JT is a location-independent digital nomad traveling 250,000+ miles each year with his wife Katie.
July 8, 2019 • 14 min read
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
Sun Country Airlines, once a full-service carrier, now operates as an ultra low-cost airline with a focus on affordable fares and minimal amenities.
The base fare includes only a personal item, with additional charges for checked or carry-on bags, seat selection and extra legroom.
Despite limited amenities such as no Wi-Fi or inflight entertainment, Sun Country offers free nonalcoholic drinks and reasonably priced snacks and alcoholic beverages.
The airline has made efforts to improve customer experience, such as efficient check-in processes and attentive onboard service, even during operational disruptions.
What to consider
Expect extra charges for bags, seat selection and priority boarding, which can increase the total trip cost.
Amenities are limited, with no complimentary snacks, Wi-Fi or inflight entertainment, and only USB power outlets available at seats.
Aircraft seating varies, with extra-legroom options available for a fee, but standard seats may feel tight for longer flights.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of seat types, onboard service nuances and tips for navigating Sun Country's low-cost model effectively.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Needing to get from Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota (MSP), to the New York City area on a Wednesday morning, I checked Google Flights for my options. While American, Delta and United also offered nonstop flights, I was curious to try out Sun Country for the first time. The airline has had a tumultuous history since its founding in 1982, with multiple bankruptcies and ceasing operations multiple times.
While I'd heard about these horror stories, I still hadn't heard much about what the Sun Country experience was like. So my wife, Katie, and I decided to check out the ultra low-cost carrier for ourselves. Just in case, I made sure to book the flight using a credit card with solid travel protections.
After pricing out the options on Google Flights, I clicked through to book the flight directly on Sun Country. We found that we just happened to need a flight on the cheapest date of the week, with the cost starting at $123 total including taxes and fees.
Of course, that was before you factored in the cost of bags. The base fare only included transportation for you and a small personal item. The cost to add either a checked bag or a carry-on bag was $30:
Before continuing, Sun Country confirmed exactly what the fare and our bag selection included.
At booking, Sun Country charged between $30 and $39 for a Best Seat, getting preferred boarding, one complimentary alcoholic beverage, extra legroom, extra recline, adjustable headrest, in-seat power and USB port. Extra-legroom Better Seats cost between $16 and $25 each, and Standard Seats ranged from $12 to $19 each.
I passed on paying for a seat in advance, which Sun Country confirmed with a pop-up that noted that I wouldn't be able to check in online:
Sun Country notes on its website and in emails to passengers that ticket counters open two hours prior to departure. That's the shortest I've heard of an airline opening the check-in counter. And that was compounded, as we were flying on an early-morning flight after an all-day system outage that kept any passengers from being able to check in online.
Sure enough, when we arrived at the terminal a little more than an hour and a half before departure, we were met with a long line that stretched beyond the eight columns of ropes.
To make things a little better, airline representatives were at the entrance to the line handing out coffee and donuts.
The airline seemed determined to not make this an issue, fully staffing all check-in counters and adding staff to direct traffic. Though long, the line moved quickly, and we were in front of an agent in 15 minutes.
The bag drop was quick, and we were issued new boarding passes with a Group 5 (of 6) boarding stamp. I asked about priority boarding and was told it'd be an additional $45 to move to a Best Seat, which came with Group 1 boarding.
Although there's a Priority Pass lounge and an Escape Lounge at MSP, neither is accessible from the low-cost Terminal 2. Wandering up and down the fresh, new 14-gate terminal, we didn't see any lounges. But there were plenty of restaurants, shops and vending machines.
The crisp seating area at the gate was plenty large enough for all of the passengers on the flight who had arrived at the gate by the scheduled boarding time.
An announcement was made about nine minutes after scheduled boarding, which was scheduled for 6:15am, saying that the preboarding process would begin in five minutes. Preboarding ended up starting at 6:35am with limited-mobility passengers, then military and then credit cardholders. General boarding began at 6:36am. Group 2 seemed to consist of passengers who'd paid for a carry-on bag.
Speaking of bags, I was a bit concerned that my carry-on backpack was technically larger than the personal-item measurements. Thankfully, the bag sizer was only being utilized as a coat hanger.
Katie and I boarded at the start of Group 5 at 6:39am. Despite the delay in boarding, we pushed back right at the 7am departure time.
A note about the operating performance: Since launching Flight 233 from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Newark (EWR) on April 11, the airline has been on time 60 of 64 times, and two of those delays were just a few minutes from being considered on time. However, the airline's average delay was ruined by a single delay of more than eight hours.
Sun Country operates 26 Boeing 737-800s and four Boeing 737-700s, and your experience is going to depend on what specific aircraft your flight is assigned to, from pitch to the number of lavatories on board. The shorter 737-700s are going to be generally better, with 31-to-32-inch pitch throughout the cabin, but two of these aircraft have only two bathrooms instead of three.
For this flight, we flew on one of Sun Country's densified Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Although the carrier is all-economy, there were three different types of seats:
Best: 34 inches of pitch, A/C and USB power outlets, extra recline, free premium beverage, preferred boarding (seemingly Group 1)
Better: 32 inches of pitch, USB power outlets
Standard: 29 to 30 inches of pitch, USB power outlets
On board, I measured 34 to 35 inches of pitch for the Best Seat and 32 inches of pitch for each Better row I checked. The pitch for the Standard Seat measured 30 inches for most rows I checked, but there were a few that measured 29 inches or 29.5 inches. Exit rows had the most pitch, with 39 inches.
We should have only been assigned a Standard Seat, but we were assigned seats in the Better section at check-in -- which my knees certainly appreciated.
There was not much seat padding. For better or worse, there was a lack of hardshell to the seat. That meant that each time the passenger behind you pulled something out of the seatback pocket, it felt like they were burrowing into your back.
Seats measured 17 inches between the armrests for window seats and approximately 17.5 inches between armrests in the middle seat. The middle armrests rose fully, which was nice if you had an empty seat next to you and you wanted to stretch out a bit.
Speaking of window seats, there are two seats to watch out if you're hoping to pick a window seat. 10A has a missing window right next to the seat.
Seat 11F is also missing a window, but it's not quite as bad.
Our flight wasn't quite full. I snuck a peek at the Sun Country boarding system and found that that 146 passengers were checked in for the 183-seat aircraft. On board, the flight attendant confirmed that there were 37 empty seats. We hoped to have an empty seat in our row, but the check-in agents fully filled in the Better section, leaving all of the empty seats in the back.
The Standard and Better seats reclined only around 2.5 inches, but there was no headrest to help cradle your neck to sleep. Only the Best seats had adjustable headrests.
The tray tables were full-size -- even in Standard seats -- measuring 16 inches wide by 9 inches deep. This sets Sun Country apart from ultra low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier, which only have partial tray tables. Above the tray table, there was a literature pocket measuring 12 inches wide by 10 inches deep.
Overhead bins were a standard size, meaning roller bags needed to fit horizontally instead of vertically. Bins mostly filled up for our flight despite the empty seats and Sun Country's requirement to pay for a carry-on bag.
There were three lavatories on the plane we flew. Despite the airplane's nearly 18 years, the bathroom looked well-maintained.
Sun Country's ultra low-cost carrier model was evident in its amenities -- or lack thereof. There was no Wi-Fi, inflight-entertainment screen, A/C power outlets (besides in Best), pillows, blankets, headphones, live TV, tail cam, etc.
It's easier to list what Sun Country did have: USB power outlets. For each row of three seats, there were four USB power outlets. There were not many amps in these outlets, either. My phone noted that it was "charging slowly" when plugged in.
When a passenger in front of me asked if there were Wi-Fi, we were both optimistic when the flight attendant noted that there was "AirFi." Turns out that Sun Country stumbled into offering a couple of entertainment options when it installed a payment-collection and transmission system.
In exchange for your age, ZIP code, name and email address, you got access to 15 magazines, 22 games and 31 individual songs.
In case you're wondering about that videos link at the top, clicking that loaded a blank page.
Update: Sun Country contacted me after this review was published to note that the AirFi system should have included 20 movies and TV show options.
About 30 minutes after takeoff, flight attendants announced -- waking up passengers who were trying to sleep -- and then began food and drink service. Despite transitioning into a low-cost-carrier business plan, Sun Country still offers 12 drink choices for free.
And you don't have just one shot at a free drink. Flight attendants swung back through the cabin after the initial drink service to offer coffee and water.
Like on legacy carriers, you needed to pay for beer ($7 to $8), wine ($8) and spirits ($8). Staying true to its Minnesota roots, the airline offered -- and indicated on the menu -- two Minnesota-brewed beers and two Minnesota-distilled spirits. Instead of a standard beer can, the Minnesota beers were a full 16-ounce pint. At $8, that wasn't a bad deal at all, so Katie and I split a blonde ale.
In addition to a la carte snacks ($4 each), there were three types of snack packages: kids ($5), regular "Flitebites" ($7) and "hearty" ($9). Although tempted by the Kids Flitebites, as it included a Sun Country wings pin, we ordered one of each of the larger boxes.
"Hearty" certainly described them. The boxes were packed with enough snacks that we both made breakfast out of them and had leftovers to snack on later. The $7 Flitebites box came with pretzel crisps, cheese spread, a Nature Valley granola bar, Welch's fruit snacks and chocolate-covered almonds.
The $9 Flitebites Hearty box included beef jerky, Wheat Thins, cheese spread, almonds, a Clif Bar, Welch's fruit snacks and Milano cookies.
Between free sodas and coffee and reasonable prices for snack boxes, Sun Country certainly exceeded expectations for what a low-cost carrier would provide. However, the lack of complimentary snacks and the lack of hot food for purchase weighed down the score.
It was explained to me that Sun Country's onboard service was as good as its legacy-airline flight attendants who are asked to work the low-cost model. Sure enough, the flight attendants on our flight fit this mold. Service was as you might expect on a domestic American, Delta or United flight -- not Southwest levels of friendly, but knowledgeable, curious and well-trained.
About 50 minutes after departure -- just as many passengers were settling in to sleep for the early-morning flight -- a load announcement was made heralding the start of the food-and-beverage sales. Making that announcement surely helped sales, but it wasn't a particularly passenger-friendly announcement.
Overall Impression
After the justifiably bad press that Sun Country received after stranding passengers in Mexico in April 2018, I was especially curious to try out the former legacy, somewhat-newly low-cost airline. And I think that Sun Country has settled into its niche.
The dense aircraft and lack of amenities allow the airline to offer bargain-basement fares. Yet the airline seems to be focused on not making it a miserable experience. When its systems were down for a day, it staffed check-in lines with extra agents and handed out donuts and coffee -- both additional costs for the sake of making it a better experience for passengers. While there are no complimentary snacks, the airline offers free sodas, juices, coffee and water on board.
If you want to avoid the ultratight pitch or add on a snack or alcoholic drink, Sun Country doesn't charge punitive rates for doing so. While not up to par with Spirit's Big Front Seat, the extra-legroom seats are competitive with the pitch in extra-legroom economy on legacy airlines.
Would I fly Sun Country again? You betcha. For the right price, schedule and as long as I could be disconnected during the flight, I'd take the low-cost carrier. That said, thanks to my elite status on American and on United's Star Alliance, I'd pay a bit more to fly on a mainline carrier if it offered a similar schedule.
at American Express's secure site. Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
Rewards rate
Rate
Category
4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
Annual fee
$325
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended credit
Excellent to Good
Pros + cons
Pros
Valuable dining and food-related credits
Points are transferable
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Difficult credit redemption
More details
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.
Pros
Valuable dining and food-related credits
Points are transferable
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Difficult credit redemption
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
at American Express's secure site. Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
Rewards rate
Rate
Category
4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
Annual fee
$325
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended credit
Excellent to Good
Pros + cons
Pros
Valuable dining and food-related credits
Points are transferable
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Difficult credit redemption
More details
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.
Pros
Valuable dining and food-related credits
Points are transferable
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Difficult credit redemption
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.
American Express® Gold Card
TPG Editor's Rating4/5
TPG Editor's Rating4/5
at American Express's secure site. Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
Rewards rate
Rate
Category
4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
Annual fee
$325
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended credit
Excellent to Good
Pros + cons
Pros
Valuable dining and food-related credits
Points are transferable
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Difficult credit redemption
More details
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.
Pros
Valuable dining and food-related credits
Points are transferable
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Difficult credit redemption
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
