Clarifying the position with Amex Platinum and Amex Gold referral bonuses

It is clear from two emails I’ve received this week that (not surprisingly) people are getting totally confused about the constant changing of the referral rules for getting the sign-up bonuses on the American Express Platinum and American Express Gold charge cards.

I thought I would quickly run through the current position on both cards.  As I posted yesterday, the sign-up bonus on the ‘no fee for the first year’ Gold card is now back to 20,000 Membership Rewards points, so a reminder is timely.

American Express Platinum

Sign-up bonus when referred: 52,000 Membership Rewards points (= 52,000 Avios etc) when you spend £2,000 in the first three months

Sign-up bonus when applying directly: Nothing.

Card fee: £450, but you can cancel as soon as you have triggered the bonus for a pro-rata refund

Do I qualify for the bonus? You only qualify for the bonus if you do not have any Amex-issued Amex cards. You do NOT qualify if you hold a British Airways, SPG, Nectar, Gold, Green, Platinum Cashback, Costco or Harrods Amex. (If you have an Amex issued by MBNA, Lloyds or any other third party, then you are OK as these cards are not issued directly by Amex.)

If you do not qualify because you have one of the cards listed above, consider getting the card for your partner. Amex Plat looks for a household income of £40,000, so even a non-working spouse should qualify if you earn enough yourself.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Sign-up bonus when referred: 22,000 Membership Rewards points (= 22,000 Avios etc) when you spend £2,000 in the first three months

Sign -up bonus when applying directly: 20,000 Membership Rewards points.

Card fee: Free for the first year, then £125

Do I qualify for the bonus? You do not qualify for the bonus if you have an Amex Green or Platinum charge card (ie a card that gives Membership Rewards ponits) or have had such a card in the last six months.  There is also a £20,000 household income requirement.

How do I get a referral?

Funnily enough (!), I can help you with that if you do not know anyone who holds a Platinum or Gold card.  Drop me an email at rob [at] headforpoints.com together with your first and last names, e-mail address and the card you want referring for.

I receive a chunk of Membership Rewards points in return for referring you, all of which helps to offset the costs of running the site.

Want to earn more points from credit cards? – December 2021 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit or charge card, here are our November 2021 recommendations based on the current sign-up bonus. 

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the top current deals:

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up, no annual fee and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending ….. Read our full review

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the UK’s most valuable credit card perk – the 2-4-1 companion voucher Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Earning miles and points from small business cards

If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers.

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and free for a year Read our full review

American Express Business Platinum

40,000 points sign-up bonus and a long list of travel benefits Read our full review

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa

The most generous Avios Visa or Mastercard for a limited company Read our full review

For a non-American Express option, we also recommend the Barclaycard Select Cashback card for sole traders and small businesses. It is FREE and you receive 1% cashback on your spending:

Barclaycard Select Cashback Credit Card

1% cashback and no annual fee Read our full review