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The Complete Guide to American Express Membership Rewards® Points
American Express Membership Rewards® points, often called MR points, are among the most valuable and flexible travel rewards available to Canadians. What makes them so powerful is their ability to be earned from multiple Amex cards and combined into a single account. This allows you to scale your points balance quickly through category bonuses, signup welcome offers, and strategic daily spending.
Unlike fixed-value points or cashback programs, MR points shine when transferred to airline and hotel partners. While the baseline redemption value for things like gift cards or statement credits is typically between 0.7 and 1 cent per point, transferring your points to programs like Air Canada Aeroplan® or Air France/KLM Flying Blue can not only get you 2 cents or more per point but also give you the access to aspirational travel like never before.
This guide will walk you through how to collect MR points efficiently, which cards and categories give you the most value, and how to use Amex’s transfer partners to travel farther without paying full price
💡 What Are American Express Membership Rewards® Points
Membership Rewards® (MR) points are the flexible rewards currency earned from a range of American Express cards in Canada. You can earn MR points through welcome bonuses, regular spending, and by referring friends and family. These points are highly versatile and can be redeemed in several ways, including for merchandise, gift cards, statement credits, and travel. However, not all redemptions offer the same value. The best value comes when you transfer your points to one of Amex Canada’s airline or hotel partners.
📱 How to Check Your Membership Rewards® Points Balance
You can check your Membership Rewards® balance anytime by logging into the Amex app or desktop site.
- On mobile, your total MR Points are displayed at the top of the screen, just below your credit card details. Tap the Membership tab at the bottom to see your Membership Rewards® summary.
- On desktop, your MR points total is shown under the Membership Rewards® section beneath your credit card information. Clicking View and Redeem Points opens the Membership Rewards® dashboard,
- From there, you can check your points balance, view your transaction history, and redeem your points.
📌 You can ask Amex to merge all your Membership Rewards® points into one account, with the full balance showing under your highest-tier MR earning card.
💳 Collecting American Express Membership Rewards®
American Express offers a suite of credit cards in Canada that earn Membership Rewards® points, each tailored to different spending habits and travel needs. These American Express credit and charge cards give you the flexibility to collect Membership Rewards® points from multiple cards and transfer them to top airline and hotel partners.
Earning American Express Membership Rewards® points is simple and rewarding. You do not need to overthink it. There are three main ways to build your points balance faster: using your card for everyday purchases, unlocking welcome bonuses when opening a new card, and sharing your referral link with friends and family. Unlike other points, Membership Rewards® points are added to your account as soon as the charge is posted, no need to wait for the statement to close to see or use your points.
🎁 1. Signup Welcome Bonuses
New Amex cards often come with large signup welcome bonuses. These require you to spend a minimum amount within the first few months, with some offers as high as 110,000 MR points. The sooner you meet your minimum spend, the sooner the bonus points will be added to your account.
Read more tips and tricks on how to meet your minimum spend.
💡 Make sure to exclude the card’s annual fee and any refunded purchases from the minimum spend total, since those do not count toward the requirement.
📌 Most Amex cards are eligible for the signup welcome bonus only once, so it’s worth waiting to apply until there’s a strong signup offer available.
Signup Welcome Bonus offers change frequently, so be sure to check the latest Best Credit Card offers here.
American Express Membership Rewards® Welcome Bonuses
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Welcome Bonus:
🎁 15,000 Membership Rewards®
Welcome Bonus Value:
💰 $300
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⏰ Limited Time Offer Ends: August 18, 2025
Welcome Bonus:
🎁 100,000 Membership Rewards®
Welcome Bonus Value:
💰 $2,000
-
⏰ Limited Time Offer Ends: August 18, 2025
Welcome Bonus:
🎁 200,000 Membership Rewards®
Welcome Bonus Value:
💰 $4,000
-
⏰ Limited Time Offer Ends: August 18, 2025
Welcome Bonus:
🎁 110,000 Membership Rewards®
Welcome Bonus Value:
💰 $2,200
-
-
⏰ Limited Time Offer Ends: August 18, 2025
Welcome Bonus:
🎁 180,000 Membership Rewards®
Welcome Bonus Value:
💰 $3,600
💡 Amex Credit Card Application Tips
- Once-in-a-Lifetime Bonus Rule: You typically only qualify for the welcome bonus once per card. If you’ve held a specific card before, you likely won’t get the bonus again unless you receive a targeted upgrade offer.
- Targeted Upgrade Offers: If Amex offers you a targeted upgrade, you should be eligible for a welcome bonus even on a card you’ve previously held. Thus, upgrade offers should only be used after applying for and holding the card outright first.
- Secondary Cardholders Still Qualify: If you were only an authorized user on someone else’s card, you’re still eligible to earn the welcome bonus when you apply as a primary cardholder.
- Card Limits: Amex usually allows up to 4 credit cards per person, but there is no official limit on the number of charge cards (like the Platinum and Business Gold cards). Both business and personal cards count toward their respective limits.
- 90-Day Rule for Same Card: You generally can’t be approved for the same card more than once every 90 days. Note that Membership Rewards business charge cards like the Business Platinum and Business Gold are treated as the same product for this purpose.
- Welcome Bonus Points: MR points from welcome offers usually appear in your account within a few days after you meet the minimum spending requirement, while officially it may take up to 12 weeks after.
- Downgrading or Closing Cards: To keep your Amex bonus, wait at least 12 months before closing or downgrading your card. Let the annual fee post first to avoid losing your points or getting the bonus reversed.
- Application Status: If your application isn’t instantly approved, call Amex. Many times, they just need to verify details before proceeding.
🛒 2. Credit Card Spending
Using your American Express cards regularly is the easiest way to earn points. The number of Membership Rewards® points you earn depends on which American Express card you use, the type of purchase category, and sometimes the total amount you spend. Different cards offer higher rewards for certain types of purchases, so choosing the right card for each transaction can really boost your balance.
- The Cobalt Card gives 5 points per dollar on groceries and restaurants, 3 on streaming services, and 2 on transit and travel.
- The Gold Rewards Card offers 2 points per dollar on travel and gas.
By focusing your spending on the right card and purchase categories, you can earn points quickly without spending more than you normally would.
American Express Membership Rewards® Earning Rates
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- 5x points per $1 on
groceries, 
restaurants, and 
food delivery purchases in Canada, up to $2,500 per month. - 2x points per $1 on
gas, 
transit and 
ride share purchases in Canada. - 3x points per $1 on 🎧 streaming subscriptions in Canada.
- 1X point per $1 on everything else.
- 5x points per $1 on
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-
-
- 3x points per $1 on 🎧 streaming subscriptions in Canada.
- 2x points per $1 on eligible grocery, gas, transit and ride share purchases in Canada.
- 2 points per $1 on eligible ✈️ travel purchases.
- 1X point per $1 on everything else.
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- 2x points per $1 on 🏨 hotel and car rental bookings made through Amex Travel Online.
- 1X point per $1 on everything else.
- 2x points per $1 on 🏨 hotel and
-
-
3x points per $1 on ✈️ travel,
dining, and food delivery -
1.25x points per $1 on everything else.
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⬆️ 3. Credit Card Upgrade and Switch Offers
American Express often gives bonus Membership Rewards® points when you upgrade or switch cards within the same card family. These targeted offers can appear in your online account or arrive by email, so it’s worth checking regularly
You might get a welcome bonus, like 15,000 points, when you upgrade to a higher-tier card or switch to another card and meet a minimum spending requirement.
Unlike first-time welcome offers, these are available to existing cardholders and let you boost your MR points balance without applying for a new card or triggering a credit check
📌 American Express Membership Rewards® Points do not expire as long as you keep at least one American Express card that earns them.
📌If you’ve never had an Amex card, apply for it directly first. Upgrading may not qualify you for the full welcome bonus.
📌 Bonus Points for upgrade and switch offers usually post 8 to 12 weeks after the promo ends, even if you meet the spend requirement earlier.
👥 4. Referring Friends and Family
Referring friends and family is a simple and rewarding way to earn extra MR points without spending anything. Amex gives you a personal referral link that you can share with people you know.
When someone is approved for their new Amex card after clicking your link, you’ll earn a referral bonus. These bonuses often range from 5,000 to 35,000 points, depending on the card and the current offer. Some offers can be targeted and unique to you, so make sure to check your Amex account.
It’s a win-win: you earn points and help someone you care about unlock more travel rewards. Your friend may even receive a higher signup bonus than the one publicly available.
Learn how the Amex referral program works and how to make the most of it.
📌 You can refer friends and family to a variety of Amex cards, even those you do not hold. Learn more about the American Express referral program and how multi-card referrals can help you earn even more MR points.
🎉 5. Special Offers
Check your American Express account frequently for special and limited-time offers for bonus points.
You can take advantage of earning additional Membership Rewards® points for purchases at specified retailers or by adding supplementary card holders.
These offers are often targeted, have limited quantities and require active opt-in to participate. Each Amex card has its unique offers, so make sure to check all the offers on all of your Amex cards and opt in quickly to ensure you don’t miss out on valuable rewards.
These offers can be incredibly beneficial by boosting your rewards, giving you cash back, and effectively reducing the annual fee. Making your credit card more rewarding and cost-effective. Learn more about Activating American Express Special Offers.
✈️🏨 Redeeming American Express Membership Rewards® Points
American Express Membership Rewards® points are most valuable when redeemed for travel, especially by transferring them to airline and hotel partners. Unlike fixed loyalty programs where you’re locked into one airline or hotel, MR points offer flexibility across multiple travel brands. This flexibility allows you to shop for the best award flights or hotel stays instead of being tied to one program. Whether you want to fly to Europe in business class or book a last-minute flight within Canada, transferring points to a partner program can unlock tremendous value. While there are other redemption options like gift cards, statement credits, or merchandise, these usually offer a significantly lower return per point. If your goal is to get the most out of your points, travel redemptions through transfer partners are the way to go!
📌 American Express Membership Rewards® Points are typically valued at around 2 cents per point when transferred to travel partners like airlines, while other redemptions, such as statement credits and gift cards, offer lower value per point.
✈️ Travel Transfer Partners: Best Ways to Redeem Membership Rewards® Points
American Express Membership Rewards® points in Canada can be transferred to several airline and hotel loyalty programs, often at a 1:1 ratio. This includes top airline partners like Air Canada Aeroplan® and Air France/KLM Flying Blue, both of which have numerous airline alliance partners that offer strong redemption opportunities, especially for premium cabin flights and international routes. Other Canadian airline partners include British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, and Etihad Guest. These options allow you to search for award flights across many global alliances, giving you coverage on almost any major route.
Amex MR hotel transfer partners include Marriott Bonvoy® and Hilton Honors. While they can be useful in some cases, the redemption value is typically lower than with airline programs. In general, you’ll get the best value by using your points for flights rather than hotels.
Points can be transferred to the loyalty accounts of the primary cardholder or any authorized user or employee on the account, offering flexibility for family or team travel. Since you are not locked into a single program, you can split your points across different partners depending on your travel goals. If you want to explore all your options and optimize redemptions, check out our full guide on how to transfer Amex Rewards® in Canada.