American Express has just launched brand-new record-high welcome bonuses on their flagship travel rewards credit cards, including the Platinum Card, Bonvoy Card, Bonvoy Business Card, and Air Miles Reserve Card.
All four new offers are available via public channels and refer-a-friend links. The offers are valid until August 3, 2021, giving you around a one-month window to take full advantage.
In This Post
Amex Platinum Card: 150,000 MR Points!
The American Express Platinum Card will offer a record-high total of 150,000 MR points, distributed as follows:
- 70,000 MR points upon spending $6,000 in the first six months
- 30,000 MR points upon making a purchase between months 14 and 17 of cardholdership
- 10x MR points on eats and drinks in Canada in the first six months, up to a maximum of 50,000 MR points (on $5,000 of spending)
Note that the minimum spending window is extended from the traditional three months to six months under this special offer, giving you more time to hit the spending requirement. A total of $6,000 in spending is required to unlock the initial bonus of 70,000 MR points, making it an average of $1,000 per month.
On its own, the “immediate” component of the welcome bonus of 70,000 MR points is already equal to the highest-ever bonus we’ve ever seen on this product.
Meanwhile, the 30,000 MR points upon making a purchase between months 14 and 17 is clearly a way to encourage retention among new Platinum cardholders. We value 30,000 MR points at $630, so along with the $200 annual travel credit, the total second-year value more than offsets the $699 annual fee.
And finally, we can also tell that American Express is drawing some inspiration from the US side in the “10x points on eats and drinks” style of bonus incentive.
It’s worth noting that the 10x MR points are your total earnings, rather than bonus points on top of the standard earning structure. That is, as long as you’re earning 10x points, you won’t also get 3x points on dining on the Platinum Card.
“Eats and drinks” includes restaurants, bars, cafes, food delivery, and grocery stores. Don’t forget that you can effectively extend your 10x earnings to anything you can buy at the grocery store (including gift cards for other retailers).
- Earn 100,000 MR points upon spending $10,000 in the first three months
- Plus, earn 40,000 MR points upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder
- Also, earn 2x MR points on all dining and travel purchases
- Also, receive an annual $200 travel credit
- Also, receive an annual $200 dining credit
- Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
- Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges
- Credits and rebates for daily expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
- Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
- Annual fee: $799
Amex Bonvoy Card: 105,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points!
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card will offer an unprecedented total of 105,000 Bonvoy points, distributed as follows:
- 65,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $3,000 in the first six months
- 15,000 Bonvoy points upon making a purchase between months 14 and 17 of cardholdership
- 5x Bonvoy points on eats and drinks in Canada in the first six months, up to 25,000 Bonvoy points (on $5,000 of spending)
Just like the Platinum Card, there is a six-month minimum spending window, which makes it easier to hit the spending requirement compared to the traditional three-month period.
Likewise, the immediate component of the welcome bonus of 65,000 Bonvoy points is on par with the highest offer we’ve ever seen – but American Express has now added even more juicy incentives into the mix.
The “month 14–17” and “5x points on eats and drinks” components of the welcome bonus also mirror the Platinum Card, incentivizing new cardholders to put additional spending on the card after applying and to keep the card beyond the first year.
(There’s excellent value in keeping the Bonvoy cards beyond the first year anyway thanks to their anniversary Free Night Awards, so an extra 15,000 Bonvoy points would only be the icing on the cake.)
- Earn 55,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $3,000 in the first three months
- Also, receive an annual Free Night Award worth 35,000 Bonvoy points starting in your second year with the card
- Also, receive 15 elite-qualifying nights every year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
- Bonus Bonvoy points for referring family and friends
- Annual fee: $120
Amex Bonvoy Business Card: 105,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points!
Parallel to the personal version, the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card will also offer a never-before-seen total of 105,000 Bonvoy points, distributed as follows:
- 65,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $5,000 in the first six months
- 15,000 Bonvoy points upon making a purchase after month 14 of cardholdership
- 5x Bonvoy points on gas, travel, and dining in the first six months, up to 25,000 Bonvoy points (on $5,000 of spending)
The business card’s welcome offer is very similar to the personal version. However, the minimum spending requirement is higher at $5,000 compared to $3,000, and the 5x points applies to the card’s usual 3x categories of gas, travel, and dining, rather than on eats and drinks.
That makes the Bonvoy Business Card’s offer a little bit less interesting than the personal Bonvoy Card, in my view, since the incremental earn rate is lower and the bonus categories are a little more restrictive (as they exclude grocery stores).
In keeping with the personal version, the second-year component of 15,000 Bonvoy points sweetens the deal for cardholders who choose to renew their cards, although the existing anniversary Free Night Awards might’ve already been more than enough incentive to do so.
- Earn 60,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $5,000 in the first three months
- Always earn 5x Bonvoy points on purchases at Marriott properties
- Also, receive an annual Free Night Award worth 35,000 Bonvoy points starting in your second year with the card
- Also, receive 15 elite-qualifying nights every year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
- Bonus Bonvoy points for referring family and friends
- Qualify for the card as a sole proprietor
- Annual fee: $150
Amex Air Miles Reserve Card: 7,500 Air Miles
While less exciting than the other points programs, it’s worth noting that the American Express Air Miles Reserve Credit Card is also participating in these elevated summer offers.
You’ll earn 7,500 Air Miles, distributed as follows:
- 4,000 Air Miles upon spending $6,000 in the first six months
- 1,000 Air Miles upon making a purchase between months 14 and 17
- 5x the usual earn rate on eats and drinks in the first six months, up to 2,500 Air Miles (on $5,000 of spending)
If you’re an Air Miles collector, this is one of the best welcome bonuses in recent memory.
We’d value the immediate component of 4,000 Air Miles at $600, if you opted to earn Dream Miles and redeemed them for high value.
There’s also the ability to earn a further 2,500 Air Miles by spending on eats and drinks, but I imagine this offer would be lower on most of our priority lists compared to the Platinum, Bonvoy, and Aeroplan offers.
- Earn 2,400 Air Miles upon spending $3,000 in the first three months
- Plus, earn 1 Air Mile per
$15$10 spent at partner grocery stores, gas stations, and drugstores - Exclusive FlexFly benefit for business class flights & Annual Companion Fare for economy flights
- Use your Air Miles for Cash Rewards or Dream Rewards
- Automatic Air Miles Onyx status
- Annual fee: $299
Spend-Based Offers for Existing Cardholders
For the three personal cards, the spend-based components of the welcome bonus will also apply to existing cardholders, who can register for each offer via their Amex Offers dashboard.
If you currently hold the Platinum Card, you can earn 10x MR points on eats and drinks, up to a maximum of 50,000 MR points (on $5,000 of spending).
And if you currently hold the Bonvoy Card, you can earn 5x Bonvoy points on eats and drinks, up to a maximum of 25,000 Bonvoy points (on $5,000 of spending).
And if you currently hold the Air Miles Reserve Card, you can earn 5x the usual number of Air Miles on eats and drinks, up to a maximum of 2,500 Air Miles (on $5,000 of spending).
It’s amazing to see American Express not only rolling out the red carpet for new cardholders, but also sweetening the deal for existing cardholders and offering them ways to supercharge their points earnings based on ongoing spending activity.
Additionally, note that the terms and conditions of the spend bonus are a bit different for new and existing cardholders:
- For new applicants, the 5x or 10x rate replaces the regular rewards on everyday spending.
- On the other hand, existing cardholders will come out slightly ahead here, as opt-in Amex Offers are typically cumulative, with the boosted rate applying on top of the base rate.
Therefore, on dining purchases, existing cardholders could effectively earn a total of 7x Bonvoy points on the Bonvoy Card, or 13x MR points on the Platinum Card.
Indeed, this would be similar to how the current offers on the Business Platinum Card stack, where you can earn bonus points for the 10x offer, the 2x mobile offer, two $50 statement credits, and the regular 1.25x earn rate – all with the same purchase.
Between all the welcome bonuses and spending incentives, let’s just say there are probably going to be some very busy patios and very long lines at grocery stores across Canada this summer!
Conclusion
Move aside, Buddy Pass conversion, 2021’s hottest opportunity for racking up the points is here.
As the phenomenon of “revenge travel” begins to take hold for the rest of the year, American Express has similarly brought their signature spectacular welcome bonuses back with a vengeance.
Until August 3, 2021, you can earn all-time-high welcome bonuses of 150,000 MR points on the Platinum Card, 105,000 Bonvoy points on both the Bonvoy Card and Bonvoy Business Card, and 7,500 Air Miles on the Air Miles Reserve Card.
The bonuses are split into three separate components: a traditional minimum spend that’s been extended to a six-month window, a second-year component to incentivize you to keep the card after the first year, and a supercharged earning rate on a variety of daily spending categories (including the ever-popular groceries category on the personal cards).
If you haven’t applied for these cards yet, there’s never going to be a better time to take action than now. And even if you currently hold these cards, you can still benefit from the spend-based incentives and boost your balance of MR or Bonvoy points in a meaningful way.
The best part? I have a feeling there’s even more awe-inspiring welcome bonuses coming our way very shortly, too. Stay tuned.