Amex UK now 24 months between close and next personal card sign-up bonus!
 

Now, with a few exceptions, UK American Express card holders can only get a sign-up bonus after not holding a card for 24 months whereas previously it was 6 months. Do you think this will mean an increase in benefits more in line with the US cards and perhaps higher sign up bonuses?

Sources
https://insideflyer.co.uk/2019/03/am...-sign-bonuses/
Amex Sign-Up Bonus Eligibility Changes! - Points Uncovered
https://www.headforpoints.com/2019/0...p-bonus-rules/

Some UK cards already have more generous benefits than USA-issued cards. For example, Platinum includes no cost supplementary Platinum cards and travel insurance. The relevant comparison is not American Express UK vs American Express in another market, but rather versus other UK issuers.

I guess it is a wait and see game but it will reduce the speed and benefit of churning.

Or will it? If you are not going to receive a sign up bonus you could potentially refer and cancel in a quicker period of time (if you have a partner that can refer you or you can refer them) - thus actually increasing the churn to try and rack up as many referral bonuses as you can. The question is what is a 'safe' amount of time?

Take the Platinum for example
Previously 18,000 referral bonus and 35,000 bonus points - potentially hit this twice per year netting 106,000 points
Now just an 18,000 referral bonus up to a max of 90,000 points per year - If I referred this 5 times a year I would potentially only get 16,000 points less per year. So I could cancel the card every 10 weeks and apply again via a referral.

This is ignoring the cost as obviously this would also be a factor on the above card. It does make you think though :)