What are Membership Rewards points?
Membership Rewards (often shortened to MR) are American Express's own points. Instead of being tied to one airline, they sit in your Amex account until you decide where to use them. When you're ready, you move them to an airline or hotel programme.
That flexibility is why they're so valuable. You can collect now and decide later between British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Qatar Airways, Air France and KLM, Emirates or a hotel stay. If one programme raises its prices, you simply use another.
Compare the Membership Rewards cards
| Card | Annual fee | Welcome bonus | Earn rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Rewards Credit Card | Free | 10,000 points after £2,000 in 3 months | 1 point per £1 |
| Amex Preferred Rewards Gold | Free year 1, then £195 | 20,000 points after £3,000 in 3 months | 1 point per £1, 2 on airlines and abroad |
| The Platinum Card | £650 | 50,000 points after £6,000 in 3 months | 1 point per £1, 2 on Amex Travel |
| Amex Business Gold | Free year 1, then £195 | 20,000 points (standard offer) | 1 point per £1, 2 on Amex Travel |
| Amex Business Platinum | £650 | 50,000 points (standard offer) | 1 point per £1 |
Offers checked October 2026. Amex sometimes runs bigger welcome bonuses for a limited time, so check the current offer before you apply.
Personal cards
American Express Rewards Credit Card
- Annual fee
- Free
- Welcome bonus
- 10,000 points after £2,000 in 3 months
- Earn rate
- 1 point per £1
- Key perk
- No fee, ever
The simplest way into Membership Rewards. There's no annual fee, and you earn the same 1 point per £1 on everyday spending as the Gold card, with no cap. You don't get lounge passes or double points on travel.
Worth knowing: because of the 24-month rule, opening this card first can stop you getting the bigger Gold or Platinum bonus later. If you're planning to open Gold, start with Gold.
Suits you if you want flexible points but never want to pay a fee.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
- Annual fee
- Free year 1, then £195
- Welcome bonus
- 20,000 points after £3,000 in 3 months
- Earn rate
- 1 point per £1, 2 on airlines and abroad
- Key perk
- Four lounge passes a year
The card we'd open first. You pay nothing in year one, the welcome bonus is double the Rewards Credit Card's, and you earn 2 points per £1 on flights booked directly with airlines and on spending abroad.
You also get up to 10,000 bonus points a year: 5,000 when you spend £10,000 in a card year and another 5,000 at £20,000. Add four Priority Pass lounge visits and it's the best value Amex for most people.
Suits you if you're new to points or want the best balance of earning and cost. Read our full Amex Gold review.
The Platinum Card from American Express
- Annual fee
- £650
- Welcome bonus
- 50,000 points after £6,000 in 3 months
- Earn rate
- 1 point per £1, 2 on Amex Travel
- Key perk
- Lounges, hotel status and dining credits
The biggest welcome bonus of the personal cards, plus a long list of travel perks: unlimited airport lounge access, top-tier status with several hotel groups, travel insurance and up to £400 a year in dining credits.
It earns points at much the same rate as Gold, so you're paying for the perks. If you'll use them, it can pay for itself. If not, Gold earns similar points for far less.
Suits you if you travel often and will use the lounges, status and credits.
Business cards
If you run a limited company, Amex business cards earn the same Membership Rewards points. The big advantage: they don't count towards the 24-month rule for personal cards, so you can earn a business bonus as well as a personal one. Read our full guide to the best business credit cards.
American Express Business Gold
- Annual fee
- Free year 1, then £195
- Welcome bonus
- 20,000 points (standard offer)
- Earn rate
- 1 point per £1, 2 on Amex Travel
- Key perk
- Up to 20 free employee cards
The business version of Gold. No fee in the first year, free employee cards whose spending earns points for you, and travel credits when you spend £40,000 and £80,000 a year.
Suits you if you run a limited company and want to earn on company spending.
American Express Business Platinum
- Annual fee
- £650
- Welcome bonus
- 50,000 points (standard offer)
- Earn rate
- 1 point per £1
- Key perk
- Lounge access and travel insurance
Lounge access, travel insurance, a yearly £200 Amex Travel credit and employee cards included in the fee. It's worth it if you and your team travel regularly for work.
Suits you if you travel for business several times a year.
Which card is right for you?
- New to points: start with the Amex Gold. No fee in year one and a solid bonus.
- Never want to pay a fee: the Rewards Credit Card, but remember it uses up your bonus eligibility.
- Frequent traveller: Platinum, if you'll use the lounges, status and credits.
- Run a limited company: add Business Gold alongside your personal card for a second bonus.
Where you can transfer your points
These are the UK Membership Rewards transfer partners as of 2026. The rate shows Amex points to partner points, so 2:1 means 2 Amex points become 1 partner point. Times are in working days.
| Partner | Rate | Time |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways (Avios) | 1:1 | Instant |
| Virgin Atlantic | 1:1 | Instant |
| Qatar Airways | 1:1 | Up to 2 days |
| Flying Blue (Air France, KLM) | 1:1 | 4 days |
| Iberia | 1:1 | 4 days |
| Cathay Pacific | 1:1 | 3 days |
| Delta | 1:1 | 30 mins |
| Qantas | 1:1 | 3 days |
| SAS | 1:1 | 5 days |
| Emirates | 2:1 | 2 days |
| Singapore Airlines | 3:2 | Up to 15 days |
| Hilton Honors | 1:2 | Up to 5 days |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 2:3 | 1 day |
| Radisson Rewards | 1:3 | Up to 10 days |
| ALL Accor | 3:1 | Varies |
The best ways to use your points
- Business class with Avios. British Airways Club Suite, Qatar Airways Qsuite and Iberia, often with a Companion Voucher. See the smartest ways to spend Avios.
- Virgin Atlantic Upper Class on Saver dates, or ANA to Japan. See the best ways to use Virgin Points.
- Flying Blue for Air France and KLM, which often has good business class prices from Europe.
- Hotels, as a last resort. Transfers to Hilton and Marriott work, but usually give less value than flights.
Avoid using your points for shopping, gift cards or paying off your statement. These give a fraction of the value you'd get from a flight.
Rules to know before you start
- Points don't expire while you hold a Membership Rewards card. Close your last one and you lose them, so move them out first.
- Transfers can't be reversed. Find your flight or hotel before you move any points.
- Supplementary cards count. Spending by a partner on a supplementary card earns points in your account.
- Pay in full. Interest wipes out the value of your points. Always clear the balance every month.
Build your balance faster
Seven simple ways to earn more Amex points without spending more.
New to all of this? Our Points 101 guide takes you from zero to your first business class flight.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hold more than one Membership Rewards card?
Yes. Points from all your cards go into one Membership Rewards balance. The 24-month rule only limits welcome bonuses, not how many cards you hold.
Do business card points combine with personal ones?
Business and personal cards usually have separate Membership Rewards accounts. Both transfer to the same partners, so you can send points from each to the same Avios or Virgin account.
What are Membership Rewards points worth?
It depends how you use them. Transferred to Avios or Virgin Points for a business class flight, they can be worth many times more than shopping or statement credit.
Which Amex card should I get first?
For most people, the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold. There's no fee in the first year and the bonus is big enough for a short-haul return flight in Avios.