An interesting quirk in the new American Express sign-up rules we missed, and other updates
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There has been a lot to digest about the new American Express sign-up bonus rules in the last few days. Apart from everything we have discussed so far – see here and here – there was something I missed.
For one group of people, getting a new American Express sign-up bonus just got easier.
These are people who currently have Amex Business Gold or Amex Business Platinum.
Why is life easier for Amex Business cardholders?
Under the old rules, all of the cards which offered Membership Rewards points (Green, Gold, Platinum, Business Gold, Business Platinum, Amex Rewards) were lumped together. If you had one of these cards, you couldn’t get a bonus on another one until you had cancelled it and waited six months.
Under the new rules, this family has been broken up. Instead, two new families have been created between the personal American Express cards and the small business American Express cards.
Let me explain what this means. Under the old rules, if you had a Business Gold or Business Platinum Amex card, you were blocked from getting the sign-up bonus on a personal Gold, Green, Platinum or Amex Rewards card.
This is no longer the case:
The rule for personal Gold, personal Green and Amex Rewards now says “I understand I will not be eligible for the Welcome Bonus award if I hold or have held any personal American Express Card in the past 24 months”. There is no mention of small business cards.
Similarly, the rule for personal Platinum now says “I understand I will not be eligible for any Welcome Bonus award if I hold or have held any personal Membership Rewards-enrolled American Express Cards in the past 24 months”. There is no mention of small business cards.
Which means in plain English ….
This means that if you have Amex Business Gold or Amex Business Platinum, you can now apply for Preferred Rewards Gold, The (personal) Platinum Card or the Amex Rewards Credit Card. The only caveat is whatever other personal Amex cards you have had in the last 24 months.
If you are an Amex Business Gold or Amex Business Platinum cardholder who has not held any personal Amex cards in the last 24 months, you can literally apply for any personal Amex card you want – immediately, with no need to close your Business card – and get the sign-up bonus. None of the bonus rules on personal cards make any reference to Small Business cards.
Note that this method does not work in reverse. The rules for applying for the Amex Business cards remain unchanged:
if you have had a personal Green, Gold, Platinum or Amex Rewards card, or a Business Gold or Business Platinum card, in the previous six months then you CANNOT get a sign-up bonus on Business Gold or Business Platinum
if you have NOT had a personal Green, Gold, Platinum or Amex Rewards card, or a Business Gold or Business Platinum card, in the previous six months then you CAN get a sign-up bonus on Business Gold or Business Platinum
You can learn more about Amex Business Gold in this HfP article. You can learn more about Amex Business Platinum in this article.
You obviously need to meet the American Express definitions of having a qualifying small business before you can apply, but these are relatively generous.
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Want to earn more points from credit cards? – September 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 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 Mastercard
Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review
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 14th October 2025, the sign-up bonus on The Platinum Card from American Express is increased to 80,000 Membership Rewards points. This would convert to 80,000 Avios! The spend target is changed to £10,000 within SIX months of approval. T&C apply. Click here to apply.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th October 2025, the sign-up bonus on the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card is doubled to 40,000 Membership Rewards points. This would convert to 40,000 Avios! The spend target is changed to £5,000 within SIX months of approval. T&C apply. Click here to apply.
The Platinum Card from American Express
80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card
Your best beginner’s card – 40,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review
British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card
30,000 Avios and the famous annual Companion Voucher voucher Read our full review
Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard
36,000 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 14th October 2025, the sign-up bonus on The American Express Business Platinum Card is increased to 120,000 Membership Rewards points. This would convert to 120,000 Avios! The spend target is changed to £12,000 within three months of approval. T&C apply. Click here to apply.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th October 2025, the sign-up bonus on The American Express Business Gold Card is TRIPLED to 60,000 Membership Rewards points. This would convert to 60,000 Avios! The spend target is changed to £6,000 within three months of approval. The card remains free for the first year. T&C apply. Click here to apply.
The American Express Business Platinum Card
120,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review
The American Express Business Gold Card
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 0.8 Avios per £1 Read our full review
British Airways American Express Accelerating Business Card
30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review
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