Which American Express welcome bonuses are you still eligible for?

Welcome to our 2025 guide on maximizing American Express welcome bonuses! If you're looking to boost your points balance this year, understanding the strategic approach to Amex applications can result in hundreds of thousands of extra points.

American Express offers some of the most generous sign-up bonuses in the UK credit card market, but their eligibility rules require careful planning. With current enhanced offers like 40,000 points on the Gold card (ending April 30th) and 80,000 points on the Platinum card (until May 27th), now is an excellent time to develop your strategy.

Not sure if you're eligible for a particular bonus? Our American Express Welcome Bonus Eligibility Tool can quickly check which offers you can claim based on your card history.

Understanding the 24-Month Rule

The foundation of any Amex bonus strategy is understanding the 24-month rule:

If you've held ANY personal American Express card in the past 24 months, you're generally restricted from getting welcome bonuses on most cards.

Let's explore what this means in practice and how you can work around it.

The Three-Card Strategy for Maximum Bonuses

For those who haven't held an Amex in the past 24 months, here's the optimal three-card sequence to maximize your welcome bonuses:

Step 1: Choose Your First Card Strategically

Start with one of these cards which won't restrict your future options:

• Platinum Cashback Card (5% cashback on up to £2,500 in first 3 months)

• Nectar American Express (20,000 Nectar points on £2,000 spend)

• Marriott Bonvoy American Express (20,000 Bonvoy points on £3,000 spend)

Why these cards? They allow you to later qualify for bonuses on both the premium Membership Rewards and British Airways cards.

Step 2: Add a Premium Card

After securing your first bonus, apply for either:

• The Platinum Card (currently 80,000 MR points)

• British Airways Premium Plus Amex (30,000 Avios)

Timing tip: Wait for enhanced bonus periods if possible. The Platinum card regularly offers double the standard points.

Step 3: Complete the Trilogy

Apply for whichever premium card you didn't choose in Step 2.

With this approach, you can secure three substantial welcome bonuses within a relatively short period, potentially worth over £1,000 in travel value.

The Business Card Advantage

Small business owners or self-employed individuals have a significant advantage in the Amex ecosystem:

2024 Rule Change Alert: Following changes last year, business card welcome bonuses no longer consider your personal card history. This means you can receive welcome bonuses on:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 MR points)

• American Express Business Platinum (50,000 MR points)

These bonuses are available regardless of which personal Amex cards you currently hold or have recently held — a game-changer for frequent Amex users.

Advanced Timing Strategies

Seasonal Benefits Optimization

When planning your Platinum card application, consider these timing sweet spots:

Harvey Nichols Credits: £50 Jan-Jun, £50 Jul-Dec
Restaurant Credits: £150 resets in January
Shop Small Promotion: Typically runs in December

Pro Tip: Apply in late November/early December to maximize these benefits across calendar years.

Enhanced Bonus Periods

American Express typically runs enhanced welcome bonus offers 2-3 times per year. Historical patterns show:

• Spring (March-May)

• Late summer (August-September)

• Pre-holiday season (November)

Waiting for these enhanced periods can net you 20,000-30,000 additional points.

The Pro-Rata Fee Strategy

One of the most powerful aspects of American Express premium cards is their fee refund policy:

1. Apply for a premium card with an annual fee

2. Meet the minimum spend requirement

3. Receive the welcome bonus

4. Use immediate benefits

5. Cancel the card for a pro-rata refund

Example Calculation:

• Platinum Card annual fee: £575

• Cancel after 3 months: ~£431 refunded

• Net cost: ~£144 for 80,000 MR points (worth £800+ in travel)

This approach dramatically improves the value proposition, especially if you're primarily interested in welcome bonuses rather than ongoing benefits.

The Partner Strategy: Double Your Welcome Bonuses

If you have a partner, consider this alternating approach to double your household's bonus opportunities:

Year 1-2:

• You: Primary cardholder with welcome bonus

• Partner: Supplementary cardholder

Year 3-4:

• Partner: Primary cardholder with welcome bonus

• You: Supplementary cardholder

Year 5-6:

• You: Eligible for new welcome bonus (24+ months since your last card)

• Partner: Supplementary cardholder

This rotation allows each person to claim welcome bonuses every four years instead of every two, doubling your household's total bonus potential.

Card-Specific Eligibility Paths

If you already hold an Amex card, your path to additional bonuses depends on which card you have:

For BA Amex Cardholders:

You can still get the Platinum bonus if you haven't held a Membership Rewards card (Gold, Platinum, Green, or basic Rewards) in the past 24 months.

For Gold/Platinum/Rewards Cardholders:

You can still get the BA Premium Plus bonus if you haven't held either BA card in the past 24 months.

For Cashback, Nectar, or Marriott Cardholders:

You may be eligible for both premium card bonuses, depending on your specific card history.

Minimum Income Requirements

American Express applies these minimum personal income thresholds:

• £35,000/year: Platinum Card, Business Platinum, BA Premium Plus

• £20,000/year: All other cards

Remember these are individual income requirements, not household totals.

Useful Tools for Your Amex Strategy

Our suite of tools can help you plan your approach:

• American Express Welcome Bonus Eligibility Tool - Check which bonuses you're eligible for

• BA Tier Point Calculator - Plan your BA status progression

• Avios Balance Booster Calculator - Compare buying options across programs

Current Top Amex Offers (April 2025)

Gold Card: 40,000 MR points | £3,000 in 3 months | Offer ends April 30, 2025
Platinum Card: 80,000 MR points | £6,000 in 6 months | Offer ends May 27, 2025
BA Premium Plus: 30,000 Avios | £3,000 in 3 months | Ongoing

Apply for the Gold Card, Platinum Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Card through our referral links.

Application Spacing: Finding the Right Balance

While maximizing bonuses is the goal, consider these factors when timing multiple applications:

• Allow 3-6 months between applications to limit credit score impact

• Ensure you can meet spending requirements for each card

• Consider your major upcoming expenses (holidays, home improvements, etc.)

• Align applications with promotional periods when possible

Benefits Beyond Bonuses

Remember that some cards offer valuable benefits even without welcome bonuses:

• Gold Card: Four free airport lounge visits and £120 Deliveroo credit annually

• Platinum Card: Comprehensive travel insurance, hotel status, and lounge access

• BA Premium Plus: Companion Voucher after £10,000 annual spend

These benefits may make a card worthwhile even when you're not eligible for the welcome bonus.

Conclusion: Your Personal Bonus Strategy

The optimal American Express bonus strategy depends on your specific circumstances:

• If you're new to Amex: Follow the three-card approach

• If you have a small business: Leverage the business card advantage

• If you have existing cards: Use our eligibility tool to find your next bonus opportunity

• If you have a partner: Consider the alternating cardholder strategy

By thoughtfully planning your applications, you can potentially earn hundreds of thousands of points over the next few years – enough for multiple premium cabin flights or luxury hotel stays.

What's your American Express strategy for 2025? Have you successfully claimed multiple welcome bonuses? Share your experiences in the comments!