Can you still receive referral bonus if referring existing Amex cardholder?

[RYX]

As the title says, can one still receive referral bonus if referring an existing amex cardholder to a different card than they already hold?

For example, if my partner currently has the amex gold card can I still refer her to the platinum card and receive the referral bonus for that? I know she would not be eligible for any sign up bonus (as per “Important Information” on Amex referral website) but I don’t see any mentions of the referral bonus eligibility when referring an existing amex cardholder? Thanks!

[NorthernLass]

You can still get a referral bonus as long as the other person is accepted for the card they apply for. However, I don’t know if you can hold gold and platinum MR at the same time 🤷‍♀️

Also, platinum is an expensive card to get if you’re not going to get a SUB!

[RYX]

NorthernLass wrote:

You can still get a referral bonus as long as the other person is accepted for the card they apply for. However, I don’t know if you can hold gold and platinum MR at the same time 🤷‍♀️

Also, platinum is an expensive card to get if you’re not going to get a SUB!

Thanks, that’s great to know! From previous threads it seems holding both platinum and gold can be done (and can be worthwhile at least for the 1st free year of gold card given the effective 1.5MR per £1 spent). And yes the platinum was just an example, we’d probably try referring her to the BAPP card from my Platinum card link to maximise the referral bonus and she would refer me to the gold card for the better MR accrual rate.

[BBbetter]

Yes, you will receive referral bonus. You are correct that your partner will not receive sign up bonus.

[Retron]

I referred my friend for a BAPP several months back, and he already had a regular BA Amex.

Didn’t receive anything.

I guess the rules are that if the person being referred qualifies for a bonus, you as the referer get points – otherwise nothing.

[JDB]

Retron wrote:

I referred my friend for a BAPP several months back, and he already had a regular BA Amex.

Didn’t receive anything.

I guess the rules are that if the person being referred qualifies for a bonus, you as the referer get points – otherwise nothing.

That is a position Amex has adopted from time to time. Trouble is that there’s not much one can do about it when Amex refuses to pay on these grounds. It is implicit that referrals are intended to be for new customers as defined by Amex, so although Amex does sometimes seem to pay referrals when no welcome bonus is due, if they don’t there shouldn’t be any great surprise. Quite a few recent FOS decisions on referrals including one from a Mr F who complained he didn’t have the option to refer anyone from his Plat card and sought compensation for this lost benefit. Not upheld.

[Wally1976]

I guess there’s a slim chance they won’t pay out the referral points – and you wouldn’t have much cause for complaint – but I’ve done literally dozens of referrals for existing Amex customers without problem.

[NorthernLass]

If someone has the free BA Amex, changing to the BAPP would be classed as an upgrade, I presume, rather than a new card, and would therefore not qualify for a referral bonus?