Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

3,000 Membership Rewards points for Amex Plat holders if they add the Platinum Credit Card

Links on Head for Points may support the site by paying a commission.  See here for all partner links.

Yesterday, a few people found a leaflet on their doormat from American Express entitled “Introducing The Perfect Companion To Your Platinum Card“.

Basically – and for reasons which are not fully clear to me – Amex would like Platinum charge card holders to apply for the Platinum credit card.  And they will give you 3,000 Membership Rewards points if you do.

The deal is very simple:

  • You need to have an Amex Platinum charge card to apply
  • You must apply for the Platinum credit card via this website
  • You must spend £500 within three months to receive the 3,000 Membership Rewards points
  • On-going spend on the card earns 1 Membership Rewards point per £1
  • There is no annual fee for the Platinum credit card
  • You cannot keep the card if you cancel your Platinum charge card – you must retain both

It is also interesting to note that this card remains a secret card.  It has not been featured on the Amex website for some years.  Interestingly, I know of someone who asked about this card recently when cancelling his Platinum charge card and was told that it no longer existed!

The obvious question is whether you can apply for this card even if, like me, you didn’t get the mailshot from American Express.  My gut feeling is yes, as long as you do have the Platinum charge card.  (They ask for the number on the first page of the application form.)

All in all, I find this another odd strategic move by the boys and girls in Brighton.  Let’s see if this card becomes offered to the general public again.

Want to earn more points from credit cards? – April 2024 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus card

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

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

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

15,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend 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:

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 12th May 2024, the Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa card is offering a bonus of 30,000 points, convertible into 30,000 Avios. You must have a Limited Company to apply. Click here to learn more and click here to apply.

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

American Express Business Platinum

40,000 points sign-up bonus and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

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

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

Huge 30,000 points bonus until 12th May 2024 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 Business Credit Card

1% cashback uncapped* on all your business spending (T&C apply) Read our full review

Category

American Express Membership Rewards, American Express Platinum card

Comments (13)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Paul says:
    10 Mar10 March 07:38

    I must not be in the right clan of secret squirrels. I didn’t get this offer. I did however get a offer for 5000 membership reward points for 2.5k spend in 3 months. I guessed it was cause my platinum card was being used as much as it used

    • Thomas says:
      10 Mar10 March 08:27

      Like Paul I didnt get the offer in the main article but basically the “2 MR per £” offer instead. Would be interesting to understand how these offers are derived as my spend is high on the platinum card so should be “free” points. Interestingly you have to “register” for this offer which doesnt make much sense – you click the link and “agree” to register, no drawbacks or anything and no other stipulations.

      • Peter says:
        10 Mar10 March 12:15

        Guess it’s marketing reasons. There’s no point giving people extra benefits if they don’t know they are there as it won’t necessarily work through to enhanced brand positiveness or whatever they measure. Registering will also record just how many people are responding to emails etc to prove campaign effectiveness.

        BMI used to do this regularly for their bonus offers too – you can to click through to register.

  • Colin MacKinnon says:
    10 Mar10 March 08:27

    I have one of these from a previous offer.
    Called to cancel my Platinum Charge, as you suggest, and was told that “you can only have the Plat CC if you also hold a Plat Charge”.
    Oh well. £15 to transfer points to wife’s new Plat Charge

    • Rob says:
      10 Mar10 March 09:07

      Interesting. The terms and conditions of the card don’t seem to say that for this offer.

    • Trevor says:
      11 Mar11 March 13:42

      I called this morning to cancel my Platinum having received and distributed my bonus points. I queried the option of the Platinum Credit Card, and I too was told it is only available to those who hold the Plaitnum Charge card to allow credit purchases and payment spreading. Too bad, cos that would have been an exciting option.

  • Mottelgamzol says:
    10 Mar10 March 08:33

    I know there’s no sign up bonus now, but can u recommend another plat and receive the bonus using this card. Also can u keep it even I’d you’ve cancelled the charge card?

  • Alan says:
    10 Mar10 March 10:32

    No leaflet yet for me but have applied anyway – awaiting a decision. Seems churlish to turn down 3k MR points for nothing and handy to have the card whilst they’re offering it in case I cancel Plat at a future date. Also presumably will also be 4sq eligible…

    Haven’t received any email MR offers (I did get one towards the end of last year).

  • Kim H says:
    10 Mar10 March 12:14

    I am a Gold card holder and was offered this when I called Amex about something else in January. Exactly the same deal – spend £500 and get 3k points. I wa a bit loath to stop spending on my Gold and get 2x or 3x in some places, but have rationalised that I will get more points overall with the bonus.

    Not sure yet whether I’ll keep it as I have more cards than I want, let alone Amex variants. But for now its very handy for 4sq and I hang on to it and try cancelling my Gold later this year- after all, I never had the ‘required’ Plat in the first place…

  • Rob says:
    10 Mar10 March 20:41

    You can ring and see … difficult to know what the criteria are, given that the card is not being advertised openly.

  • gnarlyoldgoatdude says:
    10 Mar10 March 20:55

    I received the offer, and mentioned it on FlyerTalk. However, I’m not going to take them up on it. The benefit is 3000 bonus points for a 500 pound spend. The downside (I assume) is a hit to my credit history.
    If I want another credit card, it wouldn’t be for just 3000 points. I’d be looking through Raffles’ list instead.

  • Trevor says:
    11 Mar11 March 13:44

    Why ‘convert’ rather than apply/cancel, and why not wait until there is a signup bonus again? If you’ve had the cashabck card for a while anyway, little to lose by waiting a bit longer and potentially a lot more to gain with a clean application when a bonus is available. Seems silly to throw away that opportunity.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

New to Head for Points?

Welcome!  We’re the UK’s most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Let us improve how you travel. Got any questions? Ask them in our forums.

Latest Forum Posts

Get 40,000 bonus points (worth 40,000 Avios) and £300 dining credit with The Platinum Card

Check reward flight availability instantly for free!

See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Get £10 when you spend £150 on your free Currensea card

Booking a luxury hotel?

Our luxury hotel booking service offers you GUARANTEED extra benefits over booking direct. Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. We've booked £1.7 million of rooms to date. Click for details.

SME? EARN POINTS WORTH 10,500 AVIOS WITH CAPITAL ON TAP

Get 20,000 bonus points, four airport lounge passes and your first year free with American Express Gold

The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. Our privacy policy is here.

Got it!