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- American Express and Panera have launched a new promotion, and all US cardholders are eligible.
- When you enroll with your Amex card, you'll get free drip hot coffee, iced coffee, hot tea, fountain soda, bubbler drink, or Charged Lemonade for four months.
- A Panera Unlimited Sip Club subscription normally costs $11.99 plus tax per month.
- Read Insider's guide to the best rewards credit cards.
It always feels good to get big discounts or freebies just for having a credit card, and right now American Express and Panera are offering a promotion that can get you a complimentary Unlimited Sip Club subscription for four months.
With an Unlimited Sip Club membership, you can get a free drip hot coffee, iced coffee, hot tea, fountain soda, bubbler drink, or Charged Lemonade — in any size — once every two hours, with unlimited refills while you're in the store. If you're a US personal or small-business Amex cardholder and have a MyPanera account (it's easy to set one up if you don't), you can sign up for a free Unlimited Sip Club subscription at this link.
There are a few restrictions and caveats to keep in mind, though. Here's what to know about this deal.
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Free drinks for Amex cardholders at Panera
American Express® Gold Card Apply now lock icon An icon in the shape of lock. On American Express's website Rates & Fees
Insider’s Rating Info icon Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals. A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection. PerksAnnual Fee Info icon See Rates and Fees$250
Intro APRN/A
Regular APRSee Pay Over Time APR
Intro Offer Info icon 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membershipEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points
Recommended CreditGood to Excellent
Pros- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Great rewards for dining and for shopping at US supermarkets
- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
- con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Underwhelming welcome bonus
Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.
Amex Gold Card Product Details- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
A Panera Unlimited Sip Club subscription normally costs $11.99 a month (plus tax), but when you enroll with your Amex card, you'll get it complimentary for four months. You'll need to visit this link and enter your Amex account credentials, then you'll be prompted to sign in to your MyPanera account. Then, you'll be asked to enter your Amex card number to activate the promotion.
To participate in the deal, you must be at least 18 years old and not be a current Unlimited Sip Club subscriber. If you participated in last year's offer, but don't subscribe anymore, you can still take advantage of the current promotion.
Enrollment is required by December 31, 2022 — and after four months of membership, your card will be charged the monthly fee unless you cancel beforehand (so make sure you set a calendar reminder if you don't intend to continue the subscription).
The types of eligible free drinks with this subscription have been expanded since last year. Hot and iced coffee, hot tea, fountain sodas, bubbler drinks, and Charged Lemonades are included, and you can order any size with unlimited refills while you're in the café — otherwise, you can get a free drink every two hours. According to the Panera website, the list of drink options includes:
- Iced 100% Colombian dark roast coffee
- 100% Colombian dark roast coffee
- Hazelnut coffee
- Cafe blend light roast
- Decaf coffee
- Hot tea (British Breakfast, Honey Ginseng, Mango Tea, Earl Grey, Ginger Peach, Orange Ginger Mint)
- Iced tea
- Passion Papaya iced green tea
- Agave lemonade
- Brisk raspberry iced tea
- Strawberry lemon mint Charged Lemonade
- Fuji apple cranberry Charged Lemonade
- Mango yuzu citrus Charged Lemonade
- Fountain drinks (Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Bubly Lime, Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist, Canada Dry Ginger Ale)
Additions like milk, skim milk, almond milk, half and half, and sweeteners are free, too, but for extras like fancy syrups or espresso shots, you'll have to pay an upcharge. Bottled beverages, smoothies, frozen blended drinks, cold brew iced coffee, and espresso and cappuccino beverages aren't included in the deal, either.
This perk could translate into a nice little savings for those who frequent Panera often or have a location close to home or work. Being able to nip in for a free coffee, tea, or cold drink whenever you want is handy; just be sure to use a card that earns bonus rewards at restaurants — like the American Express® Gold Card — if you end up buying a sandwich or sweet treat while you're there.
Jasmin Baron Editor Jasmin Baron was an editor at Insider, responsible for credit card coverage on Personal Finance Insider. Before joining the Insider team, she was a senior editor at The Points Guy and Million Mile Secrets, covering credit cards, points and miles, and loyalty programs. Her expertise in maximizing travel rewards grew from over two decades of experience in the aviation industry, including 18 years working as a pilot and flight instructor in her native Canada. Learn more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services » Read more Read lessFor rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
**Enrollment required.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
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