The Nugget
- The new Amex Gold Card increases its annual fee from $250 to $325, but offers several credits that could offset this cost, making it potentially valuable for users who maximize the benefits.
Make it stick
- 🚀 The annual fee increases from $250 to $325, requiring $75 worth of added value for users to break even.
- 🍔 Don’t miss out on the $100 Resi credit for restaurant reservations—use this twice a year at curated eateries.
- ☕ Enjoy $84 per year in Dunkin' Donuts credits, making your monthly coffee habits more affordable.
- 🎁 The $120 in Uber Cash remains unchanged, perfect for rides or food delivery throughout the year.
Key insights
New Annual Fee and Benefit Analysis
- Annual Fee: Increases to $325, necessitating effective utilization of credits to outweigh the extra cost.
- Credits Offered:
- $120 Uber Cash: Remains unchanged, valid for rides and Eats.
- $120 Dining Credit: Changed merchants include GrubHub, Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Five Guys.
- $100 Resi Credit: Offered twice a year for table reservations at upscale restaurants.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: $7 monthly, useful for regular coffee purchases.
Usability of Dining and Other Credits
- GrubHub: Accessible nationwide, making it easy to redeem dining credits.
- Cheesecake Factory: Present in 39 states plus major urban areas, well-positioned for most.
- Goldbelly: Gourmet meal delivery, potentially less practical for the average user due to its price.
- Five Guys: Available broadly, replaces Shake Shack, enhancing access.
Changes and Considerations
- Spending Cap: A cap of $50,000 is imposed on earning four points per dollar in the global dining category, limiting maximum points to 200,000 annually.
- Comparison with Other Cards: For heavier spenders on dining, alternative cards with different rewards structures may be better suited if the cap is a concern.
Key quotes
- "The annual fee will go from $250 to $325, an increase of $75."
- "If you decide to keep the card, you'll be getting $99 in value per year, provided you use all the credits."
- "The resi credit should be doable for most people, visiting a resi restaurant twice a year."
- "However, there’s a cap of $50,000 in annual spending on the four points per dollar Global dining category."
- "Even with the cap, the value of 200,000 points could still be worth at least $2,000."
This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.