Welcome Bonus and Earnings Categories
The Amex Blue card is the basic Membership Rewards card available. You’ll earn one point per dollar on all purchases, which accrue in your common Membership Rewards account.
There’s no annual fee, unlike some of the other MR cards.
Bottom Line: Earn 2x points through the Amex Travel portal and 1x points everywhere else with the Amex Blue card.
Amex Blue Card Benefits: Travel Rewards
Being a card owner does not grant many additional benefits, but there are a few to mention.
First, owning a Membership Rewards card gives you access to the travel benefits of the program, which include earning 2x points in the travel portal.
You can also transfer the points you earn to Amex travel partners. This is probably the most important benefit, since travel partners can provide values of $0.02 and above per point.
Other Membership Rewards redemptions can be made as well, like paying for your travel with earned points, and several other redemption options that Amex MR offers.
Insurance Options With the Amex Blue Card
The card offers a few additional perks beyond just earning Membership Rewards points.
For the road warrior, you’ll get car rental insurance and a roadside assistance hotline. In order to get the rental insurance, you must decline the agency’s waiver.
In addition, you will have purchase and return protection if you have a damaged or stolen item, or one that you cannot return to the vendor.
Drawbacks of Using the Card
The drawbacks of the Amex Blue card are that it does not come with welcome bonuses or any bonus earning categories.
It is truly a basic, entry level card you can use to get started with Membership Rewards.