CHANGED: You now only have three months to trigger American Express sign-up bonuses
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Since the start of May, American Express had been giving people six months – rather than the usual three months – to hit the spending target required to earn the sign-up bonus on a new card.
This offer has now ended.
As of today, you will need to hit your spend target within three months.
This returns the rule to how it was before the start of the coronavirus lockdown. With consumer spending almost back to normal – Barclaycard data for July 2020 shows card spending was just 2.9% lower than July 2019 – American Express presumably feels that it no longer needs to make concessions.
Existing Amex cardholders are not impacted
If you have applied for an American Express card recently, you will still have six months to trigger your sign-up bonus.
The three month rule will only apply to new applications from today.
What are the American Express sign-up bonuses?
As a reminder, here are bonuses available on American Express personal cards:
The Platinum Card: 30,000 Membership Rewards points (=30,000 Avios) when you spend £4,000 in three months
Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card: 10,000 bonus Membership Rewards points (=10,000 Avios) when you spend £3,000 in three months
British Airways American Express Premium Plus Credit Card: 25,000 Avios when you spend £3,000 in three months
British Airways American Express Credit Card: 5,000 Avios when you spend £1,000 in three months
Nectar Credit Card: 20,000 Nectar points (= £100) when you spend £2,000 in three months
Marriott Bonvoy American Express Credit Card: 20,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (= 6,666 Avios) when you spend £3,000 in three months
The American Express Rewards Credit Card: 5,000 Membership Rewards points (=5,000 Avios) when you spend £2,000 in three months
Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card: 5% cashback on your purchases for three months (up to £100)
Platinum Cashback Credit Card: 5% cashback on your purchases for three months (up to £125)
On the Business cards:
The Gold Business Card: 20,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend £3,000 in three months
The Platinum Business Card: 40,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend £6,000 in three months
British Airways American Express Accelerating Business Credit Card: 2,200 On Business Points when you spend £3,000 in three months
We wrote a detailed article on ‘Which American Express sign-up bonuses do I qualify for?’ which you can find here.
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 Mastercard
Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review
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
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 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
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