Stephanie Stevens is an associate writer with TPG's credit cards team. She focuses on creating timely credit cards content for TPG readers.
August 24, 2026 • 9 min read
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Frequently Asked Questions
When you redeem points for a booking, the portion of the purchase covered by points isn't eligible to earn additional Membership Rewards points. However, flights booked through Amex Travel can still be treated as paid tickets by the airline, meaning you can generally earn airline miles and elite-qualifying credit according to the airline's rules and the fare purchased.
It's worth checking the airline's terms for your specific ticket, particularly if you're counting on the booking counting toward elite status.
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Quick summary
Membership Rewards points can be redeemed through Pay with Points for eligible travel bookings via the issuer's travel portal, offering a straightforward option for using points.
This method allows you to cover all or part of a booking, bypassing the need to search for award availability or navigate loyalty programs.
Redemption values vary: flights typically yield 1 cent per point, while prepaid hotels may offer less value, such as 0.7 cents per point.
Certain business cards provide points-back benefits on eligible flight bookings, increasing the effective value of points for those redemptions.
What to consider
A minimum of 5,000 points is required for each Pay with Points redemption, and not all bookings (such as non-prepaid hotels or car rentals) are eligible.
Points-back benefits are capped annually and require you to have enough points for the full redemption before any rebate is applied.
TPG's August 2026 valuations estimate Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, highlighting that transferring to travel partners can offer higher value.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of Pay with Points versus transferring points to travel partners, including real-world examples and tips for maximizing redemption value.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Pay with Points can be a convenient way to redeem points without worrying about award availability or learning the ins and outs of airline and hotel loyalty programs. However, it isn't always the best-value way to use your points.
Here's everything you need to know about Amex Pay with Points, including how it works, how much your points are worth and when you should consider using it.
What is Amex Pay with Points?
Amex Pay with Points allows Membership Rewards members to use their points toward eligible travel booked through American Express Travel. Rather than transferring your points to an airline or hotel loyalty program, you redeem them directly through the portal.
AMERICAN EXPRESS
You can use points to cover all or part of an eligible booking. If you don't have enough points to cover the entire purchase, the remaining balance is charged to your American Express card. The minimum redemption is 5,000 points.
This can be particularly appealing if you value simplicity, as you don't have to search for award availability, worry about blackout dates or wait for a transfer to process.
Using Pay with Points is relatively straightforward:
Search for an eligible flight, hotel or other travel booking through Amex Travel.
Select your itinerary and proceed to checkout.
Choose to pay with Membership Rewards points.
Select how many points you want to redeem.
Pay any remaining balance with your American Express card.
AMERICAN EXPRESS
The points are deducted from your Membership Rewards account, and Amex applies a credit for the corresponding dollar amount to the card account used for the purchase.
Keep in mind that not every travel booking on Amex Travel is eligible. Non-prepaid hotels, non-prepaid car rentals, and any individual transaction or redemption requiring fewer than 5,000 points are excluded from Pay with Points.
What can you book with Amex Pay with Points?
Pay with Points can be used for eligible travel purchases booked through Amex Travel, including flights and prepaid hotels. Depending on the card and booking, eligible Amex Travel purchases can also include prepaid car rentals, vacation packages (flight and prepaid hotel) and and prepaid cruises when you book through Amex Travel.
For specific bookings, check the payment options presented at checkout rather than assuming every Amex Travel reservation will qualify.
How much are Amex points worth with Pay with Points?
The value of Membership Rewards points through Pay with Points depends on what you're booking. Currently, American Express says flights booked through Amex Travel can be redeemed at 1 cent per point. That means 50,000 points would cover a $500 eligible flight.
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Other travel purchases, such as prepaid hotels, can have a lower redemption value. Amex currently lists prepaid hotel bookings at 0.7 cents per point, meaning 50,000 points would cover $350 toward an eligible hotel booking.
TPG's August 2026 valuations peg American Express Membership Rewards points at 2 cents apiece, largely thanks to the value you can get by transferring points to airline and hotel partners. So, while Pay with Points generally offers a lower redemption value, it can still be a solid option if you prioritize simplicity and flexibility.
Which Amex cards can use Pay with Points?
Pay with Points is available to eligible American Express cards enrolled in the Membership Rewards program, including these cards:
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While many Membership Rewards cards offer Pay with Points, certain business cards offer ways to get points back, which can make eligible flight redemptions more valuable.
The Business Platinum, for example, offers a 35% points-back benefit on eligible Pay with Points flight bookings with your selected qualifying airline. The benefit is capped at 1 million points back per calendar year.
Keep in mind that the points-back benefit isn't an upfront discount. You'll need enough Membership Rewards points to cover the full redemption at the time of booking, and eligible points are returned to your account afterward.
ZORICA NASTASIC/GETTY IMAGES
The Business Platinum isn't the only card with a Pay with Points rebate. The Centurion Card from American Express (invite-only) offers an even higher 50% points-back benefit on eligible flights, with no airline-eligibility restriction and a 3,000,000-point cap every calendar year.
The information for the Centurion Card from American Express has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Getting points back on eligible bookings can significantly increase the effective value of your points. For example, getting 35% of your points back on an eligible flight means you're effectively redeeming Membership Rewards points at about 1.54 cents apiece rather than the standard 1 cent per point for airfare through American Express Travel®.
When should you use Amex Pay with Points?
Pay with Points can make sense when you prioritize simplicity or when you find a cash fare that represents a reasonable redemption.
For example, it can be useful when:
You can't find award availability. Because Pay with Points bookings are based on eligible cash fares rather than traditional airline award inventory, they can be useful when you need a specific flight but can't find an award seat through a transfer partner.
Your preferred airline doesn't have a useful Amex transfer partner.
You find a competitively priced cash fare through Amex Travel.
You have a and can take advantage of the 35% points-back benefit (capped at 1 million points back per calendar year).
You want the flexibility of a paid airline ticket rather than an award ticket.
The key is to compare the value you're getting through Pay with Points with what you could get by transferring your points to an airline or hotel partner.
Amex Pay with Points vs. transferring points to travel partners
The biggest advantage of Pay with Points is simplicity. You can book the flight or hotel you want without searching for award space, and you know exactly how many points you'll need.
Transferring points to an airline or hotel partner can require more work, but it can also unlock significantly higher value — particularly for premium-cabin flights or expensive hotel stays.
For example, Air France-KLM Flying Blue is an Amex transfer partner; Membership Rewards points transfer to its program at a 1:1 ratio. You could book a business-class ticket from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), with a connection in Amsterdam, for 60,000 Flying Blue miles plus $377.10 in taxes and fees. The same flight is available through Air France for $2,590 in cash.
That means transferring 60,000 Membership Rewards points to Flying Blue would yield a value of approximately 3.7 cents per point after accounting for taxes and fees.
If the same itinerary were available through Amex Travel for $2,590, here's how the redemption options would compare:
Redemption method
Membership Rewards points needed
Cash required
Approximate value per point
Transfer points to Flying Blue
60,000
$377.10
3.7 cents
Pay with Points
259,000
$0
1 cent
Pay with Points with Business Platinum 35% points back*
168,350 after the bonus
$0
1.54 cents
*Assumes Air France is the cardmember's selected qualifying airline for the Business Platinum's 35% points-back benefit (capped at 1 million points back per calendar year).
In this example, transferring points to Flying Blue would require far fewer Membership Rewards points and provide significantly more value per point than using Pay with Points. However, Pay with Points can still be appealing if you value a simpler booking process or can't find a suitable award through a transfer partner.
As a general rule, don't transfer Membership Rewards points until you've found the award you want to book. Transfers are generally irreversible, so you should confirm availability before moving your points.
If you're willing to put in the extra work, transferring points can often be the better strategy. If convenience and flexibility are more important, Pay with Points can be a solid option.
Tips for getting the most from Amex Pay with Points
Compare the cash price first. A redemption that looks attractive in points may not be a good deal if the same flight or hotel is substantially cheaper elsewhere.
Check transfer partners before redeeming. Amex Membership Rewards points can be transferred to airline and hotel partners, potentially providing significantly more than 1 cent per point in value.
Look for Insider Fares. Amex offers select Insider Fares that can provide additional value when booking eligible flights through Amex Travel with points.
Know your card's benefits. cardmembers, in particular, should consider whether their booking qualifies for the 35% points-back benefit before paying with points.
Don't automatically use all your points. You can use Pay with Points for part of an eligible purchase and charge the rest to your card, which can be useful if you want to preserve some points for a future redemption.
Bottom line
Amex Pay with Points is a straightforward way to turn Membership Rewards points into travel. You can use points toward eligible bookings through Amex Travel without worrying about award availability or complicated loyalty-program rules.
But easy doesn't always yield the highest value. Before redeeming, compare your Pay with Points redemption with Amex's transfer partners and check whether your card offers a benefit that can boost the value of your points.
For the right booking, Pay with Points can be a convenient way to use your Membership Rewards.
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.
