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)
Sep 14, 2017, 9:04 am
#976
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,519
From a different angle....
my thought on Personal Gold no longer FYF will be ---- finally, I don't have to answer the question "why do I want to pay for points when the AMEX Personal Gold card offer FYF?"
my thought on Personal Gold no longer FYF will be ---- finally, I don't have to answer the question "why do I want to pay for points when the AMEX Personal Gold card offer FYF?"
Sep 14, 2017, 9:46 am
#977
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
Here's another item of note. Only the FIRST supplementary card is FREE, the next (up to 8 more) additional supplementary cards are no longer FYF.
We have been forever signing up for additional points at the somewhat-targeted offer page here:
https://www.americanexpress.com/cana...CPID=100189590
The footnotes now are updated to say:
We have been forever signing up for additional points at the somewhat-targeted offer page here:
https://www.americanexpress.com/cana...CPID=100189590
The footnotes now are updated to say:
2. Maximum of 9 Supplementary Cards per account. Account must be in good standing. There is no annual fee for one Supplementary Gold Rewards Card. Additional Supplementary Cards have an annual fee of $50 each.
So it appears that they've finally stopped the leak on this side adventure too. I'm surprised it lasted this long, what with all the people bragging and boasting about how they could abuse this. Some people just don't know the difference between 'discreet' and 'discrete'.
Sep 14, 2017, 12:58 pm
#978
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 56
Business Gold is still FYF. Meaning the game is getting harder for beginner churners who were milking the personal Gold. Advanced churners know how to generate 5K spend within 3 months as required for the Biz Gold's welcome bonus.
Sep 14, 2017, 1:23 pm
#979
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,384
Sep 14, 2017, 4:39 pm
#980
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YQM
Posts: 341
Add in some everyday groceries and other bills, I'm on track to easily cycle $5k/3mo.
Sep 14, 2017, 9:09 pm
#981
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
The best part about this is that my landlord switched to PAYD to process rent payments, which means I now get to use Amex for rent, without additional fees! Add in some everyday groceries and other bills, I'm on track to easily cycle $5k/3mo.
Add in some everyday groceries and other bills, I'm on track to easily cycle $5k/3mo.
Sep 14, 2017, 9:26 pm
#982
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
End of an era. Goodbye beginner churners
Sep 15, 2017, 9:20 pm
#983
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YQM
Posts: 341
Back on topic, this Gold FYF change triggered my spouse to reapply, even though we cancelled her previous one in August. I figured worst case she'd be declined. But it already seems to have been worth the shot. She got the "pending" application message, so we let it sit for a few days to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention. I had used a modified referral link for the personal Gold and, like clockwork, 25,000 referral points posted today in my account, so I can tell she's approved. Here's to hoping for 30,000 more when we reach the minimum spend (or 6-8 weeks later). If not, it's still a great every day card to use, especially FYF.
Side note, my 1st ever Business Plat is about to cross 5k, once the pending charges post I will report if the 75,000 points do too. It was the case for my partner's 1st ever Business Platinum last month so my hopes are high. Stay tuned.
Update: A transaction just posted with 40,000+35,000 bonus points attached to it. Glad I won't have to chase Amex for my points. Again, this data point is for a 1st time cardholder Business Plat. And my partner received an email yesterday confirming her Gold card was approved.
Last edited by Hyacinthe; Sep 18, 2017 at 7:36 am
Sep 16, 2017, 3:55 pm
#984
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YQM
Posts: 341
Perkopolis offer, as of now: https://www.americanexpress.com/cana...erkopolis.html
The FYF (and $99 annual fee thereafter) is confirmed on the application disclosure when you click through to apply, so no concerns here.
Also, the Amex landing page shows the welcome bonus as "25,000 Membership Rewards® points when you charge $500 in purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership". No mention of the bonus not being awarded if you have had the card previously. If that's really the case, it could be a good offer to churn. So might prefer referring from a Business Plat and get 25k referral points to offset the $150 fee.
Last edited by mia; Sep 16, 2017 at 6:06 pm Reason: Clean link
Sep 18, 2017, 12:23 pm
#985
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
We beat the Sep 14th deadline, and squeezed in one more Personal Gold MR card, with FYF. This must be one of the slowest Gold deliveries that we've seen. The fastest for me was when I've applied on a Friday nite and had received the card by courier a couple of days later on Monday. But this recent one was applied on Sep 12 Tue with instant approval, and like clockwork I got the referring bonus 2 days later (this is the new normal now). However, the new card package did not arrive by courier till today Mon Sep 18, which relatively speaking is longer than we are used to! Anyways, I'm guessing there must have been a flood of new Gold card applications last week, all due to the expiring FYF promo.
Anyways, I'm guessing there must have been a flood of new Gold card applications last week, all due to the expiring FYF promo.
Sep 18, 2017, 3:37 pm
#986
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Moderator action
Discussion of the new Cobalt card has been moved to the separate thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...lt-canada.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...lt-canada.html
Sep 19, 2017, 5:04 pm
#987
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,846
We beat the Sep 14th deadline, and squeezed in one more Personal Gold MR card, with FYF. This must be one of the slowest Gold deliveries that we've seen. The fastest for me was when I've applied on a Friday nite and had received the card by courier a couple of days later on Monday. But this recent one was applied on Sep 12 Tue with instant approval, and like clockwork I got the referring bonus 2 days later (this is the new normal now). However, the new card package did not arrive by courier till today Mon Sep 18, which relatively speaking is longer than we are used to! Anyways, I'm guessing there must have been a flood of new Gold card applications last week, all due to the expiring FYF promo.
Anyways, I'm guessing there must have been a flood of new Gold card applications last week, all due to the expiring FYF promo.
Sep 20, 2017, 8:17 am
#988
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC
Posts: 379
Anyone tried the MR to BA transfer with the current 25% bonus promo? The ads on Amex website say extra 25% for transfers, but the actual transfer page still has 1000->1000 ratio. In previous promos the transfer page explicitly said 1000->1250, so I'm somewhat confused.
Sep 20, 2017, 8:50 am
#989
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
I won't be too worried
Sep 20, 2017, 11:04 am
#990
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Vancouver, BC
Programs: Aeroplan, Fairmont Plat, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 99
I did on the first day of the promotion with the same language. Transferred 40,000MR and I had 50,000 Avios in my BA account two days later. Was impressed with the transfer time!