Clear Card Guide

Tag: American Express

  • Blue Cash Preferred from Amex: Grocery Rewards Explained (2025 Review)

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    The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets — the highest grocery reward rate of any widely available credit card. For a family that spends significantly on food and streaming, this card frequently pays for itself several times over. Here’s everything you need to know.

    Blue Cash Preferred: Key Details

    • Annual Fee: $0 first year, then $95
    • Rewards: 6% at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000/year, then 1%); 6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3% at U.S. gas stations and transit; 1% on other purchases
    • Sign-Up Bonus: $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in first 6 months
    • Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; then 18.74%–29.74% variable
    • Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.7%
    • Credit Needed: Good to Excellent (670+)

    The 6% Grocery Rate: How Much Will You Actually Earn?

    The math depends on your grocery spending. U.S. supermarkets include traditional grocery chains (Stop & Shop, Kroger, Safeway, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Publix). Warehouse clubs (Costco, BJ’s, Sam’s Club) and superstores (Walmart, Target) do not qualify.

    Calculation examples:

    • $300/month in groceries: $216/year in 6% cash back
    • $500/month in groceries: $360/year
    • $800/month in groceries (family): $576/year (hitting the $6,000/year cap at $500/month)

    After the $95 annual fee, net values are $121, $265, and $481 respectively. Against the no-fee Blue Cash Everyday’s 3% rate, the Preferred earns an extra $15–$30/month for heavy grocery shoppers — well above the $95 fee in most cases.

    The 6% Streaming Bonus

    Select U.S. streaming services earning 6%:

    • Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Apple TV+
    • Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM
    • Amazon Prime Video (billed separately), Paramount+, Peacock

    A household paying $100/month in streaming earns $72/year at 6% — a meaningful contribution toward the annual fee.

    The 3% Gas and Transit Rate

    Gas stations and transit (including buses, taxis, rideshares, trains, tolls, and parking) earn 3% cash back. For commuters using rideshare or public transit, this compounds quickly. A $150/month commuting expense earns $54/year at 3%.

    How Cash Back Is Delivered

    Cash back comes as Reward Dollars (statement credits). Redeem in any amount once you have $25 or more accumulated. No expiration while the account is active.

    Note: Amex Reward Dollars are not transferable to airline or hotel partners — this is a pure cash-back card, unlike Amex cards earning Membership Rewards points.

    Blue Cash Preferred vs. Blue Cash Everyday

    Feature Blue Cash Preferred Blue Cash Everyday
    Annual Fee $95 (waived year 1) $0
    U.S. Supermarkets 6% (up to $6,000/yr) 3% (up to $6,000/yr)
    Streaming 6% 3%
    Gas/Transit 3% 3%
    Break-Even Grocery Spend ~$158/month N/A ($0 fee)

    The break-even point is about $158/month in grocery spending. If you spend more than that at supermarkets, the Preferred earns more net cash back than the no-fee Everyday.

    Amex Acceptance Note

    American Express has historically been accepted at fewer merchants than Visa or Mastercard, particularly at smaller businesses and internationally. In 2025, U.S. Amex acceptance is near-universal at supermarkets, streaming services, and gas stations — the categories this card targets. For international use, carry a Visa or Mastercard backup given the 2.7% foreign transaction fee.

    Who This Card Is For

    The Blue Cash Preferred is built for households that:

    • Spend $300+/month at qualifying U.S. supermarkets
    • Pay for multiple streaming services
    • Have regular gas or transit expenses
    • Aren’t planning heavy international travel (FX fees apply)

    Our Verdict

    Rating: 4.6/5

    For grocery-heavy households, the Blue Cash Preferred is one of the most profitable cash-back cards available, period. The 6% grocery rate with a $6,000/year cap covers most families’ full grocery budget. Combined with the streaming bonus, it often earns enough in the first few months to cover the annual fee for the year. Our top pick for families who meal-plan, cook at home, and pay for streaming.

  • American Express Platinum Card Review 2025: Worth $695?

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    The American Express Platinum Card has long been the gold standard of premium travel cards. At $695 per year, it’s not for everyone — but for frequent travelers who can extract full value from its massive credit stack, it can genuinely cost less than zero per year. Here’s an honest breakdown for 2025.

    American Express Platinum: Key Details

    • Annual Fee: $695
    • Rewards: 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000/year); 5x on prepaid hotels through Amex Travel; 1x on all other purchases
    • Sign-Up Bonus: 80,000 points after $8,000 spend in 6 months (offers frequently elevated to 100,000–150,000 for targeted applicants)
    • APR: Pay Over Time APR: 21.24%–29.24% variable; charge card features apply to some purchases
    • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
    • Credit Needed: Excellent (720+)

    The Credits: How to Offset the $695 Fee

    Amex packs the Platinum with statement credits that together exceed the annual fee — if you can use them all:

    • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline; covers checked bags, in-flight drinks, seat upgrade fees
    • $200 Hotel Credit: Prepaid stays at Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection through Amex Travel
    • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: $20/month at Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, The New York Times, Disney+, and others
    • $155 Walmart+ Credit: $12.95/month Walmart+ membership covered
    • $300 Equinox Credit: $25/month at Equinox gyms or One Equinox app membership
    • $200 Uber Cash: $15/month ($35 in December) for Uber rides or Eats
    • $189 Clear Plus Credit: Covers annual Clear membership for faster airport security
    • $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit: Every 4–4.5 years

    Total potential value from credits: ~$1,584/year

    In practice, few people use every credit fully. But even at 50% usage, you’re getting $792 in value against a $695 fee — breaking even plus rewards.

    Lounge Access: The Crown Jewel

    The Amex Platinum’s lounge access is the best in the industry:

    • Centurion Lounges: Premium Amex-owned lounges in 40+ airports worldwide. Full bar, hot food, signature cocktails, showers. Genuinely excellent.
    • Priority Pass Select: 1,300+ airport lounges globally (Note: restaurant credits within Priority Pass have been removed)
    • Delta Sky Clubs: When flying Delta, unlimited access for you and up to two guests (as of 2025, capped at 10 visits/year for new cardholders)
    • Lufthansa, Escape, Plaza Premium lounges: Additional network access

    For someone catching connecting flights and spending hours in airports, this access transforms travel from miserable to comfortable.

    Membership Rewards: The Points Ecosystem

    Amex Membership Rewards is one of the two most valuable points currencies (alongside Chase Ultimate Rewards). You can transfer to:

    • Delta SkyMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Avios, Air France/KLM Flying Blue
    • Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors
    • ANA Mileage Club, Singapore KrisFlyer

    Business class flights to Europe transferred at 1:1 to programs like ANA or Virgin Atlantic have been consistently obtained for 50,000–70,000 points one-way — representing $3,000+ in retail ticket value.

    Hotel Status and Perks

    • Marriott Bonvoy Gold Status: Complimentary with enrollment (room upgrades, late checkout)
    • Hilton Honors Gold Status: Complimentary with enrollment (room upgrades, free breakfast at many properties, 80% bonus points)
    • Fine Hotels + Resorts: Room upgrades, noon check-in, 4 PM late checkout, daily breakfast for two, and a property credit at 1,000+ luxury properties

    Who Should Get the Amex Platinum?

    • Frequent travelers who spend multiple nights in airports per year (lounge access is transformative)
    • People who can realistically use 4–6 of the credits (Uber Cash, streaming, Clear, airline fee credit)
    • Points maximizers building toward business class redemptions
    • Those who value hotel status with Marriott and Hilton

    Who Should Skip It

    • Occasional travelers (1–2 trips/year) — the credits require engagement to value
    • Anyone who won’t use Centurion Lounges regularly — the $695 is hard to justify on credits alone
    • Budget-focused cardholders — the Capital One Venture X at $395 captures 80% of the value at 57% of the price

    Our Verdict

    Rating: 4.3/5 (for target users); 2.5/5 (for occasional travelers)

    The Amex Platinum is extraordinary for the right person and wasteful for the wrong one. If you’re a frequent business traveler or luxury travel enthusiast who’ll use Centurion Lounges regularly, fully extract the credits, and transfer points for premium cabin flights, this card earns its $695 many times over. Everyone else should start with the Venture X or Sapphire Reserve.