Over the past few months, American Express has been experimenting with various welcome offers for the AMEX Platinum Charge, some lasting a month, others as little as a week. But it looks like they’ve finally settled on something, and thankfully, it’s the best offer we’ve seen in a long time.
For applications approved between now and 31 January 2024:
- New-to-AMEX cardholders will receive 132,500 bonus Membership Rewards (MR) points when they spend S$6,000 in the first 60 days of approval
- Existing AMEX cardholders will receive 85,000 bonus MR points when they spend S$6,000 in the first 60 days of approval
| ⚠️ Important Note |
|
When this article was first published on 27 September 2023, the offer was 127,500 bonus MR points for new-to-AMEX customers, and 80,000 bonus MR points for existing AMEX customers. American Express has now added an extra 5,000 MR points to this offer for both new-to-AMEX and existing customers. While the T&Cs say that this is valid for applications from 6 October to 31 January 2024, American Express has agreed to offer it retroactively to those who applied via The MileLion from 27 September 2023 onwards (you won’t find this in the T&Cs, but that’s the agreement I have with the product team). No action is needed on your part; the points will be automatically credited. The extra 5,000 MR points is currently available for applications approved by 31 January 2024, and is subject to further extension. The 127,500/80,000 MR points offer is available for applications approved by 28 February 2024. |
On a points to spend basis, this beats any offer I’ve been tracking since 2019- certainly a far cry from the S$20,000 minimum spend when the card first relaunched!
New AMEX Platinum Charge sign-up offer
 AMEX Platinum Charge |
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| Apply Here |
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| New Customers | Existing Customers | |
| Spend S$5,000 (Mo. 1-3) |
5K | 5K |
| Spend S$6,000 (Mo. 1-2) |
127.5K | 80K |
| Base Points from S$6,000 (@ 2 pts/S$1.60) |
7.5K | 7.5K |
| Total Spend | S$6K | S$6K |
| Total Points | 140K | 92.5K |
| S$1,728 annual fee must be paid | ||
American Express is offering two different sign-up offers for the AMEX Platinum Charge, depending on whether you count as a new or existing customer.
New customers
| ❓ Definition |
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New customers are defined as those who:
I’ve confirmed with American Express that there is no “timeout period” for a customer with a recently-cancelled card to be considered new. However, all approvals are subject to internal review. |
New customers who sign-up and receive approval between 27 September 2023 and 31 January 2024 will receive:
- 5,000 bonus MR points for spending S$5,000 within the first 90 days of approval
- 127,500 bonus MR points for spending S$6,000 within the first 60 days of approval (the spending for the component above will also count towards the spending for this component)
- 7,500 base MR points (based on S$6,000 @ 2 MR points per S$1.60)
This adds up to 140,000 MR points in total for S$6,000 of spend.
Existing customers
| ❓ Definition |
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Existing customers are defined as those who:
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Existing customers who sign-up and receive approval between 27 September 2023 and 31 January 2024 will receive:
- 5,000 bonus MR points for spending S$5,000 within the first 90 days of approval
- 80,000 bonus MR points for spending S$6,000 within the first 60 days of approval (the spending for the component above will also count towards the spending for this component)
- 7,500 base MR points (based on S$6,000 @ 2 MR points per S$1.60)
This adds up to 92,500 MR points in total for S$6,000 of spend.
What counts as qualifying spend?
Qualifying spend refers to all online and offline retail purchases, whether in Singapore dollars or foreign currency.
It excludes the following transactions:
| ❌ Qualifying Spend Exclusions |
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a) Charges processed and billed prior to the Enrolment Date or charges prepaid on any Card Account prior to the first billing statement for that Card Account following the Enrolment Date; |
For the avoidance of doubt, CardUp, private and non-profit hospital bills, donations, education, and anything else not explicitly stated in the exclusion list will count as eligible spend. While American Express will add charitable donations and education to its exclusions list from 1 October 2023, an exception has been carved out for the AMEX Platinum Charge.
Spending by both principal and supplementary cardholders will be combined when determining whether the minimum spend threshold has been met.
When will bonus MR points be credited?
All bonus MR points will be credited within 12 weeks of meeting the spend threshold.
Any questions about the crediting of bonus points should be directed to American Express.
Terms & Conditions
This offer cannot be further stacked with any MGM bonuses, and terminating the card within six months of approval will lead to a clawback of the sign-up bonus.
How does this compare to previous offers?
This is hands down the best welcome offer we’ve seen for the AMEX Platinum Charge in a long time. In fact, I went to rummage around the archives, and on a points to spend ratio, this would be the biggest offer since American Express switched to MR points as a welcome gift (instead of hotel stays, OTO massage chairs and standing desks).
For the sake of comparison, here’s a summary of the recent welcome offers we’ve seen for the AMEX Platinum Charge.
| ⚠️ Important Note |
| When comparing offers across time periods, you should factor in that American Express added $1,204 of annual statement credits in Feburary 2023, and a further S$150 fashion credit in April 2023. This makes the first year more lucrative (because you enjoy two sets of statement credits), but has led to a commensurate fall in the number of bonus points on offer. |
New customers
| 💳 AMEX Platinum Charge Welcome Offers (New customer) |
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| Date | Min. Spend | Bonus MR Points |
| Current | S$6,000 | 132,500 |
| 12-26 Sep 23 | S$8,000 | 60,000 + Samsonite luggage |
| 5-11 Sep 23 | S$10,000 | 100,000 |
| 1 Aug to 4 Sep 23 | S$15,000 | 95,000 |
| 4-31 Jul 23 | S$15,000 | 115,000 |
| 1 Jun to 3 Jul 23 | S$15,000 | 100,000 |
| 1 Feb to 31 May 23 | S$15,000 | 95,000 |
| 3 Nov 22 to 31 Jan 23 | S$20,000 | 110,000 |
| 2-31 Oct 22 | S$20,000 | 175,000 |
| Spending time periods may not be the same across all offers; refer to the respective articles for the full details |
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Existing customers
| 💳 AMEX Platinum Charge Welcome Offers (Existing customer) |
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| Date | Min. Spend | Bonus MR Points |
| Current | S$6,000 | 85,000 |
| 12-26 Sep 23 | S$8,000 | 60,000 |
| 5-11 Sep 23 | S$8,000 | 60,000 |
| 1 Aug to 4 Sep 23 | S$10,000 | 70,000 |
| 4-31 Jul 23 | S$10,000 | 70,000 |
| 1 Jun to 3 Jul 23 | S$10,000 | 55,000 |
| 1 Feb to 31 May 23 | S$10,000 | 60,000 |
| 3 Nov 22 to 31 Jan 23 | S$20,000 | 110,000 |
| 2-31 Oct 22 | S$20,000 | 140,000 |
| Spending time periods may not be the same across all offers; refer to the respective articles for the full details | ||
What can you do with Membership Rewards points?
AMEX Platinum Charge cardholders can convert MR points to airline miles or hotel points at the following rates:
| 💳 Membership Rewards Transfer Partners | |
| Frequent Flyer Programme | Conversion Ratio (AMEX: Partner) |
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400:250 |
 |
400:250 |
 |
400:250 |
 |
400:250 |
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400:250 |
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400:250 |
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400:250 |
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400:250 |
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400:250 |
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400:250 |
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1,000:1,000 |
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1,000:1,250 |
Do note that AMEX Platinum Charge cardholders receive a preferential conversion rate of 400 points = 250 airline miles, compared to regular cardholders who get 450 points = 250 airline miles.
Membership Rewards points do not expire, and all conversions are free of charge.
To illustrate, a new customer who fulfils the welcome offer will have a total of 140,000 MR points, equivalent to 87,500 miles with any of the frequent flyer programmes mentioned here. That’s enough for a round-trip Business Class ticket to Perth (81,000 KrisFlyer miles), or a round-trip Business Class ticket to the Maldives (86,000 KrisFlyer miles).
AMEX Platinum Charge: Key benefits
AMEX Platinum Charge cardholders can look forward to benefits such as:
- S$1,354 of dining, entertainment, lifestyle, travel and fashion credits each calendar year
- COMO Club C5 membership with S$260 of annual birthday vouchers (valid for both principal and supp. cards)
- Unlimited airport lounge access for the cardholder + 1 guest
- Priority Pass Lounges
- Centurion Lounges
- International American Express Lounges
- Delta SkyClub Lounges
- Plaza Premium Lounges
- One complimentary hotel night every membership year
- Tower Club access
- Tower Club & assorted dining vouchers
- Access to the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts programme, which offers perks such as free breakfast, room upgrades (subject to availability), a US$100 experience credit and guaranteed late check-out
- Hilton Honors Gold status, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, Pan Pacific DISCOVERY Platinum status & Radisson Rewards Premium status
- American Express Love Dining
- American Express Chillax
- Platinum Golf privileges
AMEX Platinum Charge cardholders receive S$1,354 of statement credits each calendar year, split into:
- S$150 fashion credits at Mr Porter and NET-A-PORTER (disbursed as S$75 per six-month period)
- S$200 dining credits at participating local restaurants
- S$200 dining credits at participating overseas restaurants
- S$400 lifestyle credits at participating retail partners
- S$204 entertainment credits for news or music streaming services (disbursed as S$17 per month)
- S$200 airline credits for Singapore Airlines or Scoot
Guide: AMEX Platinum Charge annual S$1,354 statement credits
Because your first membership year will overlap with two calendar years, you can enjoy two sets of credits in your first membership year (except the entertainment credits, which are disbursed on a monthly basis), regardless of whether you choose to renew your card from the second year onwards.
In order to get maximum value, be sure to share the AMEX Platinum Charge’s benefits with friends and family. Two supplementary cards are free for life, and enjoy perks such as Como C5 membership , complimentary lounge access, hotel elite status, Tower Club access and AMEX Love Dining & Chillax.
Conclusion
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| Apply Here |
The latest sign-up bonus for the AMEX Platinum Charge card offers up to 132,500 bonus MR points. Once adjusted for minimum spend, it’s one of the most generous offers I can recall since the card relaunched in 2018.
Add the two sets of statement credits, vouchers, lounge and hotel benefits, and there’s a lot in here to help offset the first year’s S$1,728 annual fee. All the same, it’s no small investment, so be sure to read my repository of articles on the AMEX Platinum Charge before pulling the trigger!
do you happen to know if existing Amex Solitaire PPS credit card holders count as new or existing members?
so if I understand correctly, I am still a new customer even if I cancalled other AMEX credit card (not platinum) in the recent one year?
Yup
Is it also the case for an The Amex Platinum (not the Charge, the one that cost only 321 sgd per year) ?
amex platinum charge is a completely different product compared to amex platinum reserve or amex platinum credit card
9 different sign up offers since Oct’22… that’s one sign up offer revision every 1.5 months and not forgetting a 70% decline in min spend requirements!
Desperate times call for desperate measures?
If i’m not in a hurry to apply i’ll jus keep waiting on the sidelines wondering how much better this can get…
1. I just got approved yesterday so im not entitled? Wthhhhh
2. As per what u said below, im entitle for 2 x 1354 for just paying one time annual fee?
“Because your first membership year will overlap with two calendar years, you can enjoy two sets of credits in your first membership year (except the entertainment credits, which are disbursed on a monthly basis), regardless of whether you choose to renew your card from the second year onwards. ”
Thank you!
I have the same question. Do we get 2 sets of vouchers, credits?
Does AMEX Krisflyer Ascend count as existing or new members?
“One complimentary hotel night every membership year, redeemable at worldwide participating properties including Banyan Tree, Mandarin Oriental and Ritz-Carlton hotels”
No Ritz Carlton on that list though.
thanks, have updated.
Since the welcome bonus lasts till 31/1/2024, assuming I apply now and get approved . I will only have 2 months left to enjoy the statement credit of 2023 before it gets reset in Jan 2024? Will extension allow till end 2024 ( 2 sets of statement credit) ?
that’s correct, statement credits must be spent by 31 december 2023.
Thank you for reply. May I check the spending of 6k within 2 months will count from approval date or follow the calendar month? Assuming I get approved on 8/10/2023, the spending of 2 months is until 31/12/2023?
Sorry I can’t find this details in T&C
60 days, as stated in the article.
Thanks Aaron; just got my card using your link. Btw wanna re-confirm using cardup to pay personal rental- does it count into the spending requirement of 6k?
Once again thank you
It says 2 months not 60 days……
Amex defines 2 months as 60 days
For the Fine Hotel + Resort programme, do you just get access for the main card holder, or it’s open to each supplement card holder as well?
Coincidentally the US version of the Platinum Card is also running a promotion with 125K sign up bonus (1:1 transferability) with USD $6K spend in 6 months. Annual fee is lower at US$695 with first supplementary user free.
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card-application/apply/partner/personal-card/msb/morgan-stanley-platinum-card/ep-msb-mcs-58#/
Is there a way to apply for US cards?
You can apply for one if you have a social security number. Otherwise, you can try Amex Global Transfer if you have a non-US Amex card.
I terminated the card. My good friend did it a few months earlier. The value proposition is not there to keep the card. Who has time to plan & manage how to maximise the wide range of benefits? And nope, I don’t travel that much cos I don’t have a job that pays me to fly a few times a year.
Agreed, you really need a PA to manage the offers, a good app would certainly help… are the vouchers etc still all paper?
Error on “Existing customers are defined as those who:
Have not cancelled an AMEX Platinum Charge in the past 24 months”
no error. that’s the definition.
Does having a corporate Amex result in a person being deemed existing.
no
How long does it take to get approved? My birthday is towards the end of December was thinking to drive the C5 Maserati day experience 😅
fyi- masterati experience has been nerfed. now you need to spend 10k como points to redeem.
How many Supplementary cards can I get and will each of the card owners have unlimited priority pass (and other lounge) access?
Hi, planning to do Lasik at a private clinic – Clearvision (https://clearvision.com.sg/). Can confirm that this counts as eligible spend? Thank you.
Hi, the annual fee is not waived for first year?
The min spend of $6k would be applicable even for luxury goods bought locally I presume?
You must either be very new to the game or naive about Amex and annual fees
Hello! Just to clarify, to enjoy the latest promo, it has to be approved (not just applied) by 31 Oct. Any dp on how fast it can be approved? Would calling in to have it expedited work? Thanks!
i’ve been informed that they will extend the promo beyond 31 october, so don’t worry about it. expect updated T&Cs within the next couple of days.
Thanks Aaron!
offer updated to approvals by 31 jan 2024 now.
Hi Aaron, does spend on supplementary card during the first two months also count towards the $6k qualifying spend required for the sign up bonus?
Hi Aaron
Just received my card and welcome package.
For spending with statement credits (e.g $600 spent @ Grand Cru with $400 statement credits), will the $600 spend be counted as qualifying spent or only the nett of $200 will be counted?
600
Hi Aaron, does the S$1,728 count towards the S$6,000 in the first 60 days?
Does anyone know if using Kris+ to pay with the card in store counts towards the 6k spend sign up bonus?
The AMEX page said the card is conditionally approved via myInfo , am told to provide supporting documents. But it doesn’t show what supporting documents are needed & when I tried to access via the page to upload documents it shows as error.
Any idea? 🙂
Hey Aaron, do you know if the 6k spend requirement includes its full payment within 60 days? Or if its just 6k card spend, while payment can be done after based on the AMEX statement payment date?
pay according to your regular payment cycle.
Hi and thanks for this. I read your other post on cards for hospital bills, and it stated Mt Alvernia as non-profit hospital.
My last Amex card was cancelled March 2023. And based on below, I can use my Mt Alvernia hospital bills to qualify for the 6k spend and get the welcome offer of 132.5k MR points for new to Amex card members?
“For the avoidance of doubt, CardUp, private and non-profit hospital bills, donations, education, and anything else not explicitly stated in the exclusion list will count as eligible spend.”
Hi
Based on below, if I sign up and receive the approval in Jan 2024, does it mean the 2 sets of credits will be available for use until latest by 31 Dec 2024 & 31 Jan 2025 respectively? Or is it till 31 Dec 2025 for the latter even if I cancel my card before the 2nd year annual fee?
“Because your first membership year will overlap with two calendar years, you can enjoy two sets of credits in your first membership year (except the entertainment credits, which are disbursed on a monthly basis)”
TIA!
I may have misread the lounge access benefits above. I was informed that only 1 supplementary card is eligible for priority pass. So my second one was not.
Is tax (income tax/road tax) payment under the exclusion list?
“American Express has now added an extra 5,000 MR points to this offer for both new-to-AMEX and existing customers. While the T&Cs say that this is valid for applications from 6 October to 31 January 2024, American Express has agreed to offer it retroactively to those who applied via The MileLion from 27 September 2023 onwards (you won’t find this in the T&Cs, but that’s the agreement I have with the product team).”
Update as of 8th Feb, the 5000 is not credited, I signed up on 28th Sep. But i received the other 1275000 points.
drop me a message via contact us and i’ll ask them to look at the application.
I got the 5k and then an odd 40k bonus after the initial 60 days. Aaron would you know what the 40k is about? I should see the 127.5k bonus 12 weeks after the initial 60 days which would be end April , so I have no idea what the 40k bonus is about