Amex Launches Best-Ever Platinum & Gold Bonuses — 75,000 and 40,000 Points Up for Grabs

American Express has just launched some of the most compelling personal card sign-up offers we've seen in a while — and they're live right now. Running from 18 March to 26 May 2026, the new limited-time bonuses on the Platinum and Gold Consumer Cards are worth a serious look if you're eligible. I hold the Business versions of both cards, so I can't personally grab these, but if you're in the market for a personal points-earning card, the timing here is genuinely excellent.

If you want some inspiration for what you could do with a big stash of Membership Rewards points once you've earned them, have a browse of our Award Travel Finder — Amex MR points transfer 1:1 to both Avios and Virgin Points, so the redemption possibilities are excellent.

Eligible new Platinum Cardmembers who apply and are approved between 18 March and 26 May 2026 can earn 75,000 Membership Rewards points plus a £250 American Express Travel credit by spending £10,000 in their first six months of Cardmembership.

The £250 travel credit can be used against prepaid bookings for flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises and holiday packages made through American Express Travel Online — so effectively the cost of the card in year one is somewhat offset before you've even touched the annual perks.

On the core benefits side, the Platinum comes with £400 in global dining statement credits, complimentary access to over 1,550 airport lounges worldwide (including the Centurion Network and Priority Pass), Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits, and The Hotel Collection perks (early 12pm check-in, room upgrade subject to availability, US$100 hotel credit). It's a genuinely packed card.

The annual fee is £650, and the representative APR is 685.3% variable (calculated including the annual fee).

As for the 75,000 points themselves — at a 1:1 transfer to Avios, that's enough to fly London to New York return in economy (50,000 Avios off-peak, plus taxes) with a healthy chunk left over. Or you could put 75,000 Avios towards something much more exciting in business class — use our Avios flight cost tool to get a sense of what's achievable.

The Gold offer is also excellent. New eligible Cardmembers can earn 40,000 Membership Rewards points — explicitly double the standard bonus — by spending £5,000 in their first six months.

The Gold is the more accessible entry point into the Amex ecosystem. The annual fee is £195 (waived entirely in the first year), which makes the effective cost of this offer genuinely zero in year one. Core benefits include four complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits per year, up to £10 back on Deliveroo each month (£5 back twice monthly, enrolment required), and The Hotel Collection perks.

For a card with no fee in year one, earning 40,000 MR points for £5,000 in spend is a very strong return. Those 40,000 points can convert to 40,000 Avios — which, to put in perspective, would cover a return flight to somewhere like Cape Town in economy or get you well on your way to business class to the US. Check the Avios Balance Booster calculator if you want to think about the best way to top up your balance.

The representative APR is 85.8% variable (calculated including the £195 annual fee; £0 in year one).

Alongside the new Cardmember offers, Amex has also boosted its 'invite a friend' referral scheme. This runs from 18 March to 26 May 2026 and is genuinely one of the better referral setups I've seen from any card issuer.

If you're already an Amex Platinum holder, referring a friend during this window earns you 20,000 points and your friend 100,000 — that's a combined 120,000 MR points changing hands. Quite remarkable, and worth mentioning to anyone in your life who's been considering applying.

There's also a shorter-window bonus for adding a complimentary Additional (Supplementary) Card to your existing account — valid until 30 April 2026. This is for existing Cardmembers who haven't previously added an Additional Card and received this bonus.

The Additional Card is free and can be given to a family member, partner or trusted friend. Worth doing if you haven't already — 9,000 or 12,000 points for a five-minute admin task is good value.

This is the crucial bit, and it's worth reading carefully because the Platinum and Gold have slightly different rules.

For the Platinum Card: the offer is available to those who have not held another personal American Express Card enrolled into the Membership Rewards programme in the 24 months prior to application. So if you hold a personal BA Amex or Nectar Amex (which aren't MR-earning cards), you may still be eligible for the Platinum new Cardmember offer. Worth checking.

For the Gold Card: the rule is broader — you must not have held any personal American Express Card in the past 24 months. That includes BA Amex, Nectar Amex, and so on. If you currently hold any personal Amex, you won't qualify.

Note that these are the personal card offers. Holding a business Amex (like the Business Platinum or Business Gold, which I have) does not affect your eligibility for the personal card offers.

You can use our Amex welcome bonus eligibility tool to help figure out where you stand.

If you're eligible for either card, I think the case for applying is genuinely strong right now. The Gold in particular is a no-brainer for anyone new to Amex — zero fee in year one, 40,000 points for a manageable spend threshold, and a solid suite of perks to grow into. The Platinum requires a bigger spend commitment (£10,000 in six months), but the combination of 75,000 points and a £250 travel credit softens the annual fee significantly.

Membership Rewards points are one of the most flexible currencies in UK points collecting. You can transfer to Avios, Virgin Points, Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy, and more. That flexibility is worth a lot. For inspiration on what these points could unlock, pop your route into Award Travel Finder and see what's available.

I'd also check out our guides to the best Avios earning credit cards in the UK for a broader picture of where these cards sit against the competition.

Apply for the Amex personal cards here — these are referral links, and using them supports Smart With Points at no extra cost to you.

These offers end on 26 May 2026, so there's time — but don't leave it until the last minute. Good luck if you apply!

Jack

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Representative APR 685.3% variable for the Platinum Card (including £650 annual fee). Representative APR 85.8% variable for the Gold Card (including £195 annual fee; £0 in year one). 18+. Subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. The new Cardmember offers are available from 18 March to 26 May 2026.