Thinking about how to get the most out of your American Express Membership Rewards points? You've landed in the right place! While Amex points are incredibly versatile and offer a myriad of redemption options, one of the most straightforward ways to use them is to help pay down your credit card bill. This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring you understand how to utilize your hard-earned points to cover eligible charges on your American Express statement. Let's dive in!
Step 1: Discovering Your Membership Rewards Point Balance
Before you can even think about paying your American Express bill with points, you need to know how many points you actually have. It's like checking your wallet before going shopping! Knowing your balance helps you determine how much of your bill you can potentially cover.
How to Check Your Points Balance:
There are a couple of easy-peasy ways to do this:
Online Account: The most common and convenient method is to log in to your American Express online account.
Simply visit the official American Express website (americanexpress.com).
Enter your User ID and password to access your account dashboard.
Once logged in, look for a section labeled "Membership Rewards," "Rewards Summary," or similar. Your total available points will be prominently displayed there.
Amex Mobile App: If you prefer using your smartphone, the American Express mobile app is a fantastic tool.
Download and open the American Express app on your device.
Log in with your credentials.
Navigate to the rewards section, and you'll see your point balance readily available.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye on your "pending points" as well. These are points you've earned from recent purchases but aren't yet available for redemption until your payment is processed.
Step 2: Understanding "Cover Your Card Charges"
American Express offers a redemption option specifically designed to help you offset your credit card bill: "Cover Your Card Charges," sometimes also referred to as "Pay with Points" for eligible purchases or statement credit. This feature allows you to redeem your Membership Rewards points for a credit on your statement.
Key Aspects of "Cover Your Card Charges":
Direct Statement Credit: When you use this option, your points are converted into a monetary credit that is applied directly to your American Express card account. This reduces your outstanding balance.
Eligible Charges: American Express typically allows you to cover a wide range of eligible charges that appear on your statement, from everyday purchases like groceries and gas to dining out or online shopping. However, not all charges may be eligible. For instance, certain fees or cash advance transactions usually cannot be covered with points.
Minimum Redemption: There's usually a minimum point requirement to use this feature, often around 1,000 Membership Rewards points. You generally need to use points to cover the entire amount of an eligible charge, rather than a partial amount.
Redemption Value: It's important to note the value you get when redeeming points for a statement credit. While values can vary by card and promotion, this method often yields a redemption value of around 0.6 to 1 cent per point. For example, 10,000 points might get you a $60 to $100 statement credit. While convenient, this isn't always the highest value redemption compared to, say, transferring points to airline partners for premium travel.
Step 3: Navigating to the Redemption Portal
Now that you know your balance and understand the "Cover Your Card Charges" feature, it's time to actually make the redemption!
Step 3.1: Log In to Your Online Account
Go back to the American Express website (americanexpress.com) and log in to your account. Make sure you're logging into the account associated with the Membership Rewards points you wish to redeem.
Step 3.2: Find the "Membership Rewards" Section
Once logged in, look for the "Membership Rewards" section. This is usually accessible from your account dashboard or through a dedicated tab.
Within the Membership Rewards section, you'll typically find options like "Redeem Points," "Explore Rewards," or "Cover Your Card Charges." Click on the relevant link.
Step 4: Selecting Eligible Charges to Cover
This is where you choose which specific transactions on your statement you want to pay with points.
Step 4.1: View Eligible Charges
American Express will present you with a list of eligible charges from your recent activity or current statement. These are the transactions that qualify for point redemption.
Review this list carefully. You might see purchases from various categories.
Step 4.2: Choose Your Transactions
Select the specific charges you wish to cover with your Membership Rewards points. There will typically be a checkbox next to each eligible transaction.
As you select charges, the system will usually show you how many points are required for each transaction and the total points you're about to redeem.
Important Note: If you don't have enough points to cover an entire eligible charge, you generally won't be able to use points for that specific transaction through this method. You'll need to have enough points to cover the full amount of the chosen charge.
Step 5: Confirming Your Redemption
Once you've selected your desired charges, the final step is to confirm the redemption.
Step 5.1: Review Your Selection
Before finalizing, double-check your selection to ensure you're redeeming the correct amount of points for the intended charges.
Confirm the total number of points being redeemed and the corresponding statement credit you will receive.
Step 5.2: Click "Redeem Now" or "Confirm"
With everything in order, click the "Redeem Now" or "Confirm" button.
You will typically receive an on-screen confirmation of your redemption. American Express will also usually send you an email confirmation detailing the transaction.
Step 5.3: Awaiting the Statement Credit
The statement credit will typically appear on your American Express account within 48 to 72 hours. It will often be identified as "Membership Rewards Credit" on your statement.
Remember, applying a statement credit does not negate your responsibility to pay your minimum amount due by the payment due date. The credit simply reduces your overall balance.
Step 6: Alternative Ways to Use Points for Payments
While "Cover Your Card Charges" is a direct way to reduce your bill, American Express offers other methods that effectively act as payments or payment equivalents.
Step 6.1: Pay with Points at Checkout
American Express has partnerships with various online retailers (like Amazon) that allow you to use your Membership Rewards points directly at checkout. While not a direct bill payment, it means you're not using cash for those purchases, effectively saving you money that can then be used to pay your bill.
When shopping online at participating merchants, you'll see an option to "Pay with Points" at the payment stage. You can usually apply points to cover all or part of your purchase.
Step 6.2: Gift Cards
You can redeem Membership Rewards points for gift cards from various retailers. While this doesn't directly pay your Amex bill, you can use these gift cards for your everyday spending, effectively freeing up cash that can then be put towards your credit card payment.
The value per point for gift card redemptions can vary significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to check my American Express Membership Rewards point balance?
You can easily check your balance by logging into your American Express online account on their website or through the American Express mobile app. Your total points will be displayed in the "Membership Rewards" or "Rewards Summary" section.
How to find eligible charges to pay with points on my American Express statement?
After logging into your Amex online account and navigating to the "Membership Rewards" section, look for "Cover Your Card Charges." American Express will then show you a list of eligible transactions from your recent activity that you can cover with points.
How to know the value of my American Express points when paying my bill?
When using points to "Cover Your Card Charges" (statement credit), your points typically have a value of around 0.6 to 1 cent per point. The exact conversion rate will be displayed during the redemption process.
How to use American Express points to pay for a partial amount of a charge?
Generally, when using "Cover Your Card Charges," you must have enough points to cover the entire amount of an eligible charge. Partial redemptions for a single charge are usually not an option through this method.
How to confirm my American Express points redemption for statement credit?
After selecting the charges you wish to cover, the system will show you a summary. Review it, and then click "Redeem Now" or "Confirm." You'll receive an on-screen confirmation and usually an email as well.
How to track the statement credit after redeeming points?
The statement credit for "Cover Your Card Charges" typically appears on your account within 48 to 72 hours. It will be labeled as "Membership Rewards Credit" on your statement.
How to ensure my Amex account is eligible for "Pay with Points"?
To be eligible, you must typically be the basic card member (not an additional card member) and have at least 1,000 Membership Rewards points. Your account also needs to be in good standing (not past due or in collection).
How to get the best value from American Express Membership Rewards points?
While paying your bill with points is convenient, it's often not the highest value redemption. For maximum value, consider transferring your points to American Express's airline or hotel transfer partners, especially for premium travel.
How to pay for online purchases directly with Amex points at checkout?
Some online merchants, like Amazon, partner with American Express to allow you to use your Membership Rewards points directly at checkout. When paying, select "Pay with Points" as an option.
How to avoid earning points on purchases covered by "Pay with Points"?
When you use "Pay with Points" for a statement credit or at checkout, you typically will not earn additional Membership Rewards points on the portion of the purchase covered by points.
