Same name, different cards: How to distinguish the Amex Gold card from the authorized-user Gold card
Editor's Note
Quick summary
While The Platinum Card® from American Express is a lucrative, premium card in and of itself, you can also share its perks with authorized users.
There are two ways to go about this. You can either pay an additional $195 per year for up to three authorized users who get their own Platinum authorized user cards (see rates and fees). Or, there's a no additional fee option where you can add Gold Card authorized users to your Platinum Card (see rates and fees).
However, this version of the Gold Card is not the same as the American Express® Gold Card that many know and love. Although they may look similar on the outside, they're made of entirely different ingredients.
This distinction can lead to some confusion for those expecting to get the better-known version of the Amex Gold Card and its valuable perks.
So if you have an Amex Platinum and you add a Gold Card for free, will that Gold Card honor this point structure? The short answer is no. Although they share a similar name and a familiar look, these are two entirely different products. Let's take a closer look.
Related: Why you should add authorized users on your Amex Platinum
What "Gold Card" do authorized users get?
In order to get an authorized user (AU) Gold card, you must first own the Amex Platinum Card and pay that card's $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). You'll then be able to order Gold cards for authorized users for no additional fee (see rates and fees). Just like the personal Platinum Card, Gold card AUs earn:
- 5 points per dollar for the primary account on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
- 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
- 1 point per dollar on all other spending. Terms apply.
Each additional card is eligible for one statement credit every four years toward the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee (up to $120). Incidental air travel fees charged by both Platinum and Gold cardmembers are eligible for statement credits (up to $200 annually).
However, authorized user Gold cardholders are not eligible for Priority Pass Select membership or for access to Centurion Lounges, nor are they eligible for other perks such as annual Uber credits (for U.S. services) and elite status at certain hotels and rental car agencies.
| Additional Platinum Card | Additional Gold Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Uber credit benefit | No | No |
| Amex Global Lounge Collection (including Centurion Lounges)† | Yes | No |
| Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts benefit | Yes | No |
| Marriott Bonvoy Gold status | Yes | No |
| Hilton Honors Gold status | Yes | No |
| Hotel credit on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection* bookings through Amex Travel | Yes | Yes |
Enrollment is required for select benefits. *Eligible charges vary by property. †For eligible card members.
If you're interested in the perks not included on the authorized user cards, you may want to spring for Platinum authorized user cards, which cost $195 a year for up to three additional cards (see rates and fees).
Related: Is the Amex Platinum worth the annual fee?
Benefits of applying for the Amex Gold card
The good news is that having a Gold authorized user card won't prevent you from earning the welcome bonus on the Amex Gold Card, which has a $325 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Eligible new Amex Gold cardholders can find out your offer and see if you are eligible to earn as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
. Since TPG's June 2025 valuations deem Membership Rewards points as worth 2.0 cents each, the bonus is worth up to $2,000.
You'll also earn the previously mentioned 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year; 1 point per dollar after) and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year; 1 point per dollar after), 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked through amextravel.com and 1 point per dollar on all other spending.
As for perks, the Amex Gold Card earns up to $120 in annual credits toward dining at participating partners each calendar year, up to $84 in Dunkin' credits each calendar year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts, up to $100 in Resy credits each calendar year and up to $120 annually ($10 per month) in Uber Cash, which can be used on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. Just make sure to add your Gold Card to your Uber account, and you can redeem with any Amex card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Related: Is the Amex Gold worth the annual fee?
Bottom line
Note that all of the previous section applies to the stand-alone Amex Gold product. The no-fee authorized user Gold card available via the Amex Platinum doesn't get those perks or feature the same points-earning structure.
Additionally, the Gold authorized user card is plastic, while the stand-alone Amex Gold card is made of metal. To learn more about these cards, check out our Amex Platinum full review and our Amex Gold full review.
Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
Check the CardMatch tool first for an elevated welcome offer on both cards.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.