Source: The Points Guy
Summary
American Express has a one-welcome-bonus-per-lifetime policy, which means that cardholders can only earn a welcome offer on a specific card once. This policy applies to all Amex cards, including personal and business cards, and is intended to discourage applicants from applying for Amex cards solely for the welcome bonuses. Cardholders can still apply and get approved for a card without the welcome offer, but they will not be eligible for the bonus. Amex also has a welcome bonus qualification tool that alerts applicants if they are ineligible for a welcome offer.
Our Reading
The escape is carefully planned.
American Express offers rewards cards with generous welcome bonuses and valuable benefits, but with strict application and lifetime bonus restrictions. Cardholders can earn a welcome offer on personal and business cards of the same type, but not on the same card. Amex also has a family rule on personal Delta credit cards, and cardholders may not be eligible for a welcome offer if they have or have had a higher-tier card in the same family. The issuer’s one-bonus-per-lifetime rule was implemented to discourage applicants from applying for Amex cards solely for the welcome bonuses.
However, it’s not all bad news – cardholders can still apply and get approved for a card without the welcome offer, and Amex has a welcome bonus qualification tool to alert applicants if they are ineligible for a welcome offer. And, of course, there’s always the possibility of getting approved for a card with no lifetime language, which could mean that you’re eligible for the offer after all.
The American Express Gold Card and Amex Platinum are just two examples of cards that are affected by this rule. And, as always, it’s essential to track which Amex cards you have applied for in the past to ensure you’re eligible for a certain card’s welcome bonus.
So, the next time you’re considering applying for an American Express card, make sure to check the offer terms and look for the welcome bonus qualification tool to see if you’re eligible for the bonus. And remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry – take a screenshot before clicking apply, just in case.
After all, who doesn’t love a good welcome bonus?
