Maximizing the Value of Amex Points: Using Them to Pay Bills

American Express Membership Rewards points are incredibly valuable, with various ways to redeem them for outsized value. One underutilized strategy is using Amex points to directly pay down charges on your statement With the right cards and technique, this can be a great way to maximize your points.

Overview of Pay With Points

With Pay with Points, you can use Amex points to get certain charges taken off your bill. Instead of transferring points to airline partners, you directly cover charges with points.

Here’s a high-level overview:

Log into your Amex account and view your recent charges or current statement.
Select which charges you want to pay with points. A checkmark will appear when selected.
Click “Redeem Now.” Amex will deduct the points and within 48 hours issue a statement credit for the charges paid with points.

It’s a simple and easy way to redeem points without having to hunt for award availability The key is understanding what charges are eligible and having the right cards to maximize value

Amex Pay With Points Value

If you don’t have the right cards Pay with Points offers mediocre value. You can wipe charges at a fixed 0.6 cents per point but TPG values MR points at 2 cents each.

You can also use points at 1 cent each for airfare through Amex Travel. Hotels, cruises, and other charges typically get 0.7-0.85 cents per point. Again, not ideal value.

However, Pay with Points value jumps when paying for flights, especially with the right cards:

Business Centurion Card – 50% points back, so 1 point = 2 cents
Business Platinum Card – 35% back, so 1 point = 1.54 cents
Business Gold Card – 25% back, so 1 point = 1.33 cents

These rebates apply to first class, business class, and certain economy flight redemptions.

When leveraged correctly, Pay with Points can deliver a minimum of 1.33-2 cents per point in value for flights. Much better than generic redemptions.

Maximizing Amex Pay With Points

There are a few techniques to maximize value when using Pay with Points:

1. Take Advantage of Cheap Cash Fares

If you find an inexpensive cash fare sale, it may be cheaper to pay with points than transfer to airline partners.

For example, take a United economy flight from Houston to Chicago. Cash fares start at $90. Paying with points costs 8,960 Membership Rewards points.

But transferring to Avianca LifeMiles and booking as an award would cost 10,000 miles plus $5.60 in fees. Pay with Points saves over 1,000 points.

And if you have the Business Platinum or other eligible cards, the savings are even higher after the rebate.

2. Earn Miles and Elite Credits

When you pay with points for flights, you still earn redeemable and elite qualifying miles with the airline. This helps you requalify for status.

For instance, take a $2,196 roundtrip British Airways business class flight from New York to London. It costs 219,597 Amex points.

With the Business Platinum card’s 35% rebate, you’d end up using only 142,739 points. And you’d earn full miles and elite credits, unlike on a standard award ticket.

3. Access Last Seat Availability

Pay with Points can help you snag the last seat on a flight even when no award space exists. This is useful for getting yourself or others onto a specific flight.

For instance, you might use Pay with Points to book the last two seats for your family on a holiday or special occasion flight. Even if no award space exists, paying with points can save the day.

Which Cards Offer Pay With Points Rebates?

As mentioned earlier, the most valuable way to leverage Pay with Points is with the cards that offer rebates on certain flight redemptions:

Business Centurion Card – 50% rebate
Business Platinum Card – 35% rebate
Business Gold Card – 25% rebate

These cards specifically offer the rebates on first class, business class, and certain economy flight redemptions.

The Business Platinum stands out given its large 35% rebate – up to 1 million redeemed points back per calendar year.

When Does Pay With Points Make Sense?

Consider using Pay with Points in these situations:

You find a cheap cash fare sale where paying with points is cheaper than booking an award.
You want to earn miles/elite credits on the flight.
You need “last seat availability” – access to book the last seat on a specific flight.
You have one of the cards that offer a sizable rebate on Pay with Points for flights.
You don’t want to deal with award availability challenges and transferring points to airline partners.

Pay with Points is the easiest way to redeem Amex points. No phone calls or award chart studying required. Just points deducted and statement credits issued.

Step-By-Step Guide

Here is a step-by-step walkthrough on how to use Pay with Points:

Log into your Amex account and navigate to the Pay with Points section.
View eligible charges – you’ll see recent charges and statement activity that is eligible for Pay with Points redemption.
Select the charges you want to wipe with points. A checkmark will appear on each selected charge.
Click “Redeem Now.” Amex will deduct the points from your account.
A statement credit posts within 48 hours for the charges covered with points.

And that’s it! The simplicity itself. No phone calls or complex award searches required.

Do’s and Don’ts

Here are some key do’s and don’ts to ensure you maximize value:

DO:

Use Pay with Points for flights when you have the Business Platinum or other eligible cards.
Take advantage of cheap fares to pay less points than transferring to partners.
Remember you earn miles and elite credits when you fly.

DON’T:

Use Pay with Points for non-bonus categories without a card that offers a rebate.
Forget to factor in the value earned from miles and elite credits.
Use Pay with Points at the default rate of 1 cent per point without considering transfer partners.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some savvy tips and tricks for maximizing Pay with Points:

Use it to complete a family or milestone redemption if you lack enough points or award space for everyone.
Leverage it to requalify for status by earning elite miles and credits.
Book inexpensive economy tickets and maximize value with the Business Platinum’s 35% rebate.
Monitor cash prices – if a sale pops up, pay with points instead of a standard award.
Pay with points doesn’t block partner awards, so combine it with transfers if needed.

The Power of Flexibility

One key advantage of Pay with Points is the flexibility. You’re not beholden to award space which may be nonexistent on key routes and dates.

This flexibility makes Pay with Points useful for:

Getting the last few seats you need for a group or family redemption.
Landing seats on competitive holiday travel dates prone to lack of award space.
Gaining elite requalification miles and credits when you fall short.
Taking advantage of sporadic cheap fare sales.
Quickly wiping statement charges without having to transfer points.

By considering this option alongside transfers to airline partners, you open up more possibilities and can maximize your Amex points.

Maximizing Amex MR Points

While transfers to airline and hotel partners remain the way to achieve outsized value from Membership Rewards, Pay with Points is a valuable tool in your redemption toolkit.

Used strategically, it can deliver flight redemptions exceeding 1 cent per point in value. Especially when you have the Business Platinum or other eligible cards.

Pay with Points also provides flexibility and a way to redeem points when partner award space is lacking. And the ability to earn miles and elite credits gives it additional value.

For getting maximum value from Amex MR points, be sure to consider Pay with Points alongside your transfer options. Mixing and matching these two strategies can help you unlock premium flights, lucrative redemptions, and exclusive experiences.

Pay with Points offers a flexible and easy option for wiping statement charges and redeeming Amex Membership Rewards. While it lacks the outsized value of airline transfers, with the right cards and technique it can deliver strong 1+ cent per point redemptions. Consider leveraging Pay with Points for cheap fares, last-seat availability, and MileagePlusXP to maximize the value you extract from your hard-earned Amex points

Cards that offer a Pay with Points bonus

As mentioned, there are three Amex cards for small businesses that offer a rebate when you pay with points (terms apply). Here are their current welcome offers and other details:

The Business Platinum Card from American Express: Earn 150,000 points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first three months of card membership.
American Express® Business Gold Card: Earn 70,000 bonus points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership.
Centurion Business Card from American Express: Applications by invitation only.

The information for the Centurion Business card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Details	Business Centurion	Business Platinum	Business Gold
Pay with Points rebate	50%.	35%.	25%.
Value of each redeemed point	2 cents.	1.54 cents.	1.33 cents.
Eligible flights	All flights.	First- and business-class flights, and economy flights on your selected airline.	First- and business-class flights, and economy flights on your selected airline.
Maximum number of bonus points	N/A	1 million points per calendar year.	250,000 points per calendar year.

How to use Amex Pay with Points

Its very easy to take advantage of the American Express Pay with Points feature to book your flight. First, sign in to your Amex account and then search for flights through the Amex Travel portal as you normally would. At checkout, select either “Use only points” or “Use points + American Express card” to apply some or all of your points.

When paying with points, your card will be charged the full dollar amount. Amex will then, within 48 hours, add a statement credit for the portion of the flight that you paid for with points.

Bear in mind that the rebate offered by some cards isnt an outright discount. So, if you have an eligible card, you must still have the full amount of points in your account at the time of booking. Cathay Pacific business class. WALLACE COTTON/THE POINTS GUY

For instance, Ive redeemed 121,850 points to cover the cost of a $1,218.50 Cathay Pacific business-class ticket from Male, Maldives (MLE) to Shanghai (PVG). I initially redeemed the points at a rate of 1 cent each, but thanks to The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, once I received my 35% rebate of 42,647 points, my effective redemption value jumped from 1 cent per point to 1.54 cents. The math is a little confusing, but if you divide 1 by 0.65 (the percent I pay after the rebate), you get 1.54.

Not every booking offers a rebate — unless you have the elusive Business Centurion Card from American Express. With the other two cards, first- and business-class flights on any airline count, but only economy flights on a specific airline that you select each year are also eligible for the rebate. There are also calendar-year maximums of the number of rebated points you can expect each year, depending on your card.

How To Redeem Amex Points For MAX VALUE (Beginner’s Guide)

FAQ

Can I use my AmEx points to pay my bill?

From petrol, groceries and takeout to TV subscriptions, as soon as the transaction reflects on your statement, you can use your Points to cover charges. The minimum redemption requirement is 1,000 Membership Rewards Points.

Can I use my rewards points to pay my bill?

For some cards, accumulated reward points can be used towards your next credit card payment. In some cases, redemption options include requesting your reward points as cash payment through a check or direct deposit, which you can then use to pay for your next credit card payment.

Can I use AmEx points to pay?

Through your online account on desktop and via telephone, points can be redeemed for a statement credit towards eligible transactions within the current and the previous three statement periods.

Can I use my AmEx to pay bills?

Use your American Express® Card to pay your recurring bills and get rewarded in return.

How do I use American Express Pay with points?

It’s very easy to take advantage of the American Express Pay with Points feature to book your flight. First, sign in to your Amex account and then search for flights through the Amex Travel portal as you normally would. At checkout, select either “Use only points” or “Use points + American Express card” to apply some or all of your points.

Which American Express cards are eligible for pay with points?

All American Express cards that earn Membership Rewards points are eligible to use Pay With Points to redeem points through AmEx Travel. Eligible Membership Rewards cards include: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express — including a 35% Airline Bonus. American Express® Business Gold Card — including a 25% Airline Bonus.

How much is Amex pay with points worth?

The AmEx Pay With Points value depends on the type of travel you book using Pay With Points. On almost all Membership Rewards cards — excluding the Blue from American Express® card — you’ll get 1 cent per point in value per point redeemed for flights and 0.7 cents per point toward other travel redemptions.

Does American Express Pay with points offer a better value?

Sometimes, it’s possible to get a better value by using the American Express Pay with Points feature than you’d get by transferring your points. Because certain Amex cards provide a rebate on the number of points you need for eligible Pay with Points flight redemptions, having the right cards in your wallet can unlock some excellent value.