American Express is out with a new welcome offer on the consumer Gold card today, and it’s possible to earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards when spending $6,000 in the first 6 months. Unfortunately, this is another “as high as” offer, so there’s no guarantee that you’ll receive the 100K version until you go through a portion of the application process.
The Offer & Key Card Details
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
ⓘ $1307 1st Yr Value Estimate$120 Dining credit ($10 per month) valued at $30, $100 Resy credit ($50 per six months) valued at $85, $120 Uber credit ($10 per month) valued at $60 Click to learn about first year value estimates As high as 100K points ⓘAffiliateThis is an affiliate offer. Frequent Miler may earn a commission if you are approved for this offer As high as 100K points after $6K spend in 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Terms apply. $325 Annual Fee Alternate Offer: Referral Offer - 90K points after spending $6,000 in 6 months Recent better offer: 100K after $6K in the first 6 months + 20% back at restaurants for the first 12 months up to $250 back [Expired 11/10/24 - referrals only] FM Mini Review: This card offers an awesome return on US supermarket and worldwide dining spend, putting it at or near the top-of-class in both categories. Dining credits and Uber / Uber Eats credits go a long way towards reducing the sting of this card's annual fee. Earning rate: 3X points for flights booked with airlines or on amextravel.com ✦ 4x points at US Supermarkets (up to $25K in purchases, then 1x) ✦ 4x at restaurants worldwide (up to $50k in purchases, then 1x) ✦ 1X points on other purchases. Terms apply. Card Info: Amex Pay Over Time Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Noteworthy perks: Up to $10 in statement credits monthly with participating dining partners (Goldbelly, Wine.com, Five Guys, Seamless/Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory) ✦ $10 monthly Uber or Uber Eats credit (use it or lose it each month - must select Amex card as payment method to redeem) ✦ $7 monthly Dunkin' credit - enrollment required ✦ $50 twice-annual Resy credit ✦ $100 hotel credit on qualifying charges on stays of 2 nights or longer, plus a room upgrade upon arrival, if available with The Hotel Collection at americanexpress.com/hc ✦ Enrollment required for select benefits. |
Quick Thoughts
I know what you’re thinking. Is Amex “as high as” a kite?
For a while now, we’ve been seeing these ‘as high as’ welcome offers on some referral links and feared that they might someday become the norm for Amex. Sure enough, that language is now on the public offers for both the Amex Gold and Platinum cards.
I don’t like the new language at all, because you don’t know the amount of the welcome offer that Amex will actually give you when you click through to apply for the card. You must complete the application form, submit it, and then Amex will let you know whether or not you’re approved and what your personal welcome offer will be. You can then either proceed or cancel your application. If you cancel, it won’t affect your credit. If you accept the offer, you’ll finish the application, and Amex may do a hard pull on your credit (although they sometimes don’t with current customers).
While this doesn’t necessarily create any additional problems with your credit report, it does create a significant hoop to jump through before finding out what the legitimate welcome offer is (for you) on either card. The advertised offer is effectively a best-case scenario. I understand that Amex hopes it gets more people to begin an application, and then hopefully stay with it even if the offer isn’t the best version advertised. However, I find it a bit disingenuous and yet another (small) example of needless friction being added to our online lives. End of rant.
There is still a referral offer that we are collecting links for, which gives 90,000 points, guaranteed, after $6K in spend. That might eventually change to the same “as high as” business, but until it does, we’ll leave it in as an alternate offer and as a backstop in case you try for the 100K, but are offered something less than 90K.
Want to learn more about miles and points? Subscribe to email updates or check out our podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
Still in PUP 🙂
My referral offer is showing the “high as 100K” offer, or “high as 175k” on platinum.
However, I don’t have the increased referral bonuses some are apparently seeing in app. Just the standard 15K.
Thanks for the post Nick! Started playing the game early this year. I’ve been hesitant to jump into Amex due to the fees but this offer felt like a good time to go for it.
Also, I learned after applying that I was eligible to receive a credit towards the annual fee because I hold a corporate Green Card through my job. $100 for Gold and $150 for Platinum.
Also, I was offered the 100,000 pts but obviously, YMMV.
Nick is Tim on this one.
Ha! The photo at the top of Nick’s card threw me off. Sorry Tim!