16 Best Ways To Use 90,000 Amex Gold Card Points [2024]

The popular American Express^® Gold Card, having enjoyed many refreshes over the years, has remained at the top of the game, even as competition gets fiercer in the card industry.

Currently, the public offer on the Amex Gold Card is:

• Earn 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months.

However, we’re seeing possibilities of a targeted welcome offer of 90,000 Membership Rewards points on the Amex Gold card for meeting the same spend requirement within 6 months.

In this guide, we’ll show you how you can maximize those 90,000 Amex points. There’s some incredible value to be had, including business and first class flights that retail for upwards of $10,000! Let’s get into it.

Amex Gold Card Welcome Offer

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American Express^® Gold Card

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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!

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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

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

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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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

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Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• 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 each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $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.
• $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.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90k points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Card Snapshot

Currently, the Amex Gold card is one of the best in the business for earning travel rewards on everyday purchases.

That’s because, in addition to the welcome offer, you’ll earn a whopping maximum of 4x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent:

• 4x points on restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. (up to $50,000 per year, then 1x)
• 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1x)
• 3x points on airfare purchased directly through the airline or with AmexTravel.com
• 2x points on all other eligible AmexTravel.com bookings
• 1x points on other purchases

To give you some perspective, earning 4x points is equivalent to an 8.8% return on spending, given how we value Amex points at 2.2 cents apiece.

You also have the option between the standard Gold option or the luxurious Rose Gold version.

Additionally, this card has no preset spending limit*, confers access to The Hotel Collection, and possesses up to $424 in credits every year:

• Up to $120 per year ($10 per month) in Uber Cash, which can be used for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders in the U.S. Enrollment required and terms apply.
• Up to $120 per year ($10 per month) in dining credits at participating partners, including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Wine.com, Goldbelly, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Up to $100 Resy credit per year ($50 semi-annually), redeemable at any U.S. Resy restaurant and other eligible Resy purchases. Enrollment required.
• Up to $84 Dunkin’ annual statement credits ($7 a month). Enrollment required.

Lastly, you’ll enjoy no foreign transaction fees, and up to 5 authorized user cards for no additional annual fee (rates & fees).

The Amex Gold card earns Membership Rewards points, which are some of the most valuable travel rewards out there. These points can be used for statement credits, gift cards, AmexTravel.com bookings, online shopping, Amazon.com, Best Buy, PayPal, and charitable donations.

Nonetheless, if you’re interested in maximizing value, you should use your Membership Rewards points for business and first class flights booked through American Express transfer partners. In some cases, it might be worth it to transfer your points to hotel partners for reward stays, too.

Now that we’ve walked through the ins and outs of the Amex Gold card, let’s examine all of our favorite ways you can maximize 90,000 Amex points for top-notch value.

Book International Flights

1. Lufthansa First Class One-way From the U.S. to Germany

Lufthansa’s superb first class is one of the most exclusive ways to fly in style. The German airline operates service exclusively to the U.S. from its 2 hubs in Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC).

It’s one of the last remaining ways to fly to Europe in first class using points, so it’s truly a special experience.

Thanks to Lufthansa’s membership in the Star Alliance, it’s possible to book Lufthansa first class flights using points — however, this is easier said than done, since Lufthansa only releases first class availability to partners up to 15 days in advance. So if you’re looking to book Lufthansa first class using points, you can get some amazing value; just be prepared to book your tickets last-minute.

That being said, with 90,000 Amex points, you can actually book a one-way Lufthansa first class ticket to Europe, which is absolutely incredible. In particular, we recommend transferring your Amex points to Avianca LifeMiles at a 1:1 ratio.

Best of all, when you book through LifeMiles, as opposed to another program like Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer or ANA Mileage Club, you won’t be on the hook for massive fuel surcharges that can exceed $800 each way.

Here are some of the best one-way routes for Lufthansa first class for 87,000 Avianca LifeMiles + ~$41 in taxes and fees:

Each of these flights is priced at around $8,000 one-way at a minimum, providing you a redemption value of at least 9 cents per point!

2. Emirates First Class One-way From the U.S. to Greece or Italy

One little-known feature of Emirates’s route network is that the Dubai-based carrier actually operates a handful of fifth freedom routes around the world. Fifth freedom routes are simply flights that don’t involve the home country as the origin and destination.

Without a doubt, Emirates first class is the most lavish way to fly from the U.S. to Europe any way you slice it. That shouldn’t be too surprising, as Emirates first class is literally one of the most luxurious flights in the entire world.

Best of all, with 90,000 Amex points, you can book a one-way flight in the top-notch Emirates first class between the U.S. and Europe using Emirates Skywards miles.

Here are Emirates’s current fifth freedom routes to/from the U.S.:

• Newark (EWR) to Athens (ATH) one-way in Emirates first class for 85,000 Emirates Skywards miles + ~$90 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) to Milan (MXP) one-way in Emirates first class for 85,000 Emirates Skywards miles + ~$90 in taxes and fees

These flights easily retail for more than $10,000, giving you a superb redemption value of more than 10 cents per point!

3. Europe Round-trip in Star Alliance Business Class

One of the best sweet spots in the business is by using ANA’s frequent flyer program: ANA Mileage Club. Although this program is oddly restrictive (including only allowing round-trip award bookings), you can get some fantastic value if you play by its rules.

Simply put, round-trip business class flights from the U.S. to Europe can be booked for just 88,000 miles — with Amex’s 1:1 transfer partnership, that’s less than 90,000 Amex points for a round-trip business class ticket to Europe.

One word of caution, though: most Star Alliance airlines levy enormous fuel surcharges that can go as high as $1,700 round-trip on flights to Europe that can eat into your redemption value. To avoid this, make an effort to search for flights on Turkish Airlines, LOT Polish, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), United Airlines, and Air Canada.

Here are some great example redemptions to make:

• Chicago (ORD) to Warsaw (WAW) round-trip in LOT Polish business class for 88,000 ANA Mileage Club miles + ~$544 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) to London-Heathrow (LHR) round-trip in United Polaris business class for 88,000 ANA Mileage Club miles + ~$363 in taxes and fees
• Seattle (SEA) to Istanbul (IST) round-trip in Turkish Airlines business class for 88,000 ANA Mileage Club miles + ~$494 in taxes and fees

These business class flights ordinarily retail for anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000 round-trip, which gets you a redemption value of up to 6 cents per point! Pretty stellar for business class, in our opinion!

4. ANA Business Class Round-trip from the U.S. West Coast to Japan

Pivoting to a different continent altogether, there’s another fabulous way to fly in business class at an absolute steal.

Right now, ANA’s award chart is incredibly valuable, especially if you’re looking to book ANA-operated flights.

ANA uses seasonality rules for its own flights on ANA metal and splits up the year into 3 distinct seasons: low, regular, and high.

If you’re interested in seeing the sights of Japan and don’t mind traveling during the low season, you can book round-trip business class for 75,000 miles!

That’s well below our total balance of 90,000 points; taxes and fees will hover around $750 round-trip. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to avoid this. You’ll still get a great deal, though, as ANA business class flights usually cost around $8,000 to $10,000 round-trip, for a redemption value of more than 10 cents per point.

Here are some stellar flights you can book:

• Chicago (ORD) to Tokyo (HND/NRT) round-trip in ANA business class from 75,000 ANA Mileage Club miles + ~$761 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Tokyo (NRT) round-trip in ANA business class from 75,000 ANA Mileage Club miles + ~$761 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) to Tokyo (HND/NRT) round-trip in ANA business class from 75,000 ANA Mileage Club miles + ~$761 in taxes and fees
• Seattle (SEA) to Tokyo (NRT) round-trip in ANA business class from 75,000 ANA Mileage Club miles + ~$761 in taxes and fees
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Tokyo (NRT) round-trip in ANA business class from 75,000 ANA Mileage Club miles + ~$761 in taxes and fees

5. Etihad Airways Business Class One-way From the U.S. to the Middle East

Another fabulous way to use 90,000 Amex points is to fly in a stylish business class product to the Middle East.

Right now, one of the best ways to fly to the Middle East conveniently is on Etihad Airways’ business class.

Air Canada Aeroplan is partners with Etihad Airways, which makes it possible to book Etihad business class at a terrific price. Also, fuel surcharges will not be passed on when booking using Aeroplan points. This will keep your total out-of-pocket costs as low as possible.

Here are our favorite U.S. routes you can book using less than 90,000 Amex points!

• Chicago (ORD) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) one-way in Etihad Airways business class for 85,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points + ~$34 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) one-way in Etihad Airways business class for 85,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points + ~$34 in taxes and fees
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) one-way in Etihad Airways business class for 85,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points + ~$34 in taxes and fees

These tickets would otherwise retail for more than $6,000 one-way, which translates to a 7-cent-per-point redemption!

6. Visit 2 Countries in Southeast Asia Flying Star Alliance Business Class

Air Canada Aeroplan has an awesome benefit that allows you to add a stopover for just 5,000 extra points, even on one-way flights.

Since Aeroplan prices out its award tickets based on the regions you’re flying to and from, as well as the total flight distance of your itinerary, you’ll want to make sure you keep your total flight distance between 7,500 and 11,000 miles.

Normally, these flights would cost 85,000 points in business class — just add 5,000 more points to get a stopover! This is a perfect way to use exactly 90,000 Amex points.

Again, fuel surcharges are not passed on at all, so you’ll be paying around $34 out of pocket for each ticket.

Here are some of our favorite flights to book:

• Chicago (ORD) to Jakarta (CGK) via Tokyo (HND/NRT) one-way in ANA business class with a stopover in Tokyo for 90,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points + ~$34 in taxes and fees
• Houston (IAH) to Bangkok (BKK) via Taipei (TPE) one-way in EVA Air business class with a stopover in Taipei for 90,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points + ~$34 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) to New Delhi (DEL) via Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in United Polaris business class and Air India business class with a stopover in Hong Kong for 90,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points + ~$34 in taxes and fees
• Seattle (SEA) to Phuket (HKT) via Seoul (ICN) one-way in Asiana Airlines business class with a stopover in Seoul for 90,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points + ~$34 in taxes and fees

Redemption values vary wildly, but we’re looking at an average redemption of around $6,000, which gets you a value of around 6.7 cents per point.

7. Oman Air Business Class Round-trip Between Europe and Muscat

Oman Air is a boutique Gulf carrier that offers a spectacular business class (and first class) experience to those lucky enough to try it.

And although this airline doesn’t have nearly the same reach as Emirates, Etihad, or Qatar Airways, it’s absolutely worth trying.

Air Canada Aeroplan has a neat partnership with Oman Air that allows you to redeem Amex points for these medium- and long-haul flights. Oman Air doesn’t have any U.S. routes, but it’s possible to fly from Europe to Oman’s capital, Muscat (MCT), for just 45,000 Amex points each way!

With 90,000 Amex points, you can either book 2 one-way tickets or a round-trip ticket in business class.

Here are our favorite routes:

• Frankfurt (FRA) to Muscat (MCT) one-way in Oman Air business class for 45,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points + ~$113 in taxes and fees
• Istanbul (IST) to Muscat (MCT) one-way in Oman Air business class for 45,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points + ~$113 in taxes and fees
• London (LHR) to Muscat (MCT) one-way in Oman Air business class for 45,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points + ~$113 in taxes and fees
• Munich (MUC) to Muscat (MCT) one-way in Oman Air business class for 45,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points + ~$113 in taxes and fees

8. One-way Economy Class Tickets*3 From the U.S. to South America

Another great way to get some awesome value from your 90,000 Amex points is when used for economy flights to South America.

Right now, certain flights booked using Aeroplan points that span 4,500 or fewer miles in distance can be yours for just 30,000 points.

With 90,000 Amex points, you’ll have enough for 3 of these one-way tickets! And although the major nonstop flights to South America are offered by United, you can even find connecting flights on Avianca, Copa Airlines, and Air Canada.

Here are some of our favorite routes:

• Houston (IAH) to Lima (LIM) one-way in United Airlines economy class for 30,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points + ~$34 in taxes and fees
• Houston (IAH) to Quito (UIO) one-way in United Airlines economy class for 30,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points + ~$34 in taxes and fees
• Newark (EWR) to Bogota (BOG) one-way in United Airlines economy class for 30,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points + ~$34 in taxes and fees
• Newark (EWR) to Lima (LIM) one-way in United Airlines economy class for 30,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points + ~$34 in taxes and fees

9. Qatar Airways Qsuites One-way From the U.S. to the Middle East

One of the best ways to fly to the Middle East in business class is on Qatar Airways Qsuites. Arguably the world’s best business class product, these are flown exclusively to the U.S. from Qatar Airways’s worldwide hub in Doha (DOH).

Qatar Airways is a Oneworld alliance partner, which means you can use various frequent flyer programs to book these flights.

One of our favorite programs for this purpose is British Airways Executive Club, which offers attractive redemption rates with minimal fuel surcharges passed on.

Currently, you can spend 70,000 British Airways Avios for a one-way business class flight between the U.S. and Doha aboard Qatar Airways. Here are some of the most exciting routes to book:

• Atlanta (ATL) to Doha (DOH) one-way in Qatar Airways Qsuites for 70,000 British Airways Avios + ~$103 in taxes and fees
• Boston (BOS) to Doha (DOH) one-way in Qatar Airways Qsuites for 70,000 British Airways Avios + ~$103 in taxes and fees
• Miami (MIA) to Doha (DOH) one-way in Qatar Airways Qsuites for 70,000 British Airways Avios + ~$103 in taxes and fees
• Seattle (SEA) to Doha (DOH) one-way in Qatar Airways Qsuites for 70,000 British Airways Avios + ~$103 in taxes and fees

Expect a redemption value of around 10 to 13 cents per point based on an average revenue cost of $7,000 to $10,000 per ticket.

10. Qantas Business Class One-way From the U.S. to Australia

Considering making a trip to the land down under? Well, one of the best ways to fly to Australia using points is on Australia’s very own flag carrier: Qantas.

Booking business and first class flights on Qantas using points is extremely difficult — but you can get some tremendous redemption value if you’re able to pull this off.

Qantas, which is a Oneworld airline, is bookable using partner frequent flyer programs; using Qantas’s own frequent flyer program is rarely the best way to book Qantas flights.

In this case, we favor Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, which prices Qantas business class flights from the U.S. to Australia starting at 75,000 Amex points transferred at a 1:1 ratio.

Here are some of Qantas’s best flights you can book using 90,000 Amex points:

• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Sydney (SYD) one-way in Qantas business class for 90,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles + ~$25 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Brisbane (BNE) one-way in Qantas business class for 75,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles + ~$25 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Melbourne (MEL) one-way in Qantas business class for 90,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles + ~$25 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD) one-way in Qantas business class for 90,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles + ~$25 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) to Brisbane (BNE) one-way in Qantas business class for 75,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles + ~$25 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) to Melbourne (MEL) one-way in Qantas business class for 90,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles + ~$25 in taxes and fees

11. Iberia Business Class One-way Tickets for 2 People From the U.S. to Spain

Iberia is the Spanish flag carrier, and although this airline’s business class product isn’t necessarily a top-notch product, it does offer a comfortable way to cross the Atlantic Ocean at a fantastic price with lie-flat seats, upscale catering, and good service.

To book these flights, we recommend transferring your Amex points to Iberia Plus directly. For flights between 3,001 and 4,000 miles in flight distance, you can redeem as few as 34,000 Iberia Avios one-way in business class during off-peak dates.

If your flight is between 4,001 to 5,000 miles in flight distance, you’ll redeem 42,500 Iberia Avios one-way in business class during off-peak dates.

Taxes and fees are also very attractive. Here are some great routes we have in mind:

• Chicago (ORD) to Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 34,000 Iberia Avios + ~$124 in taxes and fees
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 43,000 Iberia Avios + ~$124 in taxes and fees
• Miami (MIA) to Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 43,000 Iberia Avios ~$124 in taxes and fees

Expect a value of $3,000 to $4,000 for each one-way ticket, which lands you at a redemption rate of 6 to 9 cents per point.

Hot Tip: Check out our review of Iberia’s Airbus A350 business class from London (LHR) to Madrid (MAD).

• Los Angeles (LAX) to Kona (KOA) round-trip in Delta first class for 86,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$11 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Lihue (LIH) round-trip in Delta first class for 84,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$11 in taxes and fees
• Seattle (SEA) to Honolulu (HNL) round-trip in Delta first class for 82,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$11 in taxes and fees.

12. Singapore Airlines Business Class One-way From the U.S. to Europe

Another fantastic way to use less than 90,000 Amex points is for a Singapore Airlines business class flight to Europe!

Just like Emirates, Singapore Airlines has a couple of fifth freedom flights to Europe. You can redeem less than 90,000 Amex points for a one-way flight:

• Houston (IAH) to Manchester (MAN) one-way in Singapore Airlines business class for 81,000 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Singapore Airlines business class for 81,000 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees

13. Singapore Airlines Economy Class Tickets One-way*2 From the U.S. to Singapore

If you want to fly to Southeast Asia and don’t mind flying in economy as long as you’re on a great airline, then you might get some awesome value from this next redemption.

Singapore Airlines flies nonstop to a handful of U.S. cities, and you can book 2 one-way, economy class flights for less than 90,000 Amex points!

Here are our favorite options:

• Los Angeles (LAX) to Singapore (SIN) one-way in Singapore Airlines economy class for 42,000 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) to Singapore (SIN) one-way in Singapore Airlines economy class for 42,000 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Newark (EWR) to Singapore (SIN) one-way in Singapore Airlines economy class for 42,000 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) to Singapore (SIN) one-way in Singapore Airlines economy class for 42,000 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Seattle (SEA) to Singapore (SIN) one-way in Singapore Airlines economy class for 42,000 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees

Air Travel Within the US

14. Book a Ton of Delta Flights With Flash Sales

Although it’s generally getting more difficult to get outsized value on business class redemptions with Delta SkyMiles, it’s easier than ever to get superb value on economy flights.

One such way is through SkyMiles Flash Sales, which offers limited-time deals to book round-trip flights (primarily for domestic U.S. travel) for as few as 10,000 SkyMiles round-trip. Yes, you read that right. 10,000 miles for a round-trip flight (sometimes even including Hawaii).

Here are some routes that have enjoyed some fantastic pricing during SkyMiles Flash Sales:

• Kansas City (MCI) to Reno (RNO) for 10,000 Delta SkyMiles + $11 in taxes and fees
• Minneapolis (MSP) to Nashville (BNA) for 10,000 Delta SkyMiles + $11 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) to New York (NYC) for 10,000 Delta SkyMiles + $11 in taxes and fees
• Seattle (SEA) to Mexico City (MEX) for 5,000 Delta SkyMiles + $11 in taxes and fees
• Seattle (SEA) to Portland (PDX) for 10,000 Delta SkyMiles + $11 in taxes and fees

With 90,000 Amex points, you can get a ton of these flights!

15. Delta First Class Round-trip to Hawaii

Flying to Hawaii is getting more and more expensive, especially as the tourism economy continues to grow there.

If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii and want to book flights on Delta, you can access better availability going directly through Delta SkyMiles than if you were to try and book through a partner like Air France-KLM Flying Blue or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Taxes and fees will be around $6 one-way or $11 round-trip, and you’ll probably redeem around 90,000 Amex points for a round-trip ticket in first class.

Here are some example redemptions:

• Los Angeles (LAX) to Kona (KOA) round-trip in Delta first class for 86,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$11 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Lihue (LIH) round-trip in Delta first class for 84,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$11 in taxes and fees
• Seattle (SEA) to Honolulu (HNL) round-trip in Delta first class for 82,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$11 in taxes and fees.

Hotel Stays

16. Stay 3 Nights in an Upscale Hilton Honors Property

Normally, we wouldn’t recommend using Amex points for hotel stays. However, if you find specific hotels in the Hilton portfolio that are high-value, it might be worth it.

For example, when you transfer 90,000 Amex points to Hilton Honors at a 1:2 ratio, you’ll end up with 180,000 Hilton points.

At some properties, it’s possible to get up to 3 nights, including a few resort properties around the world.

It’s important to emphasize that almost all of the properties in Hilton’s portfolio that are priced at 60,000 points per night are not worth transferring Amex points to book.

Here are a few properties that could make transferring Amex points to Hilton worth it:

• 3 nights at Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah for 90,000 Hilton Honors points
• 3 nights at Conrad Dubai for 90,000 Hilton Honors points
• 3 nights at Crockfords Las Vegas, LXR Hotels & Resorts for 90,000 Hilton Honors points
• 3 nights at Hilton Orlando for 90,000 Hilton Honors points
• 3 nights at The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood, Curio Collection by Hilton for 90,000 Hilton Honors points

Final Thoughts

Amex Membership Rewards is one of the best points systems in the world. Because it has a ton of airline transfer partners and a few hotel partners that transfer, mostly, at 1:1 ratio, the list of ways to use Amex points is seemingly endless.

With 90,000 Amex points, it’s totally realistic to get upwards of 8 to 10 cents per point of value when booking business or first class award travel.

In this case, some of our favorite experiences include Emirates first class, Singapore Airlines business class, Qatar Airways Qsuites, and Etihad business class.

If you’re not a big international traveler or luxury traveler, we also outlined some great ways to get value from 90,000 Amex points when booking domestic flights and economy flights.

Lastly, you can transfer Amex points to Hilton to get awesome redemption value at certain properties around the world.

*No Preset Spending Limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.