What counts as travel on the Amex Green card?
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in 2019, the American Express® Green Card was refreshed with a slew of benefits that moved it up onto the list of TPG's best Amex credit cards.
Currently, the card is offering a welcome offer of 45,000 Amex Membership Rewards points after spending $2,000 within the first six months of card membership and has a $150 annual fee (see rates & fees).
The card has also added bonus spending categories of 3x Amex points on travel, transit and dining. For all other purchases, you'll earn one point. In terms of the travel category, it's broader than you think. So which purchases will earn the 3x bonus? Let's find out.
The information for the Amex Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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Related: American Express Green card review
What counts as travel on the Amex Green card?
Here's are the travel purchases that will earn bonus points, according the Amex Green Card's terms:
- Airfare
- Hotels
- Cruises
- Car rentals
- Campgrounds
- Trains
- Taxis
- Ride-share services
- Tours
- Ferries
- Tolls
- Parking
- Buses
- Subways
- Third-party travel websites (i.e., Orbtiz, Expedia, Priceline)
- Travel booked through amextravel.com
Timeshare purchases will not count as travel and Amex specifies that:
Merchants are assigned codes based on what they primarily sell. A purchase will not qualify for additional points if the merchant's code is not eligible.
This won't be an issue for most purchases, but it could be, depending on where you make the transaction. For instance, on a trip I purchased a bus ticket from a convenience store. I didn't use an Amex card, but if I had, I wouldn't have expected it to code as travel.
Another common area of confusion when it comes to determining travel purchases is home-sharing sites such as Airbnb, Homeaway and VRBO. Amex confirmed to us that Airbnb purchases made with your Amex Green Card will count as travel but it's a little less clear with other home rental sites. TPG's Director of Travel Content Summer Hull had a VRBO rental code as travel on her Chase Sapphire Reserve, but readers have had mixed experiences. It seems that vacation rentals that are listed by the owner are more likely to code as travel than those listed by a property management company.
And just because Chase coded VRBO as travel, Amex may not. So I wouldn't expect most vacation rental purchases to earn bonus points. If you have an experience one way or the other, please let us know.
Bottom line
The Amex Green Card has an intro offer and the ability to earn 3x points on travel, transit and dining purchases. Amex lists the specific purchases that count as travel in the card's terms, but some transactions might code differently than you'd expect. Airbnb will count as travel but another home-rental site may not. Often they code as "real estate" or "property management."
Regardless, the travel category is broadly defined for the Amex Green card -- that's good news for earning the most points possible.
For rates and fees of the Amex Green card, click here.
Additional reporting by Chris Dong.
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 10X | Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site |
| 5X | Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas |
| 1X | Earn 1x points on all other purchases |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The revamped Wander Card from Credit One Bank earns cardmembers up to 10 points per dollar spent on eligible travel purchases. With no foreign transaction fees, the card is also great for international travel. However, points earned from this card can only be used at a fixed value, so it may not be the best option for those striving to get maximum value from their rewards.Pros
- This card has no foreign transaction fees and earns up to 10 points per dollar on travel purchases through the Credit One Bank travel partner site.
Cons
- While cardholders can earn a significant amount of points on travel purchases, there isn't any way to redeem points from the Wander Card for maximum value (beyond 1 cent per point).
- Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first 90 days and redeem for a $100 statement credit, gift cards, or travel
- Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel site
- Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas
- Earn 1x points on all other purchases
- Redeem your reward points for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, flights, hotels, and more
- With $0 Fraud Liability, you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Free Online Credit Score and Credit Report summary, terms apply
- If you are a Covered Borrower under the Military Lending Act, you may get a different offer
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 10X | Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site |
| 5X | Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas |
| 1X | Earn 1x points on all other purchases |
Intro Offer
Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first 90 days and redeem for a $100 statement credit, gift cards, or travelEarn 10,000 Bonus PointsAnnual Fee
$95Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Fair/Good
Why We Chose It
The revamped Wander Card from Credit One Bank earns cardmembers up to 10 points per dollar spent on eligible travel purchases. With no foreign transaction fees, the card is also great for international travel. However, points earned from this card can only be used at a fixed value, so it may not be the best option for those striving to get maximum value from their rewards.Pros
- This card has no foreign transaction fees and earns up to 10 points per dollar on travel purchases through the Credit One Bank travel partner site.
Cons
- While cardholders can earn a significant amount of points on travel purchases, there isn't any way to redeem points from the Wander Card for maximum value (beyond 1 cent per point).
- Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first 90 days and redeem for a $100 statement credit, gift cards, or travel
- Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel site
- Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas
- Earn 1x points on all other purchases
- Redeem your reward points for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, flights, hotels, and more
- With $0 Fraud Liability, you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Free Online Credit Score and Credit Report summary, terms apply
- If you are a Covered Borrower under the Military Lending Act, you may get a different offer
- See Rates & Fees