Help on how to use American Express points via checkout!

joshhbowenn

Hi all, I have 48,000 points on my American Express card which I would like to use. I was thinking of using it online on Asda to buy a gift card, to then use the gift card for my weekly shopping and then pocket the cash saved from not using my “actual money” from my account. 

I have never done the process of points redemption before and hoping someone has. I am cautious of going through checkout, doing something wrong and then forking out £200 and not using any points!! 

The instructions say: 

1. Check Out

Use your American Express® Card and complete checkout

2. Redeem Points

Select ‘View Points Options’ on SafeKey screen after checkout to begin redemption. 

What is the SafeKey screen? And does it come up every time you use your Amex card online or do I need to prompt it somehow? 

Thank you!

denow

Isn't SafeKey the AMEX app popup to authorise the payment with the retailer?

I imagine at that stage of the transaction you have the option to use the points or charge it to the card.

DullGreyGuy

joshhbowenn said:

What is the SafeKey screen? And does it come up every time you use your Amex card online or do I need to prompt it somehow? 

It comes up most the time unless you have added the vendor to the safe merchant list in which case it appears more infrequently

Alternatively you can just make the transaction as normal then after the charge has cleared you can go in via either the app or online, select the transaction and then hit the Use Points button 

At £0.0045 per point its one of the lowest redemption methods though. 

dcfc67

very poor  redemption rate

joshhbowenn

DullGreyGuy said:

joshhbowenn said:

What is the SafeKey screen? And does it come up every time you use your Amex card online or do I need to prompt it somehow? 

It comes up most the time unless you have added the vendor to the safe merchant list in which case it appears more infrequently

Alternatively you can just make the transaction as normal then after the charge has cleared you can go in via either the app or online, select the transaction and then hit the Use Points button 

At £0.0045 per point its one of the lowest redemption methods though. 

Thanks! I found out about the using points after purchase option shortly after posting. 

What is the best way? I was going to purchase a gift card but I’m sure that is the same rate. 

DullGreyGuy

joshhbowenn said:

DullGreyGuy said:

joshhbowenn said:

What is the SafeKey screen? And does it come up every time you use your Amex card online or do I need to prompt it somehow? 

It comes up most the time unless you have added the vendor to the safe merchant list in which case it appears more infrequently

Alternatively you can just make the transaction as normal then after the charge has cleared you can go in via either the app or online, select the transaction and then hit the Use Points button 

At £0.0045 per point its one of the lowest redemption methods though. 

Thanks! I found out about the using points after purchase option shortly after posting. 

What is the best way? I was going to purchase a gift card but I’m sure that is the same rate. 

if you buy a gift card directly from AmEx Rewards its normally £0.005 per point so marginally better but range of options are limited 

Whats best is really down to what you like/appreciate, how many points you have etc. Most target getting a minimum of 0.5p or above per point. People who do best out of points are those that use them for airmiles and use those to book First or Business flights... have managed to get over £0.10 per point via that route (though its questionable if thats really what I saved given I'd never have paid for a First class flights without the points)

simongregson

If you want to use for effectively money off the best option is to transfer from Amex to BA avios, then to nectar points. I believe this equates to about 0.6p per point, assuming you would be able to use these in Sainsburys/Argos/Ebay.

spnego

Maybe dependant on the retailer but if i use my amex on amazon for example if you have any points on checkout you can choose to use them to apply a discount to whatever you are buying.