Get the curated travel intel you need with Brian Kelly's new weekly newsletter
It only took a few short weeks for the spread of the novel coronavirus to take everything we thought we knew about travel and flip it on its head. For almost two months the industry has been at a standstill, with airlines operating skeleton route networks, cruise lines halted by a no-sail order, hotels sitting largely empty or closed altogether and car-rental fleets collecting dust in parking garages.
Sign up for TPG's new weekly newsletter written by Brian Kelly.
While people across the world have been staying home, major players in the industry haven't been just waiting out the storm. Companies are signaling travelers that they will be prepared to keep them safe and healthy when they return. And it looks like people may return sooner rather than later.
Across the U.S., states have begun lifting lockdown restrictions, and even some European countries, such as Greece, Iceland and Italy, are working on plans to welcome tourists this summer.
With the travel scene changing daily, we at TPG think it's more important than ever to help you stay in the know -- which is why we're launching a new, weekly newsletter written by yours truly, The Points Guy.
We're launching this newsletter with three goals.
First, I know that these times are unprecedented and I want to share directly with you, our readers, my thoughts and the most important resources you'll need as travel resumes.
Second, I've always wanted to have a newsletter to share what's important to me in the world of travel, points and miles, credit cards, airplanes and more.
Finally, I want to have fun with it. Being forced to stop travel altogether has allowed all of us to take a step back and remember why we love to travel in the first place. Not only are we launching a newsletter, but you'll also be seeing even more amazing content in my new webinar series -- called "The Future of Travel" -- which launches on June 2, 2020, with the CEO of Carnival Corp., Arnold Donald.
The newsletter is set to launch this Sunday, May 24, 2020. Every Sunday, you can expect to read about the most important news of the past week and what to look out for in the coming week. You'll also get exclusive content -- like data from our Points Lab team showing you what to look for as the world begins to open up and more and more people take to the skies and the roads. In the first newsletter, I'll also tell you where I think I'll head first in a post-lockdown environment.
You're not going to want to miss out on insights about points, miles, credit cards and the travel industry as a whole -- delivered to your inbox each week. Sign up to receive my new weekly newsletter here and you'll be equipping yourself with the knowledge to make a safe return to travel.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.