This program was reviewed and rated by our editors in April 2008. Changes in the program past this date are possible, especially program partner information. We recommend you subscribe to the #1 source of frequent flyer information, Inside Flyer Magazine, to get the most current information possible.

Founded in 1850, American Express began as a joint stock corporation that was formed from the merger of three express mail companies. American Express launched the first Travelers Cheque in 1891, a move that established the organization as an international company and provided a solution to travelers in need of a safe way to access cash while traveling.

Today, American Express offers a number of different charge and credit cards to consumers and many are eligible for the AMEX Membership Rewards program. Unlike your typical credit card, charge cards need to be paid off every month.

AMEX offers something your typical airline affinity card does not -- flexibility. The Membership Rewards program allows its members to transfer their points into miles with 16 airline programs and four hotel programs. In addition, there are innumerable merchandise or "experience" awards available in exchange for points.

Cardholders who have the Green, Gold and Platinum Card from American Express are automatically enrolled in the Membership Rewards program. Other cards, such as The Nest Card, The Knot Card and Blue from American Express, are eligible to be enrolled in the Express program. Amex also offers a number of co-branded credit cards with Delta, Hilton, JetBlue, Starwood and Costco among others, but these offer other reward options.

As a general rule, American Express offers one Membership Rewards point for every dollar spent on the card. Some cards offer twice as many points for certain purchases. Rewards Plus Gold cardholders will accrue two points during their first year of membership and 1.5 points during each succeeding year for every dollar spent on airlines or hotels with a loyalty program that participates in Membership Rewards.

The Platinum card is an attractive option for those whose credit history is good enough to qualify. Its annual fee is a hefty $450 but benefits include access to participating major airlines' airport lounges, including American Airlines Admirals Club, Continental Airlines Presidents Club, Delta Crown Room Club and Northwest Airlines WorldClubs; the opportunity to purchase one first- or business-class international ticket and receive a complimentary companion ticket on participating airlines; special amenities at over 500 boutique, resort and luxury hotels worldwide; complimentary enrollment in car rental premium programs and Platinum Card Concierge.

There are a number of ways to boost your point balance without necessarily spending more money. Members may link a number of cards (and their combined points-earning power) to a single account. American Express periodically offers promotions where members can earn bonus points for select purchases. And members who shop online at BonusPointsMall.com can earn double points year round on retail purchases.

Remember, though, that with a few exceptions (for example, accounts with extended pay options), your AMEX Charge Card account needs to be paid off every month. If you don't do that, you'll forfeit the points earned that month. You can get them back later, but it will cost you $29 for each month your account carried a balance.

There is no shortage of award options with Membership Rewards and members may redeem points for air, hotel, cruise, car rental, rail and dining options in addition to vacation packages. There are additional options to redeem points for non-travel awards such as clothing, electronics, home appliances and sporting goods.

When it comes to flight awards, members essentially have three options: they may directly redeem Membership Rewards points for flight certificates on partner airlines, pay with points at the American Express travel Web site www.americanexpress.com/travel or transfer points into miles. For most partners, transfers can be made in increments of 1,000 points, and will transfer 1-to-1 into airline miles. For each conversion, members are required to pay an excise tax offset fee of $0.0005 per point, with a maximum fee of $75. And if you are a few points short, many cards allow you to request a points advance of up to 15,000 points -- just make sure you earn the advanced points within 12 months or you will be charged the fee for buying points.

Members have the same options with hotel partners, though transfer ratios vary by program; 1,000 Membership Rewards points equals 333 Starwood Preferred Guest points, 1,000 Best Western Gold Crown Club International points or 1,300 Hilton HHonors points. Members can also redeem points for hotel certificates at hotels such as Omni Hotels, Joie de Vivre Hotels and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.

Donating points is also possible through The Giving Express Program. For each 1,000 points redeemed, American Express will donate $8 to your choice of more than one million charitable organizations.

Point requirements are as varied as the awards themselves. At the lower end, you'll find gift cards to retail stores such as a $25 Gap gift card for 2,500 points or five Blockbuster movie rentals for 2,200 points. If you've been saving up, you can redeem for a 920,000-point treadmill or a seven-night resort package for two at Miraval Life in Balance Resort and Spa for 850,000 points. And if you want cash, you can redeem in increments of 20,000 points for a $100 cash payment to your card account.

Members can also customize their own award and redeem for just about anything through the program's Create Your Reward and Experiences option.

American Express partners with a total of 22 airlines. Members can transfer points into miles with Aeromexico, Aeroplan, Air France KLM, AirTran Airways, Alitalia Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, EL AL Israel Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Mexicana, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways. Airline partners who offer flight awards such as a roundtrip airline ticket or a companion ticket but do not allow point transfers include Air Tahiti Nui, Cathay Pacific Airways, Qantas, South African Airways, Air Jamaica and SWISS. A glaring omission in the airline partner list is the largest program, American Airlines. United Airlines is also missing.

Major car rental partners include Avis, Enterprise and Hertz and most major hotel loyalty programs participate in the Membership Rewards program. Marriott Rewards no longer participates in the point transfer option, but members can redeem points for a Marriott Incentive Awards free night award; 40,000 points for a Flex Award and 60,000 points for a Premier Award.

The list of retail and service partners is too long to mention here and Membership Rewards continues to add more. New options added last year include the addition of dining awards from partners The Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Red Lobster and Olive Garden.

American Express benefits are offered according to three tiers: Membership Rewards Express, Membership Rewards and Membership Rewards First. Membership is based on the card a member carries.

Cardmembers with cards such as Blue from American Express are eligible for the Express program. Express members have access to retail, dining, entertainment and select travel awards; access to double points at BonusPointsMall.com; an Express Rewards prepaid hotel card redemption option that can be used at Marriott and Radisson properties; the ability to pay with points for all or part of the cost of an airline ticket, hotel stay, cruise or travel package and double points when booking travel through the American Express Travel Web site.

American Express Green and Gold Charge cardmembers enrolled in the Membership Rewards program, receive all of the benefits listed above, plus the ability to transfer points to participating frequent flyer and frequent guest programs. Members can also redeem points for travel certificates and access the Flight Finder and Room Finder booking tools.

Platinum and Centurion charge cardmembers are given access to Membership Rewards First and its array of exclusive and one-of-a-kind options. First members receive access to the First Collection luxury partners and premium awards offered by partners such as Eos Airlines, Lamborghini, Neiman Marcus and Tiffany & Co, a dedicated customer service number and triple points when shopping at BonusPointsMall.com.

Membership Rewards points never expire, but as we mentioned before, they may be forfeited if payments aren't made on time. Points cannot be transferred or combined and once redeemed, Membership Rewards points are not refundable.

You can buy Membership Rewards points for yourself in increments of 1,000. There is a $25 fee for every 1,000 points purchased and a maximum of 500,000 points may be purchased per calendar year. You may not gift points to another member.

Members can email the service center or call between 7am and 1am ET, seven days a week. A frequent complaint we hear is the time it takes for points to post. Because Membership Rewards only credits your points if you pay your account in full, points do not generally post until the close of the next billing cycle.

Members can enroll in the program, check their accounts, send an email to AMEX, redeem points, link accounts and more. Members that pay their bill online receive instant credit. Last year, the program introduced an online flight and room finder booking tool that allows members to search available award inventory, transfer points into a frequent flyer or guest account and book an award, all in one transaction. Members can search for awards with IHG Hotels, AirTran Airways, Hilton, Virgin Atlantic Airways and Hawaiian Airlines.

The strength of the American Express Membership Rewards program lies in its flexibility. Points never expire and members can transfer points into a number of airline and hotel loyalty programs. The ability to take out a point advance adds to the program's flexibility. The American Express Platinum card gives cardmembers lounge access and the opportunity to receive a free companion ticket on business class international fares.

While the program offers a plethora of award options, the redemption rates aren't always the best and in some instances, award value can be as low as $0.005 per point. Members who own a card that participates at the Express level cannot take advantage of point transfers into frequent flyer or guest programs. The annual fees are higher than most airline and hotel co-branded cards. The annual fee for the Preferred Rewards Green card is $95, The Rewards Plus Gold card runs about $150 a year, and the Platinum card, a whopping $450.

Phone: (800) AXP-EARN (297-3276)

Membership Rewards
P.O. Box 297813
Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 33329-7813