“Double Rewards” on the American Express Platinum Card (Extraordinary!)

65 Comments
  1. Helen

    Hi Rick, I just want to be sure I do it correctly, to get this offer I have to click on the referral link on this page? https://princeoftravel.com/american-express-platinum-card ?

    Your podcast on Explore FI Canada was great. I’ll start to use my RBC Avion again.

    Thanks a lot for everything

  2. Juliis Santana

    Just checked my points balances and noticed that Skip The Dishes purchases were only credited double points, not x6. Called the CS and they assured that Skip The Dishes are indeed part of the x6 promotions and will credit me the points within a week. So keep an eye on your accounts!

  3. Em

    My Amex expires mid June. If I charged something on it, do I have to wait a full billing cycle (Ie for my statement) to apply my points as payment or can I do it immediately? I’d like to do this before renewal to cash out my points

  4. Jeff H TOR

    If the membership fee counts against the minimum spend then you only have to spend $4301 to get your 60k bonus.
    ‘60,000 MR points upon meeting minimum spending’. By the way what is that website for amex cardholders to register for programs (like hotel rewards etc) URL pls…

    1. J

      The membership fee does not count again the minimum spend requirement.

  5. Kevin CH Lin

    Hi Ricky,
    had been following you since you start your first youtube video, you make everything very easy to understand and easy to read.
    I have few questions to ask you, currently my wife has one amex plat and I’m planning to refer to me for another amex plat.

    Q1: Do you know when is the 1000 points : $20 credit rate promote will expire? Because I know referral deadline for 15,000 pts is May 12, 2020 and Double pts Promotion deadline is July 20, 2020 but I can’t find when will the 1000 points : $20 expiration date.
    Q2: If I use plastiq to pay $5000 for the opening 60,000 pts + Spending 10,000 pts (10,000 pts is after 6 months of holding), when will I receive the total 70,000 pts? next billing cycle? If this way, I need to do another spending of $500 in order to spend 2,500 points for $500 to pay my bill right? (This way I will be able Cover my AF $699 – TC $200 = $499) right?

    Thanks for your hardwork.

    Kevin

  6. Asa

    Is there confirmation that the double rewards promotion is offered to all personal platinum cardholders? Because when I log into my account I can see the double earn rate but my redemption rate is still listed as 1000MR = $10 (and then in brackets that this is a limited time offer)

  7. Jeff H TOR

    Thanks for the write up. I just applied using your link (please enjoy your referral bonus)

  8. William

    What do you think of buying AC gift card to get the 4x points?

    1. Ricky YVR

      Sounds like a good plan to me, as long as you envision yourself using them in the future.

  9. Russ

    Hi Ricky,

    Given it sounds like groceries will be at 2x, would you put your grocery spending on the platinum or continue the cobalt at 5x select points? Thanks.

    1. Ricky YVR

      I’d still go for the Cobalt:

      • Cobalt’s 5x cashing out at 1% = 5%
      • Platinum’s 2x cashing out at 2% = 4%
      • Cobalt effectively earns 2.5 Aeroplan miles per $ (via Bonvoy transfer)

      • Platinum effectively earns 2 Aeroplan miles per $
  10. André Robichaud

    I asked for the card on Wednesday. Arrived by FedEx yesterday (Friday). I immediately put $ 3,000 on the card with Plastiq. This morning, I had 6,000 points (2 * 3000) in my Amex account. I also have the possibility to apply my points on an at the rate of 1000 = $ 20 in my account. I therefore conclude that it also works for new card holders. My 50,000 points should be published in my account in the coming days.

    1. Ricky YVR

      Good stuff André, thanks for the data point.

  11. gerald

    Any news or reports of them waiving or reducing the $699 annual fee? I signed up in September.

    1. Ricky YVR

      Unfortunately, given the losses Amex looks set to incur in Q1 and Q2, I highly doubt we’ll see any annual fee waivers being offered.

  12. Mike Langford

    What are your thoughts on the offer to Cobalt cardholders for 1CPP statement credits?

    Value seems a bit low for anyone who was looking to use these points for travel originally, even for MR-S.

    1. Ricky YVR

      The change is pretty insignificant in my eyes, since you could always cash out at 1cpp using the refundable hotel trick before anyway.

      2cpp on the Platinum, though, now we’re talking.

      1. Mike

        If my spend hadn’t decrease so significantly, now would be a great time to leap into a personal Platinum.

  13. Allan Smith

    I still haven’t seen any reply or new info on questions posed by Mark and Fenand below. I clicked through on the referral link. The Amex website does not mention anything about this deal; not the 6/4/2 earning rate nor the 1000 points : $20 credit rate. One writer below mentioned that a call to the Amex 1800 number was fruitless as the CSR didn’t know anything about it. How can we avoid being burnt by Amex not living up to the details you have listed above, Ricky?

    1. Ricky YVR

      Front-line representatives have been known to be slow in catching up on breaking developments. It’s now been confirmed by Amex that the new earn & burn rates will apply to Platinum cardholders both old and new.

  14. pinkpeppercorn

    How easy is it to use the $200 travel credit? When there is no travel right now is my concern 😉

    1. James

      I received an email about a week ago stating if your travel credit Had expired or was expiring before Sept 30 (I can’t remember the exact date) it was automatically being replaced or extended another year.

  15. Peter G

    Any idea if gift cards from travel sites are eligible as an AMEX Platinum "travel" redemption against statement credits at the elevated rate of 1,000 MR points = $20?

    If so, does anyone have any suggestions on promotional travel gift cards that currently offer increased bonuses in purchasing gift cards?

    For example, I see that Holland America Cruise Line has a promotion until the end of May that offers an extra $200 gift card when purchasing a $1000 gift card or more. If Holland America gift cards are an acceptable Amex Platinum travel redemption, then essentially a $1200 gift card for cruising can be had for a 50,000 MR point redemption or a $0.024 redemption, which is not too shabby.

    1. Ricky YVR

      The elevated rate of 1,000 MR points = $20 is now valid for all purchases, not just travel purchases – so your example would be valid.

  16. DMoon

    Uber Eats was posting 3x before this promo IIRC (though not sure if Uber was posting 3x too as Cobalt was posting Uber as 5x). At least, my friend saw 3x for Uber Eats on her plat.

    Here’s hoping I get 3x on groceries at Food Basics, will test soon. Glorious 6x for groceries, yes please!

  17. Jeff F

    Hey Ricky, I just called Amex Canada, too. The Rep said they will be getting a decision on whether Amex Canada will be extending the time to meet spending requirement (like the US) by the end of this week or early next. She also said the spending requirement is $3000 in the first 3 months for the first 50000 Bonus MR Points, which I double checked on the Amex website? You stated $5000 both in this blog and your Amex Platinum Card page? Did they just change that recently?

    1. Ricky YVR

      The public offer: 50,000 MR points upon spending $3,000 in the first three months.
      When applying via a referral link: 60,000 MR points upon spending $5,000 in the first three months, followed by 10,000 MR points after six months of cardmembership.

  18. Susan Bach

    You know I just called Amex….the person I spoke to didn’t know anything about the special offer for the Platinum card….I don’t understand how it is that she doesn’t know….makes me hesitate to jump into this card

  19. mark

    I went to Amex Canada and see no evidence of this. How do i know this applies to new cards?

    1. mark

      What i am referring to is the x2 for points

  20. Fernand

    There are conflicting views of “do new applicants benefit from this”. Can anyone confirm before I take the plunge ?

    1. Ricky YVR

      This is now confirmed by Amex.

  21. JoceSK YOW

    I can confirm that my food delivery orders through Skip the Dishes and UberEats have been are counting as dining (as has my Starbucks card reload).

  22. Frank

    If I apply for the Platinum and link my Gold card, can I redeem my Gold MR points at the bonus rate?

    1. Ricky YVR

      Yes I believe so.

  23. AK

    I literally just cancelled my plat amex 2 days ago. Should I call and upgrade my gold card to platinum?

  24. Ben

    If I have 100k MR and want to take advantage of this offer, can I purchase something worth $2000 apply the MR than return the item thus leaving me with a negative balance on my card?

    Am I missing something or is this the only way to use a statement credit with out having to make a purchase I don’t need atm.

  25. Jeff

    Business Platinum too??

    1. Ricky YVR

      Not at this time.

  26. JEFFERY FONG

    Hey Ricky, any word on Amex Canada extending the time to meet spending requirements on the Platinum Card as is the situation with the US version?

    1. Ricky YVR

      No word on this yet.

  27. Eric

    oh I am just GLOWING ALL OVER!!

    1. Ricky YVR

      Glow up!!

  28. gerald

    I have not received the email confirming this from AMEX, but after logging into my account I see: 1000 points = $20!!

  29. Alex B

    Awesome news! Thanks for sharing Ricky.

    Two questions:
    – Does anyone have any DP on other food delivery (Such as GoodFood) as well as grocery stores? I would love to hear that.
    – If cash isn’t an imminent concern, would it make sense to rack the double points instead of taking advantage of redeeming them for statement credit? Arguably that’s still better value when redeeming for Business Class tickets. Thx!

    1. Alice

      Exactly what I am doing, racking up points for future use. I have been thinking about booking a flight with Air Canada since they allow you 24 month credit from the DATE of cancellation or change at no charge. I am really pumped with Amex doing this, they have turned me into a loyal customer for life.

    2. Ricky YVR

      Yes, you’ll still get greater value by booking business class through Aeroplan. But if you don’t have too many upcoming travel plans and are confident of earning more Aeroplan miles either, the 2cpp cash isn’t shabby either.

  30. Janifer

    If I self refer from my Amex Gold, would that one move the points from Gold to Plat, and make it possible for me to redeem existing points (From gold) at 2x rate too?

    1. Ricky YVR

      Definitely don’t self-refer, as it’s explicitly against the new set of terms and conditions as of March 12. If you applied for a new Platinum card, though, yes you’d be able to link them and benefit from the 2cpp.

      1. MM

        I am new to AX, can you please explain how you link the cards?

    2. g

      At this point if you self refer it’s probably a great way to make all your points and AMEX accounts dissapear real quickly… But you could apply for the Plat and then link your gold MR to the plat and redeem for double value that way.

  31. Mike

    Held / cancelled this card in March 2019.

    Safe to try to re-apply and take advantage of this?
    Or unlikely to be successful / get bonus points?

    1. Alex B

      I would swear I recently read somewhere here, by a user who identified himself as "Amex Canada", that this card can’t be churned, or that we wouldn’t get a a repeat bonus. But would love to get DPs on this as well, as I’m the same boat (Had Amex Platinum in the past, and now only my P2 has it)

  32. Jason

    Would redeeming points for cash back count against the MSR? E.g. if I spend $5k then use the points against $1000 in purchases, do I need to put another $1000 on the card to keep the bonus?

    1. Ricky YVR

      I don’t believe it would count against the MSR. It would be a statement credit, not a refund.

  33. Josh

    Hi Ricky,

    I didn’t receive the email but I do have a personal platinum. Will I get the bonus points?

    1. Shak

      I didn’t receive the email either but when I logged into my rewards account, I saw 1000 MR = $20. So, check your account, you might have it there.

    2. Ricky YVR

      I would think so. I’d be extremely surprised if this was targeted, as it would be grossly unfair to cardholders who weren’t targeted.

  34. Charlie

    Hi Ricky,

    Are there any indications that this promotion would apply to new sign-ups as well?

    1. SylvieR

      I signed up a month ago and did receive the AMEX email.

    2. Ricky YVR

      According to a data point from someone who called Amex to ask, yes.

  35. h

    Hi Ricky,

    Sucks that Amex isn’t applying this to the Biz Plat.

    1. Ricky YVR

      For Business Platinum cardholders, getting a personal Platinum card and then merging the points would allow you to take advantage too.

      1. Sam

        So one could apply for this Platinum card and receive the bonus and then apply for the Business Platinum later on and still receive the bonus?

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