What is the Amex trifecta? How to get more value from your Membership Rewards Points.

If you appreciate the benefits offered by the American Express Membership Rewards program, you likely understand the tremendous value of Amex points. An excellent Amex rewards card can provide significant savings suitable for any financial plan.

However, to truly enhance your rewards value—particularly if you’re a regular traveler—consider leveraging a specific combination of American Express cards to maximize every dollar spent.

The Amex trifecta consists of three exceptional American Express rewards cards:

• American Express Platinum Card®

• American Express® Gold Card

• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

These cards, used collectively, can provide exceptional savings on travel, everyday purchases, and beyond.

Here’s more insight about the three cards comprising the Amex trifecta:

Why we like it: The Platinum Card from Amex stands out as one of the most prestigious rewards cards on the market today. Its bonus categories are primarily travel-focused, offering maximum value for those who utilize Amex Travel, the issuer’s travel portal.

The standout feature of the Platinum Card is undoubtedly its vast array of benefits—especially advantageous for frequent travelers. Amex asserts that the Platinum Card provides over $3,500 in annual value through credits for hotel bookings, airline fees, digital subscriptions, and various other services. Additionally, cardholders can enjoy access to more than 1,550 airport lounges worldwide, including Centurion Lounges, via Amex’s Global Lounge Collection.

Read our complete review of the Platinum Card from American Express.

Why we like it: The Amex Gold offers remarkable savings on daily expenditures, boasting an unmatched 4x points for dining and groceries (with limits). It presents considerable savings on purchases you’d typically make at home or while out, including food and rideshare credits. In fact, the Amex Gold card is among our top travel card recommendations across all issuers.

In partnership with the Amex Platinum card, the Amex Gold serves to enhance travel rewards while ensuring great point earnings during non-travel days. For instance, reaching the yearly limit of $25,000 on groceries could yield an impressive 100,000 Membership Rewards Points annually—potentially valued at $1,000 in travel redemptions when considering a penny per point.

Read our detailed review of the American Express Gold Card.

Why we like it: The Amex Blue Business Plus Credit Card is the sole business card in the trifecta, so it requires a business to qualify. This could pertain to freelance work, a side hustle, or being a small business owner. It’s a reliable no-annual-fee credit card (view rates & fees) in its own right, offering a solid 2x points on every purchase up to the first $50,000 annually, then 1x points on subsequent spending. In addition to rewards, it comes with several extra benefits.

However, when considering the Amex trifecta, the Blue Business Plus card brings significant flexibility. Using this card for all non-bonus expenditures allows for 2x points on each purchase until the annual limit is reached. If the $50,000 cap is fully utilized, this could translate to 100,000 Membership Rewards Points earned through the card each year.

Read our comprehensive review of the Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express.

By implementing an effective strategy, users can leverage the Amex trifecta for maximum yield on spending.

A key advantage of this trifecta is the capability to earn top rewards rates across various categories, resulting in a higher accumulation of Amex Membership Rewards available for travel bookings.

Begin with the Amex Platinum card for travel-related expenditures:

• 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com (up to a cap of $500,000 annually), thereafter 1x

• 5x points on eligible prepaid hotel reservations made via AmexTravel.com

Once you exceed the $500,000 limit on eligible flights during a calendar year with your Amex Platinum, you can still utilize your Amex Gold to accumulate unlimited 3x points on flights bought directly from airlines or via AmexTravel.com. The Amex Gold can also include some further travel expense types:

• 3x points on additional eligible travel (like prepaid car rentals and cruises) booked through AmexTravel.com with the Gold card

Beyond travel, prioritize the Amex Gold for rewarding grocery and dining experiences:

• 4x points at restaurants globally (up to $50,000 spent annually), then 1x

• 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 spent annually), then 1x

For all other expenses, the Blue Business Plus card sheds valuable bonus points:

• 2x points on all additional purchases (up to $50,000 annually), then 1x

This encompasses all typical expenses not engaging in the previously highlighted bonus categories—fuel, utilities, entertainment, online shopping, and additional areas like local attractions—up to the predefined limit. Larger budgets can also encompass spends in otherwise eligible bonus categories upon reaching the respective caps.

Moreover, the Amex trifecta shines through the considerable benefits* and annual credits it delivers.

The majority of your annual privileges stem from the Amex Platinum card—especially in travel contexts. Its perks extend from airport lounge access to airline fee rebates and discounts on security programs (such as TSA PreCheck and Clear), among others. Cardholders also receive automatic elite status with various travel brands: Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Hilton Honors Gold Status, and premium standing with car rental agencies like Avis, Hertz, and National.

While the Amex Gold card does offer travel benefits, its premium advantages exhibit greater value in dining expenditures, reaping over $300 annually purely from a variety of dine-out credits:

• Up to $84 in statement credits ($7 month-to-month with enrollment) at Dunkin’ locations throughout the U.S.

• Up to $100 in statement credits ($50 every six months, pending enrollment) linked to dining at U.S. restaurants inviting Resy receipts.

• Up to $120 in statement credits ($10 monthly, upon enrollment) spent at select dining partners including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys.

Both cards feature a noteworthy benefit—annual Uber Cash** for food and rideshare services. Below is the sum total of $320 you can access for Uber expenses via the Amex Platinum and Amex Gold combined:

• Up to $200 in Uber Cash ($15 monthly plus a $20 annual bonus) linked to the Amex Platinum

• Up to $120 in Uber Cash ($10 monthly) attached to the Amex Gold

*Terms apply to each of these American Express card benefits; many also necessitate prior enrollment. Always check your card’s specifications and your online account for specific benefit offerings.
**You will need the latest Uber app to access this benefit, and your eligible American Express Platinum Card or American Express Gold Card must be set as the payment method. This benefit is only available within the U.S.

The Amex trifecta provides substantial potential value, although effectively strategizing your purchases is essential.

Many of the featured cards come with annual caps on top rewards categories; after those limits are met, earnings drop to 1x point per dollar spent in those categories. If you know you’re approaching a spending maximum, diligent tracking is essential for high annual spenders.

Also, track the various benefits, which can be complex but highly rewarding. Some refresh monthly, others semi-annually, or annually. Keeping tabs on your benefits via personal tracking or within the Amex app regularly is beneficial.

Maintain organization with your card statements and monthly bill payments as well; accruing interest on an unpaid card balance is detrimental to maximizing rewards. Being aware of due dates and monitoring your spending will enable you to make timely payments in full each month, helping you avoid fees and interest.

Related: A detailed overview of credit card benefits that reset every year

While these cards can yield substantial financial benefits on travel and various other expenses, they also carry a price tag:

The annual fee for the Platinum Card is $895 (view rates & fees), the Amex Gold has a $325 annual fee (view rates & fees), and the Blue Business Plus (view rates & fees) carries no annual fee. Together, this totals $1,220 in annual fees for the trio of cards.

Regardless of your budget, committing to $1,200 in annual fees is substantial. Frequent travelers who spend significantly in relevant reward categories might offset costs, but it’s prudent to evaluate your potential value against your spending habits prior to applying.

Related: Are credit cards with annual fees justifiable?

• Outstanding welcome bonuses: Each card presents enticing welcome bonuses designed for new users. Timing your applications to meet required spending thresholds occurs within designated periods (without overspending) and helps minimize impacts on your credit score.

• Abundant point opportunities: With the Amex trifecta, increasing your point totals across various spending categories is very attainable. When it’s time for redemption, options abound within the Membership Rewards program—whether booking through AmexTravel.com or transferring points to travel partners.

• High annual fees: The fees attached to the Amex trifecta are steep. While it’s feasible to recoup some costs through rewards and perks, you’ll still incur significant yearly expenses to maintain these cards. Analyze your spending and travel habits before applying to verify whether this card arrangement suits your needs.

• Alternative card combinations might be superior: The Amex trifecta is not your only possibility for efficiently pairing rewards cards to elevate your points earnings. If the rewards categories and benefits don’t resonate with your spending or travel habits, consider a different card grouping better tailored to your financial objectives.

Related: How to maximize the benefits of the Chase trifecta

Utilizing the Amex trifecta can be an excellent option for those who value American Express Membership Rewards. By strategically harnessing various reward categories and benefits, you can enhance points accumulation and save on expenses both domestically and internationally.

Before diving into this card strategy, assess whether it aligns with your travel patterns. If you don’t leverage the services encompassed in the cards’ annual benefits or prefer booking options beyond those eligible for bonus rewards, you might find better alternatives.

Additionally, keep in mind that one card from this trifecta is a business-focused card, which may present qualification challenges if irrelevant to you.

If you prefer an all-consumer trifecta, substituting the Blue Business Plus with the American Express® Green Card could be a viable pathway. While it might not provide the same versatility as the Blue Business Plus, the Green Card diversifies your point accumulation with 3x points on transit (including taxis, rideshares, tolls, parking, buses, etc.) alongside an additional annual credit for Clear Plus membership (up to $199 in statement credits, subject to auto-renewal).

Prior to applying for any new rewards card—or contemplating a trifecta like the Amex version—always evaluate your recurring spending habits and redemption patterns. By selecting the right cards to suit your budget and travel preferences, you can optimize your rewards both now and in the future.

Explore further rewards credit cards to embark on your journey.

This article was edited by Alicia Hahn

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article remains the sole opinion of Yahoo Finance and has not been scrutinized by any advertiser. Financial product specifics, including rates and fees, were accurate as of publication and may evolve. While all services are presented without warranty, please consult the respective banks for the most current information. This site may not display all available offers, and credit scores alone don’t guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.