PYMNTS-MonitorEdge-May-2024

Amex’s 25-Year Membership Rewards Milestone Program

American Express is offering up some once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to its reward members.

Are you among those just dying to see Broadway’s newest smash hit “Hamilton?” Or trying to get tickets to Justin Bieber’s sold out July show at Madison Square Garden? Or maybe you’re just in the market for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, like having a private dinner next to Michelangelo’s David at the Galleria dell’Accademia in Italy or cruising around the Indonesian with a famous photographer?

American Express may have just made it easier for customers enrolled in its rewards program to do just that today (June 30) by unveiling its 25th Anniversary Collection for its rewards program, which allows members enrolled in the program to use their points to obtain many hard to find and one-of-a-kind items.

“Since we created the first credit card reward program in 1991, our card members have fueled millions of rewarding and extraordinary experiences with Membership Rewards points,” said Christopher Cracchiolo, VP Membership Rewards & Loyalty Benefits, American Express. “We’re thanking our card members by bringing together some of the most exclusive access we have, and opening up those experiences to card members on points.”

American Express also announced that it will be working with Make-A-Wish to grant 25 wishes this year, and is also allowing rewards members to use their own points to donate toward making someone else’s wishes come true.

Some of the exclusive rewards American Express is offering for redemption include a football autographed by NFL great Joe Montana, a weeklong sailing trip around the Indonesian archipelago with National Geographic photographer Laura Grier where you will “learn how to capture the beauty of the Indonesian Islands with your own lens” or a private cocktail lesson with an award-winning mixologist.

But some of these exclusive offerings don’t come cheap.

That week-long Indonesian islands cruise, estimated at a $190,000 value, will cost you 19,000,000 points to redeem, while that private dinner with Michelangelo’s David in Italy for two to 20 guests will cost you 6,500,000 points (an estimated dollar value of $65,000).

And those “Hamilton” tickets? They’ll run you 55,944 points, or the equivalent of $400.

The collection can be browsed and shopped by rewards members on American Express’ website.

PYMNTS-MonitorEdge-May-2024