American Express U.S. card members can now use Membership Rewards points on everyday purchases by redeeming them directly inside Apple Pay's checkout flow.
The feature, called "Use Pay with Points with Apple Pay," works for online and in-app purchases on iPhone and iPad, the company said in a Tuesday press release. Eligible card members select Apple Pay at checkout, choose an Amex Membership Rewards card, tap "Use Rewards," enter the amount to apply, and complete the transaction. Points can cover all or part of the purchase.
"Card Members want rewards that fit naturally into how they shop and spend," Lisa Kalhans, executive vice president of U.S. Consumer Cards at American Express, said in the release. "With this launch, we're making it easier than ever for Card Members to use Membership Rewards points on the purchases they make every day."
Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet at Apple, said users want choices when shopping online and that the partnership gives them a new way to redeem rewards. "The feature makes it incredibly simple and convenient to use points with the seamless, secure experience users know and love from Apple Pay," Bailey said.
The move follows Amex's April first-quarter earnings, where the company reported steady gains in card spending and broad engagement across categories. In May, Amex deepened its sports-and-loyalty push by partnering with Fanatics on a co-branded credit card and sports-focused rewards options.
A PYMNTS Intelligence report found that consumers rank convenience as important as the reward itself, and that making incentives easy to access matters. Amex's Alpha Score sits at 52 out of 100, a Mixed rating, according to AlphaScala's proprietary scoring.
The integration removes a step from the rewards-redemption process. Instead of logging into an Amex portal to convert points to statement credits, users apply them at the same moment they tap to pay. That friction reduction is the core of the pitch: the reward becomes part of the purchase decision, not a separate chore.
For Amex, the play is about share of wallet. Points that sit unused are a liability on the balance sheet and a retention risk. Points that flow through Apple Pay become a habit. For Apple, deeper Amex integration strengthens the argument that Apple Pay is a payment platform, not just a pass-through for card networks.
The feature is live now for eligible U.S. card members. No date was given for international expansion.
