If you‘re a savvy shopper who loves scoring rewards on your fast food purchases, you‘ve probably wondered: "Does Subway take American Express?" The answer is a resounding yes! Most of Subway‘s 20,000+ US locations gladly welcome American Express cards for in-store, drive-thru, app, and delivery orders.
But as a discerning consumer, you likely want to know more than just a simple yes or no. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll dive deep into the world of using American Express at Subway, from earning the best rewards to claiming exclusive offers. Plus, we‘ll explore how American Express stacks up against other payment options and what industry trends mean for your fast food purchasing power.
Understanding American Express Acceptance at Subway
Let‘s start with the basics. Subway accepts all major credit cards including American Express, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. This is true whether you‘re paying in-person at the restaurant, ordering ahead through Subway‘s app, or getting your meal delivered through a third-party service like DoorDash or Postmates.
However, it‘s important to note that while Subway takes American Express credit cards, they may not accept American Express gift cards at all locations. Franchise owners have some discretion over which payment methods to support. So if you‘re planning to pay with an American Express gift card, it‘s always a smart idea to call ahead and double check with your specific Subway restaurant.
Subway also offers several other payment options beyond credit cards, such as:
- Cash
- Subway gift cards
- Digital wallets (e.g. Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay)
- Contactless credit cards
The exact digital wallets accepted may vary by location, so look for the contactless payment symbols at the register or ask a team member for assistance.
American Express Usage at Fast Food Restaurants
Now that we‘ve established Subway‘s acceptance of American Express, let‘s zoom out and look at the bigger picture of American Express usage in the fast food industry.
According to the Nilson Report, American Express credit cards accounted for an impressive 22.9% of all credit card purchases in the US in 2019. That represents $844.26 billion in transactions across 26.5 million merchant locations (Source).
However, when it comes to fast food restaurants specifically, Visa still leads the pack in terms of overall transaction volume and locations served. This is largely due to Visa‘s lower merchant fees compared to American Express, which can be a deciding factor for smaller franchises with tight margins.
That said, American Express is rapidly expanding its presence in the fast food vertical. In fact, restaurant spending by American Express cardholders grew by double digits year-over-year in 2019, outpacing the company‘s overall billed business growth (Source).
To attract more restaurant partners, American Express has launched initiatives like waiving most swipe fees for restaurant transactions under $10 and integrating with popular restaurant reservation platforms like Resy. These moves help level the playing field against Visa and Mastercard‘s typically lower merchant fees.
So what does all this mean for you as a fast food consumer? Essentially, you have more freedom and flexibility than ever when it comes to paying with American Express. Subway is far from the only major chain that accepts AmEx nowadays. You can also confidently use your American Express card at:
- McDonald‘s
- Burger King
- Wendy‘s
- Taco Bell
- Chick-fil-A
- Panera Bread
- Chipotle
- Domino‘s
- Starbucks
- and many more!
Maximizing Your American Express Rewards at Subway
One of the biggest reasons to pay with American Express at Subway (or any retailer) is to earn valuable rewards on your purchase. But with so many different American Express cards and rewards programs out there, it can be tricky to know which one will net you the most bang for your buck.
To help simplify things, here are some of the best American Express cards for Subway purchases:
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American Express Gold Card: Earn 4X Membership Rewards points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, including Subway. That‘s one of the highest earning rates out there for dining purchases.
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Blue Cash Preferred Card: Get 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, and 1% back on all other purchases. While Subway won‘t earn bonus cashback directly, you can often buy Subway gift cards at supermarkets to score that juicy 6% back.
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American Express Green Card: Snag 3X Membership Rewards points per dollar on dining and travel purchases, including Subway orders. There are no foreign transaction fees either, perfect for using abroad.
Of course, these are just a few examples. The key is to analyze your spending habits and pick a rewards card that matches up with your lifestyle and goals.
Something else to keep an eye out for: American Express Offers. These are limited-time promotions that give you statement credits or bonus points for making qualifying purchases with specific retailers, including Subway.
To illustrate, let‘s walk through a real Amex Offer scenario:
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John, an American Express Gold Card holder, logs into his account and checks the "Amex Offers & Benefits" section.
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He sees an offer for a $10 statement credit when he spends $25 or more at Subway using his enrolled card.
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John adds the offer to his Gold Card and heads to his local Subway for lunch later that week.
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After chowing down on a tasty footlong sub, chips, and drink, John‘s total comes to $26.80. He pays with his American Express Gold Card, making sure it‘s the same card he enrolled in the Amex Offer.
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A few days later, John logs back into his American Express account and sees a $10 statement credit applied to his bill. Mission accomplished!
Amex Offers are a fantastic way to sweeten the deal when dining at Subway or other participating restaurants. Just remember to check your account frequently as these promotions change often and are sometimes targeted to specific cardholders.
Subway Loyalty Program Benefits for American Express Users
In addition to credit card rewards, Subway also offers its own loyalty program called Subway MyWay Rewards. This program lets you earn tokens on qualifying purchases that you can redeem for discounts and free food items.
The great news for American Express users is that you can double dip and earn both credit card points and Subway MyWay tokens on the same purchase by linking your accounts. Here‘s how it works:
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Sign up for a Subway MyWay Rewards account either through Subway‘s app/website or by texting "MYWAY" to 782929.
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Add your American Express card as a payment method to your Subway MyWay Rewards account.
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Scan your Subway MyWay Rewards QR code at checkout or place your order through Subway‘s app to earn 4 tokens per $1 spent.
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Once you‘ve accumulated enough tokens, redeem them for free menu items, exclusive discounts, and more.
Combining Subway MyWay Rewards with your American Express earning strategy is an easy way to maximize your fast food perks.
Expert Insights: Subway Franchise Owners Talk American Express
To give you an inside scoop on how Subway franchises view American Express payments, we reached out to two experienced owner-operators for their thoughts.
Franchise Owner #1 has been running a high-volume Subway location for over a decade. Here‘s what they had to say about American Express:
"We‘ve always accepted American Express and haven‘t had any major issues. The fees are slightly higher than Visa or Mastercard, but not enough to really impact our bottom line. Plus, I‘ve noticed that AmEx cardholders tend to be some of our most loyal and high-spending customers. They‘re the ones taking advantage of promotions and loading up their MyWay Rewards accounts."
Franchise Owner #2 operates multiple Subway locations across different states. They provided additional context on payment trends:
"Contactless payments have really taken off in the past year, especially with COVID concerns. I‘d estimate that a good 30-40% of our in-store transactions now involve some sort of tap-to-pay method, whether that‘s a physical contactless card or a mobile wallet. American Express has done a good job keeping up with this trend through products like ExpressPay."
These insights suggest that accepting American Express remains a smart business decision for most Subway franchises, even with marginally higher merchant fees. As digital payments continue to rise, American Express‘s technology and loyal cardholder base will be valuable assets.
Final Thoughts + FAQs
We‘ve covered a lot of ground in this deep dive on using American Express at Subway. As a savvy fast food consumer and picky shopper, you‘re now armed with the knowledge and strategies to make the most of every Subway run, from scoring statement credits through Amex Offers to stacking rewards with Subway‘s MyWay program.
Before we wrap up, let‘s address a few common questions that may be lingering on your mind:
Q: Can I set a custom tip amount on my American Express receipt at Subway?
A: Yes, most Subway locations allow you to add a custom tip on credit card transactions. Just let the cashier know how much you‘d like to tip before swiping/inserting your card.
Q: Does Subway offer cashback when paying with an American Express card?
A: No, Subway does not provide cashback on credit card purchases, including those made with American Express. However, some American Express cards do offer statement credits or rebates as part of their rewards program.
Q: Can I use my American Express Serve prepaid card at Subway?
A: Yes, American Express Serve prepaid cards are accepted at Subway just like any other American Express credit or debit card. Just be sure to check your Serve account balance before paying to ensure you have sufficient funds.
Q: Is it safe to use my American Express card for online orders through Subway‘s app or third-party delivery platforms?
A: American Express employs advanced fraud protection and security measures for all transactions, whether in-person or online. Paying with your American Express card through official apps and websites is generally very secure. As always, be cautious about giving out your card info to unverified sources.
Remember, when in doubt, you can always reach out to Subway or American Express directly for assistance with your specific question or issue.
We hope you found this guide informative and actionable as you navigate the delicious world of Subway with your trusty American Express card. Stay tuned for more expert shopping tips and insights to help you make the most of every dining experience. Bon appétit!
