Jan 7, 2017, 4:18 pm
Last edit by: mia
Referrals and self-referrals are an important part of maximizing rewards from Canadian-issued American Express cards. It is appropriate to discuss how the referral process works in this thread. However, please do not offer or request referrals here. Use only this thread, and do read the Wikipost carefully before posting: Referral Offers (post only in this thread, no referral links, read Wiki post first).
This thread is a continuation of: Churning Amex in Canada (2016). All the listed offers below are still valid as of January 2017.
Jerry: Aug 2017 latest update, all-in-one summary
New as of Mar 23, 2017, minimum spend up to $3000 now
AMEX Platinum Rewards - $699/year, 60K MR (via referral) after $3000 spending in 3 months vs. 50K non-referral
New as of March 23 2016.
AMEX Business Platinum Rewards - $399/year, 75K MR (via referral) after $5000 spending in 3 months vs. 40K non-referral
Updated as of July 21, 2017
AMEX Gold Rewards - $150/year, FYF, 25K MR after $1500 spending + $50/$60 cashback from GCR. New as of Jan 15, 2017, on a referred signup: and an additional 5,000 Membership Rewards points for one approved Supplementary Card added to your account at time of online application. That’s a total of 30,000 Membership Rewards points.
AMEX Business Gold Rewards - $250/year, FYF, 30K MR after $5000 spending (or 40K via referral)
AMEX Air Miles Platinum - $65/year, 2000 Air Miles after $1500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
July 18-Oct 18, 2017 - welcome offer increased 5K to 25K.
Sep 28, 2017 - Personal and Business SPG bonus drops from 10K to 5K per approved referral.
AMEX SPG - $120/year, 25K SPG after $1500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
- if you applied recently for the SPG card at the 20K welcome level, try contacting Amex by Secured Message to ask if they can match the current 25K offer. Several successful datapoints have surfaced with manual addition of 5K at next statement. YMMV.
New as of July 2016
AMEX Aeroplan Plus Platinum - $499/year, 50K Aeroplans after $1000 spending in 3 months (or 51K via referral). The 50K/51K, extra 10K promo expired on April 01, 2016, but started up again July - Sep 30th, 2016.
New card as of Sep 25 2017
AMEX Cobalt CREDIT card - $10/month ($120 annually)
Apply through GCR for $50 Rebate https://www.greatcanadianrebates.ca/...s/Amex-Cobalt/
This is not an all-inclusive list, only the "good" offers, so feel free to add new offers.
AMEX Platinum Rewards
- Earn 15K MR for each referral you make
(Note: from Mar 23 - Jun 29 the bonuses were 75K welcome and 25K referral points)
AMEX Business Platinum Rewards
- Earn 25K MR for each referral you make
AMEX Gold Rewards
- Earn 10k MR for each referal you make.
This thread is a continuation of: Churning Amex in Canada (2016). All the listed offers below are still valid as of January 2017.
Jerry: Aug 2017 latest update, all-in-one summary
New as of Mar 23, 2017, minimum spend up to $3000 now
AMEX Platinum Rewards - $699/year, 60K MR (via referral) after $3000 spending in 3 months vs. 50K non-referral
New as of March 23 2016.
AMEX Business Platinum Rewards - $399/year, 75K MR (via referral) after $5000 spending in 3 months vs. 40K non-referral
Updated as of July 21, 2017
AMEX Gold Rewards - $150/year, FYF, 25K MR after $1500 spending + $50/$60 cashback from GCR. New as of Jan 15, 2017, on a referred signup: and an additional 5,000 Membership Rewards points for one approved Supplementary Card added to your account at time of online application. That’s a total of 30,000 Membership Rewards points.
- July 11, 2017, Amex Gold MR will no longer earn referral points.
- July 21, 2017, no other Amex MR card can refer to Gold MR
AMEX Business Gold Rewards - $250/year, FYF, 30K MR after $5000 spending (or 40K via referral)
AMEX Air Miles Platinum - $65/year, 2000 Air Miles after $1500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
July 18-Oct 18, 2017 - welcome offer increased 5K to 25K.
Sep 28, 2017 - Personal and Business SPG bonus drops from 10K to 5K per approved referral.
AMEX SPG - $120/year, 25K SPG after $1500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
- if you applied recently for the SPG card at the 20K welcome level, try contacting Amex by Secured Message to ask if they can match the current 25K offer. Several successful datapoints have surfaced with manual addition of 5K at next statement. YMMV.
New as of July 2016
AMEX Aeroplan Plus Platinum - $499/year, 50K Aeroplans after $1000 spending in 3 months (or 51K via referral). The 50K/51K, extra 10K promo expired on April 01, 2016, but started up again July - Sep 30th, 2016.
New card as of Sep 25 2017
AMEX Cobalt CREDIT card - $10/month ($120 annually)
Apply through GCR for $50 Rebate https://www.greatcanadianrebates.ca/...s/Amex-Cobalt/
- Earn 2,500 Membership Tiered Rewards points for each month where you spend $500 (up to 30,000/year).
- Limited Time Offer: Apply by Jan 30, 2018 and you can earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $3K in 3 months.
- See discussion thread for more details: 2017 American Express Cobalt (Canada)
This is not an all-inclusive list, only the "good" offers, so feel free to add new offers.
Referral Difference Between Cards:
Please note there is a maximum annual referral bonus you can make per card.
AMEX Platinum Rewards
- Earn 15K MR for each referral you make
(Note: from Mar 23 - Jun 29 the bonuses were 75K welcome and 25K referral points)
AMEX Business Platinum Rewards
- Earn 25K MR for each referral you make
AMEX Gold Rewards
- July 11, 2017, Amex Gold MR will no longer earn referral points.
- July 21, 2017, no other Amex MR card can refer to Gold MR
- mid-May 2016, increased from $500 to $1500 required spending.
- Jan 11 to mid-May 2016, the Gold card earned 0 referral points.
- Earn 10k MR for each referal you make.
American Express Canada application and reward strategies (2017)
May 1, 2017, 5:44 pm
#556
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
Hi All,
My apologies if this question has been asked.
I am a Amex Platinum card holder and would like to refer my wife to a AMEX Platinum Business card (her business is legit); is this possible? I can't seem to be able to do that. It only give me an option to refer to the same Amex Platinum card.
TIA
My apologies if this question has been asked.
I am a Amex Platinum card holder and would like to refer my wife to a AMEX Platinum Business card (her business is legit); is this possible? I can't seem to be able to do that. It only give me an option to refer to the same Amex Platinum card.
TIA
and
change card to THE CARD YOU WANT at Top-Right/Bottom-Left corner "Apply for a different card that is part of this referral program"
May 1, 2017, 8:40 pm
#558
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: All Accor Plat, 1865 Voyager, AE E35K, HH Gold,Hyatt, Hrtz Gold, Marriott Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 1,670
May 3, 2017, 1:10 pm
#559
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: 25 million points to burn!
Posts: 1,522
Ok guys, what to do you make of this:
I've been applying for Amex cards for the past 2 years, once every 3 months. On Monday, I applied again. I got denied. For the first time.
The rep told me twice not to bother applying for another Amex card for the next 6 months, b/c it will result in a certain denial. In your experiences, have you found his advice to be accurate? IOW, after a denial, do you need to wait at least 6 months to apply again? Thx for your input.
I've been applying for Amex cards for the past 2 years, once every 3 months. On Monday, I applied again. I got denied. For the first time.
The rep told me twice not to bother applying for another Amex card for the next 6 months, b/c it will result in a certain denial. In your experiences, have you found his advice to be accurate? IOW, after a denial, do you need to wait at least 6 months to apply again? Thx for your input.
May 3, 2017, 1:22 pm
#560
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
Ok guys, what to do you make of this:
I've been applying for Amex cards for the past 2 years, once every 3 months. On Monday, I applied again. I got denied. For the first time.
The rep told me twice not to bother applying for another Amex card for the next 6 months, b/c it will result in a certain denial. In your experiences, have you found his advice to be accurate? IOW, after a denial, do you need to wait at least 6 months to apply again? Thx for your input.
I've been applying for Amex cards for the past 2 years, once every 3 months. On Monday, I applied again. I got denied. For the first time.
The rep told me twice not to bother applying for another Amex card for the next 6 months, b/c it will result in a certain denial. In your experiences, have you found his advice to be accurate? IOW, after a denial, do you need to wait at least 6 months to apply again? Thx for your input.
Every 3 months is very aggressive. Same AMEX card or not?
I get by AMEX fine with every 6-12 months, or just alternate between cards
Only one I churn'ed quick was Platinum (cancelled Jan 2017 and re-applied March 2017 before $1000 jumped to $3000 spending). Approved and got 60K already
See my Card history here on RFD (post #2 ) since 2015
http://forums.redflagdeals.com/jerry...g-faq-1685293/
May 3, 2017, 2:59 pm
#561
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YYZ, YUL, PEK
Posts: 429
Ok guys, what to do you make of this:
I've been applying for Amex cards for the past 2 years, once every 3 months. On Monday, I applied again. I got denied. For the first time.
The rep told me twice not to bother applying for another Amex card for the next 6 months, b/c it will result in a certain denial. In your experiences, have you found his advice to be accurate? IOW, after a denial, do you need to wait at least 6 months to apply again? Thx for your input.
I've been applying for Amex cards for the past 2 years, once every 3 months. On Monday, I applied again. I got denied. For the first time.
The rep told me twice not to bother applying for another Amex card for the next 6 months, b/c it will result in a certain denial. In your experiences, have you found his advice to be accurate? IOW, after a denial, do you need to wait at least 6 months to apply again? Thx for your input.
I was denied for a SPG Biz in April 2016 when I had applied for two cards on the same day (the other was approved). Then, two months later I was approved for a Biz Plat. So I don't think it's the case that one denial means you're out of the game for six months.
Try calling again?
May 3, 2017, 4:11 pm
#562
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: 25 million points to burn!
Posts: 1,522
Thx guys! I do value your input. FYI, I applied for the Biz Plat, which I had never had before. I welcome any other input any of you may have. I likely will call back in again too.
May 4, 2017, 7:03 am
#563
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YQM
Posts: 341
Data point: Personal Gold cancelled last summer. Referred from spouse's Personal Plat last March (added my Personal Plat number during application, no new MR account created), crossed the 1,500 min spend this week. The charge posted today:
Last edited by Hyacinthe; May 4, 2017 at 8:11 am
May 4, 2017, 7:43 am
#564
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: 25 million points to burn!
Posts: 1,522
After a denial with Amex, have any of you had success with asking them to reconsider your application? If so, any tips on what to ask them for?
May 4, 2017, 9:28 pm
#565
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,410
I remember reading here and in places for the Personal Plat Annual Travel 200.- benefit, that if you e.g. Apply in March you get to use the benefit twice if you cancel a year later and the annual fee would only be 299.
that is NOT true, whether it was always like that or is a recent change I don't know. I just called in to cancel my card and they're debiting me for my 200.- for this year which I used back in February. So it's really once per statement year, not once per calendar year, even though you can use it only once per calendar year.
that is NOT true, whether it was always like that or is a recent change I don't know. I just called in to cancel my card and they're debiting me for my 200.- for this year which I used back in February. So it's really once per statement year, not once per calendar year, even though you can use it only once per calendar year.
May 5, 2017, 1:36 am
#566
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
I remember reading here and in places for the Personal Plat Annual Travel 200.- benefit, that if you e.g. Apply in March you get to use the benefit twice if you cancel a year later and the annual fee would only be 299.
that is NOT true, whether it was always like that or is a recent change I don't know. I just called in to cancel my card and they're debiting me for my 200.- for this year which I used back in February. So it's really once per statement year, not once per calendar year, even though you can use it only once per calendar year.
that is NOT true, whether it was always like that or is a recent change I don't know. I just called in to cancel my card and they're debiting me for my 200.- for this year which I used back in February. So it's really once per statement year, not once per calendar year, even though you can use it only once per calendar year.
May 5, 2017, 6:54 am
#567
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan, Alaska, Marriott
Posts: 435
We used both and did not have to deal with clawback when we recently cancelled.
The 2nd year's $200 was used about 2-3 months prior to cancellation, which was followed by a few more regular usage transactions (not a lot, just a few here and there) and we cancelled 2-3 weeks prior to application anniversary date.
The 2nd year's $200 was used about 2-3 months prior to cancellation, which was followed by a few more regular usage transactions (not a lot, just a few here and there) and we cancelled 2-3 weeks prior to application anniversary date.
May 5, 2017, 8:51 am
#568
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YVR
Posts: 625
We used both and did not have to deal with clawback when we recently cancelled.
The 2nd year's $200 was used about 2-3 months prior to cancellation, which was followed by a few more regular usage transactions (not a lot, just a few here and there) and we cancelled 2-3 weeks prior to application anniversary date.
The 2nd year's $200 was used about 2-3 months prior to cancellation, which was followed by a few more regular usage transactions (not a lot, just a few here and there) and we cancelled 2-3 weeks prior to application anniversary date.
May 5, 2017, 3:30 pm
#569
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,410
We used both and did not have to deal with clawback when we recently cancelled.
The 2nd year's $200 was used about 2-3 months prior to cancellation, which was followed by a few more regular usage transactions (not a lot, just a few here and there) and we cancelled 2-3 weeks prior to application anniversary date.
The 2nd year's $200 was used about 2-3 months prior to cancellation, which was followed by a few more regular usage transactions (not a lot, just a few here and there) and we cancelled 2-3 weeks prior to application anniversary date.
I have exactly the same datapoint. It did, however, take 2-3 weeks for the Personal Platinum MR account to merge to my newly acquired Personal Gold MR account before I could cancel (never taken this long before). Luckily, I still made the timeframe before the AF posted on the Personal Platinum.
Can you please confirm whether or not your $699 annual fee had already posted on your 1 year anniversary? There's been several datapoints where Amex scraped back the 2nd calendar year's $200 travel credit after the annual fee had already posted, and instead of full $699 refund it was $499.
- approved in June 2016
- use first travel credit ~August 2016
- use second travel credit ~February 2017
- cancel in May 2016, have second-travel credit clawed back and a 200.- charge put on the account.
May 5, 2017, 4:08 pm
#570
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,465
I have the Platinum card, can I refer friends and family to Gold Rewards card? When I click my referral link, it only lists the Platinum card, and at the bottom has Business cards, but no option to apply for personal Gold Rewards. Is there a way around it?