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One of the crucial fashionable playing cards amongst TPG staffers and readers alike is the American Specific® Gold Card.

The final time this card underwent a ‘”refresh” — which means a change to its annual charge and advantages — was again in 2018. As we reported initially of the 12 months, we anticipated this card to be one of many 40 or so products that Amex would refresh in 2024.

Nicely, we had been proper. The Amex Gold is the newest card to have its annual charge hiked and its advantages construction modified.

However don’t despair — the modifications aren’t as unfavorable as we’d imagined they may be. Learn on for a breakdown of the Amex Gold refresh and our evaluation of the modifications.

Elevated annual charge

Initially, the Amex Gold annual charge has elevated from $250 to $325 (see rates and fees), representing a 30% hike.

This greater annual charge is in impact instantly for brand spanking new cardmembers (who can benefit from a limited-time welcome provide outlined beneath). Present cardmembers will see the elevated charge for card renewals from Oct. 1, 2024.

I’m shocked that the annual charge was solely raised by $75; I believed it might be raised to no less than $375 to match the American Express® Business Gold Card (see rates and fees).

In case you are sad with the upper annual charge when it hits your account, I like to recommend contacting Amex by on-line chat or cellphone and asking for a retention offer or downgrading the cardboard to the American Express® Green Card.

TPG bank cards author Oliva Mittak says, “I intend to maintain the cardboard for now, however subsequent 12 months I’ll contemplate downgrading to the Amex Green if I don’t get sufficient worth from the Gold to justify its annual charge.”

The data for the American Specific Inexperienced Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Capped incomes charges

The Amex Gold has lengthy been heralded by avid factors and miles collectors for its excessive incomes charges, particularly for individuals who spend loads on eating out and groceries. And the excellent news is that the cardboard’s incomes charges haven’t modified.

The one change is a brand new cap on how a lot you possibly can spend yearly on eating places earlier than your earnings drop:

• 4 factors per greenback on as much as $50,000 in purchases on eating at eating places, together with takeout and supply within the U.S., per calendar 12 months (then 1 level per greenback)

The remainder of the incomes construction is staying the identical:

• 4 factors per greenback on as much as $25,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets per calendar 12 months (then 1 level per greenback)
• 3 factors per greenback on flights booked straight from the airline or by Amex Journey
• 1 level per greenback on all different eligible purchases

These modifications mustn’t have an effect on most cardmembers. With the brand new $50,000 eating cap, cardmembers can spend a mean of $4,117 month-to-month on eating earlier than the 4 factors per greenback drops to only 1 level per greenback.

At the same time as an avid foodie and one that by no means cooks, I might have unbelievable issue reaching this month-to-month spending cap on eating. Certainly, most cardmembers would possibly agree with this sentiment, with U.S. Census Data displaying the common individual spends $222 per 30 days eating out. Due to this fact, I extremely doubt this cover on restaurant spending will have an effect on very many cardmembers.

New assertion credit

The variety of assertion credit on this card is doubling from two to 4. Together with the 2 present assertion credit:

• As much as $120 in annual Uber Money: $10 in Uber Money month-to-month for Uber Eats and Uber rides within the U.S. You have to add the cardboard to the Uber app to obtain the Uber Money profit.
• As much as $10 in month-to-month eating assertion credit once you pay with the Amex Gold Card at taking part eating companions. Enrollment by the Amex web site is required.

There are two new assertion credit:

• As much as $100 in annual Resy credit (damaged into two $50 biannual credit)*
• As much as $84 in annual Dunkin’ credit (damaged into $7 month-to-month credit)*

*Enrollment is required.

Cardmembers won’t be happy to see the addition of one more assertion credit score, however the as much as $100 Resy eating credit will likely be simple to make use of. The Resy credit are damaged down into two $50 installments, one each six months.

These Resy eating credit are extremely simple to make use of, and most cardmembers might maximize them without even realizing it. You simply need to redeem it at any restaurant that provides Resy reservations, even in case you don’t make a reservation your self. (Comparable Resy credit had been added to the Delta SkyMiles Amex cards in February when those cards were refreshed.)

I do know I’ll don’t have any bother utilizing this credit score, as it’s a $50 biannual credit score, and when consuming out, I usually spend greater than $50 earlier than I even get to the principle course.

TPG managing editor for bank cards Matt Moffitt says, “I’ll hold this card, because the $75 annual improve will likely be greater than offset by the as much as $100 Resy credit score. Nevertheless, I notice this simply creates extra friction for cardmembers.”

Moreover, cardmembers who take pleasure in espresso may be happy by the addition of an as much as $84 annual Dunkin’ credit score, damaged down into $7 month-to-month credit.

Dunkin’ is accessible to lots of people within the U.S. who stay in city or suburban settings, with places in 45 states. Dunkin’ places are additionally in lots of main airports, so cardmembers can make the most of the credit score to seize a fast espresso or donut earlier than a flight. Regardless of this, I might have most well-liked if this had been a Starbucks credit score as an alternative of Dunkin’.

This credit score doesn’t transfer the needle for me, as there aren’t any Dunkin’ shops within the state of Oregon, the place I stay. Nevertheless, contemplating how a lot I journey to Arizona, California and New York, states with loads of Dunkin’ places, I ought to have the ability to use this credit score simply.

TPG bank cards editor Emily Thompson stated, “At first, I used to be skeptical of the modifications. I’ll have the ability to use the complete Dunkin’ credit score, which technically justifies the annual charge improve, however I’m aggravated at having to maintain up with maximizing one other set of credit every month. Having stated that, after studying that the Resy credit score will likely be simple to maximise, I feel I’ll have the ability to extract much more worth from my card with these modifications.”

In the event you can totally make the most of all 4 assertion credit, you will get $424 in ongoing worth annually.

Cardmembers can observe progress towards the assertion credit within the Advantages tab on the Amex app and web site.

Small change to eating companions

As talked about above, the Amex Gold features a $10 month-to-month eating credit score that can be utilized at taking part retailers.

Shake Shack and Milk Bar have been faraway from the record and changed by a brand new accomplice, 5 Guys. The opposite eating companions are staying the identical:

• Goldbelly
• Grubhub
• The Cheesecake Manufacturing unit
• Wine.com

For my part, changing Shake Shack with 5 Guys is an effective transfer, as 5 Guys has 4 occasions the variety of places; 5 Guys is in 49 states, with Shake Shack in solely 33.

Whereas I’m personally disenchanted that Shake Shack has been eliminated, as I stay a four-minute stroll from one, burger lovers nonetheless have one other tasty choice.

New white gold shade

Amex usually releases limited-edition card designs. We have now seen this prior to now with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card‘s limited-edition card made out of items of a Boeing 747.

Equally, Amex has launched a limited-edition model of the Gold card in a brand new shade: white gold. That is the third shade choice accessible, as Amex added a rose gold shade again in 2022.

New cardmembers can request the white (or rose) gold shade throughout their utility, and present cardmembers may request a alternative white gold card.

I feel the white gold is the best-looking shade choice and can maintain up greatest over time. I’ve the usual gold shade now and, sadly, it appears to be like prefer it has seen higher days.

Elevated welcome provide

As we now have come to count on from an Amex card refresh, the issuer tends to supply an elevated welcome provide on the identical time.

Those that don’t have already got the cardboard can earn 60,000 factors after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases throughout the first six months of card membership, plus 20% again as an announcement credit score for eligible purchases at eating places (as much as $100).

This welcome provide is price as much as $1,300 based mostly on TPG’s July 2024 valuations.

The standard offer is 60,000 factors, so the addition of a $100 assertion credit score is welcome however not earth-shattering.

Backside line

Whereas some might not be thrilled in regards to the annual charge improve, the Amex Gold nonetheless offers vital worth. In the event you spend a big quantity on groceries or eating, this card ought to proceed to remain in your pockets because of its beneficiant incomes charges and skill to earn extremely invaluable transferable points.

This card is one in every of my keeper playing cards — and this refresh doesn’t change that. I do know I can make the most of the complete worth of the assertion credit, which is able to internet me over $400 in worth annually, simply overlaying the elevated annual charge. 

Nevertheless, if you’re sad with the annual charge improve and don’t discover the brand new credit invaluable, my recommendation is to not cancel your card immediately. As an alternative, name or chat Amex to ask for a retention provide the following time your annual charge posts and see if they will give you bonus factors or a further assertion credit score to entice you to stay a cardmember. If that doesn’t work, contemplate downgrading your card to a lower-annual-fee card so to hold this credit score line open and protect your credit score.

For charges and charges of the American Specific Gold, click on here.
For charges and charges of the American Specific Enterprise Gold, click on here.