What Are American Express MR Points Worth?

American Express cards are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, in large part due to the growing list of American Express-accepting retailers. And most Amex cards earn points, in one form or another. The majority of Amex card types earn American Express Membership Rewards Points (Amex MR).

The big benefit of Amex MR points is that they’r flexible. You can exchange them for vouchers, statement credit, airline miles and more. That’s why I’d keep them as MR points until you know how you want to use them - Andrew Cunningham (Capital Matters Editor)

Related: Boots Advantage | Co-Op Rewards | Costa Club | LEGO VIP | M&S Sparks | Microsoft Rewards | My Morrisons | Nandos Rewards | Nectar Points | Subway Rewards | Tesco Clubcard

Contents

• What Cards Earn Amex Points?
• Who Accepts Amex in the UK?
• How To Check Your Amex Points Balance?
• When Are Your Amex Points Updated?
• Value Of Amex Points
• American Express MR Point Calculator
• Earning American Express MR Points
• Keep Track Of Your Cards and Points

What Cards Earn American Express Points?

There are currently 6 American Express MR Point-earning cards available in the UK:

• The Platinum Card: £575 Annual Fee - Charge Card - Earn 1 point per pound spent

• Preferred Rewards Gold - £140 Annual Fee (Free in Year 1) - Earn 1 point per pound on most transactions, 2 points per pound on airlines/foreign currency and 3 points per pound on Amex Travel

• American Express Card: £60 Annual Fee - Charge Card - Earn 1 point per pound spent

• Platinum Business Card: £595 Annual Fee - Charge Card - Earn 1 point per pound spent

• American Express Business Gold Card: £125 annual fee (Free in 1st year) - Earn 1 point per pound spent

• American Express Rewards: No annual fee - 22.9% APR - Earn 1 point per pound spent

Who Accepts American Express In The UK?

The list of retailers accepting American Express in the UK is constantly growing. Things are much better now than they were even 5 years ago. Here’s a link to a list of popular American-Express Accepting Retailers.

How To Check Your Amex MR Point Balance

The easiest way to check your Amex MR point balance is via the American Express app.

Amex App > Sign In > Home Tab

Alternatively, you can check your MR point total on the American Express website.

When Are Your American Express MR Points Updated?

Once your transaction has appeared on your account, your American Express MR points will be added within 24-48 hours.

The Value of American Express MR Points

1 American Express MR point is usually worth 0.5p but the value of your points will increase or decrease depending on your redemption.

That means, in general:

• 1,000 Amex Points = £5

• 30,000 Amex Points = £150

• 50,000 Amex Points = £250

• 100K Amex Points = £500

However, there are ways you can maximise your American Express point redemptions and boost the value of your MR points.

Redeeming American Express MR Points For Vouchers

Value: 1,000 Amex MR Points = £5

In the case of an iTunes eCode voucher (starting at 2,000 points), an Amazon voucher (starting at 5,000 points) or a Waterstones voucher (starting at 2,000 points), you’ll be getting a value of £5 per 1,000 Amex points.

Redeeming American Express MR Points For Statement Credit

Value: 1000 Amex MR Points = £4.50

You can actually use your Amex MR points to pay off some of the purchases you made using your American Express card. In this case, you’ll be getting a value of £4.50 per 1,000 Amex points.

Select purchases made using your American Express card may be eligible for a ‘Select and Pay’ offer, where you’ll get some extra value. For example, one American Express Dining offer granted a 20% boost when you paid off select restaurant purchases. That boosted the point value to £5.41 per 1000 Amex Points.

Redeeming American Express MR Points For SafeKey Payments

Value: £4.50 per 1000 Amex MR Points

SafeKey allows you to redeem some of your American Express MR points at select retailer online checkouts. Whilst your starting redemption value is lower than usual (you can redeem as little as 200 Amex points), the value tends to be lower. £4.50 per 1000 Amex points.

Redeeming American Express MR Points For Monthly Subscriptions

Value: 1000 Amex MR Points = £4.50

You can set your American Express MR points for auto-subscription redemptions. Automatically pay for your Netflix, Spotify or Naked Wines subscription. Whilst this automates some of your point savings, you’ll be getting a lower than average value of £4.50 per 1000 Amex points.

Redeeming American Express MR Points For British Airways Avios

Value: 1000 Amex MR Points = Up To £34

British Airways can be one of the best American Express MR point redemptions if you’re living in the UK. Currently 1000 Amex points = 1000 BA Avios. Of course, the value you get is hugely dependent on how efficient you are with your Avios. Stay with me on this one.

An Inefficient BA Avios Redemption - Imagine a couple living in Scotland who want to purchase two short haul European economy tickets. Since all international BA flights fly out of London, a connecting flight would be required from Scotland. The couple would also have to pay taxes on their flight. In this scenario, 1000 BA Avios (1000 Amex points) could be valued at less than £5.

An Efficient BA Avios Redemption: Imagine someone living in London who wants to purchase a European Club World (business class) ticket. In this scenario, 1000 BA Avios (1000 Amex points) could be valued at £10.

A Highly Efficient BA Avios Redemption: During our trip to Venice, we booked Club World tickets from Glasgow to Venice which connected through Heathrow. This granted us access to the BA Lounges in Glasgow and Heathrow. In this scenario, 1000 BA Avios (1000 Amex points) granted us around £34 worth of value.

American Express MR Point Value Calculator

Enter your American Express MR Reward Point Total in the calculator below and it will tell you what your MR points are valued at. This calculator assumes a 1000 MR Point to £5 redemption value (0.5p/Point). But remember that you can alter the value of your points depending on the redemption.

Enter Your American Express MR Points Total

Your American Express MR Points Are Worth (£)

Earning American Express Points

You normally earn 1 American Express MR Point/£1 Spent.

This is true for all Amex MR point-earning cards. However, this doesn’t take into account some boosts and sign-up bonuses.

Preferred Rewards Gold Boosted Points Earning

With the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold credit card, you’ll earn 2 points per £1 spent on airlines and foreign currency. Plus, you’ll earn 3 points per £1 spent at Amex Travel. With all of your other purchases on the card, you’ll earn the regular 1 point per £1.

Sign-Up Bonuses

Some Membership Rewards cards offer a sign-up bonus for new cardmembers. You’ll have to reach a minimum spend requirement (but you’ll earn American Express MR points on all of those purchases too).

Keep Track Of Your Credit Cards And Points

There’s no doubt about it, if you want to be efficient with your credit cards, keeping track is incredibly important.

I’ve been using spreadsheets for years to keep on top of my credit cards. The one I use includes a credit card tracker, where you can keep on top of your card details, your credit score essentials, annual fees, sign-up bonuses and point account balances.

You can make your own personal to you or just use the very one I use so the hard work is all done for you. Available in Excel & Apple Numbers versions.

Buy Now

Always pay off your credit card, in full, every month.

APR Info:

• American Express Preferred Rewards Gold: Representative 57.6% APR variable

• American Express Rewards Credit Card: Representative 22.9% APR Variable

• American Express Rewards Purchases Credit Card: Representative 22.9% APR Variable

• American Express Rewards Low Rate Credit Card: Representative 9.9% APR Variable

Related: Boots Advantage | Co-Op Rewards | Costa Club | LEGO VIP | M&S Sparks | Microsoft Rewards | My Morrisons | Nandos Rewards | Nectar Points | Subway Rewards | Tesco Clubcard