consumer cards generally. But Amex business cards remain very competitive.

Premium Cards Require Good Credit History

Now that I’ve outlined the many advantages of American Express cards, a word of caution. Amex generally approves applicants with good or excellent credit scores above 700. Some premium cards like the Platinum require pristine credit.

Before applying for an Amex card, check your credit reports and FICO Scores. Know your chances of approval before submitting an application.

If your score needs work, focus on credit building and improving your credit first. Amex will be there when you are ready later on.

The Bottom Line

When used properly, American Express credit cards provide tremendous value through rewards, benefits, services and protections. While the fees are high on premium cards, you receive premium treatment in return.

Just be sure to consider the annual fee and your ability to capitalize on categories where you earn bonus rewards. Don’t overspend just to chase rewards.

But for frequent travelers who can maximize perks like lounge access, airline credits, and bonus points on airfare and hotels, the Platinum Card is hard to beat.

While not right for everyone, American Express credit cards remain some of the most coveted rewards cards for good reason. The high annual fees are justified by luxury benefits, generous welcome offers, strong bonus earning categories and stellar customer service.