Ready to Unlock the Value of Your American Express Points? Let's Go Shopping!
Hey there, fellow Amex cardmember! Are you sitting on a pile of American Express Membership Rewards points, wondering how to turn them into something tangible and exciting? You've come to the right place! Your Amex points aren't just numbers in an account; they're a powerful currency that can open doors to incredible shopping experiences, from everyday necessities to luxurious splurges. Forget letting them gather digital dust – it's time to learn how to shop with American Express points and truly maximize your rewards. Let's dive in!
Step 1: Discover Your Membership Rewards Dashboard – Your Treasure Chest Awaits!
Engage with Your Points: First things first, let's get you acquainted with your personal Membership Rewards hub. Have you ever logged in and explored all the redemption possibilities? If not, now's the time!
Visit the Official Amex Website: Head over to
AmericanExpress.com Navigate to Membership Rewards: Once logged in, look for the "Membership Rewards" or "Rewards" section. This is your gateway to understanding your points balance and all the ways you can use them. You'll often find a direct link on your account summary page.
Get to Know Your Balance: On the Membership Rewards dashboard, you'll see your current points balance. This is your shopping budget in points! Take a moment to see how many points you've accumulated. The more points you have, the more possibilities open up.
Step 2: Explore the Different Shopping Redemption Avenues
American Express offers several ways to use your points for shopping, each with its own advantages. Understanding these options will help you choose the best fit for your needs and get the most value for your points.
Sub-heading: Pay with Points at Checkout (Online & In-Store)
This is one of the most straightforward ways to use your points for everyday purchases.
How it Works: Amex has partnered with various online and in-store retailers that allow you to use your Membership Rewards points directly at checkout.
Online Retailers: Popular online merchants like Amazon.com, Best Buy, and others participate in the "Pay with Points" program. When you reach the checkout page and select your American Express card as the payment method, you'll often see an option to apply your Membership Rewards points.
Linking Your Account (if necessary): For some partners like Amazon, you might need to link your Amex Membership Rewards account to your retailer account beforehand. This is a simple, one-time process. Just follow the prompts when you first try to use points.
Flexible Redemption: You can choose to cover the entire purchase with points or use a combination of points and your American Express card.
In-Store (with Amex SafeKey): For certain in-store purchases, American Express SafeKey might prompt you with an option to "Use Points for Credit." This means you can apply points to get a statement credit for that specific purchase. While not directly "shopping with points" at the register, it effectively reduces your out-of-pocket cost.
Value Consideration: While convenient, the redemption value for "Pay with Points" can vary, often around 0.7 cents per point. This might not be the absolute best value compared to other redemption methods, but it's incredibly easy for quick transactions.
Sub-heading: Redeeming for Gift Cards
Gift cards offer a wide array of shopping choices and can sometimes provide a better redemption value than direct "Pay with Points" options.
Accessing Gift Cards:
Log in to your American Express Membership Rewards account.
Navigate to the "Redeem for Gift Cards" or "Shop Gift Cards and Rewards" section.
Vast Selection: You'll find gift cards for a diverse range of retailers, including:
Major Department Stores (e.g., Macy's, Nordstrom)
Electronics Retailers (e.g., Best Buy, Apple)
Restaurants and Food Delivery Services (e.g., Starbucks, Grubhub)
Travel and Entertainment (e.g., Delta, Marriott, Ticketmaster)
And even American Express Gift Cards, which offer maximum flexibility.
Strategic Redemption: Look for gift cards that offer a 1 cent per point value or higher. Sometimes, Amex runs promotions on specific gift cards, so keep an eye out for those bonus offers! This can be a great way to effectively increase the value of your points.
Sub-heading: The Membership Rewards Shopping Portal (Merchandise)
While less commonly advertised, Amex also has a shopping portal where you can redeem points for merchandise.
How to Find It: Within your Membership Rewards dashboard, there might be a section like "Redeem for Merchandise" or "Shop Products."
Consider the Value: Be cautious when using points for direct merchandise redemption. The value per point here is often significantly lower than other options. It's usually more cost-effective to use your points for gift cards or statement credits, and then buy the merchandise with cash. Only consider this option if you genuinely can't find a better redemption or if there's a unique item only available through this portal.
Sub-heading: Using Points for Statement Credit
While not directly "shopping," converting points to a statement credit effectively gives you cash back that you can then use for any shopping.
How to Do It:
Log in to your Amex account.
Look for "Cover Your Card Charges" or "Use Points for Statement Credit" within the Membership Rewards section.
Value: The redemption value for statement credits is typically around 0.6 cents per point. This is generally one of the lower-value redemption options, but it offers ultimate flexibility if you simply want to reduce your credit card bill.
Step 3: Pro Tips for Maximizing Your Shopping Value
Now that you know the different ways to shop, let's talk strategy!
Value Per Point (VPP) is Key: Always consider the "value per point" you're getting.
Travel redemptions (especially transferring to airline partners for business or first-class flights) often yield the highest VPP, sometimes 2 cents or more.
Gift cards can offer a good VPP (often 1 cent), especially during promotions.
"Pay with Points" and statement credits generally offer lower VPP.
Compare Before You Redeem: Before clicking "redeem," quickly check how much the item or gift card would cost in cash. Divide the cash price by the number of points required to get your VPP. For example, a $100 gift card for 10,000 points gives you 1 cent per point ($100 / 10,000 = $0.01).
Look for Promotions and Bonuses: American Express frequently offers special promotions for Membership Rewards redemptions. This could include:
Bonus points when you spend at certain retailers.
Increased redemption value for specific gift cards or "Pay with Points" partners.
Transfer bonuses to airline or hotel partners (if you're also considering travel down the line, these can be incredibly lucrative!).
Keep an eye on your email, Amex app, and your online account for these valuable offers.
Don't Feel Pressured to Use Points for Everything: Sometimes, paying with your card and earning more points for future, higher-value redemptions is the smarter move. Use points strategically for items where the value makes sense to you.
Step 4: Step-by-Step Guide to a Sample Shopping Redemption (Gift Card)
Let's walk through a common and often rewarding shopping redemption: a gift card.
Sub-heading: Logging In and Navigating
Access Your Account: Open your web browser and go to
AmericanExpress.com Find Membership Rewards: Once logged in, locate the "Membership Rewards" or "Rewards" tab or link. Click on it.
Go to Gift Cards: On the Membership Rewards dashboard, you'll see various redemption categories. Look for "Gift Cards" and click to proceed.
Sub-heading: Selecting and Confirming Your Gift Card
Browse the Selection: You'll be presented with a wide array of gift cards from various merchants. Take your time to browse and find one that suits your shopping needs. You might be able to filter by category or search for specific brands.
Check Redemption Value: Pay close attention to the number of points required for each gift card value. For instance, you might see a $50 gift card for 5,000 points (1 cent per point) or a $25 gift card for 3,000 points (less than 1 cent per point). Aim for the highest value possible.
Select Quantity: Choose the quantity of the gift card you wish to redeem.
Add to Cart (if applicable): Some portals function like an online store, where you add items to a cart.
Review Order: Before finalizing, carefully review your order details, including the gift card type, value, and the total points being redeemed.
Confirm Redemption: Click the "Redeem" or "Confirm Order" button. You might be asked to re-enter your Amex password or complete a security verification step.
Sub-heading: Receiving Your Gift Card
Digital vs. Physical: Many gift cards are now delivered digitally via email within a short period (often minutes to a few hours). Physical gift cards will be mailed to your billing address and can take several business days to arrive.
Check Your Email: If you redeemed for a digital gift card, keep an eye on your email inbox (and spam folder!) for the redemption confirmation and the gift card code.
Start Shopping! Once you have your gift card, you're ready to use it for your desired purchases!
Step 5: Understanding "Pay with Points" at Online Retailers (e.g., Amazon)
This is a specific and popular way to shop directly with points.
Sub-heading: Linking Your Amex Account to Amazon
Visit Amazon's "Shop with Points" Page: Go to
Amazon.com/shopwithpoints Select American Express: Choose American Express from the list of available rewards programs.
Link Your Card: Follow the on-screen prompts to link your eligible American Express card. You'll likely need to sign into your Amex account during this process for verification. Ensure the Amex card you link is a Membership Rewards-earning card.
Confirmation: Once linked, you'll receive a confirmation. Your Membership Rewards points balance should now be visible within your Amazon account's payment options.
Sub-heading: Using Points at Amazon Checkout
Shop on Amazon: Add items to your Amazon shopping cart as usual.
Proceed to Checkout: Go to your cart and click "Proceed to checkout."
Select Payment Method: On the payment page, select your linked American Express card.
Apply Points: You should now see an option to "Apply Membership Rewards Points" or similar. There will be a field or slider where you can enter the amount of points you wish to use. You can use points for the full amount or a portion.
Review and Place Order: The total cost will adjust based on the points applied. Review your order carefully and then click "Place your order."
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check my American Express points balance?
You can easily check your American Express Membership Rewards points balance by logging into your American Express online account and navigating to the "Membership Rewards" or "Rewards" section. Your current balance will be prominently displayed.
How to link my American Express card to Amazon for Pay with Points?
To link your Amex card to Amazon, visit
How to get the best value when shopping with Amex points?
For shopping, the best value often comes from redeeming points for gift cards that offer a 1 cent per point value, especially during promotional periods. For overall maximum value, transferring points to airline or hotel partners for travel often yields higher returns (1.5-2 cents per point or more).
How to use Amex points for statement credit?
Log in to your American Express Membership Rewards account, find the "Cover Your Card Charges" or "Use Points for Statement Credit" option, and follow the instructions to apply your points as a credit to your statement.
How to find Amex gift card redemption options?
Within your American Express Membership Rewards dashboard, look for the "Redeem for Gift Cards" or "Shop Gift Cards and Rewards" section. This will show you the available gift card merchants and their respective point values.
How to redeem Amex points for merchandise directly?
You can redeem points for merchandise through the "Redeem for Merchandise" or "Shop Products" section of your Membership Rewards dashboard. However, be aware that the value per point for direct merchandise redemption is often low.
How to tell if an online retailer accepts "Pay with Points"?
When checking out online, if a retailer partners with American Express for "Pay with Points," you will typically see an option to apply Membership Rewards points when you select your American Express card as the payment method.
How to transfer Amex points to airline or hotel loyalty programs?
Log in to your Membership Rewards account, navigate to the "Transfer Points" section, select your desired airline or hotel partner, link your loyalty account (if not already linked), and then specify the number of points to transfer.
How to use Amex points for travel bookings?
You can use Amex points to book flights, hotels, and car rentals directly through the American Express Travel portal (AmexTravel.com) by selecting "Pay with Points" at checkout.
How to avoid losing value when redeeming Amex points?
To avoid losing value, generally steer clear of direct merchandise redemption from the Amex portal and be mindful that "Pay with Points" at checkout and statement credits often offer lower per-point values compared to gift cards or travel transfers. Always compare the cash price to the points required.
