How Much Are 50k Amex Points Worth? (50,000 Membership Rewards) (2024)

Josh Patoka

January 22, 2024

Josh is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance and travel credit card rewards. He also writes at Wallet Hacks, Well Kept Wallet, Frugal Rules, and USA Today Blueprint.

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American Express has a credit card lineup full of valuable rewards, including several American Express credit cards that earn Membership Rewards® Points. The redemption options are similar for each card, although the redemption value varies. Redeeming 50,000 Amex points is worth as much as $500 in several instances. Below are the best ways to redeem your rewards balance, with the most valuable options appearing first.

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How Much Are 50k Amex Points Worth? (50,000 Membership Rewards) (2)

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How Much Are 50k Amex Points Worth? Award Flights and Upgrades

$0.01 points value (high value)

Award flights are the most valuable redemption option, as 50,000 Amex points are worth $500 on trips you book through American Express Travel. Most domestic and international airlines participate, so it’s easy to find a desirable flight.

Your Amex 50k points balance is also worth $500 in-flight upgrades with 20 participating airlines. You will submit an offer, and the airline will let you know within five business days if you can upgrade with points. The participating airlines are international carriers that include Air Canada, Avianca, Etihad Airways, Qantas, and more.

Related:What Miles Are Best For Flights To Hawaii?

1:1 Amex Point Transfers

$0.005 to $0.05 points value (low to very high value)

You can also transfer your Amex points at a 1:1 ratio to many airlines and hotels. The redemption value varies by carrier and flight option, but this is the only way to make 50,000 Membership Rewards worth more than $500.

For example, being able to redeem each point for 3 cents on a business class flight makes each point worth $1,500. A two-cent redemption value is also possible on domestic or overseas trips.

The international airline partners most consistently deliver the highest redemption value, followed by domestic airlines and hotel partners after that, as hotel points are almost always less valuable than airline miles.

Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts

$0.01 points value (high value)

Your points are also worth 1 cent when booking rewards nights within the Fine Hotels & Resorts portfolio. You will redeem your points through American Express Travel to capture the Membership Rewards maximum redemption value.

Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with The Platinum Card® from American Express. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.

Other American Express Award Travel Redemptions

$0.0035 points value (low value)

Your 50,000 points are worth $350 for these non-flight redemptions, including:

Prepaid hotels
Prepaid rental cars
Cruises
Vacations

The balance is worth $250 in excise tax fee offsets as you will pay $0.0006 per point (maximum $99) that you transfer to domestic airlines. Currently, that’s Delta Air Lines and JetBlue.

So, consider accumulating your points and using them for award flights booked on AmexTravel.com, 1:1 points transfers, or stays at Fine Hotels and Resorts.

Gift Cards

$0.0025 to $0.01 points value (low to maximum value)

Select gift cards can be worth up to $500 when you redeem 50,000 American Express Membership Rewards.

Restaurant and retail gift cards are more likely to be worth $500. However, the average value dips to $250, $350, or $425 for most travel and American Express prepaid gift card options.

As cash back and shopping credits have an inferior value, you may browse the list of cards first to squeeze the most out of non-travel redemptions.

Pay with Points at Checkout

$0.0035 points value (low value)

Your points are worth $350 when you redeem them at checkout with these merchants:

Amazon
Best Buy
Dell.com
Grubhub
JustGiving
Newegg
NYC Taxi ($500 redemption value)
PayPal
Rite Aid
Saks Fifth Avenue
Seamless.com
Staples

Your points are still more valuable for flights and select gift cards. Online shopping credits tend to be less valuable than award trips with most of the best travel credit cards.

Cover Your Card Charges

$0.003 points value (low value)

You can redeem a minimum of 1,000 points for eligible charges as a statement credit. In this case, your 50,000 points are worth $300 in purchase reimbursem*nts.

Each point is worth less than one cent, so it’s not an ideal option unless you need to keep your out-of-pocket expenses low and cannot book an award flight or request a gift card first.

Additionally, you may consider a cash back credit card if you prefer cash rewards to travel miles, as Amex points are most valuable when you use them for award flights or luxury hotels.

Shop with Membership Rewards Points

$0.0025 points value (low value)

You can also browse an online shopping portal featuring participating merchants to cover all or part of your purchase total. In this case, 50,000 points are worth $250 in merchandise.

How Much Are 50k Amex Points Worth?

Award flights and Fine Hotels & Resorts stays have the best redemption value of $500 as the maximum redemption value is 1 cent through your Membership Rewards account. Your points are also likely worth $500 or more when transferring to an airline transfer partner.

Unfortunately, each point is worth less than 1 cent for non-flight travel, most gift cards, shopping credits, or cash statement credits. Avoiding these redemptions or considering another rewards credit card to achieve the best redemption valuemore often is best.

Final Thoughts

You have many options to redeem 50,000 Amex points with your favorite travel brand or merchant. When possible, try redeeming them through American Express Travel for award flights or utilizing the 1:1 point transfer options to get the best value. The other travel and shopping redemptions can also reduce your out-of-pocket costs, but the redemption value is less than how much most credit card points are worth.

Plus, get the American Express® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold, or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.

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