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The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
One of the first American Express rewards cards was its American Express® Green Card. Maybe you owned one once upon a time before upgrading to the American Express® Gold Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express. Or, perhaps you might be curious about this Amex classic. Here’s our American Express Green Card review.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
In-Depth American Express Green Card Review
The American Express® Green Card is an attractive option for several reasons. You can earn up to 3x Membership Rewards on purchases. You also get an annual CLEAR and LoungeBuddy credit.
This can even be a good alternative to the Citi Premier® Card and even The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Let’s take a look under the hood to see if the Green Card is worth it. In addition to the card design and benefits, the Green Card is also made of up to 70% recycled plastic. It’s green in multiple ways.
New American Express® Green Card cardholders can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after they spend $3,000 on purchases on their new Card in their first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases made during your first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit.
Earn Up to 3x Membership Rewards on Purchases
The American Express Green Card earns 3x Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US. It also earns 3x points per $1 spent on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals. Plus, earn 3x points on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
All remaining purchases earn 1x Membership Rewards point per $1 spent.
Redeeming Membership Rewards Points
Your Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for award travel, experiences, gift cards, or to cover recent card charges. Your rewards points are most valuable when redeemed for award flights on AmexTravel.com and gift cards. Each point is worth 1 cent each.
Another redemption option is transferring your points to the Membership Rewards airline and hotel partners. Most partners let you transfer points at a 1:1 ratio. Some of the best airline transfer partners include Delta, Emirate, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines.
Some of these benefits are comparable to some of the best Chase business credit cards.
Additional Card Benefits in the Green Card Review
There are a few benefit credits (worth up to $200 per year). Cardholders can earn up to $189 in annual statement credits for CLEAR® membership as well as up to $100 in annual statement credits to access 750+ airport lounges globally through LoungeBuddy. If you currently pay for CLEAR or LoungeBuddy access, these two credits alone are worth more than the $150 annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
$189 CLEAR Credit
A growing number of travel credit cards offer a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit. The next big benefit trend might be CLEAR application credits. If you’re unfamiliar with CLEAR, it’s an expedited security line you can pass through before you reach the TSA airport security area.
Note that while Delta and United Airlines both offer a discount CLEAR membership, you can get a full $189 CLEAR credit with the Amex Green Card. You can receive up to $189 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for a CLEAR membership with the American Express® Green Card.
However, you will still need to purchase TSA PreCheck or Global Entry if you want to use these specific services and avoid security lines.
Related: Is TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or CLEAR best?
$100 LoungeBuddy Credit
Another unique air travel benefit is an annual $100 LoungeBuddy credit for one-time visits. LoungeBuddy passes start at $25 per visit, making this credit worth up to 4 free visits each year.
If you only visit airport lounges a handful of times each year, this benefit is nice to have. But you should consider the Platinum Card from American Express if you plan on visiting lounges more often. The Platinum Card gives you free access to The Centurion, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Club, Air Space, Escape, and Plaza Premium lounge networks.
There are lounge locations in most major international airports across the world. Note that the selection is far smaller than Priority Pass, which is the standard credit card lounge network benefit.
Trip Delay Insurance
Cardholders can also rest assured that they’ve got coverage if their trip gets delayed, so long as they’ve paid for their roundtrip with their Green Card. With Trip Delay Insurance, the Green Card can help reimburse additional expenses if there is a covered reason your trip is delayed for more than 12 hours. This is limited to up to $300 per trip, with a maximum of two claims per eligible account for a 12-consecutive month period. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply.
Secondary Rental Car Insurance
You get secondary collision and theft damage waiver coverage on most car rentals. This coverage can cover expenses your primary insurance policy won’t. One example is the insurance deductible before your primary insurance benefits apply.
Having some of the best credit cards with roadside assistance is always nice to have in your wallet.
Baggage Insurance
On common carrier travel (i.e., plane, train, ship, bus, etc.), your carry-on baggage is insured for up to $1,250 and checked bagged for up to $500. New York State residents have a total coverage limit of $10,000 for all covered persons per trip.
ShopRunner
Free 2-day ShopRunner shipping at more than 100 online stores. This is a common benefit for most American Express credit cards.
No Preset Spending Limit
Your maximum spending limit depends on your monthly spending habits and other factors. You will need to pay your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges.
Fees
The annual fee is $150, and there are $0 foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees).
Pros
Here are the pros and cons of the American Express® Green Card review.
- Earn 3x Membership Rewards on travel, rideshare, and dining purchases
- Annual $189 CLEAR credit
- Annual $100 LoungeBuddy credit
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- Not all travelers will benefit from CLEAR or LoungeBuddy credits
- The $150 annual fee is higher than other travel credit cards
Summary of American Express Green Card Review
The American Express Green Card is a competitive option for occasional travelers wanting to earn American Express Membership Rewards. However, you will need to use the CLEAR and LoungeBuddy credits to make the $150 annual fee worth it. Even so, this card can easily be one of the best American Express Credit Cards.
FAQs
What is the American Express Green Card annual fee?
The annual fee is $150 for the American Express Green Card (See Rates & Fees).
What are the American Express Green Card travel benefits?
The American Express® Green Card provides these travel benefits:
- Annual $189 CLEAR credit
- Annual $100 LoungeBuddy credit
- Secondary rental car collision and theft damage waiver coverage
- Carry-on and checked baggage insurance
- No foreign transaction fees
What credit score is needed to get the American Express Green Card?
You can most likely get the American Express® Green Card with a 670+ credit score. This is the start of “good credit.” But having a score near or above 740 gives you the best approval odds, as you will have “excellent credit.”
Premium cards like the Platinum Card from American Express and Gold Card from American Express require a 740 credit score or higher to have the best approval odds.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Green Card, please click here.
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.
