Best American Express card combinations to maximize rewards
When it comes to earning credit card rewards, sometimes two cards really are better than one.
Maybe you have a card that earns bonus points on dining and groceries but falls short on other everyday purchases. Or perhaps you love your card’s travel perks but wish it offered better earning rates outside of travel.
That’s where pairing cards can come in handy. By choosing two cards with complementary benefits and earning categories, you can get more out of your spending without relying on a single card for everything.
Here are three American Express card combinations worth considering, depending on your spending habits and travel goals.
Amex card combinations at a glance
Frequent travelers who dine out: Amex Platinum and Amex Gold
Frequent travelers who want a combination of premium travel benefits and strong everyday earning rates may get the most value from pairing the with the .
The Platinum is, at its core, a travel and lifestyle card that offers access to an extensive network of airport lounges worldwide through the Global Lounge Collection, along with a range of statement credits and other travel benefits.
It also earns:
- 5 points per dollar spent on airfare purchased directly with the airlines or through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar year*)
- 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid lodging booked with Amex Travel
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
The Gold fills an important gap in the Platinum’s earning structure. It earns 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $50,000 and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, respectively*).
*Then 1 point per dollar spent for the rest of the year
By using the Platinum for eligible flights and the Gold for dining and groceries, you can earn elevated rewards across several major spending categories while enjoying premium travel benefits. Since both cards earn Membership Rewards points, you can also combine your rewards into one balance to use toward travel through Amex’s transfer partners (after linking your accounts online).
The trade-off of this card combination is cost. The Platinum has an $895 annual fee, while the Gold has a $325 annual fee, bringing the combined annual cost to $1,220. For that reason, I’d only recommend this pairing to travelers who can take advantage of the Platinum’s benefits and who regularly spend in the Gold’s bonus categories.
Related: How these two cards got me over $4,500 in value in one year
Best for earning everyday rewards: Blue Business Plus and Gold
If you spend a lot on dining and groceries but want to earn more than 1 point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases, the and could make a great pair.
The Gold earns 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year*) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year*). It also earns 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Then, use the Blue Business Plus for eligible business purchases that would earn only 1 point per dollar on the Gold. It earns 2 points per dollar spent (on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each calendar year*) compared with the Gold’s standard earning rate of 1 point per dollar spent.
*Then 1 point per dollar spent for the rest of the year
Since both cards earn Membership Rewards points, you can build up a single rewards balance to use toward travel through Amex’s airline and hotel transfer partners.
The Gold has a $325 annual fee, while the Blue Business Plus has no annual fee, so you won’t pay extra to add a flat-rate earning card to the mix.
Just keep in mind that the Blue Business Plus is a business card, so you’ll need to qualify to apply. This combination could be especially useful for freelancers and small-business owners with eligible business expenses that don’t fall into the Gold’s bonus categories.
Related: The 4 Amex cards I’d use to earn Membership Rewards points faster
Best for maximizing rewards on business expenses: Business Gold and Blue Business Plus
If your business spends a lot on things like advertising, software or gas, the and could make a great pair.
The Business Gold earns 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent in the two eligible categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle (on up to $150,000 in combined purchases per calendar year*).
*Then 1 point per dollar spent for the rest of the year
Eligible categories include:
- Select U.S. advertising
- Transit
- U.S. electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers
- U.S. gas stations
- U.S. restaurants
- U.S. wireless phone service providers
What I like about the Business Gold is that you don’t have to choose your bonus categories in advance. Amex automatically determines your top two eligible categories each billing cycle, which is helpful if your business expenses change from month to month.
For purchases outside those categories, the Blue Business Plus earns 2 points per dollar spent (on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each calendar year*). That’s double the Business Gold’s standard earning rate of 1 point per dollar spent.
*Then 1 point per dollar spent for the rest of the year
For example, you might use the Business Gold for advertising and software expenses, then switch to the Blue Business Plus for other eligible business purchases. Since both cards earn Membership Rewards points, you can build up one balance to use with Amex’s airline and hotel transfer partners.
The Business Gold has a $375 annual fee, while the Blue Business Plus has no annual fee. This combination makes the most sense if you spend enough in the Business Gold’s bonus categories to justify the annual fee while using the Blue Business Plus to earn more on other purchases.
Related: 7 reasons why the Amex Blue Business Plus Card should be in everyone’s wallet
How to choose the right combination
Before adding another Amex card to your wallet, take a look at where you’re spending the most money and what you want to get out of your rewards. The goal is to find a card that fills a gap in your current lineup, rather than one that offers more of the same.
Here are a few things to consider:
- Your spending habits: Consider where you spend the most, like on dining, groceries, travel or business expenses. Look for cards that reward the purchases you make most often.
- Annual fees: Adding another card means potentially taking on another annual fee. Make sure you’ll get enough value from the rewards and benefits to justify the cost.
- Your rewards goals: If you’re hoping to build up Membership Rewards points for travel, pairing cards that earn the same currency can help you grow your balance faster.
And remember, earning more points isn’t worth it if you’re spending more than you normally would or carrying a balance and paying interest.
Related: Best credit card strategies for couples
Bottom line
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to choosing the best credit card combination. The key is finding cards that complement each other rather than simply offer more of the same benefits.
Whether you’re looking for premium travel perks, stronger everyday earning rates or a way to maximize rewards on business expenses, pairing the right Amex cards can help you earn more Membership Rewards points.
Just make sure the additional rewards and benefits are worth the combined annual fees and that you’re choosing cards that make sense for your spending habits.
Related: The best business and personal credit card combinations
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Business Plus Card, click here.
