AMEX Platinum Charge brings back OTO Quantum massage chair sign-up gift

American Express has revised its welcome gift for the AMEX Platinum Charge, valid for approvals received by 31 January 2022. 

It’s back to the OTO Quantum massage chair this time, last seen for April to June 2021 sign ups. This replaces the 48″ Omnidesk Pro 2020 offered until 30 September 2021– rather an unpopular option, from what I hear. 

I really wish they’d bring back hotel stays or MR points, but this is the way it’s going to be for the next four months. 

AMEX Platinum Charge new welcome gift

Apply: 40,000 bonus points

Note: The AMEX website still reflects the old gift of an Omnidesk, but rest assured that if you apply from 1 October onwards you’ll receive the OTO Quantum Chair. Refer to the T&Cs here.

To be eligible for this gift, cardholders must apply and and receive approval for the AMEX Platinum Charge between 1 October 2021 and 31 January 2022. 

The full annual fee of S$1,712 must be paid in the first statement, and cardholders must not have cancelled an AMEX Platinum Charge card in the past 12 months (it’s fine if they hold/held other AMEX cards however (including the Platinum Credit Card or Platinum Reserve); there’s no “new-to-bank” requirement). 

Eligible cardholders will receive a redemption letter within 12 weeks from payment of the annual fee (no card spending is required), and the OTO Quantum massage chair must be redeemed within two months from the date of the redemption letter. 

It’s important to separate the welcome gift (which has changed) from the sign-up bonus (which hasn’t):

The sign-up bonus remains unchanged at 75,000 MR points with S$20,000 spend in the first 6 months. 

In addition to this, applicants who apply through the MGM program will receive a further bonus of 40,000 MR points with S$5,000 spend in the first 3 months. This S$5,000 will also count towards the S$20,000 spend required for the sign-up bonus. 

In other words, new cardholders who spend S$20,000 in the first 6 months will receive:

• OTO Quantum massage chair
• 75,000 MR points (sign-up bonus)
• 40,000 MR points (MGM bonus)
• 25,000 MR points (base points @ 2 MR per S$1.60)

They will also receive a S$350 dining credit that can be spent at over 1,000 restaurants worldwide, including 1-Altitude, JAAN, Les Amis, Odette and Alkaff Mansion.

AMEX Platinum Charge members can redeem MR points for miles at a rate of 400 MR points= 250 miles (versus 450 MR points= 250 miles for non-Platinum Charge members). Your total return for S$20,000 spend is therefore 87,500 miles. 

The T&Cs of this offer can be found here.

OTO Quantum Massage Chair

The much-derided Omnidesk welcome gift retailed at around S$735 after discounts, so if nothing else the reversion to an OTO Quantum massage chair will be good for the wallet. This chair retails at S$3,480, although if your intention is to resell it, the going rate for a brand new unit on Carousell is just over S$1,000. 

I know nothing about massage chairs, so I couldn’t tell you where this ranks in the pantheon. All I know is that I’d personally prefer MR points as a welcome gift; it’s a good compromise that allows customers to pick what they want. 

Lifestyle and home gadgets are highly personal. I may have no need for a massage chair, or dislike this particular brand, model or colour. It’s tough to get these gifts right, unless it’s something with mass appeal like the latest iPhone.

Conclusion

Apply: 40,000 bonus points

Like it or not, the welcome gift for AMEX Platinum Charge will be a massage chair for the next four months. I suppose it’s OK if you have need for such a thing, or if you’re confident in your ability to flog it off. 

For further reading, I’ve just completed a review of my latest year with the AMEX Platinum Charge, as well as some upcoming new uses for the S$400 air credit.