One of the main benefits of the American Express Gold card is a $100 airline incidental credit each year. Starting in January 2022 this benefit will no longer be offered. American Express provided the following statement to TPG:
As we are always looking to evolve our Card benefits and services to best support our Card Members’ needs, the Airline Fee Credit on the American Express Gold Card will no longer be available at the end of 2021. Current Gold Card Members will be able to continue to use the Airline Fee Credit through December 31, 2021. We will continue to evolve and enhance our Card benefits and services to provide relevant and rich value to our Card Members in the areas they care about most, so stay tuned!
It sounds like American Express will replace that benefit with something else, fingers crossed there is an overlap between whatever the replace this with for 2021. American Express is currently offering an increased bonus on this card.
I no longer see a reference to the $100 credit on the gold card application page. I do still see it in “Offer & Benefit Terms” though.
I spoke to an Amex rep last week about what’s going to happen to the travel credit and she mentioned that cardholders would be getting a $10 monthly uber credit. I’m not sure if that’s the case, it may be too early to tell.
A few days ago I bought a $39 airfare ticket on Frontier (my selected $100 credit airline). Much to my surprise, Amex reimbursed me for that airfare. That’s the airfare itself, not seat selection, baggage or anything else.
I predict (but hope I’m wrong) that the airline credit will be replaced by another monthly credit of some sorts, either food-related or Uber/Lyft. Really prefer it to be annual though. And the airline credit is easy to “use”, just need to do a little bit of research.
Thanks for the nudge, somehow the latest “method” escaped my attention. Not particularly useful, but better than letting it go to waste. I am however expecting clawbacks with about 50% probability. I miss the GCs that could be easily resold at 80% of the face value.
this airline credit is pretty much the only reason that I kept this card for the past few years. Wish it does not just gone without any replacement.
oh oh oh . I want to speculate too.
I’m guessing something that most people won’t use, gets charges on the card, and plays into the zeitgeist of fear and uncertainty.
I’m going with insurance benefits – Cell phone, AD&D when using rideshares, delay monthly payment, longer grace period, lower interest rates on ‘essential’ MCCs like utilities/gas/groceries, or a convoluted ‘select a purchase for 0% APR’
Or ticketmaster credits, can’t count out AMEX something totally weird and abusable.
Free Amazon Prime?
That would be freaking sweet as I’m an existing Prime member.
NFCU Signature Flagship Rewards is already giving Amazon Prime reimbursement, and it only has a $49 AF.
Earns 3x travel/2x all; sec. rental coverage; No Balance Transfer fees, No Foreign trans fees, No cash adv fees; 1yr ext warranty; Global Entry every 4yr.
Amex has really lost their way, while Navy Federal is absolutely killing it.
They need to add something else or lower the annual fee. $250 is pretty steep for this card without the credit or something to replace it. With chase giving 3% on the freedom card for dinning it will make more sense to get that card and a CSP if they don’t replace the credit.
with the economy going to shit, the CC wars are heating up again. Especially on the higher end of things where they won’t have to worry about too many defaults.
If I was a betting man, I’d venture a guess it will be of more value $ wise than the airline credit. Doesn’t mean it will be more valuable to all.
Personally, I find the $100 on gold and $250 on Hilton etc to be tiresome to chase. I never have that organic spend to burn it down, and it gets harder and harder to get that money back every year.
I’m betting that AMEX didn’t lose many card holders when they didn’t add any perks to the gold card when covid hit. My guess is they figured they can get rid of the airline credit and people will keep the card. Right now though there are some really good cash back cards with no fees so I can see more people going that route especially with the economy going to shit and people feeling like it is going to be a long time before they can take normal trips again.
you capitalism bro?!?
Name of the game is not being happy not losing customers. Name of game is infinite growth, judged on an every 3 month basis. If you’re not growing, you’re dying.
There is ZERO chance they get rid of the credit and not provide anything in return.
Honestly, the gold is not really a travellers card anymore, in the truest sense. The biggest attraction is 4 MR on groceries, that should tell you all you need to know. Grubhub credits also not travel related. Those that want a pure travel card can go with Plat on one of a half dozen cards by other issuers. So it makes sense to further back away from travel credit. Give something else to grab a different segment of customers, and those that want a pure travel card in the amex portfolio can go with plat or hilton aspire.
If they kill the $100 credit and replace it with nothing, half the gold holders will drop it. I know I would in a heartbeat, as much a pain it is to cash in on that hundo. At least there are ways to cash in where I can get that full value at some point in the near future, justifying the $250 AF.
I wanted this card just because of 60000 points bonus but have pop-up. We buy a lot of groceries, ca. $600+ a month and do not eat out at all, cooking at home. I have BCP, but now with 5 points on groceries with chase flex first year – technically becoming 7.5 with CSR – even this one becomes not necessary. Seems no love with Amex
I never really used it tbh. I hope it’s replaced with a food-related perk.