American Express Launches Their New Welcome Bonus Offers (May 2025)

Now that the 100k Amex Platinum offer has ended, there are still several excellent welcome bonus opportunities available through American Express. Here's a breakdown of the current personal card offers and strategies to maximise them.

Current Limited Time Offers (Ending July 15, 2025)

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card

• Referral Offer: 35,000 Membership Rewards points (increased from standard 22,000)

  • Pretty good for a free card!

• Minimum Spend: £3,000 within first 3 months

• Annual Fee: £195 (£0 in first year)

• Representative APR: 87.3% variable

• Apply here

British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card

• Referral Offer: 33,000 Avios (increased from standard 31,000)

  • This isn’t great - apply via BA for the best welcome bonus rates!

• Minimum Spend: £6,000 within first 3 months

• Annual Fee: £300

• Representative APR: 137.8% variable

• Apply here

British Airways American Express Credit Card

• Referral Offer: 15,000 Avios (increased from standard 6,000)

  • Not bad for a free card

• Minimum Spend: £2,000 within first 3 months

• Annual Fee: £0

• Representative APR: 30.0% variable

• Apply here

The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

• Referral Offer: 63,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (significantly increased from standard 23,000)

  • This is huge!

• Minimum Spend: £3,000 within first 3 months

• Annual Fee: £95

• Representative APR: 53.7% variable

• Apply here

Notable Highlight: Marriott Bonvoy Card Exceptional Offer

The current Marriott Bonvoy Card offer is particularly outstanding, with a massive increase to 63,000 points from the standard 23,000 points. This represents excellent value, especially considering the relatively modest £95 annual fee. These points could potentially be worth over £300 in hotel stays, making this one of the best current Amex offers available.

Strategic Approach for New Applicants

If you're new to American Express or haven't held an Amex card in the past 24 months, remember the optimal strategy outlined in our eligibility article:

1. Start with a strategic first card that won't restrict future options

   • The Marriott Bonvoy card is now an excellent first choice with its enhanced 63,000 point offer

2. Add a premium card after securing your first bonus

   • The Gold Card with 35,000 points (first year fee waived) is currently a strong option

3. Complete with another premium card

   • Consider the BA Premium Plus with 33,000 Avios if you value Avios points

Remember that timing is crucial - these enhanced offers end July 15, 2025, so planning applications to meet spending requirements while maximising point opportunities is essential.

Eligibility Reminder

As detailed in the our eligibility article, remember the key eligibility rules:

• The 24-month rule applies (no welcome bonuses if you've held any personal Amex in past 24 months)

• Business cards remain unaffected by personal card history

• Specific card pathways exist depending on which cards you currently hold

• If you’re unsure - use our free tool!

Conclusion

While the 100k Platinum offer has ended, the current suite of enhanced offers (particularly the Marriott Bonvoy 63,000 point offer) provides excellent opportunities to boost your points balance. The limited-time nature of these offers (ending July 15) makes this an ideal time to develop your application strategy.

For those just starting their Amex journey, the Smart With Points article's three-card approach remains valid, with the Marriott Bonvoy card now representing an exceptional first step in that strategy due to its significantly enhanced welcome bonus.

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