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. Thats 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. Thats 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 RewardsŽ 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 23, 2017, 11:35 am
#646
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
Is there a limit on the number of Amex cards one can apply and get approved for within a certain period of time?
One of my family members applied for the Plat Biz card last month using my referral link, and is getting close to finishing the 5K spend requirement.
Once she is done with it, I am planing on referring her to one of the two SPG cards (personal or biz).
In this case, she would be applying for an SPG card approximately 1.5 months after applying for the Plat Biz card.
Is this a risky move?
If yes, does applying for the SPG personal card make a difference against applying for the SPG biz card, after getting the Plat Biz card?
I'm not sure if Amex will crack down on applications (and reject them) that were submitted one after another within a short period of time, so just wanted to check here first and be safe.
Thank you-!
One of my family members applied for the Plat Biz card last month using my referral link, and is getting close to finishing the 5K spend requirement.
Once she is done with it, I am planing on referring her to one of the two SPG cards (personal or biz).
In this case, she would be applying for an SPG card approximately 1.5 months after applying for the Plat Biz card.
Is this a risky move?
If yes, does applying for the SPG personal card make a difference against applying for the SPG biz card, after getting the Plat Biz card?
I'm not sure if Amex will crack down on applications (and reject them) that were submitted one after another within a short period of time, so just wanted to check here first and be safe.
Thank you-!
So, some people will say it's Ok by reporting on their own success stories, no one can say for sure it will work out well or not, because it will be on an individual basis. But you can let your friend know it's possible to accomplish.
Many, many people are able to open both the Personal and Business versions of the SPG card, concurrently, and shouldn't be a problem. However, there is a technical limit of 3 Amex Credit cards though, for Canadian clients, and this is regularly enforced. No matter how strong your credit strength is, Amex will deny you from getting a third Credit product (Personal SPG and Business SPG will count as 2), if you also already have another Credit product such as an Amex Airmiles or Simply Cash card.
Then there is the technical limit of one small business card product per individual. This is not as routinely enforced, but can be grounds for denial of welcome points for the 2nd new business card. It's uncommon but people have reported being stop-signed on this. Seemingly though, people who do get into a discussion with Amex about this policy, are able to bend the rule, so YMMV.
May 23, 2017, 12:34 pm
#647
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YQM
Posts: 341
Adding a data point:
The Mrs. applied for Biz SPG on May 12 using my referral link. Despite having no applications in over 90 days, her application was Pending anyways. She did not have the time to call since, but we were pleased to receive her very first Biz Amex card today.
And since it coincides with my Personal Amex statement, I was able to confirm the referral points were deposited. Spending threshold is expected to be crossed in the next few days so bonus should post on 1st statement. Will report.
The Mrs. applied for Biz SPG on May 12 using my referral link. Despite having no applications in over 90 days, her application was Pending anyways. She did not have the time to call since, but we were pleased to receive her very first Biz Amex card today.
And since it coincides with my Personal Amex statement, I was able to confirm the referral points were deposited. Spending threshold is expected to be crossed in the next few days so bonus should post on 1st statement. Will report.
May 23, 2017, 12:59 pm
#648
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,410
How do you guys go about linking unlinked MR accounts, ever worried about them noticing you shouldn't have gotten the points and clawing them back? Or do you just keep the accounts separate and apply for a free card from each account to keep the balance going or transfer them out?
May 23, 2017, 3:16 pm
#649
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
How do you guys go about linking unlinked MR accounts, ever worried about them noticing you shouldn't have gotten the points and clawing them back? Or do you just keep the accounts separate and apply for a free card from each account to keep the balance going or transfer them out?
Not sure what you mean by "...apply for a free card from each account". But we've been able to keep the baton-passing in motion for years now, and have kept our MR points 'alive' by ensuring there is always one active MR card that is active to accommodate the merged points, from one generation to the next.
May 23, 2017, 3:42 pm
#650
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.
My 2nd year annual fee had not posted yet, I'm cancelling at the 11 month mark. Basically
- 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.
- 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.
First, as background and as Smiley had mentioned, we've seen datapoints that recommend the cancellation of a Platinum card before the annual fee posts, to increase the chances that Amex will not claw back the second calendar year's $200 travel credit. He called to cancel the card about a week before the annual fee would post, and by the next day it was already showing as cancelled online.
Unfortunately, the MR points that were in his Plat's account were not moved into or merged with his Business Gold card's MR account.
He had to call Amex again, and in the week to follow, the card had to be reactivated as part of the points recovery process. But as this took several days, by the time the points were replaced in his MR account the $699 annual fee posted to the card balance, which was what he was trying to avoid from happening.
After the points were merged, the card account was closed once more, and the $699 fee remained as a balance owing on the account. It sat there for 3 or 4 days, but eventually the $699 was fully refunded (as promised by the rep) to show a $0 balance, and there was no claw back of the 2nd year's $200 travel credit. So, net annual fee paid for the Platinum card was $699 - 2x$200 = $299.
This was back in April, a month ago.
May 23, 2017, 3:45 pm
#651
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,410
Smiley, a different experience from the one you had the displeasure of going through. I'm posting this for a friend who wants to share his recent (April) datapoint with the Amex Platinum card.
First, as background and as Smiley had mentioned, we've seen datapoints that recommend the cancellation of a Platinum card before the annual fee posts, to increase the chances that Amex will not claw back the second calendar year's $200 travel credit. He called to cancel the card about a week before the annual fee would post, and by the next day it was already showing as cancelled online.
Unfortunately, the MR points that were in his Plat's account were not moved into or merged with his Business Gold card's MR account.
He had to call Amex again, and in the week to follow, the card had to be reactivated as part of the points recovery process. But as this took several days, by the time the points were replaced in his MR account the $699 annual fee posted to the card balance, which was what he was trying to avoid from happening.
After the points were merged, the card account was closed once more, and the $699 fee remained as a balance owing on the account. It sat there for 3 or 4 days, but eventually the $699 was fully refunded (as promised by the rep) to show a $0 balance, and there was no claw back of the 2nd year's $200 travel credit. So, net annual fee paid for the Platinum card was $699 - 2x$200 = $299.
This was back in April, a month ago.
First, as background and as Smiley had mentioned, we've seen datapoints that recommend the cancellation of a Platinum card before the annual fee posts, to increase the chances that Amex will not claw back the second calendar year's $200 travel credit. He called to cancel the card about a week before the annual fee would post, and by the next day it was already showing as cancelled online.
Unfortunately, the MR points that were in his Plat's account were not moved into or merged with his Business Gold card's MR account.
He had to call Amex again, and in the week to follow, the card had to be reactivated as part of the points recovery process. But as this took several days, by the time the points were replaced in his MR account the $699 annual fee posted to the card balance, which was what he was trying to avoid from happening.
After the points were merged, the card account was closed once more, and the $699 fee remained as a balance owing on the account. It sat there for 3 or 4 days, but eventually the $699 was fully refunded (as promised by the rep) to show a $0 balance, and there was no claw back of the 2nd year's $200 travel credit. So, net annual fee paid for the Platinum card was $699 - 2x$200 = $299.
This was back in April, a month ago.
And I was just curious if anyone's gotten someone to really look into the account upon merging but if that's not a concern then I won't worry about it. thanks!
May 23, 2017, 3:51 pm
#652
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
Yeah, sorry, I didn't address that earlier, but IMHO, by the time it comes to merging points already-received, there's no concern about clawbacks. I think if you request the merger of MR accounts BEFORE you get the new card's welcome points, then you run the risk of 'breaking' the repeat-churn game, as had been reported by a number of people. Again, more YMMV stuff.
May 24, 2017, 8:19 am
#653
Join Date: May 2004
Location: YYZ
Programs: CX-Silver, HH-Diamond, SPG-Gold
Posts: 376
Your Plastiq charges won't be the issue, 99% guarantee on that. If you saw my post earlier in the year about how MR account numbers could conceivably get reattached to the same card product in the next iteration, it would make sense to not want new MR cards auto-merged with existing ones. If nothing else, it makes the Amex Points dish-o-meter have to think harder. Again, no guarantees, but shoot for the sky, right? 
Hit 2 statements (and about 6 weeks) know that show I've passed the threshold for points. 75k Welcome bonus still hasn't posted. Call in. Rep said he doesn't see any issues with my spend and that i've crossed the threshold, wait another 4 weeks and call in if I don't see it by then.
So looks like I'm still waiting.. mind you, I'll keep it for the majority of the year anyways, but need to have those points available to transfer out when I need them right...
Though I wonder.. sometimes a welcome bonus posts overnight, and sometimes weeks later, and sometimes only when you call in after 10 weeks. Something is wrong with the automation in the background..
May 24, 2017, 11:39 am
#654
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Quispamsis, New Brunswick
Programs: AC 75K, Marrott Platinum, BW Diamond, AP Diamond
Posts: 46
Update:
Hit 2 statements (and about 6 weeks) know that show I've passed the threshold for points. 75k Welcome bonus still hasn't posted. Call in. Rep said he doesn't see any issues with my spend and that i've crossed the threshold, wait another 4 weeks and call in if I don't see it by then.
So looks like I'm still waiting.. mind you, I'll keep it for the majority of the year anyways, but need to have those points available to transfer out when I need them right...
Though I wonder.. sometimes a welcome bonus posts overnight, and sometimes weeks later, and sometimes only when you call in after 10 weeks. Something is wrong with the automation in the background..
Hit 2 statements (and about 6 weeks) know that show I've passed the threshold for points. 75k Welcome bonus still hasn't posted. Call in. Rep said he doesn't see any issues with my spend and that i've crossed the threshold, wait another 4 weeks and call in if I don't see it by then.
So looks like I'm still waiting.. mind you, I'll keep it for the majority of the year anyways, but need to have those points available to transfer out when I need them right...
Though I wonder.. sometimes a welcome bonus posts overnight, and sometimes weeks later, and sometimes only when you call in after 10 weeks. Something is wrong with the automation in the background..
For me personally, I would never call up and ask about the points until that time frame has passed. Who know's how they do things at AMEX but I assume things are still pretty loose on the "one bonus per lifetime". My wife and I have received the gold bonus at least once past the deadline. I am a little wary about re-applying for the Platinum because of the cost but will probably apply sometime later in the year and roll the dice.
As far as business gold goes, I have never had any issues other than being patient. Points have always come thru, some real quick and some over a bit of time.
As far as merging, I always make sure I have one card active at all times that collects the points and they always merged when one cancels, sometimes it takes a few days but it always gets merged.
Now for a quick question from a Canadian Card holder. If you collect MR points, what doe you do with them? transfer them or keep them in your account to use? I would of pushed them to aeroplan in the past but that will change now. I have also pushed them to Delta when we were going to Singapore BC last year. Is there better place to push them? for example to go BC to Singapore from YYZ?
thanks
May 24, 2017, 11:58 am
#655
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,410
I have been going thru Amex Gold etc. for four plus years and thru all the cards I have always been awarded points. Sometimes it is instant and sometimes it can take 10 - 12 weeks.
For me personally, I would never call up and ask about the points until that time frame has passed. Who know's how they do things at AMEX but I assume things are still pretty loose on the "one bonus per lifetime". My wife and I have received the gold bonus at least once past the deadline. I am a little wary about re-applying for the Platinum because of the cost but will probably apply sometime later in the year and roll the dice.
As far as business gold goes, I have never had any issues other than being patient. Points have always come thru, some real quick and some over a bit of time.
As far as merging, I always make sure I have one card active at all times that collects the points and they always merged when one cancels, sometimes it takes a few days but it always gets merged.
Now for a quick question from a Canadian Card holder. If you collect MR points, what doe you do with them? transfer them or keep them in your account to use? I would of pushed them to aeroplan in the past but that will change now. I have also pushed them to Delta when we were going to Singapore BC last year. Is there better place to push them? for example to go BC to Singapore from YYZ?
thanks
For me personally, I would never call up and ask about the points until that time frame has passed. Who know's how they do things at AMEX but I assume things are still pretty loose on the "one bonus per lifetime". My wife and I have received the gold bonus at least once past the deadline. I am a little wary about re-applying for the Platinum because of the cost but will probably apply sometime later in the year and roll the dice.
As far as business gold goes, I have never had any issues other than being patient. Points have always come thru, some real quick and some over a bit of time.
As far as merging, I always make sure I have one card active at all times that collects the points and they always merged when one cancels, sometimes it takes a few days but it always gets merged.
Now for a quick question from a Canadian Card holder. If you collect MR points, what doe you do with them? transfer them or keep them in your account to use? I would of pushed them to aeroplan in the past but that will change now. I have also pushed them to Delta when we were going to Singapore BC last year. Is there better place to push them? for example to go BC to Singapore from YYZ?
thanks
May 24, 2017, 7:33 pm
#656
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: AC
Posts: 2,167
I applied for the AMEX Per Plat card and ended up not going through with the spend requirements.
I was told that as I didn't get the points bonus that if/when I signup again that I would qualify for whatever bonus there will be for spend and points.
Is this true?
I was told that as I didn't get the points bonus that if/when I signup again that I would qualify for whatever bonus there will be for spend and points.
Is this true?
May 24, 2017, 10:12 pm
#657
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 73
1. Platinum Welcome Bonus - This offer is only available to new PlatinumŽ Card Cardmembers. For current or former PlatinumŽ Card Cardmembers, we may approve your application, but you will not be eligible for the welcome bonus. Account must be in good standing.
May 25, 2017, 10:42 am
#658
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
why didn't you complete the spend requirements ? I would be pissed to miss out on 60-75K MR points
May 26, 2017, 1:07 am
#659
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,410
Do the bonus points for an additional card user also take 1-3 months to point, similar to the welcome bonus? Or once a purchase is made with the additional card or something like that?