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Quick summary
Thai Airways' A380 first class offers comfortable seating, spacious cabins and reliable award availability between Bangkok and select European cities.
The first-class experience includes roomy seats, quality amenities like pajamas and a Rimowa kit, and a caviar service, though food and service quality are not industry-leading.
Lounges at Bangkok Airport vary in size and quality, with the main Royal First lounge offering more extensive amenities than the smaller satellite lounges.
Booking with miles can provide good value, especially when leveraging flexible routing rules and stopovers for complex itineraries.
What to consider
Thai Airways no longer operates flights to the US, and A380 service is limited to certain European routes; other routes may use older aircraft with less impressive first-class cabins.
Award bookings require significant mileage and taxes, and availability is best on A380-operated flights.
Some offers and booking options mentioned in the article may no longer be available.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of seat comfort, amenities, lounge experiences and booking strategies for maximizing value on Thai Airways' A380 first class.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Thai Airways operates a wide variety of aircraft, and while some of the airline's first-class cabins aren't up to date, the A380 offers comfortable seats and fantastic award availability. Today, TPG Editor-in-Chief Zach Honig reviews first class on Thai's A380 on a recent flight from Bangkok to Paris.
While Thai Airways no longer operates flights from the US, the airline serves a handful of cities in Europe from its Suvarnabhumi Airport hub just outside Bangkok (BKK). Unfortunately some routes are served by Thai's older 747 or 777s, but the airline's daily flights to Frankfurt, London and Paris are operated by the A380.
A Thai Airways first-class window seat.
Thai's flagship double-decker includes 12 first-class seats, 60 business-class seats and a whopping 435 economy seats. First class is located on the upper deck, and while seats aren't terribly private, they're perfectly comfortable for the 12+ hour flight to Europe.
Booking Thai First Class
I booked my Thai A380 flight in the middle of a United round-trip award that brought me from New York to Cambodia (via Frankfurt and Seoul), on to Paris (via Bangkok) and then from Paris to Newark (via Munich).
I booked Thai first class using United MileagePlus miles.
The itinerary included four long-haul first-class flights (three on Lufthansa and one on Thai Airways) for 260,000 United MileagePlus miles plus $176 in taxes. While that's a LOT of miles to redeem for a round-trip flight, I felt like I was getting a decent value, thanks to United's generous routing rules (letting me fly to Southeast Asia via Europe) and the ability to add multiple stopovers (in Paris on the return) and open-jaws (flying into Siem Reap and out of Manila). This award was essentially a round-the-world trip, but booked at the regular round-trip rate.
I earned those 260,000 miles from a combination of flying and transferring points from Ultimate Rewards, earned with cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Ink Plus Business Card.
There's excellent award availability on this flight.
You can also use United MileagePlus miles to book the nonstop flight from Bangkok to Paris — that'll run you 115,000 miles plus $21 for the one-way trek. Or you can fly on to North America for a total of 130,000 miles and add a stopover along the way if you're booking the flight as part of a round-trip.
If I had paid cash, the one-way flight (including the leg from Manila to Bangkok) would have cost me roughly $3,000 in first class, which is actually fairly reasonable.
Check-In and Connecting Flight
Thai Airways checked my bag through to Nice on Air France.
We began the trip in Manila after a fantastic stay at Amanpulo. Since we had a connecting flight from Paris to Nice, I asked the Thai representative to check my bag all the way through (I had to provide my Air France flight details). After a few minutes of typing, he managed to do just that, though the bag didn't actually arrive in Nice — apparently it got held up in Paris and Air France ended up delivering it to our hotel later the same day.
Thai's not so great regional business class.
The award included a three-hour flight from Manila to Bangkok on Thai's 777-200. The regional business-class seat wasn't comfortable at all — in fact, I find domestic first-class seats in the US to be comfier, although Thai offered quite a bit more legroom. The flight ended up departing nearly an hour late, leaving us with a pretty tight connection at BKK.
A Thai representative picked us up at the arrival gate.
The regional flight arrived at a remote gate at BKK, but there was a van waiting to take us to the terminal.
Airport and Lounge
We were driven to the lounge along with other passengers flying from Manila.
After the van ride, we were brought directly to a waiting buggy. A Thai representative asked if I wanted to visit the main Royal First lounge. When I said that I did, she explained that the flight would be boarding soon and the main lounge was too far from the gate — she seemed willing to take us there if I had insisted, but it was clear that she didn't think it was a good idea.
Thai's smaller first-class lounge.
I agreed to go to a much smaller first-class lounge near the gate instead, which was located just after a security checkpoint. The lounge was tiny, but empty — unfortunately due to the delay, there was no opportunity to visit the Royal Orchid Spa for a free massage, which I had really been looking forward to. Oh well.
A selection of snacks available in the lounge.
The lounge had a selection of snacks to choose from, though it was nowhere near as comprehensive as what's available in the main Royal First lounge.
You can also order hot and cold items from a menu.
There's also an a-la-carte menu, but we ended up having just five or so minutes in the lounge before our flight was ready to board, so I didn't get to try anything.
The first-class lounge bathrooms weren't anything to write home about.
I did have a chance to visit the bathroom — believe it or not, it was smaller than the lavatory on Thai's A380 (as you'll see below).
After a few minutes, it was time to board through gate E8.
The flight was already boarding when we arrived at the gate, which was a five-minute walk from the small satellite lounge (Thai didn't offer to give us a lift to the gate).
Thai's A380 First-Class Cabin
We didn't have much time in the terminal or lounge, but I was happy to be on board.
Thai's first-class cabin is located at the front of the upper deck.
We boarded directly on the second deck, but if you happen to enter through economy, first class is right behind the forward stairs. This staircase is very rarely used, however, so I actually ended up using it to get some exercise throughout the flight.
Thai's first-class cabin is arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration.
If you're traveling with a friend, the center seats are ideal. And if you end up with one of those seats next to a stranger, you can raise a large partition to add some privacy. There were only three other passengers on our flight, in addition to my girlfriend — we were in seats 1E and 1F, one passenger was in 1A and the other two were in 2E and 2F. That left the rear half of the cabin completely empty, but the flight attendants didn't suggest that any passengers move back for more privacy.
There's a small first-class lounge at the front of the cabin.
There's a small "lounge" at the front of the cabin, but it's kind of a waste of space (it's opposite the area where Etihad has its Residence). I'd much rather see a second lavatory, or even a shower there.
There's one large bathroom at the front left side of the cabin.
Then, in the area Etihad uses for the Residence bedroom, there's a very large first-class lavatory.
The forward lav has a separate sitting area.
The lavatory even includes a separate sitting area.
There's a large mirror for freshening up.
There's also a large lighted mirror and counter for applying makeup, etc. before you land. The lav has plenty of hand towels located throughout as well. There's a second first-class lav behind the cabin, but with only five passengers, the front lav was usually available when I needed it.
The Seat
Seats in row 1 only have two windows.
The first-class seat itself is fairly modern — it's less than four years old at this point, having launched with the A380 in late-2012.
You can store a small bag below the ottoman.
Each seat has a pillow, blanket and a (surprisingly thin) mattress cover, which did little more than provide a clean surface to sleep on. As with many other first-class products, Thai will convert the seat into a bed for you, which includes prepping the mattress cover and blanket. I requested that the flight attendant prepare the unoccupied window seat for me so I could have a bit more privacy while I slept.
Each seat includes a handheld controller, a universal power outlet and two USB ports for charging gadgets.
There's a wired remote at each seat, along with a pair of USB ports and a universal power outlet.
Seat controls are fairly intuitive.
First and business-class seats extend to the full-flat position on Thai's A380, and in first class you can recline the seat fully with a single button. You can also make smaller adjustments using the controls above.
There's a water bottle at each seat.
Middle seats don't have a ton of storage (there's more at the window), though you do have a small compartment below each armrest. Each seat had a bottle of Evian water at boarding.
You can raise a large divider for added privacy in the center seats.
If you're sitting next to a stranger in the middle seat, you can raise the privacy divider, which is operated by a second set of buttons on the top of the divider.
Amenities
First-class passengers get pajamas and a Rimowa amenity kit.
One of the highlights of flying international first class is getting comfy pajamas to wear during the flight — and take home! Thai's PJs are high-quality and pretty comfortable overall. You also get a Rimowa amenity kit, which includes a variety of goodies, such as an eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush, socks, a brush, lip balm and even perfume.
First and business-class passengers receive express immigration passes.
We also received Acces No1 passes, which get you through the "express" immigration line in Paris (which was still too long). I held on to my passes and managed to use them to access the premium security line for our Air France flight as well, even though we were flying economy and didn't have status.
Thai's first-class headphones aren't fantastic.
There was a set of noise-canceling headphones waiting at each seat as well — the headphone case looks nearly identical to the one Bose uses, so I was pretty excited at first, but the headphones Thai provides are actually pretty sub-par.
Flight attendants set up a small bar area at the front of the cabin.
After the first meal service, the flight attendants set up a bar area at the front of the cabin, with bags of chips, cookies, chocolates and water bottles, along with a small selection of magazines. It was a bit underwhelming, to be honest, but I did stop by a few times to pick up a chocolate or two.
In-Flight Entertainment
First-class seats have a 23-inch monitor.
Each seat has a 23-inch monitor, which sounds large in theory, but it's located a few feet from the seat so it doesn't appear to be quite as large as you might think. It's also nearly impossible to use the touchscreen function due to the distance, and the handheld remote wasn't terribly responsive.
There's a decent selection of new releases and classics, along with international films.
As for content, there's a pretty good selection of both new releases and older films. Fortunately, more recent flicks were fairly high-resolution, so they looked good on the large display.
You can also choose from a variety of airshow options.
There's also an airshow, which I went back to frequently. Thai's entertainment system lets you go to the airshow and easily return to your video content when you're done.
Thai's in-flight internet rates.
This aircraft also had internet access, but the rates were insane. I can eat through 100MB in less than an hour, so I opted not to buy Wi-Fi on this flight.
Food and Beverage
Overall, Thai's catering is fine, but far from exceptional. While you may prefer to go right to sleep on a redeye such as this, I didn't want to miss out on a chance to try the main meal.
Thai serves Dom Perignon Champagne on all first-class flights.
The highlight of Thai's first-class catering is the 2004 Dom Perignon Champagne served during boarding and throughout the flight. You can also choose from a selection of wines, such as a 2012 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Steingrubler (about $30 on the ground) or a 2011 Chateau Cantemerle (about $40 on the ground). There's also a selection of beer (Heineken, Chang and Singha) and spirits, including Johnnie Walker Blue Label.
I started the meal with caviar.
Then, on long-haul flights you'll receive a full caviar spread, which consists of white sturgeon caviar, egg whites and yolk, lemon, onion, sour cream and toast. Thai's meal setup also includes a warm towel, a bread basket and high-quality plates, cutlery and glassware.
Next, Thai served an appetizer of foie gras.
The first course (technically the second course) consisted of foie gras with onion marmalade, along with a smoked salmon salad with Thai dressing.
For my main course, I selected grilled tiger prawn with pesto sauce.
Entree choices included chicken curry, lamb fricassee, grilled tiger prawn or fennel soup. I opted for the grilled tiger prawn, which was served with gnocchi, pumpkin and zucchini. It tasted fine, but the shrimp were a hair overcooked, as were the veggies. The pasta was a bit too bland.
After the main course, I tried a sampling of cheeses.
I quite enjoyed the cheese course, especially since it was served with a large selection of fresh fruit.
The dessert course consisted of opera cake, a fruit tart and a coconut custard.
Finally, dessert was presented as a sampler, with opera cake, a lemon fruit tart and a coconut custard.
My girlfriend had a pre-ordered Indian meal, which she quite enjoyed.
I was a bit jealous of my girlfriend's Hindu meal, which consisted of a variety of spicy Indian dishes. She seemed to enjoy it quite a bit.
Breakfast began with a fresh fruit plate and bread basket.
Then, about 90 minutes before landing the flight attendants served breakfast, which began with a bread basket and fresh fruit plate. I also ordered a pot of peppermint tea and a smoothie.
For my main course, I had scrambled eggs with grilled bacon and mushrooms.
Main course options included French toast with ham or scrambled eggs with herbs, which according to the menu was also supposed to be served with smoked salmon. Mine didn't include the salmon, though I did receive two slices of the mushiest, fattiest bacon I've ever had, along with a scoop of soggy mushrooms. The eggs weren't great, either.
Thai includes an orchid with the meal service.
I was also underwhelmed by the service — the flight attendants were polite, but they weren't great about topping off beverages during the meal, and simple things like getting water were a bit too much work (I ended up grabbing a few Evian bottles from the bar and empty seats).
Thai's A380 Business-Class Cabin
Since many of the 60 business-class seats were empty, I decided to walk back and try out Thai's business product for a bit.
Business seats are also arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration.
Seats are in a 1-2-1 configuration, but they're definitely not all equal. If you're traveling alone, I'd recommend the window seats where the seat itself is right up against the window. Meanwhile, if you're traveling with a friend, you'll probably be happiest with the center seats — be aware that the seat position alternates with each row, so you'll either end up with two seats close together or two fairly far apart.
Select window seats offer a fair amount of privacy, and each seat includes a 15-inch monitor.
The seat I tried, 26J, was located nearer to the aisle — if you're traveling alone, I'd check out Seatguru and select the other type of window seat instead.
Seat controls are similar to those in first class.
Business-class seats also lie flat, with similar controls to what you'll find in first.
Window seats also offer additional storage.
Like the window seats in the first-class cabin, business seats located at the window have an additional storage compartment, which should definitely come in handy during a long flight.
Bottom Line
Thai's A380 first class is a great option for awards.
While the food and service aren't exactly industry-leading, first class is very solid on Thai's A380. And with several award seats open on most dates throughout the year, you can reliably redeem your miles for this flight. Be very careful to select the A380, though — Thai is known to swap in older 747s on other routes, and without the new plane and seat, the airline's first class doesn't have that much going for it.
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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.
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$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.
