(Updated July 30 2025 — now “as high as 100 K”)
Since 2019 I’ve used the American Express® Gold Card to turn daily dining and grocery runs into premium-cabin flights. The card’s 4× earn rate, flexible Membership Rewards® transfers, and easy-to-use monthly credits already made it a keeper. Now American Express has rolled out the richest Gold-card bonus ever: up to 100,000 points after $6,000 spend in six months. That’s $1,700-plus of travel value by most estimates.
2025 Offer Timeline
Historical context: the previous peaks were 60 K (standard), 75 K (Resy, 2024-25) and 90 K (select referrals). Today’s 100 K tops them all.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Mar 2025 | First reports of targeted 100 K referral links (some still showed 90 K). |
| Jun 26 2025 | Amex converted the public Gold application to an “as-high-as 100 K” model. |
| Jul 2025-present | Public site and most referrals show the full 100 K; Amex gives no end date (treat as limited-time test). |
Current Welcome-Offer Snapshot
| Offer source | Bonus | Spend | Time Frame | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public site | Up to 100 K | $6 K | 6 mo | Exact bonus (60–100 K) revealed after a soft pull. |
| Referral link | Up to 100 K (usually 100 K; occasionally 90 K) | $6 K | 6 mo | Use our link & screenshot the banner before applying. |
Tip: Try our referral link at the end and you should see the 100 K offer. If not, open the application in an incognito window to see if you have better luck there.
Key Benefits & Credits (unchanged)
| Perk | Details |
|---|---|
| 4× points | U.S. restaurants (incl. delivery) & U.S. supermarkets — up to $25 K/yr. Reddit |
| 3× points | Flights booked directly with airlines or via amextravel.com. |
| $120 Dining Credit | $10 mo at Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, etc. |
| $120 Uber Cash | $10 mo after adding card to Uber wallet. |
| No FTF / Purchase Protection / Extended Warranty | Handy for international trips & pricey gadgets. |
Membership Rewards Deep-Dive
1. Point Valuation
- Conservative cash-out: 1.0 ¢ via Schwab Platinum cash-out or gift cards.
- Typical travel transfer: 1.5 – 2.1 ¢ when booked through partners.
- My blended estimate: ≈ 1.7 ¢—the figure I use in cost/value math.
| Redemption | MR Cost | Cash Price | CPP |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANA J FK→Tokyo RT Biz | 95 K | $4,000 | 4.2 ¢ |
| Delta One JFK→Lisbon (via Virgin Atlantic) | 48 K | $2,000 | 4.1 ¢ |
| Hyatt Cat 4 @ 15 K (via Bilt or other transfer) | 15 K (not MR) | $420 | 2.8 ¢ |
With a little homework, you can easily beat 2 ¢ per point—doubling the value of airline “cash-back” cards.
2. 1:1 Airline Partners (Highlights)
- Air Canada Aeroplan – rich stopover rules on one-way awards.
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue – monthly Promo Rewards Europe sales.
- ANA Mileage Club – best RT biz/first pricing US ↔ Asia.
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club – sweet Delta One redemptions US → Europe.
- Singapore KrisFlyer – book United Polaris to Hawaii for 19 K.
3. Hotel Partners & Transfer Deals
- Choice Hotels – great ski/Euro boutique gems at 8–12 K/night.
- Hilton – frequent 30 % MR transfer bonuses; combine with free-night certs.
- Marriott Bonvoy – top up points for Fifth-Night-Free stays.
4. Tips for Stretching 100 K
- Wait for transfer bonuses (Amex runs 15–40 % promos each quarter).
- Book off-peak charts (ANA, Flying Blue, Iberia).
- Leverage lap-seat infants on Aeroplan—points-value rocket.
- Use partners for surcharges—Virgin vs. ANA for UK taxes difference.
Cost-Versus-Value Math (American Express® Gold Card 100 K Version)
- Annual fee: $325. UpgradedPoints.com
- Credits: $240/yr (Dining + Uber) → effective $85.
- 100 K × 1.7 ¢ ≈ $1,700 of travel value. Even 60 K ≈ $1,020.
How I Maximize the Card
- Front-load groceries: buy supermarket gift cards to stretch the 4× cap.
- Stack dining credit: order Grubhub through Rakuten to double-dip.
- Use transfer bonuses: 100 K can become 125 K Flying Blue miles during a 25 % promo.
- Add AUs: hit $6 K sooner — Amex sometimes tosses in 5–20 K AU bonuses.
Is the Gold Card for You?
Choose it if you spend $250+ / mo on dining & groceries, value flexible points, and can leverage the monthly credits. Pass if your spend is mainly outside those categories or you already hold a “super-premium” card that overlaps.
Bottom Line
With up to 100 K points — the highest Gold-card bonus ever — plus 4× earnings on food and easy credits, the Amex Gold is tastier than ever. Apply soon; history shows elevated Amex tests can vanish without notice.
Referral Disclosure
If you apply through our Amex Gold Card referral link and are approved, we may receive a bonus. Thank you for supporting the site!
