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Welcome to Smart With Points, the podcast that helps you travel the world for less using miles and points. I'm Jack, your host, and if you've been holding your breath waiting for the next big American Express welcome bonus offers, well, you can finally exhale - because Amex has just launched their new suite of enhanced sign-up bonuses for May two thousand and twenty-five. Now, I know some of you might be mourning the end of that legendary one hundred thousand point Platinum offer - and yes, we're all going to miss it - but don't despair just yet. There are still some genuinely excellent opportunities on the table, and one of them might just be the best Amex offer I've seen in quite some time.
Let's dive straight into what American Express is currently offering. These are all limited-time offers that end on July 15th, two thousand and twenty-five, so mark your calendars because these enhanced bonuses won't be around forever.
First up, we have the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card. Through referrals, you can now earn thirty-five thousand Membership Rewards points, which is a significant bump up from the standard twenty-two thousand points. You'll need to spend three thousand pounds within your first three months, and while there's a one hundred and ninety-five pound annual fee, it's waived for the first year. For a card with no fee in year one, this is actually pretty decent. You can get this card by clicking the link in our shownotes.
Next, there's the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card, offering thirty-three thousand Avios through referrals - up from the standard thirty-one thousand. However, I've got to be honest with you here - this isn't the most exciting offer. You'd actually be better off applying directly through British Airways for their best welcome bonus rates. The spending requirement is six thousand pounds in three months, and there's a three hundred pound annual fee. If you're interested, the link is in the shownotes, but I'd suggest shopping around first.
The British Airways American Express Credit Card is also available with fifteen thousand Avios through referrals, increased from the standard six thousand. For a free card requiring just two thousand pounds spend in three months, this isn't bad at all. Again, you can find the link in our shownotes.
But here's where things get really interesting - and this is the offer that's got me genuinely excited. The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is currently offering a massive sixty-three thousand Marriott Bonvoy points through referrals. To put this in perspective, that's nearly triple the standard twenty-three thousand points offer. This is absolutely huge, and with just a three thousand pound spending requirement over three months and a modest ninety-five pound annual fee, this could potentially be worth over three hundred pounds in hotel stays.
Let me emphasize just how exceptional this Marriott offer is. We're talking about one of the best current American Express offers available in the UK right now. If you've been on the fence about getting into the Marriott ecosystem, this is your moment.
Now, for those of you who are new to American Express or haven't held an Amex card in the past twenty-four months, this is where strategy becomes crucial. If you're planning your American Express journey, remember the optimal approach we've discussed before: start with a strategic first card that won't restrict your future options.
The Marriott Bonvoy card, with its enhanced sixty-three thousand point offer, is now an excellent first choice. After securing that bonus, you could add the Gold Card with its thirty-five thousand points and first-year fee waived. Then, if you value Avios points, consider the BA Premium Plus with thirty-three thousand Avios as your third card.
Timing is absolutely essential here because these enhanced offers end on July 15th, two thousand and twenty-five. You need to plan your applications carefully to ensure you can meet the spending requirements while maximizing your point opportunities.
Let me remind you of the key eligibility rules that govern American Express applications. The twenty-four month rule applies, meaning you won't receive welcome bonuses if you've held any personal Amex card in the past twenty-four months. However, business cards remain unaffected by personal card history, and there are specific pathways depending on which cards you currently hold. If you're unsure about your eligibility, we have a free tool available to help you figure it out.
While we're all going to miss that one hundred thousand point Platinum offer, the current suite of enhanced offers - particularly that Marriott Bonvoy sixty-three thousand point bonus - provides excellent opportunities to boost your points balance. The limited-time nature of these offers makes this an ideal time to develop your application strategy.
For those just starting their American Express journey, the three-card approach we've outlined previously remains valid, with the Marriott Bonvoy card now representing an exceptional first step due to its significantly enhanced welcome bonus.
That wraps up today's episode of Smart With Points. Thanks for listening, and if you found this information helpful, please subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also subscribe directly on our website at smartwithpoints.co.uk.
Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the shownotes.