How to Apply for the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold Card – Eligibility, Point Hacks & Key Comparisons

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold: Elevate your spending with exclusive perks, travel rewards, and premium benefits for a more rewarding lifestyle!

The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card is considered the best travel credit card in the UK by many — but getting approved and using it wisely requires a clear strategy. Below is a comprehensive guide that covers eligibility, step-by-step application tips, and advanced point techniques to help you make the most of your Gold Card from day one.

✅ Who Is Eligible? (What Amex Actually Looks For)

Official criteria:

• Aged 18 or over
• UK permanent resident
• Annual income of £20,000+ (gross)
• No history of bad credit (defaults, CCJs)
• Must not have held another Amex Membership Rewards card in the past 24 months (to receive the welcome bonus)

In reality, approval depends on:

• A clean credit file with a score above 720 (Experian)
• Full-time employment, self-employment, or consistent freelance income
• A history of on-time credit payments over at least 12 months
• Existing credit limits used under 50%

💡 Tip: Even if you’re self-employed or a freelancer, Amex often approves applications if income is stable and reported correctly.

📝 Step-by-Step: How to Apply for the Amex Gold Card

Spread across bills, groceries, flights, or even HMRC via Curve or PayPal (with caution — see below).

Check your credit report first

Use services like ClearScore or MoneySuperMarket to identify any negative factors. Make sure your address is consistent across accounts.

Go through Amex’s official website

Avoid third-party “aggregator” sites — applying directly maximises bonus tracking and gives access to the latest offer.

Use your real income (not household)

Overstating income may get flagged. Self-employed? Use your annual net profit before tax as your reported income.

Submit and monitor email/phone for approval

Many get instant decisions, while others may need to submit payslips or ID. Most cards arrive within 3–5 business days.

Spend £3,000 in 3 months to get the 20,000-point bonus

❓ Amex Gold FAQ – What People Really Want to Know

1. Can I earn points on HMRC or PayPal payments?

Yes — but it’s not guaranteed. Use intermediaries like Curve to route payments if needed. Direct PayPal sometimes counts, sometimes not.

2. Are lounge passes free every year?

Only the first two Lounge Club entries per year are free. After that, each visit costs £20 per guest or per additional entry.

3. Do points expire?

No — as long as your Membership Rewards account is open and in good standing. Closing the card? Consider transferring all points first.

4. Can I upgrade to Amex Platinum later?

Yes. You can upgrade to Amex Platinum, retaining your points and gaining additional perks like unlimited lounge access, hotel elite status, and travel insurance.

5. Is it worth paying the £195 in Year 2?

If you use the lounge access, bonus point thresholds, and earn at least 1 point per £1 across categories — yes. Otherwise, consider downgrading to the free Amex Rewards Credit Card.

🔥 Advanced Points Optimisation (Real Hacks)

1. Use Amex Offers
3. The Gold Card gets you access to monthly cashback or bonus points at brands like Deliveroo, Booking.com, and Harvey Nichols.
4. Set “auto-redemption” to Avios
5. Link to British Airways Executive Club for easy 1:1 point transfers. Amex points transfer instantly in most cases.
6. Use with Curve Card to bypass non-Amex merchants
7. Many UK merchants still don’t accept Amex. Curve allows you to use the Gold Card indirectly — and still earn points.
8. Stack bonuses with partner retailers
9. Booking flights via Amex Travel gets you 2x points — and the same applies to major airlines booked directly.
10. Don’t cancel before Year 1 ends
11. Cancel after your annual fee posts in Year 2, and Amex will typically refund it pro-rata — giving you 12+ months of perks, mostly free.

⚖️ Comparison: Amex Gold vs Other UK Premium Cards

Feature	Amex Gold	Amex Platinum	Barclaycard Avios Plus	Virgin Atlantic Reward+
Annual Fee (Yr 1)	£0	£650	£240/year (£20/mo)	£160/year
Lounge Access	2 passes/year	Unlimited (Priority Pass)	None	None
Bonus Points	20,000 (on £3k)	60,000 (on £6k)	25,000 Avios (on £3k)	15,000 Virgin Points
Points Flexibility	12+ partners	12+ partners	Avios only	Virgin Points only
Status Boost (airline/hotel)	No	Yes	No	No
Insurance	Basic travel cover	Full global cover	No	Limited

Verdict:

✅ Amex Gold = best value-to-cost ratio (especially in Year 1)

✅ Amex Platinum = best for global travellers who want top-tier perks

✅ Barclaycard/Virgin = better for brand-loyal customers who only fly BA or Virgin

🧠 Final Thoughts: Is Amex Gold Worth It?

If you’re a frequent traveller — even just once or twice a year — and want to earn flexible rewards on your everyday spending, the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold Card offers a rare blend of value, perks, and entry-level accessibility.

With zero fee in the first year, a powerful welcome bonus, and flexible airline and hotel transfer partners, it’s ideal for:

• Aspiring Avios collectors
• Part-time travellers
• Professionals who want lounge access without high fees
• Beginners exploring the Amex ecosystem

🎯 Used strategically, this card can return £400–£700+ in travel rewards in your first year — with zero cost if cancelled before Year 2.