The American Express Gold card which currently earns 4x at U.S. restaurants only will earn 4x at all restaurants worldwide.
The newly revamped Amex Gold card earns 4x at restaurants, unlimited. One of the common gripes about the card are folks who use it internationally without realizing that the 4x restaurant category is limited to the U.S. American Express has changed that, and beginning June 6, 2019, the 4x earn rate will apply to restaurants worldwide.
This is according to recently closed credit card statement, sent over to us by our friend Grant from Travelwithgrant.
Certainly welcome news. The other issue people have with the 4x restaurant category is the inconsistency with which the 4x points have been posting due to restaurants being miscategorized. Hopefully that issue is gradually improving, and hopefully international restaurants will be coded properly as well.
Just be aware that the 4x supermarket category (up to $25,000 per year) is still limited to U.S. only.
I have had an AMEX gold card for years and years. I am not getting 4x or any bonus points at supermarkets and these are large chains like Publix and Whole Foods. I am only getting 2x points at restaurants. For the first few years I sometimes got 2x for gas or groceries but that was a long time ago. Consumer beware.
Another data point here. Spent gold card exclusively for restaurants in Japan or 3 weeks. Good news: almost always expected. Bad news: only ~1/3 or 1/4 got coded as restaurants. In particular, restaurants located in other establishments (e.g., malls) tended to get coded as shopping/misc. Also, some restaurants seemed to be coded off of a parent company that is listed as Misc. Other times — just off, period. In previous years same type of establishments seemed to code without problem as Dining with Chase Sapphire Reserve. Even quite large restaurant chains (i.e., those with pretty much 1-2 locations in every town) did not code as restaurants. My personal conclusion for this, esp. as haggling with AmEx is not worth it for me for the amount of points involved — stick with CSR for now when overseas.
On another note, one should be aware of the exchange rate, from my recent purchase (CAD to USD), MasterCard beats Visa by around 1%, not sure of AMEX yet.
If the exchange rate is off by 1% or so, it losses the edge to the other options
Amex sent me a email saying there adding boxed.com on the monthly $10 credit cab be used instead of grubhub seamless etc.
Good!!! Just landed in Europe; Starting tomorrow I’m going to swipe for all restaurant transaction for my friends and I in an attempt to triggger the 2k 50k points offer wish me luck. They can just cashapp me the money.
I am an American who is in Europe several months a year. Chase Sapphire Reserve is always accepted and the value obtained through their travel portel is exceptional. I will stick with them.
What about the New Amex Biz gold does it also have this perk (international)
They need to remove the “US only” reward restriction from all their cards. There are enough barriers to using Amex outside the US as it is.
They must have realized other than US chain hotel restaurants no restaurant outside the US was accepting Amex.
I guess your definition of traveling outside the US is limited because I have been to Asia Europe and Africa this year and no restaurant that I ever gone to has ever refuse to accept my American Express card.
You must’ve only eaten at places like McDonald’s or super high-end restaurants because the vast majority of restaurants I have visited that are your general mom & pop shops refuse Amex abroad.
Or realized that the card was being sock drawered when travelling. That’s what I do. Makes no sense to keep that card in my wallet when not in the US.
Great timing! Just about to head out to Japan tomorrow for a month of heavy restaurant spending. Have the CSR as backup but would prefer the 4x AmEx points. My experience is Japanese establishments that take credit cards generally take AmEx too. A question — before the points hit on the following statement, does anyone know how we can tell if the categorization was correct? Do I check the line item description on the Web site to see if it says something like “Food/Beverage”? Thanks.
Should tell you within 5 business days. It used to only do so when you clicked “Preview New Version,” but I recently saw it in the classic view as well.