American Express (Amex) is popular due to a blend of strong brand prestige, generous rewards programs, and excellent customer service. These factors attract affluent customers and high spenders who value the premium benefits that offset the often-higher annual fees.
American Express cards are special for their strong rewards programs (like Membership Rewards), extensive travel perks (lounge access, credits), exclusive entertainment access, and premium customer service/security, often justifying higher fees for users who leverage these premium benefits, though acceptance can be lower in some places than Visa/Mastercard. They also offer flexible spending power on charge cards and unique co-branded loyalty options.
As for AMEX being considered elite, that was built on a reputation of exceptional customer service. They were also the first credit card to truly have world wide acceptance. With the advent of VISA and MASTERCARD being accepted everywhere that has since changed.
Gen Z likes Amex because it successfully shifted from just a payment method to a lifestyle brand offering experiences, aspirational status, and tangible "life hacks" like airport lounges, dining credits (via Resy), and exclusive event access, all delivered through a sleek, digital-first app that feels less elitist and more relatable, making the rewards feel like "free money" for experiences they value.
Amex minimum income requirements vary significantly by card and country, but generally range from around $45,000-$50,000 for some standard rewards cards (like the Explorer card in Australia) up to higher amounts like $65,000 for premium cards (Qantas Ultimate), or even business revenue requirements (e.g., $75,000 for Business Platinum). Some Amex cards, particularly in markets like Canada, surprisingly have no stated minimum income.
The credit limit you can expect for a $70,000 salary across all your credit cards could be as much as $14000 to $21000, or even higher in some cases, according to our research. The exact amount depends heavily on multiple factors, like your credit score and how many credit lines you have open.
100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points are generally worth $1,000 to $2,000 or more, depending on redemption; you get about 1 cent per point ($1,000 total) using the travel portal or gift cards, but can achieve 2 cents per point or higher ($2,000+) by transferring to airline/hotel partners for premium flights, yielding significantly more value, according to Bankrate and WalletHub and The Points Guy.
Hardest Card to Get Overall
Why it's one of the hardest cards to get: The hardest card to get is the American Express Centurion Card, known simply as the “Black Card.” You need an invitation to get Amex Centurion, and only the super rich and famous can expect to get the call.
Cardholders of the American Express Platinum Card® or any other type of Amex members, can try using the American Express Auto Purchasing Program, which connects you to dealers who accept American Express and let you charge $2,000 or more toward a car purchase on your Amex card.
The main reason Amex cards are so expensive is that many American Express credit cards offer generous rewards rates and high-end perks, which justify their steep annual fees. Amex cards are designed for people with good credit and a lot of income who are likely to charge large amounts to their cards every month.
While Amex cards have become more widely accepted over the years, they still have an exclusive aura that's partially based on reality. Early-2020s statistics from American Express showed Amex Platinum Card holders had an average household income of about $474,000 a year and boasted a net worth of about $4.3 million.
For him, money is just a resource that enables Reliance Industries to take risks for further growth. And the answer to the million-dollar question is Mukesh Ambani himself reveals that he never carries cash or credit cards in his pocket. According to Ambani, he always has someone nearby to pay his bills.
When you're out and about, it's possible to visit a restaurant or retailer that doesn't accept Amex card payments. That's because American Express charges merchants a higher fee than competitors do. All credit card networks charge processing fees for businesses to accept card payments from that network.
Annual Fee and Terms apply. 18+, subject to status. Minimum income £35,000.
Transferring 30,000 points to our loyalty partners gives you between £300 and £900.
American Express requires good or excellent credit for most of its cards, so it can be difficult to be approved for an Amex card if you're still establishing or rebuilding credit.
The Amex 2/90 rule is a guideline limiting most people to approval for no more than two new American Express credit cards within a 90-day period, even if they meet other rules like waiting five days between applications (the 1-in-5 rule). This rule specifically applies to credit cards, not necessarily charge cards, and is a key factor in managing how many new Amex cards you can open and get welcome bonuses for.
The "15" and "3" refer to the days before your credit card statement's closing date. Specifically, the rule suggests you make one payment 15 days before your statement closes and another payment three days before it closes.
100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points are generally worth $1,000 to $2,000 or more, depending on redemption; you get about 1 cent per point ($1,000 total) using the travel portal or gift cards, but can achieve 2 cents per point or higher ($2,000+) by transferring to airline/hotel partners for premium flights, yielding significantly more value, according to Bankrate and WalletHub and The Points Guy.
The "2/3/4 rule" refers to an informal guideline for Bank of America (BofA) credit card approvals, limiting new cards to 2 within 30 days, 3 within 12 months, and 4 within 24 months, helping manage lending risk. It's also a term used in baby sleep training for wake windows (2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours between naps) and in food safety (2-hour/4-hour rule for keeping food out of the fridge).
earn a sufficient income of at least $50,000 per annum to pay outgoings and living expenses, in addition to Card repayments each month without experiencing financial hardship; • are willing and able to pay an annual fee of $1,450; • have current employment or access to other income or repayment sources; and • generally ...
While 200K Amex points will typically only give you about $2,000 in value when you shop for flights in the Amex travel portal, you can sometimes find Business or First Class flights — that can normally cost over $10,000 — for only 200K points, when transferred to a frequent flyer program.
This means that with careful planning and some savvy moves, those 45 million points could translate into around $900,000 in travel experiences! Imagine jetting off first class around the world or enjoying luxurious hotel stays—all made possible by those little numbers accumulating in your account.