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Register for these benefits with the Amex Gold Card

Joseph Hostetler
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Joseph Hostetler is a credit cards writer with more than five years of experience writing professionally about all things miles and points. He previously wrote and edited for Million Mile Secrets.
Sept. 10, 2021
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5 min read
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Register for these benefits with the Amex Gold Card
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The American Express® Gold Card ranks among the best travel cards in the game. It earns valuable Amex Membership Rewards points, which TPG values at 2 cents each. It offers you a fistful of travel coverages.

But the demographic it serves perhaps best of all is foodies. It's got multiple perks that serve restaurant spending — but you'll have to enroll in two important ones before you use them. Here's what you need to do as soon as you get your Amex Gold.

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(Photo by Wyatt Smith/The Points Guy)

Intro to the Amex Gold Card

Here are the need-to-know details about the Amex Gold Card:

  • 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. (worth $1,200)
  • 4 points per dollar on dining at restaurants and up to $25,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar)
  • 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly from the airline or via Amex Travel
  • 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases
  • Trip delay reimbursement
  • Baggage insurance
  • Up to $120 annual dining credit*
  • Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash*
  • $250 annual fee (see rates and fees)
  • Terms Apply

*Enrollment is required for a couple of these benefits, which we'll examine below.

Related: Here are 9 of our favorite ways to use Amex Membership Rewards points

Up to $120 in annual dining credit

The Amex Gold offers up to $120 in statement credits each year when you pay with the card at participating dining partners, including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations

The only catch is that the $120 is doled out in monthly $10 increments.

While this benefit would be more useful if the dining credit triggered after any restaurant transaction, it's still quite easy to use. Many of us frequently use Grubhub to have food delivered. And who doesn't spend at least $10 on dining each month? You can even order pickup with Grubhub to avoid fees eating into your monthly credit.

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You'll need to enroll through the American Express website to activate this credit. You'll find it by clicking the "Benefits" tab at the top of your online account. This benefit is use-it-or-lose-it, so be sure to make an eligible restaurant purchase each month!

Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash

The Amex Gold also offers up to $120 in Uber Cash each year. Similar to the annual dining credit, this perk is offered in monthly $10 statement credits.

Whether you ride with Uber or not, you can almost certainly max out this credit each month for one simple reason: Uber Cash can be used for both Uber rides and Uber Eats in the U.S. In other words, you can use this credit almost exactly like the above dining credit. Uber also allows you to order pickup to avoid delivery fees.

To use this credit, simply add your Amex Gold as a payment method in your Uber wallet. You'll automatically receive $10 in credit each month to be used on rides or food. It will look similar to the below screenshot (though I've got The Platinum Card® from American Express, so I get $15 in Uber Cash per month; enrollment required).

(Screenshot courtesy of Uber)

Just like the dining credit, any Uber Cash you receive from the Amex Gold will expire at the end of the month. Other Uber Cash will accrue, but none deposited from American Express.

Related: 4x on everyday purchases and a bonus worth $1,200 in travel: American Express Gold review

Bottom line

As soon as you receive your Amex Gold, you should do two things:

  • Head into your account to enroll in the annual dining credit
  • Add your Amex Gold as a payment method to your Uber wallet

If you forget, you may find a higher balance on your card than you thought after making eligible purchases. I've been guilty of this myself with Amex cards and have even missed out on $100 in savings!

You can apply here for the American Express® Gold Card with a 60,000-point welcome bonus.

Check the CardMatch Tool to see if you’ve been selected for an even higher welcome bonus.

Featured photo by Wyatt Smith/The Points Guy.

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.

Featured image by WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.