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American Express is currently running a solid (but not spectacular) bonus offer if you apply for a personal Amex Platinum Card – 55,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend £10,000 in six months.

The points can be converted to a wide variety of different hotel and airline loyalty programmes (eg. 55,000 British Airways Avios, 110,000 Hilton Honors Points, etc) – easily enough points to fly business class to several European destinations, or to cover an economy long-haul flight.

Beyond the Bonus…

The Platinum Card isn’t just about the welcome bonus. Cardmembers enjoy comprehensive travel insurance, worldwide airport lounge access, and elite hotel status with major chains including Marriott and Hilton. For frequent travellers, these benefits can quickly offset the annual fee.

The card carries a £650 annual fee, but the welcome bonus alone could deliver over £550 in travel value when used sensibly. You’ll need to spend £10,000 within six months to earn the bonus – that’s around £1,667 monthly,

It’s also worth pointing out that you can get a pro-rata refund of the annual fee, if you’re just interested in the points rather than the ongoing benefits.

Who Can Get It?

You’re eligible for the welcome bonus if you haven’t held a personal Amex Membership Rewards card (like Gold or Platinum) in the past 24 months. Other Amex cards like British Airways (or a Business Gold/Platinum card) won’t affect your eligibility.

Bottom line

If you can comfortably meet the spending requirement, the Platinum Card is worth considering. The 55,000 points offer significant flexibility – convert them to airline miles, hotel points, or even use them for shopping, though travel typically offers the best value. Just ensure the £10,000 spending requirement aligns with your normal spending patterns to avoid overextending yourself.

If you would rather try an Amex Membership Rewards card without an annual fee (in the first year) and with a much lower spending requirement, you might wish to consider the Amex Gold. You can currently get a 22,000 Amex MR Points bonus after spending £3,000 in 3 months.