What is the Amex trifecta? How to get more value from your Membership Rewards Points.

If you’re a fan of the American Express Membership Rewards program, you probably already know how valuable Amex points can be. A great Amex rewards card can offer plenty of annual savings for any budget.

But if you really want to upgrade your rewards value — especially if you’re a frequent traveler with regular travel spending — you can use a specific trio of Amex cards to get the most from every dollar you spend.

The Amex trifecta is made up of three American Express rewards cards:

Together, these cards can offer even more dynamic savings on future travel, everyday spending, and more.

Here’s more about the three cards that make up the Amex trifecta:

Why we like it: The Platinum Card from Amex is one of the most premium rewards cards available today. Its only bonus categories are focused on travel, and you’ll get the best value if you’re willing to book through Amex Travel, the issuer’s travel portal.

But the best feature of the Platinum Card is its benefits — specifically if you’re a frequent traveler. Amex says the Platinum Card offers over $1,500 in annual value with credits for hotel stays, airline fees, digital subscriptions, and much more. You’ll also get access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across the world (including Centurion Lounges) through Amex’s Global Lounge Collection.

Read our full review of the Platinum Card from American Express.

Why we like it: On its own, the Amex Gold offers incredible savings on everyday purchases, with an unbeatable 4x points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (up to limits). It also offers hundreds of dollars in value on purchases you can make at home or on the go, including dining and rideshare credits. In fact, the Amex Gold card is one of our best travel card picks from any issuer.

As part of this Amex trifecta, it’s a great tool to supplement the Amex Platinum’s travel rewards and still earn plenty of points when you’re not traveling. If you’re able to max out the $25,000 annual spending cap for earning 4x at U.S. supermarkets, for example, you’d net 100,000 Membership Rewards Points each year — at a value of 1 cent per point, that could get you up to $1,000 in travel redemptions.

Read our full American Express Gold Card review.

Why we like it: The Amex Blue Business Plus Credit Card is the only business card in the trifecta, so you will need a business to qualify. You could be eligible whether you do freelance work, have a side gig, or you’re a brick-and-mortar small business owner. It’s a pretty straightforward no-annual-fee credit card (see rates & fees) on its own, with a solid 2x points on every purchase up to the first $50,000 annually, then 1x points. Beyond rewards, there are a few added benefits.

But if you’re considering the Amex trifecta, the Blue Business Plus card adds a lot of flexibility. You can use this card for all of your non-bonus spending and get 2x points on each purchase until you meet the annual limit. If you max out the $50,000 spending cap, you could earn a total of 100,000 Membership Rewards Points with the card each year.

Read our full review of the Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express.

With the right strategy, you can make the most of each dollar you spend using the Amex trifecta.

One of the main benefits of using the trifecta is the ability to get top rewards rates across a range of categories — so you’ll have more Amex Membership Rewards to redeem when you’re ready to book a trip.

First, start with the Amex Platinum for your travel spending:

• 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year), then 1x

• 5x points on eligible prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com

If you spend beyond the $500,000 max on eligible flights in a calendar year with your Amex Platinum, you can still use your Amex Gold to earn an unlimited 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com. The Amex Gold card can cover some additional travel methods, too:

Beyond travel, look to Amex Gold for the best rewards on groceries and dining out:

• 4x points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 spent per year), then 1x

• 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 spent per year), then 1x

For all other expenses, you’ll get bonus points with the Blue Business Plus card at its flat rewards rate:

This includes all of your regular purchases that don’t fall into the above bonus categories — gas or EV charging, utility payments, tourist attractions, event and concert tickets, online shopping, and more — up to the annual limit. If you have a large budget, it can also include spending across otherwise eligible bonus categories after you max out those annual spending caps.

The other major component of the Amex trifecta that makes it worthwhile for travelers is all the added benefits* and annual credits.

Most of your annual perks will come from the Amex Platinum card — especially for travel. This card is loaded with everything from airport lounge access to airline fee credits, credits for airport security programs (like TSA PreCheck and Clear), and more. Plus, you’ll get automatic elite status with a few partner travel brands: Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status; Hilton Honors Gold Status; and premium status with Avis, Hertz, and National car rental companies.

You’ll get some travel benefits with the Amex Gold card, too. But like its rewards, this card’s most valuable perks are on food spending. You can get over $300 in annual value just from various Amex Gold dining credits:

• Up to $84 in statement credits ($7 per month, with enrollment) at U.S. Dunkin’ locations

• Up to $100 in statement credits ($50 semi-annually, with enrollment) when you dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible purchases with Resy

• Up to $120 in statement credits ($10 per month, with enrollment) at participating dining partners including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys

Another major benefit of both cards is annual Uber Cash** for food delivery or rideshares. Here’s the breakdown of the combined $320 you can use toward Uber spending each year with both the Amex Platinum and Amex Gold:

*Terms apply for each of these American Express card benefits; many also require enrollment. Make sure you check your card’s terms and your online account for specific benefit offers.
**To receive this benefit you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber app and your eligible American Express Platinum Card or American Express Gold Card must be selected as the payment method. The Amex benefit may only be used in the United States.

You can get a lot of potential value with the Amex trifecta, but it will take some effort to figure out where and how to make each purchase.

For example, many of these cards’ top reward categories have annual spending caps; after you meet these maximums, you’ll earn just 1x point per dollar in the category. If you’re a big annual spender (or even think you could get close to a category’s spending max), it’s important to track when you’re approaching the cap.

Benefits also require some strategizing. These card perks are incredibly valuable, but they can also be difficult to keep up with. Some renew each month, some are semi-annual, and some reset once per calendar year. Ensure you track your benefits on your own or within the Amex app regularly.

Always remember to keep your card statements and monthly payments organized, too. The quickest way to lose reward value is by accruing interest charges on a card balance. Know your due dates and track your spending so you can pay on time and in full each month to avoid interest and fees.

Related: A complete list of credit card perks that reset every year

These cards can save you a lot of money on travel and other expenses, but they also come at a cost:

The Platinum Card has a $695 annual fee (see rates & fees), the Amex Gold has a $325 annual fee (see rates & fees), and the Blue Business Plus (see rates & fees) has no annual fee. Altogether, that’s $1,020 in annual fees for the three cards.

No matter your budget, spending over $1,000 in annual fees is a high price to pay. If you travel often and spend a lot of money in the eligible rewards categories, it is possible to make up that cost. Just make sure you compare your own potential value based on your spending before you apply.

Related: Are credit cards with annual fees worth it?

• Great welcome offers: Each of these cards offers valuable welcome bonuses for new cardholders. Make sure you time your applications so you can both meet the spending thresholds within the given time periods (without overspending) and minimize any effects on your credit score.

• Valuable points: With the Amex trifecta, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to maximize the points you earn when spending across multiple categories. When it’s time to redeem your rewards, you can choose between multiple options within the Membership Rewards program, including booking flights through AmexTravel.com or transferring points to Amex’s airline and hotel transfer partners.

Read more: Today’s top credit card sign-up bonuses

• High annual fees: The annual fees you’ll pay for the Amex trifecta are pricey. While you may be able to easily recoup that cost through rewards and benefits, you’ll still pay a lot of money each year to keep these cards. Make sure you look at how you spend and travel before you apply to ensure this card strategy is right for you.

• Other card combinations may work better for you: The Amex trifecta isn’t the only option for combining rewards cards to maximize your earnings. If these reward categories and benefits don’t align with how you already like to travel and where you spend money, another card combination may work better for your financial goals.

Related: How to harness the power of the Chase trifecta

The Amex trifecta can be a great solution for fans of American Express Membership Rewards. You can use the different reward categories and benefits to maximize your points and save money at home and abroad.

But first, decide whether this card strategy fits with how you already travel. If you don’t use the services included in the cards’ annual benefits or you prefer to book travel outside of the eligible bonus categories, you may not get the best value with these cards.

Also, remember that one of the cards in this trifecta is a business card, which may not work for you if you cannot qualify.

Instead of the Blue Business Plus, you could keep your trifecta to all consumer cards and choose the American Express® Green Card. This card isn’t quite the catch-all you’ll get with the Blue Business Plus, but you can diversify your rewards a bit with 3x points on transit (including trains, rideshares, tolls, parking, buses, and more) as well as an additional annual credit for Clear Plus membership (up to $199 in statement credits, subject to auto-renewal).

Before you apply for any new rewards card — or decide to use a card combination like the Amex trifecta — always look back at your regular spending habits and redemptions. With the right cards for your budget, spending, and travel preferences, you can ensure you make the most of your rewards now and in the future.

Compare more of today’s top travel credit cards and rewards credit cards to get started.

This article was edited by Alicia Hahn

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