Best Ways to use the American Express Card

Looking to maximize your American Express card benefits ? The American Express Card, often simply called the AmEx Card, offers some of the strongest premium travel perks available today. While certain AmEx cards come with relatively high annual fees, benefits such as Membership Rewards points, airport lounge access, hotel elite status, dining credits, and travel insurance can easily offset a large part of the cost — especially for frequent travelers.

Whether you travel regularly or simply want to optimize your everyday spending, American Express cards can provide excellent long-term value when used strategically. From premium cabin reward flights to luxury hotel stays and airport lounge access, Membership Rewards points can unlock travel experiences that would otherwise cost thousands of euros.

In this guide, we explain how to earn more Membership Rewards points, how to redeem them for maximum value, and which premium travel perks can make the AmEx Platinum and Gold cards particularly attractive for travelers in Belgium and Luxembourg.

How to Earn More American Express Points

One of the biggest advantages of American Express cards is the ability to earn Membership Rewards points. These points can later be transferred to airline and hotel loyalty programs, often providing substantially better value than cashback or statement credit redemptions.

Unlike many traditional cashback cards, Membership Rewards points offer flexibility. Instead of being locked into a fixed redemption value, you can decide later whether to use your points for flights, hotel stays, upgrades, statement credits, gift cards, or transfers to airline and hotel loyalty programs.

You can mainly earn Membership Rewards points in two ways:

Sign-Up Bonuses and Referrals

One of the fastest ways to build a large Membership Rewards balance is through welcome bonuses. New cardholders can often earn substantial bonuses after meeting spending requirements within the first months after opening the card.

Depending on promotions, welcome bonuses can sometimes reach up to 150,000 Membership Rewards points. These bonuses alone can already be enough for premium cabin reward flights or luxury hotel stays.

American Express additionally rewards cardholders for referrals. When referring friends or family members, you can earn additional Membership Rewards points on top of your regular spending.

Click here to learn more about current American Express bonuses in Belgium and Luxembourg.

Daily Spending

Membership Rewards points are also earned through everyday spending. Most American Express cards earn 1 point per euro spent on purchases.

With the American Express Platinum card, cardholders can additionally activate the optional Rewards Booster. Instead of earning 1 point per euro spent, you earn 4 points per euro. The Rewards Booster is available as an optional add-on for an additional monthly fee.

For travelers and frequent spenders, the Rewards Booster can accelerate point accumulation significantly, especially when large purchases or business expenses are involved.

Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, gift cards, statement credits, or even to offset annual card fees. However, travel-related redemptions generally provide the highest value.

According to American Express, Membership Rewards points are worth roughly 0.2 euro cents per point when redeemed as statement credits. However, transferring points to airline and hotel partners can often increase their value dramatically.

Especially for Business Class and First Class flights, the value per point can become several times higher than standard cashback-style redemptions.

Best Ways to Redeem AmEx Rewards with Frequent Flyer Programs

One of the best ways to maximize Membership Rewards points is transferring them to airline loyalty programs. American Express Belgium and Luxembourg currently partner with several major frequent flyer programs, allowing cardholders to convert Membership Rewards points into airline miles.

Depending on the airline program, destination, and timing, transferring points can unlock premium cabin flights that would otherwise cost several thousand euros in cash.

Long-haul Business Class and First Class flights generally provide the best redemption value, particularly during peak travel periods when cash fares become extremely expensive.

AmEx Transfer Partners and Ratios

Here are the current airline transfer partners and their transfer ratios:

• Emirates Skywards (2:1): 2 AmEx points = 1 Emirates mile
• Etihad Guest (2:1): 2 AmEx points = 1 Etihad mile
• Flying Blue (SkyTeam) (2:1): 2 AmEx points = 1 Flying Blue mile
• British Airways Executive Club / Iberia Plus (3:2): 3 AmEx points = 2 Avios
• Delta SkyMiles (3:2): 3 AmEx points = 2 Delta miles
• SAS EuroBonus (3:2): 3 AmEx points = 2 SAS miles

Each loyalty program has different strengths. Flying Blue can offer attractive Business Class promo awards between Europe and North America. British Airways Avios can provide strong value for premium cabin flights and short-haul Oneworld redemptions. Emirates and Etihad can be attractive for luxury premium cabin experiences to the Middle East and Asia.

The best redemption opportunities often depend on flexibility, travel dates, and the specific routes you are targeting.

Hidden Trick: How to Book Star Alliance Flights with AmEx Points

Even though American Express Belgium and Luxembourg currently do not partner directly with a Star Alliance airline, there is still an effective workaround to redeem Membership Rewards points for airlines such as Lufthansa, SWISS, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and many more.

You can do this by transferring your points through Marriott Bonvoy, which partners with United Airlines MileagePlus.

This method effectively allows Membership Rewards points to access the entire Star Alliance network indirectly.

United Airlines grants a 10,000-mile bonus whenever 60,000 Marriott points are transferred in a single transaction.

This effectively creates a 2:1 ratio while unlocking the full Star Alliance network, including:

• Lufthansa
• SWISS
• Austrian Airlines
• LOT Polish Airlines
• TAP Air Portugal
• Turkish Airlines
• ANA
• Singapore Airlines
• And many more

Another major advantage is that United MileagePlus generally avoids high fuel surcharges on award tickets. This can make premium cabin redemptions considerably cheaper compared to some European frequent flyer programs.

For travelers interested in Lufthansa Business Class, ANA Business Class, or Singapore Airlines premium cabin flights, this workaround can become extremely valuable.

Let’s look at a practical example to better understand the value that can be extracted from Membership Rewards points.

Example: British Airways Avios for Transatlantic Business Class Flights

British Airways Executive Club is one of the most interesting AmEx transfer partners for premium cabin redemptions between Europe and North America.

Let’s break down the numbers for a Business Class flight between London Heathrow (LHR) and New York (JFK):

• • Typical Business Class cash fare: Around €3000 round-trip

• Off-Peak Award Cost: 160,000 Avios + approximately €375 in taxes
• Peak Award Cost: 180,000 Avios + approximately €375 in taxes
• AmEx Points Required: 240,000–270,000 Membership Rewards points at the 3:2 transfer ratio
• Value per AmEx Point: Roughly 0.97–1.09 euro cents per point after taxes

One-way premium cabin redemptions can become even more valuable. During peak travel periods, one-way Business Class fares between London and New York often exceed €5000, while the required Avios amount remains relatively stable.

Using Avios, a one-way off-peak Business Class flight can often be booked for 80,000 Avios plus taxes, requiring roughly 120,000 Membership Rewards points after transfer.

Depending on the cash fare, this can push the value of Membership Rewards points above 4–6 euro cents per point — an exceptionally strong return compared to cashback redemptions.

This is one of the main reasons why experienced points collectors generally prefer transferring Membership Rewards points to airline programs instead of redeeming them directly through American Express.

Maximize AmEx Points with Hotel Stays: Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy

Membership Rewards points can also provide excellent value when transferred to hotel loyalty programs such as Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy.

Both hotel programs allow AmEx Membership Rewards transfers at a 1:1 ratio, making it relatively straightforward to redeem points for luxury hotel stays.

Transfer AmEx Points to Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy

You can currently transfer your Membership Rewards points to the following hotel programs:

• Hilton Honors (1:1): 1 AmEx point = 1 Hilton Honors point
• Marriott Bonvoy (1:1): 1 AmEx point = 1 Marriott Bonvoy point

On average, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy points are worth around 0.5 euro cents each when redeemed for hotel stays. However, significantly better value can often be achieved during peak travel periods or at expensive luxury properties.

Luxury resorts, city-center hotels during major events, and peak holiday periods often produce the strongest redemption values.

Example: Baker’s Cay Resort with Hilton Honors Points

We recently redeemed Hilton Honors points for a stay at Baker’s Cay Resort in Key Largo, Florida.

• Typical cash rate: Around €500 per night
• Peak season cash rate: Up to €1000 per night
• Points required: 90,000 Hilton Honors points
• Value per AmEx Point: Approximately 0.55–1.11 euro cents per point depending on travel dates

This example shows how transferring Membership Rewards points to Hilton Honors can generate strong value during busy travel periods when hotel cash rates rise substantially.

The same concept applies to Marriott Bonvoy redemptions, especially at luxury resorts or city hotels during peak dates.

Travelers who frequently stay in hotels can therefore combine airline and hotel transfers strategically depending on their travel goals.

Top American Express Card Perks for Travelers: Elite Status Benefits

One of the most valuable travel perks included with the American Express Platinum Card is automatic hotel elite status.

Platinum cardholders receive Gold status with both Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, providing additional comfort and value during hotel stays.

Hilton Honors Gold Status Benefits

• Free breakfast for you and a guest at many participating hotels
• Room upgrades (subject to availability)
• 80% bonus points on stays
• 5th night free on reward bookings

The free breakfast benefit alone can save significant amounts during longer hotel stays, especially at expensive resorts or city-center hotels.

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Status Benefits

• Enhanced room upgrades (subject to availability)
• 25% bonus points on stays
• Late checkout
• Welcome gifts at select properties

These benefits can easily save hundreds of euros annually, especially for travelers who stay frequently at Hilton or Marriott properties.

Free Airport Lounge Access with Your AmEx Card

Airport lounge access remains one of the most valuable premium travel benefits offered by American Express.

Whether you are flying short-haul within Europe or departing on a long-haul Business Class trip, lounge access can significantly improve the airport experience.

Instead of waiting at crowded gates, lounge access provides a quieter and considerably more comfortable environment before flights.

American Express Centurion Lounges

American Express Platinum cardholders receive complimentary access to Centurion Lounges, widely considered among the best airport lounges worldwide.

These lounges typically include:

• Premium dining and cocktails
• Comfortable seating areas
• Dedicated workspaces
• Spa services at select locations
• Guest access included

Centurion Lounges are available at major airports such as New York JFK, Los Angeles LAX, and London Heathrow.

For frequent travelers, airport lounge access alone can become one of the most valuable ongoing card benefits.

Priority Pass Access with Platinum and Gold Cards

American Express also partners with Priority Pass, providing access to more than 1,500 airport lounges worldwide.

Priority Pass lounges commonly offer:

• Free Wi-Fi
• Snacks and beverages
• Comfortable seating
• Quiet areas and showers at select locations

Tip: Download the Priority Pass app before your trip to quickly locate participating lounges and verify guest access policies.

AmEx Dining Credits for Platinum and Gold Cardholders

Another valuable perk for Platinum and Gold cardholders are dining credits at selected restaurants across Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

These credits can help offset a meaningful part of the annual card fee, especially for travelers and food enthusiasts who regularly dine out.

AmEx Platinum Dining Credit

Platinum cardholders can receive up to €300 annually in dining credits.

• Three dining experiences per year
• Up to €100 per visit
• Valid at selected Benelux restaurants

This benefit can easily cover several premium dining experiences annually.

AmEx Gold Dining Credit

AmEx Gold cardholders also receive dining credits, although structured differently:

• €100 annually
• Two €50 credits per year
• Credits reset every six months
• Valid at participating Benelux restaurants

For cardholders who regularly dine out, these benefits can offset a meaningful part of the annual card fee.

To maximize value, it is important to use the dining credits before the expiration periods reset.

Why the AmEx Platinum Card Is One of the Best Travel Cards

The American Express Platinum Card remains one of the strongest premium travel cards available in Belgium and Luxembourg.

Between airport lounge access, hotel elite status, dining credits, travel insurance, and flexible Membership Rewards transfers, frequent travelers can extract substantial value from the card.

Used strategically, Membership Rewards points can unlock exceptional value for long-haul Business Class flights and luxury hotel stays.

For travelers who value comfort, flexibility, and premium travel experiences, the AmEx Platinum Card remains a very compelling option.

Especially when combining welcome bonuses, referral opportunities, travel benefits, and strategic point transfers, the overall value proposition can become extremely attractive for frequent travelers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I earn more AmEx points?

You can earn points through welcome bonuses, referrals, and daily spending. Certain cards additionally offer earning boosters or bonus categories.

What is the best way to redeem AmEx points?

Transferring points to airline and hotel loyalty programs generally provides the highest value, especially for premium cabin flights and luxury hotel stays.

Which lounges can I access with an AmEx Platinum card?

Platinum cardholders receive access to American Express Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass lounges worldwide.

How do AmEx dining credits work?

Dining credits can be used at participating restaurants in the Benelux region and reset periodically depending on the card type.

By Chris

I'm Chris, founder of Premium-Flights.com and one half of the team behind every deal you see here. For over ten years I've been obsessed with finding ways to fly Business and First Class without paying full price, what started as hunting deals for myself and friends turned into a full passion project. I personally research, verify and hand-pick every offer on this site. No automated feeds, no fluff, just real deals that work.