Most travellers leave points on the table by putting every purchase on a single card. The Points Guy's latest breakdown argues that the smarter play is matching the right American Express card to the right kind of spending — and the payoff can be 2 to 5 points per dollar instead of a flat 1.
For everyday personal spending, the American Express Gold Card is the pick. It earns 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 a year) and at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000), plus boosted rates on prepaid hotels and flights booked through Amex Travel. The $325 annual fee is softened by monthly Uber Cash, dining credits and semiannual Resy restaurant credits, though enrolment is required for some. The writer's worked example is striking: roughly $800 a month on groceries and $500 on dining, plus some travel bookings, adds up to about 76,400 points a year — worth over $1,500 at TPG's October 2026 valuations of more than 2 cents per point. One suggested redemption: 60,000 points transferred to Air France-KLM Flying Blue for a one-way business-class seat between the U.S. and Europe.
Serious flyers get a different recommendation: a card earning 5 points per dollar on flights bought directly from airlines (up to $500,000 annually). Buying direct rather than through a portal also makes changes and cancellations easier when plans go sideways. The catch is an $895 annual fee, which only makes sense if you'll use the lounge access, airline fee credits and complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status that come with it.
Business owners get two options. The no-annual-fee Blue Business Plus doubles points on the first $50,000 of broad, uncategorised spending each year — 100,000 points if you max it out — making it the low-effort catch-all. The Business Gold suits businesses with concentrated expenses: it automatically assigns 4 points per dollar to the two eligible categories where you spend most each billing cycle (think advertising, wireless bills, gas stations, transit, U.S. restaurants), up to $150,000 combined annually.
The practical takeaway for holiday planners: you don't need all four cards. A personal card for groceries and dining, or a single pairing of one personal and one business card, covers most people. Watch two details — bonus rates often carry annual spending caps, and statement credits usually require enrolment. And remember that flexible points are worth the most when transferred to airline partners rather than redeemed at face value through a travel portal.
