American Express offers reward credit cards with generous welcome bonuses and valuable benefits. Although AMEX does not follow policies defined by Chase’s 5/24 rules, etc., it enforces strict application and lifetime reward restrictions.
American Express not only limits the number of cards you can have and how often you can apply, but also limits the applicant to earn only one welcome offer per card in his lifetime.
This makes it crucial to choose carefully when you apply for a new AMEX card, as doing so can potentially deprive you of the qualification to get a higher welcome offer in the future. Here’s what you need to know about AMEX’s single-time teenage strategy.
What was the rule that AMEX used to be once a year?
More than a decade ago, American Express allowed you to get welcome offers on the exact same card multiple times. However, since 2014, issuers have limited applications and limited clients to one bonus per lifetime, regardless of how much time has passed since the last time they applied for the card.
In other words, you can apply American Express Platinum Card® And earn only welcome quotes again and again. If you open the offer details link on the card’s application page, you will see the following language:
If you have or own this card, you may not be eligible for a welcome offer, namely, Charles Schwab’s PlatinumCard®, designed for the PlatinumCard® of American Express from Morgan Stanley, or previous versions of these cards. You may also not be eligible for welcome offers based on various factors such as the history of your credit card balance transfer, your history as an American Express member, the number of credit cards you have opened and closed, and other factors. If you do not meet a popular offer, we will notify you before processing the application so that you can choose to withdraw your application.
Currently, you can find out your offer to see if you are eligible for a purchase of $8,000 in the first six months of card membership, and if you are eligible for up to 175,000 membership reward points after purchasing $8,000. (Welcome offers vary, you may not be eligible for an offer.)
As a result, if you apply for a current offer and get a higher offer later, you are almost certainly not eligible.
Information on platinum cards provided by American Express specifically for Charles Schwab and platinum cards specifically for Morgan Stanley cards have been independently collected by Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Expand the restrictions on card households
In some AMEX credit card series, it will be expanded to once-in-a-lifetime rules. In fact, if you hold a premium card, AMEX may disqualify you from receiving welcome offers on the same family’s lower and middle tier cards.
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Amex seems to be gradually promoting it to more products to prevent people with high-rise cards from applying for low-rise cards in the same household for welcome.
The latest addition to this list is American Express® Green Card. Welcome to provide eligibility terms and status:
If you have or own this card, PlatinumCard®, PlatinumCard® for US Express, PlatinumCard® for Morgan Stanley, American Express for Charles Schwab, American Express® Gold Medal or previous versions of these cards, you may not be eligible for a welcome offer. You may also not be eligible for welcome offers based on various factors such as the history of your credit card balance transfer, your history as an American Express member, the number of credit cards you have opened and closed, and other factors. If you do not meet a popular offer, we will notify you before processing the application so that you can choose to withdraw your application.
The information on the Amex green card has been collected independently by Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Similarly, in 2023, American Express introduced the American Express® Gold Card. If you have a more expensive Amex Platinum card, you will not qualify for the welcome offer on the gold card.
Amex also introduced family rules for personal Delta credit cards that year.
For example, one of the strictest family rules can be found on unfamiliar fees DeltaSkymiles®BlueAmerican Express Card (See rates and fees): If you have or have DeltaSkymiles® Gold American Express Cardthis Delta Skymiles® Platinum American Express Cardthis DeltaSkymiles® Reserve American Express Card or previous versions of these cards.
warn
It was reported that a few years later, people were approved again and received a welcome offer again. Also, you possible If the terms of the offer do not include the above language regarding the previous possession of the card, a bonus may be approved.
Finally, during the online card application process, American Express warns you. If Amex determines that you are not eligible for the welcome quote for the card, you may see a pop-up description.
Overall, however, the issuer’s Millennium Rules are implemented to prevent applicants from using only AMEX cards for welcome bonuses.
Related: The best time to apply for these popular US Express cards based on quote history
What cards does this rule affect?
This rule applies to all AMEX cards. American Express strictly retains strict rules for one reward for each card, regardless of the card family (common hotel and airline, business, cash and reward cards).
Although this rule covers all AMEX cards, you can get welcome quotes on the same type of personal and business cards.
For example, American Express Gold Card and AmericanExpress® Commercial Gold Card From the same card series, but one is a personal card and the other is a business card. AMEX allows you to win welcome offers on every card – as long as you have never been a cardholder for any card in the past.
However, this applies to cards that are renamed or updated. Over the years, Amex Gold It is known as the Prime Minister’s Reward Gold Card. If a new Amex Gold cardholder has a Premier Rewards Gold card, he may not be eligible for the bonus on that card.
If you have or own this card, which is a Premier Rewards Gold card, you may not be eligible for a welcome offer.
Information on Premier Rewards Gold has been collected independently by Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Credit Card Showdown: Amex Gold vs. Amex Business Gold
How many Amex cards can I have?
Officially, there is no limit to the number of cards you can have with American Express. However, AMEX’s unofficial policy says most cardholders are limited to up to five AMEX consumer and commercial credit cards.
They will also be limited to 10 Amex cards without preset spending limits. This category includes Amex Gold and Amex Platinum. No preset spending limit means your spending limit is flexible, unlike traditional cards with set limits. You can spend the adapted amount based on factors like your purchase, payment, and credit history.
For example, TPG Senior Editorial Director Nick Ewen currently has the following US express cards:
Hilton Honors Aspire information has been collected independently by Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Since seven are five of the credit cards, he has reached the upper limit on the credit card with Amex.
Related: Chase’s 5/24 Rules: Everything You Need to Know
How do I know if I qualify for an AMEX welcome quote?
Tracking which Amex cards you have applied for in the past will give you a better understanding of whether you are eligible for a welcome bonus for a certain card. If your organizational skills are not up to standard, don’t worry – American Express can warn applicants if you are not eligible. Here is how it works:
When you apply for a US Express card you already have in the past, you will receive the following message before you get your credit:
Because you already or have a platinum card, you are not eligible for a welcome offer.
We have not conducted a credit check yet. Do you want to continue?
Essentially, if you previously thought you had a card and so are unsure if you were eligible for a welcome offer, AMEX should alert you to pop-up messages when applying.
There may be one exception to the AMEX welcome offer rules. Usually, you will see the above words on the landing page of the app:
Offers that are not available to applicants who have or have owned this card.
If your card application does not include this restrictive language, but you have used a card in the past, this may mean that you are the target of American Express to get the card and are eligible for that offer. Check your email for targeted quotes or log in to your American Express account and look for pre-approved offers without a lifetime language.
Before submitting your application, please check the AMEX pop-up window to remind you of your welcome offer qualifications. It is also a good idea to take a screenshot before clicking on the application. This may help if you encounter issues receiving bonuses after you encounter applicable spending requirements.
Other Amex welcome restrictions
Although American Express limits welcome offers to one reward in each card per card, cardholders can still apply and get approved cards without a welcome offer. The language in quote terms emphasizes the substandardness of popular quotes, but generally does not limit approval.
However, it is also worth pointing out other languages for the above screenshots:
You may also not be eligible for welcome offers based on various factors such as the history of your credit card balance transfer, your history as an American Express member, the number of credit cards you have opened and closed, and other factors. If you do not meet a popular offer, we will notify you before processing the application so that you can choose to withdraw your application.
This overly extensive statement retains AMEX’s ability to use other factors in the credit report and history with the issuer to determine whether you are eligible for the offer. This won’t affect most applicants, but if you show the open card pattern, get a welcome bonus, and then cancel these cards in just one year, that could be a red flag.
Given the wide range of products and once-a-year restrictions on U.S. Express, you should strategically time the application to ensure the highest welcome bonus.
Related: Final Guide to Credit Card Application Restrictions
Bottom line
American Express has an impressive card combination and offers generous welcome offers for first-time applicants. Although AMEX’s lifetime rules are restrictive, certain exceptions and targeted quotes may still earn you a duplicate bonus.
In addition to the Welcome Bonus Qualification tool, AMEX allows applicants to easily track and understand their eligibility for welcome bonuses on the U.S. Express Card.
Related: American Express Gold vs. American Express Platinum
For the rates and fees of Delta Skymiles Amex Blue Card, click here.
