If you’ve been thinking of pulling the trigger on the AMEX Platinum Charge card, here’s some good news: AMEX has doubled the number of points on offer under the MGM (member-get-member) scheme.
Here’s how the old and new MGM offers compare:
| Old MGM Offer | New MGM Offer | |
| Referrer | 20K MR points | 40K MR points |
| Referee | 20K MR points after spending $50 in 3 months | 40K MR points after spending $5K in 3 months |
This offer is valid until further notice.
Sign up for the AMEX Platinum Charge and get 40K bonus points
Am I still eligible for the regular sign up bonus?
If you’ve been following the AMEX Platinum Charge card, you’ll know that it comes with a sign up offer of 75K bonus MR points when you spend $20K within the first 3 months of approval.
Applications through the MGM scheme will still be eligible for this sign up offer.
Even better, the $5K you spend will “double count” towards both offers. In other words, should I spend $20K within the first 3 months, I will get:
- 40K bonus MR points from the MGM offer
- 75K bonus MR points from the sign up bonus offer
- 25K base MR points from regular spending
Remember that AMEX Platinum Charge cardholders can convert MR points to miles at a preferential rate of 400 MR= 250 miles (it’s 450 MR= 250 miles for other AMEX MR members). This means you’re looking at a total haul of 87.5K miles for spending $20K, quite decent all things considered.
How much are the benefits of the AMEX Platinum Charge worth?
Valuation is subjective, but you can definitely earn back more than your annual fee through the various benefits of the AMEX Platinum Charge. I recently wrote an updated article listing out the benefits and how much I value them at- have a read below.
2019 edition: How much are the benefits of the AMEX Platinum Charge card worth?
I’m also including a few links to resources you might find useful for the AMEX Platinum Charge:
- AMEX International Airline Program: Get discounts on SIA (and other) premium cabins
- AMEX Platinum Charge : Year in Review
- The coolest perk of the AMEX Platinum Charge? The little-discussed “one annual fee” policy
- 5 lesser-known benefits of the AMEX Platinum Charge card
- Unboxing the AMEX Platinum Charge, and four things to do after that
- How to book your AMEX Platinum Charge’s complimentary two night hotel stay
- Review: NOOK by Platinum
- Why I’m pulling the trigger on the AMEX Platinum Charge card
- Valuing the benefits of the AMEX Platinum Charge
Conclusion
Do familiarize yourselves with the T&C of the MGM program here. There aren’t any red flags as such, but you should note that if your referee subsequently cancels his/her approved card within 6 months, you both lose your gifts.
Sign up for the AMEX Platinum Charge and get 40K bonus points
Hi Aaron, I have applied for the plat card via your link on 13/03. Look forward to enjoying its benefits soon. Great job on all the various reviews. Fantastic read for me ๐ btw my current card is the citi prestige and i have been totally “wowed” by its recent ridiculous enhancement on the airport limo service. Rgds DY
Hey Aaron, so if i sign up and spend S$20K in the 1st 3 months at one of their EXTRA merchants like hour glass buying a rolex and some jeans and shirts at GSTAR and Fred Perry, my miles earned would be a whopping:
40K + 75K + 250K
365000 points = 228,125 miles = 11.4 MPD?
Sounds like a plan..
How does the S$16000 cap on EXTRA merchants work? Is it per purchase per store, per month, or?
Yes that’s right. 16k cap per calendar year
Aaron/Noob, how do you arrive at 250k points for spending $16000 at EXTRA merchant partners?
you earn 20 MR points per $1.60 spent at EXTRA partners.
Will paying income tax via CardUp using the Amex Platinum charge card count towards the 20K spending to qualify for the 75K signup bonus MR points?
Yes
Thanks for your quick reply. Can the same amex card be used to pay for two personsโ income tax via separate cardup accounts?
Yes
Hi Aaron, just wondering if anyone has received the 40K yet whether as referrer or referee. I had Amex Plat approved in Feb under the old scheme and got 20K on first spend as a referee (you probably got the 20K too since I used your link). I’ve since spent $20K in 3 months and got the 75K bonus. That was about a month back. I haven’t gotten the extra 20K for the retroactive application of the new 40K MGM promotion. From what I’ve noticed, Amex usually gives the bonus points pretty quickly. Should I call to ask? Should you… Read more »
I saw a one time retro adjustment of points but can’t track where it came from exactly. you’re right that they’re usually pretty fast with adjustments- a quick call should sort it out
Hi, just thought to let you know that the extra MGM 20K points (total is now 40K from MGM) came through on 1st July . So the retroactive award for earlier approvals is coming through now in July.
Thanks
What if I applied through Siva and both of us get $180 cap land voucher. Can we have this offer too?
Is there still time to sign up and get the full bonus for both referee abd referer? How long does approval take on average. Thanks
If all your documents are in order you can be processed in 3-4 working days.
Thanks for the reply. All done except the wage slips – will complete tmrw
Is the annual card membership fee ($1700+) charged upfront or after year 1? Is there any possibility of waiver given high spend etc.?
Upfront. And no, no waivers are given
Technically, it is about 45 days after you get the card as annual fee is billed in your first statement
Hi guys I just received my plat charge card and was told that the 40k MGM offer unfortunately does not “stack” with the 75k sign-up bonus. They will only be able to apply one or the other award.
Can anyone else confirm if this has happened to them as well?
this isn’t correct, both offers can be stacked together. if you forward me the correspondence with the CSO via the contact us option I can get AMEX to look at it.
Hi Aaron, two questions. Does my friend who referr me for this card need to be holding a Platinum Charge card or can they have any Amex card? What if I already have a generic Amex card, will it effect anything? Thanks.
you cannot refer someone for plat charge unless you already hold a plat charge.