As a fairly new Amex user, I phoned today with questions about bonuses when converting and the clerk said that doesn't happen! She told me that with AMEX gold If I spend $1000.00 in the first 3 months - which I've done. I'll get a further 10,000 MR in addition to the 25000 for spending $500 which I've already been given. Never seen this mentioned anywhere. Is she wrong again?

I am wondering whether a 25% bonus to go from MR to Avios is the best conversion rate that I can expect or is it sometimes higher?