When I first started reading about Avios and points I knew that I had to have more means of collecting them. Only by travelling it will be very hard to do so, especially because I am price conscious and sticking to one loyalty programme can be very expensive.There are many credit cards out there, but as Muslims we have to be very careful how and what we use. Any card can be damaging if we use it in the wrong way, even our debits. We do not want to get involved with interest because as Muslims we know Islam prohibits this. And if we have a credit card we ALWAYS have to pay it off in FULL each month. It is very easy to get carried away and end up with bad debt. I certainly do not want this to happen to you or me. Don’t get me wrong credit cards are not all bad, they provide payment protection and I recommend you use a credit card when you buy something over £100. It is how we use the cards that can turn them into bad debt chasing us in this life and next.
When I started reading I got really disappointed, because as a Muslim I wanted to take advantage of what the travel world offers without getting into cards. Then I found out about the American express Gold charge card. This is not a credit card and you do not have a limit, you MUST pay every month in full and you do not get charge interest. It is free for the first year to use and has other great perks too, such as insurance, payment protection, travel insurance, double bonuses for daily essentials and more. American Express has been around for very long time and has excellent reputation and customer service. After reading for hours on blogs, small print and reviews I decided this card is an excellent offer.
My favourite benefits of Amex Gold:
- 20.000 points sign up bonus – 22.000 if I refer you which are enough for a flight for two in Europe even from regional airports
- Double points for supermarkets and petrol for the first year
- Points can be redeemed for travel with hotels and airlines – (Emirates, Etihad, BA, Virgin etc.)
- 2 complimentary airport lounge access- very useful if you are travelling with kids or night flights
- Travel and shopping protection
- Tickets and offers from American express-sometimes they have very good deals and money off
- Travel & inconvenience Insurance
- Global assist 24/7 if you need help while abroad
How we use this card
We use the card as a replacement of our debit cards. It gets paid every month in FULL from our debit card and we only spend within our budget and what we would normally have done. The good thing about this card is that you receive double points for your supermarket, travel, and petrol purchases for the first year. So we actually accumulate points faster as we need to eat and fill up the tank. 🙂
I find this card to be excellent value and for Muslims who do not want to get involved with interest this is a great card. There is no fee, no interest just use it as a debit card, pay it in FULL every month and you can travel the world in style. You can cancel anytime you want before your one year subscription runs out. To find more information about this card here. The sign up bonus is 20.000 points but if I refer you will receive 22.000 points (well worth it). If you want me to refer you please email me or comment below and I will be very happy to do so.
The Avios Habit
Muslim Travel Girl Reader
Salaam
JazakAllah khair for all the info and posts – I make a lot of dua Allah grants you even more ease and abundance in goodness and for your family too, you really are giving valuable information out and it’s greatly appreciated!
For the Amex Gold Card, how do we use it in the UK? Meaning, do we get any offers for using for our grocery, can we use it to pay rent do you think – in the little that I’ve read up on, it’s used more in the US but you’ve said you can refer for the UK only?
Also, do you have to earn a certain amount to be eligible – and for example if me and my husband travel together but only he is eligible as he is the higher earner, would you still recommend it – can we both enter the lounges if only he’s a member? You mentioned that you wished you got it as a student, so I’m hoping even if we are not high earners, it’s still possible to get some good deals with it?
One more thing, do you still recommend it if we plan to go on Umrah let’s say only once a year at the most – I.e. we are not regular vloggers/bloggers/ people who travel for business, but do want to plan a nice Umrah yearly and can spend the price of Premium Economy tickets at most but not more than that – business class tickets are just way too expensive for us.
I’m still reading everything I can on the site in case you’ve answered elsewhere but if you responded that’d be great!
Also can you please send me the referral link to get more points on the Amex card.
Many many thanks sister, may Allah reward you immensely. You’re doing an awesome job!
Wassalam
Muslim Travel Girl
Salams, you can get the Amex if you have an income of 25K a year in the UK. However, it is now a credit card and not a charge card. You can use it to buy everytday things and pay some non direct debit bills but of course pay it every month. I use this in a combination with my avios e-store shopping and other options. they have for example some nice cshback deals on places i normally shop like spend 10 get 5 back etc. it isn ot much but over the years ads up and check our my upgrade to business class post on how to use the poitns to ugprade.Let me know if you want to refer you for the card. happy to do so
Zarka Tariq
Assalam o Alaikum sister,
I have just recently started reading your articles on diy umrah and I am enjoying them very much. I’m finding all the information a bit overwhelming at the moment maybe because I’ve not dove a diy umrah before but I definitely want to give it a try In shaa Allaah. Jazaak Allah haira for all your advice and tips.
Please can you refer me for the Gold American Express charge card.
Wassalam
Feiruza
Salaam sister!
In order to get the AMEX card I have to have a credit score right? I don’t have any credit cards, what card do you recommend i have to build credit ?
Muslim Travel Girl
Yes you will need a credit score.
Enara
Salaam Elena,
Thanks a lot for the comprehensive explanation on using Amex in a halal way and all the benefits with it .
I just received my card
Would you please recommend so I can get extra points .
Much appreciated in advance
Muslim Travel Girl
unfortunately, you had to use the referral link prior to applying, now you cannot get the extra points.
TAHMED
Salam,
is the offer still valid for the amex? i am interested in signing up for it
jzk
Muslim Travel Girl
The offer on the Amex is now 6,000 points and it is a credit card. Still, you can sign up and receive extra bonus points.
zakia
hi,
so this card is nice to have only for the 1st year right ? i mean if we should pay after 1 year, there is no point to keep it, right ?
xx
Muslim Travel Girl
I will be updating the card as the reduced the offer, now I would say depending on your spending and travel plans. Yes you can get it for a year and it is great but the points you will receive got halved. So you will get two Europe tickets for example.
Feiruza
Salaam sister thank you for the info!
I live in the US, can I still use your referral link? The Currency its showing me is in euros
Muslim Travel Girl
Salams sis you need to use the US link sadly mine wont work.
Sajid
Great Post
Alhumdulillah
I managed to get £250 off Flights for 2 people for Umrah which included a stop over in Dubai too using Emirates, but you have to book using Amex Travel it came out to around £40 more expensive for 2 people compared to other Flight Comparison sight but with a lot of points accumulated it was worth it and also not to mention at the time i was booking Amex had a further £50 off if you spent £200 on flights!
Definitely recommend getting an Amex accumulate points for the year and use it for Spending
Highly recommended but important you don’t fall into accumulating interest!
Muslim Travel Girl
I am very happy that you managed a good saving Sajid. Definitely worth it if you can stay focused and avoid the interest. Well done.
Sara
Would you be able to recommend and I could still benefit from the 2000 extract bonus miles if I’m living in US?
Muslim Travel Girl
I cannot recommend you for a card in the US sadly. You can check some of the other Boardingarea members based in the US
Imran Ahmed
Assalamualaikum,
How can i apply for Amex card being citizen of India. Can you please give the full details.
Imran Ahmed
Muslim Travel Girl
you will need to be a UK permanent resident or living in the UK. If you are based in India you can apply for the Amex India directly.
Sara
Salams sister.
I would like to know , if after the first year of having the Amex card I decided to keep it for a second year , is the £140 charge interest?
Thank you.
Muslim Travel Girl
No, it is not interest, it is a service charge more like for the insurance for example or the benefits you receive.
Amina
What are the benefits of using this card abroad can you not use debit card so sorry I’ve never been abroad so this is all new to me
Muslim Travel Girl
Salams, with a debit card your cash is not protected. If something happens your bank is hardly going to be cooperative to return the cash. With credit cards, you have a limit and also by law you have money protections in place. Using a credit card or even a recharge card is so much better than a debit card. Today many hotels and rental places also want to secure the rooms / cars with credit card as with debit you cant “block” an amount. you have to remove the cash which is much more hassle.
Shyla
Assalaamu alaykum sister, I wanted some specific travel advice which I’m sure you can assist with In’shaa’Allah. Please could you kindly email me. Jazaak Allahu Khayran.
Muslim Travel Girl
I tried emailing you and bounced back
Naveed
Salam Elena,
If I cancel this card within my first 12 months will I be able to avail their advantage points or get it transferred to avios?
Thanks in anticipation
Muslim Travel Girl
Salams Naveed, Before you cancel your card just transfer the points out of your account and then cancel. Transferring shouldn’t take more than few days.
Zulkifli Ali
Salam Elena,
I am located in Singapore, are you able to refer me for the Amex Gold Card so I can enjoy the 22,000 points? this is my first Amex Card.
Muslim Travel Girl
Unfortunately, I can only refer for the card in the UK 🙁 Sorry about this. Just go ahead and get it in Singapore. Make sure they have the same terms and benefits beforehand.
sidiqua khan
Salaam.
I would like to apply for amex card but before that i would like to know, if there will be interest or subscription charge after one year of use.
Muslim Travel Girl
Salams Sidiqua,
there is a charge after a year of £140, however you can cancel before the year ends.
Elena