American Express refreshes the Amex Gold with higher hotel earning via Amex Travel, new Hertz status, updated dining credits, and a higher welcome spend.
American Express has given the Amex Gold a light refresh, with changes that matter most for travelers who book through Amex Travel, rent through Hertz, and use the card’s dining credits.
Focused perks for travelers: hotel earning and Hertz status
The biggest upside is the Amex Gold’s updated earning rate for prepaid hotels booked through the Amex Travel website and the Amex Travel App. Cardmembers will now earn 5 points per dollar on eligible prepaid hotel purchases, up from 2 points per dollar previously.
For frequent travelers. that shift is practical: it rewards a very specific behavior—using Amex Travel for prepaid lodging—rather than travel in general.. Misryoum readers who already route hotel bookings through Amex Travel may see an immediate boost in points at the margin. especially when a trip requires flexible planning or last-minute reservations.
There’s also a brand-new loyalty perk with Hertz: complimentary Hertz Five Star status in the Hertz Gold+ program.. Misryoum notes this comes with benefit enrollment and registration. and it’s a mid-tier level in Hertz’s hierarchy rather than the top stratum.. Still. it can provide real on-the-ground value—such as space-available upgrades and improved access to Hertz’s Ultimate Choice inventory—while also bringing more points on rentals.
Dining credits get a reshuffle—good for some, less so for others
The Amex Gold’s monthly dining statement credit structure stays intact in value, with up to $10 each month (up to $120 per calendar year) for select partner merchants, assuming enrollment is completed. Where it changes is who’s eligible.
Two new names appear for the statement credit: Buffalo Wild Wings and Wonder (a food delivery app). Misryoum also flags that both are available to use immediately, which means there’s no wait period for cardmembers who already align their dining spending with these brands.
At the same time, the refresh replaces some earlier options.. Goldbelly and Wine.com remain through June 30, after which they end for this benefit.. In contrast. the statement credit will continue to work with several other partners—while Cheesecake Factory. Five Guys and Grubhub are also listed among the merchants that will run through June 30.
Welcome offer changes: same maximum, higher hurdle
The welcome offer’s headline potential hasn’t changed—new applicants can still be eligible for up to 100. 000 Membership Rewards points after meeting the spending requirement.. But Misryoum readers should pay close attention to the math: the required spend increases to $8. 000 in the first six months. up from $6. 000 under the prior requirement.
Practically, that means you may need to plan purchases more deliberately to avoid falling short.. Using the publication’s own framing. the new structure implies you’d need about $1. 334 in eligible monthly spend to stay on track.. For travelers who sometimes treat a new card as “set and forget. ” this is the part of the update that can feel like the real barrier.
The card’s annual fee remains $325. and Misryoum considers that a key stabilizer: the refresh changes the earning and benefit mechanics without adding a new annual-fee layer.. But higher welcome spending can shift which applicants find the offer worth it—especially those who don’t have a predictable travel calendar or a near-term expense buffer.
What Misryoum thinks the update signals for card strategy
Across the broader credit-card market. upgrades like “better points on a specific travel channel” and “added status through a partner” are common. but they also reflect how issuers are managing profitability.. In simple terms, the Amex Gold’s improvements are not blanket—they reward particular booking and lifestyle patterns.. Misryoum sees that as both an opportunity and a caution: if your travel habits don’t match the partners. you may not notice much beyond the welcome offer adjustment.
There’s also a timing angle.. With certain dining merchants set to end in June. Misryoum suggests cardholders treat the next few months like a window to use credits efficiently.. If Buffalo Wild Wings and Wonder fit your routines, the switch is likely an upgrade.. If you rely more heavily on Goldbelly or Wine.com. you may want to front-load how you use those credits before the cutoff.
Looking ahead. this refresh may encourage even more “ecosystem travel” behavior—book prepaid lodging through Amex Travel when the points rate matters. and pair car rentals with Hertz when status perks line up.. For readers planning trips this year. the best approach is to match spending to benefits rather than trying to force-fit the card into every purchase category.. If you’d like. Misryoum can also help you map which of the Amex Gold changes are likely to benefit your travel and dining habits the most—based on where you actually spend.