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Amex Resy Credit Is Changing in August 2026: What Cardholders Need to Know
July 1, 2025
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If you carry the American Express® Gold Card or American Express Platinum Card®, one of their most useful perks is about to change. The details are still murky, but the deadline isn't: August 1, 2026.
Starting then, the Resy dining credit on both cards works differently. Whether it's a minor tweak or a real devaluation depends on details Amex hasn't fully shared yet. Here's what we know, what it means for your card, and what to do now.
What's Changing With the Amex Resy Credit?
American Express recently added this notice to cardmember statements:
U.S. restaurants and other food and beverage establishments must be indicated as eligible for the Resy Credit on the Resy website or the Resy app at the time of purchase to qualify for the benefit.
In plain English: not every Resy restaurant will count toward your credit anymore. Only restaurants specifically marked as eligible on the Resy platform will qualify going forward, and that list "is subject to change at any time."
Right now, if a restaurant uses Resy for reservations, your dining credit applies there. After August 1, the restaurant has to be on an approved list.
Why Is This Happening?
Amex hasn't made an official announcement, but two explanations are circulating:
The optimistic take: it's a Tock thing. Amex acquired Tock (a competing reservation platform) and is integrating it into Resy. It's possible Amex simply doesn't want newly added Tock restaurants to automatically count toward the credit, keeping the benefit limited to legacy Resy restaurants. That would be a contained change.
The concerning take: it's about money. Most premium card perks have shifted to a merchant-funded model, where brands pay to be included on the eligible list. Amex may be moving Resy in that direction. If so, only restaurants that opt in (and pay a fee) would show up as eligible. That could shrink the qualifying pool significantly, especially outside major cities.
The language "subject to change at any time" doesn't inspire confidence that the list will stay broad.
How Much Is the Resy Credit Worth?
Here's what's at stake on each card:
Amex Platinum Card
- Up to $200 in Resy credits per year (currently $100/quarter after the recent card refresh)
- Annual fee: $695
Amex Gold Card
- Up to $100 in Resy credits per year ($50 semi-annually)
- Annual fee: $325
For cardholders who actually use this credit, it's one of the easiest perks to get full value from. Go to a nice dinner, credit applies, done. No shipping minimums, no specific airline, no expiring gift cards. That simplicity is exactly what makes any restriction here worth paying attention to.
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Is Your Amex Card Still Worth It After This Change?
It depends on how restrictive the new eligible list turns out to be.
If the change is modest, mostly filtering out Tock restaurants that haven't been on Resy long, the impact will be minimal. The core Resy network in major U.S. cities is large, and the credit would still be easy to use.
If the change is significant and the eligible list shrinks to only restaurants that have paid to be included, that's a different story. Cardholders outside major cities already have fewer Resy options. A pay-to-play model would make that worse. Add that to recent changes like the end of United TravelBank credits, reduced Emirates transfer rates, and the loss of Saks credits, and the cards get harder to justify for anyone outside a narrow use case.
Don't cancel anything yet. Wait to see what the actual list looks like in August. But do take action before then.
What to Do Before August 1
1. Use your Q3 credit now. If your quarterly Resy credit is available, use it before August 1 while the current rules still apply. No reason to wait and see how the new list shakes out.
2. Check which restaurants near you are currently eligible. Log into Resy while connected to your Amex account. Eligible restaurant booking pages show a note that says "this venue currently qualifies for the Resy Credit." Check your regular spots now so you know what changes after August 1.
3. Track it in Kudos. Kudos surfaces your available credits and eligible spending so you always know what you have left and where to use it. That matters even more when the rules around a benefit are in flux.
4. Do a fresh benefit audit in August. Once the new eligible list is live, run the numbers on whether your annual fee still makes sense. Kudos's card comparison tools make it easy to see which cards are still earning their keep.
The Bigger Picture
This change is part of a pattern. Premium credit cards keep adding credits on paper while quietly making them harder to use in practice. Credits get merchant-restricted. Lounge access gets capped. Transfer partners disappear.
The cards can still be worth it, but only if you're paying attention. Kudos exists to help with exactly that: making sure the right card gets used at the right time, and that credits don't expire unused.
Bottom Line
Starting August 1, 2026, the Amex Resy dining credit will only apply at restaurants specifically marked as eligible on the Resy platform. How big a deal this turns out to be depends on how generous that list is. Use your credits now, check your favorite restaurants while the current rules still apply, and watch for Amex's full announcement in the coming weeks.
We'll update this post when more details are available.
Kudos tracks your card credits automatically and tells you which card to use at checkout. Try it free.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level vary by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
