Amex Gold Card vs. AAdvantage Globe Card [Detailed Comparison]

The American Express^® Gold Card and the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^® are two of the most lucrative midtier rewards cards on the market. Since many cards are relaunching as luxury or premium options, there’s a space in between that needs to be filled — and cards like these are filling it.

While the Amex Gold card has been popular among foodies and travelers for some time, we’re thrilled to see that Citi and American Airlines (AA) collaborated to bridge the gap between beginner and premium cards with its midtier AAdvantage Globe card.

Since both of these cards fall into the midtier card category but are extremely different from each other, you might actually want to get both cards. Or perhaps you’re in a market where one of these is the perfect fit and the other doesn’t apply at all.

We’ll compare and contrast these 2 cards so you can decide which is right for you based on your spending and travel habits.

Card Overview

It can be challenging to directly compare the Amex Gold card and the AAdvantage Globe card, because they simply aren’t apples to apples. These cards offer different points currencies and have distinct advantages and disadvantages. However, they both fill a void in the market for midrange rewards cards, and they both have reasonable annual fees.

Below, we’ll break down the benefits of each card, the earning and redemption currencies, and who each card is best for.

Welcome Offer Comparison

Amex Gold Card

NEW OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

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Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $2,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 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.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Apply and find out if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer as high as 100,000 points with the Amex Gold card. Welcome offers may vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

AAdvantage Globe Card

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The AAdvantage Globe card gives you more value on every American Airlines flight and helps you qualify for elite status.

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^®

The AAdvantage Globe card gives you more value on every American Airlines flight and helps you qualify for elite status.

Welcome Offer

Eligible new cardmembers can earn 90,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first four months of account opening.    

90,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,260

Annual Fee

$350

APR

19.74% to 29.74% Variable

Why We Like This Card

The AAdvantage Globe card is an excellent option for American Airlines frequent flyers who want a card that offers benefits on every American Airlines flight and makes it easier to qualify for American Airlines elite status.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings
• 3x miles on American Airlines purchases
• 2x miles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery

Cons

• $350 annual fee
• Doesn’t earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Eligible new cardmembers can earn 90,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first four months of account opening.
• 6x AAdvantage^® miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels™ bookings.
• 3x AAdvantage^® miles on American Airlines purchases.
• 2x AAdvantage^® miles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
• 2x AAdvantage^® miles on Rides and Rails™ purchases, including taxis, ride-shares, and public transit.
• 1x AAdvantage^® mile on all other purchases.
• 1 Loyalty Point toward AAdvantage status for every 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned from qualifying purchases.
• No mileage cap, the earning potential is unlimited.
• Get 4 Admirals Club^® Globe™ lounge passes annually, each valid for 24 hours, and enjoy access to nearly 50 Admirals Club^® lounges worldwide.
• Receive an Annual Companion Certificate with every card renewal, redeemable for $99 plus taxes and fees, which is eligible for a single round-trip qualifying domestic flight in Main Cabin.
• Earn up to $100 inflight purchase credits when using your card on American Airlines flights.
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the primary cardmember and up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation.
• Enjoy Group 5 boarding on American Airlines flights for the primary cardmember and up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation.
• Receive up to $120 Global Entry^® or TSA PreCheck^® credit every four years.
• Cardmembers receive 5,000 Loyalty Points after every 4 qualifying American Airlines flights, for up to 15,000 additional Loyalty Points each qualification year.
• Earn up to $100 annual Splurge Credit℠ with a choice of up to two of the following: eligible AAdvantage Hotels™ bookings, 1stDibs, Future Personal Training and Live Nation^®.
• Earn up to $30 in statement credits on each eligible trip with Turo, up to $240 in credits each calendar year.
• No foreign transaction fees
• $350 annual fee
• Various travel and shopping protections

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74% to 29.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

I’ll discuss earning and redeeming points below, but we value Amex Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents per point. This means that if you earn the Amex Gold card’s welcome offer, it’s worth up to $2,200.

That said, we value AA miles lower at 1.4 cents per point, meaning the AAdvantage Globe card’s bonus is worth $1,260 — significantly less than the Amex Gold card. That said, if you’re a frequent Oneworld flyer, you may have luck getting partner awards at a higher value, which means you could get more out of the bonus.

Hot Tip:

Looking for a hefty welcome offer? These are the top credit card welcome bonuses right now.

Earning Points

These 2 cards are both midtier cards (based on their middle-of-the-range annual fee and benefits), but they work in 2 different ways. Yes, you swipe your card to make purchases — that’s the same on both cards. But the Amex Gold card is a flexible rewards card that earns Amex Membership Rewards points, a versatile currency that can be used to book travel through AmexTravel.com or transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners.

Meanwhile, the AAdvantage Globe card is key for American Airlines flyers, with a slew of AA-focused perks and benefits. It earns AAdvantage miles, which you can maximize the value of by booking with Oneworld partners or on American flights.

Amex Gold Card

The earning rates for the Amex Gold card are ideal for foodies, whether they enjoy grocery shopping and cooking at home or dining out at restaurants. They can also be especially beneficial for booking flights and hotels through AmexTravel.com.

These are the earning rates for the Amex Gold card:

• 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (limit of $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x)
• 4x points at restaurants worldwide (limit of $50,000 in spending per calendar year, then 1x)
• 3x points on airfare purchased directly from the airline or on AmexTravel.com
• 2x points on prepaid hotels and other travel on AmexTravel.com
• 1x points on everything else

AAdvantage Globe Card

When it comes to the AAdvantage Globe card, the earning rates are better for travelers who frequently purchase airfare and hotels through American Airlines. Spending on the card can also help you achieve AAdvantage elite status faster. See the categories below:

• 6x miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings
• 3x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
• 2x miles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
• 2x miles on Rides and Rails, including taxis, ride-sharing purchases, and public transit
• 1x miles on other purchases
• 1 Loyalty Point toward AAdvantage elite status for every eligible AAdvantage mile earned from purchases

Redeeming Points

Amex Gold Card

Amex Membership Rewards points are among the most valuable points in the loyalty world. While you can redeem them for things like gift cards and statement credits, it’s best to transfer these points. Amex has numerous airline and hotel transfer partners, a majority of which you can transfer your points to at a 1:1 ratio. You can often find incredible value by transferring to partners like Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Club Iberia Plus, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer — sometimes even higher than our estimated 2.2 cents per point.

Another option is to use your Amex Membership Rewards points to book travel via AmexTravel.com. However, your points are typically worth only 1 cent each here, so while it can be useful, it’s not always what will give you the highest value.

AAdvantage Globe Card

Redeem the AAdvantage miles you earn on the AAdvantage Globe card for flights on several different Oneworld carriers. Because American Airlines has dynamic award pricing, rates for awards can fluctuate wildly. You might find a deal, or maybe not.

But using AA miles for partner awards can be an excellent deal. For example, I’ve flown to Thailand with a stop in Tokyo (NRT) from Chicago (ORD) on Japan Airlines in premium economy for 50,000 AAdvantage miles one-way (you could fly in business class for 60,000 miles). Additionally, I’ve traveled to Asia from Spain on Qatar Airways with a stop in Doha (DOH) in business class for 70,000 AAdvantage miles one-way.

Bottom Line:

Amex Membership Rewards points and AAdvantage miles are both lucrative point currencies, but we value Amex points at a higher rate. Their flexibility makes them easy to redeem.

Travel, Dining, and Lifestyle Benefits

Amex Gold Card

The Amex Gold card comes with protections like baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty. You also gain access to exclusive events with Amex, and the card comes with no foreign transaction fees.

AAdvantage Globe Card

Benefits is the category where the AAdvantage Globe card reigns supreme over the Amex Gold card. However, it’s worth noting that the benefits are primarily geared toward AA flyers, so if you aren’t flying the airline frequently, the benefits won’t do you much good.

With the card, you get 4 Admirals Club Globe passes per year, an American Airlines Companion Certificate for $99 plus taxes and fees, a free first checked bag for you and 8 travel companions, Group 5 boarding on AA flights, access to Citi Entertainment, Mastercard World Legend benefits, and Mastercard Collection benefits. Cardholders also have the ability to earn 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points after 4 qualifying American Airlines flights during the status qualification year, which runs from March through February each year. You can earn up to 15,000 extra Loyalty Points through Flight Streak each qualification year, requiring 12 flights.

The AAdvantage Globe card also includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost or damaged luggage insurance, MasterRental insurance, trip delay insurance, extended warranty coverage, and purchase assurance plus. Additionally, there are no foreign transaction fees.

Hot Tip:

Check out our full benefits guide for the Amex Gold card and our article on the perks of the AAdvantage Globe card.

Statement Credits

While both of these cards offer various statement credits, the credits that come with the Amex Gold card are more well-rounded, while, naturally, the credits that come with the AAdvantage Globe card are better for American Airlines flyers (with a few exceptions).

Amex Gold Card

The Amex Gold card’s most popular credit is probably the $120 dining credit (enrollment required), where you can earn up to $10 in dining statement credits each month at the following restaurants and food delivery services when you pay with your card: Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys.

There’s an $84 annual Dunkin’ credit (up to $7 monthly, enrollment required), a $100 Resy credit (up to $50 semiannually, enrollment required), and $100 back annually on eligible bookings at The Hotel Collection for 2-night stays or longer.

You also get $120 annually in Uber Cash (up to $10 each month) for Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. You must add your Amex Gold card to your Uber account and pay with an American Express card to receive and use this benefit.

I love my Amex Gold card for the easy rewards on necessities: food and groceries. Earning bonus points at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide is the most practical element, but I also enjoy the Dunkin’ credit and monthly dining credits (remember that both require enrollment). The annual earning caps for supermarkets and restaurants haven’t been an issue for me, so this card retains a place in the front of my wallet.

Ryan Smith, news managing editor at Upgraded Points

AAdvantage Globe Card

The AAdvantage Globe card comes with American Airlines-focused credits, such as up to $100 on AA inflight purchases and a $100 annual Splurge Credit (valid for 2 of the following: AAdvantage Hotels bookings, 1stDibs, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation). But there’s also a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit, valid every 4 years, and up to $240 in Turo credits annually.

Bottom Line:

When it comes to the statement credits on these cards, it’s best to consider which ones you’re most likely to use and whether that’s enough to offset the card’s annual fee.

Annual Fee and Authorized Users

The Amex Gold card has an annual fee of $325. Additional Cards (up to the first 5): $0 annual fee. 6th or more Additional Cards: $35 annual fee per Card.

Meanwhile, the AAdvantage Globe card has a similar annual fee, which is slightly higher at $350. There no additional charge to add as many authorized users as you would like.

Final Thoughts

Choosing between the Amex Gold card and the AAdvantage Globe card isn’t straightforward, as these cards differ significantly from one another. If you frequently dine out and travel and want to earn flexible rewards, the Amex Gold card is an easy choice. But if you often fly with American Airlines, the flyer-specific perks that come with the AAdvantage Globe card can be worth it.

Because these midtier cards each offer specific benefits, credits, perks, and points currencies, you might want to get both cards. This way, you can earn both Amex Membership Rewards and AAdvantage miles and get a slew of valuable benefits and credits.

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For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the American Express^® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the American Express^® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the purchase protection benefit of the American Express^® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the extended warranty benefit of the American Express^® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.