Last chance: How to maximize the Amex Away credit
Quick summary
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
In late 2019, the iconic American Express® Green Card underwent a significant refresh that made it a frontrunner among mid-tier rewards cards. The Amex Green Card earns 3x fully transferable Membership Rewards points per dollar on travel, restaurant and transit purchases. To celebrate the refresh, Amex has had a welcome bonus of 30,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, up to $100 in statement credits towards any eligible purchases made with Away within the first three months. (There are also potentially higher targeted welcome bonuses floating around out there.)
The increased bonus with the Away luggage statement credit, however, is set to end tomorrow, on Wednesday, Jan. 15. This means now is your last chance to pick up the refreshed card with that welcome bonus.
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.
TPG has many recommendations about how to use your Amex Membership Rewards points for maximum value, but if you're considering snagging the card now while it offers the Away luggage credit, here are some ways you can put that Away credit to good use, too.
Get a new bag
Let's start with the obvious: You can put your $100 Away statement credit toward a new Away suitcase. There are kid-sized Away bags, carry-on Away bags, big bags, tiny bags -- so many bags. From a price standpoint, the kids bag retails for about $195 and the adult-sized carry-on starts at $225. With the $100 statement credit, that effectively drops those out-of-pocket prices to $95 to $125, which isn't bad for a new piece of luggage.
Related: TPG review of the Away carry-on bag
Pro tip: You can potentially save an additional $20 if you shop with an Away referral link when ordering. So, if you have a friend toting around an Away bag, ask him or her for a referral link!
Sort your stuff
Even if you don't want to spend more than the $100 statement credit, or you aren't in the market for a brand new suitcase, there are still plenty of ways to use the Amex statement credit. For example, here at The Points Guy, we're big fans of packing cubes. Away carries a lovely set that fits perfectly inside its carry-ons. These packing cubes zip shut to encase your socks, unmentionables, shirts and more in waterproof nylon. A mesh panel on top makes it easy to spot what you're looking for without unpacking everything. Choose from a set of four for $45, or a set of six for $65, in nine different colors.
For items a little more delicate or prone to wrinkles, the $65 Centerfold Garment Sleeve may be just what you need. This sturdy nylon bag with leather details is designed to fit inside an Away carry-on, and holds multiple hangers at once, keeping your button-down shirts, blazers, coats and dresses from crumpling en route. The sleeve comes with a metal hook to hang easily in a closet or on a hotel door, and two zippered pockets keep accessories or jewelry safe.
If you're headed out of the country, keep your passport safe in this $45 leather holder, which comes in three jewel-toned limited edition colors and includes a slip pocket for your boarding pass and other travel documents.
And if you just can't get enough of that signature suitcase shape, get Away's cutest luggage in Mini size. The $45 hard-sided case is made of the same durable polycarbonate shell that larger suitcases are made of, and come in a whopping 15 colors, including several limited-edition shimmery winter shades. This case includes an interior mesh pocket and elastic strap to keep your toiletries and other small essentials in place, and comes with an exterior D-ring for holding a key chain or clip-on accessory.
Add a personal touch
These days, you'll probably see Away suitcases in a plethora of colors all over the airport: At the check-in counter, wheeled through security, overhead in an aircraft bin, or coming down the chute at baggage claim. With so many similar bags out there, what's the easiest way to identify your own? Why, by personalizing it, of course.
Away offers a variety of ways to make your bag stand out. The leather luggage tag is just $25, and comes in nine colors that mix and match with the entire Away luggage line.
Or, you can choose to add your statement directly to your suitcase: Choose from "Disco" or "Prism" leather alphabet stickers for $15 apiece, or bring your luggage to an Away brick-and-mortar store to have your monogram hand-painted, engraved, stamped or embroidered onto your gear. Prices vary depending on the method of personalization you choose, and remember to pay for the service with your Amex Green card in order to trigger the $100 statement credit.
Here's the link to apply now for the revamped American Express Green Card with a 30,000-point bonus and up to $100 in statement credits for eligible purchases made directly with Away before Jan. 15.
All images courtesy of Away.