Amex Platinum makes a permanent increase to its sign-up bonus – now 50,000 points
Links on Head for Points may support the site by paying a commission. See here for all partner links.
American Express Platinum quietly snuck out a change to its sign-up bonus yesterday.
The standard sign-up bonus has permanently increased from 40,000 Membership Rewards to 50,000 Membership Rewards points.
This would convert to 50,000 Avios amongst other things.
You could qualify for this bonus even if you have a British Airways American Express card.
The minimum spend required to trigger the bonus remains at £6,000 in your first three months.
The representative APR is 694.9% variable, including the annual fee. The representative APR on purchases is 30.0% variable.
Can you still get a pro-rata fee refund?
Yes, for now.
American Express continues to say (unofficially) that it will stop pro-rata fee refunds in ‘late 2024’. Given that we have been told that we will get a decent period of notice, it is possible that it doesn’t happen now – but I genuinely don’t know.
Would The Platinum Card still make sense without a pro-rata fee refund?
With the new 50,000 Membership Rewards points bonus, yes. Even if you have no intention of keeping the card beyond the first year, and even if pro-rata fee refunds do go away, you’d still get value for your £650.
In terms of hard ‘pseudo cash’ benefits, in year 1 you’d get:
- 50,000 Membership Rewards points (converts to 50,000 Avios) – which I’d value at £500 if you know how maximise your airline miles
- £150 UK dining credit to use by 31st December
- £150 international dining credit to use by 31st December
- £50 of Harvey Nichols credit to use by 31st December
…. plus whatever value you place on the other core benefits:
- the two Priority Pass airport lounge passes (valid for a group of four for unlimited visits)
- Hilton Honors Gold status
- Melia Rewards Gold status
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold status
- Radisson Rewards Premium status
- Eurostar lounge access
- the Fine Hotels & Resorts hotel booking scheme
- the travel insurance etc etc
What we DON’T know is if the £300 of annual dining credits and the £50 per half-year of Harvey Nichols credit will roll over into 2025. If they did, you’d be able to claim another £400 of credits in 2025 before your renewal came due.
I have my own opinion on what might happen but as this is a regulated credit product it’s best that I say nothing! You will definitely receive £150 of UK dining credit to use by 31st December, £150 of international dining credit to use by 31st December and £50 of Harvey Nichols credit to use by 31st December. This is guaranteed.
Our comprehensive review of The Platinum Card is here if you want to see the full list of benefits.
You can apply here.
PS. If you are not a regular Head for Points visitor, why not sign up for our FREE weekly or daily newsletters? They are full of the latest Avios, airline, hotel and credit card points news and will help you travel better. To join our 65,000 free subscribers, click the button below or visit this page of the site to find out more. Thank you.
Want to earn more points from credit cards? – April 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 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:
American Express Business Platinum
50,000 points when you sign-up 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 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
Michael Gell 
Rob 
LittleNick 
TGLoyalty 
Domo1915 
A270 
OF 
deborah 
S879 
Comments (71)