The American Express® Gold Card does not offer airport lounge access, nor does it include access to the Centurion Lounge network or a Priority Pass membership. However, the Amex Gold card has other travel and dining benefits that can offset the $325 annual fee (rates & fees).
This article covers the personal Amex Gold card and not the co-branded Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. Here’s what the Amex Gold card includes, and which Amex cards have airport lounge access.
What Does the Amex Gold Card Offer Instead?
The Amex Gold card doesn’t include airport lounge access, but it offers significant recurring value each year. Some of the card’s most valuable features include bonus rewards on everyday purchases and more than $400 in annual statement credits (Source: American Express).
You can earn up to 5x Membership Rewards points with the Amex Gold card. It earns:
- 5x on prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™
- 4x at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year)
- 4x at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year)
- 3x on flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com
- 2x on prepaid car rentals and cruises on AmexTravel.com
- 1x on everything else
The Amex Gold card offers access to Membership Rewards transfer partners. Transferring points to airline and hotel partners is one of the best ways to maximize the value of Amex Membership Rewards points.
Cardholders get up to $424 in annual statement credits:
- Up to $120 in dining credit, good for up to $10 monthly at participating restaurants, including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Wonder, and Five Guys
- Up to $100 in Resy credit, with up to $50 semiannually at qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants
- Up to $84 in Dunkin’ credit offering up to $7 monthly at U.S. Dunkin’ locations
- Up to $120 in Uber Cash, with up to $10 monthly for U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders (you must add your Amex Gold card to your Uber account and pay with an Amex card to use the Uber Cash)
Cardholders also get shopping protections and travel benefits, including extended warranty, rental car coverage, and access to The Hotel Collection. With The Hotel Collection, you can get $100 or more in value per stay (2-night minimum) through benefits such as a space-available room upgrade and $100 in property credit for on-property purchases.
Enrollment is required for some benefits.
Bottom Line:
The Amex Gold card’s value isn’t in airport lounge access but in rewards, statement credits, and Membership Rewards transfer partners.
Amex Cards With Lounge Access
A few American Express cards offer access to airport lounges. Lounge networks and access requirements vary by card:
|
Card |
Lounge Access |
Annual Fee |
Key Earning Rate |
| Platinum Card® from American Express |
Global Lounge Collection, including:
|
$895 (rates & fees) |
5x Membership Rewards points on airfare booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express |
$895 (rates & fees) |
5x Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com |
|
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card |
|
$650 (rates & fees) |
3x miles on eligible Delta purchases |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card |
$650 (rates & fees) |
3x miles on eligible Delta purchases |
The Amex Platinum card is the most direct upgrade for Amex Gold cardholders who want airport lounge access. It earns the same Membership Rewards points and has the same transfer partners, but adds access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection and extensive travel and lifestyle benefits (Source: American Express).
Final Thoughts
The Amex Gold card doesn’t offer airport lounge access, so cardholders can’t use it to get into Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, or other lounges in the Global Lounge Collection. But the card has valuable benefits, including rewards for everyday purchases, more than $400 in annual statement credits, and the ability to transfer points to Membership Rewards transfer partners.
The Amex Platinum card offers access to more than 1,550 airport lounges worldwide, making it a natural next step for Amex Gold cardholders who want to visit them.