American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card — How to apply and who it’s for

The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card is a credit card product issued by American Express in the United Kingdom that focuses on building Membership Rewards points for flexible redemption. It is positioned within American Express’s Gold family and offers a combination of rewards and consumer protections intended for cardmembers who plan to use points for travel, statement credits, gift cards or transfers to partner programmes.
The card carries an annual fee of £195 which is waived for the first year, and it participates in the Membership Rewards programme. It includes Section 75 Consumer Credit Act protection for qualifying purchases between £100 and £30,000 and supports supplementary cardmembership for up to five additional cardholders.

Card terms include a foreign transaction fee and variable representative APRs as shown in the issuer’s product materials. This article explains benefits, eligibility, fees and the application process using only the facts disclosed by the issuer and the issuer’s product documents.

Benefits

Below are the principal benefits disclosed by the issuer for this product. The card emphasises flexible points earning, lifestyle credits, travel perks, and core consumer protections.

• Membership Rewards programme participation: Earn points on all eligible purchases with no expiration limits.
• First year annual fee waived: First year £0; thereafter £195.
• Complimentary Airport Lounge Passes: Includes 4 free airport lounge visits annually through Priority Pass™.
• Deliveroo Allowance: Up to £120 back yearly (£5 back twice a month) on eligible Deliveroo purchases.
• The Hotel Collection: Elevated benefits including a room upgrade (when available) and a US$100 hotel credit when booking two or more nights through Amex Travel.
• Flexible redemption options: Redeem points for statement credits, travel bookings, gift cards, or transfer them to airline and hotel partner programmes.
• Section 75 protection: Legal consumer protection for qualifying purchases between £100 and £30,000.
• Up to five supplementary cards: Available at no extra cost for additional cardholders.
• Amex Experiences & Lounge Access: Exclusive access to ticket presales and complimentary entry to the American Express Lounge at The O2 London.

Prerequisites

To apply for the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card, you must meet the following eligibility criteria as disclosed by the issuer:

• Minimum Age: You must be aged 18 or over.
• Residency: You must have a permanent UK home address.
• Banking: You must have a current UK bank or building society account.
• Income Requirement: You must earn at least £20,000 per year.
• Credit History: You must have no history of bad debt.

Who is this card for?

This card is aimed at UK residents who want a mid‑to‑premium credit card that accumulates Membership Rewards points and provides flexible redemption options. It is suited to people who intend to redeem points for travel, gift cards, statement credits or transfer points to partner programmes. The product is likely to be most valuable to applicants who regularly make card purchases and who are able to manage their accounts so that they avoid carrying revolving balances, given the card’s published variable APRs.

The card may be less suitable for consumers seeking a low‑fee, low‑interest everyday card or for those who frequently carry credit balances, as the issuer publishes relatively high variable purchase APRs and other borrowing rates (see Fees and tariffs below). If you primarily want a simple cashback or very low annual cost product, this card may not be the optimal choice based on the disclosed annual fee and interest rates.

What rewards and programmes does the card offer?

The Preferred Rewards Gold Card participates in American Express’s Membership Rewards® programme. Points earned through this programme do not expire.

Earning Points

Cardholders earn points on eligible purchases at the following rates:

• 1 point for every £1 spent on the Card on everyday purchases.
• 2 points per £1 spent directly with airlines.
• 3 points per £1 spent with American Express Travel.
• Annual Spend Bonus: Cardmembers receive an additional 5,000 bonus points when they spend £10,000 on the Card within a year, up to two times per year (maximum of 10,000 bonus points annually).

Welcome Offer

• 20,000 Membership Rewards® bonus points when you spend £3,000 in your first three months of Cardmembership (available to eligible new Cardmembers only).

Lifestyle & Experience Programmes

• Deliveroo Allowance: Get £5 back twice a month on Deliveroo, giving you up to £120 back yearly.
• Amex Offers: Access to regular statement credits and discounts when shopping at favourite brands.
• Amex Experiences®: Exclusive access to ticket presales for music, film, and theatre events, plus entry to the American Express Lounge at The O2 London.

Redemption Options

Points can be redeemed flexibly, including the following options:

• Statement Credits: Use “Cover it with Points” to offset virtually any purchase made on your Card.
• Travel Bookings: Book flights, hotels, and more via American Express Travel Online.
• Loyalty Transfers: Transfer points to major airline and hotel loyalty partner programmes (such as British Airways Avios or Emirates Skywards).
• Gift Cards & Shopping: Purchase gift cards from well-known brands or use points at online checkouts with PayPal or partners like Amazon and John Lewis.

Initial credit limit

The issuer’s product disclosures utilize an assumed credit limit for illustrative purposes in their representative example. The final credit limit granted to any individual is determined during the underwriting process based on applicant-specific factors.

• Assumed credit limit: £1,200 (as shown in the issuer’s Representative Example).
• Maximum credit limit: Not disclosed by the issuer.
• Limit Determination: The actual credit limit and interest rates depend entirely on American Express’s credit assessment of the applicant, including application details, credit bureau checks, and personal financial circumstances.

Step by step to apply for the card

Follow these general steps to request the Preferred Rewards Gold Card. Each step is based on standard issuer procedures and the presence of the card’s official product page; specific pages and final confirmation are provided on the issuer’s site.

1. Visit the official product page to view the current offer and application form.
2. Review the product terms and pre‑contract information, including the PDF terms and fee schedule available on the issuer’s site.
3. Prepare identification and financial information (proof of identity, residential address and income details).
4. Complete the online application on the American Express site and submit any requested documents.
5. Await a credit decision from American Express. If approved, you will receive account opening communication and the physical card in the post.
6. Activate and register for online account management through the American Express website or mobile app.

TAP TO ACCESS THE CARD PAGE

Mobile apps

For convenience, the issuer offers mobile apps for account management. You can download the apps here:

DOWNLOAD FOR IOS

DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID

Card’s pros and cons

Pros

• Generous Welcome Offer: New Cardmembers can earn 20,000 Membership Rewards® points when spending £3,000 in their first three months of Cardmembership.
• Flexible Rewards: Points can be redeemed for statement credits, travel bookings, gift cards, transfers to partner programmes, and merchandise, offering flexible use of rewards.
• First Year Fee Waived: The annual fee of £195 is waived for the first year of Cardmembership (first year £0).
• Travel Perks: Includes a complimentary Priority Pass™ membership with four free airport lounge visits annually, plus Amex Lounge access at The O2 London.
• Lifestyle Credits: Gives up to £120 back yearly with £5 monthly credits twice a month on Deliveroo.
• Purchase & Refund Protection: The Card provides travel insurance, purchase protection, and refund protection for eligible items.

Cons

• High Representative APR: The issuer discloses a variable representative APR of 85.8%. Carrying a balance can therefore be highly costly.
• Recurring Annual Fee: An annual fee of £195 applies after the first year and is a recurring cost for Cardmembership.
• Foreign Transaction Fee: A foreign transaction fee applies to non-sterling purchases, which may reduce value for frequent international spenders.
• Cash/Transfer Fees: Fees apply for cash advances (3% of the amount, minimum £3) and balance/money transfers (3% of the amount).

Fees and tariffs

The key fees and interest rates disclosed by American Express for this product are outlined below, based on the issuer’s official product disclosures:

• Annual Cardmembership Fee: £195 (Waived for the first membership year; first year £0).
• Representative APR (Variable): 85.8% APR (Calculated based on the purchase rate and the annual fee).
• Purchase Rate: 29.1% p.a. variable (With up to 56 days interest-free period if the full balance is paid on time each month).
• Foreign Transaction Fee: Applies to non-sterling transactions (standard Amex UK rate is 2.99%).
• Late Payment Fee: £12.
• Supplementary Card Fee: £0 (The card supports complimentary supplementary cards for additional cardholders).

Customer service

If you need assistance with application, account setup or ongoing account management, the issuer provides multiple contact channels. The following contact details are included in the issuer’s supplied information:

• Customer phone (issuer main contact): +44 8000 327216 (as published in issuer information).
• Customer phone (product page support): 0800 917 8047.
• Online contact and chat: Issuer contact‑us page (chat and contact details).
• Customer support hours: issuer lists varying hours; one published reference shows Customer Services Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00 while the product page references support availability; check the issuer contact pages for exact hours.