13 Things To Do When You Get the Amex Gold Card [2026]

Your brand-new American Express^® Gold Card has arrived, and it’s time to start using it. However, to reap the most benefits, it may not be as simple as just beginning to tap or swipe.

To access some of the best perks, you need to enroll in them. And understanding exactly how your card works is essential for getting the most out of your card membership.

From activating your card to adding additional cardholders and enrolling for specific shopping, dining, and travel benefits, here’s exactly what to do when you first get your Amex Gold card.

Amex Gold Card Overview

Before I dig into what you need to know, here’s a brief overview of the Amex Gold card. If you haven’t applied yet, now’s your chance.

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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!

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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

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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

1. Activate Your Card

Before doing anything else, you need to activate your new Amex Gold card. The easiest way to do this is online, but you can also complete the process by phone. If you already have an Amex account with other Amex credit cards, you can log in to your account and activate and add your card there. If you’re new to American Express, you need to set up your online account.

2. Understand the Spending Threshold and Welcome Offer Terms

My first thought when getting a credit card is a frenzied fury of spending in hopes of reaching the welcome bonus offer as quickly as possible.

But before whipping out the card and mindlessly spending, make sure you understand the terms of your offer and how long you have to meet the minimum spending requirement. Then create a strategy and start spending. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

The current welcome offer is:

• Apply and find out if you're eligible for as high as 100,000 points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

It can be helpful to mark your calendar with key dates, such as the day you were approved and the date you need to meet the spending requirement by. And try to avoid making purchases on the very last day — it’s best to reach the threshold a few days before just to be safe.

3. Add Your Card to Your Uber Account (Up to $120 in Uber Cash)

One of the first things you should do is add your Amex Gold card to your Uber account so that you can get $10 in Uber Cash each month (up to $120 per year). Use the cash for Uber Eats and Uber rides within the U.S. — just remember to pay with an American Express card (any Amex card will do, as long as your Amex Gold card is added to the account) to take advantage of this offer.

4. Enroll in Resy (Up to $100 in Credits Annually)

Enroll in Resy to get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year. You get up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. Use the credits by dining at U.S. Resy restaurants and paying with your Amex Gold card.

5. Start Getting Your Morning Coffee at Dunkin’ (Up to $84 in Credits Annually)

Doughnut and coffee lovers should immediately enroll their Amex Gold card to get up to $7 in monthly statement credits at Dunkin’. Make sure you pay with your Amex Gold card, as credits are only available for payments made at U.S. Dunkin’ locations.

6. Begin Eating Out (Up to $120 in Dining Credits Annually)

The Amex Gold card is perfect for those who love to dine out. Enroll your card to get up to $10 in dining statement credits each month at the following restaurants and food services: Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, wine.com, and Five Guys.

Remember that you also get 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 annually), so you might as well start bulking up your points balance by using this card for dining out.

7. Start Planning Your 2-Night Stay at The Hotel Collection

Use your Amex Gold card to book a hotel that’s part of The Hotel Collection (with more than 1,300 hotels) through AmexTravel.com for 2 nights or more and receive special benefits, including a $100 credit toward eligible charges and a room upgrade (when available).

8. Use Your Card for Groceries

Grocery shopping is a significant part of everyday life, and the Amex Gold card is one of the best for your grocery expenses. You get 4x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 each year, so spending at supermarkets is an easy way to get a lot of points quickly.

9. Add up to 5 Complimentary Authorized Users

Here is the authorized user fee structure for the Amex Gold card:

• Additional Cards (up to the first 5): $0 annual fee. 6th or more Additional Cards: $35 annual fee per Card. (rates & fees)

Adding authorized users is an easy way to help friends or family build or improve their credit, and it means you earn more points for their purchases. Just know that you’re responsible for paying off any purchases made by additional cardholders, so only add authorized users you trust.

10. Familiarize Yourself With AmexTravel.com

You earn additional points for specific purchases on AmexTravel.com using your Amex Gold card. Booking flights through AmexTravel.com gets you 3x points, and booking prepaid hotels gets you 2x points. You can also use the Membership Rewards points you earn to book travel via AmexTravel.com.

11. Use Your Amex Offers

Your online Amex account features Amex Offers, which are revolving deals where you can save money or earn additional Membership Rewards points at specific vendors and businesses. You need to enroll for your desired Amex Offers and then pay for your purchase using your Amex Gold card.

I personally love using CardPointers+, which automatically enrolls you in every single Amex Offer so you don’t need to do so manually. All you need to do is have CardPointers+ added as a browser extension and log in to your Amex account weekly so it updates.

12. Download the Amex App

The Amex mobile app, which was recently updated in 2025, features helpful tools to make your card membership smooth and simple. You can activate your card and learn about its benefits. More importantly, you can easily enroll in the benefits that require enrollment. You can also track welcome offers and benefits usage.

13. Buy Flights With the Amex Gold Card

Consider purchasing any upcoming flights directly via the airline using your Amex Gold card, as you earn 3x points. As I mentioned above, you also get this rate by purchasing flights by AmexTravel.com.

Final Thoughts

Getting a new credit card in the mail is an exciting moment. But before rushing off to shop with your new Amex Gold card, take a moment to do the things on this list beforehand. Following our suggested steps will help you understand the value potential of your card and ensure you don’t miss a single benefit.