Yes, your new Platinum card is earning 10x where appropriate

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Many readers in our Facebook group have expressed frustration over the way that Amex is displaying bonus points  for those who have opened Platinum cards under the incredible new welcome offer that includes 10x at US Supermarkets and 10x at US gas stations on up to $15K in purchases in the first six months. It isn’t immediately clear that those purchases are earning bonus points, but fear not: the bonus categories are indeed working for qualifying purchases.

a hand holding a credit card

Transactions show up at 1x under “Statements & Activity”

The confusion here stems from the fact that when you go to “Statements & Activity”, which is where most people usually look for rewards information, a qualifying purchase appears to only earn 1x. Take this grocery purchase that I made as an example.

a screenshot of a screenshot of a phone

It says above that I only earn 110 rewards points for the $109.88 charge as this card offers 1x “on other purchases”. However, note the small print below that: “May not reflect any promotional offers”. In this case, that’s exactly the issue.

Where to find the bonus points under Membership Rewards

In order to find the bonus points for your transaction, go to “Explore Rewards” from your account home.

a screenshot of a websiteThen click on your points balance.

a screenshot of a credit cardThen it gets a little confusing. You’ll see a list of your transactions and also bonus points. Here is a look at the same transaction. See the bottom of the screen shot for the initial 110 points) and then the top part for the 989 bonus points.

a screenshot of a computerYou can see under the description that there is shorthand there: 135KMR_5KSpd_6Mon. We determined that this means:

  • 135K Membership Rewards points
  • $5K spend
  • 6 months

Why 135K? That’s the total bonus points that can be earned at 10x. If you spend $15K at US supermarkets and US gas stations in the first 6 months, you’ll earn 150K total points. That breaks down as:

    • 15K points earned at 1x (the ordinary rewards for those purchases)
    • 135K bonus points (the other 9x)

Obviously the $5K spend must refer to the welcome offer, but I don’t know why that’s there as the 100K points from the welcome offer aren’t reflected / relevant. The key part i that the bonus points are there.

Bottom line

The extra points on US supermarket and US gas station spend are indeed posting with purchases on those who opened a new Platinum card under the current bonus offer. In fact, unlike the 1x points from the transaction, which aren’t awarded to your account until after you pay for those purchases, the other 9x bonus points post to your Membership Rewards balance right away (a few days after the qualifying transaction). Amex has set this up to display in the most confusing way possible, but the points are indeed there.

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