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Get 3,000 free Amex Membership Rewards points with the companion credit card

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If you currently have an American Express Preferred Rewards Gold or American Express Platinum charge card, you should be eligible for a special offer for five days only.

If you add the (free) Platinum credit card or (free) Gold credit card to your account, you will receive 3,000 Membership Rewards points.

To see this offer, you need to log in to the statement page on the American Express website, desktop or mobile version.  It is not on the American Express app.

Amex Gold credit card

You should see a banner ad at the top of the statement page together with a link to click to apply.  Most people appear to have it although I doubt everyone will see it.

The representative APR on both credit cards is 14.9% variable.

Why would you want this? Well, there is one good reason – you receive 3,000 Membership Rewards points for signing up.  As the Amex Gold or Amex Plat credit cards are free, you are getting points for literally nothing (except for, presumably, a ding on your credit report).

There isn’t much else to add:

You need to spend £500 in three months to receive the 3,000 Membership Rewards points

You will earn 1 Membership Rewards points for each £1 spent

There is no annual fee

In theory you must cancel your credit card if you cancel your Gold or Platinum charge card.

However, some people report that they are allowed to keep their credit card when cancelling the charge card.  There is no pattern as to why, but if Amex allows you to do this then you do not need to empty out your Membership Rewards account – although you won’t reset the six month clock on when you can reapply for a charge card until you do.

Is there much point to having this card for the long term?  No.

Fundamentally, Amex is encouraging you to run up debt that you cannot afford to instantly repay, otherwise you would use your charge card instead.  It will make your wallet thicker without adding any extra flexibility to how you spend, since it can’t be used anywhere where your Amex Gold or Platinum charge card isn’t already accepted.

If you DO pay interest on your credit card bill every month, then you do NOT want to be doing it on this card given the 14.9% interest rate.  There is only one low rate credit card which also offer points and that is the Tesco Clubcard Low Rate Mastercard.  This lets you earn Avios points or Virgin Flying Club miles, if you convert the Clubcard points, and has a market leading low interest rate of 5.9% variable.  You can apply for the Tesco Low Rate Mastercard here.

3,000 Membership Rewards points is worth having – that is 3,000 Avios or Virgin Flying Club miles.  Just don’t start running a balance on the card and paying 14.9% interest.

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best travel rewards credit cards

Want to earn more points from credit cards? – March 2025 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

Get 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.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

18,000 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 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to 120,000 points. You receive 80,000 points when you spend £12,000 within three months and a further 40,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Gold is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 60,000 points. You receive 40,000 points when you spend £6,000 within three months and a further 20,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.

American Express Business Platinum

Up to 120,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

Up to 60,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

Capital on Tap Visa

NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business

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

Category

American Express Gold card, American Express Membership Rewards, American Express Platinum card

Comments (93)

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

  • Sussex Bantam says:
    27 May27 May 05:13

    Not on mine 🙁

  • Sam wardill says:
    27 May27 May 06:12

    It does give you section 75 protection whereas a charge card doesn’t

    • Genghis says:
      27 May27 May 07:14

      I thought Amex have their own (and I’m sure I’ve heard better) scheme for charge cards? Never had to use it so cannot really comment

      • Rob says:
        27 May27 May 08:29

        Amex voluntarily does S75.

        • Northern Lad says:
          27 May27 May 13:17

          Section 75 covers you for consequential losses. Amex advised me (admittedly 2 years ago) that any claim did not cover more than expenditure i.e. doesn’t cover consequential loss. I did pay in full, so not sure if they meant cost of the goods or amount I actually spent on the Amex.

          • guesswho2000 says:
            27 May27 May 15:58

            The way around it being spend £1 on any credit card, then use whatever other means of payment to settle the balance.

  • Bill says:
    27 May27 May 06:23

    Hmmmm think I’ll pass, I’d rather not have that ‘ding’ on my credit report for 3000 points.

    • John says:
      27 May27 May 06:49

      There probably won’t be any “ding”, Amex has never credit checked me after my first ever Amex, and even so 1 search means nothing, do you apply for a new card every month or something?

      • Genghis says:
        27 May27 May 07:15

        +1. Not been checked by Amex for years

        • Alex W says:
          27 May27 May 11:46

          I’m sure Amex do check me because it always goes to a deferred decision. Maybe because I have moved house a lot. Never been declined though and my newest card, SPG, just arrived with a £15k limit!

          • John says:
            27 May27 May 20:38

            Actually, I usually get referred too, but no searches show up on my credit report

  • Vish says:
    27 May27 May 06:35

    OT

    I had a BAPP, got my 241 voucher, redeemed it then cancelled my BAPP. The actual redemption flight won’t take place until next year.

    This morning I have an email from BA congratulating me on spending 10k and as a result I have another 241.

    The only active cards I have at present are Amex Gold and SPG

    I have made a dummy booking using this 241 and all appears intact. Have also checked my flight for next year from my original 241, again all good

    Anyone else had this happen?

  • Stephen C says:
    27 May27 May 06:50

    One reason to keep it long term is to have an extra card to shop small with in December

    • Genghis says:
      27 May27 May 07:17

      Went back to Poppy’s last Friday and the waitress said, “you’re the guy that paid with seven cards last time aren’t you?..”

      • Evan says:
        27 May27 May 07:42

        I get that this is a points website and all but to be blunt being remembered by staff for that is not something to be proud of….

        • Genghis says:
          27 May27 May 07:53

          I’m certainly not proud of it. But I’m happy to share what I thought was quite a funny story and I’m sure others have had similar experiences. It gave my colleagues a good laugh too.

          • Volker says:
            27 May27 May 09:53

            My partner and I live in a remote area with no Tesco nearby. Just before the recent PayQwiq extra points promotion ran out, we made it to a Tesco again and you could see us split our shopping into eight visits to the till to make the most of the remaining extra points opportunities on our CC accounts. It’s just what dedicated miles collectors do 😀

          • TripRep says:
            27 May27 May 10:43

            I didn’t think it read like you were boasting. It actually sounds like you were slightly embarrassed​. I’m assuming that waitress got a tip for having a good dry sense of humour 😀

          • Genghis says:
            27 May27 May 10:46

            @Triprep. She did get a good tip. We had a laugh about it. And I paid the whole bill (naturally) and collected dues from my colleagues.

        • Mike says:
          27 May27 May 08:00

          This comment doesn’t bring anything to the table. He hasn’t committed a crime for gods sake He is a long standing member of this site and probably contributes more to it than any other individual. Nothing constructive to say, then don’t say it.

        • Peter K says:
          27 May27 May 08:24

          In a weird way, it is something to be pleased about. I’ve been noted as the guy who buys all the gift cards in the past. They might find you unusual but it’s not bad 🙂

          • Graeme says:
            27 May27 May 08:50

            Indeed. At my pre-football pub they say “Yes, we take Amex” as I approach the bar rather than “What can I get you?” as I never remember and ALWAYS ask.

            Aside from the obvious alcohol issue I can’t see anything to be ashamed of! There are worse things they could remember Genghis for…..

          • Genghis says:
            27 May27 May 09:05

            Alcohol? Cuppa tea with fish and chips all the way 🙂

        • Rob says:
          27 May27 May 08:31

          I like Poppy’s, was at the Spitalfields takeaway (which I never knew existed) last month.

    • Chris Palmer says:
      27 May27 May 07:18

      Good point.

    • mark2 says:
      27 May27 May 07:27

      True but many/most people would prefer the points to be received for churning Gold/Plat.
      I would and I am a big Shop Small fan, with 16 cards last year (now much fewer).

  • Mr(s) Entitled says:
    27 May27 May 07:25

    Underwhelming. I seem to recall a couple of years ago you could earn a slew of points for adding companion cards. Those were the days.

    • Peter K says:
      27 May27 May 08:28

      Companion cards yes, but the gold/platinum credit card, no. That was only ever 3k at best. For those who churn cards and work their way through the gold/plat, BA, Starwood, it’s an extra card to earn bonus points on.
      For those who don’t do that it’s still an easy 3k…easier than spending £3000!

      • Mr(s) Entitled says:
        27 May27 May 21:15

        Was it 3k? I seem to recall I got 5 companion cards and my wife then did the same. 10 x 3k and there was no requirement to ever spend on them. They went straight into the shredder. Happy days.

  • Justin says:
    27 May27 May 08:25

    When I logged into my amex account yesterday there was an ad prompting me to sign up for the companion card, despite the fact I already got one last month… do you think they will let me have 2? 🙂

    • Peter K says:
      27 May27 May 08:30

      I’d go for it. I once accidentally got a first companion bonus 3 times as the website was playing up and it seemed to not go through but had done and all 3 attempts have new the bonus. You’ve nothing to lose.

      • Brian says:
        27 May27 May 08:56

        Nothing to lose – apart from being charged the fee for a second companion card, I guess…

  • Stephan says:
    27 May27 May 08:30

    OT Can you change the address of your BA account to another country to get the currency in that country when booking reward flights ad the change back?

    • Rob says:
      27 May27 May 08:33

      Possibly but you can’t swap back to the UK for 6 months and your BA Amex points and voucher will not go across in that time!

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