Amex and Apple Pay Enable Users to Pay With Points

American Express U.S. card members can now use their Membership Rewards points on everyday purchases by redeeming the points directly within Apple Pay’s checkout experience.

This capability is enabled by American Express’ new “Use Pay with Points with Apple Pay” feature, the company said in a Tuesday (June 30) press release.

Eligible card members can pay with points by shopping online or in apps on iPhone or iPad, selecting Apple Pay at checkout, choosing an eligible American Express Membership Rewards card, selecting “Use Rewards,” entering the amount to apply toward the eligible purchase, and completing the Apple Pay transaction, according to the release.

Points can be used to cover all or part of the purchase, per the release.

“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 in the release that users want choices when shopping online and that the partnership with American Express will provide 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 PYMNTS Intelligence report “Embedded Offers: The Billion-Dollar Opportunity Inside Recent Consumer Spending” found that consumers indicate that convenience is as important as the reward itself and that it’s important to make incentives easy to access.

American Express reported in April that during the first quarter, the company saw steady gains in card spending, broad engagement across categories and a custom base that continues to tilt younger.

In May, American Express expanded further into sports and loyalty with a new partnership that ties payments, rewards and fan engagement together. The company partnered with licensed sports merchandise company Fanatics to launch a co-branded credit card, add sports-focused rewards options and deepen its presence across Fanatics’ commerce and events ecosystem.