How to Use the Amex Gold Card for Maximum Value in 2025

Advanced Strategies to Maximise Amex Gold UK: Points, Perks & Lounge Access

If you’ve already claimed the 20,000-point sign-up bonus, the real challenge begins: extracting every ounce of value from your Amex Gold throughout the year. Here’s how.

Strategic Spending Categories

To maximize Membership Rewards (MR) points, focus spending on the categories that trigger bonus rates:

• 2x points on all UK and overseas travel: includes flights, trains, car rentals, hotels, Uber, and even TfL top-ups.
• 2x points on restaurants, both in the UK and abroad.
• 1x point on everything else—but smart card pairing can help.

HACK: Buy travel gift cards (e.g., Eurostar, Expedia) during promotions and get 2x points upfront—even if you use them months later.

Deliveroo Credit Optimization

Your £120 Deliveroo credit is split into £10/month. It doesn’t roll over—use it or lose it.

• Set a recurring calendar reminder to use the credit on the 1st or 2nd of each month.
• Use the “Deliveroo Hop” grocery service if you don’t want takeout.
• Stack it with Amex cashback offers like “£5 off when spending £20”.

Lounge Access Strategy

The 4 annual passes are issued through Priority Pass, covering over 1,300 lounges worldwide. But many users burn through them by April. Here’s how to stretch their value:

• Use only at premium lounges with £30+ walk-in value (e.g., Heathrow T5 Aspire, Gatwick No1 Lounge).
• Share one guest pass with a travel partner only when flying economy. If you’re flying business, save the pass.
• Book lounges at off-peak hours to avoid entry denial (common at LHR 6–9 am).

HACK: Sign up for a DragonPass Pay As You Go account (£10/visit) and use that after exhausting Priority Pass entries.

Pairing with Amex Business Gold (if eligible)

If you’re self-employed or a freelancer, you may qualify for the American Express Business Gold Card—with 50,000 MR points welcome bonus.

• MR points from both cards combine into a single pool.
• Business Gold has a £0 fee in year one too.
• Stack signup bonuses for 70,000+ MR in 12 months (worth £350+ when redeemed for flights).

MR Points Transfer Partners: Best Value in 2025

MR points transfer to over 12 airline and hotel programs. Here’s where they go furthest:

• Avios (British Airways/Iberia) – Best value for off-peak short-haul: London to Berlin for 8,250 Avios + £1 fees.
• Flying Blue (KLM/Air France) – Excellent for long-haul flights and monthly Promo Rewards.
• Hilton Honors – 1:2 ratio, good for topping up for 5th night free.

 Secret Tip: Use Iberia Plus to avoid BA’s high surcharges. Book the same Avios flight through Iberia with lower taxes.

Hotel Elite Status Shortcuts

Just for holding the Gold card, you get enrollment (not instant upgrade) to:

• Hilton Honors Gold – free breakfast, upgrades, and late checkout.
• Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite – priority late checkout, 10% points bonus.
• Radisson Rewards Premium – room upgrades, early check-in.

 Note: You must manually activate these via your Amex online account. Most users forget to do this.

FAQ – What Most People Don’t Ask

Can I get the bonus again if I had this card before?

Not if you held any Amex card earning Membership Rewards points in the last 24 months. You’ll need to wait out the period.

Does the annual fee count toward the minimum spend for the bonus?

No, only eligible purchases do. Annual fee, cash withdrawals, and gambling don’t count.

Are lounge passes physical or digital?

They are digital via the Priority Pass app, activated after you receive your Amex card.

Does the Deliveroo credit apply to gift cards?

No, it’s tied to direct purchases via your Amex card on the Deliveroo platform.

What’s the effective cashback rate if I don’t transfer to partners?

If you redeem for gift cards, you’ll get 0.45p per point, meaning 2x categories give ~0.9% cashback equivalent.

Can I cancel in year two before the fee hits?

Yes. Many users set a cancellation reminder before month 12 to avoid the £195 renewal charge.

Alternatives & Complements

While Amex Gold is versatile, consider pairing with:

• Barclaycard Avios Plus – £240/year, better for pure Avios earners. No foreign exchange fees.
• Chase UK Debit Card – 1% cashback, no FX fees, excellent for overseas ATM withdrawals.
• Amex Platinum Cashback Everyday – for non-travel spending or for family members not using points.

If you’re going all in on Avios, combining Amex Gold + Avios Plus + Curve creates a potent strategy for multi-channel point earnings.

Who Should Keep It Long-Term?

Amex Gold is ideal for:

 Mid-to-high spenders on food, travel, and online shopping
Frequent economy travellers who value lounge access
Users who can track and redeem points strategically
Those wanting maximum flexibility in points (vs locked-in Avios)

Not ideal for:

 Cashback-first users
Low spenders (under £500/month)
Users who don’t travel at least 2–3 times per year
People looking for “set-and-forget” simplicity

The “Gold” Strategy

If used well, the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold can easily deliver £300–£450/year in value, making it one of the most lucrative free-year cards on the UK market in 2025.

The key is to stay active, track your perks (especially lounge passes and Deliveroo credit), and be intentional about your points strategy.

And if you ever feel ready to go premium, the Amex Platinum awaits—with £575 annual fee and significantly higher perks (Centurion Lounges, £400+ credits, elite hotel statuses). But for most, Gold remains the smarter launchpad.