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American Express backtracks on changes to Preferred Rewards Gold referral bonuses

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Yesterday we wrote about apparent changes to the referral bonus on American Express Preferred Rewards Gold and Gold Business charge cards.

Instead of receiving 22,000 Membership Rewards points on hitting the spend target, the rules had been changed to say that you had to wait five months to receive your bonus.

As soon as our story appeared, American Express changed their website.

The Preferred Rewards Gold referral rules (click here) now say, as they used to:

“Please note, bonus points will appear in two instalments of 2,000 and 20,000 and can take up to four weeks to be awarded to your Account.”

The Gold Business charge card has NOT changed back click here to see.  It still says:

“Please note, bonus points will appear in two instalments of 2,000 and 20,000. You will receive 2,000 points when you reach £1,000 spend – these points will appear on your fifth statement.”

It isn’t clear what is happening here.  Did someone at Amex make a mistake, or was a change rolled out early by mistake?  Only time will tell.


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 BA Amex American Express card

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 BA Premium Plus American Express Amex credit card

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

Nectar American Express

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

American Express Platinum card Amex

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

Amex Platinum Business American Express

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 card

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

Comments (94)

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

  • Jimbob says:

    OT – planning 20th wedding anniversary long weekend break in NY, budget reasonably generous, can anyone give me some personal recommendations for nice hotels?
    Thanks

    • Dan says:

      Really enjoyed soho house when we stayed there a couple of years back. This was the middle of a heatwave in June, so the rooftop pool was stupidly busy, great decor / rooms / dining options, and they come round every evening and make a pre-dinner cocktail in you room!

      Was about £400 per night if memory serves, which isn’t horrific for somewhere nice in Manhattan.

    • Rob says:

      Soho House (meatpacking) suite if summer.

    • Darren says:

      The Greenwich, The James and Crosby Street.

    • Darren says:

      If you need restaurant recs then Gramercy Tavern and Locande Verde are nice. Or Eleven Madison Park if it’s very special (pricey).

  • Dartmouth says:

    OT- Now that Airportr doesn’t pick up luggage for collection at Heathrow – I was looking to use Transferbags. Does anyone have any experience of using them? Or any alternative for the London area?

    • Reeferman says:

      Airport does still offer this service – coincidentally, I asked them just this week. They replied:
      QUOTE
      If you would like to do it yourself you would have to enter your flight details or a flight departing on the same day similar to yours on the website when making your booking and when the driver comes you can tell him you would like your bags to be reassigned meaning you will collect them at your departure terminal before your flight. Using this service you will not need to show driver your boarding pass as you will not be checking your bags onto a flight.
      UNQUOTE
      Obviously a ridiculous system – and I have no idea why the on-line booking option has been removed. I gather a booking can also be made via the phone.

      • Dartmouth says:

        That seems ridiculous. I was told absolutely not a few days ago. The reviews for Transferbags is absolutely shocking! Better go back to Airportr again!

        • Reeferman says:

          I totally agree – a crazy system. Regardless, I’ve made a booking and will see what happens. I’ve kept a copy of the “procedure” as sent by Airportr so if there’s an issue when they come to pick-up the bags, I hope it will be sorted.
          My booking is for 9th April – will report back.

  • Dartmouth says:

    I am due to fly on the 28th of March – will come back as well.

  • JS says:

    It is saying ‘PROMO’ is not a valid code for an £830 flight.

    Any reason why this is?

    • Rob says:

      No idea, as long as the flight starts in the UK. I assume full T&Cs are on Opodo, we didn’t get them.

  • Marta says:

    Can I self refer myself to Amex Gold Business if I have Amex Gold personal?

    • Rob says:

      You can’t get a Business bonus if you have a personal card. You may get the bonus yourself for making the referral.

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.