These days, nearly every major credit card issuer has rules in place to prevent applicants from repeatedly earning welcome offers, and American Express is no exception. While Amex doesn’t follow a defined policy like Chase’s 5/24 rule, it has its own restrictions on card applications and welcome offers.
One of the most important restrictions is Amex’s once-per-lifetime rule, which limits cardmembers to earning one welcome offer per card.
That makes timing your application important. Applying for a new Amex card today could disqualify you from earning an even higher welcome offer in the future. Here’s what you need to know about Amex’s once-per-lifetime rule and how it could affect your next credit card application.
Related: The best American Express credit cards
What is the Amex once-per-lifetime rule?
More than a decade ago, American Express allowed you to earn welcome offers on the exact same card multiple times. However, since 2014, the issuer has clamped down on welcome offer eligibility and limited cardmembers to one welcome offer per card per lifetime, regardless of how long it has been since they last held that card.
For example, you can apply for the American Express Platinum Card® and earn a welcome offer. However, applying for the card again in the future will likely make you ineligible for another welcome offer. That’s because the rates and fees link for the Amex Platinum includes the following language:
“You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab, the Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley or previous versions of these Cards. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.”
The information for The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab and The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Currently, for the American Express Platinum Card®, you can find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
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Card family restrictions
Amex also has restrictions that can prevent you from earning a welcome offer on a lower-tier card if you’ve held a higher-tier card in the same family.
An example of this is the American Express® Gold Card. If you currently hold or have previously held the Platinum card, you may not be eligible for a welcome offer on the Gold card.
With this restriction in mind, if you want to earn welcome offers on both cards, consider applying for the Gold first, then the Platinum.
Amex also has welcome offer restrictions on its personal Delta credit cards.
For example, one of the strictest family rules can be found on the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (see rates and fees):
“You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Options Credit Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or previous versions of these Cards. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.”
The information for the Delta SkyMiles Options Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
That said, some cardmembers have reported receiving a second welcome offer on the same card years later, though such instances are rare.
Does the once-per-lifetime rule apply to all Amex cards?
This once-per-lifetime rule applies to all American Express-issued cards, including cobranded airline and hotel cards, business cards, cash-back cards and rewards cards.
Although this rule covers all Amex cards, you can earn a welcome offer on personal and business cards of the same type.
For example, the American Express Gold Card and American Express® Business Gold Card are from the same card family, but one is a personal card and the other a business card. Amex allows you to earn the welcome offer for each card — as long as you have never held either card in the past and are in good standing with family restrictions.
The rule also applies to rebranded or updated versions of existing cards. For many years, the Amex Gold was called the Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express. Applicants who previously held the Premier Rewards Gold Card may not be eligible for a welcome offer on the current Amex Gold.
The information for the Premier Rewards Gold Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Amex Gold vs. Amex Business Gold
How many Amex cards can I have?
Amex doesn’t officially disclose how many cards you can hold, but most cardmembers are reportedly limited to five Amex credit cards across their personal and business accounts.
Amex also reportedly limits cardmembers to 10 cards with no preset spending limit. This category includes the Amex Gold and Amex Platinum.
For example, TPG editor-in-chief Nick Ewen has the following American Express cards currently open:
Since five of the seven are credit cards, he has reached the unofficial five-credit-card limit with Amex.
We’ve seen occasional data points that some people have been able to get a sixth or even a seventh Amex credit card, but this seems rare.
Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions
How do I know if I qualify for an Amex welcome offer?
Tracking which Amex cards you have held in the past will give you a better idea of whether you are eligible for a certain card’s welcome offer. If you’re not sure, Amex has a welcome offer eligibility tool that can alert you if you don’t qualify for a bonus.
In fact, you don’t even have to start an application to find out. Amex will sometimes display a message stating that no welcome offer is available to you while you’re browsing its cards, even if you haven’t logged in to your account.
You may also receive a pop-up warning during the application process if Amex determines that you’re ineligible for a welcome offer. This gives you the option to withdraw your application or proceed without earning a welcome offer.
Even if you’re ineligible for a welcome offer, you could still be approved for the card and enjoy its benefits.
Additionally, you may be eligible for another offer if you’re targeted for an offer that doesn’t include the standard lifetime restriction language. Check your email or log in to your American Express account to look for targeted or preapproved offers. However, the absence of lifetime restriction language doesn’t guarantee you’ll qualify for a welcome offer.
Keep in mind that previous card ownership isn’t the only factor Amex considers when determining welcome offer eligibility.
Before submitting your application, review the offer terms carefully and consider taking a screenshot of your offer. This could be helpful if you encounter issues receiving your offer after meeting the applicable spending requirements.
How can I earn the highest welcome offer on a card?
We track historical offers across a range of American Express cards, so compare the offer you’ve received to our guides to the best offers on:
This will help you decide the best time to apply.
Bottom line
American Express has an impressive portfolio of cards with generous welcome offers for first-time applicants. While Amex’s lifetime rule is restrictive, targeted offers and occasional exceptions may still give you a shot at a repeat bonus.
Before applying for a new Amex card, review the offer terms and check your eligibility to avoid missing out on a welcome offer. Since you may only have one opportunity to earn an offer on a particular card, it’s also worth considering whether the current offer is right for you.
Related: American Express Gold vs. American Express Platinum
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Amex Blue Card, click here.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thepointsguy.com
