American Express has unveiled a pair of lucrative, time-limited promotions for new UK cardholders, offering a potential bonus haul worth hundreds of pounds. The offers, available on both the premium Platinum Card and the popular Gold Card, are open for applications until January 13, 2026.
Platinum Card Offer: Up to £600 in Value
New Platinum Card members can secure a substantial welcome package. To qualify, applicants must be approved for the card by the January 13 deadline and then meet a spending requirement.
By spending £6,000 within the first six months of membership, customers will earn 75,000 Membership Rewards points, which are valued at £350. Additionally, they will receive a £250 American Express Travel credit.
This offer is exclusively for new participants in the Membership Rewards programme; individuals who have held a rewards-enrolled Amex card in the past 12 months are not eligible.
The Platinum Card, which carries a £650 annual fee, comes with a suite of premium benefits. These include up to £400 in global dining statement credits, complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge access, and comprehensive worldwide travel insurance.
The £250 travel credit is redeemed via pre-paid bookings on Amex Travel Online for flights, hotels, car hire, cruises, and package holidays. Cardholders also benefit from exclusive airfare discounts and perks at select high-end hotels. Spending on Amex Travel Online earns points at an accelerated rate of two points per £1 spent.
Gold Card Offer: £200 Bonus Points with First-Year Fee Waiver
The Gold Card offer presents a compelling option for those seeking valuable rewards with a lower initial cost. Successful applicants approved before January 13 can earn 40,000 Membership Rewards points (worth £200) by spending £5,000 in the first six months. This bonus is double the standard offer.
A key attraction is that the Gold Card has no annual fee for the first year, with a £195 fee applying thereafter from the second year onwards.
Core benefits for Gold Card members include four complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits annually, a monthly £10 statement credit on Deliveroo orders, and hotel credit perks through The Hotel Collection.
Refer a Friend for Extra Points
Alongside the main promotions, American Express is running a referral incentive. Existing Platinum and Gold Card members can earn thousands of extra points by inviting friends to apply.
Platinum Card referrers can get 20,000 bonus points. Their successfully referred friend, upon approval and spending £6,000 in their first three months, can earn a massive 85,000 points plus the £250 travel credit.
Gold Card referrers stand to gain 16,000 points. The referred friend can get 45,000 points after spending £5,000 in their first six months. Card members can earn a maximum of 90,000 referral points per calendar year.
All the bonus points earned through these offers can be redeemed across a wide spectrum of travel, entertainment, and lifestyle partners, providing significant flexibility for cardholders. These limited-time deals represent a significant opportunity for UK consumers to maximise rewards from their everyday spending.
